You're Invited to Happy Hour!
Plus, a better world, knife skills, tofu bulgogi, and anniversaries
So far this year, there have been at least 198 mass shootings (a mass shooting is defined as four or more casualties, not including the shooter). I’m horrified by the latest one, at a Tops supermarket in a Black neighborhood in Buffalo, in area of food apartheid (a term I use, per Devita Davison, instead of food desert because these conditions are manmade, not natural). Community members fought to open this supermarket and now it’s a crime scene. There’s an active community fridge in the area that’s no longer accepting monetary donations, but linked to many other local orgs in this post, if you’d like to support the community directly impacted by this attack. And take a moment to learn more about the victims.
The shooter’s manifesto was racist and antisemitic and featured a theory also seen on Tucker Carlson’s white supremacist Fox show. Headlines right after the incident used phrases like racially charged, racially motivated, softening the harshness of the hate and the systemic nature of these types of attacks. This county has a long history of using pretty words and official sounding laws, proverbs, and traditions to obscure and justify violence, terrorism, and white supremacy (I wrote a paper in college about how Sunday school books in the Antebellum South used bible stories to justify slavery. None of this is new). To fight this, it’s important to call it what it is. This country has never reckoned with its past and it’s killing us. Literally and metaphorically. Make sure the conversations you have with friends, family, and coworkers don’t blame this on mental illness or on his age or anything else. Get involved in mutual aid, in educating yourself and those around you, in protest, in organizing, in whatever you can. Take care of yourself and if you manage people, give them a day off or a camera-off day or something. This shouldn’t be normal or routine or anything of the sort. A better world is possible.
Now, let’s dive in.
Something to cook:
I made such a good bulgogi bowl with Omsom’s spicy bulgogi starter. I used tofu, which I quickly pressed while I chopped my vegetables and served it with rice, sliced cucumbers with rice vinegar and salt, bell pepper, scallions, kimchi, and sesame seeds. If you haven’t tried Omsom yet, use this link for $5 off!
Josh and Sydney were in town and we had a lovely family dinner. My parents made a big baked pasta with all the veggies, ricotta, and Rao’s sauce. For dessert, they went for the gold and made ice cream sandwiches (highly recommend adding sprinkles).
I made my beige and delicious pasta with chickpeas again and it was so good (this time I used two cans of chickpeas and a full box of pasta for leftovers).
Here’s a reminder: if you have yogurt that’s languishing, add some lemon juice and herbs (dried or fresh) and use it as a sauce for just about anything. I had it with some broccoli and toast and also served it with a fried egg.
This week, Erica and I are cooking up a knife skills class on Thursday! We’re making ratatouille, garlic bread (a cooking class fave), and a go-to kale salad. If you sign up and reply to this email, I’ll share a code to bring a guest for free!
Something to order:
I’m hosting a happy hour next Thursday at Common Mollie’s in Williamsburg! We have an area reserved with indoor and outdoor seating options and they’re extending happy hour deals just for us (there’s also Truly on tap, NA beer, and lots more)! Come to say hello, make new friends, and celebrate something I’m announcing next week! RSVP here!
I went to a Yankee Game on Tuesday with Dale’s clients and the food options were meh! It was my first baseball game in a while but I am a proud Queens girl and Citi Field also has better food (I watched them build Citi Field from my high school science lab so I have a special attachment to it). If there are hidden food gems at Yankee Stadium, please share!
When I studied abroad in Argentina, I wasn’t able to visit Chile, but I really wanted to. I was invited to a Chilean wine tasting at the gorgeous Enoteca Harlem and it was so lovely. They have a small backyard, perfect for events or summer dining, and the wines were really good and varied, with lots of natural and biodynamic options.
Dale and I celebrated four years with dinner at Lighthouse! We sat at the bar and shared fries and then I had mussels and Dale had a steak. Lighthouse is the best and we always have a great experience.
Something to read:
I share more reads every Thursday in the newsletter for paid subscribers!
Macy’s Wins Over Underserved Market: Black Sororities
Found this incredible interview with Mo Willems in Claire and Erica’s excellent newsletter.
Why My Husband and I Gave Our Daughter My Last Name
25 great books to read on a beach vacation (I love so many of these)
I had a Bicicletta at a bar a few weeks ago and it is a delightful summer drink. Easy to make in batches too.
Playing A Scrub Nurse On Grey’s Anatomy Made BokHee Instagram Royalty
What was the Rainbow Bagel? A post-mortem
A great story from Lyanne: “Generational Wealth Is an Option for Us:” Latinx Money Pros Explain How
Delia on BeReal and how it differs from other online spaces (and also can’t last)
Andrea Hernández and Alicia Kennedy in conversation, a treat
Black Twitter is not a place. It’s a practice.
The dangers of pinkwashing the actually homophobic Julia Child
I haven’t watched Conversations with Friends yet but I am here for the Joe Alwyn press cycle
4 Who Helped Catch Subway Attack Suspect Now Need Help Themselves (because of our awful immigration policies)
Love Thy Neighbor is a podcast about the 1991 Crown Heights Riots and its resonance in the present day (there's racism, police violence, anti-Semitism, and under resourced communities). Host Collier Meyerson is Black and Jewish and the daughter of a civil right attorney. She brings herself to this story and it's all the better for it.
Last week, I asked you what you eat or do when you’re feeling down! I hope if you’re feeling that way, you have support and things improve soon.
Julianne has two feel good foods: It's hard to frown while eating pickles or Goldfish!
I also so appreciate how many of you checked in on me and I’m feeling a lot better. The mind body connection is so real and physical injuries can be really triggering for mental health issues.
This week, I’m planning some summer travel (going to California next month and spending at least one weekend down the shore)! What are your plans for the summer and what are you excited for? Reply to this email and I’ll share responses next week!
Thursday’s newsletter for paid subscribers will wrap up our registry series with some thoughts on giving and burnout as well as some seasonal gift items! Plus, a new recommendation station, the TNHS advice column, and midweek reads.
Thanks for being here and see you soon!
xo, Abigail