The Sunday Digest 125
"Laid down last night, Lord, I could not take my rest."
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 › How the Irish Pub Became One of the Emerald Isle’s Greatest Exports
by Liza Weisstuch for Smithsonian Magazine (via Lunch Reads)
I don’t go to bars much these days for many reasons. Despite living in a very bar-friendly city, my age and my ambitions have taken away my joie de vivre on that front. But if you really want to lure me out for a pint or two (or three or four), most know that the safest bet is to invite me to Kelly’s Irish Pub.
The uptick in Irish culture making it’s way to the United States has been widely covered. Whether we can chalk it up to Sally Rooney novels, Paul Mescal’s short shorts, or people’s genuine affinity for “Splitting the G,” cozy pub culture is one aspect of it all that I genuinely believe needs to stick around.
And after completing this week’s Sunday Read, I’ve now realized that the Irish invasion isn’t just catching on here, but everywhere.
Here’s an excerpt —
The Irish Pub Company evolved out of a project McNally did about pub design for a competition when he was an architecture school student in Dublin in the 1970s. What the professors believed to be a cheeky excuse to spend time drinking pints turned into a two-year expedition through Ireland in which McNally and some architect friends visited more than 200 pubs in cities and remote country villages.
“We recorded the essence of what makes a pub a pub—in the scale, the architecture, the mix of details, the craftsmanship,” McNally says. “No two are the same, but they have an essence that we carry into projects we do now.”
The customizing starts by selecting the pub style. “Victorian” style is modeled on the classic Dublin spots, like the historic Long Hall Pub, where dark-stained woods, elaborate stained-glass partition panels and shiny brass accents abound. Snugs, small enclosed sitting booths traditionally occupied by women while their husbands caroused at the bar, are a staple. “Country” style, inspired by rural stone-built establishments, has paler woods and scuffed finishes that contribute a warm cottage-like feel. Ceramic jugs, crockery and cast-iron kettles might be scattered about the place. The décor of the “Celtic” style is imbued with symbolism and characters from ancient Gaelic folklore and mythology. “Shop” style nods to the old-world convention of rural pubs that double as the community general store. Shelves are lined with bric-a-brac like antique ceramic groceries.
Read in full here.
The Sunday Haiku: Settling
Sometimes saying less
is the simplest thing to do
when there’s much to say.
Things I Saved This Week
Additional Reading
Earlier this week, I announced my departure as a full-time host of Circling Back, a podcast that I’ve co-hosted since January 2019. It was the hardest decision of my life and something I’ve grappled with for months. While I wish I would’ve prepared something to write prior to the announcement, I can readily admit that the headspace I was in wouldn’t produce the words I would’ve wanted to say.
In the wake of the announcement, a lot of questions were asked and a lot of criticism was heaved my way. While I’m working on something for release tomorrow, I do regret not being more forthcoming on the episode itself with the announcement.
Luckily for me, my co-host Dillon helped me out in this week’s
newsletter which you can read here. As for my side of things, hopefully tomorrow will bring some much-needed clarity.“How can I support Sunday Scaries?”
Buy our zine, Scenes of Note.
Listen to Retail Therapy.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Subscribe to all Washed Media Podcasts.
Or, you can simply subscribe here:
As a Sunday Scaries/Retail Therapy and Circling Back listener I thought the announcement was just fine! I’m excited to see Sunday Scaries grow and will continue to listen to the boys on Circling Back. Happy for all of you and the success of Washed Media!
You deserve all the creative freedom in the world!! As my long-time favorite part of the Washed universe, I’m thrilled you’re dedicating more time to this and other projects!