Morning Brew - ☕️ Big news

Happy Monday, Essentials readers. Well, I guess I won’t be able to call you that for long. Earlier this morning we made the big announcement: The Essentials is becoming Sidekick. Don’t worry, I’m still sharing my best recs from all over the internet—but with Sidekick, we’re turning this quarantine newsletter into something bigger and better. 

I’ll share more details when the first Sidekick edition hits your inbox next Monday. I’m pumped, and I hope you’re excited, too. 

— Rachel Cantor

P.S. Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.

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If you’re watching a movie and a) there’s a big holiday festival in town b) two characters almost kiss but get interrupted, or c) the main character’s name is Holly or Nick, then you’re most likely watching a Hallmark film. Even though it’s not even Thanksgiving yet, I’m probably still late in giving you the scoop on this year’s Hallmark movie season. 

• Hallmark’s first gay holiday flick is arriving November 22. 
• Snack on Trader Joe’s Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s while bingeing your way through this 2020 guide to holiday movies. 
• There are 40 new Hallmark movies, but only 12 plot lines. That’s honestly more than I would’ve figured.
• If you’re a cord cutter like me, here’s how to stream Christmas movies without cable. 
• A Hallmark movie bingo board and a drinking game. There’s even a Hallmark Movie Checklist app.  

Self-improvement: Learn how to spot unhealthy perfectionism and get over “never good enough.” 

First date: Swipe right on these online dating tips from people who know what it’s like to put yourself out there. 

Offline: Count the number of times you’ve deleted Instagram only to re-download it 20 minutes later. If you’re not ready to quit your favorite social apps forever, here’s how to use them better. 

Scatter plot: Just because it’s on a chart doesn’t make it true. Watch this video to learn how to avoid misunderstanding the next graph you see.  

Up-to-date: Read the news ad-free with a text-only version of NPR and a no-graphics version of CNN. 

Social media doesn’t have to be this way. 

At this point, we’ve all opened our direct messages or scanned our feeds and seen one of the following:

• A bot trying to scam us
• A troll trying to belittle us
• A brand trying to get us to book a 3-year cruise

Social media was never supposed to be like this. Voice agrees, and they’re committed to making social better for all—a place free of bots, trolls, and shady algorithms. 

They’re taking social media back from big tech and using it to uplift, empower, and unite. 

Join Voice and give social its soul back. 

© eleonora galli / Getty Images

Tidy up: All over Instagram, people are ROYGBIV-ing their medicine cabinets, fridges, and bookshelves. Here’s why the rainbow shelfie is having a moment. 

Drink up: Upgrade your mason jar cocktails to a homemade “shaken, not stirred” martini with this complete guide to building your home bar. 

Button up: We all know Princess Diana is a style icon; I mean, her 153-yard tulle veil was a work of art. In honor of season four of The Crown, check out these tips for rocking a cardigan like the people’s princess. 

Draw up: From the works of Kehinde Wiley to Rihanna, here are 20 must-own art books that “celebrate every area of excellence within the Black diaspora.” Upgrade your coffee table book selection or gift one of these visual reads to the artist in your life.  

Thanksgiving setup:   

• While everyone else is stressing over their turkeys and pumpkin pies, here are 12 things to do if you’re on your own this Thanksgiving.  
• If you’re still looking for menu inspiration, you can watch Kitchn’s first-ever virtual Thanksgiving food fest. 
• For those of you who want to get out of Thanksgiving dinner or seeing your family for the holidays, this map is your best bet. It shows your Covid-19 risk level based on your geography and the crowd size of your holiday gathering. 

Nugget: McWTF—look at this McDonald’s breakfast grazing table. 

Blend in: A mesmerizing video of a chameleon changing colors. 

Jam out: This website lets anyone play the blues online.

Art therapy: This 90-year-old grandma is an expert when it comes to Microsoft Paint (remember those days?). 

Happy hour: If you miss sitting at the bar and watching all the characters pop in on a Saturday night, check out Benji Smith, a TikToker known for his videos where he pretends to be behind the bar. 

owngarden / Getty Images

This week’s Happy Place is brought to you by Essentials reader Phil K. Tokyo is the ideal destination for people who travel to eat, and ever since I saw the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, this bustling city has been at the top of my travel list. Olympics 2021? 

I’m counting down the days till the first Sidekick edition. Be sure to follow Sidekick on Twitter and Instagram for more updates.