Plus Eloghosa Osunde's brilliant new novel, the dynamic ceramic art of Roberto Lugo, & Cookoomela Grill — Athens' oldest vegan restaurant!

Reading: Necessary Fiction by Eloghosa Osunde

Listening: Flux by Alison Goldfrapp

Looking: The Art of Ceramicist Roberto Lugo

Viewing: DEVO  (Netflix) — New documentary (directed by Chris Smith) about the iconic band!

Tasting: Delicious Street Food at Athens’ Oldest Vegan Restaurant — Cookoomela Grill in Exarcheia!

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Dorothy Parker (August 22, 1893 – June 7, 1967): 

• “Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye.” — Dorothy Parker
• “The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.” — Dorothy Parker
• “Take care of the luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves.” — Dorothy Parker
• “Of course I talk to myself. I like a good speaker, and I appreciate an intelligent audience.” — Dorothy Parker
• “Time may be a great healer, but it’s a lousy beautician.” — Dorothy Parker
• “Three be the things I shall never attain: Envy, content, and sufficient champagne.” — Dorothy Parker
• “I’d rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.” — Dorothy Parker
• “Q: What’s the difference between an enzyme and a hormone? A: You can’t hear an enzyme.” — Dorothy Parker
• “The two most beautiful words in the English language are 'check enclosed.'” — Dorothy Parker
• “That would be a good thing for them to cut on my tombstone: Wherever she went, including here, it was against her better judgment.” — Dorothy Parker

Plus one of Africa's cultural landmarks — Ọṣun-Òṣogbo Sacred Grove, & a beautiful bottle of bubbly in Porto Rafti, Greece!

Reading: In the Absence of Men by Philippe Besson

Listening: Celebrating the Centennial Birthday of Legendary Pianist & Composer Oscar Peterson! (August 15, 1925 – December 23, 2007)

Looking: Ọṣun-Òṣogbo Sacred Grove, Nigeria | Africa’s Cultural Landmarks (via The Met)

Viewing: Our Pick for One of the Year’s Best New Films! On Becoming a Guinea Fowl — written & directed by Rungano Nyoni, starring Susan Chardy, Elizabeth Chisela & Henry B.J. Phiri

Tasting: Domaine Spiropoulos Ode Panos Mantinia Brut (PDO Mantinia, Greece)

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Marcel Proust (1871 – 1922): “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” — Marcel Proust [Source: Quotefancy]

Plus Marcella Hazan's greatest recipes and the miniature mixed media sculptures of Thomas Doyle!

Reading: Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson  by Tourmaline

Listening: Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025  by Public Enemy

Looking: The Miniature Mixed Media Sculptures of Thomas Doyle’s Clear History Series

Viewing: Janis Ian: Breaking Silence (PBS American Masters)

Tasting: Marcella Hazan’s Greatest Recipes! Featured in the new documentary, Marcella (PBS American Masters)

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Marsha P. Johnson (August 24, 1945 – July 3, 1992): “How many years has it taken people to realize that we are all brothers and sisters and human beings in the human race?”

Plus Lena Dunham's brilliant new Netflix series and dynamic paintings from Christian Ruiz Berman! Also . . . WE FINALLY FOUND CILANTRO!

Reading: Spent: A Comic Novel by Alison Bechdel

Listening #1: Remembering Ozzy Osbourne (December 3, 1948 – July 22, 2025)

Listening #2: Tether by Annahstasia

Looking: The Art of Christian Ruiz Berman

Viewing: Too Much (Netflix) — created by Lena Dunham & Luis Felber, starring Megan Stalter & Will Sharpe

Tasting: Fresh Herbs from Kallidromiou Farmers Market in Athens, Greece! (*WE FINALLY FOUND CILANTRO!*)

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Andrea Gibson (August 13, 1975 – July 14, 2025): “We have to cr}eate; it is the only thing louder than destruction.” — Andrea Gibson [Source: Azquotes] & Commit to loving yourself completely. It’s the most radical thing you will do in your lifetime. Andrea Gibson [Source: Azquotes]

Plus the dazzling sculptures of Paola Grizi, our fond memories of eating at one of the world's best restaurants, and the perfect book to kick off Pride Month!

Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Ameztoi Txakoli (Getariako Txakolina, Spain)

Reading: So Many Stars: An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Colorby Caro de Robertis

Listening: The Painful Truthby Skunk Anansie

Looking: The Art of Paola Grizi

Viewing: Pee-wee as Himself — docuseries about Paul Reubens (best known for portraying Pee-wee Herman), directed by Matt Wolf (HBO & HBO Max)

Tasting: Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain (Plus our memories of eating at Arzak Restaurant in San Sebastian and meeting iconic Chefs Elena Arzak & Juan Mari Arzak!)

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Allen Ginsberg (June 3, 1926 - April 5, 1997): “The only thing that can save the world is the reclaiming of the awareness of the world. That's what poetry does. By poetry I mean the imagining of what has been lost and what can be found — the imagining of who we are and the slow realization of it.” — Allen Ginsberg [Source: Azquotes]

Plus a stunning debut album from our new favorite opera singer — Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, and the vibrant portraits of Fujishima Takeji!

Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Ryan Wildstar’s Signature Lemon Drop!

Reading: An Unofficial Rose  by Iris Murdoch

Listening: Masabane Cecilia by Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha (with Aron Goldin)

Looking: The Art of Fujishima Takeji (1867 - 1943)

Viewing: Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story  (2024) — a documentary portrait of the pioneering transgender R&B singer Jackie Shane (1940 - 2019), directed by Michael Mabbott & Lucah Rosenberg-Lee

Tasting: Budget-Friendly Epicurean Delights from Our Neighborhood Farmers Market (Platia Attikis on Alkamenous Street) in Athens, Greece!

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Iris Murdoch (1919 - 1999): “One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats, and if some of these can be inexpensive and quickly procured so much the better.” — Iris Murdoch [Source: Azquotes]

Plus the sensational mixed media collage art of Lavett Ballard & the "Father of French Gastronomy” — Antonin Carême!

Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Domaine Vincent Carême Vouvray Sec (Loire, France)

Reading: The Book of Salt  by Monique Truong

Listening: Silver Shade  by Peter Murphy

Looking: The Art of Lavett Ballard — including her current exhibition, Lavett Ballard: The People Who Could Fly

Viewing #1: A Nice Indian Boy  (2024) — directed by Roshan Sethi (based on Madhuri Shekar's play of the same name), starring Karan Soni & Jonathan Groff

Viewing #2: Carême— TV series created & written by Ian Kelly & Davide Serino, directed by Martin Bourboulon, starring Benjamin Voisin, Lyna Khoudri & Jérémie Renier (Apple TV+)

Tasting: The Life & Recipes of “The Father of French Gastronomy” aka Antonin Carême

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Armistead Maupin (born May 13, 1944): “The world changes in direct proportion to the number of people willing to be honest about their lives.” — Armistead Maupin [Source: Azquotes]

Plus two fantastic new albums from Mexican songstress Natalia Lafourcade & Malian-French supergroup Lamomali!

Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: The Perfect Horchata! (recipe from Cooking Con Claudia)

Reading: Holy the Firm by Annie Dillard

Listening #1: Cancionera by Natalia Lafourcade

Listening #2: Lamomali Totem by Lamomali (-M-, Fatoumata Diawara, Toumani Diabaté, Balla Diabaté) feat. Angélique Kidjo, Amadou & Mariam, Seu Jorge, Philippe Jaroussky, Yamê & more!

Looking: The Art of of Mary Cassatt (1844 - 1926)

Viewing: Narcissus (1983) — directed by Norman McLaren, starring Jean-Louis Morin as Narcissus

Tasting: Greek Old-Fashioned Honey Donuts - Loukoumades (recipe from Chef Akis Petretzikis)

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Truman Capote (1924 - 1984): “If you weren't here, if you could be anywhere you wanted to be, doing anything you wanted to do, where would you be and what would you be doing?” — Truman Capote (via Azquotes)

Plus Ryan Wildstar's recipe for the perfect Bloody Mary, trailblazing saxophonist Vi Redd, & our dinner at Rozalia - a hidden gem in the heart of Athens!

Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: The Bloody Mary “Chaser”

Reading: Love Is A Dangerous Word: The Selected Poems of Essex Hemphill  by Essex Hemphill

Listening: In Honor of Jazz Appreciation Month: The Music of Vi Redd (1928 – 2022)

Looking: The Art of Vorja Sánchez

Viewing: Ernest Cole: Lost and Found— documentary about Ernest Cole, directed by Raoul Peck (coming to Hulu on 4/29/25!)

Tasting: Dinner at Rozalia in Athens, Greece

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Essex Hemphill (April 16, 1957 – November 4, 1995): “I love myself enough to be who I am.” — Essex Hemphill [Source: Quotefancy]

Aesthetic Arrest: Essex Hemphill's Love Is A Dangerous Word, Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, & Vorja Sánchez - Organic Harmony!

Plus mouthwatering recipes from Andy Baraghani, eye-opening Renaissance art, and The Return — an arresting cinematic masterpiece starring Ralph Fiennes & Juliette Binoche!

Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Portofino Spritz with Andy Baraghani

Reading: The Lies of the Artists: Essays on Italian Art, 1450-1750 by Ingrid D. Rowland

Listening: Audience With the Queen by Galactic and Irma Thomas

Looking: Renaissance, Baroque & Rococo Art featured in Ingrid D. Rowland’s The Lies of the Artists: Essays on Italian Art, 1450-1750

Viewing: The Return directed by Uberto Pasolini, starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche

Viewing: The Return directed by Uberto Pasolini, starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Charlie Chaplin (April 16, 1889 – December 25, 1977): “We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.” — Charlie Chaplin [Source: Azquotes]