it’s the last week of january at the sun is starting to set after 5 pm! small victories for the seasonal affective disorder community. here are some more good things for your week.
1. coffee shops that have mayors
my favorite coffee shop in the world is prima in brooklyn. located in the garden unit of a brownstone in clinton hill, the vibes there are immaculate. it’s where i launched this newsletter and where i frequently go to pretend to work while eavesdropping. prima has a mayor named JJ who i met the other day — he works the room and seems to know every person there, is warm and inviting, and makes the place feel like a small liberal arts college library. i don’t know if you heard, but another crisis facing american society is the fact that we’ve lost the sacred “third spaces” — places you go to socialize that are not home or work. my solution? more coffee shops with mayors!
2. “I Can't Stop Cringing at My Old Self” by JP brammer
i used to post deadly serious videos of myself singing and playing guitar on instagram dot com. remembering this the other day made me feel insane. i could not believe there was version of me that thought this was not at all embarrassing and in fact — very cool. and then i got to thinking, will i wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, cringing at how i used to send out long diary entries via email to 200 people??? the answer is: probably! but that comes with the territory of vulnerability. and this essay from john paul brammer about how to make peace with your former cringey self is sooo good. give it a read if you also have many “landmarks of shame” that you keep you up at night.
3. high maintenance (HBO max)
been loving this series lately. it’s an anthology show and each ep is based on the lives of the people The Weed Guy encounters on his deliveries throughout NYC. it’s like a fictional this american life, if ira glass was a weed dealer. some episodes really hit, like the one about the writer who is addicted to social media (yikes) and the one where frank from succession is a stoner dad reconnecting with his daughter. others not so much (the one from a dog’s POV was too far afield for me). it came out in 2016 when there was not a weed shop on every single corner of the city and you had to do a little bit of work to find it. it’s hilarious to me that the show wouldn’t work now because of that. kind of like how cell phones would ruin the plot of every movie made before 2002.
4. “I Am Going to Miss Pitchfork, but That’s Only Half the Problem” by ezra klein
if you haven’t heard by now, we’re in the middle of an apocalypse in media. every week hundreds of people are laid off and outlets shuttered. we’re now in a situation where, as klein describes, the middle no longer exists. behemoths like the new york times can stay afloat by amassing more support, and solo writers with big followings can go out on their own, but there’s nowhere for new talent to gain footing. it’s a miserable situation and it makes me really sad, frankly! this was a satisfying read where, as per usual, klein accurately diagnoses the problem. i don’t know what the solution is and neither does he, but it DOES make a case for supporting things like this very newsletter you are reading!
5. love on the spectrum (netflix)
i absolutely LOVE THIS SHOW!!!! it’s so heartwarming and hilarious. it’s a docuseries about the dating lives of people with autism, and when i first went to watch it i was a little wary. but the creators of the show took such care in making it, and you can tell how much trust and respect there is. the end result is a beautiful portrait of the subjects and their families. i laughed through tears every single episode. ABBEY AND DAVID 4EVER!!!
6. the last dinner party
i have been obsessing over this new british indie rock band ever since i heard their debut single ‘nothing matters’ on XRT a few months ago. their sound is like rock meets musical theater (in the best way). their full album comes out next week and i just bought 2 tickets to see them at brooklyn steel at the end of march — inquire within if you want to join me!
7. rejection is protection
say it with me: REJECTION IS PROTECTION! i’m applying to a bunch of full time jobs right now which means that i’m upping my rejection rate by a lot. i wish everyone loved me and saw my promise but sometimes, people just don’t get it! and that’s ok. so we must embrace this mindset: rejection. is. protection. what is meant for me is what will be!
~ good thing from a good person ~
thank you to tom for being the guinea pig for this series! next up: my dear friend jules wheaton. jules has an eye for aesthetics and she’s always making things a little bit more beautiful. she once sent me a note in the mail that was full of confetti and sparkles and it’s still the most delightful thing i’ve ever received via the postal system. she’s also meticulous and organized, so if you want to GYLT — follow her recs and follow her on instagram. ok, here goes:
I am a big fan of Google Keep. It's kind of like a whiteboard interface, you can pin things at the top, can swipe notes away satisfyingly, and color code. The checklist function is GREAT and you're able to endlessly nest and indent.
If you're not a regular note keeper let me now inspire you with a few lists that I highly recommend:
Want List: things you want to buy. If you really want it, it will sit on this list and you can eventually buy it! Helps me curb impulse buys and think about investment pieces I have to save for
Gift Ideas: it is SO hard for me to think of a good gift if I'm coming up against a birthday or holiday deadline. But Christmas gift ideas for everyone I know in March? I have 'em! So I write them down both as general great gift ideas (housewarming - embroidered napkins and olive oil) or specific (mom - Blueland hand soap)
Things to do later in life: I will definitely use this list when I feel like I have time for a new hobby (gold smithing, learn to row program, historic home preservation society)
Media to Consume: take recommendations seriously, you'll never know when you're in a media dearth and need a new book or show
If you want more fun things to follow (but in a way less thoughtful way than Lucie's amazing newsletter), I post Things I Like (see TIL highlights!) on my instagram every so often; I use it as a pinterest that I have to force my followers to look at.
the end! see you in february. thank you for reading and supporting my work! you rock don’t ever change.
xoxo
AJ and i just watched the dog POV ep of High Maintenance and we agree LOL.
Also, “rejection is redirection” was my mantra during the job search 🥲
REJECTION IS PROTECTION! Love that! Needed to hear it today.