Consumption Lounge: Summer of '25 Edition
A long shortlist of everything I love right now.
Hey everyone,
I know it’s been a minute since I’ve shared anything from the Consumption Lounge—the monthly column I started (and abandoned) a while back that covers everything I’ve been consuming. Mainly because, like many people thinking about the economy, the planet, and the future, I’ve been trying to consume less. Gotta lead by example, you know?
That said, I think we could all use a little distraction and some positive reinforcement beyond the collective schadenfreude of Coldplaygate last weekend (even though those memes now live rent-free in my head for eternity). So here we are.
Most of the recs below lean toward low-waste, high-reward living. You’ll find easy, mostly stove-free recipes, menu ideas that are better for your body and the planet, small biz gems I actually love (along with a few bigger brands, but at least it’s not more plastic shit from Target), and media picks because curating content is still a form of care.
Also included: two human-made Spotify playlists from June and July. They’re old to me, but new to you. If you end up playing them somewhere cool, make sure to say, “Yeah, I got it from Pipe Dreams by The Weed Witch. It’s this really cool newsletter, you should read it.”
Anyway, onto the recs! In no particular order:
CONSUMPTION LOUNGE
A long shortlist of everything I love right now.
This chocolate chia pudding recipe from Midnight Baker. I threw in a pinch of chili powder and decided I was a genius and wanted to marry myself.
This sardine and egg salad recipe from Genevieve Ko in NYT Cooking using pickled eggs I grabbed from 8 Hands Farms. It kinda hits that sweet spot between egg salad and tuna rillettes, which I layered with fresh tomato and cucumber from the farmers market on the last two slices of a seeded crusty loaf from Armin and Judy—one of those breads that reminds you quality ingredients matter. You probably won’t have that bread, so just aim to get any good loaf with texture (I bet it would really slap on sunflower seed rye or a nice sourdough.)
Quick pickles with leftover brine. Threw some cucumbers into the pickled egg juice, topped it off with white vinegar, and felt like a real adult. This was inspired by (but not directly from) PlantYou: Scrappy Cooking by Carleigh Bodrug—a “plant-based, zero-waste” cookbook that has been staring at me from across the room for two weeks before I opened it after remembering you should never throw out good brine. The biggest win here: Googling “what to do with leftover brine” before doing exactly that. Growth.
Broccoli Mum. Bought this e-cookbook from the Instagram-famous vegan weight loss influencer who is somehow not an annoying almond mom, tradwife, or weirdly orthorexic and whose recipes actually look substantial, thoughtful, and smart? While the recipes are aimed towards weight loss, it’s not the reason I started following her and was just a bonus. Mostly a fan of her inventive use of a finding healthy ways to use a shit ton of vegetables. Like who puts potatoes in lemon bars? Somehow she figured that out! Gotta love vegans—so creative about doing cool stuff with vegetables, which is something I think so many people need to eat more of and care about because current quality ain’t it.
Two Hands. After walking by for years and never going in, I finally ordered delivery and was so impressed. The tamari mushroom soba noodle bowl (roasted mushrooms, soba, shaved root veg, wasabi peas, edamame, six-minute egg, ponzu) gets a 10/10. Also a winner: the harissa chicken bowl (lentils, greens, sweet potatoes, veggies, chilli oil, cilantro ranch). Turns out they now have more locations in Texas, Denver and Nashville—which I think is actually great as a chain?!
Martie. I buy too much shit from them and should probably take a break (even though I love a deal!) but that shouldn’t stop you!
The free glass of champagne you get when you sit alone at the bar at Minetta Tavern.
The Gregg Araki collection on Criterion Channel. (“Hellooooo she lives in Whittierrrrrr.”
The B-52’s. Do I need a reason?
The calamari with lamb belly at Balaboosta. I dream about this dish sometimes and wish Chef Einat was my wife (even though I’ve already just proposed to myself, as noted above).
Adidas Sambas OG. I’ve never actually owned a pair of these but always wanted to. Since I never played soccer, it seemed a little poser-ish, but I live in New York City now where everyone and their mom is way more preoccupied with the sneakerina thing anyway right now so it doesn’t matter (Confession: I also totally bought the Puma sneakerinas). Haven’t been in a Foot Locker for years, so it was a real experience. These shoes really make me feel like a player!
Energize smudge spray from Thyme.Space. Smells SO good. I picked it up from Simone while selling lighters at the Ridgewood holiday market (shoutout to Sara Fantry of Protection Spell, the best lil vintage shop with the best prices, for the invite). Used it so much I ran out and remembered to plug her, because I’m a good witch.
All of the incense from Effin Relax. If you’re in San Francisco, visit Candice Nobles’s shop and get a tooth gem while you’re at it!
The Williamstown Theatre Festival. Missed it because I was running a mystery fever, but I guess it was nice seeing the pics in Vogue while cried with FOMO. (Anyone want to go to the Tennessee Williams Festival next year with me?)
Stevie Nicks maintaining the longest situationship of all time with Lindsey Buckingham. Just some news you can use.
Pretty much everything ever from Kelly Oxford on Substack and social. Particularly Instagram, where she digests all the TikToks for the elder millennials who can’t be bothered to absorb them directly.
Thank you, Julie Klausner? The latest episode of “How Was Your Week” with Julie Klausner discussing the highs and lows of the 1985 version of “Alice in Wonderland.” Streaming on YouTube now!
Borscht and The Borscht Belt Festival. Also, the Tashkent Market, where you can get borscht along with all the delicious Brighton Beach delicacies on the buffet line in Manhattan. I am so grateful this is near me now. What a gift.
Cranberry-lime seltzer. Goes great with everything.
These Chocolate Peanut Butter-Covered Frozen Berry Yogurt Truffles. Delicious, nutritious, and refreshing!
Playlists For You, By Me
Two human-made Spotify playlists.
P.S. - This song from Sault inspired the second list, but is now missing from Spotify for some reason. Just stick that one in your back pocket for later.
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