Present Joys Featured Guest: Mark Aquino
This week we welcome Mark Aquino of Prospect to share his present joys with us.
Mark Aquino is the owner of Prospect, a culinary bookstore located in South Pasadena. If you’ve ever stopped by his shop, you’ll know that Mark knows how to set a scene. There’s always something good spinning on the record player, the merchandise is expertly arranged, and the curation of books rivals any internet rabbit hole. Read on to discover what brings Mark joy and stop by Prospect to stock up on your holiday gifts!
James Baldwin, 2014 by Marlene Dumas Lithograph
This was one of 16 portraits that make up “Great Men,” a series by the contemporary artist Marlene Dumas where each of the men depicted was persecuted, in one way or another, because they were suspected of being gay. This was a Lithograph produced during 2020 by Between Bridges, a nonprofit founded by Wolfgang Tillmans. The project aimed to support cultural and music venues, community projects, independent spaces, and publications threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic. It's something I stare at daily.
Getting Older
Sure, my joints and bones are starting to creak or rattle. And weird sounds are sometimes emanating from my body. But coming to terms with being closer to 50 than 40 at this point in my life is…NOT AWFUL? I finally get to wear a suit & tie whenever I want without it feeling like cosplay. Plus, the gray hairs really add a nice accent to my corduroy suits! Like any good ol’ Gen X-er, it’s all about looking like you don’t give a shit when in actuality you really do.
SpottieOttieDopaliscious
Snoopy & the Peanuts Gang
When I was a wee lad, I used to carry this Snoopy plush doll around with me everywhere. Then I forgot it one day at an Alpha-Beta or Safeway bathroom. I was SAD. But! I found the comics and books of Snoopy and the Gang soon after at my Scholastic book fair and found them absurd and funny. Fast forward to adulthood and me noticing how earnest, philosophical, psychologically complex, and sometimes depressing these characters were. And yet, there was this constant optimism. God, I miss my Snoopy doll. Which is probably why my wife & I adopted…
Franklin
Yes, Snoopy was technically a beagle but this dear basset hound has the “Banana Nose” and personality like him. He’s also the reigning PROSPECT Employee of the Month for like the bajillionth straight month so far! Good job and good boy!
A few more joys from Joyce and Michelle...
Tokyo Central Chanced upon one of my favorite supermarkets after coming back from my in-law’s house in West Covina. So glad I don’t have to trek to South Bay to pop into a Tokyo Central!
Sanrio Did a little shopping spree at Sanrio to pick up a present for my niece’s 9th birthday. Win-win as I indulged my nostalgia and she scored a medley of Hello Kitty gifts.
Muhammad Ali Docuseries Enjoyed this docuseries on a man I previously knew very little about. Appreciated this quote of his: “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth!”
Clémence Polès Absolutely loved the conversation and perspectives shared in this episode of Deep Read. It inspires me to seek role models who subvert stale societal expectations.
Best Lil Gifts I’ve determined that these, these and these are the best! For the guys, this is pretty great too.
Bookstore Gander The other night while waiting for a table at a tempura spot by us, we tucked into Vroman’s and wandered the aisles and aisles of my favorite bookstore this side of the 5. Since I almost exclusively use Libby, it had been awhile since I did that and had nearly forgotten how fun it can be.
Stair Tote I chuckled when I saw this and then wished I had a staircase. Perhaps a basketweaving kit will suffice.
Recipe Reports Just reporting back that this cookbook challenge has been working!