The Pleasure Lists Q&A: Monica Mendal

Pleasures, Curated by travel writer Monica Mendal

We’re back with another installment of

The Pleasure Lists

: 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

Monica Mendal

of

So there's this place...

Monica Mendal is a US-born, Paris-based travel writer, contributing regularly to Vogue, T New York Times Style, Architectural Digest, and more. Previously, Monica was a fashion editor at Condé Nast Publications, such as Vogue, GQ and Glamour.

Social: @monicamendi and on Substack So there's this place... :)

Location: Currently based in Paris

PLEASURE LISTS

Big dogs.

My mom’s cooking.

That second trip to a place I love.

People who make me feel instantly comfy. Or seen.

Mischief!

New England in the fall.

An afternoon nap on the beach under the shade on a breezy day when the sun is hitting one side of my face and I know I should turn over but I’m too relaxed and lazy to move. Mmmm.

Dessert after every meal.

Laundry drying on a clothing line outside. Probably somewhere in Italy.

An american style breakfast at an old-timey diner.

Sitting around a table with my best friends rehashing memories from twenty years ago and still laughing just as hard twenty years later.

Belly laughs.

…And those friends who can make me laugh when I’m sad! (I’m convinced that laughter cures everything.)

Short stories by Francesca Marciano.

Feeling awe.

The fierceness of my nieces and tenderness of my nephews.

When I speak French to a stranger and they understand me perfectly (I’m learning!)

Outdoor showers in the summertime.

Rome, always.

Writing.

Lately, running along the Seine.

Sleeping on a silk pillowcase.

When my grandmothers play with my hair or give me back scratches.

Sitting and daydreaming from the bow of a boat.

Rewatching Gilmore Girls for the millionth time.

A sunny ski day anywhere in the Alps.

$2 filtered coffee from an NYC bodega.

Witnessing small acts of kindness.

Deep conversations with new friends that last until the early morning.

William Forsythe’s Blake Works I ballet.

When hard work finally pays off.

The cheap thrill of a convertible ride.

The Truffle Hunters documentary by Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw.

What does Pleasure mean to you?

When I think about the word itself, it reflects simplicity to me. The simple things that make me happy. The simple things are often the best things and I try to never take them for granted. What is life without our simple pleasures?

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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

The Pleasure Lists

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.

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Read Previous Q&A’s:

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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.

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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.