Consumer Report: May
MOST of what I did, saw, read, watched, listened to and ate last month
Consumer Report: May
I’m a woman with no job at a lot of streaming subscriptions, so this is just a partial list of the many things I consumed last month while trying to fend off the anxieties and forget about the horrors.
Live events
The Other Art Fair: This is one of my favorite fairs in the city, in that it actually is affordable so you can hope to buy something you like when you’re there. Last years I bought a Ruth Mulvie print as a gift for my partner. It’s also fun to have the booths manned by the artists themselves and have the chance to talk with them. Sure, there’s the awkwardness of viewing someone’s work while they watch you, and the thought of leaving the artist bereft in the booth when you leave without making a purchase, but mostly it’s just a nice opportunity to network with other creatives. Also, last year I met an artist who lived within a mile of my parent’s house in Michigan. What are the odds?
Katie Kitamura at BPL: I can’t wait to read Audition, which I am still waiting on hold for at the library, but I do expect that I’ll find it frustrating in the end. Still, the author’s conversation with Meghan O’Rourke was an interesting glimpse into a creative friendship.
The FIT Graduating Student Show: There was some really interesting work in the show this year, and I particularly liked some of the deconstructed tailoring.
Amyl and the Sniffers at Pier 17: This is one of my favorite new bands from the last few years, so I was glad to finally get to see them live. Pier 17 isn’t the most obvious spot for a punk show, but it is a great venue with a stunning view. And of course, the crowd at a punk show is always the best—all ages, all types, and all vibes.
Saint Motel at Brooklyn Paramount: Bought these tickets on whim based on my love of their song “Born Again” and was really blown away by what a good show they put on. Also, Brooklyn Paramount is my favorite music venue that I can walk home from.
The For Scale Party: Great design week party and a launch of For Scale’s second physical issue, tarnished only by one of the even photographers, who stole my spot while I went to the bar and wouldn’t stop talking to my friend or even acknowledge my presence when I returned. The space was packed so I couldn’t just circulate and ended up sitting out in the lobby alone until the guy finally left with his wife (!!). Men, please don’t do this. So many evenings out with a friend get interrupted when a man feels the need to insert himself. You ruined my night, photographer man!
Television
Poker Face (Peacock): I need this show to start making 22 episode seasons. I need more.
Long Way Home (Apple TV+): This season is more laid back travel show than adventure show since they’re sticking around Europe this time, but I feel more people need to watch this show, starting with season one, which I originally watched through poor reception of the CBC at my parents house while I was still in college. Anyway, we’re lucky that all four seasons are on Apple TV+ so it’s easier to watch now.
Castle Impossible (HGTV): All the shows above are bringing me a lot of comfort through one of the more stressful season so of my entire life, but this one is practically medical grade. Psychiatrists should prescribe this show to patience who need help regulating their nervous system. Fortunately, they also have a prolific YouTube channel which is helping to keep my anxiety at bay between episodes of the shows.
The Rehearsal (HBO): You can gather some of my thoughts on this genius show here.
Books
I Want to Burn This Place Down by Maris Kreizman: If you follow Maris Kreizman, one half of Brooklyn’s funniest bookish power couple, much of this book will feel familiar to you, but that can be a good thing.
Exit Zero by Marie-Helene Bertino: I loved Beautyland and this collection of stories reads much the same. It’s for anyone who loves the surreal or absurd.
Walking Through Clear Water in a Pool Painted Black by Cookie Mueller: This book had been on my TBR for years, so I was glad my book club chose it for our May book. It’s a funny, outlandish collection of personal essays by a true raconteur. It’s also a product of its time, so full of cringe-worthy dialect and dated depictions of marginalized groups, so take it with a grain of salt. But if you learn anything about the author in the reading, it’s that she has deep empathy for everyone but The Man, so these are tales of love for every kind of underclass.
Movies
Friendship: The audience at our showing did nothing to help the experience of a movie that OUGHT to be good, but can’t figure out its tone and lost track of Tim Robinson’s innate sweetness. Someone explain to me how Kate Mara ended up married to this man and, more importantly, how she’s running an entire florist business out of her dining room????? WHERE IS SHE STORING THE FLOWERS? WHERE DOES THE MESS GO?
Barbarella: This movie is deeply insane and I find it impossible to believe it was such a huge hit when released. This was always meant to be a camp classic, not a blockbuster. Amazing costumes, insane plot, flesh eating child-dolls—it really does have it all.
La Piscine: What a great fashion film. It’s now part of an entire playlist of Swimming Pool movies on the Criterion Channel, which is programming I appreciate. it’s summer’s Coastal Thrillers.
The Trial: This movie is so deeply stylish and manages to maintain the crazy-making confusion of Kafka’s novel while still movie a plot forward. Really visually inspiring. Orson Welles really cooked here, as the kids say.
Strange Days: An early Kathryn Bigelow film that now feels like a fairy tale of our present moment. Old white male cops save the day! Racist is solved!
But I’m a Cheerleader and What a Way to Go!: Both these movies employ color-drenching as design aesthetic that I always fall for. Also, What a Way to Go! is not a good movie but the costumes are so amazing it’s really worth looking at.
The Wall: Roger Waters predicted Kanye West. I hadn’t watched this movie since high school, and I think we need to bring the rock opera back. But first we need to bring rock back.