Weren’t we just doing this 10 minutes ago? Isn’t it too soon to be stuffing stockings and fa-la-la-ing?
Between my child’s growth spurts — we’re almost at eye level — and the nonstop holiday cycle, never in my life have I been so aware of the passage of time. It feels like the last year sailed by in a millisecond … but then I catch a glimpse of my crinkle-cut face and realize that, oh my, I’m not as spritely as I feel on the inside.
But aging is boring. Onward!
poor things / may december / the holdovers
From the moment Julianne Moore spoke very dramatically about hot dogs, I was ALL IN for May December, another jewel from Todd Haynes that pairs two actresses I’ll love ‘til my last breath. Lock the doors, burn your phone and let this melodrama seep into your darkest crevices. Riverdale’s Charles Melton gives a restrained performance that just might snag him every trophy on Earth.
On Tuesday I crept outta work and into Poor Things, a magnificent, dreamy, sexy, disturbing achievement that transported me to a world I loved existing in and yet couldn’t wait to flee. It’s high-concept, high-energy, high-thread-count entertainment with the tension of Oppenheimer, the empowerment of Barbie and the glitz and wild hair of Trolls. Have you told Willem Dafoe lately that you love him?
P.S. The Holdovers is another capital-M Movie that I liked very much, where Dominic Sessa channels the spirit of Timothy Hutton and Paul Giamatti channels the spirit of Paul Giamatti.
zines / ed ruscha
The Brooklyn Museum has an exhibit devoted to zines right now — how wild is that? Go there to see stuff from the ‘60s through today, with a concentration on the ‘80s/’90s. Are there more genitals in this exhibit or Poor Things? Let’s crunch the numbers!
I also enjoyed seeing the Ed Ruscha retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art. It ends Jan. 13, so go wet your whistle before the words disappear.
michaels stipe & shannon
Many folks sent me this New York Times profile of Michael Stipe. RIYL the phrase “Huey Lewis carried my watermelon.”
Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy covered R.E.M.’s “Radio Free Europe” on Late Night, channeling the band from 1983:
Shannon/Narducy gave a recent interview on the podcast Turned Out A Punk where they talked about their favorite punk bands and why they’re doing a mini-tour of R.E.M.’s Murmur.
the chocolate room
The other day I needed to reward my kid for a rough trip to the doctor, so we had some dark hot chocolate at The Chocolate Room. This stuff is better than a dream about your grandma. They sell it online as well as other stuff that could probably (?) arrive by Christmas. (Dark chocolate s’mores? Get outta town!)
drawing people
I got this book for my sweet 6th grader who wants to get better at drawing bodies and faces. It’s encouraging but not too serious — also perfect for an adult who needs to just unbutton that top button, sharpen a No. 2 and chill the heck out.
lauren cohen
I love this Brooklyn artist — this holiday season she’s selling her smiling ceramic cheeses on the street and online. Skip therapy next week and buy one of these gouda creations instead. It will solve all your problems and analyze your dreams.
I’m still drawing comics, selling minicomics, etc. Each morning I write a haiku and put it in a little white box, but you can’t see those unless you say the magic word.
Until next week! Don’t take gingerbread from strangers!
all my love,
lil’ velveeta