Joie de Vivre #3
L-I-V-I-N
Hello!
Welcome to my monthly-ish roundup of things that are bringing me joy. We’ve got quite a few new readers, so thanks for being here! In case you missed it, I’ve started a thread for us over on the substack app if you want to chit chat! Without further ado, the sun is out, let’s have some summer fun!
WATCH: Last weekend a little gang of us went to Cinespia to watch Dazed and Confused! If you are unfamiliar, Cinespia is an outdoor summer screening series at the Hollywood Forever cemetery. I hadn’t been to Cinespia since 2009 when I saw Bullitt and was reminded how it’s really one of the most fun summer nights you can have in LA. Make yourself a lil picnic, bring some blankets, some wine and get cozy! L-I-V-I-N! Also, Dazed and Confused was my comfort/go to sleep movie for a few years so it holds a near and dear place in my heart! You can also create a mini version of this experience in your own backyard with a projector and a bedsheet!
MAKE: It’s just starting to feel like summer in LA. It’s been pure June Gloom here and I haven’t quite transitioned into full summer cooking mode. Enter, this spring/summer soup by Chloe Cooks. (If you aren’t already subscribed to her newsletter Anchovies and Soup, this is your sign.) This soup is a perfect and delicious meal, add a piece of toasty bread if you want, and Chloe recommends adding a dash of white wine vinegar, which I always do now!
READ: Sarah Paccioco writes a lot about fun things to do in LA and great restaurants and in her newsletter Ticket to Sarahdise. After feeling a little uninspired by seemingly everyone going to the same few new spots of the moment, she floats the idea of The Summer of Nothing New.
“In an attempt to de-influence myself and *potentially* the TTS audience too, I am making a personal vow to try nothing new this summer. Instead of racing to visit a restaurant, a bar or a coffee shop as soon as I see the announcement - I’m instead going to spend my time (and money) at places I love + places I’ve always wanted to try, but have never gotten around to.”
It’s a tough time for restaurants, especially in LA after all the strikes and I love the idea of supporting your favorite places or the spots you haven’t gotten around to yet, but aren’t exactly new. This can be done in any city, but LA has SO much to explore restaurant-wise. I’m definitely inspired to think outside of the shiny glow of “what’s new” and take a step off the beaten path to discover “what’s good!”
WEAR: I just ordered this dress from Doen that you’ll be seeing me wearing a lot… J’obsessed! Also, just got these very cute and easy raffia ballet flats. I’ve been toying with getting some mesh shoes, and these foot the bill, comfortable without being too meshy if you know what I mean! Also, stocked up on some perfect basics at Buck Mason this week. Their T-shirts are great, so is the price.
EAT: Best bite of the week was the local mackerel at Crudo e Nudo. The fish was cured in kombu salt and vinegar then torched, dressed in yuzu oil, topped with Thai basil and served alongside burnt lemon puree. WOW! I’m normally not the biggest mackerel fan as it can be rather fishy, and this totally changed my mind! I learned from Chef Brian that most mackerel you get in a sushi restaurant been oxidized for days and has come from the East coast or Japan. Chef Brian prioritizes local, sustainable seafood at his restaurants and west coast mackerel is very rare to find since it’s usually a byproduct of tuna hunting. It’s also the lowest carbon footprint, plentiful and most sustainable fish. Go visit Crudo to try it!
TRY: I’ve been wanting to go to FaceGym for a while now and finally made it. Basically they give you a very deep facial massage, focusing on lymphatic drainage and use an EMS machine to further sculpt your face. You walk out of there feeling very snatched and glazed. Would be a good thing to do before an event and I found it relaxing and fun! Yes, guys can go too. I got lot’s of DM’s from curious men, and I think it would be a cute date idea! Not sure how long the results last, but I imagine you might see a difference with regular visits.
SHOP: Towels are the unsung ultimate summer accessory! A fresh lil beach towel can really jazz up your life - and your summer wardrobe! Beach towels are probably the most neglected area of the home, buried wherever you store them, and you forget to get new ones until you’re already on your way to the beach. Chances are, your towels could use a refresh and you deserve better than some ratty old thang. These towels elevate the occasion and create a chic background for your cute suit! The Avalon makes the most divine towels, like this one and I am obsessed with this giant square sun towel. If I had a pool, I would stock the chaise lounges with these gorgeous stripey towels by Autumn Sonata. My good friends Lisa and Michael of Quiet Town, make great everything for the bathroom and beyond. We have and love their striped Ojai towels! Plunge is a very cool company that does limited edition collaborations with artists. Perfect conversation starters for meeting cuties at the beach.
LISTEN: Ok it took me a long time to get on the Me Espresso bandwagon, but I’m here now! While some people might thing it’s silly or lame, I firmly believe in the positive power of pop music! It’s not summer if you’re not blasting some bops in the car with your girls. I’m praying we get some more good ones soon (Riri, please bless us) because I hadn’t had a fave pop song in a while and it really does wonders for my mood. If you need a few to get the ball rolling, Cruel Summer by Tay Tay, 360 by Charlie XCX, Illusion by Dua Lipa, Million Dollar Baby by Tommy Richman are all solid on a pop bangers playlist.
Hope you all have a great, sunny weekend! If you happen to be in Venice today from 12-2, I’ll be pouring tastes of Lorenza at Gjusta Grocer! Come by and say hi.
xo Michèle
P.S. If you make a purchase using the links above, I may make a commission. Merci!
In case you missed it…
Nothing new indeed. Would hands down rather eat at Apple Pan these days!! The best things never change!
Cinespia is maybe the hands down most fun thing to do in LA during the summers - desperately miss that + concerts at The Greek and disco nights at TeeGee.
LOVE the idea of visiting your favorite spots over and over. Maybe I was ahead of my time asking for a plaque at Little Dom’s because I practically lived at the bar. TBD on whether they’ll meet my demands.
"I Believe" is another pop banger, from none other than Charli XCX's more esoteric sister Caroline Polachek. Based on your list here, I think you'd love!
Also these Avalon towels? Adding to cart. Love this list!