The Sunday Digest 167
"Running from yourself now, can't hear what you're told."
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.
Sunday Read: What Happened to Happy Hour?
by Lane Florsheim for The Wall Street Journal
Late last year, my wife started watching Season 1 of Industry to get caught up before Season 4. While I enjoyed the rewatch for many reasons, there was one aspect in particular that stuck with me as we got through each episode: so much revolved around work happy hours where certain characters just couldn’t get enough.
After kids entered my life, happy hour was one of those tacit sacrifices I made without even realizing it. As we discussed in a recent episode of Retail Therapy about this exact topic, there are natural and sensible reasons that it begins to phase out of most peoples lives.
While it may be alive and well in walkable cities, the reasons happy hour seems less popular these days spans far further than just transportation. Here’s an excerpt:
Once a staple of professional life, happy hour is now a casualty of a corporate cultural reset. Many people still aren’t coming to the office. Those who do just want to get home by 6. Business budgets for mandatory fun have shrunk. Everyone’s drinking less. These trend lines may be good for work-life balance, but the downside for some is profound: Young workers say they’re missing out on opportunities to make friends and find mentors. Bar owners are hurting, too.
“Companies would come out with the boss, who would throw their credit card down and everybody would be drinking throughout the evening,” said Andrew Rigie, the executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance. “There’s a lot less of that now.”
Read in full here.
Also read this week:
Take a look at this past week’s Sunday Confessions.
I also dropped a mailbag earlier this week as well.
And finally, I’ve really enjoyed the writing from my friend Brandon Wenerd lately. This recent piece — Mourning The Mischief Makers — in particular.
We also have a newsletter partnership coming up about toxic exes. If you have a story that readers would find entertaining, submit it here.
The Sunday Haiku
Wool socks, long sleeve tee,
old sweatpants, and messy hair,
that’s the uniform.
New Episode › Retail Therapy 140: Ralphing in Paris
Dissecting all of the hullabaloo surrounding the Ralph Lauren men's show in Paris, whether or not Elordi could pull off Bond (and who actually could), rules for the Belgian loafer sale, Aime Leon Dore hits the Premier League, the Aussie effect, wishlist items, and more.
Listen to Retail Therapy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and anywhere else podcasts are found. You can also follow Retail Therapy on Substack.
Things I Saved This Week
This week on Sunday Scaries, I tried a new format that I have a few different ideas for. I’ve been looking for a way to have something with a similar vibe to The Sunday Scaries Podcast exist on Instagram, and this was my first attempt.
My Sunday To-Do List
While I normally aim to write this to-do list when I wake up on Sunday mornings, I’m writing this well ahead of time just in case this winter weather is as serious as everyone worries it is.
I got a new print in the mail — time to decide where to hang it.
I reorganized/re-folded everything in my closet on Wednesday, so now I think it’s time to move on to… another closet.
Make a list of small projects for the handyman who is coming to our house later this week.
What a day to caramelize some onions. I mean what a day for it.
Wear out my dog without having to be in the terrible weather all day.
Arsenal vs. Manchester United, 10:30 CT.
Stay warm,
Will