Do you ever find yourself looking down the barrel of a weekend that won’t really be a weekend? When you’re actually looking forward to the respite that Monday, of all days, will be? Well, even if you’re feeling a little bit sorry for yourself at how far away your next good nap will be, I’ve gathered a few things to get you through.
1) I just read a terrific novel. Are you in the mood for a good ghost story, psychological thriller, or murder mystery? The Sun Down Motel has you covered on all three counts. Simone St. James excels at creating an atmosphere of deep dread, and you’ll be rooting for the two smart, vulnerable heroines the whole way through. This is the second book I’ve read by St. James, and I’m eager for more.
2) Speaking of wanting more, sometimes I crave a salty-sweet snack with lots of crispy crunch. Cosmos Salted Caramel Baked Puffs are exactly the ticket. They have the buttery-smooth, satisfying texture of a cold cereal I coveted in childhood—Sugar Corn Pops—but not as, well, sugary. I bought them at my local World Market, but it looks like they carry them at supermarkets as well.
3) Patrick and I have been watching Only Murders in the Building since it began airing on Hulu, and we’re hooked. Three Upper West Side neighbors bond over their love of true crime podcasts—and then set out to solve a murder in their very own building.
Oh, the pitch-perfect parody: everything from the New Yorker title font to the name of the building (“The Arconia,” modeled on Manhattan’s iconic Ansonia) make the show the best series of NYC inside jokes since Seinfeld. One scene early on had me laughing harder than I have in literally years. I promise, though, even if you’ve never lived in New York, there is much to enjoy. Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short are chef’s-kiss-perfection, as are the performances in smaller roles by Nathan Lane, Amy Ryan, and (I’m swooning) Sting.
4) Our daughter Aolani is getting married next week, and the whole family will be able to be together to celebrate! It’s always a challenge finding a good dress in the right color that fits properly, especially if one is shopping for a tall, skinny girl (like Anne, pictured above) as well as oneself.
You should know that I hate shopping and consider badly lit try-on rooms with those hideous three-way mirrors to be deserving of their own designated circle of hell. Imagine my delight and relief when yet another daughter suggested I try JJ’s House, and it turned out to be perfect.
Anne and I browsed the site for about 20 minutes, found styles we liked, chose just the right shade from dozens of colors, measured each other, and ordered reasonably-priced dresses made to our exact measurements. Once they arrived in incredibly timely fashion, they fit perfectly. I may never go to Macy’s again.
5) Rhiannon Giddens recently put out another album with Francesco Turrisi, and it’s the perfect soundtrack for our not-quite-post-pandemic life. Eclectic yet harmonious, the collection suits my every mood. Here’s their understated, poignant version of Claudio Monteverdi’s “Si Dolce è’l Tormento,” (“So Sweet is the Torment”), full of regret and yearning.
That’s it. I’ll see you very soon! In the meantime, make sure to read my most recent Octoberish post for even more curated recommendations.