May 2, 2025, 12:43pm
This week, the Lit Hub staff is brought to you by the grace of giggles and games.
James Folta is digging this “extra-bitter” riff on the Americano. The Enzo is a low-abv springtime spritz named for the Ferrari founder, and it’s apparently perfect for a fire escape near you. If you’re not about the alcohol, a non-alcoholic amari and soda with a twist of orange does just as well.
Speaking of sweets. This week, Dan Sheehan was grateful for Kinder Penguís, a chocolate treat with a creamy center. Though unfortunately “they don’t sell these bad boys in America,” you can go through some hoops to get them delivered. And when in Ireland, “make sure to eat at least one a day.”
Music has also been medicinal. Emily Temple is ready to return—spiritually—to 2004. She’s looking forward to the Rilo Kiley reunion tour.
And this week Molly Odintz enjoyed the 50th anniversary celebration of Antone’s, a blues show featuring “a murderers’ row of blues all-stars and torchbearers.” If the PBS/Austin City Limits livestream is anything to go by, blues musicians really do get better with age. (“And sometimes raunchier,” according to Molly.)
Some of us stayed indoors, preferring to burrow inward. Oliver Scialdone returned to a beloved, single player strategy game—Slay the Spire.
Drew Broussard recommends the Glass Cannon Network, because he’s loving “being a nerd these days.” This network of shows features smart, witty friends playing some of your favorite RPG games. It’s also a great place to build para-social relationships. Drew recommends “the exceptional X-Files-esque horror show called Get in the Trunk, and a great historical cosmic horror show called Time for Chaos.”
My household is also giving nerd these days. My partner and I’ve started a weekday eve project where we re-watch episodes of Documentary Now (Bill Hader and Fred Armisen’s hyper-niche, mock-documentary IFC parody show) in double feature bills with the inspiring source material. (So: Tuesday is D.A. Pennebaker’s Company and John Mulaney and Seth Meyer’s Co-Op, Wednesday is The War Room and The Bunker, etc.)
I’m finding it to be a tonally exciting exercise. Chasing a self-serious Herzog joint that interrogates spiritual rot with a goofy skit starring Alexander Skarsgård in this wig slakes a certain thirst for the absurd alongside the earnest.
And speaking of that heady brew. Folta’s also giggling this week about the dubious kerning on the late pope’s tomb. (The late Francis has been laid to rest under a less impressive than usual “people’s stone.”) We all do well to remember that you can’t take it with you. If ‘it’ is your good taste, beyond the grave.
Wishing you all a weekend of bitter beverages, funny games, and good, old music.