9/10 - The philosophy of time, told by Girls
Tuesday’s Newsletter: Friday the 13th tattoo tour, an IRL algorithm, and The debat.
It’s happening tonight. At 9 pm ET, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will go head to head. My ass will be sat and Twitter will be open.
In less scary news, Wishful Thinking is next Friday (9/20) and there is still space! So far, writers, artists, strategists, and founders have signed up.
You can rsvp here too, join the party 🎉
:)
Thought Starters
Time traveling Girls
*substack*
We are constantly trying to outrun time. Stay on trend. Defy every wrinkle. Eat ancient grains to maintain a youthful metabolism. Use slang. Watch films. Keep our micro-bag brimming with social currency.
My friends are turning 30 and I’m steadily approaching that horizon. In the past, I would spin out about the concept of aging or the world moving on while I stood still, like running in place on a frictionless surface, like a Looney Tunes character before the floor falls out from under them. Now, I feel more like a passive observer. That feeling is encapsulated in this piece by Sam Kriss.
He finds himself rewatching Girls, struck by the 2012 of it all. He considers his life 12 years ago, when he was Lena Dunham’s age and how he felt old then but was just a child. He feels old now and his life looks notably different, jogging 5Ks in his cul-de-sac and watching DJ sets from the couch. He grapples with understanding how we can we take shape when time refuses to be a fixed point. When we attempt to take snapshots of our lives, in memories, on film, are our faces not blurred?
I love this personal essay that wields a healthy dose of philosophy and touch of existential crisis. I’ve never felt more seen.
“How else could Lena Dunham represent her present as if it were already a piece of the past? Her curse is to be perfectly self-aware, genuinely brilliant at identifying what’s wrong with herself and her cohort, but totally powerless to change any of it. What we experience as the present—open, prefiguring anything—is for Lena Dunham already complete.”
“It is not correct to say that there are three tenses, past, present, and future, though it may be true to say that there are the present-regarding-the-past, present-regarding-the-present, and the present-regarding-the-future.”
“…there’s nothing about this particular moment that makes it any more real than any of the others. In a way, it’s comforting: the empty universe that’s coming does not obliterate the sunlit one I’m living in now. I’m still young. I will always be young.”
Things to do
Unplugged NY
When: September 10th, 7 pm
What: Jack hosts Unplugged every Tuesday at Nublu Classic in the East Village. Tickets cost $15 cash at the door (no need to rsvp beforehand, just show up). This week they’re featuring The Living Roomers, Diner Pets, Xondra, and Ethan Marsh.
If you’re upset that your main pipelines for new music are dictated by algorithms (Spotify and TikTok respectively), then you gotta get to Unplugged.
Friday the 13th Tattoos
It’s a tradition on Friday the 13th, that some tattoo shops offer special flash sheets to honor the lucky/unlucky day. I’ve personally partaken in this tradition. I have the outline of Texas next to my knee with a little 13 nestled inside.
When putting together this round up, I got curious about how this tradition kicked off in the first place and I’m delighted to tell you that it in fact started in Texas, in 2008, at Elm Street Tattoo. Co-owner, Oliver Peck, wanted to see how many people he could tattoo with the number 13. Over the course of 24 hours, he inked 415 people, winning him a spot in the Guinness World Records. The novelty of this event spread across the US and Daredevil Tattoo was the first shop in NYC to offer the promotion. Daredevil is also the first shop to open in the city after it was legalized in 1997 (tattooing was illegal in New York from 1961 - 1997 😵).
The tradition has continued with studios finding ways to add their own twists to the day. I’ve put together a list of some of the best spots for your Friday the 13th adventures in New York City.
Get inked. Make your mom proud.
Obsessed
When: September 13th, 12 - 6 pm
What: This is one of my fav studios in the city. Each of the artists put together an adorable flash sheet. Take a look and book with them directly. There will also be tooth gems, one-of-a-kind crochet designs, a vintage pop-up, and tarot readings.
Daredevil Tattoo
When: September 13th, 12 - 8 pm
What: The OGs. They drop their flash the day-of so follow along here. It’s first come, first served and all of their designs are between $40 and $60. Be nice, don’t be stinker - there will probably be a lot of people jockeying for a spot. You can find more faqs here.
Uncle Phoebe @ Haricot Vert
When: September 13th, 7 - 9 pm
What: Uncle Phoebe’s designs range from $70 - $110 and this event at Haricot Vert will feature Parade, Smarties, Recess, and so many more fun brands. The vibe is watching your first PG-13 movie at a sleepover - daring, sophisticated, and no one’s going to bed at a reasonable time.
Flower World + Fundraiser
When: September 13th, 12 - 8 pm
What: These artists are getting together to host fundraiser is for releasing aging people in prison. Dm each artist to book to and secure the address. You can learn more about RAPP here and their campaign to end mass incarceration.
Cake is a Lie
When: September 13th, 12 - 8 pm
What: I’ve passed Cake is a Lie several times in Greenpoint. They’re right off the G and they take walk-ins. They have some of the best deals for the 13th and so many designs to choose from - a total of 10 flash sheets!
Products
The Annotated Reader
*books*
Described as a “publication-as-exhibition and exhibition-as-publication,” this book is a compilation of the favorite writings of artists, designers, and authors, complete with their annotations. The prompt: If you were stuck at a train station, what would you want to sit with and read over and over?
This is an incredible project and I’ll definitely be asking my friends what pieces they would choose.
What is it? The Annotated Reader
How much? £22.00