THIS WEEK
How was Thanksgiving? We’re tired of cooking so we’re eating leftover pie in front of the TV. There are – oh god – 82 new Christmas movies coming our way this year, but first: Tina Fey is hosting the star-studded Girls Inc. fundraiser online this weekend. Here’s the trailer for Mariah Carey’s holiday special, plus an incredible cover of “All I Want For Christmas is You” – on cellos. Browse Elena Ferrante’s 40 favorite books by female authors, and read an excerpt from Ijeoma Oluo’s new book, Mediocre. A photo gallery of RBG’s favorite collars. Notes on a TikTok quarantine (which Catherine O’Hara has apparently mastered). Merriam-Webster’s word of the year will surprise exactly no one. Is this a pandemic bed, couch, desk, or all of the above? Goodbye, blazers. Hello “Coatigans.” Turns out it’s pretty good: Aging. How Helena Bonham Carter got into character as Princess Margaret. Speaking of royalty, here’s the NYT on the queen of pandemic yoga. What you need to know before socializing outside during a pandemic winter. Hilariously ugly sweaters from a 1986 UK magazine. The stocking stuffer you didn’t know you needed: a Richard Simmons Chia Pet.
(Photo: Getty)
GIVING: How We’re Giving on #GivingTuesday
Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday are over. Done-zo. Now that we’ve bought a few holiday gifts, and supported some women-owned small businesses, it’s time for Giving Tuesday, the single most important bust-out-the-credit-card day of the season. Especially this year, when so many people are out of work and struggling to pay the bills. No amount is too small! In fact, many organizations have sponsors who will match your donation, so your $20 turns into a $40 gift.
We asked TueNighters where they were giving this year. Their answers included food banks, places that help veterans, animal rescues and more:
Margit D. is donating to Willie May Rock Camp for Girls, the Higher Heights Leadership Fund, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, The 19th, and a whole bunch of other worthy causes. You can see the whole list – and why she’s donating to each – in this Twitter thread.
Margaret C. is donating to the San Francisco Food Bank, Muttville (a San Francisco senior dog rescue), Project Compass (an organization that helps homeless families), and the Prisoners Literature Project, an all-volunteer grassroots group that sends hundreds of free books to prisoners.
Mary G. is donating to Autism Tennessee. She says they are “a godsend for families. They also got hit with a tornado.”
Jamie Beth C. is donating to Community Building Art Works, which “builds connected communities where veterans and civilians share creative expression, mutual understanding and support.”
Mollie F. is donating to The Veterans Yoga Project, which “works closely with veterans and families teaching healthy ways to cope with trauma through mindful resilience.”
Meryl Z. W. is donating to City Harvest, New York City’s largest food rescue organization, which “rescues” millions of pounds of food and delivers it to food pantries, soup kitchens, and other community partners.
Shannon Z. is donating to Big Table, a nonprofit that provides financial assistance to employees in the restaurant industry.
Where are you donating for Giving Tuesday? Let us know in the comments!
STORY: Lessons Learned from My Favorite ‘90s Shows
By Faith Cummings
“As a journalist, the number of fictive heroines I’ve drawn inspiration from in my life is vast and constantly growing. One who I always come back around to is that of the inimitable Patty Mayonnaise from Doug. I mean, how many girls are you going to find who are smart, spunky, good at sports, have great hair, an amazing wardrobe and leave boys quivering in their wake?...”
(Psst: Want to write for us? Pitch us here!)
Have a great week, TueNighters!