The Sunday Digest 069
First Sunday of the year, let's make it count.
Welcome to The Sunday Digest — a free Sunday newsletter featuring long (and some short) reads, original columns, things I’ve saved over the last week, relaxing playlists, episodes releases, exclusive product drops, and more. Yes, you can reply to this email. I’d love to hear from you. Or, if podcasts are more your speed on Sundays, we’ve got that too.
Sunday Read › Inside The New York Times’ Big Bet on Games
by Charlotte Klein for Vanity Fair
There’s a moment I cherish every Sunday. It’s small — tiny, even — so tiny that most of the time I forget about it until it actually occurs. It’s picking up that little blue bag outside of my place that has the New York Times in it.
These days, I don’t read the physical copy as much as I used to. Perhaps it’s life getting in the way. Maybe I don’t want the weight of the world on a Sunday morning. Or perhaps it’s just easier to read online.
But as much as I do enjoy snagging my paper for the day, there’s always something missing. Or, well, a few things missing.
The Mini-Crossword. Wordle. Connections.
Yes, I’ve begrudgingly gone all-in on the games offered in the app despite the frustration it gives me when my mini-crossword time is over 45 seconds. If you follow Sunday Scaries on Instagram and view my stories, you know *exactly* what I’m talking about.
And this week’s read is about just that. Here’s an excerpt.
Most mornings I wake up and play Wordle, which gives you six chances to guess a predetermined five-letter word. The game has become an international phenomenon, beloved by celebrities—Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Bradley Cooper are in a private group—TikTokers, and royals alike. Then I move onto Connections, a word-association game that officially launched in August and already has a devoted following, with more than 10 million weekly active users as of November. I save Spelling Bee, where I form words using a set of seven letters, for my morning commute. Sometimes I’ll throw in The Mini, a five-by-five version of the traditional crossword. Where there was once only a castle, now they are building a kingdom. Still, if you ask veteran puzzle master Will Shortz, the Times crossword remains “the anchor” of the growing stable of games. “It’s like if Playboy magazine back in its heyday had just been the interview and the cartoons—would it have worked without the pictorial?” he asks. “I don’t think so.”
Read in full here.
From The Camera Roll: Christmas Morning
New Episode › Retail Therapy 060: Reading Parties at Saltburn
Paul Mescal running from his one-night stands, the entire ~vibe~ of Saltburn, a discussion surrounding the shame of Dry January, low-end alternatives to designer brands, some 2024 Retail Therapy resolutions, TikTok's Grocery Store Husband, mini umbrellas for your cigarettes in the rain, our Aesthetic of the Week, and wishlist additions.
Listen to Retail Therapy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube (see above), and anywhere else podcasts are found.
The Sunday Haiku: Coffee shop for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, pizza for dinner.
We don’t have much food,
Ugh, should we go to the store?
Or just order in?
Things I Saved This Week
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THANK YOU for reminding me about the "Feud: Trapote v. The Swans" trailer. I think the series may be my appointment television of Winter 2024.