My dearest loves.

If you follow me on the various media of socials, you know that this week was a great week, because I made bagels (!) and because I announced a new single *and* a new album.

(I consider both of those of equal importance.) (It is what it is.)

The single and the album are called “When Did The World Start Ending?”

I very clearly remember the moments leading up to this live album. That question was on my mind all the time. Could I remember a moment where I felt the shift?

I couldn’t, really. I was pretty lost in the dull and yet excruciating reality of Manhattan in 2020. José and I had just spent months watching our neighbors get wheeled into ambulances. Sirens every twenty minutes. New York had cautiously semi-opened, and we had the honor and terrifying responsibility of assembling what was the first show anyone had done since January.

We did it, at the legendary Levon Helm Studios, and this album is the result of that work.

By far my favorite part of Rainbow Blonde Records is that we get to put out art like this.
I get to write a song called “When Did The World Start Ending?”
I get to debut it at a show where no one but me calls the shots on my work.
Then I get to turn to my label co-founder and say… I think I want to call the album “When Did The World Start Ending?”

And he says, “Go for it.”

A small plug for the physical CD, which is that I wrote the liner notes. They’re pretty much a more thought out Taali talk, and I’m really proud of them. Hayden Miller did the graphic design and the legendary Janette Beckman took all the photos. A real team effort.

Preorder the album on CD/Digital

Kvell.

I also still live in Amsterdam. I’m happy to report that biking was a lot easier this week. If not even.. enjoyable at various points?! The big joy of the week, though, was José’s birthday. During this time, I was able to MAKE BAGELS.

This was my first attempt at making bagels, but it was a smashing success. I feel like a Jewish Martha Stewart. I don’t know what to do with the information that I can make bagels now. It brings me such such such joy. I’m happy to share said joy - let me know in the comments if you would like my bagel recipe or any further bagel info.

After bagels, it was time for cake. We’re only here for a year so I’m not gonna spring for a stand mixer, but I did want to find a cutie little hand mixer. This wasn’t easy. All of Amsterdam is on lockdown, and I needed it that day. But my research eventually led me to an angel person.

My angel’s name was Wouter. He explained that though his store only sold wholesale kitchen products, if I emailed in an order he could probably make it work. Below, please find evidence of how ecstatic Wouter made me when he did indeed make it work.

You cannot see my completely ecstatic grin under that mask, but trust, it’s there. With the Dualit in hand, I was able to make a gorgeous cake and really clean up in this whole birthday situation.

To tell you the truth, this week was simply glorious. I very much rode on all of your positive encouragement which allowed me to bike better. For serious: My legs, your encouragement. Particularly excellent was that I made the full trip again to Bakelabs to get challah flour, and it was honestly delightful this time.

I went over the same bridge where I threw my bike down before. I made sure to keep a note of it, so that I could update you on the progress. The bridge is called Torontobrug. I biked over it with difficulty, but a bish DID IT.

When I got to the end of the bridge, do you want to know what happened? A lady looked at me, she looked at her phone, she looked at me. My shoulders tensed up like a good New Yorker. Then she pointed at me and said, “Taali?”

And I had NO IDEA what to do with that information, so I saluted her.

It actually was more of a heil.

Truly, my friends. I heiled this fan and I am still horrified/laughing about it. I hope she still likes me and doesn’t think I’m some sort of Nazi Jewess. But if you are the woman who saw me on Torontobrug, thanks. I was saluting you, not heiling.

If you’re not her, I also adore you, and can’t wait to see you next week.

t