Three Things

Easy dinners, banana pudding 2.0, Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney's new novel

Greetings friends! What’s for dinner tonight? I have some Rancho Gordo lovelies soaking in a pot right now preparing for their star turn in Union Square Cafe’s famous Black Bean Soup — you know, the one that calls for a shot of sherry if you are so inclined. (I am sooo inclined.) Also, two people in two days have separately sent me Hailee Catalano’s dramatic pepper-and-egg sandwich reel, which I feel like I should maybe take as a sign. In other news, I saw Mavis Staples at the Beacon on Saturday, and ever since, her cover of “Beautiful Strangers” has been playing on a loop on my Spotify and in my brain. Staples is 86 years old, and even though she had to sit down on a little upholstered stool for a few minutes every now and then, and even though she was gently shepherded around the stage by hand-holders, she had a complete and powerful hold of her audience from the minute she started singing. It was incredible to watch. She’s 86! Promoting a new album! Unreal.

Here are Three (more) Thi…