Monday Memos // 77

Listening:

"Burnin' Up" by Sonny Smith featuring Angel Olsen.

"L.A." by Amen Dunes.

Reading:

How Mathilde Freund, Vintage Dealer, Spends Her Sundays — "I use a cane now when I go outside. Five years ago I slipped in the apartment and broke my femur. It was on my birthday. I call him my boyfriend. I put him in the corner and he never answers me."

Ideal Travel Tricks — Our Highly Subjective But Very Smart Guide to Traveling

Watching ‘Wild, Wild Country’? Then You Need to See The Rajneesh Cookbook — it's called Zorba the Buddha, my friend's grandpa used to all me Zorba the Greek.

The Grub Street Diet — Author Jonathan Ames Adds Chocolate to His Vitamins When He’s Feeling Decadent — My favorite part: I should shop more frequently, but my problem is that I put it off, even if I’m starving. I once had a character in one of my TV shows say something like: “I don’t procrastinate! I just like to do things later.”

“As for what I eat, I would describe it as a ‘carb-free, somewhat tormented Paleo, bourgeois bachelor, Grey Gardens’ diet.” (photo by Yuri Hasegawa via nymag)

“As for what I eat, I would describe it as a ‘carb-free, somewhat tormented Paleo, bourgeois bachelor, Grey Gardens’ diet.” (photo by Yuri Hasegawa via nymag)

Craving:

In the name of health, I've been craving and consuming a number of smoothies and juices. I'm also newly enamored with Tangerine La Croix and cashew butter. Dates, rice cakes, spirulina powder, sweet potato hummus... my inner bohemian is showing.

I refrained from too much work grazing this week, but there also weren't many feasts up for grabs. I am jealous I didn't get to try this carrot cake that was raved about. I'll have to make it soon.

It's beautiful! (PHOTO BY ALEX LAU, FOOD STYLING BY CHRIS MOROCCO, PROP STYLING BY EMILY EISEN

It's beautiful! (PHOTO BY ALEX LAU, FOOD STYLING BY CHRIS MOROCCO, PROP STYLING BY EMILY EISEN

Wearing:

Weekend with my parents means a "shopping trip" to my storage unit. I've almost acquired all of my clothes and about two-thirds of my shoes. Exciting! Inspired by the few days in the 90s, I gathered a watermelon jumpsuit, various summery sundresses, sandals, trusty Keds, linen shirts, and eyelet-covered tops. I'm not really ready for the full-on heat wave, but I my wardrobe is. 

Wearing these loafers a lot.

Wearing these loafers a lot.

Watching:

I watched the entirety of the comedy tv series Alone Together. I wouldn't say it's brilliant, but it's an easy viewing experience with lots of actors and comedians I enjoy (Kate Berlant, Amy Landecker, Nikki Glaser, Chelsea Peretti) and subjects I relate to. Two millennials from differing backgrounds strike up a platonic male-female friendship as they seek to navigate the streets of L.A. These two best friends, Esther and Benji, try to navigate the vanity of the city while watching each other's backs but also calling each other out for nonsense. I like Ester's podcast too.

Want to see: Duck Butter (Alia Shawkat, Laia Costa, Mae Whitman. "Two women, who are dissatisfied with the dishonesty they see in dating and relationships, decide to make a pact to spend 24 hours together hoping to find a new way to create intimacy.") Madeline's Madeline (Helena Howard, Molly Parker, Miranda July. "A theater director's latest project takes on a life of its own when her young star takes her performance too seriously.")

"a low-budget improv vérité psychodrama" (PHOTO COURTESY OF TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL)

"a low-budget improv vérité psychodrama" (PHOTO COURTESY OF TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL)

Treasuring:

Snuggles: Weekend visits to my parents also mean squeezing in the most snuggles with my cat. As much as possible, I'd wedge my body up against his and rub his velvety little snout. 

Stranger conversations: I chatted up a friendly older woman in line for the bus. I told her my seating strategy (bottom level, aisle seat, left side). She appreciated my tips so we sat together. She told me a place to eat the best dumplings in Flushing, Queens and about her father's time at war. My favorite moment was when she was on the phone with her brother, who was picking her up in D.C. "I see a sign. I see a car. I see trees. Mile marker 92. Does any of this mean anything to you? I don't know where I am? Do you?"

BFF

BFF

Monday Memos // 34

Listening:

I've had some great listening moments lately on long bus trips and crowded subway rides.

Reading:

I love reading a physical paper. This week it's been The Village Voice. 

Favorite articles:

Maximalism or Minimalism? The Modern Ice Cream Lover’s Dilemma by Nora Whelan

Ample Hills’ It Came From Gowanus with munchies topping (left) and Van Leeuwen’s strawberry with sprinkles (image by LISA SHIN via villagevoice)

Ample Hills’ It Came From Gowanus with munchies topping (left) and Van Leeuwen’s strawberry with sprinkles (image by LISA SHIN via villagevoice)

White Gold Butchers co-owner April Bloomfield: “That meaty smell always felt so wholesome.” (image by Noah Fecks via villagevoice)

White Gold Butchers co-owner April Bloomfield: “That meaty smell always felt so wholesome.” (image by Noah Fecks via villagevoice)

Craving:

Everything.

Hailing from a place where there are three places to eat breakfast, one good Thai restaurant and new, worthwhile restaurants popping up only every so often, being in New York City is my culinary dream!

I've had so many solo feasts and delightful treats. Favorites include: a vegetarian combo platter from Meskerem Ethiopian Cuisine; a cup of vegan ice cream from Van Leeuwen; a $12 pile of interesting, delicious salads from LifeThyme Market (beets and dill and salmon and zucchini noodles and yams, etc.); chicken pesto meatballs from Penelope...

It was unseasonably warm and my feet felt like they were bleeding and the ice cream tasted just like heaven. 

It was unseasonably warm and my feet felt like they were bleeding and the ice cream tasted just like heaven. 

Wearing:

Consistent the last several days: Grandma's ring, novelty socks, a colored wrist band, Apple watch, something black, blisters.

Watching:

"Twin Peaks." ! ! !

I've only watched the first hour (don't call them episodes--it's an 18-hour work), but I think we're all in for a treat. Riveting! Exciting! It's finally here. 

Kyle MacLachlan in the revived “Twin Peaks.” (image by Suzanne Tenner/Showtime via nytimes)

Kyle MacLachlan in the revived “Twin Peaks.” (image by Suzanne Tenner/Showtime via nytimes)

Wanting:

Today I met the founder and creative director of one of my favorite shoe brands (Loeffler Randall), Jessie Randall. Her and one of my editor's were wearing the Lulu mule in silver and let's say I've got shoe envy. 

But really, I'll take one of anything. (via loefflerrandall)

But really, I'll take one of anything. (via loefflerrandall)

I also met Jenna Lyons (! ! ! she was the sweetest and took my business card ! ! !) I want to wear billowing culottes and white sneakers and kimono jackets like her. Or anything like her.

I was going to snap a quick picture but instead went and talked to her. This is older, but still a great example. (image via pinterest but looks very sartorialist)

I was going to snap a quick picture but instead went and talked to her. This is older, but still a great example. (image via pinterest but looks very sartorialist)

Lots of wants when you exist in the city of dreams.