Monday Memos // 56

Listening:

"Sound and Color" by Alabama Shakes.

"That's Why (I Love You So)" by Jackie Wilson. Those dance moves!

Reading:

A must-read in this time that I'm calling an earthquake of garbage and monsters: Men Don’t Get to Decide What Counts As ‘Sex’ By Liz Meriwether.

A satirical read for this stuff-yourself-silly holiday: Thanksgiving Nutrition Tips: Eat Whatever You Want, but Not That. Make food your singular focus while eating. Of course, there will be conversations at the Thanksgiving table. And that’s completely O.K. — as long as you stay out of them. Don’t speak and try not to listen. Earplugs are a good idea or, if you can, simply avoid all noise. Light is also hugely distracting. Think about a blindfold.

I've never experienced any overwhelmingly uncomfortable Thanksgiving meals (cheers to supportive family members!), but Philip is the man to ask: Thanksgiving, Solved! How to Deal With This Dreadful Holiday.

Stop. Wait. Don't. (image by Paul Windle via NYTimes)

Stop. Wait. Don't. (image by Paul Windle via NYTimes)

Craving:

Celebrated my mom's birthday at Proof restaurant in DC. So much deliciousness.

I had a Butternut Squash and Apple Soup, which was garnished with cumin yogurt, truffle piccadillo, and sourdough croutons. Then I ate the Ora King Salmon with pickled mustard greens, a sticky rice cake, shiitake mushrooms, and shoyu sauce. Perfection. Everyone's dish had us oooh-ing and yummmm-ing. 

For dessert we tried the Warm Chocolate Hazelnut Cake—topped with gianduja gelato (chocolate hazelnut) and espresso sauce—and the Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake—topped with almond streusel and vanilla ice cream. I almost licked the plates clean.

I couldn't find a good picture from Proof, but the photography on Coming Soon's website is amazing. You'll want to buy everything, too. (image of Mosser Glass Pink Milk Glass Cake Stand via comingsoonnewyork)

I couldn't find a good picture from Proof, but the photography on Coming Soon's website is amazing. You'll want to buy everything, too. (image of Mosser Glass Pink Milk Glass Cake Stand via comingsoonnewyork)

Wearing:

Nothing new to talk about regarding my own clothing adventure, so here are some fabulous things for adornment:

Patches by Amber Ibarreche.

Patches by Amber Ibarreche.

Bingo! Sweatshirt by Tuesday Bassen.

Bingo! Sweatshirt by Tuesday Bassen.

Smiley metallic crew socks by Hansel from Basel.

Smiley metallic crew socks by Hansel from Basel.

The Laurel Twist Mule by Loeffler Randall.

Watching:

Recently Viewed: The pilot episode of "Sea Oak." A genre-bending comedy from renowned author and creator George Saunders featuring Glenn Close as a working-class woman who dies in a home invasion and comes back from the dead full of rage, determined to get the life she never had.

Interested In: "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri." A darkly comedic drama with—Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, and Sam Rockwell. "The Florida Project." Willem Dafoe, my messed up home State, strong emotions... sold. "The Square." A Swedish satirical drama directed by Ruben Östlund and starring Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss, Dominic West, and Terry Notary. The film is about publicity surrounding an art installation, and was partly inspired by an installation Östlund and producer Kalle Boman had made.

Treasuring:

Dreaming. I've been having some wild dreams, which have been leaning on the side of entertaining and humorous. Quite enjoyable, really. I've also been doing a lot of daydreaming. It's nice sometimes to stare off in a car window or walk around the fall foliage and think fondly about people, places and things.

Gifting. 'Tis the season and I love gathering presents. Making them, wrapping them, compiling them, looking at gift guides, researching best things... 

(Illustration by Alessandra Olanow for Cup of Jo.)

(Illustration by Alessandra Olanow for Cup of Jo.)

Monday Memos // 29

Listening:

"Shut Up Kiss Me" by Angel Olsen.

I happened upon this song last night. It was roughly 2:30 a.m. and I was remarkably awake and bitten by some kind of wild groove bug. I have since listened to it at least a dozen times. I even drove to a far-off grocery store this afternoon so I could blast it in the car and sing along with abandon. 

The video is perfect, too. (I had one of those tinsel wigs in high school, but mine was bright blue.)

My fondness for Olsen makes immediate sense as some of her "associated acts" include Bonnie "Prince" Billy and Wilco.

Reading:

Froot magazine, specifically the Love issue

Aside from being an engaging cultural arts magazine based in NYC and made by two friends from Florida, I've got some writing and illustrations in this one! I am still thrilled to have been asked to contribute. Jeremiah and Kylie have something special going on.

So, go read my piece and also consume all the rest of the lovey goodness, too.  

I like the bio, too. (via frootmag)

I like the bio, too. (via frootmag)

Craving:

Yellow. 

Yolky eggs, nutritional yeast, bananas, plantain chips, golden turmeric milk... Sometimes you just want to eat a slew of the same color. And it was all yellow. (Yeah, I saw Coldplay in concert once.)

And for some visual splendor: the Ashish fashion show always brings it. (image via i-d)

And for some visual splendor: the Ashish fashion show always brings it. (image via i-d)

Wearing:

My grandma's wedding ring. 

I don't know that I ever saw my grandma actually wear her ring; she was not a jewelry or dress-wearing lady. Still, I wear this ring on my pointer finger when I want to channel some superior woman power. I like to think the ring gives me an infallible ability whether it's as simple as devouring an entire slice of cake or working a long, knee-aching shift at work. 

Mary would appreciate the flower in the background. 

Mary would appreciate the flower in the background. 

Watching:

I finally finished "Felicity" (that last season really hurt, talk about jumping the shark!) and "Big Little Lies" is over (so good! come back!), so here's some entertainment for the future:

The Dave Chappelle Netflix specials. (My 8th grade year book has a Chappelle's Show reference scrawled across the cover in sharpie.)

Remember when Dave was the disco cabbie in "200 Cigarettes"? (image via vimeo)

Remember when Dave was the disco cabbie in "200 Cigarettes"? (image via vimeo)

"Legion." (I keep hearing great things and Jemaine Clement plays someone called "Oliver Bird.")

From "Downton Abbey" to "High Maintenance" to this, I can definitely watch Dan Stevens. (image via BBCamerica)

From "Downton Abbey" to "High Maintenance" to this, I can definitely watch Dan Stevens. (image via BBCamerica)

"Girlboss." (Netflix is coming out with show based on Sophia Amoruso's life and I hope it's awesome)

If nothing else, I'm sure there will be some good visuals. (image via variety)

If nothing else, I'm sure there will be some good visuals. (image via variety)

Wanting:

Shows! There are several I'd quite like to see.

Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors at the Hirshhorn in D.C.

"Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors is a celebration of the legendary Japanese artist’s sixty-five-year career and promises to be one of 2017s essential art experiences... From her radical performances in the 1960s, when she staged underground polka dot “Happenings” on the streets of New York, to her latest Infinity Mirror Room, All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins, 2016, the Hirshhorn exhibition will showcase Kusama’s full range of talent for the first time in Washington, DC." (OMG I simply love the title All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins.)

Kusama’s Peep Show or Endless Love Show, 1966. Hexagonal mirrored room and electric lights. Installed at Castellane Gallery, New York, 1966. (image via hirshhorn)

Kusama’s Peep Show or Endless Love Show, 1966. Hexagonal mirrored room and electric lights. Installed at Castellane Gallery, New York, 1966. (image via hirshhorn)

The Museum of Ice Cream. 

I missed this when it was in NY last year and of course when I'll be in NY next month it will exist in Los Angeles. Alas, maybe I'll catch it at some point. Essentially this is a beautiful, weird, fabulous exhibit about all things ice cream. 

That is a pool of sprinkles and yes, you can get in it. (image via eaterny)

That is a pool of sprinkles and yes, you can get in it. (image via eaterny)

Solange at the Guggenheim!

She will perform "an interdisciplinary performance piece and meditation" in the gallery, based on her latest album, "A Seat at the Table." Though it is sold out, I will be in the area, so I will be trying to get in. 

She's too cool. (image by NADYA WASYLKO for BUST MAGAZINE)

She's too cool. (image by NADYA WASYLKO for BUST MAGAZINE)