Alessandra Sanguinetti. Enchanting the pig, Buenos Aires, 1999
Earlier this month, we asked you to share some thoughts about what gives you pleasure. It seemed innocuous enough at the time, but in retrospect, we might have stumbled into something a bit more fraught — but also revealing. Because when we started reflecting on what pleasure looks like in our own lives (by which we do not mean the abundant dopamine hits that we are served up by our phones), it became clear that pleasure is personal, and it feels strange to recommend something that’s so rooted in our own tastes and idiosyncrasies. And that’s leaving aside the fact that pleasure has a strong association with sex as well (thankfully!), which in our puritanical society can come with the unfortunate bedfellow of shame.
Or maybe, like me, you too have ignored your own pleasure—I'm a woman, an adult in capitalism, a parent. I spend far too much time suppressing my needs for others, buckling down and taking care of what needs to be done. I'm quite good at not listening to my desires because I have so long ignored them to be helpful, efficient, ambitious—blah blah BLAH! There are a million things that can keep us from taking the pursuit of pleasure seriously, and we have very few structures in our lives to support that pursuit, to encourage it. But a few years ago, I readA Recipe For More by Sara Elise, a guidebook to the importance of pleasure, to seeking out what makes us feel alive, and cultivating kindness towards ourselves. The wisdom of this book has lodged in my brain and is slowly unraveling the white-knuckle approach I've been taught. "Like breath and rest and physical touch, pleasure is a basic necessity that doesn't have to be paid for with pain or parceled off in scarcity."
The reason I wanted to talk about pleasure in January was to counter the month’s focus on self-improvement and sacrifice. Don't get me wrong: I've bought more self-help books than I want to share, and I love a plan. But the endless project of bettering myself and achieving is exhausting. I live with far too many “shoulds” in my life already and would rather start the year off elevating the idea of listening to myself and uncovering the wants.
So perhaps this was a long road to conscripting you all in my resolution: pay attention to what turns you on in life and make more space for that. And my hope is that maybe you'll consider our recommendations in a new vein—or ignore them all together, and do whatever lights you up instead.
"These are the joy trails that begin with something sweet and lead us to the most meaningful parts of who we are and who and what we hold most precious in life. They matter because they remind us to pay attention to what kicks off joy for us—no matter how insignificant or outrageous it may seem." - Sara Elise
All Month (Sundays, 2 pm) - Twin Peaks: Season 1 (Zebulon) Cineplexes, art house theaters, outdoor movies, rooftop movies, even drive-ins(!), we got ‘em, but cafe/bar movie nights, nah, we don’t got those quite as much. But this month you can get your absolute fill of that experience as Zebulon airs two episodes from David Lynch’s evergreen masterpiece every Sunday at 2 pm. Admission is free and pie will be served. (DH)
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All Month - Henrietta (Echo Park) Henrietta hits the neighborhood spot must haves: warm corner space, solid playlist, and reservations you can actually get. The standout dish was a persimmon-avocado-endive salad with buttermilk dressing that nails the elusive sweet/savory/crunchy trifecta. I’m excited to return at lunch and dip into their sandwiches — and check out the small market, which apparently has an excellent tea selection. (BK)
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All Month - The House of Football (Silverlake United) The World Cup is coming, and the proof is in the pudding, by which I mean the brand-spanking new soccer bars. Silverlake United just opened up in the space where Trophy Wife used to be, and they’ll be letting people in at 7/8 am on weekends to air all the hottest soccer action from overseas. (DH)
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January 3 - The Muppet Movie(The New Beverly) Following up on Lynch, is there anything more frightening in the entirety of the Lynch oeuvre than the idea of someone slaughtering Kermit the Frog for food? Maybe, but I don’t think so. Despite that, this remains one of the most delightful childrens movies ever made, with miracles and mysteries in abundance. (But if you are looking for less frog legs in your childrens offerings, Vidiots is also playing101 Dalmations.) (DH)
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January 4 - Screening: Heaven, Diane Keaton’s Directorial Debut (Philosophical Research Society) I’ve been reading a fabulous book about women artists and the spirit world called The Other Side, gifted to me by my dear friend Laura. It’s given me a lot to ponder and, admittedly, made for some strange dreams. Then I stumbled on a screening of this documentary by Diane Keaton - who knew! - where she questions passerbys on Hollywood Boulevard about the afterlife. The artist’s quest is indeed to ask questions, and I hope, for our dear Annie Hall, she has gleaned some answers. RIP Diane <3 (MR)
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January 11 - Barry Lyndon (Vidiots) There are probably a dozen screenings at Vidiots this month that have the potential to be the filmgoing highlight of the year (masterpieces like Battle of Algiers and Yi Yi; a Rob Reiner retrospective; nostalgia-hits like UHF and Flashdance; space freak-outs Armageddon and Total Recall; and the “Vidiots Hornyfest” series, kicking off with a double bill of Magic Mike and My Year of Dicks —-- to name a few!), but the can’t-miss event for me is Barry Lyndon. It would be thrilling if it were only a sumptuous historical drama, but of course it’s not just that; it’s also a thrillingly ironic investigation of what it means to adapt a written work. So with Kubrick, it’s not a bullet that ultimately kills off his hero, it’s words themselves. (DH)
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January 11 - Quantum Reality: Path to Health, Longevity & A Better World (Philosophical Research Society) How could it be January without a soundbath in the calendar? I know, eye roll (!), but this one caught my eye more than most. Thanks to my new job, I have the wondrous pleasure of hanging around scientists and artists on the regular. The topic of quantum physics and quantum reality comes up quite a bit. Personally, I welcome a reminder that reality is not always what it seems, and that the world works in mysterious ways. This interdisciplinary workshop and soundbath, led by Dr. Ling O’Connor, sounds like a fantastic framework for starting a new year in chaotic times. (MR)
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January 24 - Oyster Mushroom Growing Workshop (Scribble) Mushrooms are magical, delicious, and potentially conscious. Growing these mythical beings should feel impossible—but Scribble's most popular workshop proves anyone can do it. In this beginner-friendly, hands-on session, you'll build your own grow kit and watch your mushrooms fruit in 10 days or less. (BK)
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January 30 - Sophie Calle: Overshare (OCMA) Not to brag (or overshare!) but I’ve had a couple of very cool art moments in my life- taking Cindy Sherman to lunch being a major highlight. The other VCAM (Very Cool Art Moment) was sitting next to Sophie Calle, resplendent in golden paillettes, at a gala for a contemporary dance company. I have loved her work since discovering it in Paris at the Musée de la Chasse several years ago. Her conceptual musings on love, death, and heartbreak speak to my own melancholic urges and questions (I told you, I’m a French girl at heart!). I can hardly believe Calle’s first North American retrospective will be in such close proximity to us. We’ll always have the OC! (MR)
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January 31 - Cate Le Bon (The Belasco) In her seventh album, Michelangelo Dying, Cate Le Bon’s voice surfs along languid, layered synth sounds that lean more pop and psych than her folk roots. This album explores a heartbreak at the end of a long relationship and the “softness that comes from the surrender” (Pitchfork). This past year in LA has felt like a study in heartbreak, and sitting with this album as I process 2025 just feels right. But don’t be confused, this isn’t a downer of an album: it's a spacious, lush, looping meditation. (BK)
[Hold This Space]
Year one was for license plates, year two was for strip malls, and year three is for… I’m actually not sure yet. I’d hoped that something would come to me before the new year, but the new year came a little more quickly than expected. Rest assured, however, that we’ll have a new LA-themed aesthetic critique lined up by February. Or we’ll drop the post-rec section completely. One or the other.
And if you have any ideas on this front, please feel free to reach out in whatever mode you prefer! (Ideas under discussion include a best highway exit contest, billboard reviews, and celebrations of accidental spaces.)
