Eating & Shopping | File Under: Things I Do Well
A Late-Breaking Post of Slightly Random Stuff That Actually Might Not Be That Bad
Forget raining and pouring. It’s been a damn monsoon over here this week — literally and the other way, too.
Thus, the late post.
And further thus, its hodgepodgy layout — even though I may kind of love this format. (You guys let me know what you think.)
First up, a brief I couldn’t fit in last week about The Pink Hermit, the all-day cafe at The Hermitage Hotel, the old-school luxury hotel that is currently one of my clients. It’s followed by some quick bits regarding what I’ve managed to be up to over the last week while trying not to drown. (Not sure if a Birkenstock is a flotation device but finding out.)
Also, from here on out I’m going bi-weekly — as in every other week. When I started this version of TCR, I had a little more time on my hands. With this uptick in work-work, I need a bit longer to produce the flashier goods. But oh, what goods they will be! Coming soon, a chat with the divine Duolan Li about the design of Xiao Bao, the Cleveland Park restaurant she co-owns with her husband, Josh.
Happy reading!
Libby
The Pink Hermit
As I mentioned above, for the past six months, I’ve been freelancing for Nashville’s undisputed grande dame of hospitality, The Hermitage Hotel. The gig is a fun one: working closely with the fabulous managing director, my friend Dee Patel, I’m hosting a series of events in the hotel’s main restaurant, Drusie & Darr; the Bar at Drusie & Darr (yes, post-makeover you may still call it the Oak Room); and The Pink Hermit, the Italian-inspired all-day cafe on the ground floor.
These spaces have one very important thing in common: they are the creation of the famed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. I had the chance to meet Jean-Georges earlier this year, when he was in town to check in on D&D, his first restaurant in the southeast. Oh my god, I loved him. He’s incredibly kind, funny and generous. I’d add talented to the list, but duh. He’s just great.
While JGV and I had a lot of fun playing the name-game about my former Post colleagues (during my time, he showed up in our pages often), my biggest takeaway from our meeting was finding out that the core members of his senior team have been with him a long time — we’re talking over 30 years. No one stays at a job that long if the working conditions aren’t amazing. Knowing this made his food even better to me: you can taste the nice.
Two weeks ago, we organized a preview dinner for some cool locals to experience The Hermit’s updated look and JG’s new menu the night before it re-opened for business. Located to the right of the hotel entrance, I’ve always thought of the space as cute, with its pink theme and funny crab logo. But the facelift has given the space a sexy vibe that gets even sexier and vibier as the sun goes down. The menu, which is available for lunch and dinner, is heavy on Italian specialties like pizza (get the squash blossom) and bruschetta (the lemon ricotta one with strawberries is out of this world). The herby simple green salad is terrific, too. There’s a full bar and wine list and some killer deserts.
By the way — no one at the hotel asked me to make this post. I’m doing it because the Hermit deserves it. I’m a fan — of the food, the scene, and the people behind the concept. Highly recommend.
THE PINK HERMIT
At The Hermitage Hotel
231 Sixth Avenue North
Downtown Nashville
6am-11am Breakfast
11am-9pm Lunch & Dinner
4-6pm Aperitivo Hour
Instagram: @thepinkhermit
BONUS! Valet parking is always complimentary when you dine or drink at any of The Hermitage’s restaurants or bars. It’s rare downtown, believe me.
The Best Costume For the Day
I was one of those people who traveled early on in Covid. By late May 2020, I was flying to Denver to spend time with a guy who would become my lockdown boyfriend. By July, I was headed to Los Angeles, where we spent the Fourth with his family.
We stayed in a LA for a few days (while I certainly wish it empty was for a different reason, I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to be the only two people staying at the very cool Hotel Figueroa) before heading to Palm Springs. It was truly sweltering out there in the desert (go figure), and few things were open. But, of course, I managed to find a vintage shop that was.
I had started following Bustown Modern on Instagram earlier that year, and was tickled when I figured out that they were nearby and open by appointment. My guy was a good sport and drove me from PS down the dusty 29 Palms highway toward Joshua Tree to a little town called Yucca Valley where Bustown was operating out of what appeared to be a very large storage shed (I’m pretty sure was a layover before owner, the very kind Anessa Woods, opened her current location in Palm Springs).
We were the only ones there, so I didn’t have to worry that another shopper was going to snatch the pastel linen Valentino shift or black wool DKNY bodysuit I found out of my hands.
Also clutched under my arm: a truly chic royal blue crepe sailor suit by Paris’ late queen of stripy soigné, Sonia Rykiel. It’s a little hard to tell from this shot, but it’s culottes (j’adore) and a cropped jacket with a sailor collar and gold metal buttons. Fits like a glove.
The Valentino, DKNY and boyfriend are gone; the Sonia now stands alone. I usually wear it with nothing underneath on top (scandale!) and a pair of cute ballet flats or tall boots (and, yes, a turtleneck) if I remember to pull it out in the fall. (I don’t believe in seasons.)
This week, I wore it with my new SOUTH shirt from the essential regional magazine The Bitter Southerner (support independent journalism, y’all) and a pair of really choice vintage men’s Italian shoes, which something tells were custom made. Oh, the treasures I used to find at Southern Thrift back in the before times.
Retail Distraction | Birkenstock & imogene + willie
I have been trying very hard not to buy clothes this year. But sometimes, I need to buy a little treat (see: SOUTH shirt, above). Other times, I just go for it, WTF style.
WTF was indeed this week’s rallying cry, as I finally ordered the red-orange patent leather Birkenstock Arizonas that I spied on the sweet feet of darling Emily Dorio this spring and have been visiting weekly online ever since.
I was able to justify them because I am currently only supposed to wear shoes with good sole support (you know you’re getting old when the last thing you buy in Paris is a pair of compression socks and your most memorable souvenir from the trip is a case of plantar fasciitis). I miss my flat gladiator sandals, but these are a nice consolation prize.
Impulse buy number two was a new pair of jeans from my old employers, imogene + willie. I swear to God, I was just driving down 12th Avenue South when my car took over and drove itself into their parking lot. What was I going to do? Be rude and leave?
I tried on exactly two things: the pair of over-dyed black Sophie jeans and heather grey muscle T-shirt I’m wearing in this photo. I’ve got many, many pairs of i+w jeans from my time there, but this cut — high waist, slim through the hip and rear, and straight all the way to the ground — may be my all-time favorite.
The Best Costume for the Day: I barked when I read that. Brilliant, and love the shoes! I should’ve known that you worked with I+W. Love them, and wish I was about half a foot taller to accommodate their fabulous jeans sans tailoring. And I want the Birks. 🙏🏻
Now all I can think about is those Birks. 🍅