Plus the sculptured books of Brian Dettmer & the ancient wines of Zitsa!

Reading: Song of Ancient Lovers by Laura Restrepo (translated by Caro De Robertis)

Listening: Two Fantastic Live Concerts at Theatre of the NO in Athens, Greece!

Looking: The Sculptured Books of Brian Dettmer

Viewing: The Choral  (2025), directed by Nicholas Hytner & written by Alan Bennett, starring Ralph Fiennes

Tasting: Zoinos Winery, Debina Orange Wine (100% Debina), PDO Zitsa (Zitsa, Greece)

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968): "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Featuring some of our favorite reading, listening, looking, viewing and tasting of the year!

https://epicureanvagabonds.substack.com/p/aesthetic-arrest-the-best-of-2025

Plus music from Branford Marsalis & Nicola Benedetti, a brilliant biopic of Frantz Fanon, & wisdom from Leslie Feinberg!

Reading: Sex Is a Spectrum: The Biological Limits of the Binary  by Agustín Fuentes

Listening #1: Violin Café  by Nicola Benedetti

Listening #2: Belonging  by the Branford Marsalis Quartet

Looking: Current Exhibition! Radical Harmony: Helene Kröller-Müller’s Neo-Impressionists, at The National Gallery in London (on view until February 8, 2026!)

Viewing: Fanon(2025) — biopic directed by Jean-Claude Barny about philosopher, psychiatrist & activist Frantz Fanon (1925 – 1961)

Tasting: Thai Son-In-Law Eggs (Kai Look Keuy) from Mama Noi (via Marion’s Kitchen)

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Leslie Feinberg (1949 – 2014): “People of all sexes have the right to explore femininity, masculinity—and the infinite variations between—without criticism or ridicule.”

https://epicureanvagabonds.substack.com/p/aesthetic-arrest-sex-is-a-spectrum

Plus I Wish You All The Best, Lonely Crowds by Stephanie Wambugu, & wisdom from Joseph Campbell!

Reading: Lonely Crowds  by Stephanie Wambugu

Listening: The Last Concert of Mulatu Astatke’s Farewell Tour! (at the CT Theater in Athens, Greece on November 25, 2025)

Looking: The Art of 94-Year-Old Painter (& Living Icon!) Bridget Riley in the new exhibition, Bridget Riley: Learning to See, at the Turner Contemporary in Margate, England! (On view November 22, 2025 – May 4, 2026!)

Viewing #1: A Tribute to Screen Legend Udo Kier (October 14, 1944 — November 23, 2025)

Viewing #2: I Wish You All The Best  (2025) — directed, written & produced by Tommy Dorfman, starring Corey Fogelmanis, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Lena Dunham, Alexandra Daddario & Cole Sprouse

Tasting: Stunning Syrian Cuisine! Tastes of Damascus Restaurant (Athens, Greece)

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Joseph Campbell (1904 – 1987): “There’s nothing you can do that’s more important than being fulfilled. You become a sign, you become a signal, transparent to transcendence; in this way, you will find, live, and become a realization of your own personal myth.”

https://epicureanvagabonds.substack.com/p/aesthetic-arrest-udo-kier-mulatu

Plus fantastic documentaries from Raoul Peck & Zackary Drucker, the amazing art of Sonia E. Barrett, & the Quintessential Holiday Cheese Platter!

Reading: Down and Out in Paris and London  by George Orwell

Listening #1: Looking Back  by Amanda Lear

Listening #2: Woman of Faces  by Celeste

Looking: The Art of Sonia E. Barrett

Viewing #1: Enigma (2025) — documentary about Amanda Lear & April Ashley, directed by Zackary Drucker (HBO Max)

Viewing #2: Orwell: 2+2=5  (2025) — written, directed & produced by Raoul Peck

Tasting: The Quintessential Holiday Cheese Platter!

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Guy Davenport (November 23, 1927 – January 4, 2005): “Art is the attention we pay to the wholeness of the world.”

https://epicureanvagabonds.substack.com/p/aesthetic-arrest-george-orwell-celeste

Plus Wifredo Lam at the Museum of Modern Art, Olivia Laing's cinematic new novel, & wisdom from Chinua Achebe!

Reading: The Silver Book: A Novel  by Olivia Laing

Listening #1: Duets Special  by Chrissie Hynde & Pals (featuring duets with k.d. lang, Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, Mark Lanegan, Shirley Manson, Lucinda Williams, Dave Gahan, Cat Power, Julian Lennon & more!)

Listening #2: Sad and Beautiful World  by Mavis Staples

Looking: The Art of Wifredo Lam (1902 – 1982) in MoMA’s New Exhibition, Wifredo Lam: When I Don’t Sleep, I Dream (November 10, 2025 – April 11, 2026) at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC!

Viewing: Eleanor the Great  (2025) — directed by Scarlett Johansson & starring June Squibb

Tasting: Pasta Perfection! Ryan Wildstar’s Cashew Pesto (vegetarian) & Sicilian Sardine & Capers Sauce (pescatarian) served with Angel Hair Pasta, grated Grana Padano & Agiorgitiko (red wine) from Nemea!

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Chinua Achebe (November 16, 1930 – March 21, 2013): “People say that if you find water rising up to your ankle, that’s the time to do something about it, not when it’s around your neck.”

Plus the ceramic art of Heidi Lau, poetry from Robin Coste Lewis, & wisdom from Carl Sagan!

Reading: Archive of Desire: A Poem in Four Parts for C. P. Cavafy  by Robin Coste Lewis

Listening: L’Amour à La Folie  by Amadou & Mariam

Looking: The Art of Heidi Lau (Who is one of 10 artists announced this week for The Artsy Vanguard 2026!)

Viewing: Frankenstein  (2025) — written & directed by Guillermo del Toro (based on Mary Shelley‘s 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus), starring Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac & Mia Goth

Tasting: A Perfect Wine & Cheese Pairing! Roquefort Papillon & Samos Grand Cru Muscat!

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Carl Sagan (November 9, 1934 – December 20, 1996): “Even through your hardest days, remember we are all made of stardust.”

Plus Día de los Muertos! Celebrating The Day of the Dead with Performance Art, Elaborate Costumes & The Bread of the Dead!

Reading: The Rose Field (The Book of Dust, Volume 3) by Philip Pullman

Listening: Everybody Scream by Florence + The Machine

Looking: Celebrating Día de los Muertos [The Day of the Dead] with the Art of Teotecpatl Santin Martinez & the Cultural Collective Yaotecame! (Videography by Francisco González)

Viewing: Hedda (2025) — written & directed by Nia DaCosta (based on Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen) starring Tessa Thompson as Hedda, plus a stellar supporting cast including Nina Hoss & Imogen Poots

Tasting: Baking for Día de los Muertos! Mely Martinez’s Recipe for Pan de Muerto: The Bread of the Dead! (from her wonderful blog — Mexico in my Kitchen)

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Philip Pullman: “After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” 

Plus Anne Waldman's newest collection of visionary poetry & the cheesy toasted goodness of traditional Welsh Rarebit!

Reading: Mesopotopia by Anne Waldman

Listening #1: A Tribute to the Legendary Dave Ball of Soft Cell (May 3, 1959 – October 22, 2025)

Listening #2: Mirrors (Expanded 50th Anniversary Edition)  by Peggy Lee

Looking: New Exhibition! Nigerian Modernism at the Tate Modern in London! (On view until May 10, 2026!)

Viewing: Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (PBS American Masters) — documentary about Marlee Matlin, directed by Shoshannah Stern

Tasting: Traditional Welsh Rarebit (NOT Welsh Rabbit! No rabbits were harmed!)

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Anne Waldman: “Poets have to keep pushing, pushing, against the darkness, and write their way out of it as well.”

Plus Aimee Lou Wood's charming new rom-com, Charles Lloyd's brilliant new album & The Complete Book of Cheese!

Reading: Chronicles of Ori: An African Epic  by Harmonia Rosales

Looking: The Art of Harmonia Rosales (as featured in her new book, Chronicles of Ori: An African Epic!)

Listening: Figure in Blue by Charles Lloyd

Viewing #1: Film Club (BBC iPlayer) — created & co-written by Aimee Lou Wood, starring Aimee Lou Wood & Nabhaan Rizwan (with a cast including Suranne Jones, Owen Cooper, Adam Long & Liv Hill)

Viewing #2: Riot Women (BBC iPlayer & BritBox) — created, written & directed by Sally Wainwright, starring Joanna Scanlan, Rosalie Craig, Tamsin Greig, Lorraine Ashbourne & Amelia Bullmore

Tasting: The Complete Book of Cheese (1955) by Bob Brown

This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Miss Major Griffin-Gracy (October 25, 1946 – October 13, 2025): “We lived our true selves. We enjoyed our lives. We did what we had to do to survive.” — Miss Major Griffin-Gracy [Source]