This summer feels FULL of potential. So many things to try and do. From food to fun, opportunities to experience new things keep popping up. Let’s take full advantage, shall we?
PS – You can find the last Roundup here.
Activities
- Cooking/Recipes/Restaurants:
- Wildgrain box: My parents got a gift card to this for our anniversary and I just have to shout its praises. How these frozen breads and pastries turn out so good is beyond me, but I loved it.
- I learned about this limited edition anchovy vermouth from (I think) my fave store, Big Night, and a fave purveyor, Fishwife. Can’t wait for dirty tinis galore.
- Grilled cheese hot dogs. I saw this and thought yessss. I’d actually do the whole thing on the grill, and just whip out one of those pans that goes directly on there and prevents veggies from falling through the slats.
- I’d like to make some Greek nachos sometime soon. I’m thinking pita chips, ground lamb, feta chopped tomato/cucumber salsa, sauteed or thinly sliced red onion, and tzaziki with dill. Maybe for a fun My Big Fat Greek Wedding summer movie night?
- Other Activities:
- My office is basically next door to the Anne Frank exhibit that I hear is absolutely incredible.
- I need to do what I can to oppose the Save Act.
- Bryant Park does so many great summer events. I always love the movie series, but I’d love to do musical chairs or maybe their dance party.
Content
- Books:
- I succumbed to the Inheritance Games hype and am so glad I did. This YA series from author Jennifer Lynn Barnes is fun and kept me turning pages nonstop.
- I’m trying to do a long distance or travel book club with friends. Basically, each person starts with a book. (They each have a different one.) Every person annotates while they read and then mails the book to the next person on the list. You get to read a ton of books and get a peek into friends’ heads.
- I read an excerpt from Break the Frame by Kevin Smokler in the Ministry of Pop Culture substack. The book interviews female filmmakers to fully understand their contributions to the art. I learned so much from Amy Heckerling just in the small piece I read that now I want to read it all.
- This might be the most fun way to pick my next book.
- Movies:
- Picture This: Pia is a struggling photographer who is told she’ll find true love within the next five dates. With the countdown on til her sister’s wedding, her family pitches in to help her find Mr. Right. This is cheesy and not great, largely because it’s been done many many times before, down to the gay bestie. But it’s good to know it exists when you want to guzzle some wine, eat sushi, and not pay attention to much of anything. (Prime)
- The Life List: Another predictable rom-com, this one’s got a girl who hasn’t quite found her footing in life running around NYC to fulfill her mom’s dying request of checking off all teenage bucket list items in order to get her inheritance. (Netflix)
- Bad Shabbos: This film is currently playing at a favorite indie theater and I hope I can make a showing before it disappears. It’s about an interfaith couple hosting a dinner for their parents to meat for the first time, but a death (murder?!) gets in the way.
- TV:
- Running Point: If you typically like Mindy Kaling’s shows, you’ll enjoy this one about a nepo baby who takes over as owner of an LA nba team while navigating athlete egos and her many crazy brothers who are all involved with the team in some capacity. (Netflix)
- Etoile: Amy Sherman-Palladino churns out my kind of quick-talking, reference-filled show, this time about the top New York and Paris ballet companies swapping stars for buzz. I just learned season 2 was canceled and am disappointed – still think season 1 is worth a watch. (Prime)
- All’s Fair: I have a feeling Ryan Murphy is going to bring the camp for this one about an all-female law firm tackling divorce First Wives Club style. (Hulu)
- Overcompensating: Benito Skinner created, wrote, and stars in this brilliant campus comedy about a closeted college freshman trying to fit in. (Prime)
- Podcasts:
- White Picket Fence: The social structures that set women back and how they can build something stronger for themselves and their families. I came into this one a couple seasons in, but really enjoyed the recent exploration of the institution of marriage and the village needed to raise a child.
- Books, Beach, and Beyond: Author Elin Hilderbrand and co-host Tim Ehrenberg talk books with favorite writers and bookish industry insiders. I’ve actually never read Hilderbrand’s works, but I have read (and adored) many of the show’s guests. As someone who worked in the podcast industry, I just want to say that this show could use some new cover art.
- Silver Linings: Respect your elders! I’ve enjoyed watching @oldgays on TikTok for years, so now I get to enjoy their retrospective on their big beautiful gay lives now that they’ve entered their golden years. Note: they’re older and talk slower so you’ll definitely need to listen to this one at 1.5x.
- The Binge Cases: This is actually a whole true crime podcast network. I started with Season 13 about the Baby Broker adoption scam and like that there’s a nice cross-section of crime types.
- Bookmarked: I generally like Reese’s Book Club picks and like that Witherspoon is focused on amplifying female voices while also keeping her own business goals front of mind (having this book club as a springboard for her production company to secure the rights to these stories is very very smart). A podcast is a natural extension, both for her community and her business. I wish there was more structure and consistent to the episodes vs. just pushing out episodes with varying bookish content, but I like bookish things across multiple facets, so I’m not complaining toooo hard.
Peaches to Apples 