Morning Brew - ☕️ Goodbye, hello

Well, Essentials readers, it’s been an incredible eight months. We’ve reached the final edition of The Essentials. 

First of all, we want to say thank you. Without your support, we wouldn’t be ready to launch Morning Brew’s first-ever lifestyle and recommendations machine: Sidekick. And don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere. All your emails will transfer over to Sidekick, which will hit your inbox same time, same place Monday evening. See you then. 

— Rachel Cantor

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

Giphy

My “For You” page on TikTok: Target hauls, healthy cooking tips, and Ratatouille The Musical. Over the past few months, creators from all over the world have been collaborating on a musical based on the animated Disney movie. The Gen Z-written show is not a real thing...yet, but we’re all looking forward to its opening on Broadway in 2025. Enter the musical theater side of TikTok and join the Remy fandom. 

• The origin story of the Ratatousical. 
• Conversations with the masterminds behind this musical adaption of one of Pixar’s most underrated animated films. 
• Now the musical has a behind-the-scenes crew, including a stage manager and a tech team. 
• A master thread to keep you up to date on the latest Ratatouille songs, choreography, and duets.

Hit your stride: Turkey Trots might be cancelled this year, but nothing is stopping you from training for a virtual race. If this is your first socially distant running challenge, here’s how to nail it on your first try. 

Eat well: I know I’m not the only one who can’t remember to take my daily vitamins. As we head into a Covid winter, now is not the time to skip out on these immunity-boosting nutrients. 

Wordsmith: From the Lolcat to the terrible Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore 2012 movie, LOL, the popular texting abbreviation has come a long way. I really enjoyed this oral history of the word LOL. 

On the job hunt: If you spend your days scrolling the depths of LinkedIn, here are five ways you can stand out in the job search this winter. 

Social Media + Soul = Soulcial Media.

When did social media stop feeling like a good place to meet people and have fun? Frankly, it’s done more to divide us than bring us together. 

Voice is changing that. It’s a new social media platform free of bots, fake accounts, and shady algorithms. 

When you log on, you won’t be bombarded with trolls or misinformation; you’ll engage in real conversations with real people.

Get early access to Voice and help us build the social media we all deserve.

alvarez / Getty Images

Start with dessert: Candace Nelson, founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes, is hosting a virtual pie pop-up—a holiday pie-making course designed to turn you into a baking mastermind. After taking this course, you’ll have a go-to pie recipe for every major holiday. 

Draw like Picasso: Try out YDays—you’ll wake up to a fun drawing prompt every morning that will fuel your creative spirit. Don’t worry if you’re a sh*t drawer; you’ll still have a good time, especially because you can compete with your friends. 

Bingeworthy: Now is the ideal time to mooch off your friend’s HBO Max account. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion is live and Wonder Woman 1984 is coming to the streaming platform Christmas Day. 

Literary champions: In an earlier Essentials, I shared the National Book Award Finalists for 2020. In case you missed it or you were overwhelmed by all the options, let the editors at Vox share their honest thoughts on this year’s winners. 

Show time: Just because you’re famous doesn’t mean you’re a good podcast host. But in this case, these celebrity-hosted podcasts are actually entertaining. Emily and Kumail are couple goals. 

Something weird: A collection of photographs from the snail universe. Find smol slimy creatures sipping on boba, putting on face masks, and enjoying a glass of wine. 

Be at peace: Scenic landscapes with soothing sounds. 

First draft: For a good laugh, here are the first lines of rejected “Modern Love” essays. 

New product: Cinnabon’s cream cheese frosting is now sold by the pint. All in. 

Snack break: An easy, healthful version of potato chips, and you still get that satisfying crunch. 

Cavan Images / Getty Images

It was prime parka weather in Chicago on Tuesday morning—a crisp 28 degrees, which reminded me that I had planned to teleport to Tucson, Arizona, this winter. I could start my work day with an early morning hike at Catalina State Park, schvitz in the dry heat, and hang out with all my cacti friends. 

See you on Monday. Follow Sidekick’s Twitter and Instagram for a sneak peek. 

Your internet Sidekick,

Rachel