Happy Halloween! So fun when these fall on a holiday. Not to immediately make this about me, but I desperately need a new eyelash curler, it’s the only makeup product I use every day. Do you have one you love? Perhaps your recommendation will appear in a future newsletter! Anyways, today’s letter is very fun. We have two contributors, one of whom I need to find a husband for–could it be you? Before we get into this month’s discoveries I have a fun announcement to make. November will be the beginning of A Very Picnic Christmas! If you were here last year, you might remember that starting the week of Thanksgiving I publish a letter every week for five weeks filled with different holiday suggestions/recommendations/etc. And of course, there will be a gift guide! I am so SO excited. But for now, October…

1. Undo Hairware Claw Clip - The best claw clips out there. Beautiful colors, amazing hold. I have a big one and a little one, and I use them at some point every day. I bought my sister the No. 4 in Bordeaux last year and it’s the juiciest, most gorgeous red.

2. Marc Jacobs Beauty Born Star Eyeshadow in “Delete That” - Every winter publications are like, “have you heard of oxblood?” And with the bordeaux claw clip above and this eyeshadow, I’m no different. I bought this to wear for Kaley’s wedding and it was the perfect grungy but not too intense color. Great for brown eyes, though I would imagine green eyes would look next level. Cutest packaging too.

   

3. Boiling a Pot of Water and Then Using That Water To Clean Your Dishes - I loooooveeeee the beautiful accident of boiling some water for eggs or tea and then getting to dump it on the dirty dishes in the sink and witnessing the magic of very hot water. Obviously you still have to scrub them with soap but this really gets it started for ya.

4. Bruno Munari’s Books ‘45 - When we were in Rome, we picked up Never Content by Bruno Munari at Ottimomassimo and it’s just the most gorgeous, creative children’s book. Interactive and very unique. When I realized it was part of a series Munari created after the birth of his son, I became determined to collect them all. These works, which were previously out of print, have come back thanks to Corraini Edizione, a contemporary art publisher. You can find them at various bookshops online, or if you’re in NYC, the terrific Spiral Books carries them.

5. Tokyo Gateau (contributed and written by Anthony Roth Costanzo) - You know when you want to send someone flowers, but you don’t want to send them flowers? A year ago, the postman delivered this elegant wooden box, with the words “Tokyo Gateau” emblazoned on it, from the boutique shop Dandelion Chocolate in San Francisco. I devoured it all too quickly and since then I have been sending it to everyone and anyone who needs a special something, a thank you, or just a surprise. Oh no, is this my version of the Tom Cruise coconut cake? Anyway, It’s flourless, and in fact contains only chocolate, butter, sugar, and eggs. And yet, it is a unique revelation both in taste and texture. They say on the website that they tried to make it in the San Francisco kitchen but it just lacked that certain je ne sais quoi from the haute Japanese ingredients and precision methods, so they have it shipped from Japan. The gateau keeps two whole weeks from the day you open it, and you can have it cold for a cheese like texture, room temp for a more fall-apart richness, or apparently put it in the oven and make it light and airy (which I’ve never been patient enough to do). It’s $65, and they ship it for free. They have lots of other elegant chocolates and gifts, but for me and my dote-ees, this one takes the cake. Anthony Roth Costanzo is an unbelievably talented countertenor, the General Director and President of Opera Philadelphia, the Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall’s SongStudio, a published author, and my dear friend!

6. Countertenor by Anthony Roth Costanzo - The first time I heard Anthony sing is one of the most memorable moments of my entire life. Not only is his voice stunningly beautiful but there are few things more surprising than a countertenor. I am so excited about this book which takes us through the history of countertenorism (new word alert) and the history of Anthony. Both are equally fascinating, both are totally unlike anything you’ve ever read, or heard!

7. Kwik Stix Tempera Paint Sticks - These have soared to Top Toy in our house. Every morning the first thing Theodora wants to do is paint with these. After nap, we re-open the Kwik Stix, after the playground? We’re opening the Kwik Stix. They are so fun to use, I completely understand the obsession. Very rich colors that glide beautifully over the paper, and I am pleased to say came out within seconds after Theodora experimented on our rug.

8. Romancing the Stone (1984) - As soon as the temps drop, I need to be watching one rom com after the other. This one is crazy, but very droll. Is it the best movie on earth? Absolutely not, mamacita. But are you going to have a blast watching it? Probably!

   

9. Lovely Bunch Sparkling Apple Juice - I cracked open one of these little cans the other day and what a treat!! Tasted just like a cider you’d get upstate while apple picking but with some fizz. Amazing thing to put out for a kid’s holiday party.

10. Eugenie Detroit - Going rogue and recommending a store I’ve never been to BUT I did go to their fab pop up in Williamsburg earlier this month and can attest that the vibes are excellent and the taste is correct. Whenever I have the pleasure of visiting Detroit I will be beelining for this shop!

11. Noue Necklace in Guinguette - I bought this little glass bead necklace at Eugenie’s pop up, and I’m so happy I did. Each bead feels very special, like those bugs trapped in amber. Kind of addicted to the water droplet look of this one.

    

12. Dallas BBQ (contributed and written by Patrick Foley) - When I was at NYU, my friends and I started a delightful and delicious snow day tradition: the Dallas BBQ Early Bird Special. For like $12 you would get half a rotisserie chicken, soup, cornbread, rice, and fries and then finish it off with a $10 Texas-sized margarita with an extra shot of “tequila” in a freaky test tube-type thing. A quick Google search (redundant?) informs me that this deal is still available at the same price point, the last culinary sentinel standing strong against inflation. Since 2008 BBQ has always been there for me: offering a raucous crowd, a sweet beverage and ever-so-salty sustenance. Most recently, I had a first date at the Times Square location where we both got over-served on Henny Coladas and let’s just say it wasn’t the only creamy treat that night. HAY LUKE! (I also had another date with a lawyer representing the employees of BBQ in a class action lawsuit against the owners that you can read about here but don’t worry they got a 22.5 million settlement—great job Ryan.) So yeah in anticipation of the post-AI-bubble economic crash, this is the perfect location for everything from a hot and dangerous first date to a book club rendezvous to a wedding reception. Wait actually don’t steal the last idea…your boy’s still single, for now. Patrick Foley is a brilliant performer, a truly original writer, a Pulitzer Prize-finalist, one of my best friends, and somehow single? This man needs to be a husband, you will be the luckiest man in the WORLD. E-mail me for details.

13. “Vila” by Fabiano Do Nascimento, Vittor Santos e Orquestra - Ultimately the only thing I want on this earth is to be totally relaxed, cooking an elaborate dinner for my loved ones, hair perfect, outfit chic, massive apartment, elegant wine in an insanely thin glass, and a beautiful record playing. This album allows me to achieve one of seven–I’ll take it! Mellow and lush at the same time, I love it.

14. Halibut + Tomato at Penny - Anna and I snagged a last minute reservation here and thank god. Everything we ate was divine. The wine was perfection. But nothing, NOTHING could have prepared us for the wonder that is this dish. Oh my god!!!!! It was like the thinnest piece of toast you’ve ever had on top of perfectly cooked flaky halibut on top of the tomatoes you get on a pan con tomate. Does that make sense?? I don’t actually know if it was toast but it was crunchy and gorgeous and shattered with the edge of our fork. I want to go back and order two of this dish and nothing else.

15. Alicja Ceramics - The best thing on ever happened to me: my sister moved 20 blocks away. I had to get my princess a housewarming gift!! I found this Vermont-based ceramicist on Etsy who makes these adorable cups. I got Founie’s emblazoned with her coffee shop order. I also love these ones.

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I meant to send this weeks ago, but the really scary story is that our toddler stopped sleeping. We are slowly dragging back towards dream-filled nights, but I am writing this as she alternates between singing her ABCs and “Happy Birthday, dear Totoro” at the top of her lungs when she should be napping.

I’ve actually been meaning to write about Shirley Jackson since the very beginning of Picnic Style. I am a Shirley girl for LIFE. I’ve always been a “voracious reader,” which translated to me eschewing assigned books in school for whatever I felt like reading, and then scanning the necessary literature in class just enough so I could participate in the discussion. Until eighth grade when Mr. Evans assigned us We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Something about the cover drew me in, and I distinctly remember reading the first paragraph and thinking to myself, “I’m going to need a highlighter.” I am pretty sure it’s the first book I ever willingly annotated.

Most people were introduced to Shirley’s work through her brilliantly demented story, The Lottery. Because I met Shirley through one of her novels, I dived into those first. The natural follow up to Castle was The Haunting of Hill House, another deliciously spooky read. I didn’t even realize the true impact it had on me until a friend who read it recently texted me and said, “did you know the two main characters are named Eleanor and Theodora?!” I’m famously “Eleonore” but my daughter is “Theodora,” and I think that must have planted like a seed into my brain as a 13 year old.

She has four other novels, Hangsaman, The Bird’s Nest, The Sundial, and The Road Through the Wall. I’ve managed to read all but The Road. And I would happily talk at length about the other three, but today’s letter is about Shirley’s greatest skill, the short story. I needed to get these to you before Halloween because as you can probably ascertain from some of these titles, they’re freaky! I’m not going to write at length about each of my below recommendations because I think you should just ignore my comments and read the stories, but I’ll write a little bit about Shirley here.

Shirley put parts of herself in all of her writing, she grew up in an affluent home with a mother who didn’t really like her. She struggled with her weight her whole life, and every time a teenage girl in one of her stories is described as, “baggy,” or “ugly,” or “ill-formed,” it breaks my heart a little. But! These girls are always the smartest in the room, dumbfounding grown men. Often, they’re a little (or very) clairvoyant, like in her stories The Intoxicated or All She Said Was Yes1. She was in an intellectual, interesting marriage with a man who was consistently unfaithful to her. So many of her stories are about women stuck in an endless loop of housework, wifehood, and motherhood. Oftentimes, the stories are sinister and foreboding, like The Good Wife or The Honeymoon of Mrs. Smith, but she was a riotously funny writer with a penchant for revenge so she also wrote pieces like What a Thought. She died young, 48, but she understood the vulnerability of older people. She puts old people in peril a lot, and it’s completely dreadful but very effective. The Bus, which I talk a little bit about below, is a flawless example of this but The Summer People is one I think about whenever I’m in a town that feels too quiet.

Shirley has written many perfect non-scary stories, but due to the season, I focused on the creepy. If you want to learn more about Shirley, Ruth Franklin’s biography, A Rather Haunted Life is very good and very well-researched. There’s a great, not scary story of Shirley’s called She Says the Damndest Things where a girl, Dottie, is describing to our narrator another girl she knows. “She says the damndest things, honest. She’s liable to get you into an argument on some screwy subject like religion, and then make you talk all night, or she’ll tell you about some damned book she’s been reading, about logic or pyramids or some other crazy thing,” the complaints go on and on for a page until our narrator simply says, “I think I know her.”

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I’m writing to you from a rooftop in Rome. Normally, I wait until the last minute to write but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to begin this letter in The Eternal City. We’re six days into our trip and it’s been an «ottovolante» which is Italian for rollercoaster. Theodora touched down in Roma and promptly went on hunger strike. As of today, she has yet to taste a single bite of pizza. We were sort of falling apart over it, and then yesterday we decided to let it all go. For dinner she ate most of the bread basket and three bites of spaghetti pomodoro–a win. I’ve been walking around with a peanut butter sandwich in my bag which is…humbling. Obviously, I want to be true to my EU citizenship and have a child who eats carciofi no problem, but I have a gorgeous american toddler so peanut butter it is. This will not be a letter complaining about my beautiful family trip to Italy. This will be a letter filled with fun discoveries I made this month and Picnic Style’s Guide to Rome, diverti!

1. Watermelontimes.com - As we say goodbye to summer, I want to share what may be The Most Charming Website On Earth. The site is put together by Ellen Ficklen. Ficklen’s book on watermelons was published by the Library of Congress and as far as I can tell, she seems to be the leading (and perhaps only) scholar on Watermelon.

2. Gaslighting Yourself - This is Bad Advice. But sometimes, it’s what you have to do and sometimes, it works wonders. This is what Aaron and I decided to do this week when Theodora refused to eat (or nap), and almost immediately things got better and chiller. My freshman year of college I was miserable. I was a New Yorker living in a dorm basement in Allentown, PA. I quickly realized that transferring meant applying to college all over again a.k.a. the worst thing in the world so I made a pact with myself. For two weeks I would act like I was having the time of my life. I’d eat things that made me happy, sit outside and read, and notice anything good about where I was. And reader? It worked.

3. Frank & Eileen Jackie Cardigan - My new favorite piece in my wardrobe. It’s a cotton t-shirt material cardigan that is perfect for early fall when you can’t commit to cashmere/wool just yet. I got it in the navy and have found myself in a cycle of wearing, washing, and wearing it weekly. I think I’m going to buy it in a size up so I can layer a turtleneck under it for winter.

4. Baggu Packing Cubes - I bought my first set of these on a lark when I was at the SoHo store. A few years and several cheap packing cubes later, I’ve realized they are the best. We bought two more packs for our trip and they made our lives much easier and neater.

   

5. Baggu Nylon Bowler Bag - When I was grabbing the packing cubes from above, I looked around to see if there’d be a good handbag to bring on the trip. I spotted the Bowler bag and loved the shape and size, so I asked the salesgirl if she thought it would be good for walking 20k steps in Rome and she said, “Yes.” She was right!! Baggu bags are so amazing for travel because they weigh nothing and can be folded tiny into your suitcase. I carried so much stuff in mine every day and it never felt heavy nor did it continuously slip off my shoulder.

6. Hans Hedberg - For all its shortcomings I still thrill in many a discovery on Instagram. This month it was Swedish sculptor Hans Hedberg whose enormous ceramic sculptures of fruits and eggs danced across my feed and totally charmed me. Despite their size and medium, there’s something about his pieces that look completely liftable to me and that is what I find the most delight in.

   

7. Eska’s La longue chandelle - If I did not have a two year old, I would be buying this exceptionally tall candle. 110cm or 3.5 feet, I love the idea of this in the corner of your living room instead of a floor lamp. The website says it burns for 40 hours.

8. Coral & Tusk Jack o’ Lantern Basket - I am not someone who decorates her home for Halloween but I love Coral & Tusk’s things so much, I might become that woman. I am particularly taken with their trick or treating baskets. Especially the jack o’lantern above but I also cannot get over the sweetness of this one – that little bear dressed as a pencil? Come on. P.S. I am very happy to report that Coral & Tusk reached out last time I wrote about them and offered to give me promo codes for you all, if you want anything from the Halloween collection use the code PICNIC20

9. Little Voice (1998) - I’m sad to say I can’t remember which babysitter showed me this amazing film, but it made a massive impression on a 12 year old me. This movie is like if Mister Lonely and Billy Elliot had a baby and that baby’s parents are a girl who loves crying at the theater and a gay guy who loves The Duplex.

10. Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall – I haven’t been thrilled by a contemporary children’s book like this one in a long time. The illustrations are beautiful and mesmerizing, the story simple but effective. This is my new go-to present for new parents and birthday parties.

    

11. “With a Yacht Step, I Can Reach Just About Anything” by Sarah Blakely-Cartwright for The Strategist - I was taking a break from writing this here newsletter and stopped dead in my tracks at this article. If you’ve never met me, you don’t know that I’m very short–five feet zero inches–to be exact. Blakely-Cartwright’s ingenious recommendation has blown me away. I need a yacht step everywhere!! Do you know how stupid I look, dragging my stepstool around my kitchen? This would be so much more balletic, and what a conversation starter!

12. Classical Kids Audiobooks - Until I had a newborn that made me so exhausted all I could think about was sleeping, I had insomnia. As a child this meant I listened to many audiobooks to fall asleep. When I was really little, like 5-7 years old, I listened to Sophie’s Snail by Dick King-Smith on a loop. Then around 8, I had four I was devoted to: Amber Brown is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger, Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild, and two from a company called “Classical Kids.” One of them was Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery and the other was Mozart’s Magic Fantasy. I was SO obsessed with these stories, I found them completely magical. They had snippets of pieces by the composers and exciting fairy tales that lulled me into happy dreams. You can still find them, should you have a child with the same sleep woes as me. P.S. If you remember the audiobooks you listened to as a child, I highly suggest finding them and giving them a listen–I just had such a visceral response to Alicia Witt’s voice here.

13. The Irish Hunger Memorial (contributed and written by Juliana Canfield) - In New York City, the concrete jungle where dreams are made of, there are many surprising pockets of tranquility and loveliness. My favorite is the Irish Hunger Memorial, down in the Financial District, an unassuming jewel nestled among some boring skyscrapers and a CitiBike bank. It was built to honor the victims of The Potato Famine and there are sobering quotations and statistics about global hunger written onto the sides of the structure. But what makes it magical is that when you have finished reading and gone through an austere tunnel, you emerge onto a lush hillside that seems plucked from a dream of Ireland. Somehow, the sounds of construction and helicopters and honking recede and the birds chirp more musically. The wild garden is planted with flowers and shrubs from the old country, and stones from each of its counties lay in the green grass. This isn’t a place to sit and stay awhile — sadly, no benches — but it’s a perfect place to stop by for a second of peace and quiet. And when you get home, you can keep the dream alive, run it back to 1998, and watch The Secret of Roan Innish. Juliana Canfield is a brilliant actress, one of my best friends, and my favorite person to read with (sorry Theodora).

14. Limited Options - I see the irony of recommending this in a newsletter that arguably has too many recommendations. I love when I have limited options. A set amount of movies on a plane? Bliss. The fifteen books left by previous guests at a bed and breakfast? Yes pleasington. Even though I invariably hate everything I packed, I love the ease of getting dressed on vacation–you only have what you have! Is this a reaction to capitalism and overconsumption? Duh!!!!!!!

15. If Only If x Harling Ross Anton - I’ve spoken about my love of If Only If’s nightgowns here before. I brought one with me to Rome and loved that I could literally roll out of bed and still look chic enough to get breakfast on the hotel’s roof. I sadly missed my chance during Harling’s first collab with the brand, but there was no way I was making the same mistake this time. I could hardly choose which style I wanted, but went with the Domino and I cannot wait for it to arrive.

16. Rome: Where We Ate - Thus begins my “travel guide,” which is what I’m calling these next eight recommendations. I would be remiss to not talk about the food which is the reason I travel anywhere. The food was, of course, delicious. I have a whole list of restaurants if anyone is interested, but for this I’ll just highlight our favorites of the trip. The best pizza we had was at Ai Marmi, I could have happily eaten there every single night. I had exquisite Tortellini en Brodo and delectable coins of zucchini at Nino. We practically got lunch at Suppli every day, since we discovered suppli were the only things Theodora would reliably eat. I loved the food, setting, and overall vibe of Trattoria Da Cesare al Casaletto and it was well worth the 25ish minute drive from our hotel. Fiordiluna’s vanilla gelato was the best vanilla ice cream Aaron and I have ever eaten–easily the best gelato we had on this trip.

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I feel like it’s been 10000 years since I’ve been here. I missed you guys! How was your summer? There are things on the list from all the little trips I’ve made this summer. Arkansas things, Michigan things, Hamptons things, and lots more. I love summer. I love to get so hot and then dive into a body of water, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m thrilled fall is near. I look better in fall clothes and that makes all the difference. Would love to know if there’s one thing you’d Picnic Style from your summer. Also, is anyone else’s kid completely preoccupied with where Oscar the Grouch’s feet are? This is a question Theodora has been investigating for well over a year. Truly when she first began speaking she’d point to Oscar and say, “feet?” This has absolutely nothing to do with today’s list, but it is top of mind for us. Okay, onto the stuff…

1. Circle Round Podcast - Starting off with this because I’m listening to it as a type. This is a children’s podcast from Boston Public Radio that’s been the only thing to get Theodora to chill and fall asleep in the car. She used to sleep every car ride and then she decided that wasn’t her journey. Now it’s her journey again and I truly think it’s thanks to this. Fun folk tales from around the world, read by an engaging narrator. It’s nonoffensive to adults, win win win.

2. La Mescita - We are going to Rome next month and I cannot wait to return to this wine bar. Truly interesting wines. Six years later, Aaron and I still talk about a red the owner poured us that he claimed had notes of anchovy. And it did!! It was weird and delicious and would have been insane with a slow cooked lamb.

3. Wyeth Hats - Bought a perfect little chapeau at Love Adorned in Sag Harbor this summer. Shockingly well priced and just the sweetest shape. They don’t have it online, but it’s the Talia shape but in a cotton canvas. I love the raffia that’s still online though…can you wear raffia in the fall?

4. Keith Haring in 3D at Crystal Bridges - Every time we visit my in-laws in Arkansas we make a point of going to Crystal Bridges, a truly wonderful museum. We were unbelievably lucky this time to catch the major Haring show they have on now (up until 1/25/27). The show was as expansive and playful as Haring’s murals, worth a trip to Bentonville!

5. Unicorn Pepper Mill - Do any other writers/deeply online people have to constantly remind themselves that maybe not everyone else is as entrenched with this media as you? I’ve been wanting to write about my flawless pepper grinder since the naissance of this blog but I’ve been terrified that everyone would be like, ummm we KNOW. WE KNOW!!! We read alllllll about this pepper grinder in Bon Appetit and The Strategist and The Wirecutter you little idiot! But then I was like, who the hell would act like that? Anyway, I read about this pepper grinder in all of those publications and I bought it and it is the best PG on earth. I’ve bought it for my mom, for my sister, for my dad and I’d buy it for you, too. But instead of doing that I’m just linking it here.

6. Fleet Feet (contributed and written by Morgan Petkovich Sigelbaum) - A running store and the only place my oddly shaped feet have ever felt truly hugged and held by a new shoe. They have a mini treadmill you can walk on that does a 3D scan and pressure analysis of your feet to tell you more about your feet than you really need to know, and then a store associate selects a few pairs of shoes based on the data. Anytime I have a race to train for, I go here and one of the pairs selected for me fits like a glove. Morgan Petkovich Sigelbaum is an executive leadership coach in NYC. She’s also my downstairs neighbor and the mom to Theodora’s best friend.

7. Nikki Chasin Titina Bun Cover - Okay, darling alert!! I have this in a romantic ivory color, but I will be buying red.

   

8. Nikki Chasin Cardigans - When I have internet access I need to double check that I didn’t already write about these but I don’t think I have. Even if I have, maybe they are the first thing in PS history that deserve to be written about twice. They’re perfect. I recently bought the Shiloh which is a cotton version of their Sheba Cardigan. The cut, the hang, I could wear it every day and still love it. I’m trying to decide if I’m going to buy the Shiloh in one more color. I famously have way too many sweaters, but…

9. The Great Wedding Exchange - One of the best parts of a friend’s wedding is The Great Wedding Exchange. It’s a citywide phenomenon within my community. It may begin with me going to my mom’s house and borrowing shoes. Then, Maria comes over to my place to try on dresses. Perhaps someone meets someone at their office to drop off a pair of earrings. For Anna’s wedding, I met Kaley on the subway platform to hand off a purse. Kaley valiantly picked up my perfume from Greenpoint for my wedding. Now it’s Kaley’s turn to get married in two weeks and the Exchange is in full swing. The only thing more fun than this part will be celebrating the beautiful couple <3

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10. The King of Circles by Shuntaro Tanikawa and Kiyoshi Awazu - I love the thrill of finding a truly creative children’s book with excellent illustrations and a non-grating story. This became a household favorite as soon as it crossed our threshold.

    

11. Tirso Spatola - One of those perfect items that’s both playful and ingenious. A great birthday gift from Aaron, this knife stays standing on its bobbly end so if you want another slice of sourdough with butter (which you inevitably do) you don’t have to rely on that liminal space between the counter and the sink to hold your butter knife for the next one.

    

    

12. Isigny Ste Mere Beurre de Baratte aux Cristaux de Sel de Guérande - We already loved the regular salted butter from this brand, but when Aaron brought home this one with the much larger salt crystals, large enough that it makes the butter crunchy, I said yes mama and pass me that standing knife!!!

13. The Best of Everything by Rona Jaffe - Sometimes you read a book that you love so much you are immediately mad you’ve read it and can never get that first feeling back. Obviously, I felt this way when I finished Jaffe’s perfectly decadent, searing, page-turning, and riotously funny novel about young women in publishing. Ten pages in, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard of it sooner. Some summer, probably eight years ago or so, I ended up reading exclusively books published between the years 1958-1968 written by and about women. I’m talking The Group, The Dud Avocado, Valley of the Dolls, and Cassandra at the Wedding. The Best of Everything, published in 1958, is undoubtedly part of that sorority. The second feeling I had (after being mad I’d never again get to read it for the first time) was that I was so deliciously happy that I will inevitably keep learning about books that perfectly suit my interests and taste.

    

14. Handmade Toddler Table and Chairs - I tried to live with the Nugget, which I know parents swear by, but it just looked too much like a random person’s futon in the middle of my living room. We knew Theodora needed somewhere to sit and play but we couldn’t find something that we liked looking at. Then I found this handmade table and chairs on Etsy. Made in the US from solid cherry wood it’s absolutely darling. So well made, it’s one of my favorite purchases I’ve made in years. Oh! And the chairs are sturdy enough for adults to perch on.

    

15. Iota Supercloud Body Serum - I never take better care of the skin on my body than when I have a tan. YES, I understand the irony and YES, I know that allowing yourself to get tanned is bad. I don’t endorse it and I’m not proud of it. I do, however, endorse this wonderful serum I started using earlier this summer. I bought it on a lark but was thrilled when I woke up with noticeably glowier and softer skin. It’s a cooling gel that goes on easily and absorbs immediately. It barely adds time to my after-shower routine which is always the part I dread most. My favorite part is how soft my skin feels inside my clothes, do you know what I mean?

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Today is my birthday. Last year for July’s letter I wrote about how my dream was to make the entire letter an homage to Food Moments from Film and Literature, but I limited myself to five. This year I’m making my dreams come true and sending this list as a P.S.. I’ll be traveling the last week of the month and I’m worried about getting the main letter out in time. I always dance with taking a month off, and then I chicken out. Sue me, I love you guys! Either way, fictional food has always been a fixation of mine. When I was little I would obsess over how good cartoon roast chicken looked. I’m just as infatuated with Emma Bovary’s elaborate wedding cake as I am with Amy March’s Single Christmas Orange. Some of these things don’t really require explanation, it’s just like yeah, I’ve thought about the ice cream mountain from Rugrats for years, but there’s not much to say about it. While other things I felt compelled to write an entire missive on. A LOT of kid’s stuff here, sorry if nostalgia makes you sick. The list isn’t exhaustive. There are some iconic fictional foods that didn’t make the list because I wasn’t obsessed with them. Like the Turkish Delight in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. I did think it was magical, okay! It just didn’t take over my mind the way some other things did. There are also some incredible food films I adore but didn’t make the list; like Big Night, Tampopo, and Babette’s Feast. This is more about singular items, rather than vast displays of food, glorious food.

Obviously I want to hear about the Food Moments that changed your life: leave a comment for lord’s sake! I’m going to start off this list with the five I mentioned last year, just in case you need a refresher…

_{All my posts are too long for email (mea culpa) so if you’re reading in your inbox remember to click “View Entire Message”}

1. The Soup in The Frog Prince (1989) - This is one of my very first memories of being fixated on a fictional food. It’s this purposely gross scene where the Frog eats the Princess’s soup, and even though it disgusted me, there’s something about the vegetable balls that always looked weirdly delicious to me. Would be so curious to hear if any of you ever watched this version of the fairy tale.

   

2. The Ice Creams in The Parent Trap (1961) - Growing up, I loved both versions of The Parent Trap equally, but I was much more obsessed with Susan and Sharon’s Ice Creams than Annie and Hallie’s Oreos and Peanut Butter. The girls have been thrown into a cabin as a disciplinary act and they’ve just put together that they’re long lost twins. Prim and proper Sharon has this little tub of vanilla ice cream with hot fudge swirls and tomboy Susan fittingly has a lemon twin pop. I would watch the movie and go back and forth between which treat looked better to me, but I could never choose one over the other. I just rewatched the scene and realized that they look so delicious because of the way Hayley Mills eats them, she does something with her mouth that makes them look particularly scrumptious.

   

3. The Orange Membrane in Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) - If you’ve seen this movie, it’s really insane for me to pick this moment. Ang Lee’s film is tied with Babette’s Feast as Best Food Movie, filled with scenes of the most glorious, delicious looking food, and yet this scene is what my mind always comes back to. Madame Liang is sitting with her daughter, eating an orange. Before she bites into the segment, she peels off the white pieces of membrane and eats them first. It’s my least favorite part of the orange, but she eats it like it’s the flesh.

   

4. The Green Drink in Brideshead Revisited (1981) - This scene, both in the novel and the miniseries, is difficult to think about. Charles dining with Anthony learns what everyone really thinks of his beloved Sebastian, it makes me nauseous to remember!!! I loved that in the miniseries they’re drinking this demonic, foreboding emerald liquor in lovely cut crystal glasses–a perfect parallel.

   

5. The Capezzoli di Venere (Nipples of Venus) in Amadeus (1984) - Once, on an escalator going up at Barney’s, I asked my mom what movie, if any, she could watch every night. I had a suspicion we would have the same answer and we did. I adore this movie from top to bottom, but I always love the scene where Salieri tempts Constanze with the Capezzoli. I distinctly know I wouldn’t like eating them–too much chocolate–but they’re so plush and inviting, and I mean…what a name.

   

6. The Peach in James in the Giant Peach (1996) - I think people really focus on the scene where they all eat the peach, literally called “Eating the Peach,” and I do love that scene. Especially right at the beginning when the centipede carves the hunk of peach into what looks like 100 slices of cantaloupe. BUT, the scene that was most amazing to me was the very first time James takes a bite, when he’s still a human boy. Oh my god, what I would give to reach into a peach and take a massive chunk like that. It’s glorious.

   

7. The Tomato in The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer - I think it’s the character Ash, but I can’t totally remember. Anyway, there’s a moment where she leaves a tomato to ripen on her window sill and later takes a warm bite out of it. Perfect. I think of it all the time for some reason.

8. The Wedding Cake in Madame Bovary by Gustav Flaubert - I knowwww the cake is a symbol. But it’s so amazing and so hilarious. At a simple country wedding, Emma’s cake enters, “...a wedding cake that drew exclamations from all. Its base was a square of blue cardboard representing a temple with porticos and colonnades and adorned on all sides with stucco statuettes standing in niches spangled with gold paper stars. The second tier was a mediaeval castle in gateau de Savoie, surrounded by miniature fortifications of angelica, almonds, raisins, and orange sections. And finally, on the topmost layer–which was a green meadow, with rocks, jelly lakes, and boats of hazelnut shells–a little Cupid was swinging in a chocolate swing. The tips of the two uprights, the highest points of the whole, were real rosebuds.” There are only 43 people at this wedding, by the way. JELLY LAKES. Poor Emma.

9. The Christmas Breakfast in Little Women (1994) - “Isn’t butter divinity?” Sweet little Amy.

   

   Editor’s Note: Obviously the greatest surprise breakfast scene in history is the one in A Little Princess, but I never really fixated on the food. I was completely besotted with the bedding, their little gold slippers, and their heavy silk robes, so for that reason it didn’t make the list.

10. The Gum in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971) - SPECIFICALLY the tomato soup, “it’s hot and creamy, I can actually feel it running down my throat!’

    

11. The Plums in “This is Just to Say” by William Carlos Williams - Duh.

12. The “Chocolate Mousse at Your Discretion” in All is Good Except for the Rain by A.M. Homes - This short story appears in Homes’ 2018 short story collection, Days of Awe. I can’t remember anything else about the stories, other than I liked them, I’m a fan of Homes’ work in general. I do remember this one detail at the end of one of the stories. Two women are out to dinner at an absurd-seeming restaurant and order “the Chocolate Mousse at Your Discretion” for dessert, “the waiter brings an enormous crockery bowl of chocolate mousse and leaves it on the table. He brings two smaller bowls and two spoons. “At your discretion,” he says. “You take as much as you want?” Genevieve asks. “Or as little,” Sarah says. “Fantastic,” Genieve says, serving herself heavily. “This is so good it’s almost chewy.” They take what they like, and then they want more, but their spoons are no longer clean. “Use your butter knife,” Genevieve urges her.” Editor’s Note: I know they serve this at Chez Janou in Paris. I’ve had it. As with most things, fiction is greater than reality.

13. The Medicine in Mary Poppins (1964) - I have a distinct memory of being sick in a hotel when I was little, around 4 or 5, and having my mother, father, and the waiter who brought the room service, hold me down while I was given my antibiotics. And yet, I fantasized about the medicine in MP. The surprise jewel-colored liquid. I still want it.

    

14. The Cordial in Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - I actually wrote about my preoccupation with this when I was a reader at The Paris Review. I still highly recommend C.Cassis!!

    

15. The First Meal at The Bramford in Rosemary’s Baby (1968) - This strays a little from the list because it’s not really about what they eat, just how they’re eating it. I always loved this early scene where Rosemary and Guy picnic on the floor of their new apartment. So much promise…

    

16. The Soup in Joanie Bartels Simply Magic: The Rainy Day Adventure (1993) - Oh my god, I can’t believe I actually found this online. First shock: the soup looks disgusting. I have been salivating over it my whole life as the superlative vegetable soup. Second shock: young Michelle Williams. Did anyone else watch these movies when they were kid? We also had one where she was a substitute teacher.

17. The Bacon in David Cromer’s 2009 production of Our Town - If you saw it. You know. Cromer’s production was utterly barebones. Everything was mimed, the only things I remember on the stage were the actor and some unfinished wood furniture. Then when Emily goes back to Earth for one day, her 12th birthday, the lights dimmed very low. Before you could see anything you heard the sizzle. Then the smell. Real bacon being fried at The Barrow Street Theater. The lights slowly rose and a beautiful sliver of the Gibbs’ home appeared. A homey kitchen filled with jars, kitchen towels, wooden spoons. And there was Mrs. Gibbs, making real life bacon for Emily. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever be that awe-struck by a moment at the theater again.

18. The Tomato and Mayonnaise Sandwich in Harriet the Spy (1996) - Not coincidentally my favorite type of sandwich (tied with a jambon beurre.)

    

19. The Coffee and Fried Chicken in The Awakening by Kate Chopin - God, how I want to go to Catiche’s restaurant. I love this scene. Edna’s brief freedom, sitting in the shady garden eating perfect fried chicken and scorching hot coffee, “”Isn’t this a delightful place?” she remarked. “I am so glad it has never actually been discovered. It is so quiet, so sweet, here. Do you notice there is scarcely a sound to be heard?...Catiche’s coffee is always hot. I don’t know how she manages it, here in the open air…Take some of the cress with your chop; it’s so biting and crisp.”

20. The Ice Cream Mountain from Rugrats - I feel like babies that young shouldn’t be eating ice cream let alone hanging out on a golf course unattended but maybe I’m just too woke.

    

I love you all,

Eleonore

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P.S. P.S.’s usually only get sent to paid subscribers, so if you enjoyed this maybe you’d want to level up? no pressure, ily regardless

Dear Everyone,

One of my favorite feelings is leaving a frigid movie theater and stepping out into the sizzling heat, letting the city warm you up while you walk to the train talking about the movie. I hope I get to experience that exact feeling many, many times this summer. Today’s letter is very capital S Summer; sunny recipes, billowy dresses, and things to enjoy while the A/C blasts. I hope you find something you adore.

1. Talk by Linda Rosenkrantz - The ideal summer read. Rosenkrantz’s book is a long transcript between Emily, Vincent, and Marsha who are spending the summer of ‘65 in the Hamptons. There’s a lot of sex, a lot of drugs, and a lot of tangents. It hovers between laziness and electricity, just like a great vacation.

2. Watermelon Pool by Bonsoir Lune, Translated from Korean by Frances Cha - The ideal summer read for the under 4-set. No sex or drugs, but the most gorgeous illustrations of a community on a hot day swimming in the “watermelon pool.” My favorite is the vendor selling “cloud parasols,” to keep everyone nice and shady.

   

3. Straus Family Creamery Coffee Ice Cream - A cherished memory of mine is a playdate in 5th grade where my friend Carla and I shared a pint of Häagen-Dazs coffee ice cream and I showed her my favorite movie at the time, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion. For decades, no coffee ice cream has ever come close to the perfection of HD’s, until now. Straus’ tastes just like a cup of strong coffee with half and half in it. A little bitter with the cool sweetness of the cream cutting through and a hint of cocoa like any good espresso.

4. The Poppy Nightgown from If Only If – As soon as this baby dropped I added it to cart, and as soon as it arrived I wore it, and as soon as I wore it I tried to determine if I’d kept it clean enough to wear it the next day. All of this is to say, she’s perfect. I’ll be wearing it all summer with colorful necklaces and flip flops, but I also know I’ll pair it with my beloved Nikki Chasin cardigan when temperatures get a little cooler.

5. Otto Baumberger, Marque PKZ, 1923 - I was devastated when I realized I missed my chance to see the Domenico Gnoli exhibit at Lévy Gorvy this spring. This painting by Otto Baumberger hangs upstairs at the Neue Galerie and reminded me of the playful, semi-photorealist paintings of Gnoli. I love those folds of wood-colored silk lining, if I stare at them long enough I can feel the fabric in my hands. Editor’s note: even though the link takes you to the MoMA’s site, I can assure you it hangs at the Neue! Another Editor’s note: the Neue is closed for the summer but this is such a Fall painting anyway, it’s good that you can’t see it until then.

   

6. ilse coffee in Great Barrington - This chic new coffee shop in GB is basically the Carissa’s of the Berkshires. Delectable pastries, a perfect jambon beurre, and very delicious coffee.

7. The Knicks - I’m not going to act like I know anything about sports but two of the things I love most are: 1) a great performance 2) all of New York City coming together for something joyful. The Knicks winning felt like when there’s an eclipse and everyone young and old is walking outside and looking at the sky, sharing glasses and stunned by the exceptionalism of the planets. And how could anyone argue those games were anything but a GREAT performance. What I would give to bottle the feeling of game four, watching them work their way up and realizing, oh my god I think they’re going to win this thing. Oh my god! We just won?? WE WON!!

   

8. The Lobster Roll at Smithereens- If you’re obsessed with me you’ll remember I PS’d Smithereens last year, when I had one of the best crudos of my life for my birthday dinner. Aaron and I went for our anniversary this month and nearly cried when we ate this lobster roll. The thing that makes it so spectacular is that they season the bun. The lobster salad is classic, albeit excellent, with hunks of lobster, celery, and mayo, but the bun…the BUN!!! It’s dusted in Old Bay and lemon zest and god knows what else but I wish I was eating it right now.

9. Glasvin - All the glassware at Smithereens was from Glasvin, and both Aaron and I immediately noticed how stunning the wine glasses were. So thin and crispy, the kind of glass you want to bite into and crunch like Willy Wonka and his candy tea cup.

   

10. How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (2026) - I can’t remember the last show I watched that made me this excited. How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is everything I want in a show. A little uncanny, incredibly funny, and absolutely riveting. We would spend every day talking about how excited we were to watch the next episode that night. It follows three women who quickly get embroiled in a mystery after the death of their long-estranged friend. This show is like if Los Espookys, Portlandia, and Twin Peaks had a baby. It’s also filled with heart-wrenchingly beautiful moments and great music cues. I’m devastated it’s over and I can’t wait to watch it again. Also! It has some of the best wound continuity I’ve ever seen.

11. The ‘Steinkabinett’ Box - There’s nothing that excites me quite like a stunning trinket and this stunning trinket has a secret! Yes, mamacita, I’ll take ten. I’ve watched this video three times now and every time I’m more enchanted by this exquisite work of art.

12. High Lawn Dairy Farm - The sweetest way to spend an afternoon. High Lawn’s farm is picturesque, with rolling pastures and the most gorgeous Jersey cows roaming about. There’s nothing cuter than a Jersey calf batting her big beautiful eyelashes!!! We had such a great time there, Theodora is still talking about meeting the cows, “little cute, little stinky!” and she’s verrrry much still talking about the ice cream, “I wike that ice cream.”

    

13. Remsen Pill Container - I love the sleek slippery look of stainless steel and I can’t think of a chicer way to store pills and supplements. Even though it takes up a considerable footprint on a bedside table, you can pop your water glass or ring dish on top. This is one of those great things to gift yourself for your birthday/mother’s day/just because.

14. Maddie’s Secret (2025) - I have been a John Early evangelist since 2012 when I first saw his video “Leslie’s Graduation Speech.” There was no way I wasn’t going to love his film, but dzamn I was blown away. What a beautiful, hilarious examination of Millennial womanhood. I’ve just been wandering about my life thinking about different moments and laughing out loud. I’ll forever be impressed by how exquisitely he balanced comedy and with complex human experiences. I love you always, John Early!

    

15. Molly Baz’s “Peach & Tomato Salad with Sizzled Halloumi” from Cook this Book - In the spirit of Maddie’s Secret (iykyk), I had to share this recipe, which is one I look forward to making every summer. I love this freaking salad so much, I could probably eat it every other night. I usually do a mix of whatever stone fruit looks happy and the combo of those with the tomatoes swimming in the delectable mustard seed dressing…it’s hard to describe, it’s just so terrific. And do not get me started on how addictive halloumi is! Why is it squeaky? And so good?! I will send you a picture of this recipe if you don’t have it.

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Dear Everyone,

Here we are at the door of June. Why did we arrive here on that one Aerosmith ride that goes 0-60 in 2.8 seconds? That’s my insane way of saying: time flies. May was happy in all the ways I wanted it to be. We went to QC Spa for Anna’s birthday, have you been? It’s gorgeous even though we got yelled at in a steam room that had speakers blasting jazz standards. Lots of fun discoveries in this month’s letter, two amazing contributors, and some great reader requests! I actually have a request for you, my beloved readers. Do any of you have glass food storage you love? Major, major bonus if it stacks easily in a cabinet. Let me know. Let’s get into May…

1. Eau Bags Stroller Caddy - The honest-to-god THRILL of finding something cute and functional should be studied. Actually they probably have and it’s just like dopamine or something, but wow. When I came across the Bébé by Eau Bags the only question I was asking myself was: which color? I went with Pomme and I’m so glad I did. The most put together version of me wants to also buy the Tote to store below my stroller 👀

   

2. The Responsible Party by Claire Carusillo - Oh, I didn’t expect to immediately tear up writing about this but alas. I cannot believe I can finally write about Claire’s book. Claire, who was the first person I’ve ever known to write a successful newsletter, That Wet Look. She wrote for the new Gawker! She’s one of the great loves of my life! And now she’s brought her truly singular voice to her first novel, The Responsible Party. This is a book about a woman with the exact same name as Claire learning about how big of freaks her ancestors were. Book Claire is a 30-something disgraced Beauty Blogger who moves back home with her mom, Kath and her dad, Dad. When DNA traced back to Claire and Kath shows up on a decades-old corpse, a demented tale of survived shipwrecks, regional vaudeville, and murder emerges. One of the funniest books I’ve ever read, a true page-turner with twists that had me completely shocked. A perfect debut. I’m only sorry to tell you that you’ll have to wait until August to read it. Pre-order it today and let’s all read it together then!

   

3. Prinsesstårta Milk Bar Soap - Every celebration my family and I get the Sant Ambroeus Princess Cake. There’s nothing that can compete with clouds of whipped cream and lighter-than-air cake. The little hint of almond? Mwah! Imagine my delight when I heard Flamingo Estate came out with a soap scented as that exact cake. It’s just as delicious as its namesake. Not drying at all, a gorgeous pale green, and a terrific scent that lingers juuust long enough.

4. “4 Artists Paint 1 Tree” (1958) - I’m not a disney adult even though this is the second time in today’s letter I’ve brought up Big Mouse. That being said, I love this video and I have so much admiration for animators.

5. Cambridge Imprint - Last year I wrote about buying a Cambridge Imprint birthday banner for Theodora. I’m so happy to see the brand in more and more shops. Every time I see one of their cards for sale, I buy it. It’ll always be someone’s birthday and I’ll always be glad to have a beautiful, cheerful card to give them. We bought this card for Theodora’s birthday this year. I loved the illustration and how large it was, perfect for writing a proper letter of love and admiration.

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6. Collection VI by Leorosa - My Leorosa cardigans are some of the most beloved pieces in my collection. I wore my red Romy on our engagement trip to Rome. My lilac Polly is a favorite when I want to feel pretty with minimal effort. The new collection is available for pre-order and ooooooo I want it all! This delicious color combination. This piece, which reminds me of LEGOS. I decided to get the Rosa cardigan in black with multicolored buttons and the Ryo Scarf which (almost) makes me want it to be fall already.

7. OHTO Mini Pencil - When Claire was in town she insisted we all go and buy these and she was 100% correct. A very happy, practical tool. It’s perfect for underlining in books which I refuse to do in pen. Juliana, of our two person bookclub fame, exclusively underlines in pen which scares me so I bought her one too.

8. Broccoli and Scallions with Thai-Style Vinaigrette - I love broccoli and 9 times out of 10 when I’m craving it prepared this specific way. It’s so insanely delicious and addictive. I’ve topped other veggies with this vinaigrette, I’ve topped salmon with it, I’ve spooned it over rice. No notes.

9. Errands Show (@errands.show) - Annie told me about this show, correctly guessing I would love it. I’ve already written about how much I love running errands but it’s even nicer to watch someone else do them. Such a sweet, wholesome concept with clever guests.

10. That Feeling When Your Back Releases Into The Floor - When your back is hurting and you lay down on a hard surface and feel your lower back slowly release into the floor and now you’re laying flatter? Yeah baby, bottle that up for me and distill it in perpetuity. One of the top ten great feelings.

11. The Store (1983) - In first grade or something my class sang Christmas carols at Lord & Taylor and they brought us through the store and told us about its inner workings. If you didn’t have this unique experience, I found something for you. Frederick Wiseman’s first color documentary, The Store, is a portrait of Neiman Marcus’ flagship during the four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s so hypnotic, watching the salespeople fan their wares, the shoppers browsing, the board meeting about how blue buttercream roses are gauche but kiwi tarts are not. It’s difficult to find, sometimes sites like Mubi or Kanopy will stream it, but I did manage to watch it at the link above.

    

12. The Scallop Risotto at Dr Clark - We went to Dr Clark’s before Patrick’s birthday party and everything we ate was superb. This, however, was the one thing I would have preferred to be alone for. A perfect, comforting bowl of risotto. Sweet from the scallops and just a little bit decadent–kind of like Patrick.

13. Spray Tans (contributed and written by Sarah Pidgeon) - “If you can’t tan it, tone it,” That’s been whispered to me. But it goes far beyond that. A spray tan requires you to strip bare, a practice ritualized in exposure. Face whatever inner monologue you’ve had for the past two weeks and stand, wearing only a smile, for someone you met only moments before. You stare down the barrel of an airbrush gun, knowing that in minutes you’ll be marinating in a yeasty smelling, green concoction. A spray tan is as much about the final result (that will start flaking at your elbows and knees in t-5 days) as it is the experience of baring it all. “The journey is the destination”? Oh yeah. I’ve been there. I got a spray tan. Sarah is an actress and an excellent friend for writing this after I begged her to when I saw how incredible she looked at the Actor Awards.

14. Giselle by Charlotte Gastaut - Came across this at the library and was in awe of the illustrations. Very Mary Blair-esque with exquisite cut-outs and the ingenious idea to make the entire page the pictures with the words just a thin strip at the top. Perfect for young and older children. Gastaut also illustrated Sleeping Beauty, which looks stunning. If your child is interested in ballet these are a must. I also grew up reading The Random House Book of Stories from the Ballet which I cherished, it seems you can still find copies online!

15. Mari B. Bags - Found these bags at Khata the other day and fell in love. It’s so hard to find a truly good evening bag. These feel like the opera. They feel like a celebration. I wish, wish, wish, wish I had known about them for my wedding because the purse I used was really random.

    

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I cannot believe it’s May! I cannot believe I have a two year old! We celebrated Theodora’s birthday with cake for breakfast and the Natural History Museum. It’s been a week and she still wakes up every day asking, “birthday cake?” This is the first time in the history of Picnic Style that I’m writing this part of the letter after writing the rest of it. Spoiler alert: this month is really good! Some of you may have seen that I took to the chat for suggestions and I am so happy I did. I loved having the framework of what’s on your mind. I mean it with my whole heart when I say: light up the chat! Text me! Leave a comment! Sometimes I get in my head while writing, like does anyone care about this cheddar cheese from Connecticut? So it was thrilling to know for sure that I was bringing you something valuable. Well, that’s enough vulnerability for now, onto April…

1. “Saturday Suit” by Cass Elliot - Whenever I listen to this song I listen to it three times in a row. I don’t know anyone who imbues as much joy into her voice as Cass Elliot did. Jimmy Webb wrote the lyrics and the opening line alone, “All week long we’ve been looking at horizons, it’s hard on the brain…” I mean. Yeah!

2. Knitted Scrunchie - I love how happy this makes my ponytails. Mine is in the color Summer 1.

   

3. Morphée - When we went over to my dad’s for Theodora’s birthday, he showed us this incredible gadget. It’s basically like a wooden music box but for guided meditations. I love the idea of using this instead of an app on my phone. In fact a perfect mediation to me would involve my phone being several rooms away.

4. Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke - I hesitated to write about this book. Not because I didn’t like it, I loved it. I tore through, and if I didn’t have a child would probably have managed to read it in a single day. I almost didn’t write about it because everyone else in the world is talking and writing about it, so it didn’t feel innovative for me to bring it up here. Maybe that’s something I need to get over. If you don’t know about this book, it’s about a tradwife influencer, Natalie, who suddenly wakes up in 1855. This book blew me away. It’s so creative and haunting and has the same mesmerizing effect as the content its main character creates.

5. The Enchanted Forest - As soon as I finished one book everyone is talking about I turned towards another, Lena Dunham’s Famesick, which I am also loving. Recently Lena did a guest post for Shop Rat on the retail that raised her. Her reminiscing about Soho Stores That Once Were reminded me of the greatest toy shop to ever exist, the Enchanted Forest. When I was growing up, my dad had a studio on Broome & Broadway and on the weekends that we went and played at the studio, we’d almost always end the day with a visit to either the Enchanted Forest, Evolution, or another store we called “the frog shop” because they put frogs on the their steps when they were open. No matter how many times we went, the Enchanted Forest always took my breath away. It always seemed a little dark and cool in there, like a real forest. It felt magically massive, decorated with trees and animals and lots of secret little nooks. It closed in 2004 as so many of the great shops in Soho did. What I would give for one more browse!!

6. Chirri & Chirra by Kaya Doi - This series has become major in our household and I am so happy about that. Each book roughly follows the same format, Chirri and Chirra get on their bicycles and go on an adventure where they go to a magical cafe, see a concert, and find a special token. Other than the delicious illustrations, my favorite part of these books is that they always have a cold open. The first page begins with some version of, “One morning Chirri and Chirra want to ride their bicycles” and then you turn the page and it’s the title: Chirri & Chirra Among the Cherry Blossoms. More cold opens in children’s books!!

   

7. The Most Elegant Meal You Can Eat in 20 Minutes or Less - A reader in the chat requested I Picnic some quick meals and coincidentally that evening I had a major realization: fresh pasta cooks in 2 minutes. Water comes to a boil in, idk, 8 minutes? I think your altitude has something to do with it, but it doesn’t take that long. In 8 minutes you can make a vodka sauce, in 5 minutes you can make a sage/brown butter or a limone or a cacio e pepe! You can use a gorgeous jarred sauce! You can spend all day simmering a bolognese for lord’s sake but this is about speed! When you are someone who loves to cook, cooking for a toddler is demoralizing to say the least. This brings elegance and glamour back to the table and it’s something even picky kids will enjoy. NB: I am not talking about making your own pasta, although that is really fun, I am talking about buying high quality fresh pasta.

8. Rat Boi Capris - Obsessed with this brand’s name it’s called going there. Anyway, I love these little capris which are no different than wearing leggings except they’re completely different and utterly chic. I get compliments every time!

9. Sofie Pavitt Face Mandelic Clearing Acid - I think everyone learned about this product 2 years ago but I learned about it this month so give me some grace. I instantly noticed results. I had some fine lines on my forehead that I’d begrudgingly accepted as fact and then the next morning they were pretty much gone. Turns out exfoliating for the first time in 6 months can change your life.

10. Ball Strainer – Unfortunately that’s what they’re called. I think these are used and marketed as loose-leaf tea strainers, but I always keep one in my jar of powdered sugar for easy dusting. I have recently been using it to sift my matcha and it’s excellent.

    

11. The Gourmet’s Companion by Ross Leckie - I don’t remember where I found this freaky little book but I love it! I think it would be a great gift for a food-lover’s birthday.

12. Lorenz Bäumer’s ‘Good Girl Bad Girl Caméléon’ Earrings - Earlier this month I went to a beautiful party and a woman at my table was wearing these earrings with fresh rose petals clasped in them! She had two real, pink, luminous rose petals framing her face!! I’m livid I didn’t ask to take a picture. She said the jeweler recommends clasping feathers which is…cool if you’re going to Burning Man. How do we figure out a way to recreate this for under 11k?

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13. Communal Butter - Another suggestion in the chat was for hosting ideas. I have many of these and will likely devote a P.S. to the concept, but I did want to throw one of my favorites here. I am always trapped in the kitchen manically trying to finish everything when my guests arrive. Because I have lovely friends, they always want to help or stand in the kitchen. Respectfully, I hate this. The thing to do is to get every guest their drink, lead them to their seats, and then pass a sealed jar filled with nice heavy cream to the person closest to you. They shake it until their wrist gets tired, passes it to their neighbor, and so on. Pretty soon there’s butter for the table, everyone got to be a part of it, and no one was (lovingly) breathing down your neck in the kitchen while you finished up.

14. Vyrao The Sixth Hand Cream - This checks all my hand cream boxes: beautiful packaging, nourishing, and smells exquisite. The first day I tried this, I kept stealing sniffs of my hands.

15. pigment Tee - I was at my favorite store, Blue Tree and spotted a tshirt by a brand I’d never heard of, “pigment,” folded on a shelf. You know when you’ve spent all day at the beach and then take a life changing shower? This is the shirt you want to throw on after that. It has the perfect weight to it. Some research shows me it’s a Korean brand and not widely available online but I linked a similar shirt from the brand above. They also have others left at Blue Tree! I can’t wait to pair mine with a pleated mini skirt this summer.

16. Springtime Movies - My sister asked for movie recs that have “good springtime energy” and I have three!

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There comes a moment in every FTM’s life where she decides she actually knows a lot about this stuff. If you’ve been reading Picnic Style since the beginning: thank you! But also, you’ve been receiving little baby/mom things peppered throughout each letter. It’s my favorite thing to shop for. Sometimes you find something truly unique and special and sometimes the most popular thing that every parent uses is famous for a reason. In honor of it being Theodora’s Birthday Month, I’ve compiled everything I’ve ever recommended having to do with babies plus some new picks into today’s letter…

1. Cozy Dinkum - I bought this doll for Theodora because of how insanely cute it is. It’s so soft and malleable, and she loves to roll around with it and suck on the doll’s bangs–stylist alert! If I were one of those adults who buy stuffed animals for themselves I would buy one of these.

2. Gap Modal Pajamas - My favorite pajamas of all time, they were truly perfect for nursing. When my water unexpectedly broke 6 weeks early, they were the only thing I shoved into my bag along with an eyemask. They’re thin and lightweight but have this really pleasing hang to them.

3. I Like You by Sandol Stoddard Warburg - One of Theodora’s friends gave her this book, and I fell completely in love with it. My first thought when I read it was my sister, the person I like most in the world. I think everyone should have a copy of this book to give to someone they like. One of a million perfect quotes: “I like you because if I think I’m going to throw up then you are really sorry. You don’t just pretend you are busy looking at the birdies and all that. You say maybe it was something you ate. You say the same thing happened to me one time. And the same thing did.”

4. First Delights: A Book about the Five Senses by Tasha Tudor- When I bought this book I discovered Cellar Door Books, a wonderful trove of Tasha Tudor.

5. The Perfect Diaper Bag? - Our diaper bag was the first thing I ever bought for my baby when I was pregnant. It’s fine, but if I could do it all over again, I would absolutely buy one of these. Truth be told, I still might. I love how customizable it is and all the pockets. Pockets are crucial when you have a baby.

6. Family Ring - I bought myself one of these after I gave birth. You can pick between 3-5 stones that have significance to you. I did Theodora’s, Aaron’s, Edie’s, and my birthstones, plus two others. I love having a mixed stone ring and I love that it’s hashtag meaningful.

7. The Bell by Hans Christian Andersen - “Nature was a vast, holy church, where the trees and drifting clouds were the pillars; flowers and grass made the velvet carpet, and heaven itself was the great dome.” Read this to Theodora when she was 6 weeks old and sobbed. Not sure if that’s a postpartum thing or if it’s just the most beautiful fairytale. You tell me.

8. Coral & Tusk Embroidered Tissue Box Cover - Decorating a nursery is so fun because you can make every mundane item cute. As soon as I saw this, I knew we needed it. It’s a beautiful, show-stopping item.

9. Sugar Free Pancakes - This isn’t some creepy diet thing. I started making these pancakes (I do buttermilk instead of regular) for Theodora with no added sugar and realized that pancakes with no sugar are so much better. Now the maple syrup really sings!!! Now the fruit really zings!! I look forward to our Sunday pancakes all week, and I like to think she does too.

10. Bose CD Player - My dad ordered this for Theodora’s nursery and it’s so nice to have a CD player. The one he bought her is no longer made, but it’s simple and sounds terrific. There are lots for sale on eBay.

11. Scully & Scully Sterling Silver Nursery Frame - A truly lovely gift for someone you love with a baby. They engrave the name, birth weight and height, and time. They engrave little hands on the clock for the time! Darling.

12. Making a Day of It - Whenever people talk about what you’ll miss out on once you have a kid it’s always travel and going out to eat. I totally disagree. The thing I miss the most is meeting up with someone for coffee and spending the next 6+ hours with them because you’re having so much fun. You meet for lunch and end up having dinner together, too. You made a day of it! If you are in a stage of your life where you can Make a Day of It, go for it. It’s an amazing feeling to spend the whole day out with a friend. EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are in the trenches right now (or about to be) you WILL Make a Day of It again, I’ve been able to do it many times!!

13. Izimini Baby Chair - I played right into instagram marketing with this but damn my baby looks cute in this thang. She’s posted UP in her lawn chair in Central Park. If you have a baby or know a baby, get them a lawn chair.

14. Cambridge Imprint Birthday Banner - I ordered this for Theodora’s birthday and although the letters did not arrive strung up, I found the finished product so charming. I removed the ribbon and stashed it away for the next celebration. I also want to buy the version that says “Hurray Hurray.”

15. The Radical Woman behind “Goodnight Moon” - With the launch of the flawless Goodnight Moon stamps (which I obviously snagged) I was reminded of one of my favorite profiles. I read this in my earliest days of postpartum and was enthralled by this woman who hovered over most of our childhoods.

    

16. Diaper Caddy - knew I wanted an organized basket for Theodora’s changing table but all the ones on the market are a devastating gray or a scary pink. I found this great Etsy shop that uses fun, cheerful fabrics. It’s one of the items in her nursery that gets the most compliments!!!

17. Lorena Canals - Finding a rug for Theodora’s nursery was a headache. I think I ordered and returned three before finding the one we have now. All of the rugs from Lorena Canals are sweet and whimsical and washable. We have this one, which doesn’t have a ton of personality, but looks great and is very soft on our feet.

18. Questions Children Ask by Edith and Ernest Bonhiver - I spotted this on the shelf of our Airbnb and thought it would be some weird Christian thing. It was actually the sweetest book filled with hundreds of questions children may ask, ranging from “why is the sky red at sunrise?” to “why can’t I see through a mirror?” The authors asked children and their parents to write in, and then reached out to experts at various universities to answer the questions. I cried at the answer to the last question: “What is the greatest wonder in the world?” “You are! You can ask questions. You can find answers. Birds fly. Fish swim. They do what they were created to do. A man does not have wings to fly, but he can fly in a plane. He does not have fins like a fish, but he can explore the ocean depth in machines…Once people laughed when men dreamed of flying or sending a rocket to the moon. Today many planes fly in the air. Rockets zoom into space. How did this happen? Somebody asked a question. Somebody found an answer. You can ask questions. You can find answers, too.”

19. Dreo Humidifier - Just as I was yearning for a humidifier for Theodora’s bedroom I overheard two women with a baby talking about a humidifier they’d just bought. You better believe I butted in and asked what they had. They told me about this one, which I’d never heard of. It looks good, works well, has wifi capability, and lots of nice features you need and nothing random you don’t.

20. Bodily All-In Panty - I bought these when I found out Theodora was breech and I was going to need a c-section. They are shockingly high-waisted and made out of the coziest material. Great during pregnancy, stupendous during recovery, and now a favorite to throw on with a big tee while I’m lounging around the apartment.

21. Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers - The last page of the book makes me cry every single freaking time, “everyday, everywhere babies are loved. For trying so hard, for traveling so far, for being so wonderful just as they are.” I mean come on!!!!!! p.s. obsessed that this book’s author is the same name as Terri Hatcher on Desperate Housewives. EDITOR’S NOTE: This book pairs perfectly with All the World written by Liz Garton Scanlon and illustrated by the same artist as Everywhere, Marla Frazee.

22. Silicone Water Balloons - August was the month of Every Mom in New York discovering these things, and for good reason!! I hate the detritus of traditional water balloons, these are perfect. You just cup them around water and you’ve got a water balloon! Genius. EDITOR’S NOTE: These also make a great bath toy

23. Pop Sockets - What on earth could be less chic than a Pop Socket? They’re really ugly but baby, I freaking love them. It all started when I decided to put one on my kindle. I exclusively use my kindle to read contemporary fiction which I borrow via ebooks from the library. The PS makes holding my kindle for long periods of time so much more pleasant. Then when I was breastfeeding (especially in the newborn days when it was constant) I threw one on my phone and that was a god-send. Some of them are not even that ugly, tbh, and they reduce strain on your hand! ILY Pop Sockets!

24. Earth Mama - A brand that I love for both me and bébé. Earth Mama’s Nipple Butter saved my life during 14 months of pumping. I always had a new one on deck for when I scraped my previous jar clean. Great lip balm, too. I avoid fragrances for Theodora’s skin but occasionally after her bath I’ll treat her to their Sweet Orange Baby Lotion which is so moisturizing and smells like a creamsicle. Years from now when I smell this, I’ll think of her babyhood. I also love the Nose & Cheek Balm, especially when her cheeks get chapped from teething or the cold air, and the Calendula Baby Oil for her scalp for when she had cradle cap.

25. California Baby and Badger - For soap/shampoo, when she was born I bought a 19oz dispenser of California Baby’s No Fragrance Shampoo and it lasted us 11 months. Amazing gift to give parents at a baby shower. I recently purchased Badger’s Baby Foaming Shampoo and Wash, and I really love it. Theodora thinks the foam is fun, and it’s super gentle and moisturizing, while still properly cleaning her and her hair. There’s no fragrance but there are oils and extracts that scent it, so if your baby is very young you might want to stick to the Cali Baby soap instead.

26. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Kids Sunscreen - The first sunscreen I ever bought for Theodora smelled so much like sumac I had to stop using it. I took to my IG and heard from a number of parents about how much they love La Roche’s sunscreen. I am now one of those parents. It’s so easy to rub in, and the scent is a non-issue. I have at least 6 tubes in my house right now. It does leave a little bit of a white cast, which typically fades and which I don’t mind, but if your child has darker skin it’s something to be aware of!

    

27. Tree Grandpa Rainboots - Theodora started walking this summer which meant she only needed a nice pair of sandals and a pair of jellies for the sprinklers. Now that the seasons are changing I’ve had to get her a couple more pairs of shoes for her collection, including rain boots. I knew she needed yellow ones, so she could waddle like a little duckling around the Upper West Side, but I didn’t anticipate them being so hard to find! Hunters were enormous on her, Kamik’s didn’t work with her high instep, and L.L. Bean’s inexplicably have a heel. So I took the problem to my trusty mom-group chat and thankfully, Harling came through. First of all LOL at the name, yeah I obviously want my kid to have “Tree Grandpa” emblazoned on her ankle. Second of all, these are so cute and light-weight and easy to slip on without also slipping off constantly.

28. Shoe Organizer Travel Hack - I can’t remember the first time I saw this hack, probably on TikTok before I even had a child, but it stuck in my mind after Haley wrote about it in one of her 15 Things letters. I finally had a child, and therefore a reason to test out the hack. It’s freaking fabulous, people!!! You take a hanging shoe organizer and fill each compartment with your kids’ clothes, roll it up, and put it in a suitcase. When you get to your destination you can unpack it or you can just hang the organizer up.

29. Bonton - We stumbled upon this shop while walking around the 11th and I am so thrilled we did. It’s a huge concept store for children. Amazingly cute kids clothes, an entire tea party set up for them to play with, funhouse mirrors, and a film photobooth. I went a tad wild for T in here, but now that we’re back home, I wish I had gotten even more. A mom I chatted with on the plane home said that she’s ordered stuff online (and on sale!) with great results, so good news for all us Americans.

30. Bonhomme de Bois - God, I love a toy shop. This one had so many wonderful things in it for all ages. Wooden fruits and vegetables, cotton marionette dolls, slick red race cars shrunken down to the size of a toddler. We got Theodora a bouncy ball here filled with sloshing, sparkly purple water, a little whale forever bobbing atop.

31. Little Syl Fruit Snacks – If I see a snack in cute packaging, and it’s in a fun shape, and my kid can eat it ? Yeeeeaaaaahhhhh, I’m gonna be buying it. These taste so good and are so freaking joyful!

32. Bright Gem Blocks - Most beautiful blocks I’ve ever seen. I want to eat them.

33. Teddy Bear Baker - Julia is one of Theodora’s fairy godmothers. She is more gifted at thrifting than anyone I know, and Theodora gets to reap the benefits. I really should be Picnic Styling Julia’s care packages, which are filled with many wonderful vintage children’s books, vintage toys and games, and once, the most beautiful embroidery that now hangs proudly in Theodora’s room. I do want to focus on one find that has become a staple in our home and that is Phoebe and Selby Worthington’s Teddy Bear Baker. What a sweet, pure little story about a teddy bear who rises early each day to bake bread and pies for his town (populated by humans). Imagine Theodora and I’s collective delight when we realized this is a series! There’s Teddy Bear Postman, Teddy Bear Gardener, Teddy Bear Boatman! Industrious king! Julia, of course, found Gardener and we eagerly await the package.

34. Big by Keith Haring - The happiest, funniest little book. Great for very young children, but also fab for expanding older children’s vocabulary! You can see the whole book laid out right here.

35. Juliet Prowse Dancing “Solace” on The Muppet Show - Trapped indoors for days means Theodora has been gifted little snippets of screentime. We all sat down to watch the pilot episode of The Muppet Show, and I found myself completely mesmerized by this strange and wonderful dance. The slow, peaceful extensions of Prowse’s limbs, her diaphanous dress, perfect wig, and of course, the green gazelles.

    

36. Powell Craft Pajamas - I found these at Laina Jane in the Village, a great lingerie and sleepwear shop. I couldn’t resist the little astronauts and rocket ships and neither could Theodora. As soon as I brought them home she demanded to wear them and begs for them whenever they’re clean. I love that they’re crisp cotton instead of skin tight bamboo, and I will be purchasing at least two more patterns.

37. Chef’s Jacket - When I was in Paris this fall, I had some time to kill and spotted a restaurant supply shop. Once I tucked in, I realized it was a restaurant uniform supply shop, so not filled with copper jam pots and fish spatulas. I walked back out, saw a tiny chef’s jacket in the window, and walked right back in. With multicolored snap buttons and a little mandarin collar, I had to have it for Theodora. I discovered many children are required to have them for cooking classes at school–sobbing at the cuteness. Theodora LOVES wearing her jacket while we make her favorite food, “apple cake.” I hadn’t even thought to put it on the list until I posted us cooking on my story and was inundated with questions about The Jacket. The above link is the only thing I can find online for the exact jacket, but here is an American site selling something similar.

38. Little People x MoMA - I am (surprise, surprise) one of those moms who is always trying to find the most aesthetically pleasing version of something their kid loves, so I was very happy when MoMA did a collab with Fisher Price. We put these Monets in her stocking and she adores him. Does she call him Santa? Yeah. But who is Santa if not an impressionist?

39. Realizing Sweet Peas Smell Exactly Like Babies - My apartment was clean, the sun was shining, I needed to get fancy flowers from the fancy florist. My sister and I popped in and she immediately pointed to the fluffy peachy-white Sweet Peas. Perfect choice. When I got home I placed them in a purple vase and thought about what a cute name Sweet Pea is and realized I didn’t know what they smelled like. I took a whiff and ran to Aaron. “Doesn’t this smell just like a baby?” I demanded. A little powdery, a bit treacly, and somehow warm. How lucky are we? That there are flowers that smell like babies!

40. Tinker Smocks - I love these darling smocks. Handmade to order and 100% cotton, they only do limited drops.

41. Borough - The best acting experience of my life was doing a play called Horse Girls in 2014 where I met two of my lifelong best friends. Our director, Sarah Krohn, had great taste in directive choices and jeans, so when she emailed me about her friend YiLing’s new shop I knew I had to check it out. Borough is a whimsical little shop located across the street from the 92nd Street Y. YiLing describes it as, “a gift shop of an imaginary museum.” It’s filled with unique children’s books, Swedish candy, and trinkets galore.

42. Need a House? Call Ms. Mouse! By George Mendoza - YiLing recommended this book to Theodora. A quick flip through, I could see why. Henrietta Mouse is a world-famous architect who designs the homes of everyone she knows. A music recording studio with an adjoining stage for music-loving Spider, a modern villa for Lazy Cat.

43. Oso & Me Peter Pan One-Piece - My mom saved all of my sister and I’s clothes from when we were babies, perfect Bonpoint shirts she bought in Paris. Incredible silk dresses from Spain. I’ve inherited her love for good children’s clothing, and nothing is more valuable in Theodora’s wardrobe than these bodysuits from Oso & Me. They’re faultless. So soft, classic. I have every color. I just bought more with short sleeves for the summer. If they had a subscription service where they sent you the next size up every 3 months, I’d sign up for it!

44. Don’t Try to Make A Happy Child Happier - Early postpartum I was scrolling on TikTok and heard a mother use the phrase, “don’t try to make a happy child happier.” It kind of became the best parenting advice I’ve ever heard. Sometimes when I see Theodora happily playing with something, I’ll want to suggest something to add to the fun, but I stop myself–she’s happy! There’s no need to divert her attention or throw more things into the mix.

    

45. Story Time at The Cloisters - Parents of the city: did you know every Tuesday you can sit in a Cistercian monastery while someone sings and reads to your child? We happened to visit the Cloisters on a Tuesday and were terrifically surprised to learn this fact. Wheels on the Bus hits different in hallowed halls!!

46. Baby Registry Hack - Quick disclaimer: I don’t like or support the ethos of

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Happy Spring! Happy Dusky Blue Evenings! Happy…ness!!! I felt so inspired and excited this month. I keep a running list on my phone of things to write about, and I usually juussst eke out 30, but I found my cup runningeth over! How nice to be entering April with a few things already up my (shorter) sleeves. As I was looking over the list, I realized I had created an unofficial Upper East Side guide. Maybe it’s because I was raised there, but I firmly believe no New York City neighborhood hits harder on a spring day than the UES. Would, of course, love to hear about your favorite places to spend a glorious 65 degree day. Speaking of hearing from you all, I’m looking for a good, perhaps life changing, body exfoliator. For the love of picnics please comment if you have one. And now, le list…

1. “Hurry, It’s Lovely Up Here” from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever - This used to be my 16 bars for musical theater auditions. It remains one of my favorite opening scenes ever and it’s what you should be listening to while you read today’s letter.

2. The Marchies (contributed and written by Claire Carusillo) - I’ve been tasked with writing about “the Marchies:” a term that lacks dignity, one that I invented as a teenager. It is a period of temporary lunacy that comes not with actual warmer weather, but with the whisper on the breeze that change could be on the way. You have to have your ears tuned up to hear it, and hopefully, if the Marchies hit right, you find laughter or beauty in your life. You start mulling over stuff you wouldn’t have dreamed of agreeing to in February; like doing front-facing Instagram stories promoting your career or finding profundity in the incertitude over whether your Utah-bred elevated hot power yoga instructor is telling you to “feel it” or “fill it” when referring to the soul. (Personal examples.) I’ll also note that as of ten days ago, my GP put me on a once-weekly prescription Vitamin D gelcap and my psychiatrist added 20 extra mg of Duloxetine to my pill-box maraca of Cymbalta and this other tablet that’s a mixture of powdered Robitussin and whatever upper is in Wellbutrin. Get out there, playboys! Claire is a writer and the owner of Storyboard, a bookshop in Midway, Utah. She’s also my beloved friend. Preorder her novel, The Responsible Party, out August 11th!!!!!

3. Tinker Smocks - I love these darling smocks. Handmade to order and 100% cotton, they only do limited drops. The current drop is open until April 3rd, so you still have a few days!!

4. Everything Shower for a Nice Day - I’ve always loved an excuse to make an occasion out of something. When I saw that we were going to have two GORGEOUS days in a row (lower 70s, zero humidity, no work obligations) I got my tuchus in the shower, meticulously shaved my legs whilst deep conditioning my hair. I used our new nice bar of soap (more on that later) and slathered myself in body oil, and then I gave myself a blow out. Do you know who felt just as gorgeous as the weather the next morning? Yours truly.

5. Afficionado Cold Brew - Theodora begs to go to a “zeeum” 5 times a day. When we are leaving a museum she asks if we are going to the museum. Earlier this month, we took her to The Met with the express purpose of visiting the Hall of Musical Instruments, she’s big on saxophones right now. As we made our way through the Stradivari and the pianofortes we heard something. The Thomas Appleton Pipe Organ was being played by Trent Johnson, Radio City Music Hall’s organist. We had the incredible luck of stumbling upon his rehearsal for an upcoming performance. I don’t think I’ll ever forget standing behind Theodora while Johnson played “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” on an 1830 organ. It doesn’t seem like Theodora will forget, either, since she still talks about the man with the “big piano.” All of this to say, the organ was the second most incredible thing that happened that day at The Met. The first was my discovery of Afficionado Cold Brew, which they serve at the Great Hall Balcony Cafe. It is one of the best, if not the best, cold brews I’ve ever had. I want to buy it for my home but I also love the idea of saving it for our days at the zeeum.

6. Precut Parchment Paper - Everytime I’m prepping a sheet try and I whip one of these out all I can think is “how easy is that?” Have your Ina moment.

7. Custom Window Cushions - We are in the slow process of redoing our living room. One night, my sister floated the idea of window cushions. I wasn’t 100% sure but I couldn’t get the idea out of my head. The universe (or the algorithm) decided for me a few days later when I came across this New Jersey-based Etsy shop. I sent off my measurements and fabric choices, and a little less than two weeks later I had my cushions. WOW did these enliven me. I was once again reminded how an Etsy purchase can change your life. Speaking of which, Harling’s Etsy List has remained open on my tabs since it was published. Thank you to my sister for her vision and THANK YOU to RoundValleyDecor.

8. Borough - The best acting experience of my life was doing a play called Horse Girls in 2014 where I met two of my lifelong best friends. Our director, Sarah Krohn, had great taste in directive choices and jeans, so when she emailed me about her friend YiLing’s new shop I knew I had to check it out. Borough is a whimsical little shop located across the street from the 92nd Street Y. YiLing describes it as, “a gift shop of an imaginary museum.” It’s filled with unique children’s books, Swedish candy, and trinkets galore.

9. Need a House? Call Ms. Mouse! By George Mendoza - YiLing recommended this book to Theodora. A quick flip through, I could see why. Henrietta Mouse is a world-famous architect who designs the homes of everyone she knows. A music recording studio with an adjoining stage for music-loving Spider, a modern villa for Cat.

10. Frasier Miniatures - The worst part of getting a boyfriend (and subsequently a husband) was that I had to stop falling asleep to Fraiser playing on my laptop. Truly one of the best shows ever made, and no, I have not watched the reboot. Aaron DM’d me this the other day (perhaps as penance for making my life so full that I no longer needed to fall asleep watching Frasier on my laptop) and as soon as I saw those diamond inlay doors I knew I was in for a treat. Martin’s little chair?! Are you kidding!!! Two of my favorite episodes are both in season TEN–that alone should tell you how perfect this show is. Kick your lover out, get in bed with that computer, and watch “Roe to Perdition” and “Door Jam”.

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11. Daffodils - My favorite flower of all time. I love these little trumpets! As soon as they come into season I buy them every chance I get. One day I’ll have a garden where I can plant all their incredible varieties like Dance with Me and Riot. But I also love the humble (albeit not humbly named) Dutch Master. I used them in my baby shower arrangements, and I mourned that they couldn’t be my wedding bouquet–June is past their season! I guess I’m writing this as an excuse to post pictures of them, my happy yellow friends.

12. Oso & Me Peter Pan One-Piece - My mom saved all of my sister and I’s clothes from when we were babies, perfect Bonpoint shirts she bought in Paris. Incredible silk dresses from Spain. I’ve inherited her love for good children’s clothing, and nothing is more valuable in Theodora’s wardrobe than these bodysuits from Oso & Me. They’re faultless. So soft, classic. I have every color. I just bought more with short sleeves for the summer. If they had a subscription service where they sent you the next size up every 3 months, I’d sign up for it!

13. Rag & Bone Featherweight Jeans - It’s definitely random and very high school of me to be talking about Rag & Bone and more than anything, it’s reallllllly brutal to be recommending $300 jeans but I have to say, I love them. They are the softest, lightest denim I’ve ever experienced. I could and would wear them on an international flight. And that’s saying something. Here they are on sale.

14. “Geometry of Circles” from Sesame Street - Imagine a venn diagram for a moment. One circle says “Soothing,” the other says “Enriching,” the center? “Public Broadcasting.” This 2ish minute long clip from Sesame Street with music by Philip Glass is beautiful, I can’t wait to show it to Theodora.

15. Rotary Grater - It’s out of fashion to recommend one-use kitchen gadgets, and for good reason! However, I love my damn rotary grater. Sometimes you need a lot of cheese and this does it in seconds. This one is so much chicer than the one I have.

16. Monobrow’s Cover Art - I can’t remember how I first came across Christine Rhee’s “Fake NYRBs” but I do remember, eagerly waiting to see the next one. Her “Fake Books for Men” series remains hilarious and her “Fake Penguin Tabloid Classics” remains unparalleled. Sometimes the most special thing is other people’s cleverness.

17. Chris Fizer - Another Bookcentric Instagram. Juliana and I have started our Book Club again (we’re reading Lonesome Dove like everyone else in the uni rn) and Chris’s taste perfectly aligns with ours. He loved East of Eden, he LOVED The Count of Monte Cristo. He gets so hype about books, which is exactly how we feel when we’re reading them. Love you Chris, can’t wait to see what you read next!

18. E.A.T Easter Basket - I recently documented my love of Easter in a new series on Picnic Style called “P.S.” One thing I didn’t talk about is, if you don’t want to make your own Easter Basket. This is where the reigning champion of Easter Baskets comes in: E.A.T Gifts. I’m pretty sure every single one of my sister and I’s EBs were made by Sean at E.A.T. Unparalleled in whimsy and quality. This is who you outsource the Easter Bunny to.

19. Silk Scrunchies at Seigo - While you’re on the Upper East Side, walk up to Seigo, a tie shop on Madison between 89th and 90th for terrific scrunchies made out of leftover tie material.

20. Don’t Try to Make A Happy Child Happier - Early postpartum I was scrolling on TikTok and heard a mother use the phrase, “don’t try to make a happy child happier.” It kind of became the best parenting advice I’ve ever heard. Sometimes when I see Theodora happily playing with something, I’ll want to suggest something to add to the fun, but I stop myself–she’s happy! There’s no need to divert her attention or throw more things into the mix.

21. Officine Universelle Buly Carribean Sweet Potato and Afghan Carrot Soap - Longtime readers of Picnic Style will know that Aaron and I give each other nice bars of soap for any occasion. While in Paris I snuck into Officine with the express purpose of getting him a monogrammed bar. Once I took a whiff of this one I said stamp it and wrap it up, bébé!! We both agree it’s one of the best smelling bars of soap we’ve ever had.

22. Story Time at The Cloisters - Parents of the city: did you know every Tuesday you can sit in a Cistercian monastery while someone sings and reads to your child? We happened to visit the Cloisters on a Tuesday and were terrifically surprised to learn this fact. Wheels on the Bus hits different in hallowed halls!!

23. Kaley & Tim’s Tassels - One of my favorite design details in any of my friend’s homes is this cluster of tassels hanging off Kaley and Tim’s guest bathroom doorknob. I wish I’d thought of it.

24. Silicone Measuring Cups - Perfect for when you’re measuring sticky things like yogurt or honey.

25. My Cleaning Method - Something I like to do when cleaning is turn on every single light, overhead and ambient, light whatever candles I’m feeling, and listen to Wicked at a really crazy volume. I throw everything that is out of place into a central area (i.e. the bed, the couch, the dining room table) and I work from there to put everything away. Once everything’s away, I clean the area that held the mess (i.e make the bed, fluff the couch.) Then I turn off the music and the overhead light. Now I’m left with a clean room, perfect lighting, and a flickering candle that’s been quietly working the whole time to make the room smell good. You go from overstimulated hell to peace on earth with the literal flick of a switch.

26. Dali Designed The Chupa Chups Logo - “In 1969, Dali was approached to design a new Chupa Chups logo…Dali incorporated the Chupa Chups name into a brightly coloured daisy shape. Always keenly aware of branding, Dali suggested that the logo be placed on top of the lolly instead of the side so that it could always be seen intact.”1

    

27. Canio Books - My favorite bookshop in the Hamptons. Books are crammed in every space. They send out perfect newsletters. The move is to visit Steinbeck’s home in Sag Harbor and then drive 6 minutes to Canio.

28. The Rock-afire Explosion (2008) - This was one of the first things Aaron showed me at the beginning of our relationship and It’s been impossible to forget. Brett Whitcomb’s documentary follows the creator and superfans of The Rock-afire Explosion, a 1980s animatronic show at Showbiz Pizza that was pulled unexpectedly in the 90s and turned into Chuck E. Cheese. This film is exquisitely weird and is filled with so much pathos and heartbreak. Towards the end of the film the creator of TRE is sitting in his abandoned warehouse filled with deteriorating animatronics and admits, “it’s really strange that I’m still sitting here, in this chair, that’s been here for so many years. We could if we wanted to tomorrow, make a mask. We could make new claws right here in this mold, or we could pick up these tools and clean them and use them again…and somehow or another I have this feeling that we’re going to.”

    Watch the whole movie here!

29. Memo Perfume - I recently came across Memo Perfumes for the first time and was immediately taken by how beautiful the bottles are. Adorned with classical etchings and frosty bottles, I couldn’t resist picking up “Palais Bourbon” and taking a whiff. I’m picky about my scents, I pretentiously only wear one I custom created with a perfumer. I sprayed myself right away. The smell was as gorgeous as the bottle.

30. CHH x Patterson Flynn Rugs - Utterly fanciful, completely sweet rugs designed by Charlap Hyman & Herrero and Patterson Flynn. One day I will have the giant playroom of my dreams for Theodora and the Sueńo Grande will line the hallway to it.

Thank you for reading!!! If you made it this far, I wanted to let you know that starting next month I’ll be putting up a paywall. All readers will be able to read the first 15 picks, which is half (sometimes more!) of the letter. Paying readers will get to read the full letter and will also receive P.S., letters that go deep on one thing I’m obsessed with. I love writing this newsletter and,

I love you all,

Eleonore

Welcome to the first edition of P.S.! These letters are exclusive to paying subscribers. In them, I’ll go deep on one thing I live for. For this inaugural edition, I am paying homage to my second favorite holiday: Easter. I’m not at all religious, but I love pastels and dressing up for lunch. I LOVE an egg hunt–my parents used to orchestrate the best egg hunts in our garden. I remember peeking out the window from my room and clatching glimpses of pink and lavender eggs hidden in various spots. Like an egg hunt, I’ve been gathering special little things for this list. A lot of what I’ve found is for children, but I’ve also included some hosting ideas, the basket I’d make for a tween, and a few other delights.

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I’m happily writing to you from Phoenix’s new coffee shop, The Night Café, where I’m drinking not one, not two, but three drinks. One of which has edible flowers floating in it! Yeah I’m loving my life and yeah! I see spring on the horizon! There’s never much to say about February other than it flies by and a few people I adore had birthdays. I am now deep into brainstorming Theodora’s Easter basket, but until then here are some things I discovered (or rediscovered) and loved…

1. Stocking Leg Candle Snuffer - God, how I adore a cheeky, highly specific item. If I were throwing a bachelorette (my biggest dream) I would include these in everyone’s gift bags.

2. The Tuna Artichoke Sandwich at Sant Ambroeus - I still think one of the nicest 25 minutes you can spend in the city is enjoying a sandwich and espresso at the counter of Sant Ambroeus on 78th and Madison. Except for the time a woman who looked like Lydia Tàr spoke to me for 2 hours about her divorce, how women’s brains don’t have the capacity to understand math, and her plans for my future, but I digress. A lot of people are gonna go for their caprese or prosciutto sandwiches, but the tuna artichoke is where it’s at. Plushy brioche bread, little pieces of crunchy artichoke hearts, utter bliss.

3. Seaman Schepps Plant Pots - Do I own one of these? No. Would it completely change my life and make me a better woman if I did? Probably!! Most gorgeous plant pot I’ve ever seen.

4. Powell Craft Pajamas - I found these at Laina Jane in the Village, a great lingerie and sleepwear shop. I couldn’t resist the little astronauts and rocket ships, and neither could Theodora. As soon as I brought them home she demanded to wear them, and begs for them whenever they’re clean. I love that they’re crisp cotton instead of skin tight bamboo, and I will be purchasing at least two more patterns.

   

5. When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer by Walt Whitman

   

6. Wind of Change - This is the podcast I always recommend when people have a long drive ahead. It dives into a conspiracy that a power ballad by the West German band The Scorpions ended the Cold War. It’s completely captivating, a little insane, and features a young Putin.

7. An Ode to Ice Chunks - I mean how charming is this. It almost makes me want another snowstorm. Almost.

8. William Klein’s “Broadway by Light” - Orson Welles called this, “the first film I’ve seen in which color is absolutely necessary.” Okay Citizen Kane endorsement! I’ve always loved movies that have a heavy neon aesthetic (i.e. Thief or Manhunter, or literally any other Michael Mann film) so of course I love this short which is almost exclusively neon.

9. Ibsen’s Tapers - One of my favorite things we did in Oslo was visit the Ibsen Museum which occupies that last residence of the playwright. I’ll never forget the room where he wrote. It has a huge desk topped with a quill, ink, a figurine of the devil, and a figurine of a frog playing a banjo. Above his desk hangs a massive portrait of August Strindberg, his biggest rival. In the gift shop they sold replicas of the twisted ivory tapers that lit every room in Ibsen’s house. The shop doesn’t have an online storefront but the ones I’ve linked above are very close, if not identical, to the ones they have in Oslo.

   

10. Imaginative Play - I guess it’s not shocking that Theodora developing an imagination has become one of the greatest joys of my life. If you had told me 10 years ago I’d be loving it, I’d be like, yeah…duh…but I could never have anticipated just how much I love it. I live for the moment when she’s stirring something in her silver pot, and when I ask her what it is she soberly replies, “beans.” I adore that there’s been a pool of apple sauce in one specific corner of our living room for weeks. And I, of course, cried, when she noticed the constancy of the moon and told me, “moon, walking!”

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11. Green Goddess Chicken - This is a suggestion for March when all of the gorgeous new green things start to appear at the market. It’s foolproof, utterly delicious, and declared by my dad to be “one of the best chickens I’ve ever had.”

12. Tim’s Vermeer (2013) - The most enthralling documentary. It follows Tim Jenison, an inventor, who goes on a quest to figure out exactly how Johannes Vermeer painted his works. This doc is directed by Teller and produced by Penn, which makes perfect sense. What Jenison is able to create is nothing short of magical.

13. SOUPS for TANERA - Aaron and I’s friend Chiara Bini, sent us a copy of this lovely book which her sister, Gioia, co-wrote with soup aficionado, Theresa von Wagenheim. It’s filled with gorgeous pictures (taken by Chiara!) and even more gorgeous recipes for soups like Langoustine Bisque. I love the slim little cloth covered volume, so dainty in comparison to the robust, homey recipes it holds.

    

14. Carpets at Weddings - We went to our cousin’s (perfect) wedding in Boston this month and my sister and I realized more weddings should be carpeted. It’s the ideal dance floor!! Bouncy, cozy, easy on the feet! More carpets at weddings in 2026 s’il vous plaît.

15. Whistler’s Nocturne, Blue and Silver: Battersea Reach at The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum - While in Boston for the above wedding, I orchestrated an outing for my sister, Aaron, Theodora, and I to go to The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. If you’ve been to the museum then you know I could devote at least an entire letter to it. It is so fantastically gorgeous, with such a wonderful collection, and then on top of all that: THE HEIST! If you don’t know, The ISG was robbed in 1990 and the paintings were never recovered. There’s a good docuseries on the robbery, if you’re interested. Anyways, there is so much to see and be in awe of, but somehow I was most taken by this bleary, blustery painting tucked into the corner of The Yellow Room. The painting felt ego-less to me. It’s not a raucous Turner Seascape. It’s dreary and seemed painful to paint, like you’d be squinting through fog the entire time. I’d like to have a reproduction of it in a locket.

    

16. Isabella Stewart Gardner’s Headband - After the museum I was reading more about the woman herself and I am completely obsessed with this detail:

    

17. Huda Beauty Lip Contour Lip Stain - I think this is a really great liner and that’s really all there is to say!

18. Frying an Egg Trick - I was at a birthday party earlier this month and a friend told me she hadn’t been sleeping. I know that life!!!! I’ve experienced insomnia since I was little–I’d stay up until 12 or 1am, listening to my audiobooks desperado to fall asleep. I told her a trick I’d learned a couple years ago that has yet to fail me. You close your eyes, and begin to imagine in minute detail the act of frying an egg. You get up from your bed and walk to your kitchen, take out the pan, the carton of eggs, turn on the stove, etc. Sometimes I make it harder and try to fry an egg in an old kitchen like my apartment junior year of college. 9 times out of 10, I’m asleep before that egg hits the pan.

19. Cake Opera Co. - I mean…yeah. Gorgeous, gorgeous cakes. What an artist. OH MY GOD. I was just going to link her Instagram when I discovered her website which is chock full of molds she sells! This horse cookie mold?! Neoclassical urns and wreaths??? Freaking out.

    

20. Chef’s Jacket - When I was in Paris this fall, I had some time to kill and spotted a restaurant supply shop. Once I tucked in, I realized it was a restaurant uniform supply shop, so not filled with copper jam pots and fish spatulas. I walked back out, saw a tiny chef’s jacket in the window, and walked right back in. With multicolored snap buttons and a little mandarin collar, I had to have it for Theodora. I discovered many children are required to have them for cooking classes at school–sobbing at the cuteness. Theodora LOVES wearing her jacket while we make her favorite food, “apple cake.” I hadn’t even thought to put it on the list until I posted us cooking on my story and was inundated with questions about The Jacket. The above link is the only thing I can find online for the exact jacket, but here is an American site selling something similar.

    

21. Bjorn Wiinblad Plates - Paging Dr. Whimsy We Have A Patient For You! I prefer his line work to his more colorful work, but to each their own, of! course!

22. Italian Tear Away Calendar - I firmly believe the two times of year you can recommend calendars are December and the end of February. December for everyone who is on top of it, Feb for the people who realized they forgot. Aaron got me this little block (in December) and I relish ripping it each day. NB: My exact calendar seems to be sold out, but the one linked above is very similar, and this one here is the same calendar only bigger

    

23. Little People x MoMA - I am (surprise, surprise) one of those moms who is always trying to find the most aesthetically pleasing version of something their kid loves. So I was very happy when MoMA did a collab with Fisher Price. We put these Monets in her stocking and she adores him. Does she call him Santa? Yeah. But who is Santa if not an impressionist?

24. Clean/Dirty Magnet - We now have a dishwasher that cracks itself open when clean but before she came along, it was tough to know if the dishes inside were dirty or clean. Until Aaron bought us this utterly charming magnet.

25. Powers of Ten (1977) - They showed us this in school and maybe showed it to you, too. I love a stylish film that gives some perspective.

26. This Type of Text- I actually cannot explain the giddiness I feel when I receive a text like this. In fact, if you ever need to get me a gift, do this:

27. Martha Blue Extō Outlet - My mom gave me this years ago and I still marvel at how attractive it is. It used to be my bedside extension cord but like any good mother, I gave it to my daughter. Who knew an outlet could also be a family heirloom?

28. Tinned Vegetables - Last week Dan Barber’s Row 7 Seed Company, released a line of tinned vegetables. As soon as I saw them, I grabbed one of each. There’s beets in olive oil and white balsamic, tomatoes in olive oil and red wine vinegar, and “Sweet Garleek,” a leek/garlic hybrid, in dijon and white balsamic. Before I did my little taste test I remembered that while in Portugal on our babymoon (one of the worst words in the world) I had bought a tin of Roman carrots, so I added those to the line-up. The beets were the absolute winner by far, crunchy and well-seasoned, I could have happily eaten the whole tin right there. The best part is, you don’t have to cook beets, which takes forever and is usually a mess. The Garleek was good, and would be even better blended into a salad dressing. Actually, the tomatoes would also be great that way. The tomatoes were my least favorite, a little too wrinkly to be pleasurable. The carrots from Lisbon held the greatest promise, clearly preserved in a high quality olive oil, along with slivers of fennel and two plump little black olives I hadn’t anticipated. The flavor was very mild, I missed the punchiness of Row 7’s vinegars, but the crunch of the carrots and the silky peppery oil, felt very luxe. I think we should absolutely be preserving more vegetables in tins, a spicy green bean perhaps? Or radishes with a lemony oil? I’m thinking about it…

    

29. Peeling Both Ways - Forgive me if everyone knows this and you’re reading this like, cool loser…we know that…but when you’re peeling with this kind of peeler, you can just go back and forth and it peels both ways and thus peels much faster.

30. Realizing Sweet Peas Smell Exactly Like Babies - My apartment was clean, the sun was shining, I needed to get fancy flowers from the fancy florist. My sister and I popped in and she immediately pointed to the fluffy peachy-white sweet peas. Perfect choice. When I got home I placed them in a purple vase and thought about what a cute name Sweet Pea is and realized I didn’t know what they smelled like. I took a whiff and ran to Aaron. “Doesn’t this smell just like a baby?” I demanded. A little powdery, a bit treacly, and somehow warm. How lucky are we? That there are flowers that smell like babies!

    

I love you all,

Eleonore

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I’m writing to you from the arctic tundra of New York. My pinky hangs in the air as I type, and it gets so cold, I frequently pause to warm it up. I’m writing to you despite wondering if I should. If anyone needs to be reading about stuff or buying things when our world is so bleak. I’m writing because it’s been bleak, and to act like I’ve just noticed that would be a lie. It’s very heavy, living right now, and thinking about our country and our world with all its beautiful possibilities, being ransacked. I feel like I’m in tenth grade, because my mind keeps replaying that last line of The Great Gatsby, “and so we beat on, boats against the current...” Every day I think of us, the boats, yearning for love, for the American dream we wished for, hoping that there’s a brighter future someday soon. I don’t know if there is, and for many people that future was cut short with a dull knife–a cruelty and shame we must bear. I’m barely thinking as I write this, and it probably shows. I’m probably not saying all the right things. You might even think I didn’t need to say anything at all. But I wanted you to know this part of me, too, that I care. I care so much. I still wrote a list because it’s what I do, I hope you find some things on it to make you happy. I’ll say it again at the end of this letter–as I always do–but, I love you all.

1. Midday shower - The other day my friend Eleanore (no relation) revealed she had been in the shower midday and then quickly followed her admission with a, “sue me!” And to her and to the rest of the world I say, no subpoena necessary. A midday shower is CORRECT. If you have a window, a midday shower means you can bathe in natural sunlight. A midday shower means in the midst of everything, you spent at least 10 minutes not looking at your phone. It means you slept in or you can go to bed earlier. A midday shower is a gift, something you should give yourself more often.

2. Seletti ‘Classics on Acid’ Keshiki Mug - Is this not the most wonderful, whimsical cup you’ve ever seen? I have this habit of historicizing objects in my life. Imagining a vase I bought at 20 will be the one presented to me every Mother’s Day for years to come, or a new sweater will one day become threadbare, keeping me warm at 65 while I have my morning cup of coffee. I’m delighted to report that I look at this quirky little mug and have no idea what its future holds because it is so perfectly NOW.

   

3. NYPL Picture Collection - Exquisite. One of the few Instagrams out there that soothes, charms, and entices me all at once.

4. Schweitzer Sheets - My absolute favorite fitted sheet. So soft, I still kick my feet with pleasure after I slide into my bed.

5. Ayako & Family Jams - On October’s letter, a reader commented something that changed my life. Isabelle Brothers recommended Ayako & Family Jams writing, “It’s from Seattle and I put reminders in my calendar to order it when it’s released. They do sell out- it’s that wonderful.” Well, I ordered them not 5 minutes after I saw her comment and I can confirm–they are that wonderful. So supremely delicious, each jar feels like an ode to the fruit it holds. I’ve re-ordered twice since that initial order. The Damson Plum hasn’t sold out yet but I can’t understand why, it’s completely and totally luscious.

6. New Skin Vintage in Athens - Found some of the greatest vintage finds of my life here, including a lime green floral skirt suit from Blumarine that Fran Fine would kill for.

7. Sony wonder Technology Lab - Need my fellow New Yorkers to come out of the woodwork for this one. Do you remember this place? My sister and I were utterly obsessed with it. It was located in midtown in a huge office building and as soon as you entered this robot interacted with you. Not in a scary AI way, but in a charming Jetsons way. You got these incredible holographic ID cards and then you made your own cartoons, news broadcasts, and so much more. I just found out it closed in 2016, I thought it closed much longer ago. I would have gone back!!! I would have made one more music video!

   

8. Little Syl Fruit Snacks – If I see a snack in cute packaging, and it’s in a fun shape, and my kid can eat it ? Yeeeeaaaaahhhhh, I’m gonna be buying it. These taste so good and are so freaking joyful!

9. Catan Game Piece Holders - Exposing myself as a huge Cataniac. I bought these for Founie a few years ago, but she donated them to me since usually we’re playing together. We were playing a game the other day and as I was awaiting my turn I started thinking about how nice these things are. They keep everything tidy, they look good–they’re just a good thing. As we were cleaning up the game, it was like my sister had read my mind. “You should Picnic Style these,” she said. And baby, that’s exactly what I’m doin’.

10. The Genius of Carl Faberge - Watched this on an airplane in 2014 and remember being so enthralled. I still think about the specifics of those eggs, hence why I’m recommending it now. It’s probably not the best resource on this information but dzamn it got me interested. Guys, I just went to link this documentary and it’s not available online anywhere but if you ever find it, watch it. It was produced by the BBC. And yeah…I could just cut my losses and delete this from the list but I believe in the genius of Carl F what can I say.

11. Bonhomme de Bois - God, I love a toy shop. This one had so many wonderful things in it for all ages. Wooden fruits and vegetables, cotton marionette dolls, slick red race cars shrunken down to the size of a toddler. We got Theodora a bouncy ball here filled with sloshing, sparkly purple water, a little whale forever bobbing atop.

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12. Bergs Potter Lion Paw Pot Feet - I love a funny little thing–clearly. These terracotta lion paws you use to lift up your plant pots? Yes! Thank you!

    

13. Bright Gem Blocks - Most beautiful blocks I’ve ever seen. I want to eat them.

    

14. Kunz Spoon - Aaron got this for me for Christmas. It’s THE spoon. I basted a steak with it the other day and was genuinely shook by how pleasurable of an experience it was. The handle is long enough that your wrist isn’t at odds with the pan. The bowl of the spoon is the perfect depth for scooping just enough butter to toss onto the steak. I reach for it when I need to try a sauce or soup, it makes me feel special.

15. Les Pêcheurs de Perles (The Pearl Fishers) Opening Sequence - I forget why Aaron and I started talking about this opera but we did, and he ended up showing me footage from Penny Woolcock’s production at The Met. I mean, how utterly beautiful is that? Imagine being in a great hall, the murmuring crowd hushing, the curtains opening and seeing this? Breathtaking.

16. Marcella Hazan’s Spaghetti col Sugo di Cipolle (Spaghetti with Smothered Onions) - The ideal winter pasta dish, I love that you cook the onions for 45 minutes, slowly getting them brown and sweet. So comforting, and exquisite with hearty cracks of black pepper.

    

17. Teddy Bear Baker - Julia is one of Theodora’s fairy godmothers. She is more gifted at thrifting than anyone I know, and Theodora gets to reap the benefits. I really should be Picnic Styling Julia’s care packages, which are filled with many wonderful vintage children’s books, vintage toys and games, and once, the most beautiful embroidery that now hangs proudly in Theodora’s room. I do want to focus on one find that has become a staple in our home and that is Phoebe and Selby Worthington’s Teddy Bear Baker. What a sweet, pure little story about a teddy bear who rises early each day to bake bread and pies for his town (populated by humans). Imagine Theodora and I’s collective delight when we realized this is a series! There’s Teddy Bear Postman, Teddy Bear Gardener, Teddy Bear Boatman! Industrious king! Julia, of course, found Gardener and we eagerly await the package.

18. Julia (2022)- There are a lot of things about this biographical television show that are just completely made up, but wow is it a lovely, comforting thing to watch. Sarah Lancashire marvelously encapsulates Julia Child’s high-pitched voice and high-octane zest for life. I sort of need to rewatch it right now. I mean Julia and her husband Paul (played by my numero uno, David Hyde Pierce) wore matching pajamas for Christ’s sake! And that ISN’T made up.

19. Nickey Kehoe - A perfect shopping experience. Roaming through Nickey Kehoe reminded me of one of my favorite shops on earth, A Vida Portuguesa. One of those dangerous places where everything is curated so beautifully you easily convince yourself things are needs rather than wants.

20. Big by Keith Haring - The happiest, funniest little book. Great for very young children, but also fab for expanding older children’s vocabulary! You can see the whole book laid out right here.

    

21. Anna’s Mom’s Borscht - I’d never had borscht but when my Anna texted and asked if I would like to come over for a bowl, I knew it was my moment. I love beets, I love soup, and I love Anna. It was absolutely perfect. So deliciously savory, with that earthy sweetness only beets can provide. I’m not giving you the recipe because it’s intimate, but I am suggesting you invite your friends over for a traditional family meal. I think that can be anything. My best friend growing up’s mom never cooked so they oscillated between ordering in chinese and pizza. That’s her traditional family meal and I loved eating it.

22. Roger Price’s Droodles - I saw a slideshow of these and boyyyy was I gigglin’. I love a clever little cartoon!!! Wow oh my god, as I was just looking this up I learned that Roger Price is the co-inventor of MAD LIBS. You’ll remember from June’s letter that I’m completely OBSESSED with Mad Libs. Roger Price, will you marry me?

23. Radicchio Salad with Tuna Belly - An unexpected side effect to having a toddler is a newfound resentment towards cooking. This makes me immeasurably sad, since cooking and food are two of my great loves. I felt a little spark of my old joy the other night when Theodora was happily tucking into some leftover chicken and rice, leaving Aaron and I to eat whatever we wanted. In a pre-snow day frenzy, I bought a beautiful head of celadon and pink flecked radicchio in case this exact occasion arose. I tore the leaves into a huge bowl, I added sliced oranges and black olives. Chopped up all the herbs left in the crisper and threw those in. Then, the pièce de résistance: a tin of Jupiter Tuna Belly that we had brought home from Lisbon. So deliciously silky and delicately meaty. I dressed the salad with olive oil, orange and lemon juice, and a splash of good ponzu. :)

24. Juliet Prowse Dancing “Solace” on The Muppet Show - Trapped indoors for days means Theodora has been gifted little snippets of screentime. We all sat down to watch the pilot episode of The Muppet Show, and I found myself completely mesmerized by this strange and wonderful dance. The slow, peaceful extensions of Prowse’s limbs, her diaphanous dress, perfect wig, and of course, the green gazelles.

25. “Mammoths and Ants” by Anonymous 2nd Grader

    

I love you all,

Eleonore

P.S. All proceeds for this month, including renewed yearly subscriptions and any new paid subscriptions I might gain, will be matched and donated to the Immigrant Defense Project (IDP), Organized Communities Against Deportation (OCAD), and the Midwest Immigration Bond Fund.

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Happy New Year!! Thank you so much for reading, I was really terrified you wouldn’t. I can’t believe how much fun I’ve had writing this letter every month. I hope you’ve found new things to love and share with others. Next month will be the one year anniversary of this newsletter! I debated whether or not to send out a letter today, since I’m sure you’re all exhausted by emails. This is a round-up of the things I’ve written about this year that remain all-timers—there are no pictures and I just copy-pasted what I wrote previously—hope that’s coolio with you. May 2026 be a year of new delights, old favorites, health, happiness, and peace for all of us!!!

1. Fogal Tights - Whenever we’d do back-to-school shopping at Barney’s, I’d always make sure to stop at the Fogal counter downstairs and grab a few pairs in fun colors. Super soft and comfy. A semi-opaque navy pair became my stand-by and I wore them constantly for 13 years before they got a hole. The hole isn’t even bad; I wore them two nights ago for an opening. Thirteen years!!!!!!!!! I bought them my sophomore year of college and they ripped last year!!!

2. Kakadu Beauty Oil - Speaking of questionable names, Jesus Christ…but, I was gifted this at an event for the brand and it’s terrific. I’m a face oil girl through and through, and I’ve tried many. This is one of the only ones I’ve repurchased. It smells great; Aaron always compliments it when he gives me a kiss, and whatever makes it orange gives your skin such a good glow.

3. New York Society Library - This library is 267 years old and perfect. I’ve never used a coworking space because I think they’re inelegant–this is the exact opposite of that. You can work amongst the stacks or read in a genuinely beautiful reading room. Membership is also a fraction of the cost of somewhere like wework, and you’re contributing to a New York Institution.

4. Gap Modal Pajamas - If there’s one thing I’m willing to spend a million dollars on, it’s pajamas. I love being in bed and looking good doing it. After shelling out lots of money throughout the years, I discovered how stupid I’d been. These are the softest, most perfect pajamas money can buy. And they’re like, $60. No matter how many times I wash them, they remain as soft as the day I bought them. They’re thin and lightweight but have this really pleasing hang to them. I buy the tops in an XL because I love the drape.

5. Saratoga Garlic Saffron Aioli - I picked this up at Archestratus the other day, and oh my god. I had it with some cold rotisserie chicken, and lots of black pepper and now I’m dreaming of it on some toast with a bouillabaisse. Mon DIEU

6. Hudson Wilder Wine Glasses - Whenever a friend moves into a new home, I give them a set of these. I like a glass to be so special that you pay close attention to it whilst cleaning it. They’re the most beautiful, crispy glasses and they’re shaped like huge tulips. Get a set for yourself, you’ll be thrilled.

7. D. Porthault Dumbbell Pillow - The cost of everything at D. Porthault is Captain Insanity Johnson Reporting for Duty. It’s deranged. But it is the best. Our mom opened my sister and I’s eyes to the wonders of the dumbbell pillow. You cannot imagine how perfectly this thing fits between the nape of your neck and your pillow. Reading in bed is taken to a whole new level of pleasure. This is what you buy yourself to celebrate an accomplishment. Editor’s Note: They no longer have the shams on their site, just the insert, but if you go to the store on 58th and Park they’ll have them there.

8. Boîte a Camembert- Aaron got me this for Valentine’s Day several years ago. Truly so romantic and ingenious, a box for your camembert!

9. Sophie Ceramics - My friend Juliana got Theodora a beautiful mug from this ceramicist with an eloquent “T” painted on the front and a leaping bunny on the back. The handle has this delightful little springboard to rest your finger on. It’s very poetic. Theodora doesn’t know that I’ve been using it, but I think she’d be okay with it.

10. The Eating-in-Bed Cookbook by Barbara Ninde Byfield - What a delightful, funny little cookbook. I found one years ago and cherish it. I don’t eat in bed anymore because once I spilled an entire tuna tartare onto my duvet.

11. Taverna Oikonomou 1930 - We went here on our honeymoon and it was so incredible and special, we went again two nights later. We never go to the same restaurant twice on a vacation (except for this really great place in Oslo that has since closed). The first night we had their roast lamb and potatoes which was gentle and savory and melty and heartwarming. We had perfect Greek salad and saganaki and the restaurant is painted a great yellow with huge windows so you feel like you’re sitting outside even when you’re not. The second night we did sit outside and we had the stuffed cabbage which was lemony and homey and toothsome. A baby at the table next to us was named Achilles. The couple at the other neighboring table quietly fought the whole time so we lovingly eavesdropped. I wish I was having dinner there tonight.

12. Zuni Café’s Chicken - After Theodora, Aaron, and my sister, Zuni’s roast chicken is probably the thing I talk about most. I’m fucking obsessed with it, it’s the best roast chicken I’ve ever had in my entire life. If someone 50 miles away mentions the words “San” and “Francisco” I yell back, “Have you had the chicken at Zuni Café?” If you can’t make it to SF, this is the recipe. I’ve made it many times.

13. Taking the FDR - Everyone who knows me knows I’m a total FDR-head. On Aaron and I’s third date I told him I wanted to be proposed to in a cab going down the FDR (he didn’t do that, but I still said yes). I just love the feeling of zooming with the window down, knowing you’re heading to a cute little dinner or on your way back home from a night out. It’s way more poetic than the West Side Highway. There’s a section with an overpass and during the spring, huge, heavy boughs of leaves lean over the side.

14. Oatmeal Colored Socks - God! I love socks!!! My sock drawer requires two hands to shut. After many years of collecting and using socks to accentuate my outfit, I’ve come to the conclusion that the chicest, most useful sock to have is an oatmeal-colored one. White socks are too ‘Annie are you okay’ and black socks are too ‘I can’t, it’s tech week’. Colorful or patterned socks are amazing–obviously–but they demand to be seen. Oatmeal looks beautiful with a neutral shoe or highlights a colorful one. These are a few of my favorite pairs.

15. Only Hearts Second Skin Bra - This is the bra. It has bralette vibes, with the thin fabric and skinny straps, but still has the support and lift of an underwire moment. I reach for these almost every day, and even used them while in the thick of breastfeeding. I also love its cousin, the Whisper bra, for a cheeky little moment peeking out from a button down. And perhaps the biggest news of all: the strapless version is also amazing. I am a 36C/34D (okay bra size revealed!!) and wear the large.

16. The Radical Woman behind “Goodnight Moon” - With the launch of the flawless Goodnight Moon stamps (which I obviously snagged) I was reminded of one of my favorite profiles. I read this in my earliest days of postpartum and was enthralled by this sincerely singular woman who hovered over most of our childhoods.

17. Before Air-Conditioning - I read this Arthur Miller piece a few years ago when The New Yorker included it in one of their emails, I think they probably send this out every summer. I love reading about heat the same way I love looking at paintings of snow. Miller, in a thousand-ish words, perfectly captures the city baking, “on 111th and farther uptown mattresses were put out as night fell, and whole families lay on those iron balconies in their underwear.”

18. Museum Gift Shop Umbrellas - The chicest place to buy an umbrella is a museum gift shop. Every one I’ve bought for myself or others has lasted a miraculously long time. Aaron carried an umbrella adorned with a Turner seascape from the National Gallery for nearly 8 years before it gave out. I replaced it for Christmas with this Monet. I also love this one from Neue Galerie and this one from the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

19. Buying Your Old Perfumes - I highly recommend finding and buying the perfumes you wore throughout your life. In middle school I was ride or die for a L'Occitane perfume oil in Vanilla. High school I alternated between L’Artisan Parfumeur’s Mimosa Pour Moi and Bond No. 9’s West Side. Until recently Mimosa Pour Moi was still in production so I bought a bottle fresh from the brand years ago, but the L'Occitane oil I had to track down on eBay. I don’t wear any of these, I just open them from time to time and sniff my old self.

20. Worishofer Shoes - I found these at Tip Top Shoes last month and immediately purchased them. They’re well priced, made in Portugal, and extremely comfortable on first wearing. I bought them in red but I want to buy them in black and a metallic color as well. They remind me of Maria Grazia Cucinotta in Il Postino, or pretty much any other gorgeous Italian woman on film.

21. Frog Hollow Farm Peaches - I bought these because Ruth Reichl said Julia Child loved these. To say I am blown away by the godliness of these peaches would be the understatement of the year. They’re beyond, they taste like flowery, honeyed peach syrup with velvet skin. Anna and I tried them together and lost our heads. The next day we were texting about them and she asked if I had any further thoughts, to which I replied, “Mostly it’s just a perfect textural experience. As someone who prefers an underripe crunchy peach to a too soft ripe one, this is everything I want; the flavor and juice of a ripe one and the bite of an underripe—probably just gonna copy and paste that for Picnic Style.” And reader? She did.

22. “Freakazoid” - Perfect word. It’s not so unkind that you’re being a bad person, but sometimes you need to point out that someone is a freakazoid.

23. Silicone Water Balloons - August was the month of Every Mom in New York discovering these things, and for good reason!! I hate the detritus of traditional water balloons, these are perfect. You just cup them around water and you’ve got a water balloon! Genius. Editor’s Note: We still use these every time we take a bath.

24. Norman Rockwell Museum - We went here last week with Theodora and I was blown away. I didn’t expect to be so moved, but to see the honest-to-god paintings of images I’ve seen reproduced thousands of times throughout my life was very effective. Like, yeah, that is the family looking at the turkey…omg. Also, the grounds were incredibly beautiful, with fruiting apple trees, walking trails, and a stunning overlook. I loved everything about this museum.

25. Finishing Your Book On the Last Day of Vacation - There’s something that makes me almost squeamish about reading the last 50 pages of a book you were reading in the woods, on the subway. When the stars align, and you close that book right before your last shower before your last dinner at the beach, that’s amore.

26. Watching The Summer I Turned Pretty with Founie and Anna - I left this for last because I like ending on a high note, but also because I was daunted by the task of writing about this. I know it seems totally ridiculous, but watching this show for 15 year olds with my sister and my best friend has been one of the most amazing, special experiences of my life. It was so much fun to get excited every week to put on comfy clothes and watch these teenagers make the weirdest possible choices. To text each other throughout the episodes or to make notes for later, in case we weren’t all watching it at the same time. To SCREAM when things you really wanted to happen, happened or when things you really didn’t want to have happen, happened too. I think it was so meaningful to me because I got to have pure fun and excitement with people I love, every week, for three years. I loved that it was over something idiotic, because it made us care even more. For the series finale, Founie completely transformed her apartment into Cousins Beach x The Lair for us. She ordered the perfect food and bought us lipglosses and fuzzy slippers. She kicked her boyfriend out of the house and even though he came home at the worst possible moment, he quickly ran into their room and we never saw him again: shout out to Phoenix. We shrieked, we screamed, we lunged at each other and the TV. It was, no joke, one of the best viewing experiences I’ve ever had in my entire life. We sobbed. I had big, plump tears rolling down my face as I realized it was over and then realized, holy shit–there’s going to be a movie. We’re STILL texting about it. I love art, no matter how trivial it seems. I love my girlies. I have brown hair and brown eyes and I will always love Conrad Fisher.

27. Museo (2018) - Since we all have heists on the mind since you know what, it felt like the perfect time to recommend one of my favorite movies that’s come out in the last 10 years, Museo. Aaron and I bonded early in our relationship over our love of heist films, specifically how much we love the (very bad) Thomas Crown Affair remake starring Pierce Brosnan. In direct contrast to that is Museo, which may be the best heist film I’ve ever seen? It tells the true story of the 1985 National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City heist. The performances are sensitive yet gripping, the film is beautiful to look at, and the heist is as tense and exciting as you want it to be

28. Momokawa - My mom got me addicted to Shabu Shabu at a young age. I can’t remember a time where we weren’t seeking it out. It’s gotten easier to find good places in the city, but for a while they were few and far between. We used to go to this great place in midtown that had a section of the Berlin Wall hanging in a plaza outside the restaurant—okaaaay Gorbachev! Anyway, this has been our favorite for the past 10 years or so. It’s an unassuming, comfortable restaurant on the Upper East Side with very good food and lovely, chill servers. I’ve come here on date nights, with groups of friends, and with my mom, of course! Terrific for every occasion.

29. Bru XL Gouda - 2025 has randomly been the year of Gouda for me. I’m so into it. This is the most insanely delicious cheese I’m salivating writing about it. It’s salty and grassy with so many crystals it’s borderline crunchy. Oh my GOUDA!!!!!

30. Being Theodora’s Mom - I could write and write and write about my baby, but I’ll just say that I love being her mom so much. It feels healthy to me, the same way sitting in the sun and catching your breath after swimming against the waves in the ocean feels healthy to me. Editor’s Note: This has remained true times infinity. I can’t wait to see who she becomes this year.

I love you all,

Eleonore

Dear Everyone,

We’ve finally made it, the very last A Very Picnic Christmas! I’ve had so much fun doing this. If it isn’t obvious–I love Christmas. Frankly, I love a theme, but Christmas is a particularly good one. I wanted to leave you with some entertainment to merry-up this already merry week. Books that I love to read around this time of year, movies you’ve maybe not seen, and songs that I think belong on your holiday playlists. I will see you in the new year with our regularly scheduled programming. Most importantly, I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a very, very Happy New Year!

1. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020) – There’s a small group of my closest friends reading this right now who are so happy I finally get to talk about this movie. It came out during the pandemic and it is 100% for children, but I became ravenously (just slightly ironically) obsessed with it. If you have children or/and you love Musical Theater then I really think you should turn this on. I could listen to Anika Noni Rose sing the phonebook and I’d be happy.

2. The Silent Partner (1978) - Absolutely NOT a children’s movie but a very fun, pulpy thriller set during Christmastime starring Eliot Gould and Christopher Plummer. Christopher Plummer wears a mesh tanktop in a sauna in one scene and it’s…hot. Great thing to throw on when you’ve exhausted all the classic options and you want something with a little more oomph.

3. SNOW by Uri Shulevitz - I love when Theodora hands me this from her shelf to read. It’s the most beautiful, simple story about a little boy who hopes for a snowfall and gets his wish. I love the illustrations and the poetic way it’s written.

4. The Grinch EP by Tyler the Creator - Tyler the Creator did two tracks, “I Am the Grinch” and a remake of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” for the 2018 version of The Grinch, both of which are very good. My favorite thing he did for this project, though, is the 10 minute long EP which is jazzy, cozy, and exactly what you want to listen to right now. I wish it was much longer.

5. The Movies That Made Us: “Home Alone” (2019) - Netflix made this doc series where each episode follows an iconic movie and the making of said film. The Home Alone episode is particularly great. Watching them go into detail about the meticulous design choices of the McCallister home is very satisfying. I watched this when it came out 6 years ago and I still think of it every year when we rewatch Home Alone.

6. The Christmas Book by Phaidon - This may seem like the kind of thing that’s a waste of money, or a gift you give someone you don’t really know much about, but it’s actually a terrific book. Theodora asks to look at this book several times a day and I never grow tired of seeing all the imagery and artifacts of Christmas. There’s a really great photograph by Daniel Libseskind of the Rockefeller Tree star that looks like a spaceship, and a painting of Santa with a melting clock on his wrist by Dali.

7. “Feel the Need” by Eryn Allen Kane - I love things that aren’t Christmassy but feel like they are, and this song is one of them. It’s soooo joyful and feel-good and you walk around with your headphones in smiling from ear to ear.

8. Night of 100 Stars - This is also not Christmassy but it’s so ostentatious and celebratory, I associate it with this time of year. I wish we still had things like this! Little Drew Barrymore stepping off the Pan Am airplane that lands on 5th avenue? YEAH! They did this special a couple times, and I love finding footage online.

9. Baby’s Christmas by Esther Wilkin - Trigger warning: this baby gets way too many toys. But the illustrations are so precious, I can’t help but love it. Eloise Wilkin, the illustrator, really captured the droop of baby cheeks in a way you don’t see every day.

10. “O Holy Night” - I wanted to leave with you a truly beautiful rendition of this song. I never cared about this song until I heard Ernie Ford and Gordon MacRae singing it with so much power and emotion in their voices. I hope you love it, too.

I love you all!!!! Merry Christmas!!!

Eleonore

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Dear Everyone,

It’s snowing!!! Today’s letter is all about food, drink, and entertaining–one of the best parts of the holidays. For Christmas Eve we usually have the same meal as Thanksgiving but we zhuzh it up a little with chestnuts in the stuffing and other wintery additions. My dream is to do a Feast of the Seven Fishes–one day!! I would LOVE to hear about your favorite holiday treats. Okay, here’s some delicious stuff….

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1. Porthole Infuser - The most beautiful barware. You can fill this with whatever aromatics you want and then pour in a liquor of your choice or a simple syrup. Great thing to leave out during a party so people can make themselves a special drink.

2. Cardamom Cookies - Aaron makes these every year for our Christmas party and no matter how many deviled eggs with caviar I make, these are everybody’s favorite.

3. Mille Feuille Nabe - This is a SHOWSTOPPER. I love making this when we have people over and it’s perfect for a cold, cozy night. The recipe calls for pork belly, which is very delicious and festive, but I’ve also used thinly sliced beef for more of a Shabu Shabu feel. Serve this with little bowls of rice and ponzu and sesame sauce for dipping.

4. Chestnut Crème - I love these little tubes of chestnut spread, both their design and their contents. Crepes on Christmas morning with this spread on it? Yes s’il vous plaît!!!!

5. Ribbon Serving Platter - Designer Adam Charlap Hyman created these beautiful dishes with his mother, artist Pilar Almon. I love the whole set but I think the platter is the perfect place to display your cookies or…perhaps a ham…?

6. Soba Cha - I love soba (roasted buckwheat) tea. It’s so bready and comforting and a terrific way to finish up a heavy meal. I’m linking a specific one here but I’ve bought many different ones and loved them all.

7. Cynar - We are a Cynar household. We love this bitter made from artichokes!! I always tell people it tastes like cola syrup. Use it for a spritz or a negroni. Or a sour!! It would be so good in a sour.

8. Sticky Cranberry Gingerbread - I make this every year and then promptly make it two more the next day. It’s so delicious and easy to bring to parties or friend’s houses or to just keep under a tea towel in your kitchen so you always have something nice to serve guests.

9. Penguin Ice Bucket - I found one of these in an antique shop years ago and I’m still totally delighted by it every time I pull it out. It has penguins on it and it’s shaped like a penguin! That’s freaking cute!!!! There’s a couple of them around the internet.

10. Order in Peking Duck and Make a Broth - Every year for New Year’s Eve, Aaron and I order in something very fancy and watch When Harry Met Sally. When Harry Met Sally was basically the theme of our wedding ceremony, but I digress. Our most decadent take out thus far has been a whole peking duck from Phillipe. Incredibly festive building the little pancakes and watching Bruno Kirby be a comedic genius. It wasn’t in the cards for two people to finish the whole thing but that just meant on New Year’s Day all the leftover bones and meat went into a pot. I threw in a few knobs of ginger, some garlic, a handful of scallions, water, and left it to simmer all day until we were left with a fragrant, delicious broth.

I’ll see you next week for our last Christmas letter: Movies, Books, & Music!

I love you all,

Eleonore

Dear Everyone,

I love opening up my stocking.It’s the amuse-bouche to Christmas Day! My sister and I had the exact same one, knitted with a puppy on it, but hers had a green ribbon and mine had a red one on it so Santa could tell who was who. I had lots of fun thinking about this list and the little trinkets you could shove into each other’s socks. Happy Stuffing!

1. A Nail File - My mom put nail files into our stocking every year and it’s become a long-running joke. But you know what? I always had a nail file when I needed it!

2. Citra Sipper - Who wouldn’t be totally charmed by this little gadget? You shove it into an orange and sip, fabulous.

3. Hansel from Basel Barrettes - Sweet little crocheted barrettes in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. I wear them! Theodora wears them! This brand also has great tights for kids.

4. Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville and Anna’s Ginger Swedish Thins- I love the idea of tucking a novella into a stocking, and I think Melville’s hilarious story about free will is the perfect option. Pair it with a sleeve of these underrated, crispy, delicious cookies–if you’ve read Bartleby you’ll get it

5. Pustefix Bubbles - These are the best bubbles in the cutest bottle. Huge, perfect bubbles every time.

6. Typology Lip Oil in Marron Glacé (Glazed Chestnut) - I love this stuff. It feels extremely nourishing and not sticky at all and has a beautiful gold shimmer. Chicest packing ever, too.

7. Champagne Stopper - These things work amazingly well. Not much else to say other than your champagne (or prosecco or lambrusco or, or, or…) is still fizzy the next day. Hallelujah.

8. Stamps - Like a nail file, stamps are something that are so nice to just have around. Support our postal service and gift your sweeties some cute stamps. I love these and these!

9. Astrology Gems Zodiac Books - I’m not super into astrology and Aaron is very much not into astrology, but we bought two of these in our respective signs (Cancer (me) Virgo (him)) to read on a long car ride and we were both amazed by the accuracy. These are all over Thriftbooks so just type in your sign and “Astrology Gems” and you’ll find what you need. I think stuffing one of these little guys is such a good idea! After dinner everyone can zone out and read about themselves and the stars.

10. Pearlescent Taper Candles - I like the snowiness of pearlescent tapers and I love the idea of someone pulling these out and immediately lighting them so you have candlelight going throughout your Christmas.

I’ll see you next week for Food, Drinks, & Entertaining!

I love you all,

Eleonore

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I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving! I am so thrilled to present you with the official A Very Picnic Christmas The Gift Guide. Every one of my letters has perhaps felt like a gift guide to you but trust me, this is the gift guide. I divided it into kids and non-kids, so if you’re not shopping for a child feel free to skip ahead. I also tried to note when to order things for holiday delivery, but not every site had that information yet. I am so excited to hear what you’re getting and making for people.

Kids

1. Primary Silver Snow Suit- I bought this for Theodora last year and will likely buy it again this year. It is show-stopping, insane, cute, warm, funny, and fabulous.

2. I SPY - Recently we saw an exhibit on Walter Wick, the artist behind the I SPY photographs, and it ignited something in our family. Namely, our 19 month old is completely obsessed with these books. Get them for a baby, get them for a child, get them for a tween! I remember poring over these books into my early teens. The pictures are to die for.

3. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin- This is always the book I buy for young readers. A genuinely thrilling mystery, well written, and smart.

4. Serendipity Organics Longed Sleeve T - I kid you not, Theodora has fit into this shirt for 14 months. One year and two months. Talk about bang for your freaking buck! So soft, perfect for layering, cannot recommend enough.

5. Darling - This shop just opened up on Atlantic Avenue and we were there opening day, baby. Mostly vintage clothes with some new items from great brands like Oso & Me and others. They also had lovely toys and books, and very nice cards if you need one. Great place to shop with your kid because the whole shop and staff is super kid friendly.

6. Wooden Caterpillar Toys - How exciting are these little wood toys?! The possibilities are completely endless. I love the tree puzzles and the farm set.

7. Hey Kids, Watch This! - I love this book from A24 that has over a 100 kid-friendly (but actually good) films for movie night. T is too young for movie night, but I’m counting down the days to when we can use this. Give this to your parent-friends with a bag of nice popcorn.

8. Shrimps Mamie Bonnet - Another thing that has lasted us more than one season. So thick, warm, and precious. I love that bonnets ensure their ears stay covered. Preoder with early December delivery.

9. Alessi Children’s Cutlery - I recently spiraled about silicone tableware and went full on stainless steel/glass. I wish I had seen this utterly chic set before I purchased flatware.

10. Victorian Playmobil - I mean. YEAH. These are completely darling! I love how builder sets like Playmobil and LEGO are physical and imaginative play. The produce stand? The kitchen? The WEDDING? Please buy this for a child you know and tell me how much fun it is.

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Non-Kids

1. Neue Sport Hand Weights and Ropa Expander - Remember last week when I told you to go to Café Sabarsky and then head to the gift shop? This is what you would buy. The only romantic way to gift work-out gear…exquiste.

2. Aeon Books - A good book store is the only true one-stop-shop for the holidays. Aeon has the best selection of unique art, fiction, and music books. A whole section on mysticism. Great records and well-priced rare books, too. I could spend hours here finding things for everybody on my list. Past favorite finds have been a zine on Armenian artists for my mom, a tiny Gregory Corso book for my dad, and a great anthology of Steinbeck for myself.

3. Mr Niland Fish Weight - Aaron got me this exact press years ago and it’s beloved. Excellent for getting a consistent crisp on chicken legs or compressing a grilled sandwich. Also great if you need to press tofu! Black and Rainbow available now. Stainless Steel Preorder for January delivery.

4. New York Puzzle Company’s “Thrifting” - I love puzzles that have obvious sections everyone can work on. This might be the most stunning example of this I’ve ever seen? I can’t believe how beautiful and unique this puzzle is. Someone buy it for moi!!!

5. Missoni Socks - Festive, adorable, perfect peeking out of a loafer.

6. Beaded flowers - My sister gave me a bouquet of beaded flowers a few years ago and they’re equal parts stunning and delightful. You could go big with a bouquet or gift a perfect single stem. If you’re in the US, order soon since both artists linked are EU-based.

7. Sermoneta Gloves - I found the loveliest pair of white leather gloves for my wedding here. The shop is a quintessential Shop, I beg you to go to the actual store. Another place where you could practically get all your shopping done.

8. Autumn Sonata Marta Caftan in Saffron - This is what I want to wear to every holiday party this year, and then revive and wear all summer long. It’s completely and totally sumptuous.

9. Mexican Alpaca Silver and Abalone Fish-Shaped Bottle Opener - I saw these in the window of an antique shop and became totally enamored by their cuteness. What a great present to pair with a hard-to-find beer or…

10. Spirited: Cocktails from Around the World - I know this is the kind of thing you read on every gift guide but if you do, it’s for good reason. This is the most comprehensive cocktail book I’ve come across. It’s leather-bound, and therefore gorgeous, and filled with every drink you’ve ever wanted to make and tons you’ve never even heard of.

11. Thornwillow Monthly Dispatch - Thornwillow is a small printing press that makes lovely editions of short stories and essays, along with other terrific paper goods. They offer subscriptions to their dispatches, where each month you’ll receive a letterpressed, hand-bound special edition of whatever they’ve chosen to publish that month. December’s dispatch is Guy de Maupassant’s The Necklace, November’s was Kazuo Ishiguro’s Cellists.

12. Restocking Someone’s Medicine Cabinet - Maybe I’m kooky but I think there’s something romantic about giving someone everything they need for their medicine cabinet. Big bottle of Advil, big box of Bandaids etc. It’s sooo thoughtful. If this feels too utilitarian to you, my sister and I do a bougie version where we tell each other what we need refills on for our skincare/hair/beauty and restock each other.

13. Youtube Premium - I’m laughing, but if you have someone in your life who uses YouTube a lot, this is what you get them. No one likes the ads but no one is going to upgrade to YouTube Premium because it’s random. But the truth is, it’s iconic when your videos are ad-free.

14. The Frick Baseball Cap - Peter bought these for Aaron and I in burgundy and white years ago and they’re very festive and sort of mysterious. Now the logos are embroidered in gold which is even more jolly. I still love the burgundy most. Order by 12/16 for Christmas delivery

15. Custom Coasters of Each Other for your Nightstands - Aaron and I each have coasters with pictures of each other on our nightstands. It’s corny, but it’s cute as hell. Make your lover some coasters with great pics of you on them!!

16. Gansai Water Color Set - The most beautiful set of watercolors I’ve ever seen. Give this to someone who’s going on a trip after Christmas so they can capture their new terrain.

17. Aesop Brass Oil Burner - We were given this for our wedding and I love how heavy and BRASS it is. Very ‘O Holy Night’ vibes lighting the little votive and dripping the little oil.

18. 33 ⅓ Books - A hyperspecific book hates to see me coming :) These are little books each devoted to one album, diving deep on the track list and its place in music history. I have Judy Garland’s Judy at Carnegie Hall, but there’s quite literally hundreds of albums to choose from. D’Angelo’s Voodoo is the one I would give this year.

19. Lauscha Table Vases - They’re knife rests. They’re bud vases. They’re whimsy incarnate. Add it to cart mamacita.

20. Yahtzee - If your family gives gifts (we do one) on Christmas Eve, may I recommend Yahtzee? I don’t know the last time you played this game but it. is. thrilling. It’s essentially gambling. It would be so fun to play a round or two in your jammies by the light of the tree right before going to bed.

See you next week for Stocking Stuffers.

I love you all,

Eleonore

P.S. Not to be like, “check out my instagram,” but every year I do the Bonne Maman Advent Calendar, which starts tomorrow. People have told me they love it. I love it! I love jam!!!!

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Dear Everyone,

Welcome to A Very Picnic Christmas! For the next five weeks you’ll be receiving letters from yours truly filled with glorious ways to celebrate the seas’. There will be activities, there will be movies, there will be food, and there will, of course, be a gift guide. This week’s letter is all about getting into the holiday spirit…fa la la la la la la la la…..

1. Planting an Amaryllis Bulb NOW - If you plant your bulb now, baby you’ve got a bloom on Christmas!!!! Last year it was impossible for me to find bulbs, but I’ve been seeing them all over this year. Checking the little sprout every day and seeing its growth is spiritually the same as waking up Christmas morning and seeing presents under the tree.

2. L.L. Bean Stockings - I think these are the most classic mass-produced stockings on the market. They look great, hold a lot, and the monogramming makes them feel like instant heirlooms. Order by 12/10 for Christmas Delivery.

3. Anglaspels and Christmas Chimes - I got one of these last year and was amazed by the beauty and merriment. Every time someone would come over and I’d light the candles, sit back, and let them experience the magic.

4. SRO Nutcracker - I have it on good authority (my dear Pulitzer-prize nominated friend Michael Breslin) that if you walk up to the box office the day of the show, you can get $40 standing room only seats to The Nutcracker. Follow that up with dinner at Cafe Luxembourg? Talk about gorgeous maximus!

5. Pomander - When I was 8 years old I read about sticking cloves into oranges in The American Girls Party Book and have faithfully done it every year since. These are called pomanders and they can be as intricate or as simple as you’d like. If your child is old enough to not immediately eat a clove, they can absolutely do this with you.

6. D. Porthault Tissue Box Cover - I’ve been eyeing this tissue box cover for five years and I think this is the year I finally buy it. I’m a total paisley head, so I know I’ll use it year round, but I love how festive it is. They also have this one with cranberries printed on it, which is even more christmassy. GREAT hosting gift if someone is having you for the holiday weekend.

7. Cavallini & Co. Christmas Tags & Stickers - I’ve been using these for many years now. They are so beautiful and well made and each box comes with TONS. It takes me two (sometimes three) Christmases to finish one box. I also love their stickers, if you’re not into tying tags onto bows.

8. Mrs. Meyer’s Gingerbread- This is basic of me but I’m completely freaking obsessed with this scent from Mrs. Meyers. The surface spray brings me insane joy when I’m wiping down the coffee table at the end of the night. It’s a little weird as a dish soap just because it’s so gourmand, but I adore the hand soap. I’ve already stocked up my cabinets and I’m twiddling my thumbs until Thanksgiving is over and I can break them out.

9. Make Your Own Wrapping Paper - Randomly this is so easy and fun. You need to carve a stamp using these tools, then you just stamp a roll of paper!! I just tried to find pics of when I did this and couldn’t, but I think I carved an ornament, a candy cane, and a tree? You can do whatever your heart desires.

10. Apple Strudel at Café Sabarsky - Here’s what you’re going to do: you’re gonna head to the Upper East Side and get some shopping done at Blue Tree and The Corner Bookstore. Then you’re going to walk seven blocks down to Neue Galerie. At this point you’re cold. You’re going to walk into the dark wood paneled Café Sabarsky and tuck into one of the velvet upholstered booths. You’re going to get a coffee and an Apfelstrudel mit Schlag and look out the window onto Fifth Avenue. Kids will be getting out of school, shoppers will be readjusting their bags, people will be stuffing their phones in their pockets so they can keep their hands warm instead of scrolling. Then you’ll coatcheck your shopping bags, walk through the museum (my favorite in the city), and then head down to the gift shop…

See you next week for The Gift Guide.

I love you all,

Eleonore

Happy Halloween! How the heck are ya? This October’s big event was going to Paris with Theodora. Hence the hefty amount of Paris recs and significant amount of kid recs. Don’t worry if you hate France and Kids, there’s other stuff in here too. I am once again writing to you from a moving vehicle—I’m driving! Just kidding, I have no idea how to drive. It’s very pleasant to write this while zipping past neon yellow sprays of foliage. My hope is I will finish before Theodora wakes up and demands to listen to “Gracie’s Corner” which, if you know, you know. Let’s see what I’ve got…

1. The Roasted Artichokes at E.A.T. - Did you know you can go to the Upper East Side and get tiny, crispy, golden artichokes? They are so fabulous and have always been my favorite thing on E.A.T.’s menu. Other than the celery root salad, which retired in the early 2000s and which my mom and I were addicted to. Next time I see Eli I need to muster up the courage to ask for that recipe or at least start a petition to bring it back. Anyway, this is about the ARTICHOKES. Either order them as part of the salad plate or buy a container and bring them home…or you can do what I do, and buy the container and immediately eat it outside.

2. The Scully & Scully Catalogue - The most glamorous and ridiculous item to receive in the mail. The prices make no sense and everything is insanely garish.

3. Museo (2018) - Since we all have heists on the mind since you know what, it felt like the perfect time to recommend one of my favorite movies that’s come out in the last 10 years, Museo. Aaron and I bonded early in our relationship over our love of heist films, specifically how much we love the (very bad) Thomas Crown Affair remake starring Pierce Brosnan. In direct contrast to that is Museo, which may be the best heist film I’ve ever seen? It tells the true story of the 1985 National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City heist. The performances are sensitive yet gripping, the film is beautiful to look at, and the heist is as tense and exciting as you want it to be.

   

4. Casa Marrazzo Caramelized Pellecchiella Apricot Preserves - I am an apricot supremacist. I think apricots are better than peaches. I absolutely love, love, love apricot jam, dried apricots, just apricots themselves–yes, please! Needless to say, when I saw this jar on the counter of the Italian deli I was in, I immediately snatched it. The guys behind the counter were psyched, one said to put it on ice cream, another said to eat it on toast. I put them on my yogurt and soared to heaven. A little chewy like a dried apricot, with a lightly sweet syrup. Delicious.

   

5. Ellenos Yogurt - I love this yogurt brand it tastes like fancy Yoplait. It’s not really yogurt for the morning, more for an afternoon sweet treat or dessert. I just tried their seasonal “Pecan Pie” flavor which tasted almost exclusively of toasted graham crackers and therefore absolutely delicious. Very decadent.

6. John Derian Sticker Book - I kept seeing videos of women closing their eyes and flipping to random pages of this book and then picking a sticker and creating a beautiful collage with it. I was mesmerized, of course. Then Kaitlin mentioned it a few weeks ago in her Substack and it got me really yearning for it. I saw it this last weekend in the gift shop at The Red Lion Inn and bought it immediately. There’s also a John Derian Sticker Book II, but I think the 300-something pages of one will keep me occupied for the next 20ish years or so.

   

7. “Hitchhiker” by Demi Lovato - In this House We Love Demi Lovato. So first of all, know that. Second of all, this sooooong!!! My sister and husband are reading this right now and nodding their heads because the three of us vibe OUT to this song. It’s kind of summery to be recommending right now but who doesn’t need a moment of summer here and there?

8. Momokawa - My mom got me addicted to Shabu Shabu at a young age. I can’t remember a time where we weren’t seeking it out. It’s gotten easier to find good places in the city, but for a while they were few and far between. We used to go to this great place in midtown that had a section of the Berlin Wall hanging in a plaza outside the restaurant—okaaaay Gorbachev! Anyway, this has been our favorite for the past 10 years or so. It’s an unassuming, comfortable restaurant on the Upper East Side with very good food and lovely, chill servers. I’ve come here on date nights, with groups of friends, and with my mom, of course! Terrific for every occasion.

9. Bodkin - This show has been on my running list since Picnic Style’s naissance, but it never felt like its time. It’s time!! I think this is the perfect cozy, funny, but intriguing mystery to binge on a chilly late-fall weekend. We started watching this because we’re huge Forte Heads (Will Forte fans) but were genuinely taken in by the mystery.

10. Shoe Organizer Travel Hack - I can’t remember the first time I saw this hack, probably on TikTok before I even had a child, but it stuck in my mind after Haley wrote about it in one of her 15 Things letters. I finally had a child, and therefore a reason to test out the hack. It’s freaking fabulous, people!!! You take a hanging shoe organizer and fill each compartment with your kids’ clothes, roll it up, and put it in a suitcase. When you get to your destination you can unpack it or you can just hang the organizer up.

11. Bonton - We stumbled upon this shop while walking around the 11th and I am so thrilled we did. It’s a huge concept store for children. Amazingly cute kids clothes, an entire tea party set up for them to play with, funhouse mirrors, and a film photobooth. I went a tad wild for T in here, but now that we’re back home, I wish I had gotten even more. A mom I chatted with on the plane home said that she’s ordered stuff online (and on sale!) with great results, so good news for all us Americans.

    

12. Rubirosa Slippers - I will be the 150th Substack to talk about Rubirosa, but it is a truly gorgeous shopping experience. They don’t have a website so you just have to go the next time you’re in Paris. I do want to highlight something I haven’t seen getting as much hype as the pajamas, which are the loafers. As soft and thin as a cashmere sock, they are made of the most delicious leather I’ve ever worn. I bought a pair in cardinal red.

    

13. Maison Caillau - When I saw this shop next to our hotel, I had to pop in. Very pretty little shop filled with very pretty hair accessories. I bought a wide chocolate brown headband and a dark violet taffeta scrunchie. They also had beautiful umbrellas.

14. Bonhomme de bois - We found this shop by accident and could have bought the whole place. So sweet and whimsical with lots of wooden and cotton toys.

15. This Detail in Moonstruck (1987) - Every now and then the tiny screen on an airplane actually adds to the movie-watching experience. I managed to watch the first 25 minutes of Moonstruck before Theodora demanded my attention, and while the opening credits rolled I noticed a little detail I’d never seen before on a larger screen. The billing for the fictional production of La Boheme lists members of the film’s crew: the costume designer for the opera is the costume designer of the movie, the AD of the movie is the “Stage Director” of the opera–how cute is that!!!

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16. William Lockie Cashmere - I’ve said this before, but a lot of Picnic Style is me going to use something I’ve used and loved for years and realizing I should tell you about it. When I reached into the back of our coat closet to pull out these hats and scarves I was struck with that realization. My mom bought us these matching scarf/hat sets for Christmas years ago and we’ve used them loyally ever since. The cashmere is so soft, the weight perfect, the scarf drapes exactly how you want it to and the hat snuggles up to your head in the best way. It’s sadly not easy to find William Lockie online these days but I did find a shop that did a collab with them featuring hats in many colors. I also found this cute, cotton candy number on eBay.

17. Bru XL Gouda - 2025 has randomly been the year of Gouda for me. I’m so into it. This is the most insanely delicious cheese I’m salivating writing about it. It’s salty and grassy with so many crystals it’s borderline crunchy. Oh my GOUDA!!!!!

18. The Outfit (2022) - I’m such a theater girl, my favorite movies and books are the ones that feel like a play. This is a movie that feels like a play. It all takes place in a suit shop in Chicago in a neighborhood run by the Irish mob. An exquisitely tense thriller that makes you lean forward and hold your breath. This in a clean apartment on a gloomy November night? Chef’s kiss.

    

19. Seeing and Buying Something IRL - As much as I love to buy things, I absolutely hate shopping online. I do it all the time, but I don’t like it! The other day I was walking in my neighborhood and saw out of the corner of my eye, a scarf in the window of a shop. A scarf I’ve been seeing ads for on my Instagram for the last year. A scarf I really liked, but I didn’t want to buy online. You know what I did? I marched into that little boutique, asked to try on the scarf the mannequin was wearing, and I bought it–in real life!!!!!! I floated home.

20. “Crispy Chicken Legs…” from Dining In - This is one of the recipes I make most. It’s so little effort for such a high reward–crispy skinned chicken, melty little potatoes, and luscious schmaltzy olive-oil that you can strain and keep for subsequent meals. Adore it. I think a really great way to revitalize the cookbooks on your shelves is to ask your friends what their go-to recipes are from those books. You’ve maybe cooked 20 recipes from Dining In but never thought to make this one until now. P.S. If you don’t have this book, let me know and I will message you the recipe.

21. Rancho Meladuco Dates - I feel like right before Bon Appetit blew up everyone was talking about these dates and now, no one is. Well, I am. They’re the best dates I’ve ever had in my life.

    

22. Sunshine LaCroix Cans - I became obsessed with trying this when I saw Claire post them on her instagram. The flavor is…fine? It’s kind of citrus-y meets pineapple but in a way that’s a memory, because it’s flavored seltzer. I’m writing about them because the cans are the most gorgeous I’ve ever seen (other than my own). I mean they’re giving Van Gogh for christ’s sake!

23. Truly Madly Deeply T-Shirt - I’ve had three of these t-shirts since I bought them at Urban Outfitters probably 15 years ago. They are so soft and comfortable and the perfect weight for sleeping in. I wouldn’t have thought to write about them until I spotted Anna wearing one when we were facetiming and found out she was also a fangirl. You can find them all over Poshmark.

24. Jász Laci Rising Sun - This is a great orange wine to bring to people who maybe don’t drink orange wines. It’s nice and smooth, with a subtle sweetness that’s very honey-esque and just a bit cider-y.

25. Idiotka (2025) - I had the enormous pleasure of going to The Downtown Festival a few weeks ago and seeing Nastasya Popov’s Idiotka which happens to star my brilliant, talented Anna. She is so loveable in this funny, sweet movie. I’d say it’s for people who wished Little Miss Sunshine was cuntier. I can’t wait for you all to see it!

    

I love you all,

Eleonore

P.S. Next month will be The Holiday Gift Guide Issue. So, if you have any special requests, any simmering desires, any burning questions–let! me! Know!

P.P.S. Theodora woke up as I was writing #8