Here's your extra credit.
Covering all of the things you love and some of the things you haven't discovered yet
Welcome to Extra Credit, your new favorite excuse to procrastinate productively.
Every week will be different because life is unpredictable, and I’m a human. Sometimes I’ll have more to say, and sometimes I’ll have less to say, but I always want to hear from you. Tell me about what you love and want to see more of. This newsletter is our oyster. 🦪
This week I’m covering things I can’t stop thinking about — like Waffle House’s new egg policy and Cabbage Patch Kids — and some fun news that landed in my inbox.
I’m happy you’re here.
Let’s get into it.
Not So Egg-celent 🍳
If you’re ordering eggs at Waffle House (looking at you, Atlanta friends), you’re going to have to pay extra. Since the bird flu is increasing the price of eggs, Waffle House is adding a 50¢ surcharge. Not great timing since we’re in the midst of a collective protein obsession (but more on that later).
Side note: I still remember when Waffle House smelled like cigarettes, and yes, I know that makes me sound old.
Little Seedlings 🌱
For The Cut, Allie Jones interviewed Anne Geddes, the woman who dominated the baby photography world in the 90s with her babies-as-potted-plants calendars. My takeaway: “In her petunia-filled studio, it is hard to imagine anyone else doing quite what she does. Of the 15 babies, only one cried too much to make it through the shoot.” She’s a magician.
Meanwhile, the American Girl Doll obsession is still strong, but Cabbage Patch Kids deserve more attention. BabyLand General Hospital is still alive and well in Cleveland, Georgia, and if you ask me nicely, I’ll try to dig up photos from the time I visited and “adopted” a baby before I even hit puberty. (My Atlanta roots are really showing today.)
For New York’s Dogs 🐶 I don’t have a dog, but if I did, I’d buy these toys. Might even buy them for myself because they’re just that cute.
“Every word I read about congestion pricing reminds me of when they reintroduced wolves in Yellowstone and the whole ecosystem started working correctly again.”
Why Are We Treating Tech Burnout With More Tech? Makes you think.
More Protein, Less Brotein 🥩
Coconut Cult thinks protein is for bros. We all love protein, okay? And I think the quality of the yogurt has declined. I used to be obsessed with Coconut Cult (part of the cult, if you will), but the last few batches I tried were very disappointing. No fizz. No zing. Different texture.
And while we’re talking about protein, can we discuss these protein sodas from Feisty? Have you tried them? What did you think?
Now, some fun things that landed in my inbox recently 💌
Ned’s Club opened in DC last week, and the team is excited about its “exclusive” restaurant, The Founders Dining Room, which can only be accessed by Ned’s Club founding global members. The by-invitation tier requires a $100,000 joining fee and $15,000 per month. (Yes, those are the real numbers.) The private members club already has New York, London and Doha locations.
Caribbean restaurant Mango Bay opened its doors in Fort Greene in January. I interviewed Chef London Chase for OpenTable. I tried the restaurant for myself with a friend on Friday. The vibe was lively and cozy, and the food was great. Order the pomegranate glazed pork ribs with avocado mousse, and let me know what you think.
Joanne Trattoria, the Upper West Side Italian joint owned and run by Lady Gaga’s Dad, Joe Germanotta, is hosting a Wednesday night drag show with a prix-fixe menu next week. Happy Valentine’s Day to us!
People are falling in love with Zimmi’s, a restaurant I included in my OpenTable list of 2024’s most exciting openings. The French and Italian-style dishes are inspired by chef Maxime Pradié’s family recipes, and the 40-seat space is intimate and charming. Read about it in Grub Street, The New Yorker, Eater and The New York Times.
That’s all for today! And if you’ve made it this far, thank you. Really. This is a labor of love, and I’m excited to share it with you.
See you soon!
💘
Alexis you are on a roll!! Love it!
Welcome to the Substack fam!