Each month, we ask a writer to share what’s on their minds and in their open tabs. This June’s guest curator is Melanie Masarin, the founder and CEO of Ghia, a non-alcoholic aperitif, the author of Riviera, and the writer behind Night Shade, her Substack newsletter.
I just came back from my book tour, which is a sentence that still doesn’t feel real to me. The book was entirely inspired by my childhood in the South of France, the same inspiration that drew me to create Ghia. The schedule was so, so very intense, especially for a social introvert like me. And yet, I came back more nourished than I expected, fueled by actually getting to meet our customers in person around good food and drinks.
This year so much of my headspace is taken up by contradictions I can’t seem to resolve. I am a creative and an overthinker and my inner monologue looks something like this: I want more time alone to focus and create, and I also want more time out in the world with the people who drink Ghia. I’m excited about everything AI is going to let my team do, and also up at night worried about what happens when we start handing off the simplest acts and our creative output to a machine. I’ve reached a point in my career where I finally get to lean into what I love... and now I’m wondering if maybe it’s also time to work a little less? I want to get outside my bubble. I also desperately need to turn off the news!
Life is electric right now. I exhaust myself trying to make the most of it. But what always takes me back is leaving my electronics by the door and making a meal for people I love. How you spend your days is how you spend your life (favorite quote from Annie Dillard).
1. In my not so old age, I have become a bit of an ice cream connoisseur
Top three from the past few months: Freto in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is number one. Artisanal, served in little martini glasses, three different pistachios for three different types of my favorite nut. The olive oil ice cream at Folderol in Paris, which I’ve loved for years (they also serve Ghia, which I’m very proud of). And the frozen Greek yogurt with orange blossom at Taverna, also in Paris.
2. TL180
A tiny knitwear studio based in Rome that does quarterly pop-ups in Paris. I visited it this week and fell in love. Their recent collaboration with Soeur has me absolutely drooling.
3. The Before Trilogy
Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Before Midnight. Basically one long conversation spanning two decades, starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. It is such a treat! My boyfriend and I watched all three in a week while we were traveling and loved it. All free on Tubi. Highly, highly recommend.
Pope Leo’s million-page encyclical on AI. So extremely interesting, and has kept me up at night, both because anthropologically I hate AI and practically I absolutely love it, and I’m both interested in automating menial tasks and desperate for my brain not to rot. I’ve been making my way through it all week (I alternate with Lena Dunham’s new memoir on audiobook, which I’m also loving! High low).
5. My heatwave outfit
It is a heat wave in Paris and all I've worn all week is:
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.