Hopkinson Smith
Early music people tend to be musical polyglots, and such is Hopkinson Smith. A founding member of Hespèrion XX, Smith plays lute, vihuela (see below), theorbo, and for all I know, electric guitar. I’m recommending him not as a specialized interest, I hope, but as a delight for anyone who enjoys soulful instrumentalism paired with remarkable virtuosity. The album of music by Vieux Gaultier is somehow at once brooding and tremendously soothing. The one of baroque Spanish guitar music by Gaspar Sanz is the kind of living interpretation early music is most often denied in favor of academic airlessness. Recommended as an emotional salve during long stretches of anxious unemployment! — Greg Freed
Naps
Much-maligned and too-seldom-celebrated, the afternoon nap is easily the most incredible invention in the history of the universe, better than hugs and Haribo gummi bears and ’80s video game Joust (combined). You heard me, nap-hater! In fact, if it’s the afternoon, you should take one right now. And if it’s the morning, just wait a bit because the afternoon is surely coming soon. (Note of caution: try not to take your nap too late in the afternoon; if you fall asleep when it’s still light and then wake up when it’s dark, it’s very disorienting. Not for rookie nappers. That’s some pro-napper shit right there.) Anyway, the best-possible nap scenario: Saturday, 2:30 pm, post-lunch. Give it a go. — Jeremy Zitter
I kind of love how well these go together. However, if you start napping while listening to this Hopkinson Smith video, the applause at the end is sure to scare the hell out of you.
Joust! Harder than I remembered. There’s a hipster bar with video games in Williamsburg. A quarter got me about 90 seconds of Joust.
Naps are complicated for some of us, believe it or not. Not everyone is an accomplished napper. Falling into them is great but 8 times in 10, mine turn out to be hellnaps where I wake up thirsty, disoriented, agitated, and perversely tired. Oh, naps.
I suck at napping. I can lie down, all tired, hell-bent on napping, read a bit to get myself settled in, drift off for 10 or 15 minutes, but then I wake right up and can’t get back to sleep. J-Man is a total pro, and I am always jealous of her ability to get right down in it and nap for a good hour or more. Advice welcome.
P.S. Hopkinson Smith totally shreds!
I think I’m gonna give that napping thing a try. Right now. Thanks, Jeremy!
Btw, GF, there is a different hipster bar in W’burg with free Joust. The Commodore. I highly recommend the chicken sandwich, the michelada, and endless games of free Joust (well, subsidized by the sandwich and the spicy beer, of course).
Advice to T-Mo. Try turning off that big brain of yours first. Or do some day-drinking…