You up?
I’ve missed you! But not in the classic fuckboy way of texting at midnight with a “why don’t we talk anymore?”. I miss you, like, when I see or eat or do something cool you’re the one(s) I want to tell. But with it being the apocalypse and all, it felt silly reaching out about how good the Beckham documentary was, ya know? So what’s different now, you may be wondering. Has the apocalypse passed or have I finally grown more serious about recommitting to “us”? No. What’s different now is that I wanted to pop up and say hello and share some cool, interesting stuff because it’s helpful to have a balance between the news and the world immediately around you. Comfort. Fun stuff if you’re lucky enough to get it. Or maybe I’m a fuckboy. But I’m your fuckboy.
Let’s step back in time—to a few weeks ago—when I was in NYC for the weekend with some of my best friends. Besides walking everywhere in some crisp fall air, my favorites were: the delicious burger + martini at the scene of a restaurant that is Cecchi’s; when we reconfirmed that Rubirosa is the best pizza (the tie-dye!); and the day we waited out a deluge of rain in the dark, classic, Viennese comfort of Café Sabarsky where we truly gorged on weisswurst, chicken paprika, and a stunning chocolate cake washed down with ample bubbly. Highly recommend all.
Now, let’s come back to Los Angeles where I’ve had the great fortune of eating very well lately: Hatchet Hall, still great. Loreto, absolutely delicious. Go’s Mart for sushi in Canoga Park (honestly, I didn’t know where that was either) is wildly good. Teaspoon for boba tea on Sawtelle, did the trick when I needed an afternoon pick-me-up one day. Genwa for my kid’s first Korean BBQ experience. This was directly inspired by forcing him to watch Somebody Feed Phil with me, after which he begged the question, “why does he get to eat all this good food? Why can’t we do one called ‘somebody feed Finn?’” And in that moment, my maternal pride swelled to new proportions.
And finally, let’s go further afield to southern Africa. No, I haven’t been to Cape Town and back since we last spoke. But I did have a meeting with this fantastic company, in my travel advisor capacity, about their gorgeous lodges all around South Africa, Madagascar, and Mauritius, and I’m desperate to send someone (ideally lots of someones) there. To be completely candid, these are lodges and hotels are incredibly luxurious while being very welcoming to kids (meaning, no you don’t have to wait to go on safari), and deeply conservation-minded. I’d do some combo of Fynbos on Sea, Cederberg Ridge, and Camp George. They are also, and this is wild to say, priced far less per night than…for example, the Montage in Los Cabos. Blame the day job. But I’m practically packing my bag and Finn’s already.
So… that’s where I’ve been. How you doin’?
What’s good lately?
I recently read Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder and fuck she’s good. I have always loved her writing; Bel Canto is the first of her books that I read and it’s one of my forever favorites. Highly recommend. Now I want to go to Nashville to visit her bookstore!
A beautiful piece: “Whenever IVF Sets Me Back, I Travel”.
Okay, so…. have you watched the Beckham documentary on Netflix yet?! I binged it so fast. Loved. Also, if you weren’t aware (as I wasn’t), Theo James is in Sanditon and there are 3 seasons available.
One of my favorite people in the world produced this movie, Fingernails, and I was lucky enough to see an early screening and IT’S SO GOOD. I’m not even biased, it just happens to be great.
Would you test out the newest thing in boxed wine? I’m strangely intrigued.
Company: The Radically Casual Art of Cooking for Others, added to cart so fast.
Next month, I’m traveling solo to Verona and the Dolomites in Italy (woe is me), so if anyone’s got recs… send ‘em my way, please!
I enjoyed this short-and-sweet post—the writer’s daughter asked (out of the blue) if she believes in love. “‘Mama, I'm in love.’ To which she responded: ‘Does he feed your mind? Yes. Does he feed your soul? Yes. Does he feed your ego? Yes. Good.’”
Also, my five year plan.
The cashmere sweaters from Quince really are that good, by the way.
Which Barbie are you being for Halloween? There is no other option available this year… I already got mine.
This clip of Meryl Streep speaking the truth seems to be making the rounds, I love it.
Two newsletters you need to subscribe to… Ali Rosen’s and Yasmin Fahr’s.
A lovely travel planning testimonial from one of my very good friends who also has a newsletter you need to subscribe to, Whitney Goodman.
And, lastly… Stay kind out there.
Signing off to take a nice, long walk on the beach…
xoxo,
Nicole