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— Kali Malone, interviewed in 2018 by Tiny Mixtapes

Upon reading this, I immediately booked tickets to her Philly show in March. (Her only East Coast show for the time being.)

Sometimes, the algorithm behaves like a good tool and helps you out. Through it, I discovered the Baroque Down Palace radio show, though which I REdiscovered this long-forgotten fave of mine.

I think this was on heavy rotation during my late college/early working years. The me of 10-ish years ago is coming through again in a fascinating way.

Dad spotted this barred owl in the backyard, and it’s looking STRAIGHT into my soul. Hoping it makes another flyby when I’m home next.

Mom and I saw the NYBG holiday train show on its very last weekend.

Apart from the hoards of screaming children everywhere and their equally obnoxious parents (to be expected, I guess), walking around the conservatory at night was still quite magical.

Waiting for a train; reading Murray’s cheeses to pass the time

“That was Janis Ian and ‘Mistaken Identity.’ That’s really one of the problems we all have today. To know who we are. Who are you, hm? Do you know who you are and where you’re at? It’s a big order. And sometimes, I think that if we all could have a focal point, a spot to zero in where we know we could touch reality. It would be a lot easier to find out exactly who we are and where we’re at, and consequently, where we’re going…”

— Alison Steele, The Nightbird, Feb 11, 1969

Other digressions from this show include a mail-in sweepstakes for a copy of The Beatles’ newly published, authorized biography (“each one signed by one of The Beatles”), a meditation on a quote from Much Ado About Nothing, a bizarre advertisement for coffee “the think drink,” and a promotion for a mysterious after-hours spot called Cerebrum.

I’m deep in an Alison Steele rabbit hole now and in search of online archives of her show which are few, far between, and regrettably chopped up, but they’re there. There’s just no telling where the esoteric pathways from freeform radio will take you.

The Perfumed Garden is my new favorite place to hang on Friday nights. It makes me feel hopeful to hear such incredible, obscure ‘60s and ‘70s pop and garage rock chosen by a college-aged DJ (aka Gen-Z). This precise music era spoke to me when I was 20, and I feel like I’m reopening that chapter and cultivating a deeper interest with it now.

That initial question, though: “How do you handle the generation gap that you have with your own generation?” Will contemplate.

I always learn new things here.

On the 10th day of 2023, I saw Yuja Wang and the NY Philharmonic in their fourth and final performance of the US debut of Magnus Lindberg’s Piano Concerto No. 3.

My seat was in the first row of the parterre section behind the orchestra—one of the most immersive vantage points I’ve ever experienced live music from, I think.

And, as a funny result of this seat choice, I also ended up in the background of Yuja Wang’s Instagram stories. This is far more thrilling to me than it should be.

Mulchfest ‘23 was everything I hoped it would be!!!

L.G. 1/7/23

A lil out of practice, but it’s nice to be sip ‘n’ sketching again.

Stunning carpet art seen at (where else?) Ditmars Thrift.

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