#28: Mix and match

Good morning, dear reader! April finally came to an end and dare I say, this was the first year we weren’t plagued by the Justin Timberlake “it’s gonna be May” memes! A deep cultural shift if I’ve ever seen one.

As for my media diet, I’ve been reading this Obituary for Millennial Culture and not sure what to make of it all. I also started season one of Righteous Gemstones (HBO) and am thoroughly enjoying it. I saw Sinners, which was unexpectedly delightful and multi-layered. Of course I was rapt by Lady Gaga’s free concert for 2.1 million little monsters in Rio over the weekend, sobbing as I took pictures of my TV screen (why) while singing along to every song and regretting not being there with every fiber of my being.

I’m behind on watching El Eternauta, the big, bold adaptation of the Argentine sci-fi comic classic now streaming on Netflix. It’s gotten rave reviews both at home and abroad, and a second season has already been confirmed. I blitzed through The Four Seasons (Netflix) in one night; it’s a beautiful and brutal ode to friendship, love, and marriage, impeccably written and featuring the inimitable Colman Domingo - which should be reason enough to watch, if you ask me.

What else? I’m on the hunt for good outdoor furniture for my terrace, so if you have any leads please help a sister out. I also contacted my go-to nursery for help with the plant situation, but the estimate they gave me was $$$expensive$$$ so I need to figure out a Plan(t) B. Help!

🖌️ Hot Off the Press: My Fileteado Piece for PRIOR

First things first! You should definitely check out the article I wrote about fileteado for PRIOR, one of a three-part series about defining aspects of porteño culture.

It was such a treat to research this piece, and I was particularly inspired by the women who have played such a pivotal role in ensuring the continuation of such an emblematic art form. Since its inception, fileteado was essentially a boy’s club, with maestros teaching their disciples in garages and mechanical workshops across the city. However, when the seas of change threatened its future, it was women who discovered new means of connecting people with fileteado’s heritage and patrimonial value.

It takes decades to learn the ropes and perfect the style; the old guard has more than a leg up on the female newcomers. Yet they persevere, bringing a new level of detail, care, and appreciation that lets fileteado shine in newer, brighter ways.

🇦🇷 Bad Information, ¡ahora en Español!

After many months of (not-so-soft) bullying by my friend, producer, and token Tall Man™️ Marcos, I’ve decided to finally start recording more of my podcast in Spanish. You can check out the most recent episode right now:

Bad Information has been around for six years (!), and while more than one hiatus has threatened to send it to an early retirement, there was no way I was going to let that happen.

It’s mostly silly, sometimes a bit cynical, a labor of love, and sometimes a pain in the ass. But I’m proud of it, and I’m excited to switch things up by weaving in more contenido en castellano. After all, with the majority of my audience living in Argentina and speaking Spanish, it was kind of a no brainer. Sorry it took me so long for that to click.

Please do me a favor and listen + subscribe on Spotify (or Apple Podcasts, etc.). You can also check out Bad Info on Instagram, which is a chaotic compilation of Argentine memes, pop culture, and random political commentary (mostly unflattering pictures of the current president and his double chin).

🍁 How I Feel Now That It’s Fall

Buenos Aires officially looks like this:

So I officially feel like this:

That’s all. Carry on!

(Also, it should serve as more than a little travel inspo for you. April and May are some of the best months of the year to visit Argentina. Buenos Aires is in her golden glow era, and the vines of Mendoza are ablaze with red, orange, and yellow hues that will have you believing in true love again. If you want help planning a trip… you know who to call.)

🧟 End of Times? Get Thee to Latin America!

Last week a massive power outage wreaked havoc across Spain, Portugal, and parts of France. There was no electricity, no public transport, no cell phone service, nada. Understandably, millions of people panicked and freaked the fuck out. They also sat in the sun and got day drunk (naturally).

How did I spend the day? Watching the jokes roll in on social media (naturally).

“Does anyone know the cause of the blackout in Portugal, Spain, parts of France, and Germany?”

“They all turned their washing machines on at the same time.”*

*(This one is especially funny if you remember the original discourse that arose because some Argentine who emigrated to Spain Tweeted that she only used her washing machine late at night because it was cheaper than during peak daytime hours and became a temporary Internet laughing stock for about a week)

“Latin America watching Spain’s entire system collapse just because the power went out.”

“‘CHAOS: MASSIVE BLACKOUT IN EUROPE’

Edesur client who’s visiting on holiday:”

Kidding aside (though that’s quite fun, too), there’s something to be said for the thick skin one develops living in Latin America. No electricity for half a day? No problem! I had to survive for seven days without power during summertime while living on the 13th floor of an apartment building. Did a thunderstorm knock out the power lines in your neighborhood? Who cares! I once got caught in downpour so torrential there was water up to my waist and I was sick in bed with a 102°F fever for a week as a result.

Argentina prepares you for any and every possible scenario. You learn not to rest on your laurels, not to get too comfortable, and not to rely on basic services to function as they should. Yes, it’s deeply frustrating — and probably shaves years off your lifespan — but it does make it easier to remain resilient while moving through the rest of the world.

Although any time the outside temperature rises above 85 degrees, I get war flashbacks of sweating profusely in dark stairwells and say an extra prayer (or two) for the lights to stay on.

💅 Let’s Have a Conclave

You’re telling me we get the Met Gala* and a Conclave in the same week?! Farewell, productivity!

I still can’t get enough of the papal memes, I really can’t. It’s so niche and silly and ridiculous, but I don’t care. It’s one of the reasons I being chronically online is so fun! (Or what I keep telling myself.)

Sure, there’s the whole ‘wading through the shitstorm of misinformation, climate change deniers, misogynist incels, and everything else that’s unholy’ stuff, but it also gives you material like this:

So… who are your favorite cardinals in the running? Mine is definitely our boi Tagle, a Filipino legend staying true to his country’s obsession with karaoke (see below). However, I’m intrigued by that Pizzaballa guy, if only because his surname is so absolutely perfect.

You can (and should) stay on top of any and all Conclave updates by following this Twitter account. Also, Rob Anderson’s “Pope Games” on TikTok hit hard.

*There were so. many. incredible. looks. this year! Almost too many to narrow down, honestly. So much Black Excellence™️! So many brilliant historic references! So much celebration of menswear! What a dream, truly. Also, highly recommend following the queen of sartorial insight and red carpet coverage, Crystal Anderson, for all of your Met Gala needs.

I think I’ll hit the streets to take a walk and soak up the yellow leaves crunching beneath my feet. For musical accompaniment, I’m less keen on disjointed playlists and more in the mood for full albums like this one and this one. What are you listening lately?

As always, thanks for joining me on the fragmented and disorganized journey through my brain from the last couple of weeks.

And! Keep your eyes peeled: the next installment of Tutti Frutti will feature a Q&A with a special guest that’s both a ciudadana ilustre and very dear friend.

Until next time,

Paige

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