Hi, I'm Mads — I find the spots worth going to and tell you exactly what to get. Food, fitness, volunteering, USC life, Charlotte DMV tips, and everything in between. No sponsored fluff. Just what I'd text a friend.
Latest from Mads
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USC Guide
Food, sororities, professors, cool spaces
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NYC Guide
Dinner, bars, coffee, dessert, workouts
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LA Guide
Restaurants, shopping & workouts
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Charlotte
Arrowwood DMV tips & local spots
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Recipes
What I'm actually making
From the blog
Latest posts
Real guides for real things people actually search for.
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The Mads Guide to USC & Los Angeles
USC — the guide I wish I had.
Everything I wish someone had told me before I showed up — sororities, professors, clubs, food, and how to actually use LA while you're there.
best food near USCUSC sororitiesUSC professorsmoving to LA for college
Greek life
Sororities
The real breakdown — which ones to know, what recruitment is like, and what nobody tells you.
The reality
Recruitment is overwhelming — prepare for it
Recruitment happens in January. It's a week of rounds that gets progressively more cut-down. Wear comfortable shoes. You will walk a lot.
What people don't tell you
Philanthropy events are actually fun
The volunteer and philanthropy events that come with sorority life are genuinely some of the most memorable parts. Don't skip them.
DM me
Ask me directly
DM @madsmadrecs on Instagram with your questions — I answer every one and will add the best info here.
Professors
Professors worth taking
Submit yours
Have a professor to recommend?
DM @madsmadrecs with the professor name, department, and one line about why they're worth taking.
The Mads Guide to New York City
New York City, for real.
I live in the West Village. These are my actual go-to spots — no filler, just what I'd actually send a friend.
best restaurants NYCbest bars NYCbest coffee NYCbest dessert NYC
Dinner
Dinner spots
My go-to dinner spots in NYC — from special occasions to great weeknight meals.
Casual
Casual spots
Lunch
Lunch spots
Coffee + Juice
Coffee + Juice
Dessert
Dessert spots
Fitness
Workout spots
Bars
Bars
Music + Dancing
Music + Dancing
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The Mads Guide to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, for real.
I've spent real time in LA and these are my actual go-to spots — dinner, coffee, dessert, workouts, shopping, and accounts worth following.
best restaurants LAbest coffee LAbest workout classes LAbest shopping LA
Dinner
Dinner spots
Casual
Casual spots
Coffee + Smoothies
Coffee / Smoothies
Dessert
Dessert spots
Workout classes
Workout classes
Accounts worth following
Instagrams to follow
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The Mads Guide to Charlotte, NC
Arrowwood DMV — how to actually pass.
I made a YouTube video walking you through the exact Arrowwood driving test route. Below is the video plus everything else worth knowing about Charlotte.
Arrowwood DMV Charlottehow to pass Charlotte driving testCharlotte DMV what to expect
Before you go
What to know before your test
01
Know your car controls before they get in
You'll be asked to demonstrate blinkers and headlights. Practice until it's instant.
pre-test
02
AC on, music off, doors unlocked
Have the AC running when the examiner approaches. Music completely off. All doors unlocked.
must do
03
Use turn signals in the parking lot
The test starts the moment the examiner sits down — including in the parking lot.
people forget this
04
Make an appointment, not a walk-in
Walk-ins at Arrowwood mean long waits. Book online. Arrive 10 minutes early.
logistics
05
3-point turn — exactly 3 points
You will fail if you do it in more than 3 points. Practice until you nail it every time.
automatic fail if wrong
06
Drive the route before test day
Watch the video to see the map, then physically drive the route yourself before your test.
highest impact tip
Charlotte recs
Charlotte spots
Dinner
Casual
Coffee
Dessert
Bars
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Give back — NYC · LA · Charlotte
Volunteer spots worth your time.
Finding good volunteer opportunities that are actually accessible and organized is harder than it should be. These are the ones I'd send a friend to.
volunteer NYCvolunteer LAvolunteer this weekend
New York City
NYC volunteer spots
NYC
Billion Oyster Project
Restoring oyster reefs to New York Harbor. Show up, do real hands-on restoration work. It's genuinely cool and very NYC-specific.
billionoysterproject.org
NYC
Food Bank for New York City
Reliable, well-organized, flexible with scheduling. Single sessions, no long-term commitment required.
foodbanknyc.org
NYC
NYC Parks GreenThumb
Volunteer days in community gardens — you show up, help maintain a community garden, see direct results immediately.
nyc.gov/parks
Los Angeles
LA volunteer spots
LA
LA Kitchen
Prepares healthy meals from recovered produce for seniors. You volunteer in their commercial kitchen — no experience needed.
lakitchen.org
LA
Heal the Bay
Monthly beach cleanups at Santa Monica and other LA beaches. Good vibes, good cause, easy to sign up online.
healthebay.org
LA · USC
USC Community Engagement
Partners with dozens of organizations in South LA — easiest starting point if you want to volunteer but don't know where to begin.
usc.edu/engage
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What I'm actually making
Recipes — no fluff.
Real recipes I make, tested and actually good. Specific techniques, no vague instructions. Tag me @madsmadrecs if you make anything.
easy recipescopycat recipesbakingmeal prep
All recipes
The recipe archive
Updated as I cook. Click any recipe for the full thing.
The blog — real guides.
City guides, recipes, volunteer spots, USC life. Things actually worth reading.