My two annual rites of passage into summer are as follows: 1) getting upset over the overuse of the acronym “MDW” (is “Memorial Day weekend” really that taxing to write out?!), and 2) catching a late spring cold are in full effect this week. So let’s jump right into my favorite finds of May, and get ready to say hello to summer…

WATCHING

Image via Sports Radio PD

The only thing that can make me trek to Queens? The chance to see the first two parts of ESPN’s newest 30 for 30 documentary focused on O.J. Simpson. It was incredible.

Screened at the Museum of the Moving Image, filmmaker Ezra Edelman’s 7 ½ hour long documentary wraps the famed football player’s life in a larger story, exploring the racial dynamics of L.A. during Simpson’s rise to fame (first as a Heisman winner at USC and later living in the tony Brentwood neighborhood after retirement), and the city’s combative history between its police force and black citizens.

If you’re on the fence about committing more time to the Juice after the recent FX mini-series thrust his story back in the spotlight, rest assured: it’s worth it.

WEARING

A lot of Wisconsin love.

I took a quick trip to Madison to help designer pal Todd Snyder (listen to our podcast here) open his newest store for Tailgate, the collegiate apparel brand, on the UW-Madison campus

My summer uniform generally rotates between easy breezy summer dresses and nice – or at least cool – casual wear, and this summer plan on seeing me in a lot of Snyder’s super soft, slim fit sports tees.

The brand reminds me of the vintage tees you steal from your parents from their college days, or hope to stumble on in thrift stores…but y’know, new. 

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DRINKING

Image via Punch

Also the name of one of my favorite podcast networks (okay, the only podcast network I know), I’ve been enjoying a refreshing gimlet on the regular as late. Want a fresh spin on this gin-based drink? Try this:  

The Celery Gimlet

Ingredients for 1 serving:

• 1 1/2 ounces gin
• 1/4 ounce green Chartreuse
• 1/4 ounce St. Germain
• 3/4 ounce lime juice
• 1/2 ounce lime syrup (see Editor’s Note)
• 1/2 ounce celery juice
• 5 dashes verjus
• 2 dashes celery bitters
• pinch of Maldon salt
• Garnish: celery stick, lime wheel

Directions:

• Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
• Shake and strain on fresh ice into a rocks glass.
• Garnish with a celery stick and a lime wheel.

LISTENING TO

Image via Spin

You know what? I haven’t been listening to a lot of music lately.

About a month after Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo hit Spotify, I finally committed to listening through and getting to know the music. I had a bootleg of the Madison Square Garden listening event, but that didn’t have all the songs, and I honestly was feeling like there was no way he could top the 1-2 sonic memory punch in my ear guts that is My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Yeezus, so I just …didn’t listen to it? For awhile?

I think maybe I didn’t want to be disappointed. Maybe I was scared the Kardashian connection would sour me to Yeezy’s work. I may also have been dealing with some misplaced resentment that neither he nor Rihanna put “FourFive Seconds” with Paul McCartney on the album.

But then I finally put the album on my phone and have been listening to it more and more. I love “Ultralight Beams,” I love “Waves,” I love “Wolves,” I love “30 Hours,” I love “Real Friends.” Yes, I love “Famous.”

That’s not new, though! How unexciting of me. If you have newer, cooler albums for me to listen to, leave them in the comments.

READING

Anything my pal Jack Moore writes over on GQ. The LA-based playwright and comedy writer opines for the men’s digital mag on sports, culture, and politics (“Not fashion” he was quick to tell me when we finally had a chance to meet up last month). He’s funny, smart, and taller in person than his byline avatar would suggest. Not familiar? Start here, here, and here.

TELL ME:

WHAT WERE YOU WEARING, WATCHING, AND READING THIS MONTH? 

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