Monday Memos // 80

Listening:

"You're Out Wasting" by Andy Shauf.

"Free Translator" by The Books.

"Blue" by The Jayhawks. 

Reading:

I finally starting bringing a book to read on my subway commutes. It was a revelation and a joy—until I realized I can only last about 20 minutes before I feel that carsick sensation. Dang it! Can you mentally psych yourself out of that?

Guilty pleasure reading: advice columns, horoscopes, and wedding announcements. These are along those lines: One Door Closes, and an Uber Door Opens. Love Follows. More of Your 13-Word Love Stories.

Craving:

The siren song of granola is strong. I can finish a bag too quickly. I usually try not to stock it in my home, but I've been pulled to various bags in the last month. Purely Elizabeth Granola is always delicious, and one of their new flavors Chocolate Sea Salt + Peanut Butter, was devoured in no time. Yesterday I happened upon a cocoa cranberry coconut granola by Bread Alone, an organic bread bakery based in the Catskills, and it was delightful. Hopefully I can make it last a week. 

I also went to new Sichuanese restaurant over the weekend, General Deb's, where our party of three ate until stuffed. Smashed cucumber salad, saucy Chinese broccoli, sesame-drenched chilled potato sticks, marinated slices of fish in deep red chili oil sauce, and hot sesame noodles with snow peas and scallions... yes. The air conditioner was broken and the day was quite hot, but it was such a great time.

Old storefront, new food. (Photos by Robert Sietsema via NY Eater)

Wearing:

Some serious blisters from a wandering adventure last weekend led to a consequent week full of tennis shoes and orthopedic clogs and sandals. Keds, Danskos, and Crocs. I could be embarrassed by the last choice, but they were free and very un-Croc-like and comfortable. 

These Crocs are Balenciaga. I think I hate them so much that I love them. (image via vanityfair)

Watching:

Last week I went to my now-regular solo movie date. I saw Tully. I found it more heartbreaking, wonderful, and riveting than I was expecting. Plus, the music was the same. I walked home feeling emotional, listening to The Jayhawks on repeat. 

Though it's not rated highly, the previews made me want to see Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town (I must have a new infatuation with Mackenzie Davis too).

I saw the first episode of Killing Eve and I cannot wait to watch the rest. Eve's life as a spy is not adding up to what she had hoped it would be when she started. She is a bored, very smart, MI5 security officer who is very desk-bound. Villanelle is a very talented killer, mercurial in mood, who clings to the luxuries of her job. Eve and Villanelle go head to head in a fierce game of cat and mouse, each woman equally obsessed with the other as Eve is tasked with hunting down the psychopathic assassin. I am here for all things Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who created the show and the favorite Fleabag. Also, Sandra Oh is a delight. 

I don't know much about Jodie Comer, here in Killing Eve, but she's great. (image via rollingstone)

Treasuring:

Good feelings: Work exhaustion and a full moon and a weird schedule had me feeling a little slow and low last week. Still, the weekend revived me with good feelings for the future and what I am doing and where I am. Lounging on the couch in the sunshine. Creative projects simmering in my head. Short trips and visits from friends in the coming weeks. Groovy June-y, baby.

May we all feel this way. Amen.

Monday Memos // 51

Listening:

"Forgiven/Forgotten" by Angel Olsen. "If there's one thing I fear / It's knowing you're around / So close but not here / So close / Oh, but not with me here / So close / But not with me here"

"New York" by St. Vincent. This video is good.

"Milestones" by Buddy Rich. I love this song in all forms and iterations. Birdland in it's entirety is really groovy too.

Reading:

This week brought to you by The New Yorker's humor section—

The Dark Truth Behind the Making of Pumpkin-Spice Lattes

Lesser-Known Roomba Error Codes

Your Content Will Resume Shortly

 By Farley Katz.

As a bonus: For the Rock Star, Love Has Finally Landed. I'll admit, I'm a sucker for reading the Weddings section of the New York Times. It's like my inner romantic is constantly trying to melt the nonchalant/fear of rejection/un-celebratory parts of me. Anyways, in a long and winding path, I found my way to this wedding from a year ago (I went to get lunch at Eleven36 and was looking though their Instagram page and saw this photo and went to the source and it had to do with this sweet and magical love story with a record store and a musician and long distance and triumph).

“Matthew floats just above the earth,” said their officiant, Ms. de Wilde. “I think that he needs someone like Emily to help bring him down to earth and make the ground less punishing.”

The couple recited personalized vows before approximately 130 friends and family. “You already think the world’s in color, and then it’s really in color,” the groom said of his bride. “You already think you’re a loving person, and then you feel like your heart doubles in size.”  (image by Lauren Lancaster for The New York Times

Craving:

There are rare times in life when I do not want chocolate cake. So as a celebratory treat for my successful move to New York on Saturday, I got myself a slice of Brooklyn blackout cake from Cinnamon Girl. It was light and rich, cakey and puddingy, I could hardly savor it—I completely devoured it. 

"Blackout cake, sometimes called Brooklyn Blackout cake, is an American chocolate cake filled with chocolate pudding and chocolate cake crumbs, and frosted with chocolate icing. It was invented during World War II by a Brooklyn-based bakery chain named Ebinger's, in recognition of the mandatory blackouts to protect the Brooklyn Navy Yard."

I think I could make it my quest to find all the best blackout cakes in the city.

On my list is Ovenly's version—a favorite for the Village Voice (image via Adam Robb for the villiagevoice)

Wearing:

It's like I have a uniform. Stripes. Denim. Slip-on, solid-colored shoes. 

I'm ready for fall gear, though the heat seems to have followed me up north thus far. Lusting for layers. Scarves. Jackets. Boots. 

Ready for primping. (image by leah goren)

Watching:

Keeping up with: "This Is Us" (crying and bonding); "Project Runway" (so much drama and twists this season!); "The Deuce" (entertained but not entirely sold).

Recently viewed: "The Meyerowitz Stories" (typical Baumbach—lots of laughing and cringing)

Want to see: "Blade Runner 2049" (positive recommendations and Gosling); "Mindhunter" (I like Jonathan Groff and David Fincher).

Treasuring:

My cat. Considering the variety of sensitivities he has (loud noises terrify him, knocks on the door terrify him, plastic bags terrify him, the presence of most large men terrify him), I was hoping for an okay experience driving 12-13 hours straight with his company. Turns out he's a phenomenal travel partner. He was patient and quiet and easy—he never made a single terrible noise! We chatted, I sang to him, I cried to him, I felt so grateful for his companionship. 

His first days versus these days. 

A majority of my life was spent wishing I lived elsewhere. I made it out of my hometown for a few years, then found myself back—a stay that was longer than anticipated. Yet, this last stint was one of the best. I made some of the most amazing relationships. I felt joy and excitement and satisfaction. I discovered so many things about the place and myself. What a relief (and some serious heartache) to leave on such terms. 

My feet in Florida.