The Cozy Map Is Coming

The Hudson River is freezing solid from north to south. We’re waking up to many mornings in below-zero temperatures.

We’ve never needed a Cozy Map of Comfy Places more than now. I’ve been going on and on about this map on the Instagram feed, and I promise that it’s coming soon. I just need to visit a few more spots to see if they pass the Cozy Test.

What is the Cozy Test? This is something I learned from Times-Union journalist Maria M. Silva, who made a map of cozy restaurants for the Times-Union in 2023, recently updated for 2025. For my podcast, I called her up and asked if she could spare any tips for me, a novice cartographer, and she generously told me what to notice when determining if a place is truly Cozy Accomplished.

In the early days of mapmaking, my 17th-century colleagues in cartography would draw in scary monsters and made-up beasts when they didn’t have enough information about a place. I don’t want to have to do that on my map, so when I started my research, the first hit that came up in my Google search results was Maria’s map.

So, just like any effective influencer, I DM’d her. Here are some of her tried and true tips.

Maria focused on restaurants — here’s the link to her map — and my Jiffy Jaunting map will have some restaurants but also places in these categories here:

• Breweries & Cideries

• Bookstores

• Bars

• Coffee Shops & Third Places

• Art Studios, Museums, & Galleries

• Boutique Shops

• Community Centers & Libraries

• Diners

• Hotels & Hotel Lobbies

• Restaurants

I think I might have over-extended myself, so I need your help. Do you know of any places that give you the coziness you need at this time of year? Reply to the email and let me know.

By the way, as I drive across the Hudson Valley (and even as I write this email), I’ve been listening to a playlist I made, a Cozy Mix For Comfy Places. I’m linking it below for subscribers at the J’Fay Supreme level.

You can upgrade to the J’Fay Supreme level by clicking here. It really goes a long way in supporting the type of documentary storytelling here at The Jiffy. Thank you to the Supremers!

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