It was another rough one out there. Lots of bad news, no two ways around it. Sensations sustained us. We got by on the grace of soft old poodle fur, and bright bites. We took heart in rooting for the underdogs (and underturtles).
Drew Broussard is all about strawberries. Ripe strawberries. He’s approaching the end of a big bowl on his counter. “They’re almost out of season up here, but they never taste better than they do these first few weeks of June,” says our podcasts editor—who can’t help but add, “because this is basically the only time we SHOULD have them.” Hothouse, snothouse.
If you happen to be a day trip away from the tristate area and in the seasonal produce mood, you may be able to find a pick-your-own berry spot here. Or here. I’m headed to New England this weekend, and am highly tempted by this Strawberry Moon Festival. “Strawberry festival near me -ai” may also wield good Google returns.
Also on the sensory front, James Folta made a big pot of Marcella Hazan’s three ingredient tomato sauce this week. “You can monkey with the recipe—Antoni riffed on it on Queer Eye—but I have to insist you try it as written at least once,” says our staff writer. “Especially if you’ve got some good fresh toms [tomatoes].”
Oliver Scialdone is currently compelled by this TikTok tortoise with big dreams. Julian, a baby testudinidae, wants to skateboard. But faking an olly is tough with four feet. I can cosign the fact that rooting for this little dude will put a smile on your face. And it’s nice to be in community with other fans.
Jessie Gaynor “will never stan a politician,” but she is tickled by the fact that Ghazala Hashmi—who just won the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in Virginia, Jessie’s base—has a PhD in English. And apparently wrote a dissertation on the late poet, William Carlos Williams.
We do love a leader who can close read. “Taking these tiny, tiny, tiny political victories where I can find them,” says Jessie.
McKayla Coyle went home for the weekend to do a good deed: dog-sitting Peaches, their uncle’s “senior miniature poodle.” The grand dame made grand company over “lots of walks and sunny days and food and Bridgerton.”
And as for me? I, Brittany Allen, am seeking comfort in dark rooms.
Something that keeps me sane in summer is carving out solo afternoons at the movies. Though I’m grateful to live in a bustling metropolis with lots of screens, the glut can be overwhelming. Less so thanks to the good people at Screen Slate, who are doing the lord’s work for New Yorkers and San Franciscans. This week their newsletter directed me to the last screening of Alex Ross Perry’s Pavements, a cheeky mockumentary/biopic/tribute to my favorite dirtbag indie band.
I look forward to the daily Screen Slate newsletter, which always includes a praise note or piece of criticism about an under-loved indie or classic film before a list of local screenings. And this triumphant profile of the group, featured in SSENSE a few weeks back, made me feel genuinely warm and optimistic about small scale culture work.
We’re holding tight to delight, and hope you will, too. Stay safe and sweet out there. Wishing you a weekend of in-season snacks, silly time with old friends, and political victories of any size.
