After an accidental missed few weeks of writing that became a month that became most of 2023, Another Bloody Email is back for edition #26. When the news cycle feels so very heavy, it can seem indulgent or useless to talk about anything else. But maybe that’s exactly when we need some extra joy. This week you’ll find santa mafia, sexy walls, walking (yes, walking) and a tv/music recco all-in-one.
READ// Christmas? Already?
If the sight of tinsel has made you twitchy, this might be a good read to get into the festive spirit. Or not.
Shared with me by an ABE reader (thank you) this piece got me back into reading long-form articles again after I’d fallen into a bit of a funk.
In short, the headline says a lot. Secrets of the Christmas Tree Trade Turf wars. Protection money. Scientology. And my boss, a man who’s half-convinced he really is Santa. I love headlines that spill their guts, like just watch me not click through. (Never, you’ve hooked me!)
In long, this article dives into the business of selling trees in NYC and explores some of the kingpins and cash deals plus general craziness that goes on. You can almost smell the scratchy pine needles through the screen.
Christmas trees are big business in New York. A lot of people see the quaint plywood shacks that appear on sidewalks just before Thanksgiving, each with its own tiny forest of evergreens, and they imagine that every one is independently owned, maybe by jolly families of lumberjacks looking to make a few holiday bucks. That’s what I thought, anyway. In reality, a few eccentric, obsessed, sometimes ruthless tycoons control the sale of almost every single tree in the city. They call themselves “tree men,” and they spend 11 months a year preparing for Christmastime — which, to them, is a blistering 30-day sprint to grab as much cash as they can.
ADORE // A holiday for your eyes
If you just need some beautiful things to look at right now, Yatzer.com is a vision. Officially it’s a curated design site full of sleek architecture, fashion and art projects. Unofficially it’s just good and inspiring and the photography is always so schmick and makes me want to spend my life redecorating.
LOOK AT THESE CURVES.
Alexis Dornier/The Loop
AND THIS RUG. (This is now a design newsletter, sorry guys).
Interior from Les Sources de Caudalie: A Luxury Hotel in Bordeaux's Wine Region
These pics can just get in my soul and stay there!
TRY// This thing you’re already doing
Ahhh have you heard of #SilentWalking? As in walking in silence. As in… walking?
From Forbes’ Silent Walking’ Is A New TikTok Trend, Here’s How It Can Help You
“Imagine taking a walk without talking on your phone, texting, listening to Daft Punk's “Harder Better Faster Stronger” or scrolling through the latest things that the Kardashians have said on social media. In other words, what about doing what people had been doing for thousands of years before smartphones, social media and the world of 24-7 distractions arrived? Wow, what a concept.
Well, this centuries-old trend has actually become a new TikTok trend. It’s even got a new name—“silent walking”—because everything on TikTok has to have a catchy name, right?”
You can watch more on the girl who believes she started the movement here.
It’s ridiculous, obviously. But maybe it also deserves a deeper pause, like how did they/we all get so addicted to the noise that this seems like a thing people need to consciously choose.
In saying all that, I read an article a few months ago where a guy (I think in London) had hired a walking coach as apparently a lot of people “walk wrong”. I annoyingly can’t find the article now (algorithm, help me out please. Or if you know the article I mean, do share!) But the thing I remember was how you should try to imagine you’re peeling your heel off the ground in a way that someone behind you could read a post-it note on it, if that makes any sense. Maybe give it a go? Silently.
WATCH// G Flip is very g
I know Take 5 with Zan Rowe has been around for a while, but consider this a gentle nudge if you haven’t watched it before, particularly the new G Flip episode. If it’s new to you, Zan interviews celebs (typically musicians) and gets them to reflect on their life by sharing their top five favourite or meaningful songs.
The songs G Flip shares are all bangers, but more so I really enjoyed watching how they made it onto the music scene with such strategy and determination to be heard.
Less “overnight success story” than I’d previously thought (or truthfully thought very little about) and more a story of someone who deeply respects the craft and history of making music.
And that’s how I’m interneting this week.
X Rosie
loved that, thank you Rosie! Very nice to have you 'back' :)