The Lo Down: 6/18/25
Makes it feel like summer forever...
Arts & Culture
Sunset Boulevard on Broadway is cinema in motion. As a staunch lover of old Hollywood movies, I think having the context really enhances the experience - especially with such a stripped-down production. It’s been reinvented for a modern audience and while that mostly works, there are moments that made me cringe a little (Nicole Scherzinger doing TikTok-ish choreo, I’m looking at you). At times it teeters on parody…but then she snaps right back into it with moments of raw brilliance, like her a cappella breakdown at the end of Act II. She fully channels the psychosis & delusion Gloria Swanson brough tot the role - and redeems everything.
Despite a full ensemble cast change since I saw it last year (they weren’t quite on par with the OG cast), it truly doesn’t matter. This is Nicole & Tom Francis’ show. Tom, especially, gave a performance so captivating it deserved that Tony. I was fully locked in - no notes.
What I DO have notes on? Theater etiquette. From my orchestra seat, I caught someone in the side balcony on their phone during the performance - yes, it was that bright. Unless it’s intermission or curtain call, it’s inexcusable. And please, for the love of God, stop clapping while someone is still singing. I know Nicole’s note is giving you goosebumps (same), but if you cheer mid-note, I can’t hear her finish the damn note. Let her land the moment. And the mid-show standing ovations? Let’s not. It feels performative - like people read online that it’s the thing to do and now it’s happening every night. Personally, I think it disrupts the flow and interrupts the performance.
All that said: the show is closing on July 20 (& Tom is leaving July 6) and if you haven’t seen it yet, you must. I loved it so much I’d go a third time - and I don’t even like rewatching movies or TV shows, let alone live theater. That should tell you how fucking good this is.
Food
I’ve been laying low on dining-out this past week - lots of home cooking, plus a lovely meal cooked by a friend. I did squeeze in a casual al fresco burger at Corner Bistro, which remains a neighborhood classic for a reason, Pro tip: get the mini burger - the full sized one is a little unwieldy. And while their tater tots are top-tier, so are the fries…so go with a group and get both. A perfect easy spot for a casual hang and drink.
In the food-adjacent-but-still-delicious category: I tried the Summer Forever by Addison Rae at Matchaful (thought it was a smoothie - it’s not, just a cold drink), and I loved it. It tasted like a Jamba Juice mango-a-go-go in the best way: nostalgic, mall-core, mango-y goodness. It’s made with mango puree, Oishii strawberry puree, blue spirulina coconut milk, and topped with matcha coconut cold foam. A pretty little drink I’ll definitely indulge in again before summer’s up.
I finally made it to Pearl Box, and the vibe was immaculate - even on a misty Tuesday night. Great music, great cocktails, and fun little details: one of the best matchboxes I’ve picked up in awhile, plus fake cigarettes that are actually grape gum (which was kind of gross…they should be mint or chocolate, let’s be honest). Still, it’s the kind of bar where you’ll want to linger.
Fashion
Quirky statement jewelry isn’t usually my thing, but I’m really loving the fun, summery jewelry from Eliou this season:
Obsessed with Eliou? Same. But the fun doesn’t stop there - discover my full summer jewelry edit here. Jewelry that doesn’t take itself too seriously - just like summer should be.
Movies/TV
Sinners: One Michael B. Jordan is a gift, but two? A single actor playing twins always makes me laugh - and somehow, Sinners managed to do something new with the vampire genre while still embracing the classic tropes (garlic, wooden stakes, needing to be invited in). It started a bit slow; some character development could’ve been cut, but I guess it paid off emotionally once everyone started dying. Suspenseful and exciting without being scary. I wish I saw it in theaters. 4/5 stars - and I’m hoping for a sequel after that post-credits scene.
M3GAN: I fear I watched a completely different move than whatever people were hyping up as a campy classic. This was hot garbage. The performances were hollow at best, and the whole thing felt like an unintentional parody. I don’t understand how this got a sequel. Was there widespread group delusion in the air when this movie originally came out?! 1/5 stars
Novocaine: Some fun action sequences, but the love story was cringeworthy and felt flat. 2/5 stars
Current Obsession
(Sugar) high off of my ‘Summer Forever’ matcha, I’ve been leaning in to listening to Addison Rae’s debut album, Addison, this week. There were a few undeniable instant hits - Diet Pepsi, Aquamarine - but the rest took a few listens to really click. I don’t think it’s the Addison Rae summer that I expected - the album has been great for the rainy summer days, but I don’t think it lends itself to the upbeat high energy hyperpop music I crave in the summertime. That said, it’s growing on me and I’ve had it on heavy rotation all week - current favorites are Fame is a Gun, In The Rain, and Headphones On.
As for what kind of summer is it? We had Brat summer last year. This year still feels TBD. Anyone cracked the code yet?
On My Radar
Ops is opening a new location in the East Village
The Harvest Dinner Series at Wildflower Farms: a series of dinners, each centering around a specific ingredient and hosted by a different visionary creative - from chefs to architects to fashion designers. Seems like fate that they’re hosting one on my birthday, no?
Lele’s Roman, a ‘new but also quite old school’ Italian restaurant in Boerum Hill
The Ripple Room, a new bar on the LES
Until next week -
xo
Lo
I’m sorry.. but M3GAN is iconic. Will be at the midnight premier of M3GAN 2.0.
Harvest dinner is SO cute, what a perfect birthday celebration!!!