#27: One year on

Good morning, dear reader.

Can you believe that I actually missed the first anniversary of Tutti Frutti? I guess that speaks to how badly I could use more structure in my creative practice. But it’s true: on April 1st, this newsletter officially celebrated its first birthday.

(Also, the irony isn’t lost on me that I started this project on April Fool’s Day.)

It’s wild to think about how much time has passed; in some moments those 12 months have felt like 36 (in both good ways and bad). In the spirit of celebrating small wins, I’m proud that I’ve stayed consistent for a full year. When I started, I wasn’t really sure where it would take me — and to be honest, I still don’t entirely — but I’m happy to have carved out this creative nook where I can kind of do whatever I want.

Yes, I know that has meant recent editions have been rather heavy on the “emo girl/please cry with me” vibes, and I’m grateful to you for sticking around and indulging my whims and caprichos. Those that couldn’t hang and chose to unsubscribe are on my blacklist forever, just FYI!

Also, I guess this is a good time to ask if there’s anything in particular you’d like to read about in future Tutti Fruttis. Please feel free to email me as much as you’d like because honestly, I’m always in need of more digital pen pals.

Lately, I’ve been feeling motivated to inject my scatterbrained ideas and musings with some much-needed discipline. This is 100% due to my participation in this amazing workshop run by author/journalist/photographer (and someone I admire on many levels), Christine Chitnis.

I despise all things #girlboss, woo-woo coach speak, and the general MLM-esque vibe that permeates a lot of what we (women especially) are fed through social media these days. Which is why I think Christine is just so awesome. She’s brilliant, she’s talented, and she’s inspiring, but above all she’s pragmatic.

Having the chance to listen to and learn from someone who doesn’t believe in gatekeeping and cuts through the noise to help you focus on getting in gear is a big fat treat and I’m grateful to her for the chance to participate.

OK, moving on!

RIP Pope Francis

The week kicked off with a very unwelcome piece of news: the announcement of Pope Francis’s death. Dubbed “the cool Pope,” he spoke with the Holy Family Church in Gaza on a daily basis, ghosted JD Vance and sent someone else to lecture him on compassion, and spent a lot of time antagonizing conservative assholes — there’s no doubt he was an icon.

Also, you can’t really beat this interview*, where he openly admitted to eating a choripán on Good Friday and feeling zero guilt about it:

*About three hours after including this video in the draft, I learned that the interview is fake, a result of clever editing and super-imposed questions. But you know what? I don’t care, so I’m leaving it in.

Rest in peace, Francis. You were one of the good ones.

Now let’s have a conclave, shall we?

What I’m Consuming These Days

A brief roundup of what I’m reading, watching, listening to, and eating — in that order.

🇦🇷 Guía No-Definitiva del Morfi Porteño

Nostalgia, flavor, and belonging. This book is ideal for anyone who loves to eat, loves porteño culture, and is curious about discovering this city’s definitive cuisine. With over 350 places to explore and add to your never-ending “must try” list, it’s a celebration of the dishes, the people, and the symbols that make Buenos Aires what it is.

And here’s where I get to brag: it was written by two friends and colleagues, Sil Reusmann and Cayetana Vidal, and illustrated by the incredibly talented Milagros Brascó.

👯 Hacks, Season 4

Nothing is better than watching Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart’s impeccable on-screen chemistry and banter. When will they just kiss already?! I would watch 100 seasons of this show if they were to exist. If you haven’t seen it yet, I don’t know what to tell you, but I can say your life is objectively worse without Hacks in it. Find it on Max! (Ugh I still call it HBO I’m sorry.)

🥺 Love on the Spectrum, Season 3

Follow along as people on the autism spectrum navigate the confusing, perplexing, and ultimately beautiful world of relationships and falling in love (or trying to, at least). You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll go back and binge-watch seasons one and two - if you haven’t already. After you watch it, please reply to this email so we can rehash our favorite moments (spoiler: mine involves American Girl Dolls). Watch the trailer and find it on Netflix!

🧠 The Telepathy Tapes Podcast

I’m not exaggerating when I say this: prepare to have your mind blown. This podcast will challenge everything you think you know about consciousness, self-awareness, and neurodivergence. This podcast explores the profound abilities of non-speakers on the autism spectrum; it’s a science-driven and investigation-based deep dive into a realm that for decades has been dismissed completely. I’m still processing it all, to be honest. Available on Spotify.

🍣 Otoro

The Paige of 2007 would not believe the Paige of 2025 if she told her just how many Japanese restaurants have opened in Buenos Aires over the last year or so. After suffering through mediocre rolls stuffed with Philadelphia cream cheese – and nearly eschewing sushi in this town forever — there’s finally a variety of options that are high-quality, authentic, and downright delicious.

Enter Otoro, my standout favorite among a sea of newcomers (many of which are very, very good). I had an indulgent two-hour lunch here recently and only regret running out of room for more. Every bite was just sublime; the technique and dedication that the chefs employ is easily observed from your perch at the 14-seat bar. Do yourself a favor and please go. They don’t take reservations, but if you show up on the early side for lunch, you’ll likely have the place to yourself - at least for a little while.

Otoro — José Hernández 2730 — Belgrano

Culture Vulture: Weekend Agenda

In Buenos Aires, only boring people are bored. Here’s what I’ll be up to over the next few days. See you there?

🔥 Massive Attack Listening Party at Artlab

What’s not to love about this plan? If you don’t like Massive Attack, something is wrong with you. Artlab is where all the cool, hipster types come to gather, seeing as it’s a warehouse in Chacarita and the agenda is jam-packed with esoteric, electro-heavy artsy performance moments.

Anything that involves listening to music in the company of other people is enough to pique my interest and get me out of my Recoleta bubble for a night of mixing and mingling. You can buy tickets here.

Artlab — Roseti 93 — Chacarita

🪑 Aquí Estamos: Women in Design Exhibit at Fundación Proa

It’s been far too long since I’ve visited Fundación Proa, but now there’s no excuse. The recently-inaugurated “¡Aquí estamos! Women in Design 1900 — Today” has me chomping at the bit to get back down to La Boca.

Organized in collaboration with the Vitra Design Museum, the exhibit features iconic pieces — from furniture and lighting to textiles, utilitarian objects, and graphic works —created by women who have transformed the world of design.

Fundación Proa — Av. Pedro de Mendoza 1929 — La Boca

☕ Varela Varelita Turns 75

Support your local bar de viejes, people! Because if you don’t, they will be forced to close, and a sad coffee shop chain will open up in its place. Or worse: the entire building will be demolished and a soulless apartment tower made with cheap materials and zero design sense will be erected on the same lot.

Which is why you should go say felices 75 años to Varela Varelita in Palermo on Saturday! It’s the perfect meeting spot for both old-school vecinos and hipsters alike, serving delicious tostados, cold liters of beer, and 24/7/365 vibes no matter the time of day.

Varela Varelita — Av. Scalabrini Ortiz 2102 — Palermo

🎥 Heavenly Creatures at MALBA

Listen, sometimes you just need to indulge in some lesbian canon at the cinema, OK? The jury’s still out if I will be able to stay awake for a midnight showing, but it’s kind of hard to say no to this cult classic directed by Peter Jackson. I mean… Kate Winslet, Melanie Lynskey, intense and obsessive teen girl yearning — sign. me. up. Tickets here.

MALBA Cine — Av. Figueroa Alcorta 3415 — Palermo

Let’s Go, Lesbians!

It’s Lesbian Visibility Week so of course I had to mention it here. Consider it the perfect excuse to go out and thank your local lesbian for all that they do. Maybe get her a shiny new carabiner. Offer to take her Subaru to the car wash. Pick her up a nice, roomy backpack. Give her a U-Haul gift card (is that a thing?).

Stereotypes aside, visibility is so important. I wish there had more of it when I was growing up — it certainly would have saved me some time and emotional distress, to say the least.

Remember that even in the queer community, things like patriarchy and misogyny continue to run rampant. So take this week to reflect on how you can be less of an asshole and more of an ally! Some ideas that come to mind: Send Kristen Stewart a wedding gift, listen to the Indigo Girls on repeat, read Stone Butch Blues, watch Carol, clip your fingernails, etc.

Also, don’t be a TERF.

And now, if you don’t mind, this is the vibe I’m going to be cultivating for the rest of the month:

Until next time,

Paige

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