The Latest and Greatest from NYC, Austin, and Phoenix

The Latest and Greatest from NYC, Austin, and Phoenix
  1. So many entertainment discoveries this week! I must admit that for me, the most positive thing about COVID was getting rid of my TV and cable. In their place, I got deep into podcasts and I just love the discovery journey they’ve set me on. It’s exhilarating, and so easy, to pursue anything you’re curious about whether it’s new music e.g. Samara Joy who I was lucky enough to see again this week (#2), or 19th Century mausoleum architecture and the history of the first American musical (#1).
  2. I’ve also noticed how Western culture is having an outsize impact on fashion and entertainment. Even where we want to travel. More people than ever are heading to Western parts of the country, e.g., Marfa, Bozeman, Phoenix, Austin, Nashville (see #6).
  3. And finally, it’s Oktoberfest season. Time to hoist beer steins, listen to accordion music and instagram all those pumpkin spectacles around town (#8).

And with that, please scroll down for this week’s top discoveries.

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Thrill of the Week: Alice Waters!! PLUS Greg Garcia On Leading a Life Full of New Adventures

Thrill of the Week: Alice Waters!! PLUS Greg Garcia On Leading a Life Full of New Adventures
  1. The #1 thing that happened this week (Wednesday night to be precise) is that I got to meet, and sit next to, the one and only Alice Waters. I’m writing this a day later and I am still buzzing. (#1 below)
  2. Also, watched a few podcasts that resonated with me in MAJOR ways and provided important lessons on experiencing life more fully (thank you Greg Garcia #2 below).
  3. Casey Neistat moved back to NYC! I’m a big fan of his and his vlogs – all paeans to the city (#3 below). I’ve never found anyone whose views of NYC so exactly mirror mine, from his outsize loyalty to the city (in good times and bad) to his praise of the city as his muse.
  4. Other topics covered this week: the Indian renaissance (# 7), upcycling clothing (#6), and a reality check on mortgages from someone who was happy to get one at 9% back in the 90’s (#9).

And with that, please scroll down to check out this week’s latest.

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Spotlight on Austin Pt 2, Retail Getting Groovy, and Feast of San Gennaro is Back!

Spotlight on Austin Pt 2, Retail Getting Groovy, and Feast of San Gennaro is Back!
Clockwise from Top Left: Texas Football, Field Of Light, Feast of San Gennaro
  • TRAVEL has been a highlight for me over the last 6 months. When I flew back from Austin this week, I was struck by how stress-free and fun this travel experience had been versus the trepidation I felt last March on my first post-pandemic trip (also to Austin coincidentally).
  • This most recent AUSTIN trip was not only fun but also extremely productive with countless new discoveries (#1 – 5) including my first-ever football game.
  • RETAIL is also getting its groove back. Not sure how sustainable it all is but at least people are experimenting with new formats and trying new things (#6 – 8).

Please scroll down for the week’s highlights.

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US Open Outrageously Good this Year. And OMG, I Fixed My Printer (So Proud of Myself!)

US Open Outrageously Good this Year. And OMG, I Fixed My Printer (So Proud of Myself!)
Good Morning & Hello Friday (from Austin!)
  • EXHAUSTED!! I’m a huge tennis fan as some of you might know. This week I have been up until 1 or 2 am every morning watching some of the most brilliant tennis I’ve seen in a long while. The most thrilling match was between Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Jannik Sinner of Italy. It was epic (longest match ever in US Open history). We will be watching these two young men battle it out for years to come (#1 below)
  • Tired or not, I did make it to Austin where I had an amazing dinner at Launderette last night. AND, with the encouragement of the wait staff, cooked up a spontaneous plan to attend my first EVER football game (UT vs. Alabama!). So excited!!!

And with that, please scroll down for all the major happenings of the week (#1-3), along with a slew of great, but random, trends (#6-10).

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Could Never Imagine Being 73 – But Indeed I Am. And So Far, So Good!

Could Never Imagine Being 73 – But Indeed I Am. And So Far, So Good!
Good Morning & Hello Friday!!
  • I turned 73 this August while in Bozeman and it got me thinking about what’s made this stage of my life so (surprisingly) wonderful. Everyone’s situation is obviously different with health and finances playing a key role but I do believe there’s much we can do to make our “senior” years super fun and exciting (#7 below).
  • While on the subject of exciting, I also have some stellar new travel plans (#2 and #3). If anyone has any tips or recommendations for either destination, please let me know!!
  • And there are also, of course, “new and trendy” discoveries (#4, #5, #6).

And with that please scroll down for the week’s highlights.

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Snapshot of America: Nashville! Wowza!! Is Anyplace More Fun?

Snapshot of America: Nashville! Wowza!! Is Anyplace More Fun?
Good Morning & Hello Friday!!
  • Spent a long weekend in Nashville with a big group of friends to celebrate another LEO birthday. It was FABULOUS.
  • I hadn’t been to Nashville since 2014 (link here). Back then, I came for trend scouting gigs. Loved it then, love it even more now.
  • Nashville has changed a lot. It’s got a Soho House now (with 7000 people on the wait list I heard). More people have moved here, and it’s gotten more touristy (but not in a bad way).
  • From my vantage point, Nashville in veering away from its hipster cool cred, has become way more vibrant and way more fun!

And with that, please scroll down for Top 10 Things To Do/See in Nashville.

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Top 10: Best Trend Sources, Tips, Scoops of the Week

Top 10: Best Trend Sources, Tips, Scoops of the Week
Good Morning & Hello Friday!
  • A bit rushed this week. Squeezing two days of writing into one.
  • Arrived in Nashville yesterday afternoon. Sweltering here and today we are expecting torrential thunderstorms. Staying at Soho House which is always super nice to have as a home base while traveling. Btw, Travel & Leisure just included Nashville among America’s “Best 15 Cities to Visit.” Look for my SNAPSHOT OF AMERICA: NASHVILLE post next week.
  • The focus of this week’s blog is entertainment (#1, 2, 3), business (#5, 6), and travel (#9, 10).
  • Also 2 big recommendations: Elliott Choy’s YouTube channel (#1) and the Wolf Street Report (#6). I’ve followed Elliott for a while, always impressed by how smart, focused, and down-to-earth he is. The Wolf Report is newer to me – been a subscriber to the free version for several months. Along with Axios, these are two of my best sources of biz info.

Please scroll down for this week’s “rushed” Top 10.

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Top 10: H&M’s Marketing Extravaganza, Porch Stomp Entertainment, New HBX Flagship

Top 10: H&M’s Marketing Extravaganza, Porch Stomp Entertainment, New HBX Flagship
Good Morning & Hello Friday!
  • Highlight of the week has to be the H&M Hotel Hennes Pop-Up in Freeman Alley (#1, 2 below). I spent endless hours plotting how I could circumvent security and VIP Lists to get in early for some interior shots – to no avail! Security prevailed! But then yesterday, I FINALLY did get in! Creatively it is one of the best pop-ups I’ve seen. No detail has been overlooked and they’ve clearly spared no expense. Rumor mill also has it that H&M will be opening a store on the LES soon.
  • Another impressive opening is the new Hypebeast HBX flagship (#3). It’s located in Chinatown but I would call it Dimes Square adjacent (the hottest, trendiest neighborhood in NYC).
  • Finally, on the entertainment front, two great new discoveries: Porch Stomp (#4) and comedian John Crist (#8). Love his podcast and I just got tickets for his City Winery show in August.

And with that, please scroll down for this week’s Top 10. Enjoy!

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