Intake Issue no. 7
Work Nights, the Pee-wee Herman doc, and Beyoncé
Welcome to my monthly Intake Issue, where I share with you what I’m reading, watching, witnessing, and listening to.
Writing to you from a stay-inside-with-the-AC-on kind of day in the city. Earlier this week, I voted for Zohran Mamdani for mayor and held onto every little ounce of hope I had in the world as I did it.
Like my local hot dog shop said, “We firmly believe NYC is meant for all walks of life and all people, regardless of income and status. And it’s high time we took our city back and started making life easier for the working-class people who make this city the vibrant, special, one-of-a-kind place that it is. I’m sick of the BS and you all should be as well.”
On Friday, Mamdani walked the length of Manhattan and rode a Citi Bike alongside Brad Lander from Lander’s Park Slope home to Prospect Park. He really is just like us—and makes me proud to be a New Yorker. If you live here too and haven’t voted yet, I recommend early voting; remember that you don’t need an NYC ID to participate!
In other news, I was honored to be featured in
and got to share a day in my life. Check it out if you want to read how I like my coffee and see photos of my pug Hamlet.Reading
Earlier this month, I finished reading Work Nights by Erica Peplin (out now!) and reviewed it below. This book is relatable to anyone who has been in their early twenties in the city, figuring things out along the way. I’m already itching to read more of her work.
Housemates by Emma Copley Eisenberg. This book has been everywhere and I’m excited to finally be reading it for this month’s
.1000 Words by
. Last summer, told me about Jami’s Substack. Since then, I’ve been following her work and picked up this book recently, which I’m hoping will motivate me to create a 1k word/day goal for myself this summer as I continue to write my book.Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte. Need I say more?
In Case of Emergency, Break Open a Book by Jill Lepore for The New Yorker. “Little editions that fit in the palm of your hand and can be rubbed like rosaries are close relatives of prayer books. They are meant for the masses and often intended to be read, and reread, in difficult times.”
How I’m Fixing My Broken Attention Span by Rebecca Jennings for Vulture. Let’s save deep thinking. Please.
Watching
The Pee-wee Herman doc, Pee-wee as Himself. For anyone who remembers this man in a bad light, please watch this. It almost wasn’t made due to creative differences between Paul Reubens and the filmmaker Matt Wolf, and their tension isn’t shied away from in the film. This doc is done brilliantly and will make you think deeply about artistry and personhood. I may have to write about this more in-depth soon, but all I have to say for now is: Pee-wee forever.
The Rehearsal Season Two. Again. It’s even better the second time—and makes me want to read Sky Daddy.
Marie Antoinette. Watched this after I did a day bike trip to Versailles during my stay in Paris, and felt surreal euphoria from the whole day. Did you know Marie had her own hamlet on the property?
We Live in Time. Sigh… another cancer movie. I love both Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, but the tone of this was not for me.
Babes. Ilana Glazer is mother.
Past Lives. A gut punch of a re-watch, which I gave myself on my flight home from Paris.
Witnessing
I used to be obsessed with matching Beyoncé looks to book covers, but never thought I’d be able to see her live… until my friend scored reasonable tickets to Cowboy Carter last minute, and although we were in the nosebleeds with an obstructed view, I feel rich now that my eyes have seen her IRL.
The NYC aquarium for the first time with my pal
.
The Kim Kardashian of fish. Brooklyn Pride. 🏳️🌈
Events to ring in the summer season: Create Dinners Women’s Dinner Party No. 25 and Brooklyn Botanical Garden’s Summer Solstice Celebration.
Listening
A warm weather playlist I’ve compiled. These songs can be best enjoyed with an ice-cold drink in a sweaty glass on a hot summer Saturday. And if you haven’t listened to the new HAIM album, I quit, don’t worry—most of the songs are on this playlist anyway.
Etc.
Little Dreams. Erica and Monty are two of my best friends and make homemade tortillas and salsa together. Their food will make your taste buds never want to go back to store-bought.
Eating kiwis with the skin on.
Taking the bus.
Baggy jorts.
Face fans for summer subway heat.
Do you have any book/movie/music/art recs? Drop ‘em below in the comments.
I enjoyed Past Lives but it was too melancholic for me and broke my heart a little bit. I don't think I'll ever watch it again lol I was looking forward to watching we live in time though!
Taste! Love it ✨