Hope you had a great one!
The Best Tweets of October 2022
The Brilliance of the TV Halloween Sitcom Episode
I absolutely love the Halloween episodes of television shows. I always have. When I was a kid, it was the perfect thing to watch during October because I knew it would be slightly scary, but nothing I couldn’t handle. In some cases I still did have nightmares (*ahem Stevil from Family Matters*), but in most cases it was a level of horror that was digestible for a young me. It was finally something horror-adjacent that I could watch with my older brothers and they wouldn’t think it was beneath them.
My parents didn’t exactly monitor what we viewed, so I could’ve watched actually scary movies but I think I was self-aware enough (ie. a terrified coward) to know that I absolutely could not handle Friday the 13th at age 9. I was genuinely fearful of what I might see in a regular horror movie so I stayed away. I was 12 when I stole my brother’s VHS of Scream and watched it in his room in the basement standing up the entire time incase anyone came in and caught me. I didn’t sleep for a month. It was equal parts 1) the coolest thing I’d ever seen and 2) a horrifying, full blown possibility of choosing the wrong boyfriend one day. I loved how scared it made me but knew that I wasn’t really ready for more.
Halloween sitcoms were my sweet spot between actual horror and lighthearted sitcoms. They remain perfect in my eyes, especially the ones from the 90s. They seemed almost more magical than scary. And in some cases, human logic could be suspended just for one episode, just for fun and no one questioned it. It was a Halloween episode after all - nothing to take too seriously. I don’t know that that still happens in modern day TV shows and I’m not sure why. The TGIF lineup on the Friday before Halloween was the best Friday of the entire year for me. You could also argue that nostalgia definitely clouds my thinking here, but I’m comfortable with that. Of course a lot of them are getting watched this week - sometimes it’s nice to remember how it felt seeing them for the first time.
There are so many great episodes out there, but here’s a list of my very favourites.
Part Four - Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
September Shenanigans 2022
Officially the latest monthly post I’ve ever done, I’m sorry! I promise it will never happen again. We’re right in the middle of autumn and everything is overwhelming, but a good kind of overwhelming. Here’s what went down in September (oh god that feels like a year ago).
You can find my favourite tweets of the month over here and here.
I finally went to visit the video rental space Kim’s Video downtown.
I made a collection of my favourite photos from the summer.
I recapped what I did off my summer list of things to do.
I wrote my autumn list of things that I intend to do this season.
I did a podcast with Nathan that can be heard over here.
I know I’ve mentioned how good Aquaphor is for ashy elbows, but I’ve also discovered that it’s incredible at healing damaged pimple areas. For instance, when you pop one and it goes so wrong. I did this recently and then put some of it right on top and it was completely healed in two days.
I’ve tried the Carbone jarred pasta sauce and it was great! It’s overpriced, so I’d only buy it on sale. And some flavours can be a little too oily, but overall it tastes great.
I finally saw Nope and I think I liked it. It’s probably my least favourite of his movies, but it was enjoyable to watch. That shoe standing upright bothered me for way too long before I looked it up and connected the idea of “bad miracles” but other than that, it was all right. Love the way that man promotes a movie.
I had dinner at Fiaschetteria Pistoia and the duck ragu was really good. It’s an aggressively tiny restaurant, but the food made it worth it.
Since it’s illegal to operate any cashless operation in New York City, if you ever see a place trying to tell you otherwise - report them! To consumers@dca.nyc.gov - I do it all the time.
Some things I watched:
The Woodstock documentary on Netflix: only three episodes, great watch. You will hate all concert promoters by the end of it.
Volcano: okay, I can finally settle this debate. It is NOT better than Dante’s Peak.
Never Have I Ever (newest season): I almost wanted to hate it (why? I’ve watched all the seasons? I can’t explain this?) but I keep loving it. I can acknowledge that younger people have every right to hate this show. The supplementary characters just keep getting better and better.
The Keaton episode of New Girl: I’ve never seen this show because it looks bad and I wouldn’t like it. That being said, I watched this one because it was a Halloween episode and I also thought there was a chance of Michael Keaton being in it. God, what a mistake. This episode only confirms what a terrible show it really is. Can we retire fat suits already?
Killing Me Softly: honestly just a wild ride of a movie. Everyone should watch it.
Hocus Pocus 2: okay, let me start this by saying that this movie isn’t for me. It’s for children. And I can respect that. I just wish that more characters from the original were in this one, that would’ve made me so much more into it. Nothing will beat the original in my mind and that’s perfectly acceptable.
So I went to Las Vegas again and I got to eat at the new Martha Stewart restaurant The Bedford. Of course my expectations were high because 1) I love her and 2) she’s never opened a restaurant before. The servers are extremely well trained (which is wonderful, I love this detail) they have even been taught to say “cheers” in Polish. The attention to detail on the decor of the individual tables as well as the entire space is perfection, even the temperature was just right. However, there had to be cons. All burgers should have round buns, what reason is there to mess with that simple fact? The smashed potato (which is smashed table-side) is an incredibly stupid idea and almost seems like a joke on the white people who would actually enjoy it. Small side orders of sauces should absolutely never cost $9, that’s ludicrous. The fries were wildly overcooked in overused oil (how does one mess up french fries?) and the prices, sure, they were outrageous but that fact tracks since it’s in Las Vegas. The homemade mustard was really tasty (maybe because you never come across homemade?) and her béarnaise sauce was perfect. The oysters Rockefeller were good, if only a little bit chilly. All in all, it was an experience. One that I’ll happily never have to have again.
I also ate at Bazaar Meat By Jose Andres in Vegas and it was spectacular. I got the cotton candy fois gras, the patatas bravas and the meatball. Love this man. Love his food.
I tried the tacos at Dirty Taco (an LA street-style taco place) in Grand Central Terminal and the duck skin tacos were only all right, but the steak ones were fantastic. The tortillas were also great. Also, maybe it’s a bad idea to have the word dirty in your name?
I made these pumpkin lasagna rollups that have the exact right amount of pumpkin in them.
Also made this blueberry buckle that tasted especially good with some maple syrup on top.
I finally went to the Manhattan location of The Alamo and this theatre is great, but impossible to find. It’s also where the new Kim’s Video is hiding.
I had brunch at Sala in Astoria and just wow. I never thought I’d have the best BLT of my life at a tapas place. Everyone needs to go.
I read the Chloe Hilliard book Fuck Your Diet: And Other Things My Thighs Tell Me and… meh. Can we all make a pact to never use the phrase eating clean ever again? The book was really very okay, I think I just wish it was more about her being a comedian and less about body stuff. It’s obviously my fault since the title really does say it all.
If you aren’t watching the Halloween episodes of Bob’s Burgers this month, you may not be cooler than I am.
Some things that I’m looking forward to doing this month: oh god, so many Halloween related activities, I can’t wait to finalize our costumes, I’m definitely going to make these pumpkin cookies again, I’d love to make garlic chicken meatballs with orzo for dinner on a rainy night, I really want to walk around Central Park with Baby Dog since all the leaves are changing and I’d really love to have next month’s roundup post written on time. Fingers crossed. Oh and here’s a link to all of the fall festivals happening around NYC right now.
If you have any interest in what went on in August, come on over here. I also have an autumn highlight reel on Instagram if you care to see what I’m up to this season.
The Best Tweets of October 2022 So Far
The Best Tweets of September 2022
New Podcast - Happy Wife, Happy Life
Autumn List 2022
“Anyone who thinks fallen leaves are dead has never watched them dancing on a windy day.”
Sometimes you want something so intensely, you don’t know how you’ll react when it finally arrives. You think, “I may have built it up in my mind, what if it can’t fulfill my expectations? Am I even worthy enough to deserve such a luxury? Will I adequately know how to appreciate it?” And then suddenly the heavens part and it descends upon you, dominating your every inhale and exhale. As if it existed solely because you were here to enjoy it.
…clearly I’m talking about the fact that as of 9:04pm tonight - AUTUMN HAS ARRIVED.
Did you know that there was a specific time that a season starts at? Is that made up? ‘Cause I just read that and I’m in love with that fact, so I’m really hoping it’s actually true. In any case, the absolute best time of the year has begun. Here’s the plan.
Make the very best leftover Thanksgiving sandwich humanly possible.
Watch at least ten horror movies I haven’t seen before.
Finally learn the Phantasm theme on piano.
Completely clean out off of my closets and donate anything that hasn’t been worn in the past two years.
Watch and harshly critique Hocus Pocus 2.
I’ve already been to Salem and to Sleepy Hollow, so I don’t think there’s any seasonal traveling this year. There’s a full moon on October 9th, so I may have to partake in some rituals. Of course there are some other small things that I always do each autumn. I’ll likely go to Downey’s Farm. Costume planning is well underway. I’ll unpack and display all of our autumn/Halloween stuff this week. I’m definitely going to make these leftover stuffing muffins. I have to make final decisions on what’s getting cooked this year for (Canadian) (real) Thanksgiving in October. Of course I’ll get Milk Bar’s Thanksgiving croissant when it’s available in November. I will also find leaves and then proceed to look at them.
Here are a list of past autumn lists I’ve made incase you’re looking for more ideas of things you might want to do this season. (I really hope you make a list of your own. You’re not above it like you think you are.)
I also started an autumn 2022 highlight reel on Instagram if you have any interest in following along with what I do this season.
Favourite Summer Photos
Summer List 2022 Revisited
I’ve been patient and it’s finally arrived… THE LAST DAY OF SUMMER. Today always feel slightly like Christmas Eve to me, there’s such anticipation in the air right now. Here’s how my summer list of things to do went!
Tan on Governor’s Island.
I did not do this BUT I tanned in so many places, I’m taking a half point here. Sue me.
Make a summer buckle.
I did! A blueberry buckle! And it was wonderful. What’s the difference between a buckle and a cake? Absolutely nothing as far as I can tell. (This was the recipe I used.)
Visit Storm King.
Did not go, but some day maybe. I wish it were easier to access by transit.
Go swimming at least five times.
I’ve never swam as much as I did this season and it feels majestic to say that. It’s probably the main reason why I didn’t hate this whole summer. And now I know that going forward, in order for me to enjoy this wretched time of year, I need to be placed in water.
Visit the new Kim’s Video because it seems cool as hell.
I did and it was really neat. Have to take Nathan.
3.5/5 whoa! That’s pretty good. Am I trying to cut down my list of the ten things I want to do this autumn that will be posted tomorrow? Yes. Is there a chance it will be more than ten? Also, yes.
SO LONG, SUMMER!