Hi friends! Welcome to the ninth issue of gleamed.
What an exciting time—the air is crisp this morning, and New Yorkers are running around in their sweaters and boots. I hope you’re enjoying a strong cup of coffee as you read this.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be traveling a lot. Look out for travel tips, guides, and booze stories related to destinations like Paris, Cognac, Mykonos, Santorini, and New Orleans. Traveling is always exciting for me, but let’s also be honest: it can be extremely draining as well. I’m paying extra close attention (when I can) to different ways I can make travel more easeful, and will let you know my findings as well.
I have a very exciting announcement to share soon. Keep a close eye on this space if you’d like to be the first to learn more.
Finally, if you have any suggestions or requests as this newsletter is taking shape, my inbox is always open!
xx,
Austa
I’m feeling…funky candles for your fall table
Nothing sets a mood quite like a well-placed candle, whether you’re hosting a dinner party or settling in for a cozy movie night with your partner. While I’m all for a beautifully scented candle, tapers and pillars are where all the drama is at. Here are some of my recent favorites that I’ve been eyeing, for your fall table:
Nanao Japanese Candles by Takazawa Candle. New Yorkers, you can find these at Front General Store in Dumbo.
Nile Yin Yang Candles handmade in Mexico City
Heart on a Pedestal Candle by Ri-Ri-Ku. These come in a bunch of different colors as well, like chartreuse, peach, and burgundy.
Happiness Pillar Candle by Yinka Ilori. I wrote about the designer for Robb Report.
Botanical Taper Candles by Wildflower & Fern Co. on Etsy. Perfect for a Shire-core home.
The Broadway M by Davie Ocho Candle Co.
A petite (color) story…glaucous
Recently, I’ve found myself on niche color TikTok, which has led me to what is perhaps my new favorite color: glaucous. There are different interpretations of the strange-sounding color (a Google image search produces results similar to periwinkle), but the traditional use of the term is botanical: a pale gray-green to describe the dusty covering of some plants, like pine trees and even grapes.
Ironically, the word is derived from Greek glaukos, meaning "gleaming" or "gray," and has been used to describe a range of pale colors from a yellow-green to a bluish-gray, according to Merriam-Webster. I love how moody yet elegant the color is, and it reminds me of the paint color I’ve been dying to douse my apartment in: Sea Salt by Sherwin-Williams.
A New York to-do…the NYT Food Festival
For those who remember (and miss) the heyday of Smorgasburg, get ready for the New York Times Food Festival, returning to NYC on Saturday, October 8th.
Honestly, I don’t usually get too stoked for an event where I know for a fact I’ll be waiting in multiple lines in order to spend money, but this one is different—I hope. An all-day affair from 11AM until 7PM, this enormous food fest is taking place at Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center and tickets are $40.
I’m particularly looking forward to this curation of dishes that highlight Black Vegan Traditions, and the return of pastry chef Natasha Pickowicz’s beloved charity bake sale. You may remember it as a women-led sale to benefit Planned Parenthood during the dreaded Trump days, but this year proceeds will go to City Harvest.
For those who have been coveting or craving pastries from popular spots like Jeremiah Stone’s Wildair and Doris Hồ-Kane’s Bạn Bè, there will also be a dedicated donut sale. I can’t imagine a more beautiful thing.
Where I’m traveling to next…France.
Send Paris recommendations, still vous plait.
French people, please blame autocorrect. *S'il vous plait.