It seems almost insane to have a list of fun things to do this season when we need stay inside for the safety of ourselves and of others. And yet, here I am! So I’ve come up with some things that are appropriate for right now. I encourage you to make a list of your own, as always, because we all need things to look forward to, I can’t imagine not looking forward to anything.
Sit on my fire escape. We haven’t done this once since we moved in last May and I’ve always wanted to. What better time than now.
Bake something spring inspired.
Rewatch my favourite Hitchcock movies. I was a huge fan of his when I was younger and I haven’t watched any of his movies in years, so I’ve been really wanting to lately. Nathan and I watched The Birds the other night and it’s such a good, calming movie (I know it’s about birds attacking and killing people, but there’s no background music in the whole movie and it’s just so gentle without being terrifying).
Try some new hairstyles and new makeup routines. I (like many women) get into such a basic routine when it comes to hair and makeup and I want to venture outside of that.
Watch at least ten things off of my To Be Watched list of movies and TV shows. I’ve had a growing list on my phone of recommendations from other people for years and even though some of them get watched, I really should make more of an effort.
Nathan has started video recording his podcasts! There’s a clip (above) from the latest one, with more clips coming soon. He just started a YouTube channel (finally), so if you subscribe to anything on YouTube then I suggest you venture on over and take a look! Full podcast below.
Well, that was complete bullshit. Where in the FUCK was winter? ‘CAUSE IT WASN’T IN NYC. This was originally a very angry post, but anger is not what is needed at this time, so it was heavily edited.
I went! I thought it was going to be a regular sized store, but it was a tiny corner in a weird little mini-mall space. Even still, they had great stuff. If I ever find myself in Brooklyn again in this lifetime, I’ll return!
Damnit, I didn’t do this one. I did keep checking their listings and nothing seemed appealing! I should have put more effort in, though, and just went to see one of the Nicholas Cage movies from the past month. This is my fault.
Irene and I went! And it was… disappointing! Food was average and the service wasn’t even amazing and it’s a little pretentious and WAY too expensive for what it is. Maybe the build-up in my mind was too high?
Start a binder full of ideas for the big Euro trip in June and July.
Ugh, I did start doing this but with the state of the world, who knows what will happen throughout the next few months. But since I hate that kind of thinking, I’ll continue to add to this binder because that’s what you do when you’re faced with obstacles, you press on and hope for the very best.
Take at least five bubble baths.
So I took four. Not bad. but not perfect. To be fair, this decade hasn’t gotten off to the greatest start, so I haven’t exactly felt like I could bask in a bubble bath most nights.
So all in all, I got 3 out of 5. Not terrible! Christ, now I have to come up with a Spring List. It’ll have to be Spring 2020 appropriate too, like making a dress out of leftover plastic bags or some shit. All right, I’m gonna go brainstorm.
Well, here we are! How did we get here? When will normal life return? I’ve got zero answers for you. All I can offer you are some ideas of what you can do now that you’re at home. Let’s do this.
Put music (that you enjoy) on in the background of your house in the morning or in the evening as a way to single out the start or end of the day. Maybe this sounds dumb, but it really helps break up times of the day. (Lately I’ve been in a very nostalgic mood and I’ve been listening to old Smashing Pumpkins albums I haven’t listened to in about twenty years, it’s been really nice.)
Watch episodes of TV shows that you’ve already seen and loved. There’s something nice about not just binging certain new shows but instead watching things that have already made you happy in the past. Or maybe that’s just me. Are you seeing a pattern here with me and the past? Fuck am I depressed?
If that show or movie you really want to watch isn’t available on any of your streaming services, I use putlockers.chat pretty regularly and it’s been great. I think it works whatever country you’re in.
If you’ve ever been a fan of The Simpsons, I have cultivated a favourite episodes list from over the years that I’d happily send anyone looking for especially good episodes to watch. Tell me your favourite character and I can tailor the list to their best episodes.
Call people. It’s so weird and great that it’s becoming socially acceptable to call people again (and not just text). Call even if you have nothing to say.
Improvise with your cooking habits. I usually follow every single instruction when I’m reading a recipe, so this one was hard for me to try. I did it yesterday though and it worked out great! You just have to make sure you’re trying out ingredients that you already love, and then incorporate them with regular old recipes.
Take more photos of your pets and send them to me. Or your other friends. Definitely me, though.
Write letters to your people and mail them. I’ll continue to love doing this until I’m dead in the ground since it really does make me happy. Even if all you have to write is a tiny little update. Be honest about how you’re feeling in this crazy time and share it with someone you love. This kind of thing helps me more than so many other things.
I started a Things That Made Me Laugh highlight reel on my Instagram and fuck I wish every single person I knew had one of these. I’d watch them endlessly. Love seeing what other people laugh at. (Sorry about my laugh in all of the videos. It doesn’t get cuter with time.)
Do face masks, hair masks, do your fingernails and toenails (BEGGING Nathan to do this with me), make an at-home body scrub out of stuff definitely in your kitchen. Yes this stuff is boring, but it make you feel so fucking together sometimes.
If you find yourself reading or listening to the news too much, literally just turn your phone off for an agreed upon time. Like, actually turn it off. Don’t put it on silent or Do Not Disturb, turn that fucker off. You’re allowed.
Try not to wear the same pajamas every day. Just for your sanity. And the sanity of anyone in your home who has to look at you. It’s exhausting to see the same tattered gym shorts daily on someone you love.
If I think of more things (I definitely will), then I’ll add to this list. Stay safe!
I write this from underneath two blankets, perched atop three pillows. This is day three of being sick (Nathan just joined me in illness yesterday) and I think I’m getting better but that could just be blind hope. In any case, I still have to tell you what went on last month. Forgive the tone of this post, it might be… affected.
I heard that Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker are going to be in the Paul Simon play Plaza Suite together and so I casually thought “Ooo, might be nice to catch” so I looked it up and tickets START at $700. So I guess fuck me then. I swear to god, this fucking city.
The best cover so far this year:
Brian Stauffer, The New Yorker
I rewatched a movie I love: The Door In The Floor and it really holds up well. Kim Basinger and Jeff Bridges and both too good at what they do. Love this movie so much.
I rewatched The Evil Dead and look I understand it’s probably a “good horror movie” especially for its time and budget, but I fucking hated it, maybe even more so than the last time that I saw it. Never again. Why do I keep rewatching things that I hate? I don’t have to like everything. I must repeat this to myself daily.
I had lunch at Daily Provisions and their lemon cruller was really good and light and the chicken club sandwich was good, too. Always a solid morning/afternoon place.
Don’t be concerned if people don’t like you. Yesterday I heard a man say he hated JLo because she “just seems so pleased with herself.” You’re fucked. We’re all fucked. C’est la vie, fuckfaces.
A dude on the subway started talking to the passengers about PARASITE and class relations and how proud he was as a Korean that it won the Oscar. Then:
“I submit to you that there is another kind of parasite: people who do not believe in God.”
Writing Tip #14: If you are writing a long piece and become bogged down in the middle, put it away in a drawer for three or four years. When you come back to it, you won't care.
I tried Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Couscous and maaaaan, it was so good. So I guess all couscous is good? Gotta get my hands on that pearly couscous. That seems like the money cousocus.
I made this Greek Couscous Salad for lunches for a week and didn’t get sick of it at all, I gotta remember to keep this in the rotation. I also kept the salad and the couscous separate until I wanted to eat, and then I’d join them together.
I can’t believe I hadn’t seen this sketch before (calling someone a “goofy bitch” just about killed me), also ignore how bad an actress Cardi B is:
I finished watching The Good Place and yes it was a good show. I don’t think l liked it as much as pretty much everyone else in my life who loved it, but it was definitely a good show. This scene was the best part of the finale, for sure. That song used in the scene will always elicit tears, I remember falling in love with it when it was used in the movie that everyone hated but me, Swept Away.
Again, I visited Everlane and it still disappoints. Why do I keep thinking it’ll be different each time? What the fuck is wrong with me?
I saw Parasite and it was wonderful and everyone who hasn’t seen it should see it. I haven’t heard from one person who didn’t like it. Universally liked!
I listened to the new Strokes single and hated it, so that’s something. Growth?
Why isn’t everyone putting pickles on grilled cheese? Makes no sense. Fucking taste explosion.
I finally tried the (off-menu, must be requested when it’s not brunch) Cacio E Pepe at L’Artusi and holy christ, it might be better than their mushroom ragu. I KNOW. Such wild developments! (They also started serving at lunch, but only lunch delivery, not dine-in. SO this means nothing to me.)
I think I will officially stop buying candles from Bath & Body Works. The ones at Marshalls are cheaper, last longer and the variety of scents is endless. I have a candle from Marshalls right now simply called STORM and it really does kinda smell like stormy weather. Obviously I’m waiting for a thunderstorm to light that mother. I have mental issues?
I watched the newest season of Shrill (no big spoilers ahead) and loved it, obviously. The disappointing-ness of parents is so nicely shown (that moment at the restaurant when she asks her dad what he thinks of her boyfriend and he’s so indifferent, ugh so perfect), I absolutely LOVED the wedding episode (infact all of the episodes following that one are the best ones, I think I just love the episodes not centered about this not-great relationship with her and her boyfriend), the WEHAM episode is perfect (finally someone making fun of makeup for for legs), and I continue to love the character Fran. Really hoping for a third season, especially based on the season finale.
Don’t ask me why, but I watched most of the Police Academy movies and I think the Miami one might be the best one?? I couldn’t make it twenty minutes into the Moscow one, so I feel like you might want to trust me when I say that I know what I’m talking about.
Cannot get over the beauty of these women and these outfits.
Camila Mendes
Nyma Tang
I watched the Michelle Carter documentary and I don’t know how other people feel, but it’s absolutely unreal that she was found guilty. Of course Nathan disagrees.
I ate at Frank for the first time in over a decade with the one and only Irene and it’s still great. Love that they do the opposite of al dente pasta here. Photos below.
Tagliatelle special
Roasted garlic bread
Mushroom pappardelle special
I can’t find a link for them online, but I bought some reusable Leak Proof Snack Bags by Kitchen Details at Nordstrom Rack and they’re perfect since we typically use a million of those disposable ones for holding sunflower seeds and almonds
I threw out a lot of clothing/shoes/bags, so I went out and bought some things that I absolutely love. I now have a faux fur, brown evening coat that I’ve long dreamed of owning, a new everyday purse, a vintage, gold, mesh evening purse, new everyday shoes, more sunglasses and some new wedges that may or may not replace the older wedges I’ve had since 2006 (the ones lovingly referred to as my Terminators because of the massive fall that I took in them upon exiting the movie Terminator Salvation). I could show you all of the new pieces, but I’d much rather slide into a room you’re in to show you my new fur coat. However if it annoys you not to see any of these new things that bring my joy, here are two of them.
Classic Reeboks from DSW
I also got them in blue
I’ve actually started using tiny drops of facial oil mixed with my nighttime face lotion and even though I’ve only just started to do this, my face is already way less dry when waking up. I don’t know if I can do this in the hotter weather, but for now I’ll keep it up.
I went to Giorgio’s of Gramercy again (the last time was a few years ago with Nathan) and it’s still great! I haven’t had a steak in awhile, but the one here? Holy hell. Magnificent.
I went to see the new Kubrick 2001 exhibit at the Museum of the Moving Image and it was pretty neat. They have one of his Oscars on display in a case, which was actually really cool to see.
So Nathan and I are in the middle of watching McMillion$ and can I just say: boooooooooooooooo. I’ve never seen a “documentary” more over-produced, self-indulgent, superfluous and WILDLY overdone. It’s a bloody six part series that could’ve EASILY been an hour and a half movie. If you ever need proof of a documentary having too much money spend, my god have you found it. Of COURSE Mark Wahlberg has something to do with it, this man needs to fucking STOP. I know they are countless other men attached to the project too, but it’s much easier to shit on just him. God, what a waste of time. The Wikipedia page is more succinct.
I watched To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before 2: P.S. I Still Love You and it was everything I wanted it to be and more. Loved the Adventures in Babysitting reference right off the top (I’ll forever love that movie and it doesn’t get talked about enough), I loved pretty much every musical choice (these are my topthreesongs from the movie), and I loved the idea of doing another Thanksgiving in March (although I’m pretty sure Chrissy Teigen did this a few years ago and planted that great seed in my head). Definitely the best thing on Netflix at the moment.
Nathan and I went to the Raptors game that ended their winning streak, sorry about that.
I’ve been consumed with reading so much stuff about what’s going on right now and this was a little helpful: 4 Practical Ways to Prepare Your Home for a Pandemic. Don’t judge me for sharing this link! I’m delirious.
Things that I’m looking forward to this month: visiting Collingwood and going skiing with my family, I might splurge and get that mini birthday cake from Momofuku Milk Bar, and the new season of On My Block comes out on the 11th. I’m pretty into the idea of turning 35, usually I’m more jacked about my birthday month but I think I’m too down to care at the moment. Caring coming soon.
If you’ve got any interest in reading last month’s roundup, you can see what went down in January over here.
I’ve always wanted to read Johnny Carson’s memoir and then soon realized that he never wrote one. I don’t know why, but I thought that this was the next best thing: a biography written by his longtime lawyer/possibly-best-friend-it’s-unclear, Henry Bushkin. Looking back, why on earth would I think that a lawyer would be the best one to sum up the life of this huge celebrity? No idea. I wish I hadn’t read it. Reasons why are ahead.
First of all, whether it’s true or not, Henry makes Johnny’s mother sound like the most awful person in his life. He went into details of how generous Johnny would be with making sure his parents had everything they could’ve ever wanted and his mother never seemed to be impressed or cared in the slightest. How she was a cold and emotionless woman and she’s ultimately the reason that Carson himself had such issues with commitment and women and most of his personal relationships. And I don’t know… but hearing that story from Carson would be one thing, but to have it be told secondhand from a person who Johnny ultimately fired seems… wrong. He wrote this book long after Johnny had died and that only makes things worse in my mind, like he didn’t even have the guts to write it while he was still here because Carson definitely would’ve been against such a breach of privacy.
It’s wildly known that Johnny cheated on his wives and though Bushkin (also a married man) goes in great detail about many of those times, he slips in his own infidelity in this one sentence: “I had many adventures in Vegas and on the road that did nothing to reinforce marital bonds.” UUUUUGGGGGGHHHHH. Yes, he’s trash for cheating on his wife, but he’s even scummier for phrasing it so lightly like that.
Maybe I’m being naive about this, but I had no idea about Carson’s huge ego (again, this is coming from the mouth of Bushkin). It makes sense that he had one being worth millions and having so much power, but it’s so disheartening to read some of the stories about him being such a complete asshole. Why did I read this book?!
The fact that Carson would cheat on his wife with the reasoning of “out of sight out of mind” is so gross and I hate that I heard it.
He quotes from Susan Forward’s book Toxic Parents that says, “All of us develop our expectations about how people will treat us based on our relationships with our parents. If those relationships are, for the most part, emotionally nourishing, respectful of our rights and feelings, we’ll grow up expecting others to treat us in much the same way… But if childhood is a time of unrelenting anxiety, tension, and pain, then we develop negative expectations and rigid defense.” And while this is so insightful and true, I can’t help but think that Carson (or the way that Bushkin made him appear in this book) made no attempt to ever move past the way that he was treated by his mother. He blamed her for it his entire life.
I wish this book wasn’t written. Not because it paints Carson in such an unfavorable light (and it’s not entirely about what an awful person he was, there are many stories of him being generous and giving), but because he didn’t have anything to do with writing it. It’s unfair. Someone else can’t write your memoir for you. I know that’s it’s seen as an unofficial biography, but Bushkin was close friends with the man at one point and it reads more intimate than a regular biography. He attempted to write his memoir for him and that’s just wrong. Don’t read it. I wish I hadn’t.
I’ve purposely put off writing this monthly wrap-up because, well, christ. January was a terrible month. I don’t need to go into the details of why, but the consensus from everyone that I’ve talked to fully agrees with me on this. What the hell happened? Starting a new decade is supposed to be great. In any case, I’ll always have high hopes for the future. And I’m just thankful to begin a new month. Here’s what went down in the pit that was January 2020.
First things first, I recapped how my 2019 resolutions turned out. Why don’t more people do this? Where’s the accountability in reviewing your past resolutions? They’re not fucking birthday wishes, they’re intentions! More people need to follow through with this, even if the results aren’t what you hoped for.
I rewatched (or watched for the first time, I truly can’t remember) The Staircase and it’s so good. I’m pretty sure Marla got me MP3 copies of this years ago and I did watch it, but I completely forgot about it in detail. Such a good watch. If you’ve already seen it, do you know about the owl theory? It’s a wild one, but, like, I think an owl did it now?
I’ve been using a small bottle of OUAI’s Wave Spray and if I can figure out how to not overspray it, it’s a great product. Once you use it though, your hair only looks good that day. After you sleep on it, your hair looks like shit. (Is that true of all hair products? I have absolutely no idea.)
Bought this Banana Republic top for $13 on sale and I love it because it does not feel like it cost so little.
I don’t know if it’s a Canadian brand but I have found a wicked alternative to Dollarama: Buck or Two. I went to one in Brampton and they’ve got everything.
I watched most of the SNL with Jennifer Lopez and wow did it suck. 99% of the sketches were basically “She’s pretty. That’s the joke.” Fucking hated it. They do this a lot of the time with certain actresses and I can’t ever tell if it’s because the actress loves doing these sketches or they’re afraid she can’t be funny. Whatever the reason is, blow my brains out, please.
I went to the Ear Inn in the city and it was lovely! Super old place. Service was great. Burger was great.
I went to Glossier with the intention of buying the cheek stain and then decided against it. It’s not a good product. I literally pinched my cheeks and got a better rosiness.
I came across probably my favourite winter children’s book of all time, The Snowman by Raymond Briggs. Look at one page of this magic.
I went to The Dutch again for Restaurant Week for their steak tartare and it’s just heaven on a plate.
I rewatched the great What Lies Beneath and man, it’s still just such a great movie.
As you may have heard, Papyrus is going out of business, so I’ve popped in twice to see what the closing deals are and they aren’t worth it yet (only 30% off! C’mon! I won’t get out of bed for at least 60%), so I’ll keep stopping in every so often until they’ve become desperate.
Love this part of a recent SNL (below). (If you can’t see it in Canada, search for “white male rage SNL.”)
I finally went to Boulud Sud for their pasta happy hour and man was it not worth it. The place has a terrible setup if you’re sitting at the bar, the food was absolutely nothing special and had ridiculous portion sizes. It’s also a bad sign when the bread is tastier than the entree. Super disappointing.
I tried on the bras and underwear from LIVELY in Soho and even though it’s priced reasonably, I couldn’t find anything I loved. I have a feeling that I could be into it though, so I’ll go again sometime in the future for sure.
I’ll forever love the lunch special at Pil Pil on the Upper East Side. I know I probably bring this up too much, but man. Love tapas.
I can’t stop buying sunglasses for sale at ALDO. And I won’t.
I finished season one of The West Wing and it was really good. I keep forgetting about it, but I should stick with it. People, like, loved that show, didn’t they?
I started using Sol De Janeiro’s Bum Bum Cream… on my butt. That’s what it’s for, no? So far, I mean… it feels smooth? It’s not at all greasy, which I like. Seems weird to have a cream just for your butt, but who am I to criticize.
Ate the fish tacos at Summer Salt and they’re good! It’s insane and great that they sell margaritas at a fast casual place, too.
Love this Wells For Boys sketch (below) from a few years ago that I just saw for the first time (thanks for showing me, Irene!)
I haven’t been there in years, but I went to Sweet Afton for happy hour in Astoria the other day and had the pickle martini which actually wasn’t terrible. Love that place.
Tried the lunch burger at Peter Luger finally! And yes it was a good burger (love that they use American cheese and the bun was very good even though it's not a potato bun). Steakhouse burgers are always hard for me to rate since a steakhouse burger is a real *entree* unlike the regular, everyday burgers that other places have which are not as big and overwhelming. An everyday burger is easy to rate since it's either great, overrated or shit. A steakhouse burger has nuances, how juicy is too juicy? How's the quality of the meat? What are the ideal toppings? Should someone shoot me for my extensive burger thoughts? Yes.
I went to see a free orchestral performance put on by Julliard at Lincoln Center and it was great. It reminded me so much of going to my brother Gary’s recitals when I was a kid, just loved it.
Had dinner at Portale. The pasta was insane. This place might be a rival for L’Artusi! Dare I say it! Every bite was phenomenal. MUST return. (Noteworthy: it also just got two stars in the Times.)
Maybe you don’t know this, but 90% of post offices in the U.S. have bulletproof glass between the workers and the customers. It’s obviously because awful things have happened, but I’ve been going to this one post office in the city on 23rd street that doesn’t have the glass and the workers are SO MUCH MORE PLEASANT. I wish all locations were like this one. Just a thought.
Mark down all holidays/birthdays/anniversaries (Valentine’s Day, Daylight Saving Times, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Thanksgiving)
Check expiration dates for passport/license/health card/insurance and write down any important renewal dates
I’ve watched the first two new episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm and it fucking blows. There was only one thing I laughed at (when a server thought Larry was “oggling” her but he was really just keeping an eye on her tray with pigs in blankets) but OTHER THAN THAT, what a piece of shit season so far! I fucking hated the part in one episode where he videotapes the consent given between him and some woman as they’re making out. ALSO, and this has happened a few times over the seasons, he’s recycling fucking Seinfeld jokes. FROM THE SHOW. Talking about when it’s too late to get “Happy New Year-ed”? Are we kidding here?! Fucking lazy as hell. I might just stop watching.
I watched the new Taylor Swift documentary on Netflix and it’s really good. Even if you have zero opinion on her, I really liked it. (It also introduced me to this great song.)
Things that I’m looking forward to this month: seeing a Raptors game at Barclays Center, finally sitting down and watching season two of Shrill in its entirety, reading Joan Rivers’ book Enter Talking and and maybe going to another Restaurant Week lunch before the end date. February, please oh please don’t be as terrible as January.
If you’ve got any interest in reading last month’s roundup, you can see what went down in December over here!
