Five on Friday
November 3, 2023
“A woman’s intuition is better than a man’s. Nobody knows anything, really, you know, and a woman can guess a good deal nearer than a man.” ― Mark Twain, The Gilded Age
One: The Gilded Age
Two shows are premiering this month that take place around the Gilded Age: The Gilded Age season two on HBO/Max started last week, and The Buccaneers on Apple TV+ on November 8th.
In United States history, the Gilded Age is a term coined by Mark Twain and used by some historians to refer roughly to the period between 1877 and 1900, which was sandwiched between the Reconstruction Era and the Progressive Era. Wikipedia
Read more about the Gilded Age series, the Gilded Age at the MET Gala, Fashioned by Sargent at the MFA (with art from the Gilded Age), and the history of portraits during that time period:
Two: What to Watch
Christmas Countdown:
The Christmas Countdown is in full swing. Each week, I will let you know about the premieres of the new Christmas movies.
I’ve watched four of the six new releases. I will be posting some ratings on Instagram and writing a post in a few weeks with all of my ratings. I’ve enjoyed watching the cheesiness and over-the-top holiday activities set in Christmas-themed towns.
Grab your holiday drink from Starbucks or Dunkin’ and start watching these movies.
Hulu:
A Christmas Frequency, stars Denise Richards as a morning radio show host, who is struggling in both her personal life — secretly separating from her husband (James Hyde) — and at work, with the ratings of her show dropping. When she’s set up on a series of blind dates as a way to save the show, things get interesting with one man (Jonathan Stoddard) is both a man she’s actually interested in and someone who has also applied to be her date. Variety
Reporting for Christmas, When idealistic reporter Mary Romero is assigned a puff piece about a Christmas toy manufacturer over the festive period, a charming toymaker inspires her to search her heart in order to find true happiness.
Hallmark (Peacock):
See the full list from ET, Hallmark Channel’s 2023 Counting Down to Christmas Movie Lineup: See the Schedule!
Note: You can watch these movies right after they air on Peacock, but they disappear from their collection within a week. To catch up later, watch on demand or record them on the Hallmark channel.
Flipping for Christmas, “It’s almost Christmas when busy realtor Abigail (Newbrough) agrees to help her sister with the “simple flip” of a recently inherited home. Unfortunately, co-beneficiary Bo (Rosner) has other plans in mind.“
Never Been Chris’d (on Nov. 4th), Home for the holidays, BFFs Naomi (Parrish) and Liz (Lamothe-Kipnes) reconnect with high school crush Chris Silver (Hynes). A complex love triangle forms, forcing them to take stock of their lives and find the value of friendship.
My Christmas Guide, (Nov. 4th) After losing his eyesight, a college professor adopts a seeing-eye dog from a guide dog trainer. As they all spend time together, his confidence returns and his heart begins to open.
The Santa Summit (on Nov. 5th), Jordin returns home to regroup after setbacks, and attends the town’s annual holiday celebration with friends. She bonds with Liam, but doesn’t get his name before they’re separated in a sea of Santas.
Netflix:
Read: November new releases from Tulum and from Vulture.
Nyad (2023 film) Based on a true story. Sixty-four-year-old marathon swimmer Diana Nyad attempts to become the first person ever to swim from Cuba to Florida.
Read from The Washington Post, In ‘Nyad,’ Annette Bening and Jodie Foster shatter the limits of age, and People, Behind the True Story of Annette Bening’s Netflix Movie Nyad: All About Marathon Swimmer Diana Nyad
All the Light We Cannot See (series), In the final days of WWII, the paths of a blind French girl and a German soldier collide in a story of the extraordinary power of human connection. Directed by Shawn Levy and based on the Pulitzer Prize–winning novel by Anthony Doerr.
Selling Sunset (season 7), Set in the world of LA’s high-end real estate, Selling Sunset follows the city’s most successful female realtors who all work under the same roof at The Oppenheim Group, the No. 1 agency in the Hollywood Hills and the Sunset Strip. They work hard and play harder, as they compete with the cutthroat LA market… and each other.
Sly (documentary film), His love of film began as an escape from a rocky childhood. From underdog to Hollywood legend, Sylvester Stallone tells his story in this documentary.
Till Murder Do Us Part: Soering vs. Haysom (documentary series), Did Jens Soering murder his girlfriend’s parents in 1985 — or was she the killer? This docuseries digs into questions that still swirl around the case.
Max (HBO):
New on HBO and Max: November 2023 from Vulture and PureWow.
Scent of Time (new original series), A young woman’s plan to marry the heir to a Chinese incense empire leads to her family’s ruin…until she gets a second chance to right her wrongs.
The Gilded Age (season 2)
Christmas Cookie Challenge, season 7
Catch up on the Rocky movies after watching the Sly documentary on Netflix:
Rocky
Rocky Balboa
Rocky II
Rocky III
Rocky IV
Rocky V
Hulu:
New on Hulu: November 2023 from Vulture.
Quiz Lady (2023 comedy film), Anne and her estranged train-wreck of a sister, Jenny, must work together to help cover their mother’s gambling debts. When Anne’s beloved dog is kidnapped, they set out on a wild cross-country trek to get the cash.
Disney+:
New on Disney+: November 2023 from Vulture.
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019 film)
Behind the Attraction, season 2 premiere (all episodes streaming), Delving into the history and development of the unique attractions throughout Disney’s theme parks.
Amazon Prime:
New on Amazon Prime Video: November 2023 from Vulture.
Invincible, (animated series, season 2, part 1), Seventeen-year-old Mark Grayson is just like every guy his age, except that his father is Omni-Man, the most powerful superhero on the planet. As Mark develops powers of his own, he discovers his father’s legacy may not be as heroic as it seems.
Peacock:
New on Peacock: November 2023 from Vulture.
Jurassic World Dominion
Apple TV+:
Fingernails (drama/sci-fi), Anna and Ryan have found true love, and it’s proven by a controversial new technology. There’s just one problem, as Anna still isn’t sure. Then she takes a position at a love testing institute and meets Amir.
The Buccaneers (drama series starts 11/8/23), Sent to secure husbands and titles, young American women explode into the tightly corseted London season of the 1870s, kicking off an Anglo-American culture clash.
Paramount+:
Paramount Plus November 2023 Schedule: New TV & Movie Release Dates
Lawmen: Bass Reeves (new series, premieres Nov. 5th), From executive producers Taylor Sheridan and David Oyelowo, the untold story of the first Black U.S. Marshal, Bass Reeves.
In Theaters:
What Happens Later (rom-com), Meg Ryan has returned to rom-coms! Snowed-in at a regional airport overnight, ex-lovers Willa and Bill realize they’re still attracted to each other — but also still equally annoyed with each other. As they unpack the riddle of their mutual past and compare their lives to the dreams they once shared, they begin to wonder if their reunion is a mere coincidence or something more enchanted.
The Marsh King’s Daughter (drama/mystery), A young mother must confront her long-buried past as the child of a kidnapper and the girl he held captive when her father breaks out of prison. Convinced he intends to take her daughters, she sets out to find and kill him herself. I’m excited about this new release; I’ve met the author of the book (virtually) the movie is based on. Karen Dionne is one of the hosts of The Back Room, an online meet-and-greet session with published authors. There is an event on Sunday, Nov. 5th, if you want to check it out.
Priscilla (drama/romance), When teenager Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley at a party, the man who’s already a meteoric rock ‘n’ roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, and a gentle best friend.
The Holdovers (comedy/drama), A curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school remains on campus during Christmas break to babysit a handful of students with nowhere to go. He soon forms an unlikely bond with a brainy but damaged troublemaker, and with the school’s head cook, a woman who just lost a son in the Vietnam War.
Radical (drama/comedy), Sixth grade students at Jose Urbina Lopez Elementary are among the worst performing students in Mexico, with their world one of violence and hardship, not possibility. It might seem like a dead end, but it’s the perfect place for new teacher Sergio Juarez to try something different.
Titanic: The Musical (musical), A filmed version of the recent U.K. tour of the Tony-winning musical Titanic. Based on real people aboard the most legendary ship in the world, Titanic: The Musical is ‘breathtaking’ (the Guardian) and ‘magnificent’ (the Telegraph), a stunning and stirring production focusing on the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of her passengers who each boarded with stories and personal ambitions of their own.
Three: What to Wear
A Corset:
The corset has been a central piece of fashion for many years, and it has resurfaced as a trending style.
Read the history of the corset during the Gilded Age, History of Corsets 1780-1912. “In the 1880’s, the corset industry was at its peak production and profitability in history, and corset companies in America and Europe flourished.“
From Samantha O’Neil a MassArt Fashion Design student, posted at the MFA exhibit, “There is a misconception that corsets are a constricting patriarchal garment. In all actuality, they empower women and require strength to wear. A well-fitted corset shouldn’t cause pain. Instead, it should feel like a tight hug.“
Shop the trend:
Four: What to Read
Books about The Gilded Age:
From BuzzFeed, 16 Books To Read While You Wait For Season 2 Of HBO’s “The Gilded Age”
“There is no better introduction to the history of the African American Elite in Gilded Age New York than Carla L. Peterson’s Black Gotham. Engagingly written, Peterson uses her journey to discover the history of her 19th-century relatives as a framework to explore the Black Elite and debunk many commonly held myths about post-Civil War America. This is an essential history text to help anyone expand their knowledge of the Gilded Age.“
Five: What to Do
Fall Back:
Daylight Saving Time Ends on Sunday. I would remind you to turn back your clocks, but most devices will change automatically. Remember to change the microwave clock, oven clock, or any device that needs a manual change.
For more info read, US daylight saving time: When do clocks change and why was it created?
In Boston:
Fleurs de Villes VOYAGE at Prudential until November 6th. 16 mannequins will be dressed in exquisite gowns made entirely out of fresh flowers.
Snowbound Expo: November 3-5, 2023, Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. You will hear amazing speakers, try interactive activities, find new experiences and hang out with other skiers, riders and adventurers.
The Seaport will be a hopping microcosm of Québec on Saturday with live ice sculpting, snowball corn hole, “maple candy on snow” snacks, and more.
Visit Newport, R.I.:
https://www.newportmansions.org/gilded-age/. “Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes chose the Newport Mansions to provide authentic scenery for his historical drama “The Gilded Age.” Scenes for the Emmy Award-winning Season 1 were filmed at The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff, Chateau-sur-Mer and Hunter House. In 2022, scenes for Season 2 were filmed at Marble House, The Elms, Chateau-sur-Mer and Kingscote.
Read my post about Newport: https://lifestyleofafashionista.com/2023/01/13/newport-ri-off-season/
Get ready for Thanksgiving (27 days to get ready):
Shop for decor:
John Derian for Target. The renowned designer has teamed up with Target for a new Thanksgiving-themed collection. These memorable pieces include everything you need to set the table, plus inspiring accents like candles, pillows and more.
Plan your menu:
From Bon Appétit, 67 Thanksgiving Recipes We Turn to Year After Year
From Food Network, Our Top 50 Thanksgiving Recipes
Order your Thanksgiving meal:
Whole Foods offers fully cooked meals or meals that you cook.
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