It’s been gut-wrenching to see the devastation caused by the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, but I’ve been heartened by all the ways individuals and organizations have come together to help those in need. Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network has put together an ongoing directory of organizations and resources, with details on what they’re offering, volunteer opportunities, and whether they’re accepting donations (and where). I also found this comprehensive and continually updated list of crowdfunding pages both helpful and heartbreaking. If you’re looking for a way to support or, perhaps, a more productive form of procrastination, try going through the list and making donations of any size to as many as you can afford. -VvP |
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For the smoker who has everything, this might be something new (and also old). Frankly, I didn’t know this type of metal matchbook safe existed, but now I want one for my accessory collection. Should this one from Ella Jane Vintage sell out, I found another (I think) on Etsy. -DW |
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While there’s obviously no shortage of GoFundMes and fundraisers to donate to in order to help the many, many people in need in California, I wanted to call attention to one more fire relief effort, but this one is halfway around the world. On January 1st, the Kantamanto Secondhand Clothing Market in Accra, Ghana, completely burned down. It was not only the largest secondhand market in the world and home to thousands of businesses supporting an untold amount of people’s livelihoods, but it’s also the heart of the response to the global scourge of fast fashion. Through resale, reuse, repair and remanufacturing, the community there recirculates 25 million pieces of secondhand clothing every month. I know many are already reaching deep into their pockets to aid victims in Los Angeles, but should you have a bit more to offer and the inclination to help, I’m sure those on the ground in Ghana would greatly appreciate it as well. -DW |
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I devoured this memoir by New Yorker writer Emily Witt over the holidays. It chronicles Witt’s immersion into Brooklyn’s underground party scene against the backdrop of Trump’s first presidency and the pandemic. Witt is a clear and unsparing writer, with an almost virtuosic ability to convey the textured hyperreality of 14-plus hours of dancing while on a cocktail of LSD, MDMA, ketamine, cocaine, weed, and alcohol. In her words, a line of cocaine “cuts through the fog [of acid] like ice,” and house tracks float “into each other like dandelion seeds carried by the wind.” It’s a remarkable book. -VvP |
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This somewhat viral Richard Kind video turned me on to this Instagram account and now I can’t get enough. In short, the artist behind the account draws pretty spot-on portraits of Broadway (and off-Broadway) actors and then asks the subjects to sign them, often outside stage doors. While there may be other people out there who do similar things, I find these videos of celebrities genuinely surprised and touched by the portraits to be very satisfying. Perhaps it's because people are getting an unexpected surprise from a random person at a moment when others are typically asking something of them. (Also, here’s a recent followup to that Richard Kind video.) -DW |
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We launched two new brands on the site this week: Wyld and Mesobis. In case you’re unfamiliar, Wyld has been one of the best-selling cannabis brands in the country for years, and with good reason. Their edibles are top-notch and their strong company values around environmentalism and sustainability are obviously as important as ever. Mesobis is a bit newer to the scene, but is making up for lost time with their novel flavor profiles, use of minor cannabinoids, and commitment to bridging Latin Heritage with modern techniques. More brands (and products) will be added soon, but you can always find all the latest ones at the top of our THC page. Please feel free to reply to this email for recommendations or with any questions you might have! -G |
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