Current reads

Yvon Chounard, a rock climber and environmentalist who unwillingly became a billionaire after founding outdoor clothing retailer Patagonia, recently gave away his company, making me sink my teeth into his autobiography  It outlines the American philanthropist's vision for running a company that aims to preserve the Earth first rather than looking at the bottom line. TG

Admittedly, this sat on my shelf until now because I didn’t want to read a horror novel during the summer, but now that October has arrived, I can finally recommend by Stephen Graham Jones. A mixture of classic horror and social commentary on the harsh reality suffered by many native Americans, the book follows four men tracked down by an entity on the quest for revenge. While some perspectives are easier to read than others–the author changes tone and style depending on the character he follows–the story drags you in from page one. TH

Digital highlights

 I’m currently enjoying the tweets by who curates fascinating cultural fun facts from around the world. Whether that’s describing the fascinating history behind a Francisco Goya painting and revealing the reasons behind the master’s mental demise, to threads like the one below showcasing architectural styles from around the world, there’s a bit of something for everyone. NG

Nobody seems to be actively blogging nowadays, having found bluer pastures in social media. But the internet never forgets. Recently I revisited one of my old favourites: . It’s a satirical blog about corporate life by comedian Sarah Cooper. Drawing from her company experiences at Yahoo! and Google, she created hilarious blog posts presenting real pain points and awkward office situations. The posts are funny and relatable and they do manage to highlight some of the absurdities involved in navigating a corporate office life. If you want to laugh out loud or just stifle a giggle (if you are in office) during a long arduous workday, it is fun to go through the blog’s archive and find  and to name a few. SB

Essential viewing

One would be remiss not to mention series by Amazon, to which fans of the franchise have responded with a gasp of unfiltered incomprehension at the interpretation of Tolkien's appendices that tell the story of the creation of the One Ring prior to the events of Peter Jackson's trilogy. However, the series provides for more, well-shot and riveting content, part of the Tolkien universe and is quite enjoyable if you detach yourself from the efforts of Amazon to create one platform to rule them all. TG

 If you like to feel close to fainting from second-hand embarrassment, I can only recommend Emma Seligman’s Shiva Baby. The long short-film–or short feature film–for 1h15 pulls you into the life of twenty-something year old Danielle (Rachel Sennott), a young bisexual and directionless Jewish-American, as she attends a shiva with her parents. I loved how effortlessly the film captured the stress young adults can be under when attending a family reunion with lots of well-intentioned but way too nosy acquaintances. The plot twists and camera movements are bound to give you whiplash too. All in all, it is a great watch, in which Rachel Sennott’s acting skills shine brightly. TH 

For anyone tired of Netflix or other mainstream content platforms, is really great. With similar prices to its competitors, the platform offers a variety of international feature films and shorts, which can be enjoyed for a set period of weeks. I hesitated a long time before getting a subscription, but I can only recommend it to people who enjoy discovering new, indifferent things. TH 

For foodies

is the perfect spot for a drink if you need to be close to the tramline. Situated just above the Atelier Steffen at 10 avenue Monterey (next to the Hamilius tram stop), the bar has a lovely, lush and leafy interior and serves gorgeous cocktails. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll even be able to sit on the swings in the corner, for that true feeling of “treating myself”. TH 

Filmmaker and friend introduced me to a fantastic Iranian restaurant, and it has become one of my favourite places for a tasty lunch. owner and chef Siamak Noor has a welcoming smile as he serves hearty portions of saffran rice with lamb or chicken. I can highly recommend the Kashk bademjan (an aubergine dish) and the Ghormeh Sabzi (the national dish of Iran), a stew with a lemony-herb base with spinach and kidney beans. Termeh is located in the Galerie Beaumont. NG

If you want a different kind of takeaway, head to , an innovative and beautiful fishmonger on Rue du Strasbourg. As well as high-quality cuts of fresh fish, they have marinated and prepared some fantastic meals you can cook at home, such as octopus tails that only need finishing off under the grill. Then they’ll recommend you wine to go with it and sell it to you from their well-stocked wine fridge. A total treat. JS