The Pleasure Lists Q&A: Emily Sundberg of Feed Me
Pleasures, Curated by Emily Sundberg
We’re back with another installment of
: Pleasures, Curated.I hope you enjoy reading these as much as I enjoy getting to know members of the Pleasure Lists community and what makes their Pleasures tick.
Pleasures, Curated by of
Emily Sundberg is a writer and filmmaker from New York. Her Substack, Feed Me, is the 8th-top business letter on the platform. Her first documentary, The End, premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival. You can also read her work in New York Magazine, GQ, and The New York Mycological Society.
Social links: @emilysundberg on Instagram, @emily_sundberg on Twitter.
Calling an Uber Black
Sure, walking home over the Brooklyn Bridge at 1am in the heat of the summer is nice, and the characters on the F train are great and all. But have you ever pulled the trigger on an impulsive late-night Uber Black home? It goes like this: after reminding you they’ll wait up to 15 minutes {Take your time, my Uber app pleads me) a black Benz pulls up to whatever bar you’re at downtown, you get to sink into the buttery leather seats, and the crack open a plastic bottle of water while looking out the window at the skyline and think, “This, is what I work so hard for.”
My movie theater method.
Alone at Angelika, with a large tea from their cafe.
N/A wine
There is nothing more detrimental to a daily morning newsletter practice than a hangover. But a big part of my work is going out and being in the world. So this summer, I’ve been bringing a bottle of nonalcoholic wine (someone sent me some bottles from Studio Null recently but I’ve had other brands as well, and Ghia always hits) to dinner parties and backyard hangs. I still drink – I just have to cut off at some point in the night in order to function the next day, and these alternatives still keep me in the moment, where a Diet Coke sort of signals being checked out.
Packing well!
A hard shell suitcase, organized pouches for wires and supplements and pharmacy things, a go-to travel sweater, and being at peace with two pairs of shoes has been life-changing for myself and those who travel with me.
Sleeping in my boyfriend’s high school t-shirts
The first drink with a new friend who is a generous conversationalist with original takes.
Even if the friendship doesn’t go anywhere!
This print from my friend William Mullan
I met William years ago and have always adored how he photographs living things – fruit trees, bugs, animals, people. I saw him post this photo of a shy lamb last year and ordered a print of it for my apartment. I recently got it framed and looking at it brings me so much joy.
Sleeping with an eye mask
I use mine at home, on planes, and in hotels. I go in and out of melatonin phases, and then I hear rumors that taking melatonin can make you dumb or forgetful and I wane off the stuff. But eye masks seem to be zero-risk, and have helped my sleep quality.
At-home manicures
Learning to do my own beauty treatments at home (brows, nails, chemical exfoliating) has been a nice practice in self-care and saving money.
Wedding cake
It’s fun to see how different couples I love express themselves through sugar and frosting.
What does pleasure mean to me?
Being tapped in to the awesomeness of our brief time on this planet!
Who do you want to see next? Send me suggestions for who to feature in the next Q&A!
What Is “Pleasures, Curated”?
Each week, a new Pleasure-seeker will document their personal Pleasures and ruminate a bit on what Pleasure means to them. True to
style, I keep the list-maker’s je ne sais quoi in as much as I can — only minor editorial changes are made when necessary. I do this intentionally so that the writer’s inner world really comes through. The style of the list says as much about the writer as the list itself.Read Previous Q&A’s:
Why submit a list?
Pleasure Lists are a summary of what you need, want, or have, or see at a particular moment in time. They are a survey, an overview, a summary of the crucial facts of the state of one aspect of your life. It’s a kind of blueprint that can be a guide to the future.
Mull it over and if you’re moved to, send me a list.
Questions? Comments? Send any recommendations or suggestions for what you’d like to see in these newsletters my way. I’d love to hear more about what you’re currently finding pleasure in.
Join the chat below to connect with other members of the Pleasure List community:
Please share this newsletter! The Pleasure Lists is meant to be a collaborative project that calls people from all over to write, read, and share their pleasures — a global community of artists, writers, and pondering minds alike.
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this was lovely!
same re wedding cakes!