This Week
Leslie Jones proudly rocking her knee brace on stage (Image via Vulture)
Leslie Jones embraces her 52 year old midlife self in her new Netflix special. We’ll be rooting for Katie Sowers, the first woman and openly gay coach to go to the SuperBowl. This story about starting ballet class at age 62 might motivate you to try something new. A night owl’s guide to becoming a morning person. Hall and Oates and Squeeze on tour together? We can go for that. So much rings true here about female friendship in midlife, not just for moms. Two San Francisco women started a Silent Book Club, where you show up to a bar/restaurant with whatever book you’re currently reading, chat with other people and order drinks for the first half hour, then read silently for an hour — GENIUS. An incredibly moving essay on becoming a man, after 50 years living as a woman.
JANUARY THEME: SENDOFF
Editor's Note: We spend a lot of our younger years acquiring: jobs, friends, expertise, furniture, money. One of the sure signs we have crossed life's midline is when we find ourselves letting go. As we head into the new year, and the new DECADE, this month’s theme brings stories of what it is we are leaving behind, whether we wanted to or not.
Nancy's Voice Will Always Be Here: Remembering My Friend
By Margit Detweiler
"This Jewish girl from Margate, NJ (her), and a WASP-y girl from Chestnut Hill in Philly (me), we found mutual admiration through our love of music and, in particular, an adoration for Bowie. She’d drive us around in her beat-up sedan of some sort (I’m terrible with cars) and we’d harmonize to “Starman” or “Lady Stardust.” I have this distinct memory of sitting in her backseat and her telling me, “Hey, those harmonies aren’t half-bad.” From Nancy that was a huge compliment, especially because Nancy ALWAYS told you what she thought."
Keep reading...
Obsessed: Sweet Bitters
(Images via The Hudson Standard, Raft Syrups, and Amazon)
Given my druthers, I’d drink wine all day and all night, but the truth is, I need to be drinking less, dry January or not. Fortunately, I’ve found a new obsession that keeps things interesting, and that is artisanal bitters.
Yes, I know that makes it sound like I have simply moved from wine to Manhattans, but nope. Instead, I’m mixing my own grown-ass-lady tonics with San Pellegrino or ginger seltzer and they are Mmm, mmm good!
Hudson Standard Masala Bitters have the depth of chai with none of the sweet, and are made of turmeric, tulsi flower, and spicebush extracts and oils, a nice woodsy-spicy party. Especially good paired with a dash of ginger syrup.
Raft Cardamom Bitters are hands-down my favorite. I’ve tried them in green tea, ginger ale, on their own in sparkling water, and lately, I’ve started making sparkling water cocktails using shrubs (cider vinegar tonics) from Hudson standard. My new favorite? Pink grapefruit seltzer, a teaspoon of Maple Apple Coriander Shrub, and five shakes of cardamom bitters. Zingy, effervescent goodness.
Fee Brothers is a classic B.H. bitters brand (Before Hipsters), but they have a pretty serious collection of flavors, including Black Walnut, Celery, West Indian Orange, Plum, and my favorite, Cherry bitters. Has a rich, round, deep-cherry taste, so sparkling water flavored with six or seven hearty shakes tastes almost like a soda, but there’s no sweet, no sugar, and no regrets.
—Stacy Morrison
GET TIX! TUENIGHT LIVE, 1/28 in NYC
We're almost sold out for our event on January 28! For our Winter edition of TueNight Live we're taking RISKS — telling tales of life after the leap. We will be at the beautifully bright and women-oriented private community Luminary. This edition's storytellers include Bridgett M. Davis, Carmen Rita Wong (check out her TueNight 10 below), Robin Gelfenbien, Taiia Smart Young, Stacy Morrison and Marjorie Velasquez! As always, we'll have wine, delish snacks and fabulous stories from women who have been there/ done that.
TueNight 10: Carmen Rita Wong
Carmen with her daughter in Xochimilico, Mexico City
Age: 48
Quick bio: Carmen is a writer, speaker, and an investor and advisor to women-owned businesses. A former national television host, magazine advice columnist, and faculty professor at NYU, Carmen serves on the board of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and The Moth. She also hosts a podcast, has published two novels, and is currently working on her fifth book, a memoir.
Beyond the Bio: "Damn you get wise in your 40s. And, tired. But it’s the wise and curious parts that keep me going. Self-acceptance, too. There is a level of DGAF that is hard-won and you’d better believe I enjoy the hell out of that."
What makes you a grown-ass lady? Grown-ass is a scale. I was a grown-ass lady at 12 years old, helping care for four younger siblings, working, and excelling at school. But now, as a single parent with aging parents and a brother now living with advanced cancer, being grown-ass feels like a given. But what I will never forget is that being grown-ass doesn’t mean being old-ass. Keep playing. Don’t forget to play hard.
1. On the nightstand: At least three piles of books. On top now are: Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child by John Gottman, a classic I had to revisit as I now live with a teen (#sendhelp). And, I’m about to dig into Jaquira Diaz’s memoir, Ordinary Girls. I read a lot of fiction too (even wrote a few novels myself) but, I keep fiction out of my bedroom, for some reason.
2. Can't stop/won't stop: Going out dancing with friends and/or my sisters
3. Jam of the minute: Harry Styles, “Adore You,” Rosalia & J. Balvin, “Con Altura,” and “Come Thru” by Summer Walker & Usher
4. Thing I miss: The ability for most people to afford a college education
5. 80s crush: Keanu Reeves
6. Current crush: Keanu Reeves and Rihanna
7. Latest fave find: House of Intuition, a gorgeous online botanica shop, Latinx-owned/run
8. Last thing you lost: A big dream or two
9. Best thing that happened recently: Every time my daughter and I share a laugh. Always the best thing.
10. Looking forward to: More storytelling, more books, more stages. And, more learning.
Editor's Note: Get your tix to TueNight Live: RISK to hear Carmen read a story about a secret she hasn't shared—until now!
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