the monday newsletter archive

Catherine Krenzer 5/26/14 Catherine Krenzer 5/26/14

10 Things We’re Doing Besides Getting 30% off a Bunch of Jewelry!

Trying to avoid summer-in-the-city feet by scrubbing with this sucker daily.
Becoming a regular reader of The Billfold, the highly entertaining personal-finance site from the smarties behind The Awl and The Hairpin. Try this and this.
Remembering why the Lower East Side restaurant Kuma Inn is just so great: There’s the whole fish, the coconut rice, the rice crepe thing, the weirdly special edamame—and the fact that it’s BYOB.
Winning points from my economist husband for sending him this website that so-adeptly demonstrates that correlation does not imply causation (and sometimes uses Nicolas Cage movies to make its point).
Tearing through The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner—if you’re in the market for a new novel that’s not too beach-ready, I think this should be it.

Obsessing over Wild Child lipstick by ILIA—you won't find a more perfect red for summer, and it somehow looks good on everyone. So, yeah: Basically it’s Essie’s Clambake for your mouth.
Naming a new favorite internet video: The debate teams from two top-notch NYC high schools duke it out re: social media.
Welcoming the arrival of Nespresso’s long-overdue recycling program. Now the only guilt I’ll have associated with this product will be re: my caffeine intake. (Because P.S.? The $$ investment is WAY worth it if you’re replacing a daily Starbucks habit.)
Relating to so many of the stories in this wonderful Leanne Shapton piece on the clothes we inherit from our mothers—I’m never not wearing at least one thing that used to be my mom’s.
Digging the very calm, very hip Nakameguro neighborhood of Tokyo—it kind of feels like Japan’s take on Venice, California. Don’t miss the cafe and shopping at Taste AND Sense. (Yes, I’m writing this from Japan! “10 Things” waits for no honeymoon.)

Catherine Krenzer 5/19/14 Catherine Krenzer 5/19/14

Planning some fantasy vacations via the flight search engine that dreams are made of, Adioso.
Whipping up a batch of this super-quick rhubarb-chia jam that’s going to make this week’s yogurt consumption a lot less boring.
Realizing that I made it through the whole freaking winter without chapped lips—and that I have Lansinoh (er, technically for breastfeeding moms, but go with it) to thank.
Clearing some time on the schedule to check out the Sight Unseen Offsite, featuring home-slash-industrial design awesomeness, from Of a Kind designers Brook&Lyn, Fort Makers, and Light + Ladder, even. It’s happening in Soho ‘til tomorrow.
Feeling suddenly cool—or at least on-trend?—for not having a microwave.

Loving the Fantasy Dress Up instagram feed that puts celebrities in “what they should be wearing”—e.g. HRC in Louis Vuitton Resort ‘15.
Feeling a lot less daunted by all of the strappy, backless, and generally un-bra-friendly tops hitting the shelves this summer, thanks to these magical little things that work shockingly well. (TMI, I know, but these things are important!)
Doing a deep dive into the world of mid-century Rosenthal China after being handed-down a beautiful set—how good are this and this and this?
Thanking the good people at Mouth for opening an all-American liquor store a few doors down from my apartment.
Perfecting the at-home Saltie method of cooking eggs, which marries the fluffy, easy-to-consume form of scrambled eggs with the runny-yolk goodness of fried eggs. Total game-changer.

Catherine Krenzer 5/12/14 Catherine Krenzer 5/12/14

Doing a deep-dive into Eater’s totally brilliant, completely enlightening “One Year In” series that shares all the wonderful and terrible things about opening a restaurant.
Falling in love with a broom. Yes, a broom—specifically this Minam one (that can even be stored-slash-displayed on a wall).
Scarfing down this riff on elote that subs in zucchini for the corn. Hashtag spring!
Double-tapping the wacky, throw-back, mood-enhancing goodness that is the @funkyoffishnation instagram feed.
Readying the HBO GO account for the May 25th premiere of The Normal Heart, Ryan Murphy’s film adaptation of the iconic play about the eighties HIV/AIDS crisis. Trailer here, with some Julia Roberts, Mark Ruffalo, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons, and Matt Bomer action—yah, all-star cast.

Deeming this the best Met Gala slideshow around—Humans of New York brings all the high-flying fanciness back down to earth in a wonderful way.
Receiving the most beautiful and cheerful floral arrangement I’ve seen in awhile, delivered by bike from the folks at (the brand-spankin’-new!) Petal by Pedal.
Finally finding the answer to a question that has nagged me for years—how the eff to clean a coffee grinder?
Feeling grateful for the sheer magic that is Mario Badescu Drying Lotion—nothing zaps zits faster than this old standby.
Loving that there are so many leftovers from the amazing crew at Talula’s Table who catered our wed

Catherine Krenzer 5/5/14 Catherine Krenzer 5/5/14

Double-dating to the so-major new Russ & Daughters Cafe (opening officially on Orchard Street on Wednesday!). The space and its vibe are—SOMEHOW!—even as good as the food.
Appreciating the review of the film reviewers from Vocativ—and bookmarking the author page of the Chicago Reader’s J.R. Jones for future reference.
Looking for an excuse to buy this Craig & Karl print titled “Brainz.” I mean, everything about it.
Turning sub-par strawberries into something really wonderful, thanks to this roasting tip ℅ Heidi Swanson’s Super Natural Every Day. (Pssst: I skipped the port and didn’t miss it for a sec.)
Realizing that I’ve been using GoodReads for five-plus years...and really hearting the fact that I have log of my book-consumption habits for half a decade.

Brunching on the oh-so-beautiful roof of The McKittrick Hotel with bottomless food and booze and a fantastic band. A+ idea for birthdays, team outings, or just because it’s nice outside.
Loving this MAKE bronzer—it’s subtle enough that I don’t end up looking like an Oompa Loompa, no matter how heavy-handed I get with it.
Enlisting the help of Fancy Hands to help me bang out all of my last-minute wedding tasks.
Getting a whole lot better at bringing my lunch to work, thanks to these three-compartment containers that keep everything in its place, bento-style.
Applauding Fathom’s series on forbidden places—which includes a fascinating tour of North Korea via their instagram.