November 17, 2020

I’m really looking forward to the day when we can all say, “hindsight is 2020,” with a wink (or a shot of mezcal). Here’s one more reason to look forward to 2021: Nabisco is finally releasing Gluten-Free Oreos! Get me some oat milk and shut the front door! And GF eaters will be pleased to know they’re not getting short-changed, either. The new recipe is devoid of traditional enriched flour, but still packed with all the same high-fructose corn syrup, palm oil and soy lecithin. ;)

But seriously, folks. Let’s get to it. Read on for a truly novel—and all-natural—food innovation, some rad new lights, and maybe why you should consider staying close to home this holiday season.

1.

Since their debut last fall, Oishii Berry farm’s “Omakase” strawberries have become favorites amongst some of the city’s top restaurants for their seedless exteriors and exceptionally sweet flavor. Given their vertical-growth methods and indoors simulation of ideal environmental conditions, these are some seriously spoiled berries. (It’s no wonder they’re $50 a package!) As a pandemic pivot, the brand now makes regular drop-offs in Manhattan for direct to consumer orders, and starting tomorrow, the strawberries will also be available at Eli’s Market on the Upper East Side. Get ready to see some pricey handbags swinging and wigs flying.

2.

THANK YOU, to writer Charlie O’Donnell for this long overdue article about the infuriatingly different, often unfair sets of principles and standards that female CEOs and founders are typically held to. “Being a male CEO under fire affords you far more margin for error than if you were female,” O’Donnell writes. And it’s true: women can move fast and break things too, but then they’re expected to clean up, pay for the damage, apologize, and not even dare to consider a comeback.

3.

Let’s get soppy for a moment: I passed an interactive street art installation last week that asked the question: WHO GOT YOU THROUGH 2020? When I actually think about it, a lot of people: Jodie, Meg, CB and her family, Jason, Lu, Patrick, Julie, Joyce, Lindsay, my parents, my siblings, myself…and others too. For all of them, for all the ways they’ve been there, I’m really grateful this year.

So who got you all through 2020?

4.

I’m still trying to find the best place in my apartment to incorporate one of these cool, light-saberesque tube lamps from everyone’s favorite Danish design brand, HAY. In the meantime I shipped one to my nephew for his birthday next week. And now I’m officially jealous of a child.

5.

THANKSGIVING IS CANCELED! No, it’s not really. It would have been if the election had gone another way—at least in my book—but instead we have a lot to be grateful for, not just a new president (refer back up to #3 if you’ve already forgotten). Still, this year calls for some potentially tough family conversations around safety and gatherings and what’s expected. Everyone has their own choices to make when it comes to travel, and while there’s no single right answer, I thought this piece in the Cut laid out some smart facts about why no one should feel guilty about canceling their usual holiday travel plans.

Also, given Thanksgiving is usually the most hellacious time of the year for domestic travel, would wouldn’t be stoked to have a legitimate reason to stay put this time around? Just sayin’.

Parting shot: A piece I recently wrote for Architectural Digest featuring the Savannah, Georgia home of Rebecca Gardner, the events and interiors designer extraordinaire behind Houses & Parties. Given Rebecca’s motto, “A house is a party is a house,”

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