How do you eat an elephant?
One bite at a time. Plus, laksa, cucumbers & brownies
Where do we begin this week? The last week has been a rollercoaster around the world and that affects everything, from sleep to stomachs. Things feel volatile in so many ways and also too business as usual. I feel uneasy about the future and also hyper fixated on things on my personal to do list. Will getting a shoe rack for my closet fix anything large scale? Of course not, but I’ll feel slightly calmer as I get ready each morning (hopefully). Will Venmoing Gaby, who is organizing burrito drops for firefighters in LA, fix climate change? Of course not, but it will help nourish people doing a really hard job. Will supporting Nana Joyce as she rebuilds in Altadena help all the families displaced by fires? No, but she is 65% to her goal and I know we can increase that as a collective.
You see where I’m going with this. Start with one thing and do it your way (this approach applies to creative projects too), stay hydrated, and keep going. I’ll be here doing my best alongside you and that’s all we can do. Gentle January may be aspirational at times but effort is important.
A quick announcement: I’m going on an international trip for work a week from today and I can’t wait! I’ll have another newsletter or two before I go and then will take a break while I’m away and share a huge recap once I return. I’m going to a continent I’ve never visited and am very excited. I’ll be sharing semi live updates on Instagram (there’s a big time difference).
Now let’s dive in. Later this week, I am writing a hydration/warmth/gentle january update for paid subscribers about what has been working this season.
Something to cook:
Dale was away this week for work and I packed very random lunches. One that was randomly good was a cabbage salad with a simple lemon and olive oil dressing. I added toasted breadcrumbs, feta, and leftover mini potatoes. Cabbage is the most durable produce to keep in the fridge, a real workhorse.
I was delighted to hang out with Leslie and Dina on Thursday. She made yellow dal from Chitra Agrawal’s cookbook for dinner with rice and roti. She told me that feeding a toddler has reminded her that if you want to eat more fruits and veggies you can just have them cut up on the side instead of making it a whole thing. There’s nothing wrong with apple or cucumber slices, which we had. Love that rule.
I am not really a football fan but if I had to pick a team, it would be the Eagles, thanks to four years in Philly and the underdog spirit. Dale and I went over to Isa and Noah’s to watch the game and Noah made cheesesteaks (and a grilled cheese with apples for me, it was delicious). Isa made salad and I brought brownie mix (this is the best one), which we enhanced with flakey salt. Isa went above and beyond and whipped cream to put on top. It was a lovely semi spontaneous hang—Go Birds (even though they left points on the board)!
Something to order:
and I finally met in person at Spring Cafe Aspen, a breezy cafe right by NYU. It has lots of seating AND wifi, which is hard to find downtown. I can picture my undergrad self writing many papers here and eavesdropping furiously. Get the green smoothie and make sure you’re reading .
Amy kindly invited me to her book club (we’re reading this right now) and the meeting was at Laut, a Malaysian spot near Union Square, the most convenient place in the city to meet. It was my second time there and everything was delicious. I got the curry laksa, which was perfect for a cold night. Make a reservation and keep this spot in mind for a birthday. Someone was celebrating and they dimmed the lights like a club to sing to them.
Leah, Erika and I went to Lighthouse for oysters and other nourishment. I love their mushroom pasta and always get the labneh. Pro tip: buy a half or whole loaf of sourdough on your way out to slice and freeze
Dale and I watched the Knicks game after doing some shopping at Penn6, which is a very clean sports bar. It gets packed for Bills games but otherwise is pretty chill. I got a Caesar salad and fries, we don’t mess with the classics.
Something to read:
Amy W. (this the second Amy reference this week and they are different people, both with great taste) told me I had to see A Real Pain so I went to Syndicated alone on a Monday. It was great and managed to be both funny and a thoughtful look at generational trauma (very Jewish to find humor in suffering). It’s now streaming on Hulu and it’s only 90 minutes. Pop Culture Happy Hour has a good episode on it.
If anyone reading this wants to discuss Traitors, I am extremely available. Alan Cumming is a treasure.
(the inventor of gentle January) on choosing rest over resolutions has been doing such important reporting on LA restaurants during the Wildfires. Start here: Restaurants Were The First To Step Up During the LA Wildfires — But Who Is Taking Care of Them?A Book List for Precedented Times from
(her newsletter from right after the election is great too)Saying Goodbye to the March Hare. I’ve bought birthday gifts there and it’s special to see East 9th Street become a bright spot of small businesses
on Cecile Richards and her incredible life of serviceI love the spirit of
’s repair month (a bunch of my shoes need a trip to the cobbler).LA is Toxic, and We Need to Talk About it. Stay safe my friends! The 9/11 air quality comparisons are chilling.
This weekend marked the first night in Gaza for more than a year without the sound of drones or bombing overhead following the successful implementation of a ceasefire. There’s a long road ahead but thank goodness.
Yesterday was a big day for all of us. Besides what happened in DC,
launched the new season of her podcast Truer Crime, which approaches the genre with more nuance, respect, and questions. The first episode is about Martin Luther King Jr.Take care my friends! Get some sumo citrus and also some sleep! Thank you for being here!
xo, Abigail