I don’t have an overarching theme for this week’s newsletter, instead I want to talk about a few different things from this past week. This is different than other newsletters I’ve done so let me know if you like this type of weekly roundup!
UConn Huskies
Listen, when I say that I don’t care about sports what I really mean is that I don’t care about sports except UConn men’s and women’s basketball which I care about a lot. It’s hard not to after going to UConn, it very much becomes part of you. The women’s team was so close this year 😭. But final four is still an amazing feat to be proud of!
And of course yesterday night the men won the final championship AKA the best thing that’s happened in Glendale, Arizona since opening night of The Eras Tour.
Cowboy Carter
When I tell you I have listened to Cowboy Carter at least a dozen times from beginning to end, I have listened to Cowboy Carter at least a dozen times from beginning to end. The entire time I listen to the album I am picturing a staged musical in my mind. I can see the choreography, I can see the stage design. Someone please make this! Beyoncé?!?!
“AMERIICAN REQUIEM” like HELLO! that is an OPENING NUMBER! “YA YA” is a perfect Act II opener right after intermission!!! I need to see this, please.
Chappell Roan
This past Wednesday I was able to see Chappell Roan live in New Haven with some of my newsletter subscribers (Oops I mean, friends. Shoutout to Lauren and Haley 🥰). While we didn’t get to see her a whole lot (we’re short and there were far too many tall straight boyfriends there….), Chappell put on an amazing show! Her vocals are godly and even better live. I still can’t stop thinking about her Bad Romance Cover. The linked version is from September 2023 so it’s not exactly the same, picture it even moodier with intense red lighting that matches the moody vibes.
Chappell Roan has quickly catapulted into queer icon stardom and it will soon be difficult to see her live, so if you get the chance to, do it now! Otherwise, good luck babe!
Monkey Man
If you know me, you know that I love Dev Patel. In a world where men generally suck and I can find something wrong with any man off the street…..Dev Patel…… you are safe. Safe..in my arms…..what? What was I saying?
Anyway! I saw Monkey Man and I really enjoyed it! It’s a really good action movie with a lot of deeper themes depicted including nationalism, islamophobia, sex trafficking, and trans rights. I didn’t think that the thriller aspect took away from the other themes and vice versa. There are a lot of good action sequences and as a warning - Dev is apparently a biter 😉!
Dev also wrote, directed, and produced this movie! Sometimes on his own iphone when the cameras they brought to remote areas were broken. He can really do it all 😍
The Earthquake
I almost forgot that this happened last week tbh. It was a moment, I’m not going to deny that. Us east coasters got to enjoy a little tectonic action but it was ultimately a little underwhelming. At first I thought - was that the rumblings of the subway? A random shake of the building? Terrorism? Oh, just an earthquake? Okay.
The Eclipse
Another natural phenomenon that (I’m sorry) underwhelmed me. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t in the path of totality but 90% is pretty close right? It was fun. I got my little glasses and saw the moon attempting to big spoon the sun. It was a cute little departure from the normal day to day though so I’m ultimately glad I got to see it. I can’t wait to experience it again in 2079.
And yes that is it for the newsletter this week! I hope you enjoyed this different type of format. It’s not going to be an “always” thing but likely a “sometimes” thing! As always, thank you so much for reading and subscribing!