No. 40: Summer Sound Bites
Freshwater swimming, hand-cranked peach ice cream, halter tops, cosmos and more for the summertime.
First week of June baby!!! Summer sound bites for you today.
What is your favorite summer ritual?
Helen Shaper, Content Director at Dôen: Fairweather creature of the water that I am, the first day warm enough to swim feels like a summer rite of passage, a ritual, a baptism. I grew up on the Guadalupe River in the Hill Country of Texas, so freshwater feels particularly like homecoming to me and I find myself seeking it out even in the most unlikely of places - the sometimes parched mountains of southern California, on roadtrips through the west, and far far beyond. Some favorite places to swim, near and not so near - Sespe Creek at Piedra Blanca, Matilija Falls, the Yuba River, Barton Creek, the Guadalupe, Big Eddy in Abiquiu, Pine Creek in Zion off viewpoint 2 - and too many others to name.
Also.. since before I can remember, watercolors have always been a part of how I memorialize and internalize a place or a moment, sometimes for myself, but often for those I'm traveling with or visiting - there is no better gift, or souvenir, than a hand drawn or painted card. Whenever I travel I bring a set of watercolors, a micron pen, and watercolor paper. Case for Making makes beautiful handmade watercolor palettes (or build your own palette here), I love their watercolor postcards, and of course Sakura Pigma Microns.
What photographs are memorable to you when you think of summer?
Andrew Friendly, photographer: Oh my god I have too many. These two by Justine Kurland–
A couple of photographs I’ve taken during the summertime–
What are you wearing this summer?
Emma, Em Archives vintage Paris: Summer month is challenging when getting dressed. I want to remain comfortable despite the heat, so a few of my favorite things to wear are: full white looks, halter tops, and havaianas ‘slim’ flips-flops in black.
What is your favorite summertime film?
Alex O Eaton, writer & director: "La Ciénaga" by Lucrecia Martel is the first film that comes to mind. Set in Argentina during a long, hot summer, it follows members of a bourgeois family as they navigate repressed feelings towards each other. To me, this film really feels like summer — it feels like you’re seeping into honey or quicksand. It’s meandering yet intense and you have to move slowly in order to not get too sweaty. I’ve seen it in theaters the last few summers in NY; going to the movies in the middle of the day is one of my favorite summertime rituals. My list could go on and on but to name another few… “A World Without Women” by Guillaume Brac, “Fat Girl” by Catherine Breillat (which all be playing at Lincoln Center at the end of June). And my absolute favorite summertime film…. “Deliverance” by John Boorman.
What does the most joyous summer dish look like to you?
Zoe Johnston, Spilt Milk Collective / Raw Milk : My most joyous summer meal is homemade peach ice cream hand-cranked by my family on Chebeague Island in Maine. :)
What yoga move do you like to incorporate into your practice during the summer?
Kumi Sawyers, yoga teacher: Like all things in nature, my yoga practice changes with the seasons. In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Summer is the peak of Yang energy. It is an energetic time of growth and abundance, when fruit and vegetables are ripe, and the days are long and hot -- I feel the abundant energy of summer in my body and use my yoga practice to move it through so it doesn't stagnate. My favorite moves for this are sun salutations (surya namaskar) and deep backbends like full wheel (urdhva dhanurasana). Summer is also the season of the heart so practicing backbends will crack it wide open! I love to start my summer days with a quick 15 minute practice of 3 rounds of sun salutations and 3 backbends.
What’s a book I should pick up for the summer?
Bill Hall, High Valley Books [more on the shop on AirMail]: Tiny travel diaries — I am really excited about them.
What is a dish you’re excited to make this summer? What is a hosting must for summer?
Chloe Walsh, chef & writer (anchovies & soup): Tomatoes. Always tomatoes! They are my most prized possession of summer. Grated and used for the Spanish dish 'Pan Con Tomate', roughly chopped with some ricotta salata and capers for a simple tomato salad. But best of all, lightly sauteed with a little garlic and stirred into pasta. Wowie, I love tomatoes!
What brings you joy during summer?
Katarina Zhu, filmmaker: summer is the worst season by far. if i could spend every day of june / july / august in a cool dark movie theater, i would. anything that acts as a distraction from the oppressive heat and insane behavior that is characteristic of summer is good—nymphomaniac vol. I will definitely do that (take your mind off of summer)! plus i think it cycles through all the seasons at some point, including summer ; )
What flowers are you including in your arrangements this summer?
Julia Edelman, Outline Florals: Cosmos became a favorite flower of mine when I first started farming, about 6 years ago. Now as a floral designer, I love to use cosmos in my summer arrangements since they are easy to work with and beautiful, offering a softness and airiness to any arrangement I add them to. They have become a sentimental flower for me, a true signifier of summer.
What are you wearing this summer?
Leila Bartholet, Art Director & Designer: Levi capris (hemmed imperfectly by me), margiela ballerina shoe, & helena manzano top (from outline archive sale) and a clip from BOMI in espresso.
What’re you setting your table with this summer?
Julia Stevens, NY Style Editor @ Domino: The new Heather Taylor Home x Domino collection, which actually came out today! We spent a hot summer’s day shooting the striped napkins, tablecloths, and pillows at the cutest house in Shelter Island Heights, and now it’s out for the world to shop. My favorite of the four colorways is the red and blue, ideally paired with a pile of juicy tomatoes and this NYT lambrusco spritz.
No bulletin this week. Just sun and a playlist my brother Ryan made for me & you — enjoy :)
Affection Archives is a weekly look into the archives of yours truly (Arielle Eshel) and humans I admire. If you’d like to add an event to the bulletin, reply to this email or DM me. Banner photograph by Andrew Friendly.