that time I slipped Greta Gerwig a love note at Via Carota
plus, my thoughts on Beckham and a weekly report (R.E.P.O.R.T.)—including restaurant recs—followed by a special career Q&A with freelance writer Sarah Lyon
first things first: THANK YOU all for the warm welcome to substack! it was such a treat to relaunch my sunday series newsletter last weekend to the warmest reception. in the week since, I’ve been on plenty of hot girl walks, made a TikTok per day, done a couple hotel site inspections, spent time helping a dear friend organize her nursery, read up on what’s going on in Israel, and watched all four episodes of the Beckham documentary on Netflix. actually, I have some thoughts on Beckham that only seem natural to open with, despite being related to absolutely nothing else that lies within the stream of consciousness below.
I couldn’t stop watching the four part series, even though I didn’t get what I wanted out of it—with the exception of the surface-level glimpses into Becks and Posh’s home sprinkled throughout. they gave non-football-obsessed viewers just enough to stay interested, but not enough to feel satisfied. they spoke about the affair allegations without really saying much about their validity other than how hurtful they were. Victoria was interviewed and sporadically featured throughout, but ultimately, it was a story about David’s career as a footballer. he’s netted half a million new followers from the docu so far, and by the time I finished fourth episode, it became clear to me that the project was a marketing campaign for his Miami team. so, should you watch it? no, I think you can save the four hours I wasted.
R.E.P.O.R.T. on week of 10.1-10.7
okay, now on to what I spent my week reading, eating, playing, obsessing over, and recommending!
“R” is for reading
this week, I’ve been busy devouring Jessica Knoll’s latest, BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN. my friend Laura and I were absolutely thrilled to nerd out as we sat front row at her book launch event at The Strand a couple of weeks back. we absolutely adored her conversation with fellow author Carola Lovering—whose newest book BYE BYE BABY will be released in march. I couldn't wait to dive into what we learned was Knoll’s most difficult-to-write novel yet and as I’m about halfway through, I can see why. this Ted Bundy-inspired story reclaims the spotlight of these crimes back onto the women whose bright young futures he stole. the book has already shot to the NYT bestseller list, with its TV adaptation announced this week.
“E” is for eating
possibly the toughest category to narrow down—but I’m going to go with two restaurants that you can bookmark for your next new york night out. on Monday, I had a girls dinner at Port Sa’id on hudson, which after having been to some Chef Eyal Shani’s other restaurants, I knew I’d love. be sure to order the burning potato (basic, but delish). it’s super vibey once seven o’clock strikes with a DJ playing in its lounge. they also have seats spilling out onto the sidewalk for this final streak of warm-ish weather we’re having! on Thursday, my industry colleague and friend Stephanie welcomed us to dinner at Sartiano’s in Soho. it was sensational. the restaurant is in the basement of The Mercer Hotel (CHIC alert!!) and serves modern Italian fare. my caprese martini was a fabulous pairing to the pastas we tried—don’t miss the bucatini with lobster!
“P” is for playing
I’m playing with the final details on the itinerary for my sister’s upcoming visit!!!! she gets into town on friday and I can’t wait to mix some of my usual neighborhood haunts with a couple more sparkly city moments. I feel like hosting in new york is a bit of an art form when it comes to balancing ressies with free time. after five years living here, I’m finally getting it down. perhaps I’ll share some of my go-to activities for when the family is in town in next week’s sunday series!
“O” is for obsessing
my friend Lianna got me a candle warmer for my birthday, and I love it next to my bed!! they’re such a great way to incorporate soft lighting while getting the scent of your favorite candle to emanate across your space without having to worry about trimming a sooty wick. and while I’ll always love the natural look of a candle burning, I’m going to use this to squeak out some more life from my bougiest bougies—where are my francophiles?—like my Tudon Cyrnos (thank you, Christina!) that I’m obsessed with.
“R” is for recommending
after my solo trip to Paris in august, I was reminded that despite that I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve visited, I could go to Paris a million more times. yesterday, I compiled my recs list for a colleague, Katherine, who landed this at CGD this morning. I recommended some of my favorite ways to get lost in the left bank, including a visit to city pharma: the holy grail of french skincare. I shared my tried and true faves (caudalie vinoperfect, biafine, klorane dry shampoo, nuxe oil, and donormyl, to name a few) which are documented in the below TT, as well as recommended she refer to this comprehensive french pharmacy guide by the ever-informative Paris guru, Meghan Donovan.
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“T” is for treating
let’s be honest, I’m always getting myself a little treat! so it’s hard to pick just one from this week. but my mind is going to macarons—there were no less than three macaron deliveries to the office this week (the joys of working with incredible hospitality partners!). the quick succession of tastings has led me to a HOT TAKE: la maison chocolat macarons are better than ladurée…yeah, I said it. maison’s are filled with a dark chocolate ganache that’s truly out of this world—you need to try them.
time to dive into writer, bookstagrammer, and author Q&As
I’m thrilled to have a revitalized creative direction on what I’ll be sharing here and wanted to go a bit deeper into contextualizing the Q&As I’m ressurecting from my initial sunday series format harking back to 2020.
I’m in my reading-as-a-primary-personality-trait era and in turn, deeply invested in following the lives and careers of some of my favorite fellow writers. whether they are freelancers who ensure that the digital and print publications we love constantly have fresh stories (cue, my friend Sarah who is interviewed in today’s sunday series!), bookstagrammers, book podcasters, or fiction authors, I’m excited about the prospect of pulling back the curtain on their professional and personal lives with through a series of Q&As.
I have some really exciting chats lined up with inspiring women from across the bookish world in the weeks ahead for you! so, if you know someone who may enjoy this content, please do share my substack with them so that I can continue to grow this community. my vision with the transition to this platform is that this evolves into a place we can all connect and share. with that said, I’m looking forward to you commenting on future substacks and engaging with one another directly!
without further ado, meet Sarah Lyon
Kayla Douglas: Sarah! we became connected on Instagram before being IRL friends. tell me a bit more about how you've approached crafting your online presence and how it has fostered real-life friendships.
Sarah Lyon: Oh my goodness, I love this question, as so many of the people I’m friends with in NYC now are creative ladies I’ve met via the ‘gram! For reference, I lived in New York right after I finished college for two years (2013-2015) and then moved back in 2021. I had started a small blog in between, which is how my Instagram initially came about, and now I use it more as a portfolio for my design and writing work. Since I have a public page, I’ve found it to be such a wonderful platform for connecting with like-minded, talented, kind, and FUN women in the city.
Since I’m a freelancer and work as a team of one, I greatly appreciate being able to form connections with people online, since I’m not heading into a traditional office. I’m constantly messaging and meeting up with other writers, designers, and creatives in the city who share many of my interests, and it’s nice to chat with people who are oftentimes also self-employed, around my same age, and eager to take advantage of all that the city has to offer. So that’s definitely been an added bonus of having my account—not to mention, my followers as a whole are lovely, also.
KD: many follow your work for design inspiration. what are your top tips for reimagining a space that needs a bit of love infused into it?
SL: I’ve always been a renter, so I definitely have plenty of experience making so-so spaces feel a bit more homey and welcoming. I definitely encourage people to hang art (it makes living in a rental feel a bit more permanent, no one should live in a blank box!). I’m all about thrifting furniture and shopping secondhand—if you follow me on Instagram, you know that I can talk about Facebook Marketplace and flea markets for days. I always like to remind people that for the same amount you might spend on a dresser or desk at IKEA or Target, you can source something amazing and totally one-of-a-kind if you go the vintage or secondhand route. Sure, there’s more patience involved, but these one-of-a-kind pieces add so much personality to your standard rental unit. One of my favorite recent scores is the wooden dresser with a Greek key trim that I purchased via Facebook Marketplace last spring for just $175—I love it so much!
KD: your work has appeared in some of the most sought-after publications including The New York Times, Architectural Digest, and the Wall Street Journal to name a few. How do you conceptualize your pitches to ensure they are hitting the cultural zeitgeist?
SL: It’s funny because most of my work is interior design related, but writing for the Vows section came about simply because I was attending so many weddings myself in 2021/22 as a then 30-year-old and was always thinking about the different themes at play! In late 2021, I sent out a cold pitch which turned into my first NYT piece; it was about people who had to disinvite guests from their wedding due to pandemic restrictions—some of these people were then able to re-invite the uninvited guests down the line, and you can imagine how that went! I’ve never been someone who’s thought much about my own wedding (which is kind of a shocker, given that I love to plan parties and host friends!), so I actually think I can write these from a more objective lens than someone who’s been through the wedding planning process? I’m genuinely eager to learn more about the couple I interview and share their stories; I’ve connected with so many interesting people along the way.
In terms of design pieces, I’m always immersing myself in the interiors world by keeping up to date with trade news, following my favorite designers on Instagram (I joke that my “following” list is a little directory of all the people I want to keep track of in my industry!), and attending conferences and events where and when I can. I’ve been grateful that living in NYC has allowed me to form relationships with so many amazing people in this field and engage with them and their brands face to face—I’m always surrounded by so many interesting projects and ideas that help to inform my pitches.
KD: are you doing the job you envisioned when you went for your master's at the University of Pennsylvania?
SL: Definitely not, because when I applied to grad school for a master’s in higher education, I wanted to one day be a college dean or president! In reality, I ended up working in higher education by day and freelancing on the side for several years, and I quickly realized that I wanted to become a full-time freelancer at some point—I didn’t know when that would be possible. But I think that more broadly speaking, I’m certainly drawing upon my undergrad major, which was sociology—I love learning about groups of people and exploring trends as a write.
KD: you're now freelance—many would envy this flexibility, but I know you've worked incredibly hard to get to this point. what advice do you have for someone who wants to work for themselves?
SL: I took a pretty conservative approach and waited to go full-time until I was significantly out-earning the salary I made at my day job, which was in alumni relations at a university. I didn’t dislike my job, so I wasn’t in a hurry to leave it. But by the spring of 2021, I was able to consistently bring in more than what I was making at my 9 to 5 and was incredibly burnt out and knew that I would have to pick a lane. This was when everything was still shut down due to the pandemic, and I remember thinking, “If I feel like I can’t breathe and I’m not even traveling/dating/seeing friends or family, etc., I’m not going to be ok juggling multiple jobs when the world reopens.” I also knew that I wanted to relocate back to NYC (I was living in my home city of Washington, D.C., at the time), so I put in my notice at the university and relocated to Manhattan to work for myself full-time.
At that point, I had been freelancing for about three years and writing for as long as I could remember. I was a newspaper kid in high school and then edited my college’s weekly paper before working in magazines briefly when I first lived in New York and as a college intern, so all of those experiences were key in helping me feel ready, too. I think it’s always ideal to work on a staff before going out on your own since you see how other people handle various situations that occur in all areas across the board—with regard to everything from layout to ethics—and are more equipped to make informed decisions when there isn’t a team around to help guide you.
KD: in addition to constantly writing, you are a voracious reader. tell us about the most recent work of fiction that left you with a book hangover.
SL: Ooh! I’ve read less than usual in 2023 (as in, last year I read close to 100 books and this year I’m aiming for close to 50, haha!) but have torn through some GREAT books over the past few months. I would have to say my favorite from the past several months was Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler. The novel is about a twenty-something woman living in London who is involved in the most heart-wrenching relationship with a boy who cannot give her the love and support she needs, despite her unwavering devotion to him. Whether or not you’ve been in a toxic situation like this, you’ll fall hard for this storyline—I will note that there are a lot of dark themes in this book; It definitely isn’t a rom-com, and it is quite heavy, but I was captivated by Genevieve’s writing style and also moved by the female friendships in the book. I can’t wait to read her next title when it comes out.
KD: what book is on your TBR that you're most excited to pick up?
SL: I’ve heard great things about The Rachel Incident, which is also set in the UK and is supposed to be a bit like Adelaide. It’s sitting in my (very large!) physical stack as we speak.
KD: the sunday series was conceptualized as a love letter to my favorite day of the week. If we were with you on the Upper East Side on sunday, where would you take us to spend the afternoon?
SL: We may just have to make this adventure happen! We’d meet at Ralph’s Coffee on 72nd (basic, I know, but a must) and do a little loop through Central Park with our drinks before picking up snacks at Butterfield Market, a family-owned business with two locations on the UES. We’d walk down Madison until we got to The Corner Bookstore, which is right out of You’ve Got Mail, and then grab cocktails at Atelier, a new-ish spot that’s a coffee shop by day and a speakeasy/wine bar by night (love!). Last but not least, we’d then pop into Housing Works in search of clothes or home decor, because to me, no NYC day is complete without a bit of thrifting!
a final note on writing love notes in restaurants
in summary, I want to tell a story about something that happened in the city a few weeks back. it was a friday night, and my mom was visiting; we went out to dinner at via carota with my friend, Brennan, and his mom, Jay, who was also in town. we were having one of those nights where several hours of drinking cocktails while waiting for a table (no ressies at via, unless you’re a celeb) turned into ordering everything on the menu once we were seated. wine was FLOWING and laughter was pinching at our sides as we finished up the night.
it was right when we were about to leave when I saw her: Greta Gertwig was at a table beside us.
then, a debate ensued. to engage, or not engage? I not-so-kindly told my mom that we do NOT bother famous people when they are out and about in NY!!! (NOTE: Reese Witherspoon is exempt from this list for me if and when I ever see her IRL) so, we compromised: my mom ripped off some of the brown paper covering the table and I wrote a feverish note of unrelenting admiration. I shared how I went to theatres twice to see Barbie and cried both times, especially when seeing it with my mom and sisters. I nervously dropped it on her table as we walked out, feeling like a ball of adrenaline.
less than a minute later, I was beelining down grove street and my mom lingered behind to take in Greta’s reaction as the man sitting across from her read the note (this was all highly visible as they sat on the edge of the restaurant along the windows). she spun around, and her and my mom did this whole hand-on-heart bit to one another. even the most cynical part of me couldn’t deny how special it was to share with someone how their creative work had impacted me.
today, I saw a similar tale on IG of someone running into one of their heroes while out to dinner. perhaps this is a lesson: never miss the opportunity to thank someone for how their work has made you think, feel, and show up in the world.
xKD