Movies & Television

A New England mayor (Matthew Rhys) and a band of misfits must come to terms with their home’s supernatural past and present as they struggle to shape their island’s future as a very normal and safe tourist destination. We’re half way (I think) through the first season and I am absolutely hooked. And as with everything AppleTV+, the production quality (and cast) is absolutely top notch. See also: The Studio, Shrinking, and Pluribus, a few of my other favorites.

This surprised me! I clicked on this in passing and was drawn in almost instantly. I knew Noah Kahan’s music fairly well (Stick Season was hard to miss), but I had no concept of his hands-on musical talent nor anything about the man on a personal level. Well, this feature-length documentary dives into it all, and will leave you wholly impressed and a true fan. And I’m jealous of how dang good he looks with French braids!

Books, etc.

This book is very silly, fun, and a great popcorn book for lovers of mystery novels and all of their many archetypes and tropes. Sometimes you just need the easy beach read. 3.5/5 stars for me.

Next on my pile is Kin by Tayari Jones (2026)

Podcasts & Music

Speaking of crime…

Serial: The Idiot follows a Russian journalist’s telling of his family member’s murder-for-hire plot against his wife over an easy 5-chapters. Spoiler alert: he doesn’t succeed. The family angle makes this more interesting than your average investigation.

Not a true crime junkie? How about a playlist? My Chill Summer master mix is freshly updated. I love to shuffle this with suggestions as I’m working around the house or in the office. The vibes are dreamy.

Enjoy!

Thank you for being here,

In case you missed it…

1. Rear Window (1954)

This is maybe my favorite movie period. I’ve watched this an incalculable number of times, and I notice a new detail with very viewing. That’s the power of Alfred Hitchcock’s world building for you. He was absolutely insane, but he was a genius. (Bonus points if you notice his iconic cameo.)

The premise is simple and gripping: A bored, wheelchair-bound photojournalist with a broken leg (Jimmy Stewart) gets a little too familiar with the happenings and habits of his neighbors while recovering in his New York City apartment. With open windows (pre-AC) and floors-upon-floors of little slices of life, there’s a lot to see and hear. After he’s awakened by a crash and stifled scream late one night, he begins obsessing over the sudden absence of the bedridden wife he’d noted in the building across the courtyard, and he also notices the odd behavior of her husband.

Roping in his practically perfect fashion buyer girlfriend (Grace Kelly) and sarcastic nurse (Thelma Ritter), together they try to solve the murder they increasingly believe happened right under their noses. It is so delightfully New York without ever leaving a studio apartment. Plus… Grace Kelly. Come on.

2. Now & Then (1995)

This is the story of a summer filled with: Girlhood. Adventure. Crushes. Libraries. Spying. Growing up. A treehouse. The occult. Girls punching boys. This movie has everything!

More importantly, this movie taught me it not only possible but a moral responsibility to tell boys (and ill-behaved adults) to f•ck off when necessary. Thank you, Christina Ricci, Gabby Hoffman, and Thora Birch. Equally captivating and educating: the dynamic of the four main characters both in childhood and adulthood is unexpected and nuanced, and I admire how they embrace their differences whole-heartedly while still showing up for each other. I love friendship stories, and this is truly one of the best.

3. A League of Their Own (1992)

This endearing tale of two competing sisters is positioned neatly into the larger (and very true) story about the formation of the first women’s professional baseball league during World War II. We get to enjoy their growth alongside the larger sport finding its footing as a business worth taking seriously. And guess what? Professional women’s baseball is back in 2026, baby.

Starring Geena Davis as an ace catcher, Lori Petty as her insecure but talented pitcher kid sister, and Tom Hanks as their washed up, alcoholic player-turned-coach, the story strikes an extremely pleasing balance of comedy and low stakes drama wrapped in celebratory, historical packaging. Between the main cast and supporting characters (Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, Garry Marshall, Jon Lovitz), there’s a lot to keep you laughing, and maybe even tearing up.

The question is: did she drop it on purpose? We’ll never know. And remember: there’s no crying in baseball.

4. Dirty Dancing (1987)

I think we all know this classic… What has always read to me as an extremely 80s movie, this allegedly 60s-set romance centers on Baby (Jennifer Grey), who joins her family at a resort for the summer. Baby crushes hard on a hot dance instructor (Patrick Swayze), and when his partner has to bow out of an upcoming paid performance for medical reasons (shh!), she volunteers to step in so they don’t lose out on the gig. Everyone is ridiculously hot. The soundtrack is phenomenal. And she carries a watermelon. Har har.

I nominate Connor Storrie for the biopic if there’s ever a Patrick Swayze retrospective. Jesus. He’s a spitting image.

5. Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

It’s me again loving a timeline-hopping, historically-minded story. As a girl who also lost her big brother tragically, it healed something in met to watch spitfire Idgie Threadgood (Mary Stuart Masterson) become a badass independent lady and a fierce friend to meek Ruth (Mary-Louise Parker), while decades later inspiring solidly-in-a-rut Evelyn (Kathy Bates) reclaim her own strength and identity. There’s no easy way to recap this story except: TOWANDA! If you’ve never seen it, now is definitely the time.

6. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

“How’s the peeping, Tommy? How’s the peeping.” Absolutely no one is creepier than Tom Ripley (Matt Damon), a parasitical psychopath, who inserts himself into the relatively peaceful life of an unsuspecting rich playboy Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) and his adoring girlfriend Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow). Set mostly in and around Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Rome and Venice, this visually stunning thriller unfolds slowly as we watch the couple first embrace the new friendship, and later struggle to disentangle themselves from the man’s ambitions. Spoiler alert: It does not end well.

The award for best character intro goes to: Philip Seymour Hoffman as Dickie’s actual best friend Freddie, who immediately begins to dismantle Tom’s façade to devastating consequences. Watch for the expert filmmaking and acting, stay for the stunning visuals and old world fashion.

Also worth checking out: Netflix’s mini series remake Ripley, which is shot entirely in black and white, yet loses absolutely none of the mystery and charm.

7. Twister (1996)

The peak of 90s natural disaster thrillers, Twister tackles meteorological science, divorce paperwork, car insurance, capitalism, and the art of keeping a white tank top almost spotless despite entering the “suck zone” of an F-3 tornado. Cinema!

As he is often bound to do, Philip Seymour Hoffman steals the ensemble cast standout award by turning an otherwise minor supporting role into something entirely endearing and comedically critical. RIP, you absolute legend.

8. The Parent Trap (1998)

We are blessed. We are blessed because this remake exists and—I would argue—improves upon the original. At summer camp in Maine, two separated twin sisters (Lindsay Lohan) meet for the first time and realize they share parents they’ve never known, and decide to swap places after their session ends.

No one was cooler to me as a kid than poker-playing, fencing expert, Napa winery/ranch living Hallie… Not to mention daughter-of-a-fashion-designer, secret handshake mastering, London habitating Annie. This film is just a warm hug. Emotionally, sartorially, geographically: Iconic.

9. Signs (2002)

Signs scratches a supernatural itch I can’t quite explain, but I have it nonetheless. Because it is an M. Night Shyamalan movie, the cinematography is methodical, and the narrative puzzle he weaves together is always interesting to me, if only because of the clear amount of work that went into it. What do you mean she said that??

In rural Pennsylvania, a grieving widower (Mel Gibson) is confronted by another harsh reality (besides, ya know, a spouse dying): something new he can’t control or explain may be unfolding. Crop circles appear in his cornfields, the global news is streaming nonstop evidence of an invasion, and meanwhile he must protect his young children (Abigail Breslin, Rory Culkin) as much as he can with support from his live-in brother (Joaquin Phoenix).

I am by no means advocating for the CGI quality, but practical shots like this will get me every time. Something knocked that swing out of the way as it ran into the field. Creepy! I love it.

10. Disturbia (2007)

(If you have teenagers, this is something you should fire up.) Speaking of Rear Window, this very Millennial homage shifts the story to a teenager on house arrest after attacking his jerk of a Spanish teacher while in a grief spiral. While on lockdown, he keeps tabs on the neighborhood (including a very cute new next door neighbor) and finds himself obsessing over not only her, but a potential serial killer living down the street. How well do we know our neighbors?

Shia Labeouf—one of the truly saddest Generational Talent-to-absolutely-tragic trajectories—is phenomenal in his chaotic but controlled, fast-talking, expressive way. (I so dearly wish he hadn’t crashed out before adulthood, but alas… child actors.) We’ll always have his Twinkie tower.

Honorable Mentions:

There are many: Moonrise Kingdom, Something’s Gotta Give, The Sandlot, Grease, Before Sunrise, The Way, Way Back… etc. I hope you’ll also mention your favorites in the comments. I’m always up for a new cinematic adventure.

Thank you for being here,

I saw The Drama last weekend with a friend, and we both loved it. I’m more of a A24 movie studio fan than she is, so it was a surprise to me just how much she enjoyed the insanity, “minus all the projectile vomiting.” Fair enough! It’s a dark comedy directed by Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli, and centers on the Robert Pattinson character (a Brit), which makes the European perspective on the eponymous drama very interesting. It’s twisted, wonderfully acted, and ultimately is technically a romantic comedy, though with a very, very 2026 lens. Plus… Zendaya’s wardrobe? Yes.

I appreciate any movie that takes a big swing to tell an original story. I’m so tired of the enshitified IP revivals and sequels. I’m side-eyeing the Practical Magic sequel trailer big time… Of course I’ll see it, but it looks absolutely horrible.

And for my television recommendation:

If you are remotely interested in human stories, appreciate smart people, and believe in science, this is a great show for you. Every episode covers an hour in a Pittsburgh emergency department day shift (15 episodes/season). It’s riveting, it’s emotional, and actual doctors and nurses confirm it is highly accurate. One of my favorite moments from this season (this is not a spoiler): in the finale, we get a view of the staff in their street clothes that feels like a special treat after weeks in increasingly mussed scrubs.

And oh my God Doctor Bangs’ pants. (She is affectionately called by this nickname by The Prestige TV Podcast, which I also love as a TV nerd.) These and these look similar, but nothing beats The Row for perfect pants. I wish I had the budget.

P.S. You must watch the season 2 end credits!

Do not expect to relate to this woman’s upbringing or lifestyle. That’s not the point, and yes, wealthy people can experience trauma, too. I know, it’s shocking. This is the memoir of an heiress—the granddaughter of socialite Babe Paley—and a hard-learned lesson in the importance of maintaining financial independence from your spouse should he have a midlife crisis and dump your family for a mistress in the middle of COVID. Have your own money, ladies!

I read this in a single weekend, which says a lot (I am a slow reader, people!) This story follows a young woman through two college relationships, and the unexpected aftermath later in adulthood. I enjoyed her writing style so much that I bought two of her other books to add to the stack, including Writers and Lovers, which follows the same characters at another stage in their lives.

If you’re a fellow podcast girlie, you’ve come to the right place. My favorite company when cleaning, cooking, or putting my makeup on in the morning is a good podcast. Here are some great recent episodes:

You’re Wrong About: The Great American Spelling Bee

Walks through the history of American English, how spelling was formalized (and the battle against where we’ve ended up), plus Spelling Bees themselves as a Puritan pass time turned athletic-level competition spectacle. I loved every minute! And it made me feel better about my dyslexic “jazz spelling” tendencies.

Other podcasts I absolutely love: The Big Picture (movies!), Fixing Famous People (pop culture), and of course, Good Hang with Amy Poehler. She’s so good.

As for music, guess what? I still make playlists. Here’s mine for this spring:

Please share any of your recent recommendations in the comments, I’d love to hear them.

Thank you for being here,

In case you missed it…

I’m not sure why we treat January 1st—the dead of winter—as a great time to start striving. I could think of nothing I’d rather do less when I’m in survival mode, and to be clear: winter’s short, dark days and freezing temperatures most certainly put me in that mindset. By a few months in, however, I think we have our legs under us a bit more. The routines are back, calendars are busy, and there’s more to look forward to.

Enter: glorious Spring. Blooming plants! Daylight Savings! New life! Promises kept! And God, the serotonin boost I feel when the sky is still light out after I return from work and the gym… It’s like I have my life back. What a miracle. Spring offers a new world, and a new lease on life, if you let it. What will we do with that precious energy? In the spirit of a reset and renewal, I offer you my 5 little intentions for the spring season:

1. Grow something. I’m starting with planting a vegetable garden. I have a nice backyard and plenty of sunshine, and though I’ve never been much of a green thumb, I figure starting with a nice raised bed and some light research can do wonders for a little cultivation.

   

2. Create more. In a non-work-related capacity, that is. To an extent, working on my house qualifies, but since I’ve maxed out the budget on big changes for now, I’d like to turn back to older pastimes like painting and drawing. when you are “creative” for a living, hobbies like this feel daunting or even sometimes exhausting to consider, but the loss of doing things with my hands is a real one. I miss the way it forces my brain to relax and approach problems in a different way. Time to try again.

   

3. Keep going. I’ve been strength training for 45 minutes, 3 times a week every week for almost 2 years now (with exceptions for travel and illness, of course.) I also have a Peloton bike at home for days when I’m not in the gym with my trainer. The results have been, well, very slow coming but remarkable nonetheless. I’m learning that like muscle, discipline builds on itself in action. I’ve never really been good at discipline, so the mission here is simply to keep practicing it.

   

4. Read more books. So far this year, I read all six Game Changers books (zero regrets), and I’ve since enjoyed The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, Horse by Geraldine Brooks, and a couple others that were less memorable. Next on the list are Buckeye by Patrick Ryan, and Strangers by Belle Burden. That’s an admirable start for me, a person who can go many months without turning a page. And you know what? I am better for it. How obnoxious.

   

5. Be less online. I keep draining my phone battery down before it’s even 5pm, and to me that says enough. The mission is: Stop the scroll. Look out the window. Put my fingers in the dirt. Go for a walk without headphones or a camera... etc.. Should we call this peacemaxxing? I’ll see myself out…

Happy Easter, should you celebrate. But more importantly: happy spring!

Thank you for being here,

1. It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)

I’m sure my old movie-loving father introduced me to this, as it’s not high on the rotation for most. But it’s so charming, and a classic vintage New York comedy. There’s also a very cute dog. My synopsis is below, but it’s also fun to go in blind and enjoy each little twist.

An elderly serial squatter makes his annual visit to the 5th Avenue mansion of a real estate tycoon, who usually is out of town for the season. When his heiress daughter runs away from finishing school and heads back to the city, she is surprised to find not only him, but a group of drifters in her house, including a young war veteran she quickly has eyes for.

Instead of revealing her rich girl identity, she pretends to need a place to stay and woos him. When her father returns home to find her, she convinces him to begrudgingly play pretend with the visitors.

This is such a good hidden gem!

More vintage chaos…

2. Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

Chaos, a career reckoning, and the resulting comedy go hand-in-hand with Christmas in this silly romance. It has everything: a quirky character actor, a wandering cow, a baby swallowing a watch, and a woman who must prove herself Ina Garten-esque to her editor and her unexpected guest.

In it, a popular magazine columnist is asked to make a POW survivor’s Christmas wish come true, and quickly must make the imaginary homemaker life she writes about a reality—or at least put on a good show of it. She immediately falls for the soldier, which greatly complicates the escapade, wherein she’s pretending to be married, a mother, and fabulous cook.

It’s worth a watch for the outfits alone. I always wear a gown and fur bolero on Christmas!

Now for something in color…

3. Meet Me In St. Louis (1944)

This has always been one of my mother’s favorites, and we first watched it when she got the VHS for Christmas one year when I was a kid. Technically a four-season vs. purely Christmas film, this eye candy musical captures a midwest family in flux as they celebrate the World’s Fair coming to their city, while they simultaneously recieve the news that they’re moving.

Judy Garland positively glows in this movie, which was directed by her future husband.

The youngest sister is played by Margaret O’Hara, a standout and perfect match to Garland’s iconic presence. Even if you don’t watch the whole thing, at least watch this…

How about something from this millennium? Okay…

4. The Holdovers (2023)

A new classic, I saw this endearing film in the theater and it’s been in the rotation ever since. When we walked outside after, I really expected to see snow on the ground, that’s how transportive it feels. If you really watch it (no phones!) you’ll see what I mean. The music, the establishing landscape shots, and the classic Northeast scenery is a great stage for the phenomenal acting.

A boarding school teacher is left to babysit the students who have nowhere to go for the holidays. A late-arriving parent whisks most of them away for a ski vacation, but without a permission slip there’s one very complicated young man left alone with the teacher and a grieving school cook, who recently lost her son in Vietnam.

I love any story that gives context, grace, and a chance for transformation to a lifelong curmudgeon (relatable), so this is just delightful to me.

I’m sorry in advance for the last one...

5. The Family Stone (2005)

I know, I know. This is hardly a sleeper find. But it’s so touching, funny, and relatable, not to mention the ambiance… My parents lived in Riverside, CT for over a decade, and the house was right down the road, I always ogled it on the way to church…

For a movie so filled with people and loudly-expressed big feelings, I love the quieter scenes of reflection by the matriarch played by the late Diane Keaton.

Spoiler alert: For anyone who has lost an immediate family member, it is a difficult club to be in (especially during the holidays) and I think telling stories of grief, loss and remembrance are important. Because life is full of…

The end!

I know this list is not exhaustive, but it is personal. I hope you watch something that fills you up. Happy holidays, my friends!

For me, 2025 began hilariously with a car fire. I was driving home from getting my oil changed at the Volvo dealer, when 3 minutes in, I noticed a plume of white smoke emerging from the engine block. In a matter of seconds, the car was engulfed and totaled before the fire department could get there. Suddenly, I was without my last remnant of my Ohio life, standing next to a group of highly-entertained hibachi chefs filming the incident.

I think it was staring into the flames of a mechanic’s botch job when I realized: girl, you have to get a grip. This stupid incident was comical, and a paper cut compared to the coinciding devastation of the LA fires’ obliteration. Sure, the car could be yet another thing I add to my long list of things happening to me over the past two years, or I could decide to move on. Okay, I thought, I’ll give acceptance a go.

Read more

Vintage Instagram photo of a Note to Self Print Shop (RIP) quote by Sara Kate from Pastiche Studios

Anyway, perhaps as a level-set for who I am today, I thought a little AOL chain mail style questionnaire circa 2015 could be fun. Please feel free to leave your answers to these questions in the comments or a post of your own, I’d love to know more about you, too.

1. What is the most-played song in your music library?

The most played is probably something gym/workout-related that is not actually reflective of a favorite song… so I’m deviating. The first two are in this playlist.

This month: Come Closer by Sombr, I love his entire album, and this song has such a great beat and matches my level of cranky on a number of occasions.

This year: Let’s see if Spotify Wrapped validates this, but I think it’s Rein Me In by Sam Fender featuring Olivia Dean. Both artists are so incredible!

This decade: I’m not 100% sure, but I really love Maggie Rogers so it’s probably one of her debut album songs like Back In My Body or Light On. This album has no skips and I listen to it all the time.

2. What is your favorite thing about your current occupation or job, whatever it may be?

It’s always the satisfaction of completing a project, and seeing it hit the airwaves. I’m the first to critique it, but that’s life as a creative. We’re always thinking about what’s next, and how it can be different or better. And that’s fun!

3. City or country?

City. And I’m fortunate to have a nice mix of both with a house technically in the city, but with a yard and the niceties of fresh air and friendly neighbors.

4. What is your coping mechanism after a really bad day?

Lifting at the gym, a Peloton ride, or a brisk walk. And if it’s really bad: probably complaining to my mother, who is a great listener, empathizer, and giver of advice.

5. Favorite item in your closet right now?

These shoes. I wear them too much. And also these jeans… I don’t wear them rolled up like they have them styled—but they’re great! Trust me.

6. Skill or craft you still want to learn or work on?

Woodworking. How does one learn woodworking? But I’d be unstoppable if I could build my own shelves.

7. What is your most precious keepsake?

Probably something from my late older brother.

8. What’s at the very tip top of your holiday wish list this year?

I don’t really have any urgent desires this year. I’ve asked for a few books. I’m hoping this one will motivate me to do something meaningful with my back yard!

9. What’s your favorite spot in the town/city/state you currently live in?

My porch. Ha! No offense to North Carolina, I just like being home most of all.

Thank you for reading, I hope you play along…