Why has BKTX been so delinquent?
O: Hi! Hi! Howdy! It is my fault — I decided to apply to graduate school.
I have been talking about whether or not to apply to graduate school for years. Do I need it? Is it worth it? One of the hardest parts about deciding if I should apply or not was coming to the realization that if I decided to go, I will have to leave New York and all the people/places/food/life that I love here for a solid two years. Without being overly sentimental (I have not been accepted to any schools yet!), New York has been my home for nearly 8 years and it is really the only place I have lived in my adult life. So, this decision to even apply was a really big deal for me.
I spent the last 6 months documenting my work, making a website, visiting grad schools, and writing my essays. It was way more work then I ever imagined and because of the deadline crunch (combined with the holidays, which I spent in Texas) I single-handedly derailed BKTX and our nearly year-and-a-half’s worth of consistent posts. I am so sorry for the pause in content, but we’re excited to let you know that we are back and going strong!
E: *cough cough olivia*
Where have you been?
O: In the past few months I have been holed up in a few of my most beloved places: Houston, and my parents’ little blue house in the Catskills.
E: Since our last post, I have been to Houston, TX, Santa Clara, CA (for work), and San Francisco, CA (for fun).
Anything scary/sad/angry happen?
O: Our president.
E: Well, I never thought I’d have Ted Cruz’s phone number on speed dial and I’ve been to more protests this year than I have in my entire life, which is scary and sad, but also inspiring.
Anything funny/crazy/weird happen?
O: (see Emily’s story about Amy Schumer — she’s better at storytelling then I am)
E: A couple of weeks ago, Olivia convinced me to join her at the opening of Perpetual Revolution, an exhibition her company designed at the International Center for Photography. In turn, I convinced her to to go to Dirty French to try their famous chicken and crepes. The restaurant was closed for a fancy fashion party (it was pajama party-themed, so all the editors of Elle and Instyle and Refinery29 were walking around in their PJs), but there was a small courtyard open with around 10 tables for people who wanted to eat there still. The food was delicious (it reminded me of another favorite, Glasserie, and had some of the best table bread and butter I’ve ever had), and we were deciding whether or not we should get dessert when a boisterous group of people showed up. “You’re someone….” we heard the host (who, it should be noted, was wearing a giant black and white knitted poncho and a sombrero), and the person said “no I’m no one.” I looked up, and then I grabbed Olivia’s hand, and asked, “Holy shit, is that Amy Schumer!?” It was! We tried to play it cool and chatted with some of her friends when she went to order another drink at the bar, but we didn’t want to interrupt her night by being stupid crazy fans. So, we got dessert and a few more cocktails and basically didn’t talk to each other for the next 2 hours because we were alternating between gazing up at Amy in adoration and staring down at the table chanting “It’s Amy! It’s Amy! It’s Amy!” Not weird at all.
Best 3 things you’ve bought?
O: This, this, and this to take these.
E: This t-shirt that’s proceeds go to Planned Parenthood; the best yarn to knit the best blanket out of (you knit with your arms!); a new tweed coat to make winter a little more bearable
Best things you’ve eaten?
O: The chicken and crepes at Dirty French were pretty excellent and so was the burger Emily got from Diner when we went a couple of weeks ago. My friend Travis got a sous vide and he made me a pretty mean steak. Also, a few mornings ago, I ate the most delicious avocado toast from Bluestone Lane. I don’t if it was so good because: (1) I never ever eat breakfast, (2) It was only 9 am but I had already had a full morning with hot yoga and saunas , or (3) it was actually a really really good avocado toast.
E: Chicken and crepes at Dirty French, the Trust Me at Sugarfish, the desserts at Wildair, this stew that Olivia made
Best 3 things you’ve watched/read/listened to?
O: Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher, Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, and all 7 seasons of Sabrina the Teenage Witch (for those moments when I need to be brainless and stop stressing about world).
E: So far this year, I’ve read How Should a Person Be by Sheila Heti, Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith, Against Exercise by Mark Grief, Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan, and the beginning of Swing Time by Zadie Smith
Next thing you’re excited for?
O: I am so excited for the next couple of months. I applied to four schools: Rhode Island School of Design, California Institute of the Arts, The Royal College of Art, and Yale. Now that the hard part is done, I am starting to get invitations to interview! I am so nervous but beyond excited to figure out where I might be spending the next two years! Fingers crossed that I get in!!
E: Knitting my giant blanket, watching the last episode of the latest season of Sherlock, and my trip to Europe next month!