GQ interviewed Ezra Klein, noted blogger and podcaster, about his formula for a good day, to which he gave four fundamentals that really resonated with me. “Am I sleeping enough? Am I getting enough time to myself? Am I deeply connected with the people I love? Am I making fairly healthy choices in my body? ” Seems like a pretty smart way to look at things.
The Fox is Black
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OK, this one is a bit random. Since moving here to Barcelona I’ve became kind of obsessed with figs. This includes buying figs from the local mercado, hand wash, and what I’m so excited to share, this Tiptree Green Fig jam from Wilkin & Sons. As it turns out, Wilkin & Sons has a long standing history of jam making, starting way back in 1885. And these days, the company is more than half-owned by employees through a trust, which I can definitely get behind.
As for the jam itself, it’s made from tiny, unripened green figs that provide a really delicious, bright flavor. When I think of ripe figs, it’s more of a hearty, deep flavor that comes to mind. I like to eat mine on thick slices of buttered toast, and then topped with flaky salt. It’s a perfect combo with my morning coffee. The Wilkin & Sons website say they ship to over 60 countries, so if you’re a fan of figs like me, this is well worth checking out.
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Anton Repponen is a Brooklyn-based designer who’s new concept project Street Signs of New York intrigued me. In place of the familiar symbols and words we might see on the signs around New York, he’s replaced them with these abstract symbols and bright colors that recontextualizes what these signs mean in their respective spaces. And honestly, it’s just kind of nice to see something so visually appealing in public like this, almost like little bursts of public art for our day-to-day lives.
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Something I didn’t see on the moodboard for 2023 was, a) Kyle Minogue having the song of the summer, and b) her asking Australian DJ and producer HAAi to create a remix of said song, the one and only “Padam Padam.” It’s edgier, it’s harder, it’s more rave than gay club, and I love it. I’m a huge fan of HAAi, and the way this remix came together is pretty funny:
“A funny story is. I’ve never asked for parts for a song to remix before. Usually you’re approached by a label or management and are commissioned to put a rework together. Until I had a group with some of my nearest and queerest called ‘Padam’. Everything was “padam this” and “padam that’. I thought. How funny would it be, if as a surprise, I got the stems to the track and made a remix for our group of friends. I asked my mgmt, then 2 days later they arrived in my inbox with a message from BMG saying “can’t wait to hear what HAAi does”.“
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I chanced upon the drawings of Kyoto-based illustrator Junkama, aka Jun Kumaori, who’s illustration style is one of the most unique I’ve seen in a while. The best way I can describe it is they are creating pixel drawings of photos from a digital camera from the 90’s. Odd bots of digital artificating popping up here and there, colorful moiré patterns, it’s such a fascinating approach.
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My love for food-related branding is unending, and when I spotted this work from Humid Daze, I was immediately a fan. Humid Daze is a one-man design studio helmed by Sean Jones, a designer and illustrator based in Atlanta. The work he did for Deeply, a cafe and bottle shop in Florida, is clean and timeless, using elements of sans serif type paired with hand drawn elements. It’s all so crisp and clean that you can’t go wrong, and in the end, it allows the coffee to shine through clearest. I feel like everyone could use a little spot like this in their neighborhood.
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I dunno, there’s something so satisfying about a fresh made baked good in the morning. I’m not preferential to any, to be honest, give me buttery, sugary, warm dough and I’m happy. Recently I’ve been seeing a recipe for Ritz-Carlton’s Blueberry Muffins, which was shared to The Times by way of Marian Burros in a 1985. I love that the recipe is super straightforward, and prep is simple, and results seem to be delicious. However, The Times also made a video comparing the Ritz’s recipe with that of Jordan Marsh’s recipe to see which they preferred. The big difference between each recipe is ultimately the amount of sugar added, so it depends on your sweet tooth.
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I’ve decided that on Fridays, I’m going to recommend some items to read, think long-form pieces, as well as some things to listen to, music that just came out or something I’ve been playing during the week. I like this idea because it gives me a spot to put some of the detritus I’ve been experiencing, bringing together the loose pieces into something more cohesive. Plus, you can revisit these items over the weekend. I hope you enjoy!
Things To ReadANOHNI and Björk Talk Soul Music, Lou Reed, and Climate Collapse
These two queens get together to chat about ANOHNI’s new album, and their shared concerns about climate collapse. They also talk about their admiration for Lou Reed, their love for soul music, personal loss, and pay tribute to the legacy of activist music.Everything I, an Italian, thought I knew about Italian food is wrong
This fascinating piece from Marianna Giusti talks about how some of Italy’s most famous foods, such as panettone, tiramisu, and Parmesan cheese, have evolved over time and have been influenced by factors such as industrialization, migration, and changing tastes.Stop trying to have the perfect vacation. You’re ruining everyone else’s.
I loved Rebecca Jennings take on how bad American’s are at traveling. There’s this gross desire to have a “perfect vacation” which highlights the entitlement and negative impact of this mindset on others. Instead of worrying about perfection, she advocates for travelers to have a more relaxed and enjoyable approach to vacationing. What a concept 🙄Kevin Kelly: Daddy Issues
Some of you may know Kevin Kelly, he helped to found Wired magazine, as well as the Whole Earth Catalogs, all of which were on the cutting edge of tech and futurism. Yana Sosnovskaya and Aaron Gonsher sat down with Kevin to talk about Web3, DAO, blockchain, as well as his opinion on the big tech companies: “Let’s make it better, but let’s not get rid of it. That’s where I am. I’m interested in improving things rather than destroying things.”
Things To HearSui Zhen (live from Naarm) — NTS
I kept coming back to this mix from Sui Zhen, a Melbourne based producer and artist, who arranged a super mellow compilation including music from Strawberry Switchblade, Saint Etienne, Durutti Column, and many more. Great music to accompany a chill morning or hazy evening.The Greater Wings by Julie Byrne
Julie Bryne’s new album, The Greater Wings, may already be one of the best of the year. A heart-wrenching folk album, it’s filled with breathy vocals and expansive strings which welcome you into their own magical realm. It’s a very special album, one you should totally listen to with headphones.Olof Dreijer — Recorded live from Pumping Velvet
Hessle Audio on Rinse FM were able to get a recording of Olof Dreijer’s set at Pumping Velvet, in support of his new single “Rosa Rugosa”, and it’s a damn good. Maybe it’s just me, but this set is especially good for the girlies and the gays, featuring a lot of house, disco, Robyn, and Beyoncé.Kode9 + Burial — Infirmary / Unknown Summer
The eagerly awaited new split EP from Kode9 and Burial dropped today, and it does not disappoint. Kode9’s track has kind of a drum and bass, jazzy tinge to it, while Burial, as he does, goes on a nearly 10 minute journey through sound. If you know and enjoy Burial, you’re gonna’ love it. -
Akio Nukaga returns to Heath Creamics for the 12th year, presenting his collection titled “Shapes from the Heart.” The collection explores form, texture, and color through hand-thrown pieces that combine architecture and sculpture. Each piece is created by stacking spheres, cylinders, and cones into sculptural vessels, resulting in unique architectural designs not commonly found in tableware.
I’m a huge fan of Akio’s work, I wanted to buy a piece of his last year, though the logistics of shipping ceramic pieces halfway around the world stressed me out! This year’s collection is so exquisite. The forms he’s created are so dynamic, and he’s been able to do some really amazing work with the glazes he’s using. The yellow, red, and blue finishes are simply stunning.If you’re in San Francisco, stop by Heath for the celebration event and sale — Friday, July 21, 5:00pm. And if you’re not, Heath is also giving away a one-of-a-kind piece from the collection, all you need to do is enter your email.
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I discovered Ash, a hotelier that has built unique hotel experiences in cities like New Orleans, Baltimore, and Detroit, and started to dive into their business because of their fantastic design work, from both an interior and graphic design perspective.
One thing that caught my eyes was their souvenir section, and in particular, their Ash No. 001 candle. It features notes of damask rose, nutmeg, carrot seed, and amber spice, evoking images of a midnight market, a seaside ruin, and the lobbies of their hotels. I love that it comes in these smoked glass vessels which are made by hand in India to resemble a cut section of a Doric column. I don’t need more candles… but one more can’t hurt.
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Newly opened in June, Hotel Corazón is already at the top of my list of places to stay in Mallorca. Located 45 minutes north of Palma, the luxury hotel sits between the sea and the mountains, giving gorgeous views at every corner. And then there are the rooms, with the thick plaster walls, arched ceilings, and well-appointed furniture that makes each feel like it’s own unique retreat.
They also offer a farm-to-table dining experience with fresh produce grown on-site and sourced from local growers and suppliers. The hotel has 50 garden beds filled with vegetables, fruits, and herbs grown using local, regenerative farming techniques, and meals are served on the outdoor terrace with mountain views. The head chef, Grace Berrow, creates simple, Mediterranean-inspired dishes that highlight the natural beauty and flavor of the ingredients. I mean, what more can you ask for?
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I received a text from Kyle yesterday saying, “did you see the Longchamp? they did a toilet paper collab.” I was confused. Why would Longchamp make their own toilet paper? I know luxury brands are branching out though this seems like flushing money down the toilet. Then I realized, Kyle meant TOILETPAPER, the always fun, always edgy brainchild of Italian artists Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari.
The collection reinvents the iconic Le Pliage with five original designs, combining bright illustrations, colors, and pop art touches while maintaining classic Longchamp motifs. Inspired by emblems like the baguette and French bulldog, as well as Longchamp symbols like the horse and leather pipe, the collection adds favorite visuals to create a bold and humorous take on the Pliage canvas.
As you can see above, Longchamp went all out in certain locations, like their shop on Passieg de Gracia here in Barcelona. Inside they’ve done a very TOILETPAPER-esque takeover of the space, and even kitted out the employees in fun jumpsuits that match the space. It’s an unexpected move and I for one am here for it. Ultimately, we decided on picking up the Travel Bag for ourselves, a perfect tote for our train rides around the country.
