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Dope Recs
Yeah, so I like a lot of stuff. And, when I like stuff a lot, I tend to gush about it. A ton. I want to amplify the things I like. Hype them up. Get others excited about them. All 30 of you.
Check out some of my hottest recommendations from the show (and beyond) below.
Table of Contents
Film & TV
The Great Pottery Throwdown
Watch On: HBO Max
Why does this show kick so much ass? Let me count the ways:
- They're just so kind to each other.
- The drama can best be described as "oddly intense".
- There are tears. They are sincere.
- Few things are as beautiful as watching artists practice their craft.
Schitt's Creek
Watch On: Netflix
Is anyone NOT in love with this show?
It's a funny portrait of what could be if everyone could just be themselves, if everyone felt welcome.
Have I laughed? Yes.
Have I cried? OMG yes.
Have I fallen in love with Dan Levy? Absolutely yes.
Cobra Kai
Watch On: Netflix
Wait. Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence as adults? The rivalry is still just as strong and the show is exactly as fun and ridiculous as it sounds.
If you liked the original Karate Kid series, the recurring storylines and flashback sequences are just totally kickass.
Class Action Park
Watch On: HBO Max
It's a documentary on this insane water/action park in Jersey in the 80s/early 90s. That's about all you need to know going into it. So worth the watch.
The Warriors
Watch On: Hulu
This is the movie that ruined all of my recommendation credibility to my best friend. Perhaps I introduced this way too early into our friendship. Perhaps she's just not nearly as ridiculous as I am.
Late '70s movie about New York street gangs. The gang names include, well, The Warriors, Turnbull ACs, Lizzies, and the Baseball Furies (my personal fave). Can you dig it?
Transhood
Watch On: HBO Max
Doc that follows four transgender kids and their families for five years of their lives. Incredibly interesting, enlightening and, at times, tough to watch (there's a fair bit of heartbreak involved).
Music & Podcasts
My Favorite Murder
Podcast Genre: True Crime/Comedy
Am I obsessed with this show? Well, I've:
- Joined their FanCult
- Been to a live show
- Bought merch
- Been to a Murderino meetup
So you tell me.
Chameleon: Hollywood Con Queen
Podcast Genre: True Crime
As a former film industry professional (how overly formal was that, eh?), this one hit close. Can't say I was ever scammed but I can absolutely understand those that did.
Plus, this puppy's got twists. It's got turns. It's got depth.
The Immaculate Deception
Podcast Genre: True Crime (I think?)
Spoiler alert maybe?
Whoa, is this one wild. Follows a fertility doctor who impregnated countless women with his own sperm (and that of a small selection of "super-donors").
Still Woozy
Music Genre: Indie Pop/Alternative
My biggest discovery for 2020. Dude does all his own music and releases is pretty much immediately upon completion. Plus, his music is all vibes.
Recommened first listen: BS
Taylor Swift - Evermore
Music Genre: Pop
Yeah, this rec is a gimme. Have you heard the title track on this album though? When Bon Iver comes in... chills. Chills every time.
Recommended first listen: Evermore, duh
Vance Joy
Music Genre: Indie Pop/Folk
Our boy Vance hasn't released anything new in a few years but every time I rediscover his music, I remember why I love him.
Recommended first listen: Georgia
Last year, I started curating a playlist of songs that accidentally represented my year.
"This is 2020" is that playlist. "This is 2021" is its cousin.
Listen along with me.
Food
Chilacates Roslindale
Cuisine: Mexican Street Food
Are you kidding me with this place? Dope outdoor vibes (when the weather allows), dope indoor vibes (when the pandemic permits), and dope food, duh.
What to try: Carnitas tacos and elote. In fact, get two of the elote.
Exodus Bagels
Cuisine: Bagels, straight up
I used to enjoy breakfast bagels every weekend morning at their Turtle Swamp Brewing pop-up. They're back to doing somewhat full service out of their Rozzie location and a big hell yes to that.
Oh, and they know me by name. That's always cool.
What to try: Pretty much any bagel, toasted, with plain cream cheese and bacon.
The Square Root
Cuisine: Coffee Shop
I don't drink coffee but I'm a sucker for a good breakfast sandwich and these folks get it done. And fast! Most mornings, a total of 15 minutes is all that stands between me and a morning sammy. I mean, that's dope.
What to try: BEC on an asiago bagel. Hands down.
Reads
In The Heart of the Sea, Nathaniel Philbrick
Genre: History
Easily one of my favorite books of all time. It tells the story of the whaleship, the Essex, its destruction at sea by a whale (sound familiar, fans of Moby Dick?), and the men who survived months at sea in a whaleboat without food or water. Chills, homies.
I'll Be Gone In the Dark, Michelle McNamara
Genre: True Crime
The true story of a man who murdered and raped dozens of people.
Woof. Read in broad daylight.
Really though, it's a masterpiece of true crime writing and is the story Michelle McNamara was working on when she passed. The book was completed by her colleagues using notes and other writing.
Medical Apartheid, Harriet A. Washington
Genre: Non-fiction
What's it about? Unethical medical experimentation on Black Americans throughout history. A heavy read, for sure, but an important one.
Things that don't fit in other categories
Getting a cat
What? Seriously. Hear me out.
They're solid company, they make great indoor pets, and they're funny as hell. Yeah, so they're also sassy sometimes. So what? I am, too, and you're still here.
*Keep in mind that getting any pet is a commitment for the lifetime of that pet. We're talking more than a decade of commitment for a cat. Think about it before you do it.
Gardening
It's a hobby that you can eat.
Growing food and flowers is awesome. I especially recommend gloveless gardening. Just love getting my hands in the dirt and getting dirty.
Getting a Tushy
Yeah, I'm talking about the bidet attachment.
Are you kidding me right now? This was probably my best purchase of 2020. If we ever find ourselves in a toilet paper shortage again, my butt is covered.
Leaving the job you hate
Life's way too short.
I've now been out of the film industry for longer than I was in it. When I was in it, I honestly never thought I'd get out. Find a mentor or a hype-person. Somone to push you, someone who can guide you. Yeah, things are crazy. Don't let that stop you.
LEGO Builds
They're not just for kids anymore.
Play is an important part of life. LEGOs help relax and focus me in cool and interesting ways.
I highly recommend the LEGO Architecture series. Fun, recognizable, and makes for a lovely display of one's nerdiness.
Swinging for the fences one more time
TV shows and movies taught me this.
Listen, sometimes things linger even after they "end". Life is too short for regrets and "what ifs". Step up to the plate. Batter up. Swing for the fences one last time.
Tie Dye
It was a stage of quarantine that stuck.
Listen, I'm going to give it to you straight. Tie dye is:
- Cheap
- Fun
- Dope
Costa Rica
I'm for sure moving there someday.
It's got jungle, it's got beach, it's got volcanoes, it's got tons of wildlife, and the people are incredibly kind.
Did I think about moving there? Yes. Did I almost have a friend convinced? Somehow, yes. Did things like work stand in my way? Sadly, yes.
Should you definitely visit? HECK YES.
Have a recommendation for me?
I'll take it! It can be:
- Media
- Food (local to the Boston area or purchasable in a grocery store)
- Unsolicited advice
- Places to check out
- Plant recommendations for my garden plot