My favorite NYC thing ?? (Dec 2022)

Hi from your friend Nick, author of The 2-Hour Cocktail Party (on sale!) and Founder of Museum Hack.

In this issue:?a free show in NYC that I loved (but it closes Dec 17th so please see it soon), 10 types of 30-year-old single guys, the surprising story of salmon as a sushi staple, Forbes best books of 2022, I want to hire a freelance PR person, why it's hard for men to make close friends, and more.

Random Links

???How The Desperate Norwegian Salmon Industry Created A Sushi Staple

"Salmon is a staple of sushi now, but it used to be unheard of in Japan to eat raw salmon. The story of how Norway convinced Japan to love salmon sushi." via?Mitchell?Cohen

???10 Types of Odd Friendships You’re Probably Part Of

I like the tiers of friendships! Your closest friends, pretty good friends, acquaintances, and strangers. via Xanthe

???10 Types of 30-Year-Old Single Guys

The Total Package, The New Lease on Life Guy, The Misogynist, The Guy Who Peaked Too Early, etc. via Xanthe again

???E-mail Newsletter From That Guy You Met At a Party Once

I feel personally attacked (haha). A satire article by the New Yorker.

???Why Is It So Hard for Men to Make Close Friends?

From the NYT: "American men are stuck in a “friendship recession.” Here’s how to climb out." via Pamela K and others. Also: how do I hire a PR person to help me pitch stories like this to plug?my book?as a possible solution? I have so many awesome?case studies?of people reading my book to help them make new friends. I want to hire a freelancer to help me with PR. Any advice appreciated!

???Semaglutidonomics: 140 million obese Americans

"A new weight loss medicine that might be the first to work." Is anyone on my newsletter taking Wegovy? This article in Astral Codex Ten talks about the history of the drug that Elon Musk recently said helped him?lose?weight, via Trevor McKendrick

??How to Use a Virtual Assistant: 48 Real Tasks

This article is still good. I wrote it a few months ago. I'm still working with two full-time VAs. I couldn't imagine my life without them.

???Podcast: 8 Productivity Hacks You Can Do in 30 Minutes

Mute certain apps, use timeboxing, declutter your desktop, filter your emails, bundle tasks, and more. I've been co-hosting short episodes of Nir Eyal's podcast for the last few weeks. He is the famous author of Indistractable and Hooked. Listen to this episode to hear me read one of his articles along with Nir's additional info.

NYC: Must-see video art in Chelsea

I saw this video art installation last week and now I’m obsessed. Beautiful, interesting, visually pleasing, and a calming experience.

No Tomorrow by Ragnar Kjartansson

on display to Dec 17th at Luhring Augustine Chelsea gallery (free)

531 West 24th Street, New York, NY 10011

Spread across six huge screens that circle the room, a group of eight women from Iceland dance, play guitar, and sometimes sing in unison. You walk into a space that looks like this:

This short YouTube video shows you a tiny bit of the performance. Here’s how the gallery describes it: “No Tomorrow is a new video installation... (that) surrounds viewers with a performance of spatial music written for eight dancers with eight guitars. Recorded from the center of the performers’ space, the installation is kaleidoscopic, capturing the dancers as they weave within each screen and across the channels…”

A must-see if you’re in NYC and remotely curious about video art, music, or dance.

Luhring Augustine Chelsea is located at 531 West 24th Street, New York, NY 10011. Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 6pm. It is free: just walk in any time they're open. First shared to me by David Behringer from?The Two Percent. Not sponsored, no affiliation, I just honestly thought this was the best art that I’ve seen in a long time and want my friends to see it.

5 Must-Read Books to Finish 2022

Forbes says you must read these 5 books before the end of the year:

1. The 2-Hour Cocktail Party (huzzah!)
2. Ideaflow
3. When Women Lead
4. You, Me, We
5. The Future is Analog

Read the full feature by Forbes contributor Alisa Cohn on the Forbes website.

Quotes

See?all my favorite quotes here, plus these two:

Recent Reader Party Photos

I am trying to get 500 people to host their own happy hour. (Current count: 124!)

I want to prove that anyone can learn how to host a great event. You can use?my book on Amazon and Audible?to help you build big relationships, make new friends, and even boost your career. Just like these folks did last week.

I also love seeing pics of people reading my book. I got this one via email yesterday with a cup of my favorite green tea:

See why?Kirkus Reviews called The 2-Hour Cocktail Party one of the best new books in 2022. Or read one of the?290+ reviews on Amazon and Audible.

Satisfaction guaranteed: if you don't think my book is packed with value, just send me your receipt and I will refund your order.

The End

Thanks for reading to the end of my Friends Newsletter.

I'm finally back in Austin after the past 4 weeks of travel. I went to Costa Rica, Mexico City, Denver, and NYC. Looking forward to getting back into a routine at home now, sleeping in the same bed, and even grocery shopping.

Mexico City was so much fun. I went with a group of friends and we did guided tours and leisurely dinners. Then stayed an extra few days on a whirlwind romantic date. Crazy that Mexico City is only a quick 2-hour flight from Texas. I hope to go back on another spontaneous trip soon. Pro tip: flights were $300 less to/from San Antonio versus Austin.

That video art dance thing in NYC was so nice. I also briefly toured the new Singapore hawker market in Midtown: Urban Hawker at 135 W 50th. It looked cool. I love stuff like that. I want to go back. And I liked hanging out in the Patron's Lounge at the Met Museum.

For the next issue of this newsletter, I'll update my?2022 home gear list?and work on a new travel gear post. What else would you like to see in this newsletter? Email me back with any suggestions.

OK! Have a great rest of your week. I hope you like reading this stuff. I'm trying to balance promoting my book and also sending genuinely interesting content. My friends newsletter truly is a labor of love.

I'm cheering for you and rooting for your success.

Nick Gray