The Rec Room #34
With Matt Prince
Welcome to the thirty-forth edition of The Rec Room, a biweekly lounge-meets-newsletter from your friend John A. Paradiso. A big thank you to everyone who’s subscribed so far. And, if you haven’t, hit that big ol’ subscribe button now!
If you have no idea what’s going on, no problem!
Every other Friday, I’ll be sending out an email with five recommendations from either a friend with fantastic taste or yours truly. Then, we’ll end the email with a game to add to our Rec Room Game Collection.
This week’s guest is my pal Matt Prince. Like many of my favorite people (and frequent guests of this newsletter), I met Matt in the wide world of craft beer. In fact, I actually featured on Matt’s former podcast Take a Shelfie and I’m blessed to be the inaugural guest on his new show Beer People. (Look out for that episode soon.)
When he’s not talking about or enjoying beer, Matt is teaching math to sixth-graders in Philadelphia, going for a run, or spending time with his family.
Since my first chat with Matt I’ve appreciated both his passion for craft beer and his thoughtfulness. As with any niche, craft beer has its fair share of toxic elements. Not least of which is gatekeeping and exclusivity. From my brief interactions with Matt it’s clear that he wants as many people to join in the craft beer community as possible.
So, it was my pleasure to welcome Matt to The Rec Room. And he’s got some great recs! Wes Anderson, lagers, and Fleet Foxes? A man after my own heart!
Sit back, enjoy your Friday, and relax in The Rec Room.
The Recs
Milk Tubes
“I am lucky to live right outside such a great lager city like Philadelphia. There is a depth of lager history going all the way back to the German immigrants who set up shop here. The current standard for lager brewing in this town is Human Robot and they have become famous for a Czech tradition called the Mliko Pour. The quick explanation is that it is a quick pour of mostly sweet and creamy foam. Human Robot started serving these, mostly as a joke, under the name Milk Tube. While the pour has been hotly debated, I am a huge fan and get one every time I'm at the brewery.”
goodR OG Sunglasses
“I am an avid runner. I love the activity itself, but one of the more underrated aspects of the hobby is the swag. Aside from my Brooks Ghost shoes, my favorite piece of running gear/swag are my goodR OG Sunglasses. They provide insane clarity while I run, and they don't look overly athletic making them the perfect all-occasion sunglasses. If you want to make a statement during your next race, grab one of the eye-catching colors (with clever names) like my blue Falkor's Fever Dream.”
Shore by Fleet Foxes
“I became hooked on Fleet Foxes during my senior year in college way back in 2008. Their harmonies reminded me of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young and their lyrics were beautifully poignant and poetic. Not much has changed from the Seattle-based band. Their latest studio album, Shore, is littered with melancholy vocals from lead singer, Robin Pecknold. The album is a nice amalgamation of their classic sound and an ever-evolving sense of self within the context of the folk genre. For my money, Pecknold is the most gifted frontman currently putting out jams.”
Wes Anderson's Grand Budapest Hotel
“Wes Anderson is a true auteur. His films deliver a distinct style that can be recognized by the most casual of fans. Of all of his beautiful films, my favorite is 2014's Grand Budapest Hotel. Buried within a murder mystery centered on a hotel concierge (Ralph Fiennes) and a former lover (Tilda Swinton), lies a sweet love story between Zero (Tony Revolori) and Agatha (Saoirse Ronan). Anderson's theater troupe-style ensemble of actors is out in full force in this sweet concoction of a film.”
Soup Dumplings
“When I first started enjoying Dim Sum-style Chinese cuisine, I was quite the neophyte when it came to how to properly enjoy the little wonders known as soup dumplings. I would typically down each dumpling in one bite, leaving myself susceptible to a burnt mouth every time. After spending a cool hour or two watching every YouTube video I could, I had mastered the proper eating technique of biting off the top, sipping the soup, filling the dumpling with hot sauce, and eating the rest. The experience is measured and calculated and delivers the perfect umami sensation.”
Rec Room Game Collection
Mexican Train Dominoes
“I was very reluctant to learn this game. Whenever I hear dominoes, I immediately think of my grandparents and their grandparent friends shifting around and placing a series of black and white tiles together. My sister and brother-in-law, however, were very persistent and I finally gave in. We were in Wildwood during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and we weren't making the typical nightly trips up to the boardwalk that traditionally filled our vacations. I grabbed a beer, sat down, and learned. This is now my favorite game. It involves some of my favorite game components: numbers, strategy, and competitiveness. You can play with a friend or with a group and once you start you won't want to stop.”