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I just finished a short tour for my first book coming out in Spain, so that’s probably why I’m obsessed with the general Spanish lifestyle. Literally what could be better than sitting at one of these white-tiled little bars in late morning or late afternoon and having a little glass of vermouth and a toothpick with an olive, spicy pepper, and anchovy? The point isn’t to stay all day; no one is working on their laptop. It’s to spend the perfect half an hour, maybe adding a plate of patatas bravas and a cortado to help you stagger on with your day. (I also assume this is why everyone in Barcelona is always smoking: how else do you recalibrate your body chemistry after the various snacks, booze, and caffeine?)
Feb 22, 2022
Related Recs
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Tapas size sandos at €1-3 apiece. €1.50 pints of beer or sangria Sundays and Wednesdays. Complementary olives and wifi. Hidden in plain sight across every city in Spain. I should whatsapp her…
Jan 23, 2024
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I have absolutely no ties to Italy that I know of, and the last piece I read about it was from a Black woman explaining the near-constant racism and ostracisation she experienced in the more rural areas, and yet here I am advocating an Italian digestivo. I prefer Greece as a destination, my spirit animal is feta, but would never have you chug ouzo like on a balmy night like a chav on a gap year. Like many an amaro, Meletti is bittersweet and you only have to add a dash of prosecco, ice and an olive to look suave which is much less time-consuming than a finishing school in Switzerland or one of the private schools with a riot club. It is a no-frills Aperol for grown-ups (it’s actually best in a half-pint glass, curveless like a supermodel). Drink Meletti, feel expensive.
Jun 3, 2021
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Cigarettes and red wine on a Juliette balcony, regular visits to beautiful art museums, jazz bars and cafes and restaurants, spending hours at a time in Shakespeare and co. Not to mention how just generally gorgeous the city is!
Alternately, Southern Italy. Long, lazy days by the beach interrupted only by Italian food and gelato. Cocktails and Italian music in the evenings, and then falling asleep tipsy under the stars on the sun-lounger that lives on my balcony.
Aug 15, 2024
Top Recs from @kyle-chayka
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Sheila Heti is one of my favorite novelists. Each new book seems to be a step in a larger literary project, or an expansion of a Heti-ian way of thinking. They break aesthetic ground but are also a pleasure to read. How Should a Person Be is key reading for whatever “modern life” is at this point and Motherhood is a daring examination of choice — her use of I Ching coin tosses as a literary mechanism is breathtaking Her latest is Pure Colour, which moves from a fairy-tale-ish story of young city-dwelling adults into a more abstract mythology of grief, art, nature, and beauty. It can’t be described, which is high praise for writing, and yet it’s seamless and joyous. Almost more a painting than a novel.
Feb 22, 2022
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Now that Blundstones are justifiably everywhere, worn for every purpose in every place, we all need a new hot Chelsea / desert / everyday boot to embrace all winter. I was tipped off by Emma Wiseman, a puppeteer and theater creator, whose family wears them — Ariat is an American outdoor gear company that makes an amazing (apparently English-style) “paddock boot,” that’s like a Chelsea boot with a zipper on the front. Made of super durable leather and rubber, they are both cool and useful like their Australian predecessors. Beware, they may run a little big.
Feb 22, 2022
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My girlfriend Jess and I got a puppy a little less than a year ago. Her name is Rhubarb and she’s great, and also opens up a whole world of dog lifestyle accessories. All the gear is fascinating, although not all appealing in terms of style. At the same time, I love Snow Peak, the Japanese mountaineering brand, but I don’t actually need to set up an entire outdoor kitchen or navigate an actual mountain, so few of their products apply to me. Their dog leash is perfect, however. It feels like climbing rope and it’s slightly reflective, which is always good for walking at night. It makes me feel like a hiker even though I mostly hate hiking.
Feb 22, 2022