Queens Team!! For a good kid-friendly-meets-adult-fun hang, highly recommend a spring/summer visit to the New York Hall of Science followed by being the first people at the Queens Night Market (in the field by the parking lot) when they open at 4 pm
Excellent recs, thank you so much! I've never been to the Queens Night Market and that sounds amazing. And now that I know my little guy is a museum goer, we'll hit up the Hall of Science for sure.
Your description of the Sopranos is the first thing I've heard about it to truly peak my interest! Severance and Andor were my TV favorites of the past couple years 📺
Oh, I'm so glad! It's such an interesting show to watch in its entirety, the first season is almost slapstick and it gets progressively darker in themes (not just the mob, but America in general) in a way that has...come to pass.
I LOVED the first season of Andor and you reminded me of season two, thank you!! I started Severance years ago but I was in a bad work situation then so it was a big much, but I feel ready to return to Lumon now :)
I recommend DTF St. Louis! It's a VERY weird show (in both formatting and things like a random unnecessary (but also kind of necessary?) musical moment), which for me, I find super inspiring creatively because I keep thinking, "Oh, that's right, you can just...DO things." It's still going ATM so not entirely sure how it ends, but I'm really enjoying it so far!
Also just to clarify if you do watch this, by “you can just do things” I mean creatively as a writer and storyteller 💀 (just watched another episode lol)
Excellent, thank you! We're going to be in Jackson Heights but heading all over to explore (we have a parking spot now, a life changer!). My son is a book hound so getting him to local bookstores is first on the list!
Love these recommendations! I've never been, but really want to go to the home for retired playground animals in Queens. https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/nyc-retired-playground-animals-37305058 Also, I'm going to quietly slip in the fact that I've never seen The Sopranos, hopefully you won't even read this far. On the bright side, your description made me feel like it's not too late!
Going on the list!! This is a great idea for a toddler.
Highly recommend The Sopranos, they really ease you in with the lighter tone early on, then it gets darker and darker as you go on but you're too invested by then to stop!
Always happy to chat more, in many ways it seems like she truly didn't know what her own book was about...I wanted more self-awareness from her re: her family history, how the security of money can blind you to risk, and she still doesn't seem to understand (or her lawyer advised her not to say) that she was lovebombed by a narcissist who needed her social standing to get rich himself.
These are great and thoughtful recs, thank you. I'm especially curious about Yesteryear and Strangers. And I also find a lot of value in TFD!
My book recs-- Shark Heart by Emily Habeck (about a newly married couple; the husband gets a diagnosis that he's turning into a great white shark) and Sky Daddy by Kate Folk (a women is in love in airplanes and feels destined to die in a plane crash). Both were super strange and different stories. I've never read anything like them, which I find I'm drawn to in fiction. Sky Daddy is also funny in a subtle way.
My TV rec--3 Body Problem (aliens are coming to destroy earth, we have a few hundred years to prepare or not, the aliens try to kill all the scientists before they arrive—notably, comedy writers are spared). The show overdoes it on gore at the beginning, but it's worth keeping going. The ending is fantastic. PLUS: 3 Body Problem is based on a Chinese science fiction epic, and there's a real poisoning plot surrounding the book's film adaptation.
I've heard a lot about Shark Heart, I'm going to take the leap and read! They talk about it a lot on the Bad on Paper podcast. I've started Sky Daddy and need to finish it, it's WILD and so unique in premise and voice.
And 3 Body Problem is a good TV rec, I started the book years ago and there was so much world building/history at the top I couldn't get into it, but I could see the show easing viewers in a bit more!
The transit museum is THE BEST. It's a museum of subway trains AND labor unions, 10/10, good times always. Still planning on throwing a long-overdue autism announcement party for Matt there!!
I just finished reading the NYT piece on Yesteryear. I'm intrigued/hopeful/prepared to be disappointed. A biting satire? That's not really the word that comes to mind based on what I've read about it, but I suppose I should read it before committing to that opinion. Interested to read your take on that.
There's a lot I really liked about it and I think overall I would have enjoyed it a lot more had I not been expecting (and reading for) a satire. I just read the NYT review as well and it didn't pass too much judgement either way...
Thank you for the great post, Caitlin! Your well will refill soon, I'm sure of it! And the Goodnight Moon piece? Iconic! Loved it! Thank you for sharing.
And have a blast on Thursday. Wish I could make it, but Brooklyn is so far outside my usual home radius on a Thursday night that I'll have to just imagine myself there. ❤️
It's always good to be honest about a weeknight outing, I've realized the odds of me going to Manhattan on a weeknight are almost zero these days. Thanks so much for reading!
Thanks for the range of the perspectives here. Hallie Cantor's essay The Writer's Process is one of my favourites. With respect to resolving depletion, I wanted to comment that life is not always about going fast. With an upcoming move and infant, I can understand energy and focus being pulled away in many directions. I think there's calmness and energy to be drawn from stillness--even though that might fly counter to the wider energy of a blooming spring.
Wanted to recommend KEXP's Pacific Notions as a great program to tap into for ambient and neo-classic music. The two-week streaming archives allows for mindful listening that fits your schedule. Have a great week!
This was a really lovely reply, thank you Jon! "Calmness and energy to be drawn from stillness" really resonated with me. And that sounds like perfect music to work to, I've been listening to focus mixes on YouTube but I'm ready for something different. Thanks so much for reading and commenting!
Thanks, Caitlin! I've also borrowed Cal Newport's Slow Productivity from the library again. Planning to revisit some of those anecdotes and work contexts he describes in the book. Also trying to resist endless work intensification haha
Great newsletter, love all the recs and thoughts, and am looking forward to reading some of the articles (thanks for making them gift links!).
As far as some recs, do with this what you will.
One of my hobbies is historical costuming, and I watch a good amount of costumer's videos, and this one, a deep dive unboxing of several Regency-era (1790's) clothing pieces by historians was nerdy and fascinating in all the right ways. Every bit as niche as it sounds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs_-kF_lVP0
For TV: Generally all reboots get a respectably demonstrative eye roll from me, and I expected to hate it, buuuutt. The new reboot of Scrubs is quite enjoyable. Could be nostalgia from being an original watcher, but I'm just really digging it.
As for a habit reboot, I recently watched a Pete McKinnon video about giving up taking pictures on his phone. To force himself to reach for the actual camera for pictures and videos. TBF, he's a professional photographer, so his interest lies heavily in having amazing photographs, but it is intriguing me enough to give it a try, and see if it cements the memory in my head stronger, and if I'm more thoughtful in the pictures I take (likely).
OK, that YouTube video is EXACTLY what I'm looking for at night to turn my brain off and just admire how creative and genius other people can be. Here's my favorite painting restoration channel for you in return: https://www.youtube.com/@BaumgartnerRestoration
I was also an original Scrubs watcher and I forgot about the reboot, great rec!
And good food for thought on the camera as well, I find myself defaulting to no photos rather than pull out my phone, but having a physical camera could be a good fix. Thank you for this thoughtful comment!
I am sad to hear the TSI has reached a 5y high in our neighborhood, so your move makes total sense. Queens has great pastrami, so fingers crossed it will be affordable 🥪 Love you guys and good luck with the move!
Man, I hadn't heard of YESTERYEAR, but I can't wait to be somewhat disappointed by its execution of an admittedly killer concept. I love a big swing!* (*Well, sometimes.)
I love a big swing as well! I would way rather read a book that tries something and maybe falls short than a well-executed premise that I've seen before. I do recommend it, and would love to know what you think!
Queens Team!! For a good kid-friendly-meets-adult-fun hang, highly recommend a spring/summer visit to the New York Hall of Science followed by being the first people at the Queens Night Market (in the field by the parking lot) when they open at 4 pm
Excellent recs, thank you so much! I've never been to the Queens Night Market and that sounds amazing. And now that I know my little guy is a museum goer, we'll hit up the Hall of Science for sure.
Your description of the Sopranos is the first thing I've heard about it to truly peak my interest! Severance and Andor were my TV favorites of the past couple years 📺
Oh, I'm so glad! It's such an interesting show to watch in its entirety, the first season is almost slapstick and it gets progressively darker in themes (not just the mob, but America in general) in a way that has...come to pass.
I LOVED the first season of Andor and you reminded me of season two, thank you!! I started Severance years ago but I was in a bad work situation then so it was a big much, but I feel ready to return to Lumon now :)
I recommend DTF St. Louis! It's a VERY weird show (in both formatting and things like a random unnecessary (but also kind of necessary?) musical moment), which for me, I find super inspiring creatively because I keep thinking, "Oh, that's right, you can just...DO things." It's still going ATM so not entirely sure how it ends, but I'm really enjoying it so far!
Ooo sounds up my alley! I also want to check out the Steve Carrell academia show, The Rooster? HBO is dropping a lot of interesting shows these days.
Yes, I'm really loving Rooster so far too!!
seconding rooster!
Also just to clarify if you do watch this, by “you can just do things” I mean creatively as a writer and storyteller 💀 (just watched another episode lol)
This is exactly what I need when my brain is empty, a reminder that you can make it up as you go and sometimes the weird stuff is the best stuff :)
Welcome to Queens! Astoria Bookshop in Astoria (imagine?) and Kew & Willow in Kew Gardens are lovely spots with really nice kids' sections.
Excellent, thank you! We're going to be in Jackson Heights but heading all over to explore (we have a parking spot now, a life changer!). My son is a book hound so getting him to local bookstores is first on the list!
Love these recommendations! I've never been, but really want to go to the home for retired playground animals in Queens. https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/nyc-retired-playground-animals-37305058 Also, I'm going to quietly slip in the fact that I've never seen The Sopranos, hopefully you won't even read this far. On the bright side, your description made me feel like it's not too late!
Going on the list!! This is a great idea for a toddler.
Highly recommend The Sopranos, they really ease you in with the lighter tone early on, then it gets darker and darker as you go on but you're too invested by then to stop!
Me reading Strangers as a comp for my book rn and you gave some teeth to my thoughts.
Always happy to chat more, in many ways it seems like she truly didn't know what her own book was about...I wanted more self-awareness from her re: her family history, how the security of money can blind you to risk, and she still doesn't seem to understand (or her lawyer advised her not to say) that she was lovebombed by a narcissist who needed her social standing to get rich himself.
I feel similarly about You Could Make This Place Beautiful. It feels like these books are diaries, not memoirs designed to help others.
Yes! That’s a great way of putting it.
These are great and thoughtful recs, thank you. I'm especially curious about Yesteryear and Strangers. And I also find a lot of value in TFD!
My book recs-- Shark Heart by Emily Habeck (about a newly married couple; the husband gets a diagnosis that he's turning into a great white shark) and Sky Daddy by Kate Folk (a women is in love in airplanes and feels destined to die in a plane crash). Both were super strange and different stories. I've never read anything like them, which I find I'm drawn to in fiction. Sky Daddy is also funny in a subtle way.
My TV rec--3 Body Problem (aliens are coming to destroy earth, we have a few hundred years to prepare or not, the aliens try to kill all the scientists before they arrive—notably, comedy writers are spared). The show overdoes it on gore at the beginning, but it's worth keeping going. The ending is fantastic. PLUS: 3 Body Problem is based on a Chinese science fiction epic, and there's a real poisoning plot surrounding the book's film adaptation.
I've heard a lot about Shark Heart, I'm going to take the leap and read! They talk about it a lot on the Bad on Paper podcast. I've started Sky Daddy and need to finish it, it's WILD and so unique in premise and voice.
And 3 Body Problem is a good TV rec, I started the book years ago and there was so much world building/history at the top I couldn't get into it, but I could see the show easing viewers in a bit more!
The transit museum is THE BEST. It's a museum of subway trains AND labor unions, 10/10, good times always. Still planning on throwing a long-overdue autism announcement party for Matt there!!
LOL that is the ideal location for such a party!!!
I just finished reading the NYT piece on Yesteryear. I'm intrigued/hopeful/prepared to be disappointed. A biting satire? That's not really the word that comes to mind based on what I've read about it, but I suppose I should read it before committing to that opinion. Interested to read your take on that.
There's a lot I really liked about it and I think overall I would have enjoyed it a lot more had I not been expecting (and reading for) a satire. I just read the NYT review as well and it didn't pass too much judgement either way...
Thank you for the great post, Caitlin! Your well will refill soon, I'm sure of it! And the Goodnight Moon piece? Iconic! Loved it! Thank you for sharing.
And have a blast on Thursday. Wish I could make it, but Brooklyn is so far outside my usual home radius on a Thursday night that I'll have to just imagine myself there. ❤️
It's always good to be honest about a weeknight outing, I've realized the odds of me going to Manhattan on a weeknight are almost zero these days. Thanks so much for reading!
Thanks for the range of the perspectives here. Hallie Cantor's essay The Writer's Process is one of my favourites. With respect to resolving depletion, I wanted to comment that life is not always about going fast. With an upcoming move and infant, I can understand energy and focus being pulled away in many directions. I think there's calmness and energy to be drawn from stillness--even though that might fly counter to the wider energy of a blooming spring.
Wanted to recommend KEXP's Pacific Notions as a great program to tap into for ambient and neo-classic music. The two-week streaming archives allows for mindful listening that fits your schedule. Have a great week!
This was a really lovely reply, thank you Jon! "Calmness and energy to be drawn from stillness" really resonated with me. And that sounds like perfect music to work to, I've been listening to focus mixes on YouTube but I'm ready for something different. Thanks so much for reading and commenting!
Thanks, Caitlin! I've also borrowed Cal Newport's Slow Productivity from the library again. Planning to revisit some of those anecdotes and work contexts he describes in the book. Also trying to resist endless work intensification haha
I just reread SP at the top of the year! That and Deep Work are my favorites by him.
Listened to Pacific Notions while I worked yesterday and I loved it, thanks so much for the rec!
Thanks so much for sharing and listening! I often listen in segments and find the air breaks are good pause points =)
Great newsletter, love all the recs and thoughts, and am looking forward to reading some of the articles (thanks for making them gift links!).
As far as some recs, do with this what you will.
One of my hobbies is historical costuming, and I watch a good amount of costumer's videos, and this one, a deep dive unboxing of several Regency-era (1790's) clothing pieces by historians was nerdy and fascinating in all the right ways. Every bit as niche as it sounds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs_-kF_lVP0
For TV: Generally all reboots get a respectably demonstrative eye roll from me, and I expected to hate it, buuuutt. The new reboot of Scrubs is quite enjoyable. Could be nostalgia from being an original watcher, but I'm just really digging it.
As for a habit reboot, I recently watched a Pete McKinnon video about giving up taking pictures on his phone. To force himself to reach for the actual camera for pictures and videos. TBF, he's a professional photographer, so his interest lies heavily in having amazing photographs, but it is intriguing me enough to give it a try, and see if it cements the memory in my head stronger, and if I'm more thoughtful in the pictures I take (likely).
OK, that YouTube video is EXACTLY what I'm looking for at night to turn my brain off and just admire how creative and genius other people can be. Here's my favorite painting restoration channel for you in return: https://www.youtube.com/@BaumgartnerRestoration
I was also an original Scrubs watcher and I forgot about the reboot, great rec!
And good food for thought on the camera as well, I find myself defaulting to no photos rather than pull out my phone, but having a physical camera could be a good fix. Thank you for this thoughtful comment!
I am sad to hear the TSI has reached a 5y high in our neighborhood, so your move makes total sense. Queens has great pastrami, so fingers crossed it will be affordable 🥪 Love you guys and good luck with the move!
Winner...testing my patience!!! And good tip on the pastrami, that is very much an interest of mine. We'll see you before we go for sure!
Man, I hadn't heard of YESTERYEAR, but I can't wait to be somewhat disappointed by its execution of an admittedly killer concept. I love a big swing!* (*Well, sometimes.)
I love a big swing as well! I would way rather read a book that tries something and maybe falls short than a well-executed premise that I've seen before. I do recommend it, and would love to know what you think!