Ryan Wildstar and Ryan Elston

The Epicurean Vagabonds present Aesthetic Arrest

Arts EN ↓ 111 episodes

Aesthetic Arrest is our weekly dip into the Epicurean pleasures we’ve been enjoying lately. Each episode we'll be discussing what we're reading, listening to, looking at, viewing and tasting. For links, playlists, previews and photos of everything thing we talk about, visit our substack page, The Epicurean Vagabonds (https://epicureanvagabonds.substack.com)

Author

Ryan Wildstar and Ryan Elston

Episodes

Aesthetic Arrest: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson, Janis Ian: Breaking Silence & Public Enemy's Surprise New Album! 08.08.2025 42:47

Plus Marcella Hazan's greatest recipes and the miniature mixed media sculptures of Thomas Doyle! Reading: Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline Listening: Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025 by Public Enemy Looking: The Miniature Mixed Media Sculptures of Thomas Doyle ’s Clear History Series Viewing: Janis Ian: Breaking Silence ( PBS American Masters ) Ta...

Aesthetic Arrest: Season 4 Premiere! Tributes to Ozzy Osbourne & Andrea Gibson, Alison Bechdel's Latest Graphic Novel & Annahstasia's Debut Album! 01.08.2025 45:29

Plus Lena Dunham's brilliant new Netflix series and dynamic paintings from Christian Ruiz Berman! Also . . . WE FINALLY FOUND CILANTRO! Reading: Spent: A Comic Novel by Alison Bechdel Listening #1: Remembering Ozzy Osbourne (December 3, 1948 – July 22, 2025) Listening #2: Tether by Annahstasia Looking: The Art of Christian Ruiz Berman Viewing: Too Much ( Netflix ) — created by Lena Dunham &am...

Aesthetic Arrest: Pee-wee as Himself, The Painful Truth by Skunk Anansie & Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain! 04.06.2025 40:03

Plus the dazzling sculptures of Paola Grizi, our fond memories of eating at one of the world's best restaurants, and the perfect book to kick off Pride Month! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Ameztoi Txakoli (Getariako Txakolina, Spain) Reading: So Many Stars: An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color by Caro de Robertis Listening: The Painful Truth by Sku...

Aesthetic Arrest: Epicurean Delights from Our Neighborhood Farmers Market, An Unofficial Rose by Iris Murdoch, & Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story! 21.05.2025 39:10

Plus a stunning debut album from our new favorite opera singer — Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, and the vibrant portraits of Fujishima Takeji! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Ryan Wildstar’s Signature Lemon Drop! Reading: An Unofficial Rose by Iris Murdoch Listening: Masabane Cecilia by Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha (with Aron Goldin ) Looking: The Art of Fujishima Takeji (1867 - 1943) Viewing: An...

Aesthetic Arrest: The Book of Salt, Peter Murphy's Silver Shade & A Nice Indian Boy! 14.05.2025 44:11

Plus the sensational mixed media collage art of Lavett Ballard & the "Father of French Gastronomy” — Antonin Carême! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Domaine Vincent Carême Vouvray Sec (Loire, France) Reading: The Book of Salt by Monique Truong Listening: Silver Shade by Peter Murph y Looking: The Art of Lavett Ballard — including her current exhibition, Lavett Ballard: The People Who C...

Aesthetic Arrest: Narcissus, Annie Dillard, Mary Cassatt & Greek Old-Fashioned Honey Donuts! 30.04.2025 43:35

Plus two fantastic new albums from Mexican songstress Natalia Lafourcade & Malian-French supergroup Lamomali! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: The Perfect Horchata ! (recipe from Cooking Con Claudia ) Reading: Holy the Firm by Annie Dillard Listening #1: Cancionera by Natalia Lafourcade Listening #2: Lamomali Totem by Lamomali ( -M- , Fatoumata Diawara , Toumani Diabaté , Balla Diabaté ) feat. A...

Aesthetic Arrest: Essex Hemphill's Love Is A Dangerous Word, Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, & Vorja Sánchez - Organic Harmony! 23.04.2025 40:07

Plus Ryan Wildstar's recipe for the perfect Bloody Mary, trailblazing saxophonist Vi Redd, & our dinner at Rozalia - a hidden gem in the heart of Athens! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: The Bloody Mary “Chaser” Reading: Love Is A Dangerous Word: The Selected Poems of Essex Hemphil l by Essex Hemphill Listening: In Honor of Jazz Appreciation Month : The Music of Vi Redd (1928 – 2022) Looki...

Aesthetic Arrest: Audience With the Queen, The Lies of the Artists & Vinegar Toast! 16.04.2025 40:49

Plus mouthwatering recipes from Andy Baraghani, eye-opening Renaissance art, and The Return — an arresting cinematic masterpiece starring Ralph Fiennes & Juliette Binoche! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Portofino Spritz with Andy Baraghani Reading: The Lies of the Artists: Essays on Italian Art, 1450-1750 by Ingrid D. Rowland Listening: Audience With the Queen by Galactic and Irma Thomas Looki...

Aesthetic Arrest: Liza Minelli, Led Zeppelin, & Mick Harvey and Amanda Acevedo Live in Athens! 09.04.2025 41:12

Plus Women and the Piano: A History in 50 Lives, the art of Dominique Fung & our favorite bakery in Greece! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Mai Tais & Manhattans at Tiki Bar in Athens, Greece! Reading: Women and the Piano: A History in 50 Lives by Susan Tomes Listening: Golden Mirrors - The Uncovered Sessions Vol. 1 by Mick Harvey & Amanda Acevedo Looking: The Art of Dominique Fung...

Aesthetic Arrest: Big Boys, Invisible Boys & Ben Okri's Madame Sosostris and the Festival of the Brokenhearted! 26.03.2025 36:25

Plus our favorite Thai restaurant in Europe, enchanting art from Henri Rousseau, & a brand new R&R playlist for Women's History Month! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Domaines Landron (Jo Landron) Amphibolite, Muscadet Sèvre et Maine (Loire, France) Reading: Madame Sosostris and the Festival for the Brokenhearted by Ben Okri Listening: R&R’s Newest Playlist! Fierce Favorites for...

Aesthetic Arrest: Adolescence, Lola Young & Marguerite Young's Miss MacIntosh, My Darling! 19.03.2025 41:53

Plus Yazz Ahmed's newest album, the art of Frederic Leighton, & Chef Gregory Gourdet cooking with Pamela Anderson! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Oinotypo Vino Di Casa, ‘Kalampaki’ of Lemnos or ‘Limnio’ ( Lemnos , Greece) — Fresh out of the barrel from Cava Oinotypo in Athens, Greece! Reading: Miss Macintosh, My Darling by Marguerite Young Listening #1: A Paradise In The Hold by Yazz A...

Aesthetic Arrest: Nickel Boys, Shakespeare's Sisters & the New York Dolls! 05.03.2025 42:48

Plus delicious vegan dining in Athens, a major retrospective featuring the art of Shahzia Sikander, and Constantinople's new album: Nordic Lights in Persian Sky! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Oinotypo Vino Di Casa, Fumé ‘ Orange Wine ’ Roditis ( Aigialeia , Greece) — Fresh out of the barrel from Cava Oinotypo in Athens, Greece! Reading: Shakespeare's Sisters: How Women Wrote the Renaiss...

Aesthetic Arrest: A Tribute to Roberta Flack, The Last Showgirl & The Disappearance of Miss Scott! 26.02.2025 46:08

Plus Abel Selaocoe's Hymns of Bantu, the art of Cameron Ugbodu, poetry from Toi Derricotte, & delicious Greek meze in Ioannina! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Sacred Mountain ΑιΩ Marbled Malagouzia (Halkidiki, Greece) Reading: “I”: New and Selected Poems by Toi Derricotte Listening #1: A Tribute to Roberta Flack (February 10, 1937 – February 24, 2025) Listening #2: Hymns of Bantu by Abel...

Aesthetic Arrest: Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat, An African History of Africa & Black-Owned Galleries Now! 12.02.2025 40:38

Plus new music: Transcontinental Afrobeat from Tony Allen & La BOA, and the kora meets the accordion in a musical dialogue between Ablaye Cissoko & Cyrille Brotto! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Kenyan Dawa (non-alcoholic drink perfect for cold season!) Reading: An African History of Africa: From the Dawn of Humanity to Independence by Zeinab Badawi Listening #1: A Musical Dialogue Betwee...

Aesthetic Arrest: Marianne Faithfull, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith & The Best New TV Show of 2025! 05.02.2025 39:34

Plus Cymande's Renascence, a new translation for Yukio Mishima's centennial, & Ryan Wildstar's famous Greek potatoes! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Japanese Cocktails at Sunset in Sarandë ! (Cognac, Orgeat, Lime Juice & Bitters) Reading: Voices of the Fallen Heroes: And Other Stories by Yukio Mishima (January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970) Listening #1: A Tribute to Maria...

Aesthetic Arrest: Almodóvar, Yola, Carminho & Rosarita by Anita Desai! 29.01.2025 41:15

Plus José Andrés & Jacques Pépin in conversation, the art of Eugene Von Bruenchenhein & Ryan Wildstar's new cocktail: The Cedrata di Sarandë! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Ryan Wildstar’s New Cocktail — The Cedrata di Sarandë! (Vodka, Cedrata, Green Apple Juice & Lime) Reading: Rosarita by Anita Desai Listening #1: New EP from Yola ! — My Way Listening #2: Carminho — NPR Tiny Des...

Aesthetic Arrest: Celebrating David Lynch, The Legendary Pink Dots & Loving Corrections by adrienne maree brown! 22.01.2025 35:26

Plus the vibrant art of Rupy C. Tut & a delectable dinner at Marini Restaurant in Sarandë! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Nicoluzo Estate Cacotrigi (Corfu, Greece Reading: Loving Corrections by adrienne maree brown Listening: So Lonely in Heaven by The Legendary Pink Dots Looking: The Art of Rupy C. Tut Viewing: Celebrating David Lynch (January 20, 1946 – January 15, 2025) Tasting : Dinner...

Aesthetic Arrest: All We Imagine as Light, Lights on a Satellite & Survival is a Promise: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde! 15.01.2025 39:15

Plus the outsider art of Ron Gittins, music from the Boulanger Trio, words of wisdom from Molière & a delectable recipe for Mushroom Julienne! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Kantina Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu Brandy (Durrës, Albania) Reading: Survival Is a Promise: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde by Alexis Pauline Gumbs Listening #1: Lights on a Satellite by The Sun Ra Arkestra under the dire...

Aesthetic Arrest: Lara Downes, Karla's Choice & Exhibiting Forgiveness! 08.01.2025 45:30

Plus Cunk on Life, the art of Titus Kaphar, wisdom from Rita Dove & Our 25th Anniversary Celebration! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Nurellari Winery Pulsi Beratit , Pulëz Varietal (Berat, Albania) Reading: Karla's Choice by Nick Harkaway Listening: This Land by Lara Downes Looking: The Art of Titus Kaphar Viewing #1: Exhibiting Forgiveness — directed by Titus Kaphar , starring André Ho...

Aesthetic Arrest: A Wafu Winter Solstice & A Quaffable Quentin Crisp-mas! 25.12.2024 45:38

Plus Percival Everett's award-winning novel, music from Michael Kiwanuka & Peter Garrett, Inuit art in Montreal, and Crossing - an extraordinary drama set in Istanbul! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Domaine Filliatreau Samur-Champigny (Loire, France) Reading: James by Percival Everett Listening #1: The True North by Peter Garrett Listening #2: Small Changes by Michael Kiwanuka Looking...

Aesthetic Arrest: She's Not Shiny, She's Not Smooth, A Tribute to Zakir Hussain, & A Thousand Feasts: Small Moments of Joy! 18.12.2024 42:32

Plus recipes from Nigel Slater, art from Arild Rosenkrantz & Prince Toffa, wisdom from Ben Okri, & Mati Diop's powerful new film - Dahomey! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Bodegas Pinord Dibón Brut Reserva, Marrugat - D.O. Cava (Penedès, Catalonia, Spain) Reading: A Thousand Feasts: Small Moments of Joy ... a Memoir of Sorts by Nigel Slater Listening #1: She’s Not Shiny, She’s Not Sm...

Aesthetic Arrest: Merchant Ivory, Tori Amos Live, Orbital & The Solar System! 11.12.2024 43:01

Plus Amythyst Kiah's Still + Bright, the lush dreamscapes of María Berrío, Martha Stewart's epic 100th cookbook & wisdom from McCoy Tyner! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: 2019 Frano Miloš Plavac Mali (Pelješac Peninsula, Dalmatia, Croatia) Reading: Orbital by Samantha Harvey Listening #1: Diving Deep Live by Tori Amos Listening #2: Still+Bright by Amythyst Kiah (born December 11...

Aesthetic Arrest: John Waters' Adventures in Moviegoing, Chef's Table: Volume 7 & Joan Armatrading's How Did This Happen And What Does It Now Mean 04.12.2024 42:26

Plus Yo-Yo Ma & Kathryn Stott's newest collaboration, the dazzling art of Lou Benesch & Anne Samat, wisdom from Rainer Maria Rilke & Year of Wonder: Classical Music to Enjoy Day by Day! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Roc D’Anglade Rouge (Vin de Pays du Gard, Languedoc-Roussillon, France) Reading: Year of Wonder: Classical Music to Enjoy Day by Day by Clemency Burton-Hill Listening...

Aesthetic Arrest: The Piano Lesson, Beethoven Blues, Son of a Broken Man & The Witch of King's Cross! 27.11.2024 41:33

Plus wisdom from William S. Burroughs, poetry from Judy Grahn, a tribute to dancer Eileen Kramer & Cherokee cuisine from Chef Nico Albert Williams! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Domaine Vernay, Les Chaillées de l’Enfer, Condrieu AOC (Rhône, France) Reading: An Elder Poet & Activist Whose Voice We Need Right Now — Love Belongs to Those Who Do the Feeling: New & Selected Poems (1966-200...

Aesthetic Arrest: Roy Haynes, Silkroad Ensemble, In the Time of the Butterflies & Wolf Hall! 20.11.2024 43:15

Plus Inspector Ellis, Marcos Beccari & The League of Kitchens! Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Nepali Spiced Lemonade (Kagati Ko Sarbat) from Rachana Rimal Reading: In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez Listening #1: A Tribute to Legendary Jazz Drummer Roy Haynes (March 13th, 1925 - November 12th, 2024) Listening #2: American Railroad by Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Giddens Look...