Charles Grodin is my absolute favourite part of Louie. Love this man so much.
Mom Says
“If a mirror in the house falls and breaks by itself, someone in the house will die soon.”
Olive Oil Mister
$15 at Crate & Barrel
$15 at Crate & Barrel
I am definitely in that category of people who never measures his/her olive oil when cooking. It's too boring a detail for me to get on board with, I'm sorry. And I know this is a problem 'cause I always overuse my olive oil, which is a shame because you only really need a spritz of it to be cool.
Enter THIS OIL MISTER! I saw this at Crate & Barrel a few weeks ago and it's almost heavenly. Not only does having it cut down your olive oil intake (while saving you money on not having to buy so much olive oil) but it's also fun as hell to use. You're trying to tell me that you don't find joy in misting a pan before using it? You don't see the beauty of a freshly-misted salad? You don't dream of the day you organize your own dinner party solely for the purpose of walking around a dining room table asking if anyone needs anything "misted tableside"? THAT'S NOT YOU?! Okay, maybe that last one is just me. But still. Everyone should own this mister. Or at least everyone with a kitchen and a dream.
Sidenote: Happy Birthday to one of the best humans I know, my brother Robbie. You're amazing to everyone who knows you and I'll never know how you find enough hours in the day to be such an incredible man. I'm lucky as hell to have you in my life and I've been thankful for that since the whole nipple incident all those many years ago. One day, I promise I'll stop telling that story to people. Love you, brother.
“That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet.”
Reasons To Stay Alive By Matt Haig - A Review
Available on Amazon
Available on Amazon
I'd first heard of Matt Haig and this book when I came across an excerpt from his book (Reasons To Stay Alive) a few months ago and thought, "I should read that." I didn't look any further into what the book itself was about, but I should have.
In no way did I hate it, but I kind of wish I hadn't read it. Or rather, I wish I'd read it at some later point in my life. I think I thought that the book was supposed to be about something else (especially based on that one page I initially saw). I didn't expect it to be as heavy as it was and it really brought me down at times in a way I didn't anticipate. If you've ever suffered from depression or anxiety (or if you've been close with someone who has experienced these things), then I think you'll probably get a lot out of this book. There were definitely memorable things that I took away from reading it (and I'll list those below), but I was so happy when it finally ended. I think it really just came down to the fact that I don't read books like this one typically and now I know why.
Highlights
"One of the key symptoms of depression is to see no hope. No future. Far from the tunnel having light at the end of it, it seems like it is blocked at both ends, and you are inside it."
"To other people, it (depression) sometimes seems like nothing at all. You are walking around with your head on fire and no one can see the flames."
"Depression, for me, wasn't a dulling but a sharpening, an intensifying, as though I had been living my life in a shell and now the shell wasn't there. It was total exposure. A red-raw, naked mind. A skinned personality."
"There is this idea that you either read to escape or you read to find yourself. I don't really see the difference. We find ourselves through the process of escaping."
"Understand, for instance, that having a sad thought, even having a continual succession of sad thoughts, is not the same as being a sad person. You can walk through a storm and feel the wind but you know you are not the wind. That is how we must be with our minds. We must allow ourselves to feel their gales and downpours, but all the time knowing this is just necessary weather."
"Hate is a pointless emotion to have inside you. It is like eating a scorpion to punish it for stinging you."
"Laughing so hard it hurts. Laughing as you bend forward and as your abdomen actually starts to hurt from so much pleasure, so much release, and then as you sit back and audibly groan and inhale deeply, staring at the person next to you, mopping up the joy." - I just fell in love with that phrase "mopping up the joy" it's so perfect.
The new words I learned from this book were quixotic, languor and avaricious.
It's definitely well written and insightful as hell. My only advice to you if you read it? Take your time. I didn't take my time with it and maybe that's why I felt so overwhelmed.
You can see more posts like this on my latest newsletter.
Georgia Peaches Coming To NYC
Remember those peaches I told you about a few weeks ago? They're coming to New York City!
Stephen and Jessica Rose launched the Peach Truck in 2012 with the intention of bringing the joy of Pearson Farm's fresh Georgia peaches to cities around the country. They started out small — first delivering peaches in brown paper bags in the Nashville area, and then expanding to the south and Midwest. And now, for the first time ever, the truck is coming to New York this summer.
They've put together a New York itinerary for the three days they'll be in town. On July 17, the Peach Truck will park at Berg'n; on July 18, Wilma Jean, the Fort Greene Flea, Smorgasburg in Williamsburg, and Urban Cowboy; and on July 19, Chelsea Market, the Williamsburg Flea, and Smorgasburg at Brooklyn Bridge Park. You can check out the full schedule over here.
Sweet Jane's in Astoria
The fact that dairy-free ice cream can have the capability to be delicious is proof of a higher power. I'm sorry, it is.
I finally ventured over to Sweet Jane's on 24th Avenue the other night around 10:10pm, just to witness the door locked up tight and someone sweeping up inside. I never had any intention of asking to be let in, but I locked eyes with the gentleman inside and somehow, someway - he motioned for me (and my friend) to come on inside.
He introduced us to Sweet Jane herself and then she proceeded to LET US TRY BASICALLY EVERYTHING. Why? I have no idea. But in my experience, if something amazing is about to happen to you - don't interrupt. Everything that happened next was magical. We tried dairy and gluten-free flavours (like Key Lime Pie, Thin Mint, Peanut Butter) as well as their full-ass-dairy gems (like Cappuccino Kahlua and Salty Caramel Pretzel) in addition to their heavenly Fudgestickle that's better than any frozen treat I've had on a stick before IN LIFE (is it fudgestickle or fudgesickle (?) - 'cause I've seen both spellings on their main board).
I don't know how we got lucky enough to have a behind-the-scenes night at this gem of an ice cream shop, but thank you immensely for having us, Jane! We'll absolutely never forget it.
And as far as ice cream places go, this is by far the best one I've ever been to in Queens. Maybe even in NYC. There's no reason for you not to check it out this summer.
The Cost of Paying Attention
“Silence is now offered as a luxury good.”
I love everything about this New York Times piece I recently read entitled "The Cost of Paying Attention." So much so that I've already put the writer's book (“The World Beyond Your Head: On Becoming an Individual in an Age of Distraction”) on hold. Expect a review on that coming soon.
“Don’t wear flip flops when you’re driving. It’s weird that everyone doesn’t know how dangerous that is.”
The Brooklyn Cyclones Salute to Seinfeld Night 2
Remember last year's Seinfeld night at MCU Park? Well, they're doing it again this Sunday if you missed the one last year.
The first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a Little Jerry Bobblebeak (shown above). These are expected to go fast so they recommend arriving as early as possible. Gates will open at 3:30 PM for the 5:00 PM game.
Highlights of the day will include:
Elaine dancing contest
Costanza trash eating
Fusili Jerry craft table
Muffin top eating contest
Running errands for Mr. Pitt
Pretzel eating contest
You'll be eligible to throw out the first pitch if your last name Cartwright, if you wear an 8-Ball Jacket like Putty, if you're an importer/exporter or if your last name Drake.
Steve Hytner (Kenny Bania) will be posing for photos and taking pictures with fans from the third inning – the 7th inning on the concourse at MCU Park. It's encouraged to bring some Ovaltine, he’ll sign it for you.
The Cyclones will be wearing special on-field jerseys inspired by Kramer’s Techni-color Dream Coat. They'll be raffling the jerseys off throughout the game – you can purchase raffle tickets on the concourse at the info table or through one of our Beach Bums who will be roaming the stands. If you aren’t lucky enough to win, we will have additional game worn jerseys up for auction at CyclonesAuthentics.com starting on Tuesday, July 7th.
Tickets are still available for the game, and start at just $10. They are available over here, calling 718 – 507- TIXX, or at the MCU Park Box Office.
You can see more posts like this on my latest newsletter.