May 20, 2021

I have a pair of clunky dad-like Nikes that I bought right at the onset of Covid last spring. They inevitably became the shoes I wore nearly every day during lockdown: during my walks through the orchards upstate, and on the occasional supermarket run with my dad. As the weather warmed, and I returned to the city, I shoved them into a corner of my coat closet. Since then, they’ve gone unworn…these lowly symbols of a time and feelings I don’t fully care to revisit. Oh, and they’re ugly! Colors I’d never normally wear! It’s as if I purchased the sneakers knowing they’d be sacrificed to the lost year (or as I like to say, the annus horribilis…because, even with the silver linings, it was definitely a shithole of a year). 

Last weekend I finally brought the shoes to Goodwill, along with a pile of other clothes and items—most of which where also on heavy rotation in 2020. Friends have been doing the same, too. It reminds of me all the closet-purging many of us did at the start of the pandemic to rid ourselves of items that were no longer serving us functionally. Now we’re releasing ourselves from the things that aren’t serving us emotionally. It has far less to do with aesthetic value than the emotional weight these things carry. For some, that might even include family dynamics and relationships that are no longer thriving (see below), a true testament to how profoundly and collectively impactful the last year actually was. How many of us can actually say that about another single year?  

Anyways, onward. NYC is catching fire and it’s spreading by the day.

1.

Pop quiz hotshots: What do Selena Montgomery (an award-winning author of eight romantic suspense novels), and politician and lawyer-extraordinaire Stacey Abrams have in common? She’s the SAME person. 

As Abrams recently explained to WSJ. Magazine, “Selena Montgomery was born because, as I pointed out, I tend to do multiple things at once. I wrote my first romantic suspense novel at the same time I was writing a journal article on the operational dissonance of the unrelated business income tax exemption…. It occurred to me that if someone were to google my romance novel or google my name, they would pull up this tax article. And since I was just starting in the romance field, I wanted a separate identity so that people didn’t think it was romance being written by Alan Greenspan, which would not be an evocative way to sell a book.” 

Last week saw the debut of her of latest work of fiction, the legal thriller While Justice Sleeps, but for romance buffs, there’s a whole slew of titles to immerse oneself in. 

2.

I’m trying hard not to lean on the phrase ‘doggy-style’ (too easy!), but this dapper NYC-based label for dogs and their owners certainly fits the bill. Between the number of people who adopted furry roommates this past year, and pretty much everyone else who went into deep home-redecorating mode, the necessary demand for functional dog accessories with a high-design aesthetic is how the world wags these days. ;)  

3.

Better than a fridge magnet: Notre Dame Cathedral has an official handbag partnership, and as unexpected as it may be, it’s actually more than pas mal! These colorful beaded pieces, made in collaboration with the designer Sophie Cano are fun, irreverent, and purposeful (proceeds from their sales go towards the restoration of the beloved Parisian landmark). 

4.

Sette-ing the scene: I can’t wait to start hosting dinners in the garden again. A group of friends seated around the table, and large shared platters piled high with grilled vegetables, herb-filled grain salads, and other seasonal dishes...a dream! I’m especially infatuated with the concept and looks behind these bone china platters designed by Anna Polonsky of Polonsky & Friends, in collaboration with the online retailer The Sette—a sizable portion of which will go to the nonprofit organization World Central Kitchen. One platter features a contemporary take on spring motifs, while the other is outlined with a poem by the late New York poet (and Pulitzer Prize-winner) Sara Teasdale. 

5.

Need help choosing your next flick or series to binge this weekend? I wish I’d known about this website for decision-challenged film and tv watchers at the onset of last year’s lockdown. 

Recent work: a chat about mental wellness with the Driven Minds podcast host Gigi Sagansky (whose bath time ritual puts my own to shame!), and a frank and somewhat personal reflection on the friendships we lost last year. 

Was this forwarded to you? Here’s where you can sign up. Or visit www.lauraneilson.com.