Cappuccino Thoughts 66: Espresso Thoughts on Springtime in the City
Longevity is dead, the private club that is hemorrhaging money, and why you all panicked about the earthquake
For anyone new here, espresso thoughts are my quick thoughts on what’s going on in the world. I usually share them once a month, but since I’ve been traveling, it’s been a minute! Here’s what’s new:
-Bookstores are functioning as content. In my travels, I, of course, went to as many bookstores as possible (while at the same time I tried to obey my no book buying rule, as the piles on my bedside table threaten to topple over any minute. The struggles). I noticed a new phenomenon: Bookstores are becoming content themselves. Places like Shakespeare & Co. in Paris and Daunt Books in London had moved books around to make room for displays of an ever-increasing array of merch. They seem to know people are coming as much, if not more, for the photo as for the novels. Does it matter if a bookstore sells more tote bags than actual books? I think yes, but the optimist in me says that people come for the photo and stay for the books.
-Similarly, restaurants are seizing their photo-ready moment, I believe for marketing purposes. At tea in London, a course came out hidden under a silver toque and the waitress stopped serving and looked at my friend and said, “Do you want to video this?” She then unveiled a puff of smoke. It was over a sandwich, so it was beyond unnecessary. I’ve now seen this at a few spots in New York as well. I think it’s actually very clever marketing. By creating Instagram bait with a cheap trick, restaurants know people will post and tag them, thus drawing in more customers.
-You guys really freaked out about the earthquake too much, but it’s because you’re scared of mortality. I had friends texting me that their work canceled the rest of their day (I also think it occurring mid-day on Friday, when most people are working from home, contributed to this). Not to pull the California card, but this was barely a little shake. I think what it does underscore is my previous statement that people are unhappy in their jobs right now (not you, of course) and this was an unpleasant reminder of our limited time on this amazing planet. But really, wait til you experience a California quake, then give me a call.
-Living in New York, you will always run into the person you least want to see. You know who you are! (Jk he doesn’t read this newsletter.) But you won’t see the people you actually really like who live ten blocks away.
-It’s going to be a city summer. Maybe I’m also speaking personally since I’m in a job with many fewer vacation days (quelle horreur!) but I’m hearing a lot of people talk about things they’re excited for this summer around New York City and State versus the absolute mayhem towards Italy last summer. Stagnating wages/promotions and a poor bonus pool this year will also contribute to this phenomenon.
-But that being said, my generation and the real Gen Zers are traveling internationally much more than our parents’ generation. This is anecdotal and not based on stats, but I’m sure I could find them. I am hearing it as more of a baseline expectation among certain groups of people that they will take an international trip with friends after college or each summer. That was much less common at our age for previous generations. I believe this is due to a few factors coming together, namely cheaper airline tickets (believe it or not), the rise of the EU, the ease mobile phones provide, and, of course, social media, which shows people where others are going and therefore where they want to go as well.
-The Maxwell is making no money. This is a niche one for my fellow Manhattanites. I say this with respect because I’ve always had a nice time the handful of times I’ve been and I’ve met the owners and they seem to have nice intentions, but their thesis makes no sense. TLDR; there is no staff and they think people want to pay private club prices just to do everything themselves. At every event I’ve been to there, I’ve asked people if they or someone they know is a member, and no one has said yes. I get the idea at the start to bring in a class of cool creatives who host events and don’t pay to give the place cred, but it’s been too long and they’ve got to get some money going.
-Longevity-obsessed people are the most boring people in the world—there is a difference between living long and living well!!! I was at a party just before I left for my trip where this guy was talking to my very beautiful friend, then just as the night was getting going, he said he had to go to bed because he’s into longevity. I also read that weird Vanity Fair article about that guy who eats all his meals in a four hour period ending at 11am and has cut off everyone in his life. What is the point in living forever if you’re not going to have any fun doing it?! My grandmother turned 85 this weekend and her advice is to exercise while you’re young and stay active your whole life. This woman could hold a 2 minute plank at 74, so I believe her. Beyond that, I say, take care of yourself as much as you can, but don’t be afraid to grab an espresso martini and dance until 2am if it’s going to be a night that brings you joy.
-Okay this one is for my F1 fans and my F1 fans only: Carlos Sainz will go to Mercedes in a simple swap with Hamilton. If you want to hear the rest of my theories for the 2025 grid, please do email me back as I am actually addicted to F1 and my family is sick of hearing me talk about it.
Updates on the bag project: a motley mix of news
I am slowly adding the latest bags to the website! Here is the newest one. I have not added it to the website yet because, man this is not a great picture! But if you’re interested, feel free to email me. It’s a classic black Gucci bag with a bamboo handle and vintage silk scarf lining.
I sorted out the mess of the mixed-up linings and got a few orders sent off and ordered new materials to replace the orders that were messed up. Whew. One headache down.
There will be a mini-batch produced in April and I will also be getting back the bags that were produced last month, so May should bring a whole lot of new bags! My special project, making a new bag from scratch, will have to wait until the summer when I can speak to my manufacturer in person.
I am hopefully taking product photos of the new merchandise next week! It’s time for an upgrade of the shots I take on my iPhone out my living room window.
I am also arranging a more editorial photoshoot with my friend L. to get some new content on the website. I am always looking for ways to experiment with this project, and this year I am especially pushing myself to have more fun with it and not take everything so seriously!
Look of the week
I love that this is an outfit for a Sunday stroll in the mall, spotted in Tokyo. If there’s one thing I love, it’s people who commit to the bit. The leather shirt matches the leather pants, bien sûr, but I like the eye-catching addition of the studs swirling around his leg, which helps break up the black and creates a nice lengthening effect. The faux fur (one assumes) vest is really doing a lot, and the whole look is tied together with a headband. Get this man on stage with Mick Jagger, stat!
What’s on the bedside table
I am pretty fascinated by the country of North Korea and continuously horrified that the international political community allows it to continue existing in its current state. I’ve previously read accounts like Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demnick and Without You There Is No Us by Suki Kim. I would also recommend the documentary Beyond Utopia, though I will warn that it is quite harrowing. What sets The Girl with Seven Names apart is that it’s a memoir written by someone who may be the only person ever to accidentally defect. She lived next to the Yalu River bordering China and just wanted to see the country before starting university. But soon after she crossed over, it became too dangerous to come back. Thus began a fifteen year journey to South Korea. She talks candidly about how difficult life was, even when she reached freedom in South Korea. Though she suffered terribly at the hands of some cruel people, she was also helped by complete strangers who must have been heaven-sent. A worthy read. And if you don’t have time to read, here is her TED talk from last year.
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This week I will be….going to the opera Fire Shut Up in My Bones after I bought tickets 9 months ago and completely forgot about it. There’s nothing like planning something so far in advance that it feels like a surprise by the time it actually comes around.
Catch up on recent issues: