The Coolest Kids in Town: a blog about Baltimore, DC, and the misadventures of two-city life.

2020 has been a hell of a year so far. Against the backdrop of a pandemic has come an actual nationwide uprising for real equity. So in honor of the work that's been done, and the work that's left to do, we're giving you a  Juneteenth  gift: a three part series of resources to help yourself and others be better activists and advocates for racial justice. Part 1 is a post dedicated to organizations doing great work and resources to help you contribute. Part 2 focuses on BIPOC artisans and businesses. This is Part 3 : resources for allies, to help them confront white supremacy both internally and externally. After all, you can't dismantle something you're afraid to face head-on. First Step of Being an Ally: Do the Work For those who are allies (whether you're new to the fight or you've marched around the block before), the focus should be on educating yourself, examining your biases, and using your privilege to protect and amplify BIPOC voices and bo...

2020 has been a hell of a year so far. Against the backdrop of a pandemic has come an actual nationwide uprising for real equity. So in honor of the work that's been done, and the work that's left to do, we're giving you a  Juneteenth  gift: a three part series of resources to help yourself and others be better activists and advocates for racial justice. Part 1 is a post dedicated to organizations doing great work and resources to help you contribute. This is Part 2 , where focus is on supporting BIPOC businesses and artisans. Part 3 is for allies - resources to help white allies combat white supremacy both internally and externally. After all, you can't dismantle something you're afraid to confront. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Empowering BIPOC communities is about more than activism, it's also about putting your money where your mouth is, and supporting BIPOC artists, businesses, and restaurants. From Taharka Brothers Ice Cream to The Spice Sui...

2020 has been a hell of a year so far. Against the backdrop of a pandemic has come an actual nationwide uprising for real equity. So in honor of the work that's been done, and the work that's left to do, we're giving you a  Juneteenth  gift: a three part series of resources to help yourself and others be better activists and advocates for racial justice. This is Part 1 : a post dedicated to organizations doing great work and resources to help you contribute. Part 2 focuses on BIPOC artisans and businesses. Part 3 is for allies - resources to help white allies challenge white supremacy both internally and externally. After all, you can't dismantle something you're afraid to confront.  Organizations for Change There are hundreds of organizations who are working towards justice and equity, so this is by no means a definitive list, but here are some of our favorites (and feel free to suggest more in the comments). Color of Change  bills itself as the nat...

Well, kids, it's that time of the century again -- Quarantine Time .  What does that mean? Well, for one, it means washing your hands  for a change. That's right -- I've seen your tik toks , you filthy horde. USE SOAP. Now is not the time for your selfishness, your tomfoolery, your flapdoodle, your claptrap, your tommyrut, your fiddle-faddle, your bafflegab, your balderdash, your gallimaufry, your hornswoggling, your malarkey OR your pettifoggery. ESPECIALLY NOT YOUR PETTIFOGGERY. This is a time for all of us to stand up, straighten our spines, and stay the fuck home .  If we can't make the Greatest Generation proud, at least we can make them slightly safer . Let's pay back some of the incredible debt that we owe our elders, many of whom fought hard to make our lives as easy as they are. You've already ruined Grandma's Bastille Day luncheon twenty times over, Christine -- oh, sorry, "KristleBottlez248" -- let's not also ruin her Easte...

Well, lovelies, Tex has got some very big news for you. Can you -- oh, forget it, everyone hates guessing games. I bought a house! Here in the lovely little 'burb of North Carolina* that I'm obliged to call home for the next three years, your ol' girl Tex has just picked up her very own piece of local real estate . Now, Tex's house is coming into my life the way so many good things have: suddenly, cheaply, with absolutely no preparation, and completely naked. So that means I've got to pick out everything:  house numbers, fixtures, paint colors, exactly what vague shape I should place in my window to creep out my neighbors -- the works! Now, Tex and Coda are deeply unqualified to do this kind of delicate work. So we've sought a little help from our friends. My Scandinavian Home is a collection of profiles of beautiful homes in the classic and modern Scandinavian styles. Sheepskins, modernist furniture, and tiny frightened plants barely holding grou...

Well, I think we can all agree that telling you beautiful people we're 'finally reliable bloggers' is a bad idea. It only brings misery and neglect. Kind of like that time Tex got all noble and left me at the mercy of Dead Rise and Full House reruns. Speaking of Full House, allow me to introduce you to Full House Reviewed . A labor of hate , Herculean in its magnitude, Full House Reviewed is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: every episode of Full House reviewed in order. By a man who hates the show. It's hysterical, it's eye-opening (seriously, how did I fail to notice that Michelle is a tiny little dictator ?), and it's well worth your time. The best news is that the fun doesn't have to stop once you're finished with the Full House recaps because Billy Superstar is still at it with Saved By the Bell Reviewed  - same great entertainment, half the hate. All that Full House talk got you jonesing for a Tanner family marathon? Tota...

Well, children, it's been a while. Tex has been very busy wearing black-rimmed glasses, frowning at powerpoint slides in mostly-white rooms, and buying lots of economy fare tickets to San Francisco (these activities are collectively and laughably known as "founding a startup") . But that's all settled now. The lawyers have gone home and Tex can dedicate her full attention to you, Cutty darling. So we're going to get pretty. First stop is London, to visit  Shirley's Wardrobe . An offensively beautiful collection of clothes you'd probably look ridiculous wearing ( what are those puffy coats even made of?!) , it's nonetheless aesthetic inspiration for the city-chic chick. If nothing else, it will remind you to keep your eyebrows plucked.        So with our wardrobe in order, we'll traipse along to visit Sarah, an old friend of Mummy's whose love letter to the world at large is  Note to Self . Beautiful clothes, beautiful no...

Our broken hearts go out to Kenya today.

Ladies. Gentlemen. Penguins of the Academy. I want to apologize to all of you. Coda and I have failed. We have. We’ve failed you. No, no, we have. We’ve failed you. Don’t interrupt! I said we’ve fucking failed you. Because we had forgotten, in our infinite wisdom, to introduce you to our newest round of Tex’s Truck Stop Drinks . Now I know what you’re thinking: No, we don’t want any more drinks! What do you mean, 'truck stop?’ Who are you guys? How did you get in my house? But those questions aren’t important. What is important? America. Freedom. Liberty. Respect. And the Ray Lewis Locker Room Reacharound . In honor of the fact that the Ravens will now ascend to their rightful place at the throne of the NFL (I don’t know how football works)…Fuck it. I’m done. I’m drunk. Coda is taking over now. The above was dictated and not read . Because some of us are a little bit wasted right now.  Coda here, I’ll be taking over now. As you may have been ab...

As you've undoubtedly gathered by this time, 2012 is an election year. And not even one of those total nonentity midterm election years.* It's a biggie. The Oval Office is up for grabs. In two days. So I've put together an extensive, if not comprehensive, post to help you navigate (and enjoy) the 2012 general elections. Be you decided in your choice or not . *Totally kidding. All elections are important. But...you know...if you have to choose...don't be apathetic now. Now Tex and I are admittedly a bit biased , but since we accept that not everyone has the same opinions we do, I'd like to direct your attention to I Side With . I Side With  lets you take a detailed political quiz and compares your stated views to those of the candidates running for President. Your results might end up surprising you ( though mine didn't ). And they might help you  undecided voters know your own minds. I Side With also allows you to compare candidates to one another and...