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Watch

Unspoken


Have the coronavirus lockdowns hit any art form harder than dance? A dance company is by definition physically intimate—collaborative, close-in, deep-breathing. Consequently, in recent months the Zoom solo has loomed large. But none as large as this one, filmed by director William Armstrong and performed by Danish-American dancer Sebastian Haynes in the empty nave of Grundtvig’s Church, in Copenhagen. The solo is by Paul Lightfoot, for many years the house choreographer and artistic director of the renowned Nederlands Dans Theater. Lightfoot lost his father to the virus and was grappling with the fact that he hadn’t been allowed to be near his dad during those last days—to speak, to touch—when he connected with Armstrong on Instagram. The pair decided to explore the experience of disembodied loss: Armstrong would document Lightfoot’s choreographic process and the solo, Unspoken, that resulted. Glory in the way the dance begins, with Haynes’s body breathing open to form a crucifix, claiming the space under soaring arches. It’s a requiem Mass without words. (vimeo.com) —Laura Jacobs

Drink

Grady’s


Of the many things I miss about life before the coronavirus, my summer iced-coffee ritual ranks relatively low on the list. That said, my usual stop at O Cafe, on Sixth Avenue and 12th Street, in New York City, did make my mornings just a smidge more pleasant. Now, thanks to the good people at Grady’s Cold Brew, I’ve brought the iced-coffee tradition to our kitchen. The brand’s Cold Brew Kit includes a pound of its Bean Bags, which generates 36 cups. Just add four bags to the “pour and store” pouch, fill with eight cups of water, let it all brew overnight, remove the bags, and enjoy. The coffee is concentrated—our preferred coffee-water-Oatly ratio is 2:1:1—but, please, experiment. ($29, amazon.com) —Ashley Baker

Dine

Festen Table


I hate it when I happen upon a piece of homeware that looks utterly charming and unique, only to flip it over and discover it’s from Pottery Barn. Drawn and silk-screened by hand in the U.K., every napkin, table runner, and dishcloth created by Festen Table is one of a kind. Founded in 2019 by Lindsay Beaton, the company creates whimsical and warm table linens, featuring, say, swirling octopuses or swinging acrobats. Beaton also has an eye for vintage napkin rings, which she sells alongside her bespoke designs. (instagram.com) —Bridget Arsenault

Tour

Untermyer Gardens


These days city life can be a little, well, claustrophobic. I hate the suburbs, I need the Hamptons like I need a third foot, and everywhere else is too far, too crowded, or too not-New-York-enough. Enter Untermyer Park and Gardens, a patch of heaven in Westchester County. The grounds, purchased by Samuel J. Untermyer in 1899, were designed by architect William Welles Bosworth. Taking their inspiration from India, Persia, France, England, and even Villa d’Este on Lake Como, the gardens are on 43 immaculately landscaped acres overlooking the eastern bank of the Hudson, and are set, of all places, in Yonkers, New York. Who knew such paradise could be found 40 minutes by car, $75 by Uber, or via Metro North for the price of three vanilla lattes? There is no entry fee (donations are encouraged), and one can also request a private tour with Stephen Byrns, head of the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy. (untermyergardens.com) —Richard David Story

Issue No. 60
September 5, 2020
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Issue No. 60
September 5, 2020