Monday Memos // 93

Listening:

“Comeback Kid” by Sharon Van Etten. New Sharon! And it’s not epically depressing! I’m looking forward to hearing the full album.

“The Flu” by Lala Lala.

“Love Leaks” by TT.

Reading:

I won’t give you anything too depressing and hard to read. We all need a break sometimes.

These are entertaining updates from people that I sit near at work. Here.

Mr. Autumn Man Walking Down Street With Cup Of Coffee, Wearing Sweater Over Plaid Collared Shirt

“What Kind of Times Are These” By Adrienne Rich

A good way to describe the political landscape.

Craving:

I had a delicious feast at Shuka with my parents. We had falafel, so much warm pita bread, Taramasalata (Smoked Arctic Char dip with Trout Roe), butternut squash hummus, kebabs (with spiced yogurt, zhoug, parsley+sumac onions), kale and acorn squash salad, and scallops. Amazing.

I also went to An Choi, a wonderful Vietnamese eatery. I had a shrimp and avocado salad roll, veggie Phở, and Bánh Mì Gà Chiên (Crispy baked chicken leg poached in lemongrass & garlic). Also amazing.

(image via anchoinyc.com)

Wearing:

I could write the same thing as last time—it got hot again and then it cooled off again and then got hot again (and it’s making me feel ill! so stop please!). I wore a lot of black and white and brown and olive. Lace and structure and collared and casual. One day I threw in a hot pink shirt.

Watching:

I really want to see:

The Romanoffs. “Emmy-winning producer Matthew Weiner (Mad Men) created this anthology series that tells stories of people who believe that they are descendants of a Russian royal family. Each episode takes place in a new location -- with filming occurring on three continents -- with a new cast. Among the actors appearing in the hourlong installments are Aaron Eckhart, Amanda Peet, Diane Lane, Kathryn Hahn, Noah Wyle, and Mad Men alumni Christina Hendricks and John Slattery. Weiner writes and directs each episode of the Amazon original series.” Cannot wait. There are a million other amazing actors in this too.

And with more Kathryn Hahn, I want to see Private Life. “A couple coping with infertility struggle to keep their marriage going as they navigate through the world of adoption and assisted reproduction.” It’s also got Paul Giamatti and Molly Shannon.

Treasuring:

Chilling: Sometimes you need to lie in your bed for an afternoon and cancel plans and stay up late texting in the dark. Sometimes you need to nap at odd hours of the day. Sometimes you need to just sit on a bench at the park.

Monday Memos // 87

Listening:

"Tranquillo" by Eric V. Hachikian. 

"Doctor Doctor" by Oh Pep!

"Clean Jeans" by Remember Sports. 

Reading:

My Week in Disposable Film, By Marie Claire’s Design Director

10 useful foreign language words without direct English translation — the Japanese word “tsundoku,” which means to purchase books but never read them, letting them pile up on shelves or nightstands.

Insufferable Eaters by Olivia de Recat

Craving:

Delicious baked goods and iced coffees.

I did lots of wandering this weekend and the heat index and humidity were not the best. In between mopping sweat off my forehead and neck, I drank lots of iced coffee and refueled my energy with various treats. My favorite were the chocolate chip, double chocolate, and oatmeal raisin cookies from Chez Alex Bakery. A peach blueberry muffin from Bake Shop was also a moist little lifesaver. Plus, there was a banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookie and a giant cowboy one that were both delights. So many cookies. 

Bake Shop has good neon signs and flooring. 

Wearing:

Striped t-shirts. Shorts. Slacks. Small and often floral dresses. 

Got this Everlane tee and I could wear it every day. 

Watching:

I'm not feeling very obsessed and in awe of tv/movie media from the last week. So tidbits...

YouTube: Such a satisfying journey—Pastry Chef Attempts To Make Gourmet Oreos

TV: Can't wait for Insecure to start up again next week.

Movies: I want to see Crazy Rich Asians (seems like a good, light summer movie) and The Favourite (always a fan of the visually stunning and pretty twisted films of Yorgos Lanthimos).

Olivia Colman and Rachel Weisz in the The Favourite.

Treasuring:

Music and walking and walking and walking: I feel revived by music. Hearing new bands and getting wrapped up in songs. Listening to mixes and cassette tapes. I feel great at my 6-month mark in the city. I'm still so excited to wander for hours and happen upon new corners of this place. 

Casual Wednesday morning. Plus, the striped shirt!

Monday Memos // 85

Listening:

"Don't Go Back at Ten" by Girl Ray.  This video is brilliant.

"All My Friends" by Land of Talk.

"All Our Base Are Belong To Them" by The Books. Minute 1:28–1:56 is my favorite.

Reading:

Rejoice! A new advice column to read! Dear Pepper — I am becoming a great fan of Liana Finck.

The Extinction of the Middle Child. They’re becoming an American rarity, just when America could use them the most.

I still enjoy this even though I really did win the roommate jackpot and love mine dearly (also makes me want to draw little doodles): Perfect Roommates You’ll Never Find

For interior/color palette drooling: Inside Villa Stenersen, Oslo’s Under-the-Radar Gem of Modernist Architecture

"The gallery room, which would have at one time been lined with drawings and paintings by Munch, lies on the other side of the glass bricks. The family's residences — including the nursery and master bedroom — were located on the topmost floor." Aka DREAM ROOM (via sightunseen)

Craving:

Fresh cherries. Iced coffee. Trader Joe's quinoa pesto. Persian cucumber salad. Thai cucumber salad. Sparkling water. All signs point to: it's summer.

I want to make this Smashed Cucumber Salad with Hot Vinegar. (via bonappetit)

Wearing:

Chic black sacks. Think art teacher caftans and slightly detailed pillowcase dresses. 

Thank-You-Mom business skirts. My mom gave me a bunch of nice Banana Republic sort-of pencils skirts and I've been pairing them with tees and funky button-ups.

Cushioned shoes. The heat and all the wandering make comfortable footwear a must. 

Questionable meets fun!

Watching:

Friday afternoon I needed a break from work, from texts, from thoughts, from self. So I went to the Angelika Film Center (one of my favorite movie spots) to see Sorry To Bother You. I hadn't read much. I hadn't done research. I just knew Lakeith Stanfield would entertain me. Turns out it is INCREDIBLE. 

Boots Riley's Sorry to Bother You ambitiously pushes the envelope of the sci-fi and comedy genres for a wholly unique, refreshing and hilarious film. —Molly Freeman

If you’re not bothered — also tickled, irked, mystified and provoked — by Sorry to Bother You, then you’ve fallen asleep on the job. —A.O. Scott

GO SEE IT NOW. If nothing else, it is worth it for the outfits and Tessa Thompson's constantly changing statement earrings.

I am now even more enamored with Lakeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson. 

Treasuring:

Oceans and elation: On Saturday, I woke up too early and saw a bunch of hilarious street art in Harlem. I got a free juice from a literal oasis—Oasis Jimma Juice Bar. I took a long train ride to Brooklyn. I took two busses to the beach. I had an outrageously wonderful time in the ocean breeze, swimming in the water, eating snacks, telling stories, feeling so happy to have amazing new friends.

I laughed a lot. I was sandy. I took more bus rides. I wandered. I took more train rides. I ended up in Queens, at a party with a great deejay, lots of machinery covered in tulle, and great outfits to observe. The city got windy and the trash swirled in the air. I basked in the smell of my favorite tree (calliandra/powder puff). The rain poured. A stranger stuck his foot in the door of the 2 train so I didn't have to wait for another. I got into bed with my tangled matte of beach hair and thought about how many stupendous days I've had this year. 

Calliandra surinamensis and Calliadra haematocephala (Pink Powder Puff Tree). (image via youtube)

Monday Memos // 84

Listening:

"Who's That Guy" by Ricky Banda.  This Zamrock! album is so good. Listen to it all. 

"The River" by Diane Cluck and Jeffrey Lewis.  This song brings me back to a time in my life that I want to smile, laugh, and cry about. Reminds me of jamming on a melodica. 

"Crazy In Love" by Antony and The Johnsons.  This is a wild Beyonce cover, but I've been an Anohni fan for many years. I once had a dance routine set to the original, so I definitely know all the words. 

Reading:

Important thoughts: How to Tell the Bad Men From the Good Men. If anything, read the last paragraph... "despite sex happening all the time, everywhere, we still — still! — haven’t found a way to talk about it that is truthful, open, informative, and not scaring the living daylights out of our young people. We seem not to have told them, at any point, how lovely it all should be. We’ve somehow managed to screw this up. Our tabula is still rasa."

I would hang out with this cast in a heartbeat: Nothing Is Off the Table at Dinner With the Cast of Queer Eye.

Where Your Personalities Go While You’re Having Sex.

I just love Don Featherstone, creator of the pink lawn flamingo. (Image via Seth Resnick/Science Faction, via Corbis)

Craving:

Last week felt like an infinite weekend with the Fourth of July holiday falling on a Wednesday. It was also a major heat wave. For better or worse, I consumed quite a bit of ice cream to combat the constant sweat. I had received several free pints of dairy-free ice cream, so I had minimal stomach aches/heaviness. Whole Foods has some new almond milk-based ice creams that weren't bad — I recommend the chocolate chip peanut butter option. Häagen-Dazs really was the winner though, since their varieties are just like eating cold, creamy truffles. 

The rest of the week could be categorized with beach snacks, tiki drinks, more ice cream, the most bubbly water, and multiple late night pizza pit stops. To say it was a fun week would be a vast understatement. 

This is one of my favorite photos from many moons ago (hi Kyle!). My ice cream tendencies are strong and secure.

Wearing:

Broke out an old red-and-white striped jumpsuit (short-shorts) for the holiday, more so for the trip to the beach and the heat versus the patriotism. Wore stupid baseball hats. Wore silly sunglasses. Felt a great swell in my heart that I have new friends I can be my weirdest with. 

Said sunglasses.

Watching:

Saw: I finally saw the movie Band Aid and loved it more than I imagined. Also, Duck Butter — absolutely go watch it, Alia Shawkat is amazing.

What's cooler than a girl named Sergio? (image via variety)

To Be Seen: I'm ready to go sob in a theater watching Won't You Be My Neighbor?  Also can't wait for Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot. Gus Van Sant, Joaquin Phoenix, Jack Black, done!

Jonah Hill is always great too. (image via variety)

Treasuring:

Bliss: I'm channeling playfulness, contentment, and unobstructed joy. I'm attempting giddiness without doubt or worry. Last night I fell asleep with smiles and laughter for myself, in my newly air-conditioned room, cocooned in blankets and lightness. I think it's working. I recommend it.

Accurate representation of my brain.