Perhaps it’s because I’m fresh off of my Bridgerton Season 2 rewatch but finally had an itch to write a new ‘musings’ since the latest Beyoncé drop. Lately, I’ve been whittling away on a feature idea, consumed a new romance novel in two sittings (airplane seats to be exact), and have been dealing with setting boundaries and my inability to say ‘no.’ I feel selfish when I do so but also know I need time to myself to both decompress and recharge with all that is going on… but am also thankful to ‘escape’ when feeling restless. Most recently, Chicago and fueled by hoarded credit card points and a cousin who puts up with me… but first —
New York, I Love You
While I’m trying not to fully turn into a homebody / agoraphobe (where is the line, it seems to be very thin and moving constantly), I did manage to get out of the house for a few escapades within the Brooklyn and Manhattan boroughs. One outing including going to Danielle McKinney’s opening night reception of her new solo show. Why did I think it would be chill? My friend J and I rolled up and it felt like I was walking through a magazine catered to the young, Black, hip, artsy, elite, and I felt severely uncool immediately. Like I wouldn’t be surprised if Lindsay People’s and co. were there. J however always looks cool as hell and blended right in. While the event was packed and I saw Danielle herself in the flesh, I could hardly take in and appreciate the art itself. My aim is to return before the show’s end so it can just be me at one with the art. Elsewhere, my friend C and I hit up the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. I’ve never been despite living so close. While most of the blossoms were pre-bloom, we still had a fun time people watching and soaking up the sun in large, green spaces. We even geeked out beneath a large willow tree, doing our best not to break out into the Pocahontas soundtrack. Respect always to Grandmother Willow and justice for Kokoum.
The Musings R.E.P.O.R.T.
Reading: Had to peep my bookstagram to remind myself of the latest and greatest reads since my last and actual musings and was surprised to see I managed to knock out three books. Despite the anticipation for it to arrive via a second hand, used books online retailer, I was on the struggle bus with Robin Cook’s Harmful Intent. I was looking to scratch my Crichton-level pulp medical thriller itch of the late 80s and early 90s variety and while it began with a promising start, it went down hill near the halfway point where, in my opinion, the entire plot and mystery were revealed unnecessarily. I’m still hungry for our modern, preferably female and poc author’s take on the genre and if I possessed the medical knowledge, I’d attempt it myself. Also managed to reread the first Harry Potter book prompted by my friend J.P. who has never read the series. Along with another mutual friend, K, we decided to embark on this series read (and reread) together. Forgot how much was in book one. So much foreshadowing! While we don’t speak about she-who-must-not-be-named, she did manage to set a strong foundation for the series ahead. And most recently, just finished reading a gifted arc of Riss M. Neilson’s new novel coming out in June A Love Like The Sun. While I prefer my protagonists fully melanated, and was a bit miffed at the wyt-reveal mid-book (boo), Neilson’s new novel was so rich and full of all the things that I couldn’t put it down. And um, so much tension and spice! Might’ve been the spiciest piece of romance I’ve read yet!
Eating: Whilst in Chicago, my cousin and I hit up Monteverde, this time with a reservation, despite it being nearly 9PM, and I decided to be adventurous and try a new seasonal item. I ended up going with a pasta with a gramigna noodle, parm fonduta, sweet peas, black garlic sausage, and orange blossom honey. It was good but different but not bad? Still wrapping my head around the honey aspect of it all.
Playing: Went down a strange music rabbit whole recently when I couldn’t get a certain song out of my head. After some googling I figured out said song was “The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby. Upon hitting play it felt both familiar yet lacking, the name Bruce Hornsby ringing a recent bell. I searched for Bruce in my Spotify playlist and found the “familiar” aspect of it… I added his other song “The Show Goes On” after hearing it during The Bear’s Season 2 opening. I remember been drawn to this song because it felt very 90s and early ER given the Chicago backdrop. The “lacking” part, I discovered, stemmed from the actual song that was in my head… “Changes” by 2Pac. I added “rap” to my google search and was suddenly satisfied with identifying the original ear worm. Oh sampling.
Obsessing: Chicago. It’s always held a special in my heart from my favorite primetime medical drama to nostalgic and cozy romantic comedies, but lately it’s been looking like a good ‘out.’ With New York rent increasing and my industry contracting, I often daydream about what a life could look like with the Hancock building looming high. After all, before living in New York entered the chat spring 2012, Chicago was my end goal. But with all daydreams, I’m not naive enough to believe it’ll solve my problems. To quote my cousin, “You’d be just as pressed but in a different city.” But I’d also like to think a sweet ass view of Lake Michigan would lift my spirits and a change is what I need.
Revelations: see ‘musings’ below on how Penelope Featherington is a Bridgerton villain… mind. blown.
Treating: Dipping back into my accumulated credit card points while I continue to live off my savings post strike, I treated myself to another quick trip to Chicago. Thankful that my cousin puts me up in her impressive condo, but along with a long, scenic walk along the lake front and an architecture boat tour that floated down the Chicago River and out into Lake Michigan, I couldn’t not leave without procuring the now iconic (to me at least) Chocolate Cake from The Bear… aka Marcus’ cake developed by Sarah Mispagel.
Musings: Penelope. Bridgerton. Y’all. Hear me out. I was in a catatonic life spiral state one evening and decided to distract myself with a Bridgerton Season 2 rewatch in prep for Season 3 which will be Penelope’s season. While I love Nicole Coughlan of Derry Girls fame, and was Penelope neutral while originally watching the first two seasons of Bridgerton, it wasn’t until this rewatch where I had to pause (and literally hit pause) when I realized that Penelope Featherington is a villain! The way she bosses around the modiste Delacroix and gaslights her best friend Eloise is appalling. Yes, Penelope more often than not gets the short end of the stick and yes she wrote about Eloise in order to ‘save’ her bestie, but y’all… the way she only seems to care about being outed as Whistledown and telling Delacroix that her gossip business was more important (despite being of ‘the ton’ — which didn’t read the books, so confused about what tons are) than the woman’s actual business she has to maintain in order to live — I’m kind of speechless. However, my hope is that now because Penelope has been discovered by Eloise and backed into a corner by her mother and Colin’s betrayal of friendship, that this will be Penelope’s villain era. And who says a villain doesn’t deserve a glow up? Penelope and Colin, at this point, deserve one another.
That’s all I have. Hope everyone is keeping safe and sane out there. As always, thank you for reading and until next time,
M.