Rapp Strategies Rundown – July 2020
What we’re reading, listening to and thinking about this month.
Todd R.: I am not sure how an Eagles concert got on ESPN, but Live from the Forum MMXVIII was quite good, with Vince Gill and Deacon Frey carrying their weight in place of the late Glenn Frey. "Yellowstone" became our binge TV show of choice and we are now caught up with the current season on Paramount, but we need to get back to "Veep" soon. We have slowed a little on the Academy Award Best Picture winners on Saturday nights, but “Green Book” was quite good. And hockey playoffs start this week, with our family equally loyal to the Wild and the Bruins.
Alyssa: This has kind of been a month of biographies for me... We started off the month watching “Hamilton” on Disney+ several times since my kids love it and know every song by heart. I'm reading Jim Carey's "Memoirs and Misinformation" which is a novel, but loosely based on the author. I also finally got around to reading the Stevie Nicks biography that I intended to read on spring break (which, of course, didn't happen thanks to COVID). Finally, I caught "Mucho Mucho Amor" on Netflix about Walter Mercado, which was just awesome.
Rich: As the pandemic grinds on, I have fallen into a pattern of behavior that now feels somewhat normal. The first few months were like living in an episode of "The Twilight Zone," waiting for Rod Searling's clever ending. Well, the clever ending is still unknown so we carry on as best we can.
One of my favorite moments each month is the arrival of National Geographic. This month's edition features an expedition to Mount Everest to attempt to locate the body of Sandy Irvine. Irvine and his partner, George Mallory, died on the mountain in 1924. Historians believe the two may have reached the summit and perished on their descent. Mallory's body was found in 1999 and is still there. Irvine had taken a camera on the climb to photograph the two when they reached the summit. Finding his body and the camera may provide the answer as to whether these two reached the peak long before Sir Edmund Hillary. I won't spoil the ending for you. Grab the magazine and enjoy the story and the pictures. The pandemic gives us time to dive into the wonderful story.
Todd S.: This month, I took the time to download the Chicks’ new album – Gaslighter. After 14 years since their last effort, the band's sound is fresh with a solid mix of great vocals and song writing. It's a winner, but be warned, there are two or three serious earworms. Next up: Taylor Swift's new album, "folklore," and a couple of early-release songs from the Old 97s' latest, "Twelfth," which will be released next month.
Sarah: This month, my fiancé and I have been consumed by "Dark" on Netflix. It's a mind-bending sci-fi series out of Germany. The English voiceover bothered me for an episode or two, but it is well worth putting up with. I was a giddy when I heard Taylor Swift was dropping “folklore” on such short notice. It's the album I've been waiting for from her.
Anna: I watched “13th” and “When They See Us” on Netflix, both piercing glimpses of the harsh reality of our criminal justice system for African Americans and people of color. I’ve also started reading “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis, considered one of the foremost books on apologetics that originated from a series of radio broadcasts during World War II. In addition, I’ve enjoyed some of my first outings of the summer, including a patio dinner at Cravings in Woodbury (highly recommend the truffle burger with a glass of red wine), a bike ride around the five-mile Loop Trail in Stillwater and a day trip to Duluth.
Quentin: Throughout the month, I continued to find new ways to cope with quarantining in the era of COVID-19. I even surprised myself a few times along the way.
For starters, I signed up for a free, one-week intensive workout regimen at ALTR, just up the street from my apartment. I haven't been this sore since I joined Orangetheory Fitness nearly two years ago but having something new and safe to do at a distance from others proved to be really uplifting and fun.
At the tail end of the month, I made my first trip to Northern Minnesota to camp and hike around Lake Superior and the Bean and Bear Lake trails. The views were breathtaking and it was a great escape.
On the political front, I continued to follow the competitive race between Representative Ilhan Omar and newcomer Antone Melton-Meaux, which drew state and national media interest. Selfishly, it was great to see our Todd Rapp interviewed on the race, given his wealth of Minnesota political knowledge.
For comedic relief, I turned to stand-up star Ali Wong's book: "Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life," a story written for her two young daughters.
Finally, I started becoming a morning regular at the Bellecour bakery pop-up inside Cooks of Crocus Hill's North Loop location. After a wave of local restaurant and business closures, it has been great to be able to support a new venture and start my mornings with a coffee and croissant before kicking off the work day.
