Romance Is Not Dead

And I dare you to count how many times I say that word here.

I write to you today from my couch, my heat is blasting as I’m still recovering from the cold of this morning. I just had to pause Selling Sunset because yes I’m watching Selling Sunset for the first time ever in my life right now and I’m obsessed but it doesn’t matter because I’m locking in to write this.

It’s Valentine’s Day on Friday which shouldn’t affect me much at all because I’m not in any sort of romantic relationship at the moment, but it does. Because I happen to love Valentine’s Day; I’m able to easily dip into couples culture in a way that isn’t to draw attention to my singleness or even to prove the point that the loveless can have their day, too! No, I’m just doing things for the sake of doing them and it happens to be 2/14 and so yeah that’s actually kind of cool.

I’m not mad at couples. Last year on Valentine’s Day I attended (alone) the Metrograph’s 10:45 pm showing of Licorice Pizza because the only thing that goes harder than that movie is the experience of going to the Metrograph alone. I ran into two of my friends who were there on a Vday Date. And, as I learned during this encounter, Licorice Pizza happened to hold great meaning to them as a couple and played a fun role in the early stages of their relationship and you know what? Sure! That’s actually very fun and I’m not jealous for my lack of romantic partner to share such a thing as this with because I saw that movie at Violet Crown with my mom when it came out. And Band on the Run is one of our most favorite albums of all time, so you can imagine the extent to which we soared when Let Me Roll It started playing in that theater. Just imagine.

But it’s not even Valentine’s Day yet. And I don’t have any plans set for Friday. Something about it being February, though, has me hyperaware of the romance that fills my single life; the romance of being young, being alive, living in New York City, operating independently… I could go on.

I was recently overwhelmed by the romance of (finally!) seeing the Brutalist. It was romantic because it was a) on 70mm b) it was at Village East and c) the intermissionnnnnnnn. Everyone’s a romantic. Why the hell else would you be seated for a nearly four hour long movie right now? It’s 8pm on a Friday and you just had a long week at work. You love romance. You love drama. And so do I. The intermission had my heart singing. It was wildly fun to go use the restroom, to talk to my mother about the film, to eavesdrop other people’s conversations around the film, and then to resettle into my seat and watch the second act unfold. There is magic and it can almost always be found at the movies. And, too — the romance of saying to someone “Village East is still showing it on 70mm!” when they tell me they haven’t seen it yet remains altogether unmatched and I recommend you give it a try.

Like goodbye this wasn’t even my first time going here and I’m just still moved by it. Come on.

There are some spaces in which there is no longer any room for romance, which is something I’ve also been faced with this February. Department Stores are at the top of the no romance list for me at the moment. Department Store shopping on Saturday morning (and well into the afternoon…) following The Brutalist was almost enough to make me believe the romance I had experienced the night before was a myth and actually our entire human experience is doomed. But it was ultimately all okay because I was with my mom. And she saw Alix Earle for Frame and asked me “is that Lady Gaga?” No but fair question. And yeah, as if I even need to say it… there’s certainly no romance in that mixup. Nor is there any in the hubbub that is Bloomingdale’s right now. I have to go.

Thankfully romance had yet another revival this Saturday night when the snow began to fall. I’m still attempting to convince myself that there is a certain romance to walking through the snow in a new pair of black leather loafers, but the truth is: there isn’t. There is, however, a romance to the fact I decided to keep my red tights on after tearing them on my way out of the door. Having debated switching to a teal pair I stuck with the red. It’s a romantic night in New York City and I’ve got to lean into that with the color of tights I wear. Cupid’s influence.

Slip and Slide

Me recognizing beauty and attempting to capture it yeaaahhhhhh I know what love is

And I’m not typically one to care much about reservations or trendy restaurants but I did have a table at the hottest spot in town on Saturday. Some friends of mine created an entire evening around the opening of their one-night-only restaurant in the living room of their friend’s apartment. Tables were only available for two, which led to the most romantic (a friendly romance, calm down) dinner of my life with my dear friend Emma Roche seated across from me. It was really great, all the girls who also opted out of having a date that wasn’t by definition a romantic partner all ended up in the same corner. So all night we were able to chat and laugh and cheers and observe each other’s plates etc. We all stood up and danced when Brian performed L-o-v-e (ROMANCE, BTW) and I thought wow life really is beautiful and I’m so lucky to have people around me that have such fun ideas and execute them so well. Essentially what happened was I found myself in a cozy restaurant with every table in the house full of people who I know. And who I want to talk to. Bless up.

My dateeee with snow falling hard outside behind her.

Food critic Maeve taking absolutely no prisoners. When Murder, She Wrote reboots with Maeve as Angela Lansbury and it’s called Restaurant, She Wrote you won’t be surprised. Or at least you shouldn’t be.

:’)

So, yes. The night was so full of romance that I woke up bright and (somewhat) early the next morning, immediately opened my notes app and began my note titled “Romance is not dead.” This is remarkable when one considers that while the food on Saturday night was lovely, I was potentially served more alcohol than food and my dinner experience did not begin until 9:30pm. So. Thank you.

There’s certain romantic element to my wardrobe, too, which seems to be taking the reigns more so than usual these days. Adding a layer of a sheer embroidered dress into an outfit that would otherwise be just a black sweater and jeans. Playing the pink and red part. I’m also trying to wear shoes that aren’t suitable for a clown so my new loafers and leather clogs (baby steps…) are making me feel kind of sexy and refined in a way that I’m like you know what okay sure.

Somebody just go ahead and give me Cupid’s Arrow.

Same outfit without the winter fixings and also hello mom pink on pink on PINK.

Again, Cupid I am here…

I hope that you are feeling as full of love for life and clothes and winter and friends as I am. Seriously. Please let me know where you’re finding romance right now? Do you have Valentine’s Day plans? I would like to know what they are. Thank you for reading!

XO,
Kennedy