Newsletter #68: 16 March 2025
NYC influencers, sham-pagne, show notes, and more.
Hello everyone,
While writing last week’s letter after my run I was so catatonic that I completely forgot to mention my favorite and most stereotypically French part of the race: The people lighting up cigarettes once they crossed the finish line. Brother!
Anyway, my week has been eventful and caloric. The top right quadrant is the yummiest, most comforting little bowl of coquillettes which I have not stopped thinking about since my last bite.
I hope everybody has had a lovely little week. Happy rest of your Sunday, and enjoy letter time.
5 Not Headlines
After it dominated AW25 runways, it’s hard to continue to frown upon fur, but a new emphasis is being placed upon animal & plastic-free means of producing the look.
Printemps, the French department store, is opening an outpost in downtown Manhattan on Friday. As we know, American consumption is generally down and luxury demand has slackened significantly compared to previous years, so Printemps certainly has a challenge cut out for it before the store can be considered a success.
Previews of the Broadway production of The Picture of Dorian Gray starring Sarah Snook began last week, officially opening on the 27th of March. Reading the press about it is the first time I’ve actually longed to be in the US of A for an event since my move.
Meanwhile, off-Broadway, Andrew Scott is starring in a production of Uncle Vanya, reminding me Chekhov plays have been everywhere lately (in the last year/two years). I think it’s because, armed with the experience of the last ten years, audiences today are especially receptive to themes of loneliness, the dangers of ahistorical perspectives, and emotional numbing.
Young people in cities turning to organized religion is fascinating to me, a trend this Elle article attributes to our desire to make sense of the volatile world around us. The most interesting quote to me is this: “‘Unprecedented times’ used to be shorthand for the Covid pandemic, but it now feels like the only suitable descriptor for the onging chaos of modern life.” It makes me wonder whether, even if we’ve mostly moved on, parts of our minds are still wading through a Covid quagmire.
<150 Words
On Wednesday evening the stars aligned for two things I very much enjoy to combine: The Dare at 100% volume, and an opportunity to walk around Montmartre.
The neighborhood feels like its own little village up there on the hill, and I relish the kitschy vibe of some of the bars up there. Sipping my mezcal margarita, I wondered how many other people have listened to “Rumble” by Link Wray on a night out so far this year and concluded it could not possibly be that many.
As far as means of getting the sillies out go, a brisk walk to a cool venue followed by an energetic show is top tier. The only thing that could have added to the experience was a t-shirt souvenir, but I’m happy with the setlist I snagged.
Weekly WRAP
Wearing: Endless lip blam. Since I bought it the other day, the fat LA Bruket peppermint tube and I have been inseparable.
Reading: It was NOT a good reading week for me. I’d rather not discuss.
Admonishing: The promised 200% tariffs on EU alcohol to promote American “champagne” and wine.
Pondering: The way our culture swings almost instantaneously from worship —> loathing of the very people it makes famous. Of course, I’m referring to the NYC influencer slander on TikTok this week. I argue that fame is far too attainable today, but I’d add that you can’t make boring blonde twins who do pilates famous and then get mad at them when they make content about being boring blonde twins who do pilates.
XO,
Natasha
And now, the last word: FRESH.