The Sunday Digest 109
"Head on my chest, a silent smile, a private kind of happiness."
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: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest Princess
by Charlie Kolodziej for The New York Times
Here are some undeniable Sunday facts:
I’m currently in Northern Michigan for Thanksgiving.
My wife, Sally, would throw up if she read this piece because we took it late last night with some old friends.
I love Malort.
If you’re unfamiliar with Malort, it’s because you’ve never been to Chicago before or you don’t know anyone from Chicago. While it’s the worst tasting shot you’ll take in your life, there’s something fun and celebratory about it that makes it worth doing. I’ll never instigate the Malort conversation, but I will jump if anyone decides to be that catalyst.
Per this week’s Sunday Read, I’m not alone. Here’s an excerpt:
Locals liked that it had an unfriendly edge, and that you could get it only in Chicago. Tasting of citrus pith and pencil shavings, it became the designated initiation shot, something you downed to prove your Midwest mettle — a difficult drink for a difficult place to live.
But in recent years, Malört has built a following in seemingly unlikely locales, popping up in cities like Seattle, New Orleans and Denver, as a devoted group of Malört evangelists takes the dispiriting spirit a little more seriously.
Read in full here.
The Sunday Haiku: The glass keeps getting fuller.
A splash, another,
another, and another,
Thanksgiving red wine.
New Episode › Retail Therapy 096: The 2024 Gift Guide
Barrett, Will, and special guest Sally break down their favorite gifting ideas for the 2024 holiday season. From bag charms to sweaters to Japanese robes, there are truly gifts for anyone you’re looking for. Or, in true Retail Therapy fashion, these would also make good gifts to yourself.
Every link to every product we talked about is right here on the Retail Therapy Substack.
Listen to Retail Therapy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube (see above), and anywhere else podcasts are found. And a reminder to follow Retail Therapy on Substack!
Things I Saved This Week
“How can I support Sunday Scaries?”
Listen to our Retail Therapy.
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