The Epicurean Vagabonds present Aesthetic Arrest

Plus Bad Habit by Alana S. Portero, the mandalas of Mu Pan, & wisdom from John Keats! Reading: Bad Habit [La Mala Costumbre]   by Alana S. Portero (translated by Mara Faye Lethem) Listening: Synonym by Meshell Ndegeocello Looking: The Mandalas of Mu Pan Viewing: A Tribute to Patrick Stewart (July 13, 1940 - October 28, 2026) Tasting : Wildstar’s Roasted Butternut Squash Soup! https://epicurean...

Plus What an Interesting Girl by Vanisha Gould, Confessions of the Fox by Jordy Rosenberg & the Exquisite Snuff Bottles of Hannah Lim! Reading: Confessions of the Fox   by Jordy Rosenberg Listening #1: Chakzilla   by Chaka Khan Listening #2: What An Interesting Girl   by Vanisha Gould Looking: The Exquisite Snuff Bottles of Hannah Lim Viewing: If I Go Will They Miss Me   (2026) — written &...

Plus the poetry of Mary Oliver, a tribute to sculptor Geles Cabrera, and the magic of Ypovrichio! Reading: Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver by Mary Oliver Listening #1: Psychedelia in White    by Mick Harvey & Amanda Acevedo   Listening #2: A Tribute to Catherine Ringer (October 18th, 1957 – September 14th, 2026) of Les Rita Mitsouko Looking: A Tribute to Trailblazing Sculptor Gele...

Plus the art of Ana Elisa Egreja, wisdom from Arundhati Roy, & thirst-quenching hard cider from The Apple Thief! Reading: The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy (published in 2017) and her recent viral essay: “ Cockroach Democracy: Unarmed and Dangerous ” (July 22, 2026) Listening: What Does It Take To Bloom?   by Somi Looking: The Art of Ana Elisa Egreja from her current exhibition...

Plus Erin in the Morning, Ken Klippenstein & Greek Rice Pudding! Reading #1: Erin in the Morning by Erin Reed Reading #2: Ken Klippenstein Listening: Joseph Tawadros: Conversations with Jack — featuring the legendary jazz drummer Jack Dejohnette in one of his final recordings! Looking: Honoring the Inimitable Artist & Cultural Icon Betye Saar (July 30, 1926 – July 26, 2026) Viewing: A Film...

Plus Assembly by Rashaad Newsome, LOTE by Shola von Reinhold, & Jacques Pépin's Country Omelette! Reading: LOTE by Shola von Reinhold Listening #1: With Every Breath I Take   by Cécile McLorin Salvant Listening #2: Foreign Tongues   by The Rolling Stones Looking: “ This is Black Queer Culture of the Past, Present and Future” — Assembly by Rashaad Newsome ( PBS Independent Lens ) Viewing:...

Pride is Protest! No Pride in Silence! Existence is Resistance! https://outrightinternational.org/ Help Outright International and their partners around the world push for change so that all LGBTIQ people everywhere can live with dignity and free from violence. Donate Now! Reading: Mighty Real: A History of LGBTQ Music, 1969-2000 by Barry Walters Listening: Skin of My Teeth by Shea Diamond (The pe...

Plus Crocosmia by Miranda Mellis, Ryan Wildstar’s Homemade Tzatziki & International Museum Day at the National Archaeological Museum! Reading: Crocosmia by Miranda Mellis Listening: the color of rain by aja monet Looking: Celebrating International Museum Day (May 18, 2026) at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, Greece! Viewing #1: “She’s Not a Terrorist!” — The Testaments ( Hulu ), a...

Plus Jacques Pépin's French Onion Soup Gratinée! And Metamorphoses, a major art exhibition at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum and Rome's Galleria Borghese! Editor’s Note: You may have noticed we haven’t been posting as frequently, and that is due to some very serious ongoing medical issues we’ve been experiencing. But you can help! We’ve recently launched a crowdfunding campaign, Saving Rya...

Plus Ada Limón, Mia Doi Todd, Henry David Thoreau & Gourmet Vegan Sandwiches in Athens! Looking/Listening/Viewing/Reading: Boots on the Ground Reading: Against Breaking: On the Power of Poetry    by Ada Limón Listening: A “joyful balm for the mind, body and soul” — Human Experience by Mia Doi Todd Viewing: Jimpa — directed by Sophie Hyde , starring Olivia Colman , John Lithgow & Aud Mason-...

Plus Unforgettable: Women Artists from Antwerp to Amsterdam, wisdom from Barbara Jordan, and Garlicky Greek Potato Dip! Reading: Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray Listening #1: Laura Jane Grace Live in Concert at Ilion Plus in Athens, Greece (March 25, 2026)! Listening #2: Hope and Fury by Joe Jackson Looking: Unforgettable: Women Artists from Antwerp to Amsterdam, 1600-1750 (at the M...

Plus The Epic History of Macaroni and Cheese, and a glorious new album from Tunde Jegede & NOK Orchestra! Reading: Watchfiends and Rack Screams: Artaud’s Last Unpublished Work by Antonin Artaud (edited by Stephen Barber , translated by Clayton Eshleman , Paul Buck & Catherine Petit, foreword by John Zorn ) Listening: Invocation by Tunde Jegede & NOK Orchestra Looking: Happy 97th Birthd...

Plus an important new documentary on the battle for trans rights, a brilliant new album from Constantinople & an extravagant French cheese plate! Reading: The Complete Orsinia ( Malafrena / Stories and Songs ) by Ursula K. Le Guin ( Library of America #281 ) Listening: Estuaire [Estuary] by Constantinople ( Ablaye Cissoko , Kiya Tabassian & Patrick Graham ) Looking: Celebrating the Iconic...

Plus wisdom from Laverne Cox, the music of composer Mel Bonis, and art from Carolyn Mazloomi & the Women of Color Quilters Network! Reading: On Morrison by Namwali Serpell (plus every book ever written by Toni Morrison !) Listening: The Music of French Composer Mel Bonis (January 21, 1858 – March 18, 1937) Looking: The Art of Carolyn Mazloomi & the Women of Color Quilters Network Viewing #...

Plus the sculptured books of Brian Dettmer & the ancient wines of Zitsa! Reading: Song of Ancient Lovers by Laura Restrepo (translated by Caro De Robertis ) Listening: Two Fantastic Live Concerts at Theatre of the NO in Athens, Greece ! Looking: The Sculptured Books of Brian Dettmer Viewing: The Choral    (2025), directed by Nicholas Hytner & written by Alan Bennett , starring Ralph Fienne...

Featuring some of our favorite reading, listening, looking, viewing and tasting of the year! https://epicureanvagabonds.substack.com/p/aesthetic-arrest-the-best-of-2025

Plus music from Branford Marsalis & Nicola Benedetti, a brilliant biopic of Frantz Fanon, & wisdom from Leslie Feinberg! Reading: Sex Is a Spectrum: The Biological Limits of the Binary   by Agustín Fuentes Listening #1: Violin Café   by Nicola Benedetti Listening #2: Belonging   by the Branford Marsalis Quartet Looking: Current Exhibition! Radical Harmony: Helene Kröller-Müller’s Neo-Impre...

Plus I Wish You All The Best, Lonely Crowds by Stephanie Wambugu, & wisdom from Joseph Campbell! Reading: Lonely Crowds   by Stephanie Wambugu Listening: The Last Concert of Mulatu Astatke ’s Farewell Tour! (at the CT Theater in Athens, Greece on November 25, 2025) Looking: The Art of 94-Year-Old Painter (& Living Icon!) Bridget Riley in the new exhibition, Bridget Riley: Learning to See ,...

Plus fantastic documentaries from Raoul Peck & Zackary Drucker, the amazing art of Sonia E. Barrett, & the Quintessential Holiday Cheese Platter! Reading: Down and Out in Paris and London   by George Orwell Listening #1: Looking Back   by Amanda Lear Listening #2: Woman of Faces   by Celeste Looking: The Art of Sonia E. Barrett Viewing #1: Enigma (2025) — documentary about Amanda Lear &amp...

Plus Wifredo Lam at the Museum of Modern Art, Olivia Laing's cinematic new novel, & wisdom from Chinua Achebe! Reading: The Silver Book: A Novel   by Olivia Laing Listening #1: Duets Special   by Chrissie Hynde & Pals (featuring duets with k.d. lang , Debbie Harry , Rufus Wainwright , Mark Lanegan , Shirley Manson , Lucinda Williams , Dave Gahan , Cat Power , Julian Lennon & more!...

Plus the ceramic art of Heidi Lau, poetry from Robin Coste Lewis, & wisdom from Carl Sagan! Reading: Archive of Desire: A Poem in Four Parts for C. P. Cavafy   by Robin Coste Lewis Listening: L’Amour à La Folie   by Amadou & Mariam Looking: The Art of Heidi Lau (Who is one of 10 artists announced this week for The Artsy Vanguard 2026 !) Viewing: Frankenstein    (2025) — written & direc...

Plus Día de los Muertos! Celebrating The Day of the Dead with Performance Art, Elaborate Costumes & The Bread of the Dead! Reading: The Rose Field ( The Book of Dust , Volume 3) by Philip Pullman Listening: Everybody Scream by Florence + The Machine Looking: Celebrating Día de los Muertos [The Day of the Dead] with the Art of Teotecpatl Santin Martinez & the Cultural Collective Yaotecame !...

Plus Anne Waldman's newest collection of visionary poetry & the cheesy toasted goodness of traditional Welsh Rarebit! Reading: Mesopotopia by Anne Waldman Listening #1: A Tribute to the Legendary Dave Ball of Soft Cell (May 3, 1959 – October 22, 2025) Listening #2: Mirrors (Expanded 50th Anniversary Edition)   by Peggy Lee Looking: New Exhibition! Nigerian Modernism at the Tate Modern in...

Plus Aimee Lou Wood's charming new rom-com, Charles Lloyd's brilliant new album & The Complete Book of Cheese! Reading: Chronicles of Ori: An African Epic    by Harmonia Rosales Looking: The Art of Harmonia Rosales (as featured in her new book, Chronicles of Ori: An African Epic !) Listening: Figure in Blue by Charles Lloyd Viewing #1: Film Club ( BBC iPlayer ) — created & co-wri...

Plus multimedia artist Hew Locke at the Yale Center for British Art, wisdom from W. E. B. Du Bois, & a flavorful flight of Greek craft beers! Reading: The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems by Patricia Smith Listening: Saving Grace by Robert Plant Looking: The Art of Hew Locke (born October 13, 1959) in the Current Exhibition: Hew Locke: Passages , at the Yale Center for British Art...