Picnic Style #1

January

Jan 31, 2025

Dear Everyone,

Welcome to the very first Picnic Style. I’m so happy you’re here! On the last of every month, I’ll send you a list of 30 or so things I absolutely love. I hope that you will return to this list throughout the month whenever you think to yourself, what was that aioli she recommended? As Picnic Style goes on, I’d love to hear how you feel about the format, the recommendations, everything. Nothing is set in stone, and I want this to be fun for both of us. All of these things have brought me happiness, and I hope they do the same for you!

Blue Tree - Every time a friend asks me where they can buy a gift for someone, I recommend Blue Tree on the Upper East Side. It’s filled with eclectic goodies ranging from funny to thoughtful to both. If you refuse to go uptown (get a life), Top Hat on the LES is a good counterpart.
Petrossian Vodka and Cognac Chocolate Pearls - I famously don’t like chocolate, but recently got into these. They’re tiny little crunchies with the shocking but delicious aftertaste of booze. Would be so good sprinkled with popcorn. Also, the remaining tin is great for storing hair ties or sewing needles and thread.
Dan in Real Life (2007) - You know when it’s a crispy October day, and you have an amazing outfit on, and you’re taking a long walk to meet a friend and you feel cozy and joyful and giddy? That’s how this movie makes me feel. I’m a total freak for romcoms, and this is one of the absolute best. If you’ve seen it, rewatch it. If you haven’t seen it, I’m so jealous you get to watch it for the first time. It’s streaming on hulu and disney rn.
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!!!
Shy: The Alarmingly Outspoken Memoirs of Mary Rodgers - Not to perpetuate harmful stereotypes, but ever since I had a baby, I haven’t been able to read, so I’ve become an audiobook-head. I especially love listening to memoirs. This one was recommended to me after I crowd-sourced on Instagram and wow. First of all, it’s read by Christine Baranski…secondly, Mary Rodgers (daughter of Richard) is a wild gossip and doesn’t hold back a damn thing. Lots of glorious details about the New York theater scene in the 50s.
“Tentacular” - This is a word Mary Rodgers uses to describe her overbearing mother. I’d never heard it before, and it literally stopped me dead in my tracks. What a juicy, perfect word!!
Diptyque Cafe Candle - I bought this candle when I was pregnant and the apartment was in complete chaos. I had this plan that I would wait until the apartment was clean, the nursery was finished, and I was too huge to move to light it for the first time. It’s a good thing Theodora was born before a single one of those things happened! When I finally lit it 6ish months postpartum, I immediately regretted not buying two. It smells like a coffee shop that just got a delivery of fresh croissants. The vessel it’s in is hideous, but I hid mine in a hurricane holder. These candles were a special edition, so they don’t make them anymore–I shouldn’t be recommending them, but I did find one on eBay and one on Mercari if you’re willing to cough up the cash for something you’ve never even sniffed.
Crap Eyewear Sunglasses - I bought these one day randomly and thank god I did. So chic. So easy. I think they’d look fabulous on any of you.
Little Gypsy Farms Olive Oil - Questionable name, but I picked a bottle of this up at the butcher a few weeks ago, and it’s so delicious. Herbaceous and grassy, I’ve been liberally pouring it on our steamed veggies, soups, salads, etc.
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.
Urgo Filmogel Pen - I was in Paris 5 or 7 years ago and had a huge pimple. The pharmacist recommended I use this and it changed my L. Now, whenever I go to France I stock up on these perfect pens, but writing this, I’ve realized you can order them online.
Masque VIP O₂ - Rounding out my skincare recs is this absurdly expensive mask I accidentally bought and became obsessed with. I don’t totally understand what it’s doing, but it gently makes your face look fantastic. I save it to use before special occasions so it’s lasted me a long time. Apparently their prices are going up, so if you’re interested, buy it now!!
The Makani: Cooking for the Maiko House (2023) - The algorithm told me I’d be interested in this show, and they were right. It’s the most gentle, quiet television. It follows two teenage girls who want to become maiko (apprentice geishas), and one of them realizes her dream is actually to cook for the maikos. She makes all these stunning meals, and nothing happens. I don’t even know if the show is good or bad but it’s perfectly brain-smoothing.
Vej Wine - I don’t know anything about wine but this is one of my favorites I’ve ever had. It’s a beautiful skin contact wine that has kind of a honey vibe. Everyone I’ve served it to has loved it.
Grandhotel Giessbach - If you’ve ever wanted to stay in a hotel that looks like the Von Trapp home with rooms that look out onto a 1300 ft waterfall, then you’re in luck. This hotel is in Brienz, Switzerland, about an hour and a half drive from Zurich, or an hour drive from Lucerne. The rooms are perfectly quaint, the website describes them as a place to, “internalise moments.” The breakfast was insane—I’ve never seen so many flavors of jams. And you just cannot beat the ROAR of a huge waterfall right out your window. I have a great 10ish-day Swiss itinerary if you’re interested.
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.
Chicken Noodle Pasta - This is a dish I invented last year where the sauce is basically chicken noodle soup, but instead of being soupy it’s saucy. Over medium heat, melt some butter and add diced onions and celery, letting them get soft and translucent. Then, add some sliced carrots. I think coins look nice in this dish. Add enough chicken broth that it goes about 2 inches above the veggies and some thyme. Also, you should be adding salt and pepper. Meanwhile, cook your pasta–I love small shells or cavatelli here, but ditalini or elbows would be classic– until it’s well under al dente, you want to finish cooking it in the chicken noodle sauce. When it’s glossy and cooked to your liking, serve it with lots of fresh parsley, dill, flaky salt, and lemon zest. Leeks, fennel, and parsnips would all be good additions/substitutions. There’s no chicken in CNP because I think chicken on pasta is tacky, but feel free to add.
Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner - Friend Groups is my favorite fiction genre. Crossing to Safety follows two couples throughout their lives who meet when they’re very young and starting new jobs and families. It’s heartbreaking but in a feel-good way and so atmospheric. My friend and former editor, Andrea recommend this to me and it’s become one of my favorites. I love to give this as a gift because no one has read it and everyone loves it.
Sprekenhus Hand Soap - My husband, Aaron, and I give each other hand soap every year for Christmas and on each other’s birthdays. I once bought these books on our zodiac signs (Cancer (me) and Virgo (him)) to read on a long car ride and it said we both love nice soap. So true. This is the soap he got me this year for Christmas and I love washing my hands with it, I’m a nut for anything amber scented.
Ach Brito Tomate Bar Soap - Continuing on with soap, we are a bar soap family. I bought this bar in Lisbon last year and didn’t use it until a month ago. It had this really pleasing fresh dirt and fruit smell and was very moisturizing! The downside to bar soap is that sometimes your skin feels tight afterwards—not the case with this one.
Cozy Dinkum - I bought this doll for Theodora for Christmas 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. Also, they’re called Cozy Dinkums…iconico.
Saving Voice Notes Automatically - My friend Haley opened up my universe when she told me you can change the settings on your phone so that all voice notes are saved automatically. Go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Tap expire (below Audio Messages), then tap Never.
Personalized Pet Bowl - I got one of these made for Edie’s water and shattered it within one day of ordering it. It was so cute and cool, I swallowed my pride and immediately ordered a replacement.
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.
Incredible Edible Vintage Puzzles - During the pandemic we got really into puzzles but I got sick of the new stuff. So I turned to eBay. These puzzles are so whackadoo, and hard, and fun. We seriously considered preserving the Broccoli one and hanging it in our kitchen but we were too lazy. One of you should absolutely do this.
Achieving Sink Zero - This is something Aaron came up with, it’s the exact same concept as achieving email zero but with your sink. There is something so purifying about going to sleep knowing your sink is completely clear and sanitized. This hits especially hard if you’re constantly cleaning bottles and pump parts.
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.
Café Cecilia Cook Book - My sister’s boyfriend, Phoenix gave me this for Christmas and it’s taken a pride of place on my coffee table. The photographs are so beautiful, I flip through the book and daydream about the party I’d have where I’d make this or that dish and everyone would say “oooh, aaahhh, wowie.”
Uniqlo Long Johns - One of my favorite things is when you realize you bought something on a whim years ago and it’s become totally crucial to your personhood. Aaron and I went to Norway in 2018 and I bought a slew of undergarments and long johns from Uniqlo to layer with. Years later, I still reach for the long johns throughout the winter. They’re perfectly thin, so you don’t feel bulky and resentful while you’re out walking in the cold.
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.”