Is it just me or do you also gravitate towards books and stationery at this time of year? Forget what’s in the book or what I could possibly write on the stationery, I seem to be in love with hardcover, well-made books with hefty spines and deckled edges, but also smooth, gilded edges, and sturdy pages with an almost imperceptible texture. I feel that way about stationery too — a good weight, a slight texture, fancy but simple, not florid. Clean expectant pages with the possibility of a million things to write and friends to reach. And the smell of those two obsessions? There really should be scented candles in book and stationery varieties. And fuggedaboutit when it comes to finding the perfect bookmark (dog-eared corners are verboten) and the right pen to do my paper justice. I dabble in fine point felt, but really a medium ball point with the blackest ink has just the right glide for serious and friendly matters, besides, I find myself wanting to return to cursive in a big way.
But alas, the truth is my books pile up around me unread, my paper is blank, my pens are waiting. There’s so much I want to immerse myself in while I read and things I want to write with my hands that will say something of worth... to what? Keep me from my phone and its sorrows? Save the world? Maybe.
In the meantime, I’ll be here, with my books and papers gathered around me (not in the tub fully clothed) waiting for ideas to pop in my head. Hopefully, they’re funny.
Connie
Your KCRW Insider since 2001
P.S. Send me your favorite pen recommendations, pls.
Ah, staff picks! From old haunts — record stores, cafes in the pre-Starbucks era, tiny punk shops, quirky thrift joints, indie bookstores, and airport newsstands — to new haunts like Barnes & Noble and a slew of online publications, podcasts, and favorite newsletters — I love staff picks. What are the brains that curate what I like consuming? Needless to say, I like NPR's big brains. Check out their favorite books of 2023. I also love our music-savvy staff. Throw on some earbuds and listen to their recent picks.
Modern life tends to push faith aside, and in an increasingly secular culture, attitudes have shifted the way many people think about spiritual practice. While faith and spirituality go hand in hand for some of us, feeling spiritually alive can also be prompted by acts of service, meditation, a hike in the woods or simply sitting around the Thanksgiving table. Dr. Lisa Miller, professor of clinical psychology at Columbia University, argues that regular spiritual practice can lead to less depression and anxiety even without stemming from a belief system. And that’s not the only good news…
One epic dinner with leftovers done, maybe one or two more to go before we hit the new year and vow that we will be more practical about our food habits. Why wait? Work towards extracting yourself from the $400 billion food waste per year statistic now. Sisters Margaret and Irene Li, who run Mei Mei Dumplings in Boston, have suggestions for all the wilted, shriveled, about to expire, or "only needed a teaspoon but bought an entire jar" items in your fridge and pantry. Their book is Perfectly Good Food: A Totally Achievable Zero Waste Approach to Home Cooking.
Adam Baz is a falconer. His company, Hawk on Hand, provides avian apex predators for photo shoots, music videos (Molly Lewis and NAS), educational sessions, and (the big money-maker) bird abatement: chasing loud pooping crows and seagulls from landfills, businesses, and public spaces. “There aren't many falconers in LA. It's not a very hospitable place to do falconry,” Baz says. So what motivates an urban falconer to spend his time managing these birds — not to mention completing the training and paperwork required to do it legally? Well, it’s complicated, but as an amateur birdwatcher and fan of birds of prey, I say, where do I start?
KCRW and Sony Pictures Classics invite you to a special advance screening of Freud's Last Sessionfollowed by a conversation with director, Matthew Brown and actor, Matthew Goode, moderated by KCRW's Madeleine Brand.
London, September 3rd, 1939. The world is on the brink of war. In his final days, Sigmund Freud, a recent escapee with his daughter from the Nazi regime receives a visit from the formidable Oxford Don, C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia). On this day, two of the greatest minds of the twentieth century intimately engage in a monumental session over the belief in the future of mankind and the existence of God.
KCRW Members, come get cozy with us! We’re taking over Brain Dead Studios this Saturday, December 2nd for a movie marathon with all of KCRW’s best friends — you! We picked a few holiday classics to screen — Home Alone, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Die Hard — Greater LA host Steve Chiotakis AKA Santa Chio will be hanging out before each film, and we’ll have drink specials, food onsite, and dare we say… mistletoe?! This is an exclusive event for KCRW Members only, but it’s not too late to become one now and join the fun!
"KCRW is a sanctuary for me. There’s a program and host for every moment of the day and night. You are a constant source of fuel for my imagination, education, and good vibes. Thank you!" – Elaine (Redondo Beach)
%20(19).png?upscale=true&width=1200&upscale=true&name=email(600x74)%20(19).png)
%20(6).png?upscale=true&width=1200&upscale=true&name=app(600x338)%20(6).png)
.png?upscale=true&width=440&upscale=true&name=Untitled%20design%20(36).png)
