Alexi Wasser

Alexi Wasser on Transcendental Meditation, Capri (Purple) Cigarettes, Yellow Red Bull, and more.

March 31, 2023

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Alexi Wasser is a New York City-based writer, director, and actress, who’s also founded several cult favorite projects over the years. She is in the pilot of ‘Girls’ and Natasha Lyonne’s new show ‘Poker Face’, wrote the beloved ‘IMBOYCRAZY’ blog, hosted the internet talk show ‘Alexi In Bed’, and created a popular podcast called ‘Love, Alexi’ that featured creatives like Janicza Bravo, David Lowery, and Alex Ross Perry. Her latest project is a movie (currently in pre production) that she wrote, and will be both directing and starring in, produced by Simone Films. It’s a “character driven comedic New York romp” called ‘Messy’ and I can’t wait to see it. Lucky for us, Alexi is here to tell us what she’s been into.

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OBSESSIVE SKIN CARE

This recommendation is just an umbrella to tell you about all the things I use in the hopes that it will keep my skin looking nubile dewy and fresh. I'm a woman who dates younger men, so I’ve got to keep the elasticity of my face tight, baby! It's a nightmare out there! So here are some things that make me feel like I have some control over the inevitable deterioration of my face and body.The following recommendations are for exfoliating, moisturizing, and the regeneration of collagen: Good Genes by Sunday Riley, Omnilux red light collagen producing face mask. This mask is terrifying. This shit will scare away any person you're dating. Which might be a good thing. If they can’t handle you at your worst, they don't deserve you at your… zzzzzz. Collagen powder in my smoothies. I met a 70 year old woman with perfect GLOWING skin, barely a wrinkle and she attributed it all to daily collagen powder. Everyday Oil - smells incredible and I truly believe it is a magic potion that makes everything better. Use it all over your body. Including your face, Epsom salt baths (good for relieving water retention and also nice for sore muscles). I’ll pour 3 pounds of epsom salt, as well as Shea Butter and Almond scented bubble bath, and luxuriate in a bath for LITERALLY (and I’m using the word ‘literally’ correctly) for 3 hours. Every man I’ve EVER been naked with says I have the softest skin because of it. They can’t ALL be lying. Actually, I take that back. They could be.

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Movies

Again, I'm using this category as an umbrella so I can list my favorite movies that I think by watching will make everyone's life better or at least distract you from whatever bullshit is going on in your own life for a moment, and put a smile on your face. Maybe you'll even relate to what the characters in the films are going through and you'll feel a little bit less alone and it will change your life forever. These are my favorite movies that I watch over and over again: An Unmarried Woman, Swingers, Annie Hall, Broken English, Girlfriends. Last Days of Disco, and Hannah and Her Sisters. And one of my favorite theaters to watch movies in in New York City is Metrograph. A sanctuary. A safe haven. The programming is extraordinary. And they have a wonderful restaurant upstairs called The Commissary. Run don't walk.

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NYC FRENCH RESTAURANTS

Nothing makes me happier than going to Odeon, and Lucien. They’re classic New York. The lighting at Odeon is perfection. It’s impossible to look bad there. Walking downstairs to the ladies room, you can feel the history of it’s patrons of yesteryear: Ed Ruscha, Warhol, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Leo Castelli, etc.I love to go to Lucien alone and have a steak at the bar. The bartenders are the sweetest and I always run into someone I know. I spent New Years Eve there and I swear to GOD it’s the best New Years Eve I’ve had in ages. Everyone’s gorgeous, cool, and interesting. The people watching is fantastic. The owner (Zach) is a hunk with bee stung lips. If he nods at you, it feels like you’ve won the lottery. I’m kidding. But also not. Go there with friends to talk all night about how the person you're dating isn’t watching your stories or texting you back OR have dinner and a cocktail to celebrate, right before heading off to the discotheque. I’m really trying to bring back the term discotheque. We’ll see what happens after this comes out. Maybe it’ll sweep the nation.

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Medaglia D'Oro Espresso Instant Dark Roast Coffee

This is hands down the world's best instant coffee. I've tried them all, and nothing compares. I buy these small cute jars of coffee in bulk because if I run out, I crumble. Available at Whole Foods, on Amazon, at Target, even your local Key Foods. Why would you bother with Nestle when this exists? It quick, easy, tastes cozy, and the consistency is wonderful. Add some half and half or full whipping cream and you'll feel like you're in Italy. I've never been, so don't quote me on that.

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Disco

This is an upbeat playlist that keeps my serotonin from dropping! I created it during lockdown, I think. Are we allowed to talk about that anymore? It’s all a blur. Anyways, it was supposed to be mainly disco but now it's just a bunch of upbeat songs that keep me from being depressed. Whenever I need a slap in the face and to have my spirit buoyed, I listen to this. Maybe it’ll do the same for you! I've included the link.

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Capri cigarettes (the purple pack)

Now is the portion of my perfectly imperfect piece where everything goes out the window and I become a complete hypocrite after talking about skincare and collagen renewal, because I'm about to add cigarettes to my list of recommendations. I know they're horrible for you. I know they will kill you. But let’s face it; we're all gonna die, it's only a question of when and how - and some days we’re more in the mood to speed up the process than others. So when it’s that kind of day, and you’re feeling emo or sexy or stressed, and wanting to have a social anxiety relieving prop in your hand or simply partake in a sexy ritualistic experience with someone who is also smoking - there’s nothing like having a cigarette. Going outside for a smoke with another person and someone lighting your cigarette, you touch their hand briefly to cover the flame. It’s all so fucking sexy/intimate/special. A brief loneliness eliminator! HOWEVER, the only cigarette I’m recommending are Capri cigarettes - the PURPLE pack. Purple Capris are the ultra light of the Capri line. Here's a bone I have to pick with Capri cigarettes (aside from the fact that they literally kill people), they don't label the strength level of the cigarette. You have to Google what the color of the pack means. My god, get it together Capri cigarettes. Good thing they're so addictive that people will just deal with this kind of bullshit. They're so slender and chic. You’ll feel like you're straight out of the '70s or '80s, hanging with Bianca Jagger NOT waiting in line for Studio 54. Smoking this cigarette will get you RIGHT to the front of the line. They’re effortlessly chic. Which is my favorite way to describe something I love.

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Yellow Red Bull

This shit is pure trash, but I LOVE it! Tropical flavored Yellow redbull is the only drug I do. I don’t do coke, speed, adderall, or ketamine; but when I’m on a writing deadline or need to get a lot done, I’ve been known to drink two or three of these and lose my mind in the BEST way. Everything on my to do list gets done. My apartment is never as clean as when I’ve had several yellow red bulls. Recently I heard Wayne Coyne had a terrible addiction to red bull and had to ween off of it by switching to cocaine. That may be a complete lie. And I don’t think it will come to that with me, but we’ll get there when we get there and thankfully I have such wonderful friends, I’m sure they’ll throw me a very chic intervention.

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Tudor City

I live in a part of Manhattan called Tudor City. Why do I live there? Well, an apartment popped up that had everything I wanted: an elevator, a doorman, a bathtub, laundry in the building, and in my price range! Turns out Tudor City is more affordable because it’s leased land. I barely understand what that means, and don’t wanna try to explain it. But you get the gist. Anyways, finding an apartment in New York City is intense! And I'm beyond grateful to have found my gem of an apartment. But a running joke I have is constantly being asked "Where's Tudor City?”. I try to explain, Tudor City is a neighborhood unto itself. With so much rich history. Katherine Hepburn lived here. Dick Wolf, the creator of LAw and Order lived here. I even heard Sondhelm wrote “Company” here. I implore you, look it up and learn something about New York City! It's not Murray Hill, it's not Kips Bay, it's not in New Jersey, it's not Midtown. Yes it's by 41st and 2nd Avenue, but it's Tudor City goddammit! And I won't hear it be called anything else. One of many great things about it is my local train station is Grand Central which is fucking gorgeous and iconic. And now that I'm no longer afraid of riding the bus, I can just jump on the M15 and go downtown where all the action is! A cute, cozy, charming, classic, old school New York neighborhood in Manhattan.

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Transcendental Meditation

David Lynch is an icon. I love his films. I love his writing. And it’s because of him I started doing transcendental meditation, TM. He is a huge advocate of transcendental meditation. So much so that he started a foundation dedicated to it. I have what my very best friend Rebekah calls “Jazz brain”. I’m constantly all over the place and buzzing. I need a tool that calms me down and grounds me. For me, this is Transcendental meditation. It’s so easy a practice, it’s complicated. You’re given a mantra, you close your eyes, focus on the mantra, and each time your attention veers from the mantra - you gently bring it back. You can't do it wrong. Our attention deviating from the mantra is simply our way of releasing stress aka the millions of thoughts living in our head. I can’t recommend TM enough. It changed my life. I still have jazz brain. I'm still talkative and who I am. But now I have the ability to access the stillness in me.

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Uniqlo button down blouses

I’m a big fan of having a uniform. I love wearing essentially the same thing every day. My uniform is high-waisted pants, and a button-down shirt. Maybe a cashmere crew neck sweater thrown over. I live in Uniqlo button down blouses. I have like five in white, five in black, a handful of the polka dot patterned blouses. They're affordable, they last, and they look more expensive than they are. I consider them highbrow, minimalist, effortlessly chic perfection. You won’t regret it.

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Alexi Wasser

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