New York · Los Angeles · Charlotte

Real eats.
Real recs.
Real life.

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.

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Latest from Mads
Best sororities at USC — honest breakdownUSC
Arrowwood DMV Charlotte — what to expectCLT
Best happy hour spots in NYC under $20NYC
Where to volunteer in LA this weekendLA
Affordable places to eat with friends in NYCNYC
best food near USC USC sororities ranked USC professors to take best happy hour NYC affordable restaurants NYC Arrowwood DMV Charlotte volunteer NYC volunteer LA fun places to eat NYC hidden gems NYC food
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USC Guide
Food, sororities, professors, cool spaces near campus
🗽
NYC Guide
Dinner, bars, coffee, dessert, workouts & more
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LA Guide
Restaurants, shopping, workouts & accounts to follow
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Charlotte
Arrowwood DMV tips & local spots
From the blog

Latest posts

Real guides for real things people actually search for.

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USC · Guide
Moving to LA for USC? Everything you actually need to know
8 min read · USC new students
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NYC · Happy Hour
Best happy hour spots in NYC under $20
5 min read
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Charlotte · DMV
Arrowwood DMV Charlotte — what it actually looks like inside
3 min read
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NYC · Volunteer
Best places to volunteer in NYC this weekend
4 min read
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NYC · Eats
Affordable, fun places to eat with friends in NYC
6 min read
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The Mads Guide to USC & Los Angeles

Moving to LA for USC?
Read this first.

I've spent real time in LA and know the USC world well. This is everything I'd tell an incoming Trojan — where to eat, which sororities to know about, which professors are worth taking, and how to actually enjoy LA as a college student.

best food near USC USC sororities USC professors things to do in LA moving to LA for college USC new student guide
Survival tips

How to actually do LA as a Trojan

🍜
Food near campus
Eat outside the bubble
The food within walking distance is fine but limited. Best stuff is 10–20 min away. Koreatown alone is worth getting a Lyft for — Korean BBQ with a group is the best cheap meal in LA.
🚇
Getting around
The Metro is underrated
The Expo Line connects USC to Santa Monica beach in ~45 min. Get a TAP card. Beach days are free and necessary for your mental health during finals.
☕
Study spots
Get off campus to study
Arts District coffee shops, Intelligentsia on Sunset, and spots in Los Feliz are your go-tos when you need a change of scenery from Leavey.
🏋️
Fitness
Find your routine early
ClassPass student discount, the USC Lyon Center, and free outdoor bootcamps in Exposition Park. LA fitness culture is everywhere — use it.
🤝
Giving back
Volunteer — it's easy to find
USC's community engagement office, LA Kitchen, Heal the Bay, and local food banks all have easy sign-up. Great for your resume and your perspective.
🌮
Budget eats
Eat well on a budget
Best tacos in the city are $3 each. Farmers markets, Trader Joe's prepared foods, and Korean BBQ split 4 ways are your budget weapons in LA.
Mads-approved

Best food spots near USC

Places I'd actually take you to.

01
Koreatown — the whole neighborhood
Get a group, pick any Korean BBQ spot with good reviews, split it. Under $20/person. Best meal near USC, full stop. Genwa and Park's BBQ are the go-tos.
10 min · Ktown
02
Farmers Market on Fairfax
Not just for shopping — the food stalls are legitimately good and cheap. Great Sunday spot. Eggs Benedict at Kokomo is a must.
20 min · Fairfax
03
Arts District
When you want to feel like a real LA person. Good coffee, good food, walkable. Bestia if you're splurging. Great coffee shops for studying too.
15 min · Arts District
04
Silver Lake Farmers Market
Sunday morning ritual. Great produce, great prepared food, great people watching. Take the Metro — worth the trip every few weeks.
20 min · Silver Lake
Greek life

USC sororities — an honest take

DM me @madsmadrecs if you want to add something or ask a question about rush.

General advice
Rush with an open mind
Don't go in with a ranked list from the internet. The house that feels like home during recruitment is the one. The "top" houses change every few years anyway.
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 — they're worth it.
DM me
Ask me directly
I'm building this section with real recs. DM @madsmadrecs on Instagram with your questions — I answer every one and will add the best info here.
Academics

Professor tips

Submit a rec by DMing me on Instagram.

How to use Rate My Professors
Low score ≠ bad professor
Low scores for "hard graders" are often the most interesting professors. High scores for "easy A" classes are sometimes the most boring. Read the actual reviews.
Gen-ed tip
Take one gen-ed you'd never pick
USC gen-eds have some of the most passionate professors in the school. The weird-looking class with a 4.8 RMP at 8am is often the one people remember 10 years later.
Submit yours
Have a professor to recommend?
DM @madsmadrecs with the professor name, department, and one line about why they're worth taking. I'll add the best ones to this page.
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The Mads Guide to New York City

New York, honestly.

I live here and eat out constantly. These are my actual go-to spots across every category — dinner, casual, lunch, coffee, dessert, bars, workouts, and nights out. No sponsored picks, just what I'd actually send a friend.

best restaurants NYC best bars NYC best coffee NYC best dessert NYC best workout classes NYC best lunch spots NYC best music bars NYC
Dinner

Dinner spots

My go-to dinner spots in NYC — from special occasions to great weeknight meals.

Jolene
Double Chicken Please
Via Carota
Pastis
Port Sa'id
American Bar
The Nines
Tomi Jazz
Au Cheval
Artesano
Vic's
Bondst
ABC Kitchen
Tao
Rosemary's
Casual spots

Casual spots

Lower key, great for any night of the week.

Westville
Revelie
Canto
Lil Frankies
Shuka
12 Chairs
Raku
Bondi Sushi
Le Parisien
Tara Rose
Banc
Spes
Hamburger America
Lunch

Lunch spots

Tavern on the Green
Honeybrains Life (get the salmon greek salad)
Jacob's Pickles
Ruby's Cafe
Lenwich
Inday
Alidoro
Penrose Bar
Superiority Burger
Blue Willow
Sogno Toscano
Tompkins Sq Bagel
Bedouin Tent
Coffee + Juice

Coffee + Juice

Seven Grams Caffe
Matchaful
Maman
Juice Press
Butterfield Market
Blue Stone Lane
Blank Slate Coffee
Jack's Stir Coldbrew
Ralph's Coffee
News Bar
Pop Up Bagel
Davids Bagel
Dessert

Dessert spots

Anita Gelato
Levain Bakery
Magnolia Bakery
Whipped
Ray's
Soft Swerve
Caffè Panna
Tasti D Lite
Emack & Bolio's
Chloe's Fruit
Culture
Pressed
Fitness

Workout spots

Solidcore
Barry's
Army
Mind Body Project
P.volve
Row House
Avea Pilates
Corepower
Pure Barre
SLT
Erika Bloom Pilates
KK Sweat
Bars

Bars

ACE Bar
Lucy's
Berlin
Ruby's Bar and Grill
Clandestino
Le Dive
Lullaby
Bathtub Gin
Paul's
The Box
Pineapple Club
In Sheep's Clothing
Mr. Purple
KGB
13th Step
Houston Hounds
The Spaniard
Butterfly Soho
Music + Dancing

Music + Dancing

Wiggle Room
Grey Lady
Brass Monkey
Red Lion
Hotel Chantelle
The DL
The Bitter End
Don't Tell Mama
ACME
Common Ground
Fleur Room
The Blond
Kind Regards
Joyface (disco)
Daphne
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best restaurants NYC best bars NYC best coffee shops NYC best dessert NYC best workout studios NYC best music bars NYC best casual restaurants NYC best lunch spots NYC
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, casual eats, lunch, coffee, dessert, takeout, workouts, outdoor activities, shopping, and accounts worth following. No filler, just what I'd actually send a friend.

best restaurants LA best coffee LA best workout classes LA best dessert LA best shopping LA things to do in LA
Dinner

Dinner spots

Olivetta
Great White
Toca Madera
Laurel Hardware
Elephante
Taverna Tony
Jon & Vinny's
Nobu Malibu
Guerilla Tacos
Gracias Madre
Craig's
Sushi Enya
Bavel
Casual spots

Casual spots

Holbox
Tocaya Organics
Goop Kitchen
Erewhon
Sticky Rice
The WinDow
North Italia
Burgers Never Say Die
Kazu Nori & Sugarfish
Cafe Habana
Fresh Corn Grill
Mizlala
Lunch

Lunch spots

Dialog Cafe
Sweetgreen
BreadBlok
Ggiata
Sqirl
Tartine Santa Monica
Honey Hi
Erewhon
Bay Cities
Croft Alley
Great White
Zinque
Girl & the Goat
Coffee + Smoothies

Coffee / Smoothies

Alfred
Breadblok
Verve
Sunlife
Maru
La La Land
Erewhon (matcha!)
Blue Bottle
La Colombe
Kreation
Series A Coffee
Urth Cafe
Community Goods
Dessert

Dessert spots

Yoga-urt
Pressed Freeze
Bigg Chill
Magpies
Go Greek
Sweet Laurel Bakery
Susie Cakes
Van Leeuwen
Salt & Straw
Bacio di Latte
Takeout

Takeout

Gingergrass
Sugarfish / Kazunori
Dave's Hot Chicken
Sushi Hon
Afuri Ramen
Carla Cafe
Erewhon
Uovo
Cafe Gratitude
Pizzana
Sushi Roku
Outdoors

Outdoor exercise

Runyon Canyon
Paseo Miramar
Silverlake Reservoir
Hollywood Reservoir
Los Feliz
Fitness

Workout classes

Solidcore
Barry's
Heated Room
Pure Barre
Hot Pilates
Carrie's Pilates
The Studio MDR
Shopping

Shopping

Silverlake Flea Market (Sat + Sun)
Melrose Trading Post (Sundays)
Out of the Closet (thrift)
Alice & Olivia
Century City
Abbott Kinney
The Grove (Zara, Aritzia, Nordstrom)
The RealReal
Malibu Country Mart
Melrose Ave
St Vincent de Paul Thrift
Accounts worth following

Instagrams to follow

These are the accounts I actually learn from and enjoy — food, lifestyle, NYC and LA content worth your time.

@itsmetinx
@brettsbites
@deuxmoi
@alyssalynch
@strictlythegoodstuff
@acquired.style (NY-based)
@glowwithella
@madsmaley (NY-based)
@shutthekaleup
@hannahbronfman
@itsbyalexis
@myarosemiller (NY-based)
@rachaelsgoodeats
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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 — all the tips you need before you show up. Below is the video plus everything else worth knowing about Charlotte.

Arrowwood DMV Charlotte how to pass Charlotte driving test Arrowwood DMV route NC drivers license test tips Charlotte DMV what to expect
📺 Arrowwood DMV driving test walkthrough 📍 Charlotte, NC
Before you go

What to know before your test

Do all of these before the examiner gets in the car. This is where people fail before they even start driving.

01
Know your car controls before they get in
You'll be asked to demonstrate: turning on blinkers and headlights, both turning signals and hazard lights. Practice until it's instant — you don't want to fumble in front of the examiner.
pre-test
02
AC on, music off, doors unlocked
Have the AC running when the examiner approaches. Turn music completely off. Make sure all doors are unlocked so the examiner can get in without an awkward moment — this matters more than people think.
must do
03
Use turn signals in the parking lot
The test starts the moment the examiner sits down — including in the parking lot. Use your turn signal every single time you turn, even when it feels unnecessary. This is an easy way to lose points.
people forget this
04
Make an appointment, not a walk-in
Walk-ins at Arrowwood mean long waits and added stress. Book your appointment online ahead of time. Arrive 10 minutes early and sit in your car to calm down before going in.
logistics
During the test

Skills they test you on

05
3-point turn — it must be 3 points exactly
You will fail if you do it in more than 3 points. Practice this until you can nail it every time in exactly 3 moves. Go slowly — speed is not the point, precision is.
automatic fail if wrong
06
Backing up in a straight line (~30 seconds)
They'll ask you to reverse in a straight line for about 30 seconds. Look over your shoulder, go slow, make small steering corrections. Keep it straight and don't rush it.
stay straight
07
Drive the route before test day
If you live in Charlotte, physically drive the Arrowwood test route before your appointment day. Watch the video to see the map, then drive it yourself with someone calling out the commands. This is the biggest advantage you can give yourself.
highest impact tip
08
Ace the written test with this Quizlet
I got 100% on the written test using this Quizlet. Study it the night before and you'll be fine. It covers everything on the NC DMV written exam.
open quizlet ↗
Charlotte recs

Charlotte spots — all of them

Treat yourself after you pass. Every category covered.

Dinner

Dinner

La Capital
Kindred
Futo Buta
Restoration Hardware
The Capital Grille
Soul Gastrolounge
Aria Tuscan Grill
Supperland
Haberdish
Baoding
O Ku
Crunkleton
Peppervine
Restaurant Constance
Ever Andalo
Church and Union
Osteria Luca
Nellie's Southern Kitchen
Mama Ricotta's
Fin & Fino
Rosemont
The Fig Tree
Casual

Casual spots

Legion Brewery
Kid Cashew
Optimist Hall
Midwood Smokehouse
The Cowfish
Pinky's Westside Grill
Zada Jane's Corner Cafe
Earl's Grocery
Bang Bang Burgers
Ace No. 3
Bird's Pizzeria
Bad Daddy's
Brick Top
Suffolk Punch
Providence Road Sundries
Inizio
North Italia
Flower Child
7th Street Market
Rally Pickleball
People's Market
Eddie's Place
Leroy Fox
Lunch

Lunch spots

Yafo Kitchen
300 East
Good Food on Montford
Rhino Market & Deli
Common Market
Paco's Tacos & Tequila
Sabor Latin Street Grill
Cafe Monte
Jack Beagles
Pio Pio
Que Onda
Hawkers
Bad Daddy's
Coquette
Seoul Food Meat Co
Viva Chicken
Pasta & Provisions
Laurel Market
Poppy's Bagels
Sunflour Baking Co.
Famous Toastery
Coffee + Juice

Coffee + Juice

Not Just Coffee
Berrybrook Farms
Green Brothers Juice
Rico's Acai
Coco and the Director
Undercurrent Coffee
Clean Juice
Rosie's Coffee & Wine Garden
Queen City Grounds
Smelly Cat Coffee
Mamaka Acai
RUSH Espresso
Carolina Smoothies
HEX Espresso
Burr & Berry
Giddy Goat
Backyard Brew
Bitty & Beau's Coffee
Dessert

Dessert

Golden Cow Creamery
McConnell's
Lokum
Two Scoops Creamery
Reid's Fine Foods
CakeABLE
Amelie's Bakery
Crave
Jeni's Ice Cream
Suarez Bakery
King of Pops
The Salty
Reigning Doughnuts
Villani's Bakery
Fitness

Workout spots

Madabolic
Noda Yoga
Camp Gladiator
Arrichion Hot Yoga
Solidcore
Barry's Bootcamp
Inner Peaks
Pure Barre
Tennis Lessons
The "Booty Loop" — Myers Park
Whitewater Raft Center
Rally Pickleball
Bars

Bars

Cellar at Duckworth's
Olde Meck Brewery
Prohibition
Rooftop 210
The Music Yard
Ink N Ivy
Amos' Southend
The Gin Mill
Heist Brewery
Selwyn Pub
Goldie's
Steamers
Charlotte Beer Garden
Dandelion
Pins
Brickyard
QC Pourhouse
Shopping

Shopping

South Park Mall
NoDa (thrifting)
South End
Atherton Mill
BOEM
Rats Nest
Krazy Kat Jewelry
KK Bloom
K|LA Boutique
Girl Tribe
Vestique
Ivy & Leo
Paper Skyscraper
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Arrowwood DMV Charlotte how to pass Charlotte driving test best restaurants Charlotte NC best bars Charlotte NC best coffee Charlotte NC best workout studios Charlotte best shopping Charlotte NC things to do Charlotte NC
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 Charlotte NCvolunteer opportunities this weekend
New York City

Volunteer spots in NYC

Organized, easy to sign up for, and actually make a difference.

NYC · Food
City Harvest
NYC's largest food rescue org. Regular volunteer shifts at warehouses and food distributions across the city. Easy to sign up online, very organized, great for groups.
food rescue
NYC · Community
New York Cares
The clearinghouse for NYC volunteering. Sign up once, browse hundreds of opportunities by date and neighborhood. Perfect if you want flexibility on when and where.
flexible scheduling
NYC · Environment
NYC Parks volunteer days
Show up, help clean and maintain NYC parks. GreenThumb community garden projects are especially good — you see the direct impact immediately.
outdoors
NYC · History
Morris-Jumel Mansion
Manhattan's oldest surviving house, dating to 1765. Volunteer as a docent or at events — a great way to engage with NYC history while giving back. Located in Washington Heights.
history + culture
NYC · Environment
Billion Oyster Project
Restoring oyster reefs to New York Harbor. Volunteer at reef restoration sites and educational events around the city. Hands-on, meaningful, and genuinely cool to be part of.
waterways + ecology
Los Angeles

Volunteer spots in LA

LA · Environment
Heal the Bay
Beach cleanups and environmental education across LA. Monthly cleanups at Santa Monica and other beaches. Good vibes, good cause.
beach cleanup
LA · Food
LA Kitchen
Prepares healthy meals from recovered produce for seniors. Volunteer in their commercial kitchen — no experience needed. One of the best orgs in the city.
food + seniors
LA · USC
USC Community Engagement
If you're a USC student, start here. The university has partnerships with dozens of orgs in South LA. Great for building community while doing something real.
USC students
Charlotte

Volunteer spots in Charlotte

Charlotte · Food
Second Harvest Food Bank
Charlotte's main food bank — great volunteer program with regular shifts sorting and packing food. Easy to sign up online and genuinely makes a local impact.
food bank
Charlotte · Youth
Charlotte Family Housing
Supports families experiencing homelessness. Volunteer opportunities include tutoring, donation drives, and events. One of the most impactful orgs in the city.
families + youth
Charlotte · Animals
Charlotte Animal Care & Control
Walk dogs, socialize cats, help with adoption events. If you want volunteer hours that feel immediately rewarding, this is it.
animals
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The blog

Real guides for things
people actually search for.

Each post targets a real search — something you'd type into Google when you need an honest answer. No filler, no fluff.

All posts USC & LA NYC Charlotte Volunteer Food & Eats DIY & Recipes
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USC · Guide
Moving to LA for USC? Everything you actually need to know
Food spots, sorority tips, professor recs, how to get around LA, and what no one tells you before you get there.
8 min read · USC new students
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USC · Greek Life
USC sororities — an honest breakdown for incoming students
What rush is actually like, what to look for, and the things people don't tell you until you're already in.
5 min read · USC rush
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LA · City Guide
Madi's LA city guide — restaurants, coffee, shopping & more
Dinner, casual, lunch, coffee, dessert, takeout, workouts, shopping, and accounts worth following in LA.
10 min read · LA
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NYC · City Guide
Madi's NYC city guide — every spot worth going to
Dinner, casual, lunch, coffee, dessert, bars, music venues, and workout studios. Every category covered, no filler.
10 min read · NYC
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NYC · Group Eats
Fun, affordable places to eat with friends in NYC
Under $30/person, actually fun, good for groups. No boring salad bars or tourist traps.
6 min read · NYC dining
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Charlotte · DMV + City Guide
Madi's Charlotte guide — Arrowwood DMV tips, restaurants, bars & more
How to pass the Arrowwood driving test, plus every restaurant, bar, coffee shop and workout spot worth knowing in Charlotte.
8 min read · Charlotte NC
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NYC · Volunteer
Best places to volunteer in NYC this weekend
City Harvest, New York Cares, NYC Parks — organized, accessible, and actually make an impact.
4 min read · NYC volunteer
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LA · Volunteer
Where to volunteer in LA — best orgs for college students
Heal the Bay, LA Kitchen, and USC Community Engagement — plus how to actually get started.
4 min read · LA volunteer
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DIY · Recipe
My pretzel ring recipe — easier than it looks, I promise
Soft, chewy, salty. Takes about an hour and genuinely impresses people. Full recipe here.
3 min read · baking

More posts coming. Follow along so you don't miss them.

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