Fall Back
Happy Friday folks! This week, we take time to discuss the important intricacies of what makes the perfect lobster roll. Please send your seafood restaurant recs.
Summer Wrapped
As we approach the autumnal equinox and the official end of summer, I present to you all my summer wrapped. I've compiled and analyzed all the data from the last 3 months, and I am finally ready to share my findings with the class.
This summer season has been filled with many highlights. From international trips to pool parties to beach days, there have been lots of really excellent outings and adventures.
In total I spent 14 days in, on, or immediately next to a body of water. Making water-based activities take up roughly 12% of my summer. Interestingly, I split my time equally between pools, beaches, and fresh water despite heavily preferring the beach. If I'm honest, I feel that these are rookie numbers and I'd really like to see that stat double for next year. If you have a boat or pool, please reach out.
While working up an appetite sitting under an umbrella at the beach, the obvious choice for sustenance is a lobster roll. I was fortunate enough to have the funding to purchase 5 this summer, but I will tell you that not all lobster rolls are created equal. I score my lobster rolls not only on the quality and portion of the lobster meat itself, but also the bun. The bun is an often neglected, but crucially important piece of the overall experience of the lobster roll as a whole entity. A bun should be toasted, to prevent sog of course, and it should be warm when it gets to me. Why are places pre-toasting buns and putting them in the fridge?
Anyway, my top rated roll was from Ocean Roll in Arundel, Maine. My lowest rated was from Belle Isle Seafood in Eastie (it was soggy, had tomatoes, and they only told you it was $45 after they handed it to you)
Ocean Roll vs Belle Isle
The song of the summer is a hotly contested cultural phenomenon. What's trending in pop music sets the tone for any event where hosts decide that crafting a playlist is too daunting a task. It shapes the vibe of your grocery store trip, your beach outing, your time spent trying not to get scammed during an oil change. Billboard will try to tell you that the song of the summer was some Ella Langley stadium country nonsense. I think the real answer is brand new chanel$ by Slayyyter.
According to last.fm, my song of the summer was Dancing On The Wall by MUNA with a whopping 18 plays. Again, rookie numbers.
Summer is the season of many iconic foods - s'mores, corn on the cob, the aforementioned lobster roll. I think nothing is more iconic in the summer than a hot dog. I stay away from red meat, but I will indulge in a hot dog from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Who's to say that a hot dog is red meat anyway. The mystery is part of their allure.
I had a total of 7 hot dogs in the last 3 months. I think that's carcinogenically equal to smoking like a half a pack of menthols. I was much more likely to partake in a dog while at a cookout/party of some kind. The other category is specifically one hot dog croissant I had from Nouve bakery, which rocked.
The data tells us that I had a great summer. Would love to do it again sometime. Please let me know your summer highlights.
additions
C Ya
recs!
a song i'm loving:
- Rapture - Blondie
a movie i watched:
- Nat and I saw Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (2026) and I give it like 3.5/5. Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson were fab. I generally liked it but I found myself concentrating really hard on what metaphor I was supposed to be getting the whole time. Maybe just a me problem #imdumb
a book i'm reading:
- Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth
