8.27 - change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time
what’s new in washington d.c.?
Local independent bookstores moved the annual DC Bookstore Crawl to a virtual format this year. While some locations are open for limited browsing, the organizers of the event are encouraging attendees to shop online this weekend to be entered into a raffle to win books and other prizes.
let’s talk food
An upscale Persian restaurant, Rumi’s Kitchen, recently opened in Mt. Vernon Triangle. This is their first location outside of Atlanta and the critically acclaimed spot serves a range of Persian favorites, from kabobs to badenjoon. Also - if you sit inside, you can sit next to some decorated mannequins for #socialdistancing.
In need of a celebration? Minibar’s very cute, very fancy bento boxes might just do the trick. For $150, Minibar will deliver a treasure chest of small course dishes with a particular emphasis on seafood selections.
what’s on our minds?
In a powerful expression of solidarity against police brutality, the Milwaukee Bucks set in motion a full boycott of NBA playoff games last night. The events spurred from outrage over the police shooting Jacob Blake seven times in the back while he was leaving a Wisconsin protest, rendering him paralyzed. The Bucks began their day speaking with elected officials in Wisconsin, and ended their day powerfully boycotting a critical playoff game. Other teams and players were quick to follow, with three WNBA, five MLS and three MLB games also canceled last night.
In some good COVID-related news, sleep-away camps in Maine successfully figured out a way to operate and keep 1,000+ campers and staffers safe. Some of the lessons learned from this experience, published in a CDC study this week, are translatable to other in-person scenarios: required testing and initial quarantine, a cohort model, face masks and physical distancing, extensive cleaning/ disinfecting, and an emphasis on outdoor activities.
On the flip side, and in a case study on the power of student pressure, Cornell students are petitioning for the school to expel a TikTok star/ first year student who posts videos of herself defying COVID safety measures. As of this morning, over 2,200 people have signed.
Quick links to other weekly #goodreads:
Can Biden’s Center Hold? - per The New Yorker, “After a career built on incremental progress, Joe Biden is promising a Presidency of transformational change. The election will test whether his campaign can bring together a divided Party and a beleaguered country.”
'He Knew Everything': Fear, Control, and Manipulation at Yoga to the People - per Vice, “Ex-Bikram disciple Greg Gumucio built an empire on donation-based yoga. Former employees say its image hid his harassment and abuse.”
The Wildest Insurance Fraud Scheme Texas Has Ever Seen - per Texas Monthly, “Over a decade, Theodore Robert Wright III destroyed cars, yachts, and planes. That was only the half of it.”
What Happened in Room 10?- per The California Sunday Magazine, “Forty-six people associated with the nursing home died, exposing how ill-prepared we were for the pandemic — and how we take care of our elderly.”
what are we watching/reading?
World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji on Hulu. After finishing an Amazing Race season, I was itching for a new show that captured its wanderlust and competitive elements. Luckily, a good friend turned me on to the World’s Toughest Race - although this one is less scrambling in airports, more trying to not fall off a cliff. Sixty-six teams attempt to traverse a 400-mile course in the rough wilderness of Fiji - it’s intense and very addicting
Lovecraft Country on HBO Max. When I heard Jordan Peele executive produced a new HBO show, that was really all I needed to know before watching it. And - it was all I did know, which is probably why I was very confused the first episode (but, confused in a good way?). This show, based on a book by the same name and set in the 1950s, confronts two horrors: American racism and science-fiction monsters. New episodes are released each week on HBO Max.
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‘til next time -courtney