First, let me reintroduce myself. Lovely to be back and to have you, reader. I’m Gadfly and I’m always around 😉.

Sometime in March, dozens of literati and their poser lovers du jour stuffed themselves into their formal best and headed to Ridgewood to listen to former private prep schoolers collectively complain about initiation circle jerks. If you think I’m pulling your leg, buy yourself the latest issue of The End Magazine, Ann Manov’s normally well curated small publication. 

Something about that whole night made the Gadfly feel watched. Odd. I do the watching, normally. Humiliation rituals as an adolescent rite of passage was certainly not the worst of the evening. That honor belonged to Christian Lorentzen, preeminent literary critic (that’s a lie, actually. He is no Parul) that couldn’t even honor the host’s request to dress appropriately, donned his signature “zoomer” (barf) hoodie. Did I listen to what Xtian was droning on about? Absolutely not. It’s always the same mix of flattery and snobbery. I was transfixed by a fellow in the audience excited about completing the writing of his first book of fiction. The gist: the unraveling of a sex cult of raw milk enthusiasts and their charismatic leader—part Upton Sinclair The Jungle, part hilarious of the moment social commentary. It’s was the most exciting moment of the night.

But back to the interlopers, (readings that were hosted in the spring and over the summer will get an expanded meditation later) the opps are among us! Particularly, they’re at RSVP only small press launch Halloween “parties” (hey, Emma, 😉) where the drinks flowed or not (never skip ✊🏽🪵🍷) 

Despite the stench of tuna fish upon arrival, it was a lovely, relaxed evening until Zona Motel’s “secret” correspondent nosed their way into every conversation, badly. No amount of white claw and whiskey could cut through the opps’ social awkwardness. According to what was overheard amongst the quirky decor, Emma Burger has excellent discernment which will have Aaron Terence Hughes jump for joy (kidding, I meant writers alongside distributors). Everyone else is at the edge of their seat waiting for “confirmation” but we’re here enjoying the wave 🌊. Until the next one (?). Cheers! 🍻