Watch, Read, Listen with The Cottage Cue
The comfort of Soul food and your list of what to watch, read, and listen to.
Welcome to The Cottage Cue—your dinner party starter pack with conversation ready tidbits, or simply your entertainment guide during a solo cozy night. Enjoy this latest edition featuring the Watch, Read, Listen list—along with some standout book related Substack discoveries, cottage inspired photography, and a podcast investigating a national literary crisis. Enjoy for yourself, send to a friend, or save a podcast while training for your next Marathon (go Hope!).
See you in the comments.
A film that gives you nostalgic goosebumps.
The 1997 feature film, Soul Food, delivers nostalgic goosebumps with its heartfelt portrayal of family, drama, and the enduring bonds that hold us together. Narrated from the perspective of an 11 year old, the movie beautifully portrays the ups and downs of family life, evoking memories of togetherness and the tough moments that change us. With its relatable characters and timeless themes, Soul Food feels like a heartfelt hug from the past, stirring emotions that resonate deeply and still linger years later.
Fun tidbits about the film:
Director George Tillman Jr also directed the films Men of Honor, Notorious, and The Hate You Give. Production credits include the Barbershop series.
The movie was shot in just 36 days.
The film won a NAACP image award for outstanding motion picture.
a Saturday afternoon snapshot
“You can keep your caviar and fancy stuff. Just give me some fried catfish and hushpuppies, and I’ll be set for life.” Overton (John Henson), Living Single 1993
Watch:
The Diplomat (Netflix)
The Diplomat is a political drama series that follows Kate Wyler, a career diplomat, who unexpectedly becomes the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom during a time of international crisis. As she navigates complex geopolitical issues, Kate must also balance her personal relationships and the pressures of her high-stakes job.
Legends of Evergreen Hills (Chic-Fil-A Play App)
Yes that’s right, Chic-Fil-A has a new entertainment app where you can watch, read, play, listen, and read. The Legends of Evergreen Hills is a fantasy series that follows a group of young heroes as they uncover ancient secrets and navigate magical trials in the mystical town of Evergreen Hills. In the first released episode Sam uses her special skills for acts of kindness and discovers a family secret.
How to Make a Collage (Youtube)
One of the top ten hobbies of 2024 is DIY projects and crafts. This video by Museum of Modern Art features a tutorial by artist Helena Metaferia where she demonstrates different techniques for creating a collage. 1
Read: (Substack Finds)
A Tour of my Bookshelves by
Bookshelf tours appeal to people because they provide insight into an influencer's personality, taste, and intellectual interests. This newsletter offers a fun tour of Marta’s bookshelves, blending personal anecdotes about book purchases with commentary on how the books are arranged and the sentimental trinkets accompanying them.
Owning Physical Books is Revolutionary by
“A physical book has demands and when we purchase these physical books, we silently agree to these demands for attention and for care. It is ours. And in a digital world where “You will own nothing and be happy,” owning a physical book has certainly become revolutionary.”— he said this well.
Listen
Never Saw Me Coming: How I Outsmarted the FBI and the Entire Banking System-and pocketed $40 Million by Tanya Smith (audible)
Not only is the title of this book a suspicious mouthful, but the memoir itself is a thrilling, and quite unbelievable, tale of a precocious young girl in Minneapolis to a bold white-collar criminal. Smith orchestrated an elaborate scheme to steal millions yet with her strategic hacking of the banking system you wonder how smart is she really—with so many red flags and greed filled cons. (Currently still listening)
Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong (podcast)
This investigative podcast, hosted by Emily Hanford, explores the widespread teaching methods in schools that have hindered children’s ability to read in school and the beginning of a national literary crisis.
Twenty Thousand Hertz (podcast)
The Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast explores the fascinating world of sound, from the iconic sound effects in movies to the importance of everyday noises that often go unnoticed.In a delightful and charming two part episode, we are included in the audio magic behind the scenes of the popular animated series.
*Pro tip: Save this playlist to listen to The Cottage Cue podcast playlist at your leisure.
Entertainment News (aka Conversational Starters)
Spotify is continuing to enhance its video experience. The music streaming app is testing a video feature for audiobooks as it ramps up video expansion with three new experimental features: video clips, author pages, and added visuals. Not sure how we feel about this.
So many new movie and TV trailers. (click the link to watch)
Dream Productions, spin-off series to Inside Out. Available Dec. 11 on Disney+
Paradise, is an upcoming drama series with a shocking murder and high-stakes investigation. We see you Sterling. Available on Hulu January 28, 2025.
Where is Ginny and Georgia (Netflix)? Maybe the 3rd season will be released summer of 2025?!
PBS and Amazon will launch local PBS stations. All PBS stations available on Amazon.
Cher’s memoir (part one) will be released this month. Gift idea maybe?!
Thank you so much for reading! The Cottage Cue is a free newsletter. To collaborate or sponsor a post, send a message. Let’s talk about it.
https://www.statista.com/forecasts/997050/most-popular-hobbies-and-activities-in-the-us
I've heard GOOD things about the Diplomat. Going on my watch list. I read NEVER SAW ME COMING and... unbelievable is an apt word for that. Let us know how you enjoyed it!
Also got to add Soul Food to my list of rewatches. That's a GOOD one. (Terri was right. SHE WAS RIGHT!)
I've surprisingly never watched Soul Food (although I have seen the moment Vivica wields that kitchen knife), but I will be adding that to my watchlist as I prep veggies and get started on my holiday cooking this week. I'm also looking forward to Paradise, big fan of SKB as an actor. This was a great read!