Culture Checklist: September 23, 2016
It’s another solid music week with new releases from Devendra Banhart, How to Dress Well, Warpaint, & LVL UP out today but our hands-down fav is the new album from Rostam of Vampire Weekend and Hamilton Leithauser of The Walkmen. In TV, Transparent returns with season 3 today but our recommendation is for the highly acclaimed new show on FX from Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino aka that guy from Community. It’s 4 episodes deep already and currently the “it” show of the moment. Want to read something this weekend? How about a piece asking “How Much Do Parents Matter?” Yes, please. Instead of giving you a suggestion for something to cook this weekend, we think you should spend $5 on an individually packaged single chip that’s so spicy the company is betting you can only eat one. What a time to be alive. You’ll need a good beer to wash it down, too. You’ve gotta…
Hear this: Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam: I Had A Dream That You Were Mine
on Spotify.
Watch this: Atlanta
on FX (airs Tuesdays at 10pm).
Read this: How Much Do Parents Matter?
via The Atlantic.
Eat this: Paqui Carolina Reaper Madness Chip
from Paqui.
Drink this: Hop Hop and Away (4.6% ABV)
by Aeronaut Brewing.
Culture Checklist: September 16, 2016
You probably think of The Beatles as a studio band, right? This new doc by Ron Howard will have you thinking otherwise. A new op-ed asks a question you’ve probably wrestled with yourself as you come to terms with being an adult. There’s also some new country rock that will set the mood for fall. Fall. Sigh. Where did summer go? Speaking of summer, did you miss out on the biggest food trend of the summer? Catch up this weekend with the easiest Poke Bowl recipe we could find. And since the weather is starting to feel a little more like fall, here’s a hard cider brand you should know. You’ve gotta…
Hear this: Dawes – We’re All Gonna Die
on Spotify.
Watch this: The Beatles: Eight Days a Week: The Touring Years
premieres on Hulu 9/17.
Read this: Can You Have a Good Life if You Don’t Have a Good Job?
via The New York Times.
Eat this: Tuna Poke Bowl
via POPSUGAR.
Drink this: Rojo (5.4% ABV) / Wunderkind (6% ABV) / The Americain (5.2% ABV)
You Need The Robot Mouse Activity Set
From The Social Network
Do you want to know what is cooler than being a billionaire? Being young enough to still get an allowance! Which is perfect because your little Zucks are just at that age so why not set them up today to become a potential billionaire down the road? We are talking about learning to code and Learning Resources has a very cool tool that will set up the basics of coding for your kids to springboard from. Meet Code & Go’s Robot Mouse. This activity set was created to teach your children the basics of simple coding and to ignite their conceptual understanding of STEM ideas.
Credit: Learning Resources
We have been having fun playing with this activity set in the offices for a couple of weeks during our down time and it’s actually pretty fun for adults too. You can use the provided grid, or even just program Colby to move around the table top or floor around obstacles of your choosing. This simple toy teaches and solidifies a whole host of STEM theories for your kids. The problem-solving skills that they develop alone make this set worth your purchase.
We are giving away one Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set to one lucky reader. You can find the details here: I WANT A CODE AND GO!
A to Z Alphabet Groceries
Sure, it’s sweet that you scored a play kitchen for your kids but isn’t it sorta lame that all you have to stock it with an empty box of pasta and a can of coffee? Learning Resources has a fantastic A to Z Alphabet Groceries set that will cover your kid’s culinary needs from, well from A-Z right? Beyond that, each item is labeled with both the word and starting letter of the item inviting learning interactions each time your little Gordon Ramsey plays kitchen. Milk, beans, donuts, and yes even egg rolls will keep your child growing that awesome little imagination they are cultivating each and every play session. “Colorful, realistic groceries introduce early language skills and are great for imaginative play too! Each of the 26 groceries is labeled with a letter, word, and colorful picture. Reinforces letter recognition, everyday vocabulary, and creative role play. Cartons measure 6.5″H, Jars 4″H.” Who doesn’t love playing with their food? Grab this set today and have a blast together making up all sorts of delish dishes.
Travel The World Baby
When you are a new dad or a seasoned dad for that matter, you will often stand like a creeper above your kid’s crib just watching them sleep. You could do it for hours. What do you think about? What they are dreaming about? Who they might become, where they might end up in life, what amazing adventures might they embark on? Maybe you just watch over their sleeping little bodies and wish for them to travel the world. We love the artwork of Jessie Husband (cool name) there is just something magical about her creations. We hope that when our children are dreaming at night, they dream in the style of her artwork, vibrant, colorful and full of adventure. Check out this wonderful infant one piece (and toddler t), it’s everything, isn’t it? “Someday I Am Going To Travel The World.” We hope so.
Little Houses: A Counting Book
The almost two-year-old and I were killing some time in downtown Montpelier Vermont last week while on vacation because “mummy” was off pillaging a Zutano that was closing it’s doors forever. We stumbled into Bear Pond Books which has an amazing children’s section upstairs if you happen to be in the area ever. Once I got the kid out of the tree fort long enough to sit on my lap to read one of the many new books we found she instantly gravitated to Little Houses: A Counting Book by Helen Musselwhite. Sure, we have all seen counting books but Little Houses is so charming that we want you to add it to your must-read list with your toddler. Each page has the appropriate number of little houses and then other sets like cats, birds, bikes etc. I am happy to report that the book does work, we spent the rest of the trip hearing the toddler call out “won, tew, twee, foar, five, icks, evan, ate, nwine, tewn” from the backseat on an endless loop. Thanks, Helen, and thanks, Montpelier Zutano, our credit card bill should be interesting this month based on the number of bags my wife was carrying.
We Live in a World Where Our Kids Can Design Their Own Clothes
If you have little girls, letting them pick out their own outfit is a pretty entertaining exercise. Clash City, here we come. Now imagine your kids could design their own clothes. Well, that just takes it from entertaining into awesome territory, right? With Picture This, just print out a template for a dress, let them draw/color it in, snap a picture of it, upload it, and within 15 days their dress will be shipped to your home. What an incredible time to be alive. (T shirts, boys stuff and adult sizes coming soon).
The Road to Family Adventure Starts with the New Airstream Basecamp
Many of us likely have a dream of taking the family on an epic road trip around the country, making memories that will last a lifetime. Problem is, you drive a small SUV or crossover since you couldn’t stomach getting a minivan or the thought of a gas guzzling full-size SUV – you know, vehicles with towing capacity. Allow us to revive your family road trip dreams thanks to the all new Airstream Basecamp – a modern trailer for the modern family. Designed to be towable with a variety of small and mid-sized SUVs and Crossovers, Basecamp was hand crafted in Jackson Center, Ohio and comes loaded with features like convertible rear space for eating, sleeping, lounging or storing gear, a large rear cargo hatch and flexible storage space with tie downs, a bathroom with toilet and shower (including shower head pass through), a kitchen with a cooktop, stainless steel sink and refrigerator, and a wireless Bose Bluetooth Soundlink Color speaker. It’s the lightest trailer in the entire Airstreem fleet with a base weight of just 2,585 pounds. National Parks, you’re on notice. We’re coming for you.
Let’s Go (Back) to Chipotle
Remember that time everyone was freaking out because people were getting E coli at Chipotle? Neither do we (selective memory FTW) – besides, shorter lines are awesome. In an effort to put all that lost business behind them, Chipotle now has a new trick up their sleeve to lure you back to their restaurants: free tacos for your kids. “Every Sunday in September, kids eat FREE when you buy a burrito, bowl, an order of tacos or salad.” They’ll even throw in a free Dragons Love Tacos activity sheet to boot. Nice touch there but, seriously, you had us at free tacos (we’ll be fine). Get the deets here.
Culture Checklist: September 9, 2016
After a light summer of good music options we got a lot to choose from this week. Notable releases include M.I.A’s latest LP (at the very least check out “Freedun” – our jam right now), the long-awaited return of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, a collection of acoustic recordings from Jack White, the major label debut from The Head and the Heart, and new releases from indie rock stalwarts Local Natives & Okkervil River. But if you only have time to check out one new album this weekend, make it the one listed below (that album art tho). Tig Notaro’s new dark comedy series launched on Amazon Prime today and it’s definitely something you’ll want to add to the queue since you’ll obviously be watching football all weekend. Speaking of football, skip the traditional nachos and try out this new recipe to start the season off on the right culinary foot. And beer? Yes, beer. We’re still in denial that summer has unofficially ended so we’re still drinking gose – and you should be too. Lastly, we all want our children to excel in life so read this article about a 45-year study of smarty-pants kids and try to pick up a couple pointers along the way. You’ve gotta…
Hear this: Wilco – Schmilco
on Spotify.
Watch this: One Mississippi Season 1
on Amazon Video.
Read this: How to Raise a Genius: Lessons from a 45-Year Study of Supersmart Children
via Scientific American.
Eat this: Quinoa Enchilada Casserole
via Damn Delicious.
Drink this: Gose Gone Wild (4.3% ABV)
Enjoy Your Long Weekend
Culture Checklist: September 2, 2016
Our favorite rap duo is back with a new track for Gears of War 4, four more episodes of exquisite food porn are here (all featuring the best French chefs), a recap of the election according to children, some bomb street food even you can make at home, and beer that will, ahem, take your breath away. You’ve gotta…
Hear this: Run the Jewels – “Panther Like a Panther (I’m The Sh*t)”
via Pitchfork.
Watch this: Chef’s Table: France
premieres today on Netflix (so does Season 2 of Narcos BTW).
Read this: The 2016 Presidential Election, According to 8-Year-Olds
via New York Magazine.
Eat this: Korean Rice Cakes with Red Chile Sauce
via NYTimes Cooking.
Drink this: Maverick & Gose (4.4% ABV)
SAVE SUMMER!
As you console your kids this week because they are bummed about school starting let them know that the fun in the sun does not have to be over. Just because they have homework again does not mean the fun has to stop! It’s still HOT out right? Baseball is still on the TV at night right? The pool is still open for business right? You still get iced coffee in the morning right? You haven’t switched burgers on the grill for beef stew in the crock pot yet, right? Your wife still hasn’t packed away the bikini right? Right? Okay, we can skip that last one but cmon you are still a “fun dad” right? Please tell us that hasn’t changed just because Tony Romo getting hurt is the annual first sign of fall! No? Okay then, get these three things today and extend summer into the fall daddy!
Hurricane “Reusable” Water Balls – ($12) Because why would you not want the ability to drench your kids up to 1,000 times with one hurricane ball? Toss, throw, play & splash your way into colder afternoons.
Hydro Swirl Spinning Sprinkler – ($13) Don’t use the same boring sprinkler that you water your prized tomatoes with to entertain your kids. This sprinkler wiggles and splashes in unpredictable directions making that backyard water play endlessly fun.
Hydro Twist Pipeline Sprinkler – ($12) If the hydro swirl isn’t enough to keep you in the summer spirit here is one pipeline that both sides of the aisle can agree on. The Hydro Twist Pipeline Sprinkler runs 8 feet across your lawn and you don’t have to worry about any eminent domain issues, just how wet and wild your kids will get dodging the fountains of water.
And while your kids are having a blast this late summer maybe you should be trying some of those summer beers we talked about huh?
Culture Checklist: August 26, 2016
Wu-Tang Clan & Interpol both earned a soft spot in our hearts during our musical coming of age so we’re pretty stoked to check out the long-awaited collaboration between the RZA and Paul Banks that dropped today (you don’t really need to hear the much-hyped return of Britney Spears anyways). Speaking of long-awaited, the limited series finale of the most hyped and talked about show of the summer wraps up on Sunday so don’t miss it. Also, make sure you carve out some time this weekend to read about a restaurant in upstate New York that is booked for reservations until 2025 (and we’re guessing after the popularity of this piece, it’s now even later than that). Reading about such gastronomic extravegence will probably inspire you to try your hand at something new in the kitchen so we found an easy recipe sure to hit all the pleasure centers of your belly. And we know it’s not quite dark beer drinking weather yet but The Beer Connoisseur just rated this one a 96 and we’re already salivating for it. You’ve gotta…
Hear this: Banks & Steelz – Anything But Words
via Spotify.
Watch this: The Night Of
Finale airs Sunday 8/28 at 9:00 EST on HBO.
Read this: The Most Exclusive Restaurant in America
via The New Yorker.
Eat this: Kimchi Omelet With Sriracha Syrup
via NY Times Cooking.
Drink this: Vanilla Bean Stout (10.8% ABV)
Oh, you thought we forgot? We figure everyone in America already knew this but maybe you’re a new dad and have your hands full with other things – that’s really your only excuse. So ICYMI, Frank Ocean dropped another instant classic last week and if you should probably check it out before it’s old news.
Think Homeopathic, Think Boiron
Millennial parents have grown up in a hyper sensitive world where seemingly every week a new study arrives telling us what we should or should not be eating or drinking and what we should or should not be putting into out children’s bodies. Too much of this, too little of that and never this but sometimes that and it all gets a little crazy. One thing we can all agree on is that homeopathic medicines are not a fad and are often just what Dr. Mom/Dad ordered. Boiron is the world leader in these medicines that you surely have seen at your local drugstore but have you checked them out? We have. What ails you? It doesn’t really matter they have a fix for nearly everything, stomach ache, cuts and bruises, allergies, colic, teething, flu & cold, sore throat, digestive issues, even your football Sunday hangover. Nux Vomica goes by the common name poison nut and is used to treat, “heartburn or drowsiness due to excessive eating or drinking.” It works, we tried it the morning after our fantasy football draft. Boiron is a name that families can trust, so stock your medicine cabinet with natural relief today. We suggest the products below for your family. (Enter our giveaway HERE for a limited time!)
Camilia for Teething Pain
Children’s Chestal – Common Cold Relief
Calendula Cream – Cuts & Scrapes
Marisa Is Super Versatile: Mia Moda Stroller
We have all been that couple standing in the middle of Babies-R-Us testing all the different strollers feeling completely overwhelmed. Stroller shopping is maybe the most stressful part of maternity next to you know…financial planning. Here is something that can help you out in both departments, get a Mia Moda 3-in-1 Marisa stroller. Not only are Mia Moda strollers sleek, not only are they affordable, not only are they a time saver, they are also so very versatile. Versatile is a golden word when it comes to all things, toddler and baby. You want that flexibility to lay your kid flat for nap time on the go. You want that versatility to fold the stroller flat and compact for trips to stores with tiny aisles, you just want options because if option A results in hysterics (for you, your wife or the baby) you want the versatility to move on to option B, and C, and D. Parenting is just 18 years of laying out options for your kids, why not give them as many as possible?
Get Your Girls To Say Gomee!
“You go girl” is something a parent of every little girl should be saying all the time. It’s no secret we live in a world where it’s hard growing up female. We can make it a little bit easier for them by offering constant positive encouragement and support and before long our daughters might just be saying “Gomee!” We support the Gomee brand because of it’s message to our girls, “you can do anything, you are amazing!” Gomee has created a line of patches that offer stylish and unique to the individual positive reinforcement. Attaching these patches to shirts, jackets or bag will empower our girls and also open up an important ongoing dialogue on the importance of being one’s true self. Parents can use these great products as a teachable moment that will help shape your daughter’s path forward in life as they grow.
Culture Checklist: August 19, 2016
When the editor-in-chief says you have to listen to an album you oblige, of course. Boy are we glad we did this week, Michael Kiwanuka’s new album Love & Hate sounds like it’s from decades ago and given much of it’s message that is not necessarily a good thing. Never the less you need to give it a spin this weekend. Amazon also pushed out a few more of those awesome Pilots you can vote on. Take an hour and check out Jean-Claude Van Johnson and let us know what you think! If you enjoy dark secrets, who doesn’t, check out the tale of an island off the coast of Maine while you swing in your hammock this weekend. In NYC August is street fair season and you can’t escape the smell and allure of street corn. If you can’t make it to NYC worry not you can make it at home too. Has 2016’s election season made you need a beer? Yeah, us too. No matter what side you relate to Half Moon’s Alection IPA has your brew. You’ve gotta…
Hear This: Michael Kiwanuka – Love & Hate
via Spotify
Watch this: The New Amazon Pilots, including “Jean-Claude Van Johnson”
Read this: The Dark Secrets of This Now-Empty Island in Maine
via Atlas Obscura
Eat this: Mexican Street Corn
via Serious Eats
Drink this: Alection IPA’s
From Half Moon Brewing
How To Nail The End Of Summer
We may be headed #BackToSchool but there is still some juice left to be squeezed from the waning weekends of summer. We’ve told you how to make the most of your trip to the beach, but we have a few more items you might want to check out to maximize your summer fun.
Get Patriotic with this USA inspired American flag pool pong table! – ($50) Make Harambe proud this Labor Day weekend and play some pong on this inflatable table.
Get The Coolerbobs Experience! – ($10) Do you need neon lights in your cooler? No. Do you want them? Yup!
Colder Beer Is Better! – ($22) The bottle keeper will keep your beer cold, discrete and delicious. Try one of our top summer beer suggestions in it.
Float on Pizza! – ($40) Nothing says you rock the end of summer better than laying on a piece of blown up pizza. (*Model not included, sorry.)
Enjoy the remaining sun & #FreeLochte!
The Average Truebill User Saves $512!
“Are you really still paying for that?” When you have kids you pay for a lot of things. Diapers, wipes, food, bottles, binkies etc. Then you add on all your normal bills and life becomes stressful. In your 30’s you begin to pay for so many different things you start to lose track. Take this for example just the other day my darling wife says “what did you buy at Amazon last week for $9?” “Nothing as I recall.” Well, it turns out when we cut the cord last year but wanted to watch Homeland (Quinns not dead) I added on Showtime to our Prime account. Well, it’s been months and I had forgotten about it and we haven’t watched Showtime in Prime in that ensuing time.
Truebill would have fixed that. Truebill is an app that scours all of your subscriptions and keeps you up to date on what you are paying for, when and how much. You have a one-stop shop where you can cancel and unneeded services instantly and use that money for more important things like late night Wendys runs. All those handy subscriptions really add up by the end of the year so just think about how much money you could be saving with this FREE service. Download today and thank us later.
