It's...an announcement or two
An introduction and an invitation
I have some news.
This edition of the blog takes a break from writing something completely different to issue a call to action. A couple of them, actually.
First, the introduction. Meet THE GAME, a publication inspired by writers in New York hustling to eke out a living by posts and pens. I’m starting it with my friends𝒷𝑒𝒸𝒸𝒶 🌪🥩🍸💸 and Helen Holmes, two of my favorite writers who are immensely talented and funny and thoughtful. I’m hoping that by writing and editing with them, some of their genius will rub off on me.
I’d love for you to read my initial contribution, a couple thousand words on Sabrina Carpenter’s turn in the spotlight. I spent an embarrassingly long time wrestling through this one — what can a man say about sexual empowerment and feminist drama? — but I think it came out well. Come for the raunchy puns, stay for the treatment of High School Musical.
After that, check out the essays from my friends. Becca’s, on bartending at the US Open in the age of instagram influencers who don’t particularly care about tennis, and Helen’s, on life after leaving her job at an old new media company.
Please read, share, and subscribe — I’m sure we’ll do something soon to celebrate this curtain raiser.
Second, the invitation. This may be no surprise to those who’ve made their way through my piece on boyishness, but I am a seeker of healthy ways of being a man. The organization that has made the most difference to me in this regard, All Kings, is having a fall fundraiser in November. I’m on the host committee, and I would love love love it if you could join us.
The best pitch for All Kings is this Times profile by Joseph Bernstein, with the appropriate title “Where Can Men Go to Become Better Men?” In the few years its been around, All Kings has made an immeasurable difference in the lives of men across New York, across race, across class, across boundaries of all sorts. The work they do is transformative. If you’re worried about the kind of role models men in your life have — or, more likely, don’t have — then you can make a difference by supporting All Kings.
Even if you can’t make it to the event (Thursday, November 20 on 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM), I still encourage you to make a donation. The contributions go to ensuring that no man is turned away from All Kings’ services as we support each other to get vulnerable, get clean, get help, whatever it is.
Subscribe to THE GAME here:
[puts down Substack] Am I...am I Team Sabrina now?
See ya at the All Kings Gala!
Reading the NYT article on "All Kings," I was struck above all by this quote: "(It’s worth noting that when I returned from the weekend, my wife told me that I seemed more present and less burdened than I had been in a long time.)" Yes, we've got a long way to go if an idea (response?) worth at least a few paragraphs is reduced to a parenthetical aside.