Monday Memos // 106

Listening:

“Did I Ever Love You” by Leonard Cohen.

“Cyprus Avenue” by Van Morrison.

Reading:

They Told Their Three Sons to Stay Out of the Bedroom When the Blue Light Was On

Touristy Things I Still Do After Five Years of Living in New York

The Tallest Man I Ever Loved

This picture is amazing. (Photo: Michael E. Northrup via nymag)

Craving:

In the last month (oops) I’ve consumed so many divine things. Sesame bagels from Montreal. So much pizza (Ops, Roberta’s, Paulie Gee’s, Best, homemade, etc.) So many It’s-Its ice cream sandwiches. So much good coffee. Lots of sumo oranges. Lots of odd but pretty good free meal delivery kits. Thoughtful and delicious savory pastries. Celebratory Vietnamese feasts. The most buttery kouign amann. A gut-busting sugar shack spread. Fun dinner party snacks. Belated birthday babka.

Scanning through all the foods in my mind is making me extremely full.

I can’t stop thinking about this bagel.

Wearing:

Golden wide-leg cords. The most amazing black Japanese crinkle cotton jacket. Black tights. Black boots. Wrap shirts. Old sweatshirts. Jeans. Striped shirts. Clogs. Sheer polka dot socks.

Watching:

I found a way to watch the second season of Fleabag and HOLY WOW IT IS SO BRILLIANT. I was expecting nothing less and sad to finish it in two days. I was so moved by several scenes I might have to watch it again very soon. I wish I could see the play version that’s currently showing in New York.

A few weekends ago I did the same with Shrill. So easy to breeze through and quite entertaining. I want all of Aidy’s character’s shoes.

There’s a great priest plot. (image via british vogue)

Treasuring:

Happiness: I feel a bit like Charlie Bucket. "Don’t forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he wanted." "What happened?" "He lived happily ever after.”

Monday Memos // 75

Listening:

"Losers" by The Belle Brigade. (thanks MB!)

"The Heat" by Jungle.

Reading:

The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

Since The Goldfinch is currently cemented in my heart as one of my favorite books of all time, I figured I should give another Tartt novel a go. So far so great. 

"Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality their lives are changed profoundly and forever, and they discover how hard it can be to truly live and how easy it is to kill."

Also jealous of this jacket that @god_save_the_misanthropes handmade for Tavi Gevinson after they met on a New York subway platform. (more details via thecut)

Craving:

I didn't go wild on anything in particular this week, but I am regularly enjoying: mini Nutter Butters, bodega date nut bars, sweet potatoes, scrambled eggs, furikake seasoning, sautéed spinach, and lots of coffee. A hodge podge for sure. 

A warm weather craving: OddFellows ice cream. The latest storefront is all about coffee and serves up wild flavors (Pumpernickel, Huckleberry, Pumpkin Brown Butter, etc) and delightful-sounding affogatos (espresso + ice cream).

The café liégeois, a sort of parfait meets sundae made with espresso, coffee-crunch ice cream, wafer cookie, and coffee “soil.” (Photo by Melissa Hom via nymag)

Wearing:

I got to experience spring and warmth for roughly 48 hours and it was outstanding. I went out and about without sleeves and pants. There were birthday parties and barbecues in the park, there are daffodils all over the place... I wore black floral dresses and black tees and one day I didn't wear socks.

Watching:

Movies: A Fantastic Woman. I watched this alone in a nearly empty theater on Friday night. It was beautiful, wild, and deeply saddening. I would definitely recommend it. It reminded me of an Almodovar film.

Daniela Vega is amazing. (She's my age!) Also, based on the scenery in the movie, I want to go to Chile. (image via sony)

Want to see: Hot Summer Nights. It is hard not to be enticed by all things Timothée Chalamet. A boy comes of age during a summer he spends in Cape Cod. I can relate to life changing New England summertime too.

Love all the people involved in Tully. I think Ron Livingston and Mark Duplass play brothers and wow I never realized how similar they look.

And since I miss my Australia accents, That's Not Me looks fun.

Treasuring:

Hilarity: I had several moments last week where I was laughing so much I couldn't get my words out. There are few feelings better than being overcome with humor. 

Mom: My mom is the best and I love talking to her. No more explanation necessary.

I have those earrings now and I've always had that face.

Monday Memos // 73

Listening:

"This Stuff" by Frankie Cosmos.

"Thanks 4 Nothing" by Nilüfer Yanya.

"Goodbye" by Porches.

Reading:

Finding My Florida - I came across this Florida story in the New York Times and thought it was an accurate and enjoyable journey through the state. There are so many worlds, great Cuban sandwiches, and lots of mossy oaks. 

Pizza Horoscope. - Because I exist on the cusp, looks like I need to eat a whole white pizza—"an exquisite pairing of garlic and ricotta"—with a variety of spontaneous toppings from the fridge AND a Grandma pie. Done.

The Orlando house where Jack Kerouac wrote “The Dharma Bums.” Looks like my old FL home! (image by Zack Wittman for The New York Times)

Craving:

I crossed another Brooklyn Blackout cake off my list last week, this one from Little Cupcake Bakeshop. It looked heavenly and there was a framed plaque showing off Food & Wine's description of this particular cake as "one of the best chocolate cakes in the U.S."

I have to disagree. It was delicious, but the frosting was a far too sweet and the cake was a bit too airy. I'd still be down to try more of their baked goods. The carrot was tempting and the banana Nutella looked lovely.

Wearing:

Dug into my storage unit and it was like going on a shopping spree. I got so excited about shoes and dresses and shirts I forgot about. I gathered several pink tees and green dresses. Pink, red, and black boots. A glorious leather fringe vest. Maybe it's to my advantage to slowly have access to my things over a span of time. I'm ready to shed the coats and sleeves. 

Youth fashion inspiration below. Digging the overalls and chucks. My mom and I at a May Fair is very spring-floral-forward. 

Watching:

I want to watch Barry on HBO—Bill Hader is always wonderful. I'm ready for Westworld to return. I've been catching up with the last season of Atlanta so I can get back into the new one.

I'm sad I'm done with High Maintenance and caught up with Queer Eye. 

I'm curious about the movie Chappaquiddick. Having lived on that island, I'm curious to see the familiar places in the film. Kate Mara, Ed Helms, and Jim Gaffigan—interesting selection for a cast.

Ted Kennedy's car being pulled from the water next to the Dike Bridge on Chappaquiddick Island in Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard. (AP photo)

Treasuring:

Open Windows: I love hearing the violinists and singers in my building. I love having open windows WITHOUT SCREENS because there aren't a thousand bugs ready to swarm inside. I love hanging with my family, the breeze coming in, the cats all sitting in the sunshine, and it feeling like spring is here. 

Illustration by Monica Lynch via thehousethatlarsbuilt

Monday Memos // 72

Listening:

"Windows" by Angel Olsen. (The change at 2:28 is my favorite part)

"No Face" by Haley Heynderickx.

Reading:

The Last Conversation You’ll Ever Need to Have About Eating Right - A great read and reminder that all we need to do is eat real food and not too much, which is somehow easier said than done.

'Geriatric Starlet' Iris Apfel Isn't Telling Anyone How to Live - Simply: I love Iris. 

"Many protein bars are as nutritious as candy bars." I think that's why I love eating them. (photo by Bobby Doherty via nymag)

Craving:

I have a lot of restaurants starred on my map app. This weekend I got to cross one off the list: Cafe Mogador. I think I remember learning about it when I interned for The New Potato—jewelry designer Pamela Love had it on her list, and as I was starring all the vintage/thrift shops she loves, I added the Moroccan-inspired place too.

It lived up to the hype. I could've eaten seven more dishes and several more orders of the homemade naan. I even went as far as pouring the curry broth that the mussels came in into a little vessel and drinking every last drop. The music was perfect. I want to go back. I want to try their breakfast too.

Founder Rivka behind the counter at the original East Village Location. (image via cafemogador)

Yes please. (photo via BelleSavransky/DIA-NEW-YORK)

Wearing:

I think my spring wardrobe palette will be turquoise, black, and purple-pink. I found some of the best poppy collared shirts at Urban Jungle Vintage and Thrift this weekend. I'm finally feeling ready for warmer weather and skirts and dresses. More sunshine and less bulky outerwear. 

I love Angela Deane's Flora series. "Cactus Garden on Alert"

Watching:

Netflix: I quickly consumed much of Everything Sucks! "The kids in Everything Sucks! brood to music by Tori Amos and Oasis. They play with slap bracelets and use VCRs plugged into non-flat-screen televisions. They dress like No Doubt–era Gwen Stefani and paste magazine pictures of Scott Wolf from Party of Five into collages. When they’re trying to seem really “cool,” they show up to drama club gatherings with a six-pack of Zima. There are times when the show plays like a moving-picture version of one of those BuzzFeed listicles about 25 Things That Only ’90s Kids Understand." It's sincere and sweet and very enjoyable.

Peyton Kennedy and Jahi Di’Allo Winston. (photo via Scott Patrick Green/Netflix)

Movie: I went to see Isle of Dogs when it opened on Friday. I've been waiting to see this for at least a year (I regularly troll Wes Anderson's IMDb page). It was incredible! It made my heart swell! I want to nuzzle every dog I see—more than usual. It was also a nice reminder than evil can be conquered by genuine compassion (it had some strong parallels to our current political climate). 

The phrase "Isle of Dogs" appropriately sounds like "I love dogs." (image via Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Treasuring:

Everything: Blue skies and snowstorms. Sleeping and walking for miles. Laughter and uncontainable tears. Hunger and the fullest satisfaction. Eating on the floor and on the subway and nestled in a lovely restaurant corner. Writing a thousand words and sitting quietly.