24-hour diners, the opposite of small talk, and a perfect show

Links we sent our friends #84 feat. Zara Wong

Hi! It's Aja. A few of you asked about our 2025 Bingo cards. Picture a mood board meets aspirational to-do list: in a five by five grid (example), you list things you want to do throughout the year. I suggest mixing concrete plans (for me, “get married,” “go to Puerto Rico with Aliza”) with spontaneous ones (“go on a hot coco date,” “do a polar plunge,” “swim in the ocean.”) I had snacks and basic crafting supplies and asked friends to bring magazines, papers, and stickers for decoration.

It was fun to hear what everyone else was planning slash aspiring to do in 2025 — and while I’m still anxious about the year (for obvious reasons), it helped me be a little excited, too.

Today’s guest is a former Vogue editor, “ultimate industry cool girl” according to Russh Magazine (we concur), and excellent purveyor of links. She hails from Australia and just had her second kid. Say hi to

Zara Wong

!

Zara’s Links:

1. I just finished Rivals, which is the very definition of a perfect television show. Comedy! Satire! Social commentary! Class warfare! Over-the-top costumes! The media industry! The Cotswolds! So many of my favorite elements, I’ve almost forgotten to mention it’s a bit of a sexy show, which has been its main calling card (it’s based on Jilly Cooper’s novels). (Aja: For the uninitiated, like me.)

2. This is a dream scenario purchase: I can’t stop thinking about this decadent fringed linen bedcover.

   

   It makes perfect sense that the imaginary owner of this incredible bedcover would dress their toddler in knee socks and dungarees.

3. When I want to be enlightened and educated through beautiful writing, I head to Enuma Okoro’s weekend column for the Financial Times. It’s modern musings about, well, life today, supported through art history. I studied art history so really appreciate how she’s making it easily digestible and relevant.

4. Sasha is a professional potter on a ceramic residency in New Zealand who previously apprenticed with master potters in Japan and the U.S. She makes the sort of day-in-my-life Instagram reels that I can’t get enough off.

5. Having been pregnant for most of 2024, I’m looking forward to wearing the kind of clothes that are better postpartum. Like, this painterly mini dress with a bubble hem (this kind of shape with a pregnant belly is just tricky on all fronts) by Australian designer Lee Mathews. She makes clothes that are easy to wear, which is such an Australian quality, but approaches them with intellect and artfulness.

Aja’s Links:

1. I thought this Gap cardigan was for sure part of its DOÊN collaboration when I tried it on in-store the other day. It’s not, it’s just very pretty! (And currently 50% off.) (Aliza: I’ve been loving Gap’s recent campaigns. Are they back BACK?!)

2. The opposite of small talk is specific talk, from Worm Regards.

3. Good One, which is about a 17-year-old on a backpacking trip with her father and his friend, might be my favorite movie of the year so far. The cinematography and acting are both exquisite. I saw it on Friday and woke up Saturday thinking about it.

4. A coworker raved about these self-heating eye masks for tired eyes and/or stress. Ordered a pack immediately.

A very DOÊN cardigan for less than $40… and it’s soft. (Is “and it’s soft” the new “it has pockets”?)

Aliza’s Links:

1. There are few things I love more than a 24-hour diner.

2. I spent many minutes scrolling the discussion in

   Haley Nahman
   ’s comments section about the best winter gloves. (As one reader said — and I couldn’t relate to this more — “This is my Roman Empire!”) If I were going to splurge (which, living in Boston, seems worth it), I’d get these mittens.

3. A popular (yet polarizing?) New York bagel shop just opened its first location in Boston. Aja, want to go with me?? (Aja: I’ve wanted to try these for so long! Yes!!)

This is how we end up with the same clothing items…

Questions we asked our friends:

What’s your favorite comedy special on streaming? Despite loving in-person stand-up sets, I (Aja) have never dipped my toes into the options on Netflix or YouTube. Give me your recommendations!

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In case you missed it:

• How to give a (great) speech or toast

• 13 lessons from 13 months of motherhood

• Leaving my comfort zone (and clothes) behind

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