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It could be bad planning or it could be genius—probably a little of both—but traveling during some of the most furious, intense weather has only been great for my sense of disconnection, relaxation, and awe. I’ve climbed the Eiffel Tower in a blizzard, driven across Australia in 100-degree weather, worn two coats to stand near Montreal snow banks that were six feet tall, and been the only guest in Florence’s chilly Boboli Gardens. For a more local option, try the Wall Tour at St John the Divine, where you climb up the cathedral walls to the roof. While everyone else is getting back to work, it’s nice to be still frozen in time—hmm, a recurring theme!—logged off, alone, and far away from the New Year’s Resolutions.
Oct 12, 2021
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every year I dread this season but wind up finding joy and feeling energized by embracing the snow and cold. A few years ago I visited Lake Placid NY, a town that revolves around winter sports (and still has these amazing relics standing from the 1980 Winter Olympics). skiing, ice skating, sledding, hiking in the snow, or layering up and going on walks help get through the shorter and darker days. It’s kind of amazing that rain turns into layers and layers of pure white, dampening sound and temporarily covering all the intricacies of the world. It’s so quiet out there. And when you come back inside you appreciate your warm lil corner of the world even more.
Feb 17, 2024
There is something ugly and small about winter that I like. Perhaps because I was born into it. And there’s a stillness too. I feel it most when I’m back home in Nebraska leaving the bar at 2 a.m., warmed by old friends and tiny drinks. I walk to the car, snow crunching underfoot and, as soon as I’m alone, I stop. I stop and listen. I love that moment of quiet, blue desolation.
I do not handle the cold well. I am quick to shiver and my long johns don’t come off once they go on. So these moments of serenity are strange and precious. Something deep inside me quietly overpowers the elements and I feel some kind of inner peace. For this reason, I once made an igloo in our backyard and then laid inside for hours trying to fall asleep inside that feeling.
Winter birthdays are a challenge. What is there to do? This year I decided to lean in and seek snow since that’s become something of a novelty in New York. $500 and 120 miles later I had my squall. When I returned to the city for my actual birthday, it finally snowed, marking New York's first significant snowfall in 701 days. It was the perfect gift.
Jan 24, 2024
having a winter activity to look forward to like skiing has done tremendous good to my livelihood in the winter. But this was, and continues to be however financially and logistically inaccessible for a lot of people.
The default way through it is through collective communal gathering and bathe in fatigue. While it’s nurturing, how can you get the jitters out living in a city when the weather can be so alienating ?
Mar 8, 2025
Top Recs from @steff-yotka
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Mrs. Yamaguchi and Mr. Yamaguchi are the original purveyors of Japanese cuisine in New York and their Port Washington restaurant is so delicious it is worth the LIRR ride just for dinner. They’ve been serving sushi since the ’70s and keep a pretty low-key, traditional mood within the restaurant—though I think they are currently take-out only because of COVID. The sushi is unreal and the ginger dressing, a secret recipe, is somehow even better. If you are very lucky and loyal, Mrs. Yamaguchi will give you a bar of dark chocolate after dinner, and if you have attained god tier levels of customer loyalty, she will give you a container of ginger dressing on your birthday. This styrofoam cup of dressing is the most valuable item I have ever owned; after each birthday I have to ration it out for the entire year.
Oct 12, 2021
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Simple: If you do not want bug bites, get this lavender oil from The Herb Bar in Austin, Texas. The store is magical, to say the least, and it’s the only bug repellent I’ve ever found that works.
Oct 12, 2021
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As FTM (Friend to Me) Rachel Tashjian wrote in an edition of You Know What that I can’t find in my inbox right now, we are living in the era of the dress. Fashion designers are using it as a means to experiment and evolve; I’m fresh off looking at hundreds of spring 2022 collections at work and have found some great BDE frocks at Simone Rocha, Loewe, Noir Kei Ninomiya, and Vaquera. BDE requires a dress to not only be large: It must swoosh around your body, tight in the right places and offensively poofy in others, and it must be worn with the ease of Birkenstocks. Not being precious about 10 meters of taffeta is BDE. It’s noisier than a Nap Dress. Easier to run in than Balenciaga couture. No to a Comme des Garçons bulbous creation without arm holes—proof not all big dresses contain Big Dress Energy—but yes to many Comme des Garçons Comme des Garçons (the sub-brand) ruffled and polka dot numbers.
Oct 12, 2021