This week’s newsletter arrives in your inbox fresh off the U’s win against Indiana — GO CANES! As a proud Miami Hurricane (who only pays attention to any sports at all during this few week period in March assuming we make it to the tournament) this game was IMPORTANT to me.
So with that said…
Watching Lately
March Madness
I am incredibly competitive when I decide to be, and I love deciding to care about college basketball. My bracket is currently ranked number one in my pool with friends, and with a whopping $40 on the line for the winner (while loser has to get a tattoo or piercing) I need all the support I can get at this time. Say it with me: It’s Great To Be A Miami Hurricane 🙌
Ted Lasso
Our favorite unqualified American abroad is back. No I am not talking about Emily in Paris. It’s Ted in Richmond! The third and final season premiered on Apple TV+ this past Wednesday, and the first episode was a lovely reminder that the best way to fight back against a bully is to show them nothing they do can bother you. That said…
More weeks than not, this show makes me cry (this week was a no tears week, but full disclosure I cried many other times since I sent you the last issue of The Lately, so perhaps in the words of Ariana Grande ain’t got no tears left to cry etc)
Taylor Swift Eras Tour Videos on TikTok
I initially thought I didn’t want any spoilers from the tour ahead of when I go but 1) August when I will see Taylor is a long way off and 2) unless I go off the grid completely, they are fairly inescapable (read: they are the only thing on my FYP at the moment)
Still watching and enjoying Abbott Elementary, Love Island UK, and Shrinking just FYI. And not to repeat myself but Yellowjackets AND Succession will be back this week and *Kristen Wiig voice* I’M SO FREAKIN EXCITED!
Reading Lately
Okay remember how last week I had JUST started Samantha Downing’s A Twisted Love Story, and I assured you I’d have finished it by now. That was cute of me.
As a sometimes mood reader, I got completely derailed from that plan by being in the mood for a romance, specifically Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan (who wrote one of my favorite books of last year, Nora Goes Off Script). I am currently a third of the way through, planning to make a huge dent tonight, and the story is a total delight. Pure nostalgia for summers spent salty and warm by the ocean harboring an intense teenage crush. The female protagonist’s name is Sam, and that’s not where the similarities end for she and me, so I’m trying especially hard not to extra internalize everything. But enjoying it so much, regardless.
I also read and finished The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams. In this friends to lovers romance, Bree (a former ballerina turned struggling dance instructor) and her best friend Nathan (an NFL legend) both have feelings for one another but God forbid they ever express them and risk ruining the friendship (eye roll here). But after Bree makes a drunken confession to a reporter, she and Nathan get roped into a PR fake relationship, and of course, you can’t fake that kind of chemistry.
Sarah Adams writes the happiest love stories, but I much preferred her book When In Rome. Please see below for my feelings towards friends to lovers/fake dating books in general.
Eating Lately
This week, I was all over the place and all dining experiences were memorable.
Broad Street Oyster Co (Malibu)
Been wanting to try this spot for SO LONG and it did not disappoint. The hot lobster roll and the fries with old bay aioli were absolutely worth both the hour drive and the long line. Highly recommend.
Mauro Cafe (West Hollywood)
I enjoyed the poached eggs and smoked salmon, but more than that I enjoyed watching the woman at the table beside mine revive a seemingly deceased hummingbird after it flew into a window. Like I said…memorable.
Thunderbird (Santa Monica)
Watched the first night of March Madness with friends here (and also found my way back on Saturday night) but was genuinely impressed by how good the nachos are.
Brennan’s (Marina del Rey)
Tried to watch the Miami game here on St. Patrick’s Day, but in addition to being the home of turtle racing, they are a sports bar where 2/3 of the TVs do not work (unfortunate). Loved drinking over priced beer while huddled around a phone to watch the game. Great people watching though. So that’s not nothing. Also not what I wanted to watch.
Barney’s Beanery (West Hollywood)
Successfully watched the round 2 Miami game here — shout out to a bar with TVs that work! Big fan of the pretzel sticks and fried pickles. And the fact that Miami won. Obviously.
Reading this back, I am in desperate need of a salad tomorrow.
Products Lately
SuperGoop Sunscreen — it was finally nice enough to go hiking and this is my current go to body sunscreen to prevent sunburns. I always burn early in the season and “learn my lesson” for the summer. Hoping last year’s lesson was good enough to get me through.
One Line A Day Journal — I kept a One Line A Day: Five Year Memory Book in college and I’m honestly very excited to be starting again. Year after year looked pretty similar in a BFA Acting program, so I look forward to seeing what changes and what stays the same between now and an age that honestly as I think about sounds very far away and a little bit fear inducing
Lastly, I went to a James Bond themed house party in Beverly Hills sponsored by Neft Vodka last night, and it was extravagant and silly and I had the best time dressing up for it and the people watching was truly top tier.
If you read this far, once again, I appreciate you. And as always you can find me on Instagram and TikTok. Come say hi and thanks for reading and if you feel so inclined, let your friends know they should subscribe, too!
Samantha kept me sane through the pandemic. Glad to see that she's launched this wonderful newsletter. A must-read for me when it drops.