7/07 - IHOP, Threads, and a party dress
Friday’s Newsletter
It’s a glorious Friday. I’m writing this in New Hampshire, next to vivid green lawn and picturesque lake where a close friend will be married later today. It’s all very idyllic and pairs well with a song from Jose Gonzalez:
: )
Thought Starters
The battle for the soul of America *cough cough* I mean an IHOP in the Bronx
*article*
Domenic Broccoli has a lot of gumption. He’s going toe to toe with avid American history fans and actual archeologists in his ruthless pursuit of breaking ground for an IHOP on a Revolutionary War graveyard. You’ll love this piece.
“Broccoli believed it to be self-evident that he was the one pursuing the vision of life, liberty, and happiness that George Washington’s troops had fought and died for: the right to sell pancakes where they were buried.”
What about a platform for the people? *article*
With the launch of Threads and the flood of 10 million users in the first 7 hours, there’s certainly not a scarcity of opinions about the new app. Often the takes fall into one of two camps: technical or social. Technically speaking, Threads is still working out the kinks but has a notably buggy interface and questionable stance on tracking a lot of your data. Socially speaking, the draw to Twitter was the ability to enter an entirely different ecosphere than other social media apps. On Twitter, you could be anonymous, anti-aesthetic, and at the best times— just plain goofy. Threads breaks that sacred boundary, encouraging your connections on Instagram and Facebook to follow you on the new platform. Even before its maturation, Threads is giving cringe.
A perspective spoken about less often is a sociological one, but Ryan Broderick’s blog says it perfectly. Apologies for the massive block of text but I haven’t stopped thinking about it:
“I think hardcore Twitter users have rose-colored glasses about the site’s coolness. The reason for its success, if you can argue that it was ever really successful, wasn’t that it was cooler than Facebook. It was because of its proximity to power. The reason it was so popular with activists, extremists, journalists, and shitposters was because what you posted there could actually affect culture. The thing that ties together pretty much everything that’s happened on Twitter since it launched in 2006 was the possibility that those who were not in power (or wanted more) could influence those who were. And I don’t think it’s an accident that a deranged billionaire broke that, nor do I think it’s accident that we’re suddenly being offered smaller, insular platforms or an offshoot of a Meta app as replacements. The folks in charge clearly don’t want that to happen again.”
I love to get a little earnest every now and then, and our current digital/social landscape reminds me of this quote from Rousseau: “Civilization is a hopeless race to discover remedies for the evils it produces.” I’m grateful for present day philosophers cultural pulse-checkers because they right our discourse by putting the struggle for power into perspective.
Brands
And Our
*apparel*
This is a LGBTQ+ owned brand created by non-binary designer, Anthony Rogers, who makes playful and elegant pieces for everyone. I discovered them when I saw the Rachel Paper Dress (picture below) hanging in the window of Rue Saint Paul on Court Street. I was on the hunt for something to wear for a wedding this weekend and Rue Saint Paul promotes sustainable fashion by carrying like-minded brands and offering reasonable rates to rent their clothes. Having the ability to try this dress on in real life introduced me a brand I probably would have never heard of and gave me a full appreciation of its whimsical, voluminous design. Now I’m obsessed with the brand and the store.
What is it? Rachel Paper Dress
How much? $195 (available for purchase or rent at Rue Saint Paul)
Products
Fresh Cut Flowers Sweatshirt
*apparel*
For trains with the A/C cranked all the way up and when you’re dreaming of the fall, this sweatshirt from Fresh Cut Flowers is here for you. Honestly, I love everything this brand creates and first heard about them through their collaboration with Stumptown.
What is it? Floral Installation Crew
How much? $108
Trader Joe’s Hair Mask
*hair care*
If you take nothing else from this newsletter, please please let me influence you to purchase the TJ’s $4 shea butter and coconut oil mask. It doesn’t leave your hair oily or dirty, which tends to be the vibe of natural hair masks. I’ve noticed a difference in my hair’s moisture, texture, and amount of tangles since using this mask. It works wonders.
What is it? Hair Mask
How much? $3.99
Thank you for reading and enjoy your weekend 🥂