Links we sent our friends #45
Cool sneakers that aren't Sambas, board games & roller-blading, and two great shows
We got so many great reader comments on last week’s life hacks post — here were some of our favorites…
“If you're flying as a two, book the window and the aisle of the same row. People are unlikely to book the middle if they can avoid it. Worst case scenario: Someone else goes in the middle and you have to ask if they’d mind moving so you can sit together. Best case scenario: Three seats for the two of you! Did this on a London to Tokyo flight recently and it was amazing!” -
“Put your friends’ food allergies/preferences [in their contact notes] so you don’t have to ask again and again!” -
“Having travel-ready go bags have been a life changer. I have a pouch with a second set of all the cables and chargers I need so all I have to do is throw it in my bag instead of scrambling to find things and eventually leaving something behind. Same goes for my toiletries bag. I always keep a second stash of travel sized items.” -
Aja’s Links:
A very cool girl was headed into Sunday yoga wearing these — they’re the perfect alternative to Sambas, if you’re feeling a little Samba-ed out.
When surfing Zillow has lost its thrill, try this site instead.
I’m a chronic nail-bed picker (I actually want to write an essay about this and how it intersects with perfectionism and “self-improvement”!) Anyways, this stuff really does work.
Watching (and enjoying) season two of The Tourist, a dark comedy thriller about a man who wakes up in the Australian Outback with no memory of who he is and why a bunch of people are trying to kill him. If you liked Deadloch or Bad Sisters, I’d recommend.
Linen days are nigh, and this shirt is pretty perfect.
Aliza’s Links:
I cannot believe I waited this long to start Girls 5Eva. (I’m still on season one, so no spoilers.)
A modern twist on a classic board game.
Economist Emily Oster and clinical psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy delve into (what they’d say are) our primary goals as parents and how to strike a healthy balance between parental authority and the acknowledgement of feelings (h/t to my friend Lily for recommending this podcast episode — I forwarded it to lots of other parents!)
My friend Priya told me that she’s loved staying in touch with a small group of best friends that live across the country using Letterloop.
Does everyone wish they were friends with AOC?
An awkward confession: I’ve recently felt drawn to return to one of my favorite childhood party spots — the roller skating rink. I pitched Sam on a date night (this location offers an Adult Night with a DJ every Thursday!), but he doesn’t seem quite as enthusiastic… anyone else? (Aja: Wait, I love roller-blading. Literally anytime.)
Newsletter we sent our friends:
is a hip Brooklyn music venue. I’ve never been (destination for the Platonic Love NYC field trip Aliza and I keep promising each other we’ll take?) — but I read their newsletter every week regardless because it’s become one of the most reliable ways I discover new music. Take this snippet from last week’s email:KILTRO (9:30PM) <18+> The KEXP introduction for this band is “a band that is going to become your new favorite band” but actually... they are right. Holy shit this rocks. Chilean Songwriter with a band that knows what they're doing (ain't their first rodeo, been around the block, studied, listening!!) I'm actually very excited for this now!! - Greg
Lovely little song! I like this - Caroline
Love a return! Kiltro wooed us in 2023, and have swung back around for another perfect show. Sweetest of melodies, the only way is up. - Alex
Fun, right?!
Question we asked our friends:
What’s bringing you joy right now? Last week I (Aja) impulsively chopped off three inches and got blonde highlights, and now my hair feels so fresh and fun. Also: a spring-y green Moleskine I just cracked open, and the fluffy legs and butt of this stranger’s dog.
If you’re enjoying the newsletter, there are a number of ways to show your support: “like” this post, leave a comment, or share Platonic Love with your friends. Thank you for being here!
What is bringing me joy: simplifying my travel prep/planning!!! I normally try to search through insta posts I've saved; text messages from friends; conde nast traveler archives; and *more* before I travel to sketch out a loose itinerary. This process had started to feel like a chore, especially now that I have a child. Instead, this weekend, I printed out @yolointel's black book for CDMX, highlighted all the spots that spoke to me (had my husband do the same) and voila, we're done!!! And we still have plenty of time leftover for the random and serendipitous. There is something joyful about pre-collated recommendations and putting your trust in a single source. (Obviously anticipating our trip is also bringing me joy.)
The new New York Times audio app is bringing me so much joy!!!! It's great for listening to articles, not just from the Times but other outlets like GQ, the New Yorker, Texas Monthly. Worth a download.