The Summer I...
Fill in the blank.
Happy last week of social summer, everyone.
Social summer is Memorial Day to Labor Day. Actual summer is June 21st to September 21st. This is the last week it will feel like summer, but the same person at your office who ask to “circle back” will tell you that SUMMER ISN’T OVER! On September 15th.
Summer is over in a week as far as I’m concerned. I had a pretty great one that started in Mexico City, continued with turning 25 and then going to adult camp (that sounds weird, Camptown in Leeds, NY), rounding out July with more birthdays than I can count, and heading out East in a much cooler way than everyone else has been doing it.
I’m really happy with how this summer turned out, and it’s probably the most stress-free one I’ve had in a while. I took advantage of the longer days by making way too many after work plans for my sleep schedule to afford (along with my wallet), and started walking home instead of opting for the subway, making the Williamsburg Bridge a cornerstone in my daily routine.
I’ve never been someone who’s sad when the warm weather goes and the cold comes in, I prefer the fall and the spring, and really love the holiday season. But for some reason, this year is different. This was the fastest summer I can remember, but at the same time, things like Mexico City and my birthday feel like a year ago. I’m saying a whole lot of nothing as stalling for the fact that I don’t have much to talk about this week, but I think we can all agree that this season was a speedy one.
I started this week at a panel hosted by Nikole Lubov Naloy, featuring Melanie Masarin, Emily Sundberg, Nick West (the co-founder of Bandit Running), and Tara Campbell from Imaginary. It was at WSA, NYC’s “creative campus”, in their mirrored Red Room, and I thankfully got there early, before the line and before it became standing (or floor) room only. The conversation was really great, and I found their differing perspectives on things like if or when to open up for fundraising, what someone like Tara is looking for from founders, how a business like Feed Me is operating differently than one like Ghia, and overall why it’s important to make something that just works. I may not work in investing or building a startup, but I never like to say never. It was also nice to meet strangers, something I’m trying to do more of.
The rest of the week was filled with dinners and drinks and birthday extravaganzas. By the time Saturday rolled around, I was ready to rot. I woke up with a craving for pancakes, and by the luck of the stars, I had pancake mix, eggs, and blueberries. I made some delicious blueberry pancakes that I paired with blueberry maple syrup from the Union Square Farmer’s Market, and repeated it once again on Sunday.
This week’s letter is now going to turn into a discussion on everything cultural I’ve consumed recently. I started Hunting Wives on Netflix, which I am obsessed with. I resisted the urge to watch the same episodes of SVU that I’ve seen a hundred times and implored myself to try something new, and HW was in fact NOT what I thought it was. Holy cow!
I also finally saw Weapons, which I loved. There were so many jumpscares I was clinging onto my dear friend Eva for life. I gave it 4 stars on Letterboxd. I had no idea where it was going and I was really happy with the ending. I spent all night on Reddit afterwards looking for anything that I may have missed. Everyone is saying this, but it’s a big year for horror. Even bigger now that I’m into it.
As I write this, I have acupuncture ear seeds on. I went to Modern Tonic in Williamsburg to combat some neck tension I’ve been having, and Alison is truly magic. If you end up booking, tell her I sent you. She tailors every session to your exact needs and preferences, and is so knowledgable on this type of medicine. My ear seeds look very edgy and for the next five days I will also feel edgy.
I’ve recently become obsessed with audiobooks, Gwyneth by Amy Odell being my gateway. I’ve only forayed into nonfiction and stuck to physically reading fiction, but so far I’ve finished Original Sin by Jake Tapper, and I’m in the middle of Murder in the Dollhouse by Rich Cohen. The former was very bad, and Jake Tapper imitated the voices of all the politicians mentioned (Bernie Sanders, Barack Obama, Donald Trump) which felt very unserious. The latter is very good so far, and I’m learning a lot about a case I felt like I knew a lot on already, plus some Connecticut history. Spotify Premium has a bunch of free audiobooks, so I recommend you check them out if you’re also facing some audio fatigue from podcasts and the lack of a song of the summer.
I would now like to move into some current events.
Word just broke that Iris and Pepe from Love Island USA may no longer be together. This feels like very interesting timing with the reunion tonight, but she did in fact unfollow him on Instagram. If the rumors that they broke up, due to his cheating, are true, I am going to be really devastated.
Literally as I write this, my sister just texted me that Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz were seen linking arms in Rome. Here’s the evidence. I’m really beside myself. This is like the couple of my dreams. I want to be a part of it. The only way this could be better is if he were dating an Olsen Twin or something. I was really excited about her and Austin Butler, but that’s because I could never imagine something this spectacular.
Lady Gaga has arrived in New York City. I bought a very expensive ticket to go and see her by myself. I felt like it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I couldn’t say no to, like going to Europe with my best friends or buying something vintage that’s one of a kind. Lady Gaga is my #2 behind Taylor Swift. I love her so much and I always have. I always will.
Rhode is going to be in Sephora by the middle of September. Sounds like my regular lunch breaks to the Williamsburg location are going to have to resume. I love their lip liners (shade Bend) and peptide treatments (shade Toast). One of the points Emily made at the panel I mentioned above was how clever the naming of “peptide” was, making it sound science-y and smart when it’s just…lipgloss. It plays into our fascination with treatments, going beyond the typical facial to now getting injections and peels and masks I can’t pronounce.
Some other products I loved this summer besides the combo above are the Fino Hair Mask, the Color Wow Dream Coat hair spray, eyeliner of all kinds, Manicurist Nail Polish for giving my nails back the strength it lost to gel, my FiveFingers, my Emily Dawn Long hat, and my vintage Prada dress. I’ve also picked up some habits, having a fun non-alcoholic beverage after work or before going out (thank you Melanie Masarin & Ghia), pottery, walking a lot.
Sorry for the short post this week. I wish I had more, which I think I will next week. I’m emo about summer ending for the first time, forgive me. Go watch Hunting Wives. Go watch Weapons. Listen to audiobooks.