https://www.distractioncoffee.com/monthlies daily 0.75 2026-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/71a07e8d-a09c-411d-9bc2-3c785bda7d49/Andrew-454.jpg https://www.distractioncoffee.com/monthlies/november-2026-vol-4 monthly 0.5 2026-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/bbb1eb3e-077d-48a4-943d-fd9547df3211/ab67616d0000b273f09b9b2b4448f651d880c4b4.jpg MONTHLIES - NOVEMBER 2026 VOL. 4 - doo bee doo by freshlyground “Did you hear the news on the radio today? People have agreed to give their love away…” That’s how the 2004 international hit begins, a refreshing call for open hearts and minds. I was working on my first cruise ship, the Disney Wonder, in 2008, where I spent many nights at crew bar parties DJ’d by crew members from around the world. On South African night, this song came on, and with a rhythm and melody I can only describe as “a song in the key of positive vibes,” I was hooked. I sprinkle it into my day whenever I need to groove, bounce, and fall back in love with the world around me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/3c8dff10-e801-4b2f-8674-1b6c09b65dba/IMG_8347.jpg MONTHLIES - NOVEMBER 2026 VOL. 4 - MOON WATER I recently discovered the ritual of moon water: filling a glass bottle with water and leaving it beneath the full moon to soak up its energy. I’ve been keeping a little around for daily use, taking a sip or spritzing some onto my houseplants. The older I get, the more open I become to the power of ritual, intention, and even a little placebo magic. Maybe it’s all about energy, or maybe it’s simply about finding small ways to make the everyday feel a little more enchanted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/22251843-7f38-43af-92c6-fbac98b57b3d/IMG_2228.png MONTHLIES - NOVEMBER 2026 VOL. 4 - michelle Kwan salmon pasta My all-time idol is Michelle Kwan, and her Instagram recipes are top-notch. Here's one of my recent favorites: Bake one large salmon steak, a container of cherry tomatoes, a block of feta, 3–4 tablespoons of jarred pesto, one diced zucchini, salt, pepper, and a generous drizzle of olive oil in a glass baking dish at 400°F for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, boil your favorite pasta and reserve ¾ cup of pasta water. Once the salmon bake is out of the oven, toss in a big handful of fresh spinach and stir until wilted. Add the pasta and reserved pasta water, give everything a good mix, and voilà! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/4141c0db-2b82-407c-9cf3-9955ec43da5c/cbb09c0bde5b3dcbd31c2616fd64ccdc.Luis-Suarez-for-Nutcracker-Rouge-by-Company-XIV-46140.jpg.png MONTHLIES - NOVEMBER 2026 VOL. 4 - company xiv Imagine walking through the doors of a rundown warehouse into a smoky, incense-filled bar, where a burlesque dancer ushers you to your seat. What unfolds is a contemporary dance meets burlesque meets Cirque-level acrobatics meets Met Gala-worthy costumes meets pop opera meets fairytale fantasy, all rolled into one spectacular show. The first production I attended was their take on Cinderella, which featured a glass-slipper tour de force: the entire cast danced with one heel on, alternating between a catty, heels-inspired dance whenever they turned toward the heeled side and a deeply grounded, barefoot modern dance when they turned the other way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/c75a6980-8f2c-4835-8afc-6e4c3a039a70/images-18.jpg MONTHLIES - NOVEMBER 2026 VOL. 4 - mediterranean steps, gibraltar On one of the European-itinerary cruise ships I danced aboard, we made several stops to Gibraltar, a tiny peninsula welcoming ships into the Mediterranean from the Atlantic. One day, my little gang and I aimlessly wandered up to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar, dodging Barbary macaques, when we stumbled upon a tiny sign reading “Mediterranean Steps.” We had absolutely no idea what it meant (smartphones and data were scarcely a thing back then), but we decided to follow it. What we discovered was a magical series of natural staircases carved into the stone, winding down the mountainside along the coastline toward the famous Pillars of Hercules, the legendary markers of the entrance to the Mediterranean, with a counterpart across the Strait on the African side. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/8a032816-9dad-4ee6-8009-f906b39b1ffc/images-17.jpg MONTHLIES - NOVEMBER 2026 VOL. 4 - the joy luck club In 9th grade, we were assigned an excerpt from Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club, and I remember finding it a bit too depressing at the time. Flash forward to 2010, when I was working on a cruise ship and the film version seemed to play on repeat on the crew TV channel, where it quickly became one of my top 5 films of all time. the film follows four mother-daughter relationships, weaving together their histories between China and San Francisco. There’s a profound nugget of wisdom tucked into each of the eight stories, but the one that resonates with me most is Rose’s: a woman who gradually loses her sense of self and self-worth, only to rediscover her strength through the spirit of her grandmother. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/09400abf-bf7f-4084-bf80-fc8664a36948/IMG_2114.jpg MONTHLIES - NOVEMBER 2026 VOL. 4 - go get em tiger, los angeles, ca While on tour in Los Angeles, I discovered what might be the best iced latte of all time inside Grand Central Market in downtown. At Go Get Em Tiger, each iced latte is vigorously shaken to smooth perfection in a cocktail shaker before being poured over oversized ice cubes that keep it from melting too quickly and watering down the coffee. Not only is the coffee incredible, but the merch is equally fantastic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/02006aea-f656-4e0d-a644-b21b5a187562/bird_61480a2f-65fa-40c7-a5cc-056b1612177b.jpg.png MONTHLIES - NOVEMBER 2026 VOL. 4 - bird by bird by ann lamott part memoir, part writing instruction, and part self-help book in disguise. My favorite passage is when Lamott urges writers to stop editing their thoughts and words to appease others. She likens the process to exploring a castle where you can wander freely, except for that ONE door you’re too afraid to open. I can’t help but liken it to the infamous West Wing in Beauty and the Beast. It was forbidden, deeply painful, and full of the things the Beast desperately wanted to keep hidden. But once Belle dared to explore it, she began to uncover the truth beneath his defenses, ultimately helping him rediscover his true self. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/1be74a24-2f0a-467b-8788-adfaa337c024/p075vvzf.jpg MONTHLIES - NOVEMBER 2026 VOL. 4 - unicorns and scotland After doing an ancestry DNA test many years ago, I discovered that Scottish ancestry was my predominant lineage. It wasn’t until making that discovery that I developed much interest in visiting Scotland, as I’ve always gravitated toward off-the-beaten-path and spiritually infused destinations. But the more I’ve researched it, the more I’ve realized that Scotland is brimming with fantasy, folklore, and spirituality. In the late 15th century, the unicorn became a prominent symbol of Scottish heritage, eventually earning its place as Scotland’s official national animal. (I suppose I should’ve expected as much from the country that gave us the legendary Loch Ness Monster.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/6f910881-96f6-4ac6-9643-1c7980a99470/IMG_3668.jpg MONTHLIES - NOVEMBER 2026 VOL. 4 - formula rossa, ferrari world, abu dhabi, uae When I rode this coaster in 2022, it was the world’s fastest - launching you at a staggering 149 mph through a series of low-to-the-ground helixes in the blazing heat of Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Riders are required to wear protective goggles to shield their eyes from the insane speeds. (Fun fact: I stole mine and now use them to cut onions in my apartment.) I still prefer Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, with its slightly slower launch up a 400+ foot top hat, but this was a pretty spectacular experience, and with a MUCH shorter queue! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/25578aa4-77a4-40eb-ae50-ad27c688f04c/IMG_0540.png MONTHLIES - NOVEMBER 2026 VOL. 4 - gymnastics fashion The sport most people refer to simply as gymnastics is officially known as artistic gymnastics, distinguishing it from rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, and tumbling. But the artistry extends well beyond the routines themselves. There’s an entire fandom devoted to gymnastics leotard design, particularly in NCAA women’s gymnastics, which absolutely deserves its own coffee table book someday. In 2024, in celebration of the Paris Olympics, Swarovski showcased the Team USA Women’s Gymnastics leotard collection in all its sparkling glory. Designed by GK Elite Sportswear’s Jeanne Diaz, the collection featured eight dazzling designs, each valued at approximately $3,000. https://www.distractioncoffee.com/monthlies/october-2026-vol-4 monthly 0.5 2026-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/bb0c5bbc-505b-4bf5-9f92-b03154c4aa7a/images-12.jpg MONTHLIES - OCTOBER 2026 VOL. 4 - Sheryl Crow + MJ Siedah Garrett co-wrote one of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits, “Man in the Mirror,” and sang lead vocals with him on “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” from Bad. When the album went on tour, Siedah chose to pursue a solo career, and a search for a new female vocalist began. A recent L.A. transplant and former high school music teacher, Sheryl Crow, showed up to the audition in her humble teacher clothes. mj offered her the job on the spot. Crow later returned to L.a. and joined a songwriting group called the “Tuesday Night Music Club,” which inspired the title of her hit debut album. Watch Sheryl Crow sing “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” alongside Michael Jackson on tour. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/35e4e087-b7f6-4edb-8de2-acd79918b08b/Raouls-Front-scaled.jpg MONTHLIES - OCTOBER 2026 VOL. 4 - martinis + tarot raoul’s has been a soho staple for over 50 years and even made an appearance in sex and the city: the movie (the scene where carrie and miranda share a v-day dinner together). It’s always busy, but if you make your way to the bar, order a drink (they serve the crispest lemon drop martini in NYC), and navigate the tight spiral staircase upstairs, you’ll discover a lounge with a nightly tarot card reader ($50 per session as of 2026). It’s a quirky, sensory little escape that appeals to all of my senses. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/2f40fd66-01c6-4807-9dfe-dd2dd19000b0/lion_ver10_xlg.jpg MONTHLIES - OCTOBER 2026 VOL. 4 - Lion this astonishing film from 2016 is based on the true story of Saroo Brierley, who, at just five years old, boarded a train in a remote Indian village, became trapped in a train car, and arrived three days later in Calcutta (nearly 1,000 miles from home), with no id and only his first name to guide him. what follows is Saroo’s decades-long search for his long-lost home and family. My tears are surely still staining the velvet seats of NYC’s Paris Theater, where I first saw the film. Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman received praise, but for me, the absolute dynamo of the film was young actor Sunny Pawar. Also worth noting: Sia’s end-credits song, “Never Give Up,” is an inspiring bop! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/340b31da-d1d8-497d-a2c0-23159bafdeec/IMG_2260.jpg MONTHLIES - OCTOBER 2026 VOL. 4 - 30 rock 20th anniversary I recently performed as a backup dancer at the 30 Rock 20th Anniversary Reunion Benefit Show at Radio City Music Hall alongside Tina Fey, Jane Krakowski, Tracy Morgan, Alec Baldwin, and the rest of the gang. One highlight was performing with Lin-Manuel Miranda as he sang “Werewolf Bar Mitzvah” to a crowd that went absolutely INSANE! the most beautiful part - Every star, from Tom Hanks to Jon Hamm to Conan O’Brien, stayed in the wings to watch and cheer on their castmates the entire show. It was a genuine love fest that felt more like a family reunion than a showbiz event. Proof, once again, that Tina Fey is God. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/035bf408-5d24-4870-8ff8-20c3f625ed37/NHB051CR3_uk_Infusing-Eucalyptus-Bath-Shower-Gel-300ml_image_01.jpg MONTHLIES - OCTOBER 2026 VOL. 4 - eucalyptus body wash As a dancer on a budget in NYC, I’ve realized that while a massage feels great, the occasional one-off doesn’t do much. I need daily rituals that nurture my body. Enter Molton Brown Infusing Eucalyptus Body Wash. At $37 (in 2026), it’s pricey, but worth EVERY PENNY. It fills your entire bathroom with the most lung- and heart-opening eucalyptus scent imaginable. Nothing else even comes close. Rub a little into your skin, let the warm shower spray hit it, and you’ll swear you’re in a five-star hammam in Istanbul. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/b246ef2a-edc0-4fbd-8ae6-88a3bafd4d67/tempImageQU6oLW.jpg MONTHLIES - OCTOBER 2026 VOL. 4 - zipolite, mexico Being gay adds an extra layer to travel: Are the locals “ok” with us? Mexico’s Pacific coast has a rising star among LGBTQ travelers, a remote gem that feels like paradise - zipolite. With the nearest airport over an hour away, it’s not the easiest place to reach, but the reward is one stunning beach after another. The highlight? Playa del Amor. After climbing a natural stone staircase, you’re greeted by a tiny thatched-roof bar serving freshly squeezed lime mezcalitas and an ocean horizon framed by two rocky outcrops. Not a single ship, boat, or distraction in sight. ZERO. It’s a 10/10 slice of gay heaven. (hetero friendly too!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/313e61ff-d34e-4a23-a710-4115fd2a26f8/Screenshot+2026-10-14+at+10.31.18%E2%80%AFPM.png MONTHLIES - OCTOBER 2026 VOL. 4 - local gay art While wandering the main drag of Zipolite, Mexico, I stumbled into a local shop called Casa Mexoni and fell for several plein air impressionist paintings by Mexican artist Juanjo Sainz (such as the one seen here). Growing up, despite my fair share of art museum visits, I can’t recall ever seeing depictions of gay couples or gay love. When I first encountered gay art in my 20s, I was startled by my own discomfort. I imagined that if I ever owned a piece, I’d have to hide it whenever family came to visit. Flash forward to today, and I’m slowly learning to embrace these paintings as tender little capsules of connection and love. I didn’t purchase any (purely due to lack of funds haha), but I look forward to the day I own a piece I can proudly display, without ever feeling the need to hide it from anyone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/3c5b308f-83b7-45ff-8945-25360731cad6/Screenshot+2026-10-14+at+11.02.21%E2%80%AFPM.png MONTHLIES - OCTOBER 2026 VOL. 4 - jack rabbit, clementon park, clementon, nj My mom is from Philadelphia/South Jersey, where a little local amusement and water park called Clementon was once a beloved summertime staple but is now sadly closed. The park had an incredible wooden roller coaster called Jack Rabbit, dating all the way back to 1919! (and designed by the same coaster designer behind the similarly named Jack Rabbit at my beloved home park, Kennywood). It wasn’t tall or fast, but it was pure, old-fashioned fun. I miss the days of small, community amusement parks. Conneaut Lake Park, the closest one to my hometown in pa, has also recently closed. support local! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/7d4283a0-610f-442b-818f-ef20770946f7/Screenshot+2026-10-14+at+11.18.40%E2%80%AFPM.png MONTHLIES - OCTOBER 2026 VOL. 4 - Aúna Café, 139 anatole france, mexico city, mx Open-air cafés, bars, and restaurants are everywhere in Mexico City, with so many gorgeously designed, inviting spaces that the city honestly puts NYC to shame. My first coffee stop in CDMX also happened to be my favorite: Aúna Café. their latte was perfectly balanced, and the custom ceramics from saudara it was served in were equally drool-worthy vessels to sip from. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/68e646da-c7b8-4138-9d4b-f1cac731d2f2/91L3CWJzw-L._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_.jpg MONTHLIES - OCTOBER 2026 VOL. 4 - young heroes of the soviet union by alex halberstadt Alex Halberstadt’s 2020 memoir was admittedly not a title that initially called to me, but after reading the first chapter, I was hooked. Through the lens of a gay, Soviet-born man, Halberstadt explores epigenetic inheritance, the idea that traumatic experiences may leave biological marks that influence future generations. As he examines his ancestors’ histories, he begins to recognize echoes of their experiences in his own present-day life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/31edc003-69dc-44df-81b7-797ae762c6f4/images-13.jpg MONTHLIES - OCTOBER 2026 VOL. 4 - dim sum I learned several years ago that “dim sum,” the popular Cantonese tradition of small plates like dumplings, cakes, rolls, and buns originating in Guangdong, China, translates roughly to “touch the heart.” My favorite interpretation of the translation, however, is “little touches of the heart,” And if you’ve ever had amazing dim sum, i think you’ll agree that might just be the most perfect description of them ever :-) https://www.distractioncoffee.com/monthlies/september-2026-vol-3 monthly 0.5 2026-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/5b509fdd-ee92-4734-9d03-b7f9169d51c4/71ge0ZBOfDL._UF1000%2C1000_QL80_.jpg MONTHLIES - SEPTEMBER 2026 VOL. 3 - “insensitive” - jann arden On a random early 1990s day in Calgary, Canadian singer-songwriter Jann Arden was low on cash, so instead of taking her usual route to get coffee, she scraped together some coins and took a different route to find a cheaper cafe. Along the way, she heard a woman painfully singing from her basement window. Jann knocked on the door, and a woman named Anne Loree opened up and told her how she waited tables at a restaurant and had fallen in love with the chef, only to have him leave her for a new waitress. Heartbroken, Anne went home, wrote a song about it, and happened to be singing it for the first time when Jann walked by. Jann asked if she could perform it at an upcoming concert, and the rest is history. She went on to record the song, which became a worldwide Top 10 hit and changed both of their lives. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/ceb95fbb-ba97-451c-af55-48924e157fdd/Cucina-Alba_NYC_Dining-Room_6_NEW_photo-Peter-Murdock.jpg MONTHLIES - SEPTEMBER 2026 VOL. 3 - cucina alba I’m the rare person who thinks the NYC food scene is incredibly varied, but mostly just… meh? (In fact, I think the food in Los Angeles is superior in nearly every way.) In my 22 years living in nyc, I can count on one hand the number of meals here that made me want to jump out of my seat and shout about how good they were. I recently had one of those meals at an Italian restaurant in Chelsea (inside the Lantern House building, which I lovingly refer to as “the root beer barrel building”). We had many dishes, but one has been on my mind ever since: the orecchiette for the table. A massive bowl of orecchiette pasta tossed in a not-too-spicy arrabbiata sauce, topped with table-cut burrata and basil. We shared it among four people, but honestly, I could have ordered the entire bowl for myself, skipped every other appetizer, entrée, side, and dessert, and left with the happiest belly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/493afd70-8df7-429a-8b62-5f94024246ec/images-10.jpg MONTHLIES - SEPTEMBER 2026 VOL. 3 - can i be frank? at soho playhouse This one-person show centers around Morgan Bassichis, and their time as an artist-in-residence in Sag Harbor, NY. they quickly address the question I was shamefully asking myself: what on earth actually does one actually do at an artist residency?! As Morgan describes it, it seems to involve a lot of walking, sitting in cafés, observing the world, and, apparently, waiting for something unexpected to come along. Their daily routine of sitting in a local café takes an unexpected turn when someone mentions their brother, performing artist and activist Frank Maya. Morgan falls down a rabbit hole, contacting Frank’s exes, friends, and family, and turns the research into a 90-minute show that feels part memorial, part séance, and part obsessive adoration. it also featured spellbinding mic-cord choreography. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/d4fed218-53cf-4268-9856-b99ca567bcc6/herb-dorothy-film.jpg MONTHLIES - SEPTEMBER 2026 VOL. 3 - HERB & DOROTHY This documentary tells the story of Herb and Dorothy Vogel, he was a postal worker and she was a librarian, who together built one of the most remarkable art collections in the world. They collected work exclusively from undiscovered artists, with two conditions: it had to fit their budget, based on his postal worker salary, and be MANEUVERABLE enough to transport on the NYC subway to their rent-controlled one-bedroom apartment. They bought an early Picasso as an engagement gift to each other, received a piece from Christo in exchange for cat-sitting, and collected artists like Andy Warhol, Sol LeWitt, and Robert Mangold long before they became famous. They never bought art as an investment. They only bought pieces they adored. Their collection lives on at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and they also donated more than 2,500 works to museums across all 50 states. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/348e95c0-98de-4ea6-9233-dd8385e7bc87/walden__GG2025_vi_1_1_25839700-8fc1-4413-8de3-e670372a4eba.jpg.png MONTHLIES - SEPTEMBER 2026 VOL. 3 - walden journey set This meditation mat, pillow, and eye mask set is wildly expensive, but it’s also one of my most sacred wellness products. I first discovered it at a sound bath at Official Ritual in NYC, the same space where I first experienced my beloved Kochi chimes (mentioned in july 2026 edition), and I felt like I was being cradled in heaven’s arms. The mat folds up nicely for storage, but when fully stretched out, you lie down, rest your head on the buckwheat pillow, put on the lavender-scented eye mask, press play on a meditation or transcendent playlist, and let your spirit drift wherever it wants to go. I bought mine during their holiday sale, which is really the only time I’d recommend buying their insanely expensive products. Every time I use it, I feel like I’m returning to myself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/a670720e-6b3f-4bb3-9d86-f7fe46da1c46/munnar_alexander-mazurkevich_shutterstock_524524162_af97f36351.jpg MONTHLIES - SEPTEMBER 2026 VOL. 3 - munnar, kerala, india Munnar is a hill station in Kerala, a southern state in India that locals call “God’s Own Country,” and I wholeheartedly approve of the name. A hill station was a British term for a high-elevation retreat in India, and Munnar is exactly that: endless rolling hills covered in tea plantations and gardens. I stayed at Tall Trees Resort, where I spent my days picking tea leaves and learning about tea. One of my favorite discoveries was learning that All true tea - whether green, black, white, or Darjeeling - comes from the same tea tree plant. What makes them different is how the leaves are processed after picking. Chamomile, rooibos, and mint, meanwhile, aren’t technically teas at all because they come from entirely different plants. sidenote: the book, life of pi, begins in munnar! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/09af41d0-9e8d-42b5-a62c-f32d6dc8c066/1978.90.jpg MONTHLIES - SEPTEMBER 2026 VOL. 3 - charles demuth For my college Art History 101 final, we had to choose a piece of art to write a paper about, so I went Googling for gay artists who depicted gay men in their work. I landed on American artist Charles Demuth, who was famous for developing a style known as Precisionism, but I was most drawn to his paintings of gay men. Some depict sailors dancing together, others show men holding hands, and his self-portrait places him in a gay bathhouse. While these images might not seem particularly shocking in 2026, Demuth painted them in the early 20th century, when LGBTQ+ life was rarely represented openly in art or public life. He died in 1935, but his work can still be found in world-class museums including the Whitney, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Demuth Museum of Art in his hometown of Lancaster, PA. Thank you, Charles, for making the world a little gayer at a time when it desperately needed it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/83876f52-58b8-45f8-9b1a-927ddd166298/Screenshot+2026-08-11+at+4.11.22%E2%80%AFPM.png MONTHLIES - SEPTEMBER 2026 VOL. 3 - roller coaster, dizzee world, muttukadu, india This might seem like a random choice, but this roller coaster holds so much history and meaning for me. It originally opened as Corkscrew at the now-defunct Geauga Lake amusement park in Ohio. It was the first upside-down roller coaster I ever rode, and once I finally mustered the nerve to get on, I never wanted to get off. I must have ridden it until midnight. It was sadly removed in 1995 to make way for another coaster, but luckily, it lives on at an amusement park in Tamil Nadu, India. I dream of making the pilgrimage there someday and riding it from sunrise to sunset, just like I did all those years ago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/2fec165d-7e73-4cc1-91ea-af6ce9b560b9/IMG_1846.jpg MONTHLIES - SEPTEMBER 2026 VOL. 3 - x-roads cafe, 119 knickerbocker ave brooklyn, ny If you love coffee, art, room to breathe, and meditation, I can’t imagine a more perfect spot in NYC than X-Roads Café in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Upon arrival, you walk through a portal of painted loops and images that slowly transport you into a space with a café, a massive outdoor courtyard, and a yoga studio. They host dance parties, meditation classes, and community events, but it’s also the kind of place where you might find yourself having a deep existential conversation with your best friend while two strangers casually join in. It’s the perfect intersection of spirit, art, and coffee. The name really does fit... it’s a crossroads in every sense. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/24396fe6-1453-4f2f-9067-7a16fa623532/19bookmendelsohn2-superJumbo.jpg MONTHLIES - SEPTEMBER 2026 VOL. 3 - an odyssey by daniel mendelsohn With all the hoopla surrounding Christopher Nolan’s upcoming cinematic take on Homer’s The Odyssey, I figured this was a good time to shout out An Odyssey, a memoir by classics professor Daniel Mendelsohn and his 81-year-old father, Jay, who enrolls in his son’s college course on The Odyssey. The parallels between Telemachus searching for his father, Odysseus, and Daniel trying to understand his own father are beautifully observed. The book also follows Daniel and Jay on a 10-night cruise retracing Odysseus’s seafaring journey. It also illuminates a universal experience: sometimes we become curious enough to really ask about our parents just as we may be running out of time to ask. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/ae97c407-5ffa-4b14-9d3d-0782d96dcd29/Cross-section-Mariana-Arc-diagram-Trench-expedition-2004.jpg.png MONTHLIES - SEPTEMBER 2026 VOL. 3 - deepest parts of the ocean I worked on cruise ships for many years and often wondered just how deep the ocean was beneath me. It wasn’t until I took geology in college that I discovered this fascinating fact: the deepest parts of the ocean are actually along coastlines, not in the middle. Here’s why: mid-ocean ridges are enormous underwater volcanic mountain ranges that create new oceanic crust. As that crust spreads outward, it eventually collides with less dense continental crust, causing the oceanic crust to subduct, or pull it down into the Earth. This creates deep underwater trenches, which are the deepest places in the ocean. The deepest point on Earth, the Mariana Trench, sits just off the Mariana Islands in the Pacific, while the deepest part of the Atlantic, the Puerto Rico Trench, lies just north of Puerto Rico. https://www.distractioncoffee.com/monthlies/august-2026-vol-2 monthly 0.5 2026-08-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/e9804c6e-4da2-4dc9-a07b-794841d06d01/ab67616d0000b2730774ae861c9f7b1b1a2c5a8f.jpeg MONTHLIES - AUGUST 2026 VOL. 2 - Cathy dennis’ songwriting skills When I was little, I was obsessed with Cathy Dennis's song "Too Many Walls." (I'm an '80s kid with an unapologetic love for adult contemporary music.) A few years ago, I looked her up and discovered she'd gone on to become an incredible songwriter for other artists. Just a few of her writing credits: Britney Spears' "Toxic," Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out of My Head," Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl," and my personal favorite, s-Club 7's "Never Had a Dream Come True." Thanks for the tunes Cathy - What a legend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/a6c9f221-1845-4d83-9de1-7fde9f3085a9/Chicken-Tikka-Masala-Pizza-7.jpg MONTHLIES - AUGUST 2026 VOL. 2 - chicken tikka masala pizza I was on tour in Denver last year, and one of my favorite takeout spots was a restaurant that served Indian-inspired pizzas. Their signature Chicken Tikka Masala Pizza was absolute crack. I came up with a Trader Joe's hack: Buy their fresh pizza dough from the refrigerated section, a frozen box of chicken tikka masala, a bag of shredded mozzarella, and a handful of cilantro. Microwave the chicken tikka masala just enough to soften it, then spread it over the stretched pizza dough. Top with mozzarella and bake accordingly. Finish with a heaps of fresh cilantro. It's cheap and ridiculously good. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/d275572a-da0e-46a6-a41d-6c700e7538b6/In-her-shoes-REZ-400.jpg MONTHLIES - AUGUST 2026 VOL. 2 - in her shoes Side note: Older people are my favorite people on the planet. I could sit and talk with just about any one of them for hours. back to the movie: Toni Collette's character kicks her ill-behaved sister (Cameron Diaz) out of her apartment, so Cameron moves in with her estranged grandmother (Shirley MacLaine) at a retirement community in Florida. What follows is an inspiring and touching story where Cameron learns HOW TO BE AN ADULT, toni learns to trust people again and Shirley gets a lost piece of her family back. it’s a top-five film for me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/11ede903-69b7-4be2-9f90-d3e5ca8c010e/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-16-at-7.03.59-PM.jpg MONTHLIES - AUGUST 2026 VOL. 2 - sutton lee seymour in super ma’am Being an artist is no easy task. I can barely serve dinner to people without apologizing for what I've cooked. Being a drag queen is even more exposing. You're a business of one: writer, performer, producer, booker, marketer, promoter, choreographer, costume designer, therapist, accountant... the list never ends. One of my best friends in the world happens to be one of the best drag queens in the world: Sutton Lee Seymour. If you're ever in Puerto Vallarta or Provincetown, do yourself a favor and catch one of her original shows. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/bbb31d0c-38e7-4c63-bbd9-f95149195b89/91Oo5v6EZpL._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_.jpg MONTHLIES - AUGUST 2026 VOL. 2 - the infinite door tarot card deck Rumor has it you're only supposed to receive tarot decks as gifts, never buy one for yourself. Well, I saw this deck about a year ago and wasn't about to wait for someone to magically read my mind, so I bought it anyway. The artwork, the colors, even the box the cards come in all feel genuinely magical. SPELLBINDING, EVEN. If you know someone who's tarot-curious, this makes a perfect gift. (And the best part… They won't have to break the "never-buy-your-own-deck" rule.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/37234012-9fdf-4182-b03f-f988e59cab67/LocalestAirport.jpg MONTHLIES - AUGUST 2026 VOL. 2 - portland airport I'm obsessed with airports. A therapist and I once realized that the Pittsburgh airport represented getting out of my hometown. It was a safety zone. An escape hatch from that city and town. Portland's newly remodeled airport is, hands down, the most beautiful airport in America. Walking through it feels like you've stepped into a Pacific Northwest forest. The soaring wood ceilings, natural light, and abundance of real trees and plants. Even better, all of the food vendors are local and thanks to a local law, they charge the same prices they do outside the airport. (no airport markup!) A++++ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/91dfb6f6-b1fa-4831-8831-111d764ef5d8/Screenshot+2026-08-02+at+11.38.04%E2%80%AFAM.png MONTHLIES - AUGUST 2026 VOL. 2 - AUTORRETRATO EN TARDE ROSA by Tomás Sánchez I've been admiring Cuban artist Tomás Sánchez's work for years. He paints breathtaking landscapes, then quietly places a single person in meditation somewhere within the scene, often so subtly that you have to search for them. It's like a peaceful where’s waldo. I RECENTLY BOUGHT a PRINT OF HIS 1994 PAINTING, AUTORRETRATO EN TARDE ROSA, (self-portrait on a pink afternoon) for my apartment. the elongated, tall vertical trees remind me of the late american illustrator, Eyvind Earle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/f605736a-7165-449e-8feb-dc222f31050e/Screenshot+2026-07-30+at+2.34.25%E2%80%AFPM.png MONTHLIES - AUGUST 2026 VOL. 2 - montu, busch gardens, tampa, fl My first visit to Busch Gardens Tampa was in 1996, the debut year of its now world-famous inverted roller coaster, Montu. Named after the ancient Egyptian god of war, the coaster dives, twists, and weaves through Egyptian ruins, skimming over trenches and plunging in and out of underground temple-like structures. When it first opened, one of the coolest moments was a quick drop out of the station over a live crocodile enclosure. Thirty years later, it still holds up as one of the greatest inverted roller coasters ever built. happy birthday, montu! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/d2a29d1e-0f40-4983-8ff5-9635cff4e27f/Screenshot+2026-07-30+at+2.51.26%E2%80%AFPM.png MONTHLIES - AUGUST 2026 VOL. 2 - Neiberhud coffee, 107 thompson st, new york, ny there’s a stretch Thompson Street in SoHo, nyc i call "Espresso Alley." Between Prince and Spring alone, there are five or six coffee shops competing for your attention. My favorite is Neiberhud Coffee. They recently remodeled the space, and it's even better than before. There's indoor and outdoor seating, free Wi-Fi, an actual bathroom (a rare luxury in NYC), genuinely delicious coffee, and every drink comes with a free date. Yes, the fruit (yum). It's a tiny touch that somehow makes my day every time. On Saturday afternoons each month, they even host a disco DJ set that turns the café into a neighborhood party. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/12739c2a-1f60-48b2-8fe2-9b2a72ce143b/LIB-112753-023818-ThirdParty-TodayTix-1600x1200.jpg MONTHLIES - AUGUST 2026 VOL. 2 - liberation by bess wohl i read this script before I saw it onstage, so I knew exactly what was coming. It didn't matter. The words still hit me right in the heart. It's a memory play about a woman who has recently lost her mother and returns to her small hometown in Ohio to better understand who she was. (SHE FORMED THE FIRST “CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING GROUP” IN TOWN.) The play builds to an emotional climax when an actress onstage embodies her mother's spirit, almost like Oda Mae Brown channeling Sam in Ghost, and delivers a line that completely leveled me: "Don't get so caught up in the past, in ‘not becoming your mother,’ that you forget to become yourself." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/fff9dbc1-6865-4fcc-92ea-76584a575f88/IMG_5905.png MONTHLIES - AUGUST 2026 VOL. 2 - pounds = lbs. Never in my life had I stopped to think about why we write "lbs." as the abbreviation for pounds until i was playing a round of Trivial Pursuit on a cruise ship years ago. Well, after losing the game, I'm here to tell you why. It's short for the Latin phrase libra pondo, which means "weight by the pound." That's also where the zodiac sign Libra gets its name. It's represented by a set of balancing scales, just like the original Latin word. SO NEXT TIME YOU’RE WRITING YOUR WEIGHT, THINK OF IT IN LIBRAS INSTEAD. WE’RE ALL STARDUST, ANYWAY… RIGHT? https://www.distractioncoffee.com/monthlies/july-2026 monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/97646df5-6a74-434d-b080-8a1336ccf00b/Unknown-2.jpeg MONTHLIES - JULY 2026 VOL. 1 - MUJI BGM It only recently hit me how serene the background music in MUJI stores is, so I did a little Googling and discovered that they record original live instrumental music from countries around the world specifically for their stores and release the albums every year on apple music and spotify. i’m currently loving bgm27 scotland and bgm5 puerto rico. perfect reading and work music. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/75921dda-63ef-4c50-9ead-adedc225ae7c/IMG_2273.jpg MONTHLIES - JULY 2026 VOL. 1 - escargot at sperry’s steakhouse I went to visit one of my besties in Nashville for her birthday, and we went to this great restaurant, Sperry's Steakhouse, then proceeded to do one of my favorite things ever: sit at the bar, order escargot, and demolish heaps of bread. It's essentially like eating tiny hot tubs of garlic. Nora Ephron once said that having dinner with friends in a city that none of you are from is one of her favorite things in life. I gotta agree with you, Nora. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/8a42ed36-6c71-4f58-80c3-46ffdd83853a/0025192358913_p0_v3_s600x595.jpg MONTHLIES - JULY 2026 VOL. 1 - captain fantastic and sharing opinions Being back in college, I’ve noticed students often describe readings as merely “interesting” or “great” without explaining why. It always reminds me of a scene from the film Captain Fantastic where Viggo Mortensen tells his daughter that “interesting” is an illegal word after she uses it to describe the book Lolita, forcing her to dig deeper and articulate what she actually thinks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/b5dc3f60-86f0-4e2d-b419-6447d5d43733/IMG_2126+2.jpg MONTHLIES - JULY 2026 VOL. 1 - the rocky horror show revival on broadway Dammit (Janet), I'd somehow never seen either The Rocky Horror Show (stage) or The Rocky Horror Picture Show(movie). Maybe the universe was saving my introduction for opening night of the new Broadway revival featuring one of my other besties as dance captain and swing extraordinaire. My hot date, Roz, became the talk of the town, even stealing a moment with original Janet, Susan Sarandon. The plot is essentially a two-hour invitation to stop apologizing for what lights your fire. If it's “weird,” who cares? That's an invite I'll accept. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/e04fa83c-e089-4c17-a9b1-2658d251be79/original-koshi-chimesyoga-accessoriesbykati-kaia-801205_480x480.jpg.webp MONTHLIES - JULY 2026 VOL. 1 - KOCHI CHIMES a couple of years ago, I attended my first sound bath at Official Ritual in chelsea (NYC). among the various chimes, rain sticks, tuning forks, and singing bowls was the instrument that unexpectedly made me giggle and cry: the Kochi Chime. These bamboo chimes create deeply soothing, harmonic tones that instantly transported me back to infancy, lying in a crib beneath a mobile of gentle sounds and loving energy. Their collection includes four chimes, each inspired by one of the elements. As a Fire Tiger, the "Ignis" fire chime resonates most with me. Softly swing one beside your ears, and the layered harmonics feel like they might add time back into your life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/fd0d09bd-27d8-4577-a066-59b45984a9f7/mount-vesuvius-campania_orig.jpg MONTHLIES - JULY 2026 VOL. 1 - NAPLES, ITALY Before my first trip to Italy, nearly everyone told me Florence was breathtaking and Naples was skippable. I could not disagree more. Florence felt overly touristy, while Naples felt like the ultimate snapshot of Italy: incredible pizza, opera houses, art, laundry hanging from balconies, and chaotic ancient energy. Then, across the horseshoe-shaped bay, you have Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii, herculaneum, the cliffs of Sorrento, the islands of Capri and Ischia, and the flower-covered beauty of Positano and the Amalfi Coast. If someone could only visit one part of Italy, Naples would easily be my choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/9fd71ab3-3e95-4fa2-ad3d-067728feb6ed/picksimg00_large-4.jpg.png MONTHLIES - JULY 2026 VOL. 1 - RETURN BY AGNES PELTON The first print I purchased for my apartment was by one of my favorite artists of all time: Agnes Pelton. If you love Georgia O'Keeffe, I think you’ll love falling down the wonderful rabbit hole of exploring Agnes’ work. I chose this particular piece because simply looking at it feels meditative. Is it a dove made of stardust dropping a teardrop of light into a desert oasis? A star swan-diving into a sea cradled by sandy mountains? Or maybe it’s a fragment of the soul returning to its infinite self. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/987f8060-0162-4f15-8056-55947bae194d/2BOFCU7Z4VFMRPWFKARX6ZU6R4.jpg MONTHLIES - JULY 2026 VOL. 1 - JACK RABBIT, KENNYWOOD, PITTSBURGH, PA My first roller coaster feature had to be my first major coaster experience: the Jack Rabbit. Built in 1920, it remains one of the oldest operating roller coasters in the world and still one of the best. Its quirks are legendary. the biggest drop comes at the very end of the ride, the restraint system is basically just a loose, leather seatbelt, and its most famous element, the “double dip,” genuinely launches you up and nearly out of the ride entirely. Nearly 100 years later, it’s still an absolute blast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/2c7db968-722f-4968-b8d9-2a3895ec5b01/348s.jpg MONTHLIES - JULY 2026 VOL. 1 - FIVE FLIES COFFEE, 554 W 158th st, new york, ny I lived in Washington Heights for well over a decade, and my favorite coffee shop was always Taszo Espresso Bar. Its owner, Haitem Weslati, is a world-renowned photographer, coffee expert, and all-around lovely soul. Years later, he moved the café into an incredible new space that has the energy of a mullet: sleek Scandinavian café vibes in the front and cozy, speakeasy apartment vibes in the back. on top of all that, the coffee is unreal and still one of the best affordable cafés in Manhattan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/e6f56186-95f2-43e6-bfdb-372bc854a682/insomniac-city-transparent.png MONTHLIES - JULY 2026 VOL. 1 - insomniac city by bill hayes My dear cousin Lara, who worked at Bloomsbury Publishing for years and knows my book taste better than almost anyone, sent me this memoir a long time ago. It sat on my shelf for months because, honestly, the title did absolutely nothing for me. Then one morning, I grabbed it on my walk to the subway, and I've never really put it down since. If you love memoirs and nonfiction, quick capsule-like chapters, or little espresso shots of "life is beautiful" moments, this book will absolutely satisfy your thirst. I've loved it so much that I've probably gifted more than 25 copies since receiving mine. Thanks, Lara (and Bill! and Oliver!). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/306cd999-297d-406a-8a8f-ea6e65ffeacf/MG_6110-1024x683.jpg MONTHLIES - JULY 2026 VOL. 1 - organ stops A friend of mine is a church organist, and I remember watching him practice one day when I asked what all the knobs next to the keys were for. He explained that they're called stops, and that the more you pull them out, the more air flows through the organ pipes, creating a louder, fuller sound. It was one of those "I was today years old" moments when I realized that's where the phrase "pulling out all the stops" comes from. https://www.distractioncoffee.com/home daily 1.0 2026-07-30 https://www.distractioncoffee.com/journey daily 0.75 2026-07-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/8622b002-44e9-4d7a-91b6-a9c2595954f8/IMG_0378.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/a1aa8b49-6e26-4865-ba06-98d07597e8aa/ChatGPT+Image+May+11%2C+2026+at+05_33_57+PM.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/6e09ff79-eec3-499d-bc15-c095dbad13af/3DD5C98F-CEA9-41A7-93C4-86637BCD9AE6.jpg https://www.distractioncoffee.com/work daily 0.75 2026-07-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/becf5b73-88c4-473f-9b17-a7323f2982f3/Andrew+Wilson+Headshot+1.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/9bebedf7-136e-4967-a36d-f29d9f11b97b/Andrew%2BWilson%2BHeadshot%2B2.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/617cea38-eadb-4d0a-befe-1243b95ae131/Resume+Image.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/b5032797-8310-472e-96f3-4da59cf4e3bf/Screenshot+2026-07-29+at+1.42.26%E2%80%AFPM.png https://video.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/378cbf89-7082-43e9-9739-73098c6f1b2f/playlist.m3u8 https://video.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/378cbf89-7082-43e9-9739-73098c6f1b2f/thumbnail WORK Explore a diverse career in performance arts, education, and creative direction with over 20 years of experience in dance, acrobatics, puppetry, and more. Download resumes and headshots. https://www.distractioncoffee.com/contact daily 0.75 2026-07-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fd4f4709570541a3c2a48b/e60f1069-63ce-452a-8b02-5dc1b2614988/LifeofPi50.jpg