Monday Memos // 99

Listening:

"Quarry Hymns" by Land of Talk.

“Look At What the Light Did Now” by Little Wings.

I’ve had this image stuck in my head all week. I’m sorry. “A teenage Hawaiian Monk seal executes the Eel Challenge.” (Photo: NOAA Fisheries/Brittany Dolan via nymag)

I’ve had this image stuck in my head all week. I’m sorry. “A teenage Hawaiian Monk seal executes the Eel Challenge.” (Photo: NOAA Fisheries/Brittany Dolan via nymag)

Craving:

Saturday night I went to a latke party. From the lovely people to the dogs to the coziness, it was wonderful. But then, the fried foods—WOW. Fresh batches of latkes dipped in homemade applesauce and spicy mustard sauce. Little cornichons and dried figs and apricots. Fresh, piping hot arancini (stuffed rice balls coated with bread crumbs and filled with gooey, cheesy centers) with homemade chili dipping sauce. AND homemade doughnuts! They were little pillows of heaven and powdered sugar, which we dipped in cookie butter and jam. I had to stop myself at the savory doughnuts with mushroom and creme fraiche topping—too full. Happy Hanukkah!

There was even a box of goods from NY’s Dough Doughnuts. I had a bite of a lemon poppyseed one. Amazing. (image via doughdoughnuts.com)

There was even a box of goods from NY’s Dough Doughnuts. I had a bite of a lemon poppyseed one. Amazing. (image via doughdoughnuts.com)

Wearing:

It’s COLD. But also, this week was full of work events, so last Monday I stepped it up with a touch of glamour by way of a nice, new black denim wrap top and my old red boots with gold details. Also, there was a launch party for the Cook90 cookbook (go buy it! it’s amazing! I’m even in the dedication page!), where my Epicurious coworkers and I all wore matching shirts that said: “Do you even nextover?” You’ll have to read the book to get it.

Watching:

Last week I just needed to cry a lot and I found a show to match my sentiments. It’s like an alternate to This Is US and it is called A Million Little Things. It’s so cheesy, full of over the top drama and complications. There are affairs, secrets, cancer, suicide. There’s an important plot vehicle by way of yin yang necklace. There’s that “Riptide” song by Vance Joy that seems to be in a lot of shows at emotional moments. Still, I’m going to keep watching it. Berger is in it! (Ron Livingston. He’s a lot of amazing people from movies and tv, but my first thought is always Jack Berger.)

I don’t really know much about any other actors in this except for the guy next to Ron, who was in Psych, and the guy on the end, right, who was in Weeds.

I don’t really know much about any other actors in this except for the guy next to Ron, who was in Psych, and the guy on the end, right, who was in Weeds.

Treasuring:

Good stories and kind people: I met Ted Allen and talked to him about his favorite All-Clad whisk. I saw a taping of Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me at Carnegie Hall. A jewelry designer told me my grandma’s ring looked beautiful on me and gave me an orange. The day I was reminded of my cinnamon bread story, I saw this truck with a giant image of cinnamon raisin bread. Someone told me to enjoy the wandering and vast loneliness I feel now, because I’ll miss it one day when everything is familiar and comfortable.

Monday Memos // 37

Listening:

Land of Talk's "Life After Youth."

NY Mag has a column this month called "That's a Bop"—an effort to introduce you to artists and songs beyond the top-ten list. The headline for the article on Land of Talk called to me: "This Song Will Motivate You to Pick Up That Side Project You’ve Been Neglecting." 

I don't want to waste it this time / I don't want to waste it, my life

Reading:

"The African Svelte: Ingenious Misspellings That Make Surprising Sense" by Daniel Menaker & illustrated by Roz Chast. 

During his time at The New Yorker, Daniel Menaker happened across a superb spelling mistake: “The zebras were grazing on the African svelte." Fascinated by the idea of unintentionally meaningful spelling errors, he began to see that these gaffes—neither typos nor auto-corrects—are sometimes more interesting than their straight-laced counterparts.

Menaker glances at familiar fumbles like "for all intensive purposes" and "doggy-dog world," but readers delighted by language will find themselves turning the pages with baited breath to discover fresh howlers that have them laughing off their dairy airs.  

The introduction is by poet Billy Collins, too. 

The introduction is by poet Billy Collins, too. 

Craving:

Mediterranean fare.

I've been consumed by the thought of falafel and hummus and tahini dressed things this week. I could go for a gyro or pita platter, too. I think the seed was planted when I saw these falafel waffles. 

Oh, Ladycakes makes to most delicious looking foodstuff. (image via ohladycakes)

Oh, Ladycakes makes to most delicious looking foodstuff. (image via ohladycakes)

Wearing:

The shoe archive.

I've been digging around my closet, dusting off old favorite shoes, letting neglected pairs out for a walk or two. 

Chunky white ones, spray-painted red-toed ones, super metallic strappy ones, old slipper-like ones, etc.

Watching:

Currently watching a hodgepodge of shows I've already mentioned here before. However, what I really want to see is the new movie "Band Aid."

A directorial debut from Zoe Lister-Jones, the story follows a couple (played by Lister-Jones and Adam Pally) who can’t stop fighting and end up working through their grief by turning all their fights into song. Fred Armisen plays the drums. 

Wanting:

A beautiful, affordable, comfortable apartment. Wood floors would be nice. A decent closet would be great. Come on universe!

Hey, I could hang with this kitchen if I had to. (Image via The Los Angeles Times California Home Book)

Hey, I could hang with this kitchen if I had to. (Image via The Los Angeles Times California Home Book)