Monday Memos // 74

Listening:

"For You" by Elephant Parade.

"Sleep Till They Die" by La Luz.

(Courtesy deejay DQ)

Reading:

Shameless self promotion — This Cinnamon Raisin Bread Did More for My Love Life Than Tinder.

That tousled hair really does make one feel a certain way — Timothée Chalamet Made Me Do It.

Comfort Foods for Discomfiting Times — Chicken Pot Pie "Make one the size of a baby elephant, crawl inside, and shelter in place until science makes a comeback."

By Olivia de Recat via the New Yorker

I love this image. I ate several slices post photo shoot. (photo by Alex Lau and styling by Emily Eisen)

Craving:

This week was a serious carbohydrate extravaganza. I ate so many of the most delicious things. 

On Wednesday, there was a catered work lunch by Gordon Savory and The Good Batch bakery. I ate half of a roasted chicken caesar sandwich (roasted chicken, caesar dressing, parmesan, bread crumbs, aioli, seeded polenta bread), half of a warm burrata sandwich (burrata, roasted winter squash, parmesan, basil, pickled chili, toasted sourdough focaccia), some sweet and sour Brussel sprouts, and some seasonal farro salad. Wow. It was all delightful. Plus, I sampled the Chocolate Impossible Cookie (almond flour, gluten-free flour, cocoa powder, loaded with dark chocolate chips and chunks), the Sophisticate Cookie (oats, currants, pistachios and dark chocolate), and an oat strudel jam bar. I stopped myself from sampling the array of cookie ice cream sandwiches, but I know I'll have to go visit both shops in the future. 

I also got to experience the sheer joy and option overload of Café Altro Paradiso’s second-annual Bake Sale to Benefit Planned Parenthood. From what I can recall from the pastry blackout: a savory ricotta onion scone from Reynard Restaurant, an apple galette from Poppy's, one of Alison Roman's salty chocolate chunk shortbread cookies, a fudgy coconut brownie from the Smile, a walnut raisin sourdough loaf from Sullivan Street Bakery, a fig and smoked white chocolate oatmeal cookie from Otway, a peanut butter and jelly and a chocolate chip cardamon cookie from I don't remember, a sweet potato sourdough roll from Hemlock, a corn cookie from City House Nashville, and wow wow wow. Are you disturbed or jealous or both?

The decor of Cafe Altro Paradiso is lovely and I want to go back for a meal. I saw Dorie Greenspan there. It was baker foodie heaven. (image via Nick Solares)

Wearing:

My favorite things I wore this week: a cropped paisley button up, tan Sven clogs, red ankle boots with gold studs, sparkle socks, a denim jacket and my X and O earrings. Golden sparkles is a good theme.

I now want all the Carhartt Work In Progress clothes, particularly the teal and rose and dusty blue jackets and pants.

Watching:

Movies: A Quiet Place. Terrifying, endearing, and captivating. John Krasinski should feel proud. "a nerve-shredder. It’s a movie designed to make you an active participant in a game of tension, not just a passive observer in an unfolding horror." — R.E.

Also watched 6 Balloons. "Over the course of one night, a woman drives across Los Angeles with her brother, who is addicted to heroin, in search of a detox center." It had so many people I admire and enjoy on screen (Abbi Jacobson, Dave Franco, Jane Kaczmarek), but I didn't love it. It felt like it was missing something.

TV: Watched Barry. Satisfied and entertained, though not the same anticipatory nature as other HBO hits like Westworld or Insecure. 

Saw two more episodes of The Characters on Netflix starring John Early and Kate Berlant. Riveting and emotional and embarrassing aka HIGHLY recommend. It's fun to see how various comedians take the open-ended constraint of 30 minutes to do and play whatever they want. 

“Vicky With A V.” Also, fact: John Early officiated Amy Schumer’s wedding as Vicky. (image via Netflix)

Treasuring:

Writing words: I felt so excited to put out some personal words for Bon Appetit's Healthyish aside from simply writing about sales and gadgets. My coworkers had really nice things to say. I feel like I am inching toward getting good at this. Now I just need to get back to more journaling too — though I think that is roughly what this has become. 

My continual thought: WWDSD? David Sedaris in his Raleigh, North Carolina apartment in 1980. (Photo by Jeffrey Jenkins via the New Yorker)

Monday Memos // 71

Listening:

"Only With You" by Angel Olsen.

"You and I" by Wilco featuring Feist.

This song was in the latest season of Love on Netflix — bringing me back to my family Wilco days.

"Mystery of Love" by Sufjan Stevens.

I waited forever and a half to see Call Me By Your Name. I think I needed some emotional stability so I wouldn't sob the entire movie. This song paired with the scene, it gave me an enormous swell of feelings. I love Sufjan.

"I Was Born A Unicorn" by The Unicorns.

This song was also in the latest season of Love and instantly transported me to 15 years old. (Roz, remember when we went with them to prom?)

Reading:

I Hid Who I Was for So Long. Until I Became a Cook. By Andy Baraghani. This is a wonderful piece. I feel very inspired by my coworkers.

If you're curious how the Talenti Taste Test I participated in went down, this is Joe's full report. I'm still more of a chocolate and peanut butter varietal fan.  

That's my arm on the left. (image by Caleb Adams)

Craving:

This week is brought to you by almonds. I'm in love with this almond-based dip/spread called Bitchin' Sauce — all the flavors are delicious.

I participated in an almond butter taste test (grocery store brands are top ranking: TJs. Whole Foods 365, Costco, etc.).

I devoured a variety of "cocoa-dusted" almonds that were sitting next to my desk (in espresso, maple, and mayan) — I didn't adore them, but they were there.

I also cannot stop eating dates. 

I got to try these Salted Chocolate–Tahini Bliss Balls and I want to make more for myself. (photo by Alex Lau)

Wearing:

Last Monday I was walking to work and thought, I should revive my fashion game now that I go to a big fancy building for work. A couple hours later, I was pushing a cart full of toasters down an empty hallway, wearing jeans, my It's-It sweatshirt, and my decade-old purple vans, and guess who walks right by me? Anna Wintour! In the flesh, full-on sparkling tweed skirt suit. She definitely didn't look me in the eye. At least I do really love that sweatshirt.

Just Anna and the Queen. (image via hello magazine)

Watching:

Live: I went to this show last Friday: LAS CULTURISTAS LIVE: I DON'T THINK SO, HONEY! Wow! Dozens upon dozens of comedians and performers take one minute each to go off on culture. My face hurt from laughing so much. My hands hurt from clapping so much. Now I am in a deep dive of the Las Culturistas podcast and thoroughly in love with the hosts and concept. 

On Netflix: I consumed season three of Love in a couple of days. I think I enjoyed it more toward the end of the season, and maybe not as much as the first, but still a fan.

Shorts: If you want short segments of brilliance, watch 555 on Vimeo. "A motley cast of characters, played entirely by comedians Kate Berlant and John Early. Director Andrew DeYoung rounds out the trio of creators who put their minds together to birth this hilariously cutting new miniseries (and freshest Vimeo Original). In five short films, they show us the struggle of trying to achieve big tinseltown dreams, in a town built on power." — Vimeo Blog

HBO: Week after week, High Maintenance is my favorite in television. The latest episode was bursting with weirdness and beauty and more than I could put into words.

Poster and logo for 555 produced by Abso Lutely.

Treasuring:

Dogs: I saw an excitable husky in a window the other night and I keep passing the same apartment on a daily basis hoping to see it again. There are always so many great dogs in the city from Dalmatian puppies to scrappy mutts in sweaters to the sweetest looking Corgi in a backpack. I am a fan of them all. It is year of the dog after all. 

Scene from Maira Kalman's Max series — I've got a tattoo of Max, in the brown hat and coat. Her dog depictions are superb.

Monday Memos // 70

Listening:

"Haunt You" by Bad Magic.

Perhaps hit by a pang of nostalgia and homesickness, this song by a Florida-made friend, Julie Karr, came to mind on Saturday night. I've listened to it repeatedly since. This video cracks me up, I love it. I'd recommend spending a few dollars for the album here, the sound from the album recording is a bit bigger than the video version. 

"Buddy Holly" by Weezer.

I went out dancing and between the Drake and Rihanna, for some reason this song was mixed in a set and finally something I know all the words too! It took me back. Myself and the other late-twenty/early-thirty-year-olds were feeling it. This video is just fun.

Reading:

All the remedies: The Healthyish Guide to Feeling Better Already

New York Magazine's How To Raise A Boy series has some touching, informative, interesting reads.

I learned a lot from The Epicurious Knife Guide. Most of these knives have been sitting around my desk for weeks, so I feel close to this. Plus, the photos are superb.

Mesmerized. (photo by Chelsea Kyle, prop styling by Beatrice Chastka, food styling by Anna Stockwell)

Craving:

I snack on thousands of new things lately, the wild, pant-tightening world of food publications. Dates dipped in sunflower butter. Rocky road cookies. French onion chicken. Partially popped and "probiotic activated" popcorn. Cookie crisps. BBQ sweet potato chips. Dark chocolate with coconut milk, vanilla sea salt, and nibs called "Kissed Mermaids." Maybe I should start turning down samples, but it really is deliciously exciting. 

If you come across this brand of chocolate (Xocolatl) buy it! (image via metaleap creative)

Wearing:

I brought out the beloved pink faux fur jacket this weekend. I also wore one of my prized possessions: a sweatshirt I embroidered for a project in art school — my modern interpretation of a Mexican huipil. 

I went to an awesome girlgaze event in my sweatshirt. This picture cracks me up. 

Watching:

I want to see: Flower (so many great actors) and Thoroughbreds (looks kind of creepy and enjoyable).

Treasuring:

New Friends: Getting to hang out with people, sitting on barstools talking about our lives and problems and making jokes, what a nice feeling! Having people to share cabs with and 5 a.m. waffle fries is more than I could've asked for. Having fun work friends to show you a new floor at work with free cereal and ginger ale is priceless. I definitely miss my longtime friends, but I'll take all these moments too.

By Ella Frances Sanders

Monday Memos // 48

Listening:

"Something On Your Mind" by Karen Dalton

"We Don't Deserve Love" by Arcade Fire

"Garvey' s Ghost" by Max Roach

Reading:

"Google’s most-searched “how-to” questions capture all the magic and struggle of being human"

This is more of a "reading through pictures"—but I love these kinds of photo series: "What dinner time looks like across the USA. A seat at the table."

More in the way of visual storytelling: An Ode to Acts of Kindness on the New York City Subway.

And finally, some doodle-y goodness: The Illustrated Interview: Bruce Weber.

“I just love the way they're just kind of embracing in this open romance in the subway as he's reading this book,” Mr. Wagner said. “It almost looks like they're reading it together.” (image via Andre D. Wagner for The New York Times)

Craving:

Consuming with frequency: oatmeal cookies, fried eggs, salad with grilled chicken, crunchy peanut butter, and roasted sweet potatoes.

Drooling over recipes: chai banana bread, milk + honey baklava, small batch vegan brownies, and roasted lemon basil butter salmon with burst tomatoes.

Still on a Greek kick I suppose. (image via acozykitchen)

Wearing:

T-shirts: old American Apparel v-necks and a trusty Everlane pocket tee.

Shorts: cut-offs from high school pants via the Gap and American Eagle. DIY-meets-preppy.

Dresses: grey and black H&M shirt dresses than have stood the test of time.

Shoes: decade-old purple slip-on vans that pair well with my mud-drenched yard.

Good sentiment. (hand drawn type by maddy nye for designlovefest)

Watching:

"Broad City"—because it is always superb. "I Love Dick"—because why not try a feminist cringe-comedy with Kevin Bacon and Kathryn Hahn. "Claws"—because sometimes you have to binge a cheesy show set in Florida with your roommate to cope with flooding and totaled cars.

Treasuring:

Friends helping out friends in the stormy weather.

Subtle moments of animal affection and closeness.

Sleeping in.

(illustration by Mari Andrew via cupofjo)