Sunday Snaps
Recap and Recs for May
First thing’s first, WELCOME new subscribers! Thank you so much for being here. Sunday Snaps is my monthly post that recaps events, viewings, and recommendations for my month. Just things I’ve enjoyed or am enjoying, and I promise I won’t recommend anything I haven’t tried first-hand.
The Spring
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Seen. Heard. Enjoyed. Still Thinking About.
Really enjoyed scoping out the Met Gala fashion this year. I found the red green carpet a bit uneven with a lot of poor choices, but some were amazing statement-makers. I loved seeing Pamela Anderson, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams - those were three of my favorites. Zac Posen’s denim ballgown for Da’Vine Joy Randolph was incredible. Posen is the new creative director for Gap, so the choice of denim is perfect. And, as I’ve been doing some freelance work for Gap recently, I’ve learnt quite a bit on history of denim and indigo. Specifically, how indigo was a major crop in pre-revolution South Carolina, creating an economy dependent upon the slavery. Posen’s design was based on an 18th century silhouette, so both the style and fabric choice on a Black woman echo all of these themes. Likewise, with “The Garden of Time” gala theme, it brings up the terrible sustainability record of the denim industry — a product that is toxic to produce and does not biodegrade. It’s an amazing dress — two dresses actually — a mermaid gown with an overskirt, and I can only imagine how heavy it must have been given its volume with the weight of denim. The finishing was flawless, not a frayed thread in sight, and the shaping was perfection too. This dress could have gone all kinds of wrong, but it was simple, beautiful, and meaningful.
My friend Jamie and I had a long lunch at the new Elena’s Mexican on West Portal this month and it is scrumptious! From the family behind Original Joe’s, Elena’s is classic Mexican dishes in a gorgeous, airy space. We started with chips, guac, queso and a pitcher of margaritas, and honestly could have just noshed on that all afternoon. Highly recommend!
My friend Meg and I are always on the hunt for a smart cocktail come a Friday evening, and we were so pleased to pop into Florio on Fillmore the other night to receive a pair of absolutely perfect Vespers along with a shared side of fries. Is there anything better? Florio has been around forever, and while it could do with a bit of a brush-up, its operation runs flawlessly and the food is good. We enjoyed our cocktails and went on to SPQR for some pasta, and discussed why mafaldine is the elite pasta shape…
As a native San Franciscan, I’m bereft that Shreve & Co is closing its doors to consolidate to the Palo Alto store at Stanford. Shreve has been a presence in San Francisco since the Gold Rush (it opened in 1852) and has maintained a storefront through multiple mergers, acquisitions, moves, ups and downs. It is beyond sad that we are losing another important merchant that has helped to define the city for generations. I did two episodes on Shreve & Co on my now-defunct podcast The Door Stays Open, so please give them a listen.
No one was more surprised than I was when I opted to watch The Idea of You last week, and even more surprised when I actually enjoyed it. It’s sweet, romantic, and while I don’t find Nicholas Galitzine (how do I say his name?) all that attractive (controversial opinion, I know,) somehow him dancing in his boxer briefs to Dance Hall Days by Wang Chung kind of did it for me. I found myself laughing more than once, and thought it was realistically styled in scene and costume. What’s more, “calma, calma” Anne Hathaway is back to being sexy and delightful again. Look, I know a lot of people got immediate ick with this one, and I thought I would be one of them, but here I am.
Also in the category of “men I don’t find super attractive, but…” Challengers is a tense cocktail that creates more questions than it answers. At least, that’s why all of my friends seem to want to talk about it incessantly. Tennis aside, it’s amazing acting all around, and the casting is perfect. The cinematography is crisp and colorful, while Trent Reznor’s clubby soundtrack serves to amp up the tension. I will say, it’s not nearly as risqué as other Luca Guadagnino films — everything implied rather than shown, but that is why its sexiness is elevated overall. I feel like I need a re-watch, but still digesting this first dose.
Yes, I did get into Bridgerton S3 (the first half), and while enjoyable, it wasn’t nearly as fun and fraught as the previous two seasons. Hoping the back half will shake things up a little, because this year’s social season is downright boring. Yup, I said it.
The final episode of Under the Bridge came out this week and I haven’t quite gotten to it yet, but I've really enjoyed this series. A truly tragic crime (it’s based on a true story from the late 1990s,) and it’s all very dark and sad, but I’m loving Lily Gladstone and Riley Keogh - both are fantastic and serve as nice foils to each other. I’ve also been watching old episodes of The Killing - a series from FX that I never got around to when it originally aired in 2011. When I read Patti Smith’s glorious M Train last fall, I remembered she recommended it, though it may have been the original Danish version. It’s set in moody, rainy Seattle, making it a nice pairing with Under the Bridge which is set in moody, rainy Victoria, BC. The Killing also has a synth-y soundtrack by Frans Bak which is reminiscent of the Angelo Badalamenti soundtrack to Twin Peaks, also famously set in the Seattle area…they’re all seemingly close on the creepy crime food chain.
Looking forward to in June: Bodkin, Brats (Andrew McCarthy’s documentary on The Brat Pack), The Bear S3, Becoming Karl Lagerfeld…
Tried & Liked
Okay, here’s a little treat I like to get every so often: Roam Burger’s Zucchini Onion Haystack. It’s fried zucchini and onion strings and they’re crispy and perfect. I get them to-go, and keep in the fridge to add them to dishes during the week. They’re fantastic over soups (I put them on a leek and potato I made last week), on sandwiches, and especially on salads. Every salad should have a little pop of crispy and this is perfect. Honestly, not something I could ever made at home, but lovely to have at home, if that makes sense.
Loving Biossance’s Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue. I bought this recently because my skin has been even drier than usual (I blame the ferocious wind we’ve been getting), and because I enjoy Biossance’s formulas overall. It’s rich and nourishing, and my skin feels so much better by morning. I do love the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream as a cheap option — it’s also nice and creamy, does a great job, and at around $20 it doesn’t break the bank.
I’m all about the Dieux Forever Eye Masks right now. In fact, they’re kind of my go-to gift for friends since they’re priced the same as a bottle of wine and will last infinitely longer. Just add your eye cream, put these on over, and let them sit for a few minutes. When you’re done, peel them off, wash with water and a little soap, and put back in their box. They can be used…forever, according to the brand. (To be honest, I’ve been following Dieux’s co-founder Charlotte Palermino on Instagram for years, and I love her skincare wisdom.)
Speaking of Instagram, give me a follow @anniewilsonwrites and help spread the word about The Spring on IG!
Have a wonderful June!
xx, Annie