Summer Loves: Negronis, Judy Blume, and Tea Rooms (and Lady Rage)
Dames Nation, it's official: Summer is here. And you know what that means?
It's NEGRONI SEASON!
By this, we mean not that it's time to drink Negronis (at best an acquired taste) but instead that it's time to re-read that classic Internet Horror Story, Negroni Season by Evelyn Everlady, and its companion pieces in her series The Worst Boyfriend in the World. And raise a glass (of Negroni or the beverage of your choice) to all the people we're not speaking to, especially if they are really dreadful ex-partners.
And, because that couldn't possibly be enough Evelyn for anyone, it's time to catch up with Evelyn as she and Choire Sicha talk about why we publish our personal horror stories and what Hank the Chocolate Lab is up to these days.
This Week In Being a Woman
Why are we still acting like menstruation is so weird & shameful that we have to hide our tampons?
This woman has discovered the true key to public transportation freedom: sitting on manspreaders. Just sitting right on top of them. Unlike saying, "excuse me", it actually works!
Dame Sophie, are you ever going to stop linking to pieces interrogating dumb assumptions & opinions about What's Wrong With How Women Are Talking These Days? Glad you asked! No, I'm not.
Think American Girl dolls are just about merchandising dollars? After reading Addy Walker, American Girl, we're placing holds on all of the Addy books at our local libraries.
Lower Dens singer Jana Hunter on how misogyny in music is basically inescapable, even when you don't identify as a woman.
Would you like a mental palate cleanser after those rage aperitifs? How about this delightful (as in 100% FULL of delight) Pop Culture Happy Hour roundtable discussion on romance novels with Sarah Wendell, Barrie Hardymon & Petra Mayer? Sarah, ever-helpful and a champion readers' advisor, put together a handy list of titles from their discussion with host (and Dames friendship midwife) Linda Holmes.
Judy Blume, Judy Blume, Judy BLUUUUUUUME! In a future issue, Dame Sophie will tell you all the story of the time she mistook a family friend for Judy Blume and the now-hilarious mortification that ensued when she was gently corrected by said friend. For now, please enjoy these highlights from The Great One's press tour in support of her new novel, In the Unlikely Event.
Twee as Hell's Triumphant Return!
We know, we owe you gentle readers a lengthy Bossy Take on what we really mean by twee, and this topic is on deck for us to address this summer, but in the meantime, won't you please enjoy these adorrrrrable links?
Who better to model the season's hottest sunnies than Fred, Instagram Star and precious puppy?
Invaluable service journalism: How to Make Edible LEGO Gummy Candy Bricks With Which You Can Actually Build
An in-depth look at some of our most seasoned Diplomatic servants: AMBASSADORS' DOGS!!!!!!
Your Dames basically subsist on a diet of tea and tea cakes (and also brisket), so we will be embarking on a Grand Tour of the world's most charming tea rooms immediately upon retirement. In the meantime, can we join Tiny Tim's pudding society by air mail?
We want to go to there.
Visual Crushes
Who is more deserving of a zillion sets of paper dolls recreating his iconic looks over the years than David Bowie? NOBODY, that's who.
Dame Sophie just can't stop thinking about Frida Kahlo. These intimate photos of the great artist -- in repose, with her pets, recovering from one of her many surgeries -- are so touching. Have you read a really solid biography of Kahlo? If so, give us a holler on Twitter, won't you?
Lisbon: Subverting cliches and creating #baller street art by training older badasses in tagging!
And finally, let us bring to your attention the perfect pop-culture art of Tyler Feder, whose Etsy shop is so thoroughly populated with pitch-perfect prints that picking just one to highlight is impossible. Some of Dame M's favorites: "Rhymes With Mindy Kaling", Parks & Rec characters as represented by their favorite ice cream, her brilliant tribute to intersectional feminism and Rosie the Riveter <3, all the lyrics to Titus Andromedon's hit single "Pinot Noir", illustrated, and last but by no means least: each one of Leslie Knope's florid compliments to Ann Perkins, illustrated.
Misc:
How is Golden Girls like Little Women, AKA a perfect piece for TBD.
What it feels like when your friends step up to crowdfund your artistic development.
A grand gif-tribute to Rogelio de la Vega, one of the many exceptional parts of Jane the Virgin, Dame M's favorite show of the year.
Scott Tobias's thoughtful look at the decline of Cameron Crowe’s battered idealists, which manages to be really compassionate without ever letting him off the hook.
Mmmm, data: this investigation of emoji-as-Instagram-hashtags yields fun & interesting explanations of how emoji usage is evolving. Thumbs up dancing twins heart eyes!