Devin, Andy, and their first guest, Carlo, visit a Brooklyn location of the arts & crafts chain Michaels. Can crafting save us from ourselves? Is the seasonal section a compromise, or the heart of the Michaels experience? Is a pivot to a Perler beading podcast next? Will Carlo’s recent experience of a shiny suburban Michaels affect his cart score? Who will bring back latch hook kits? Do we need a Cricut press to make T-shirts that say, “I’d rather be browsing for arts and crafts supplies”? What does the "SH" sign on certain aisles mean?? Spooky Town is the official name of the Lemax Halloween village. And here is a Portlandia sketch about Jeff Goldblum's Doily Store. Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Jed Becker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, art by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Margaret Flatley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, production assistance by Skye MacLeod. Contact [email protected]

Devin and Andy visit The Oculus (elaborate transit hub with shops on the old World Trade Center lot) and Brookfield Place. People liked to complain about the blandness of mid-late 20th century mall architecture, but is it possible to to overcorrect? Could the pricey Davidoff cigar lounge day pass be worth it for those who are not cigar aficionados? Does Pop Mart out-funko Funko? Should malls hire roving teenagers to create a feeling of authenticity? Is New Stand in Brookfield Place the coolest mega-kiosk around, with NYC souvenirs worthy of use by locals? How important is a lived-in feeling to the mall shopping experience? Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Jed Becker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, art by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Margaret Flatley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, production assistance by Skye MacLeod. Contact [email protected]

Devin and Andy visit a Swatch store in the Oculus. Has your wrist been taken over by a smartwatch? Are you a freewrister? What is more 80s than these old Swatch ads? Which Simpsons character would you like to see on a Swatch, and what would you like to see them doing? Is this Basquiat Swatch cringe or legit? Does anyone do neon better? Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Jed Becker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, art by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Margaret Flatley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, production assistance by Skye MacLeod. Contact [email protected]

Devin and Andy visit a Moleskine store and discuss notebooks. Has Moleskine fallen off, or do people just like to complain online? Is Field Notes still crushing it? Do we hold by Wirecutter reviews? Does a notebook store necessarily feel like a gift shop? How many products can be sold with Ernest Hemingway’s posthumous endorsement? Can you be legendary and iconic, or should you pick one? Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Jed Becker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, art by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Margaret Flatley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, production assistance by Skye MacLeod. Contact [email protected]

Devin and Andy head to a few NYC souvenir shops near Rockefeller Center. Why are we being followed? What’s the best way to show that you heart NY? Can the souvenir shop and its wares be modernized? What store would you hole up in? Some souvenir/NY merch links: We Are Happy To Serve You Cup Official I Heart NY tee Melamine state memento trays and plates (not NY, but cool) Pretzel Hotdog NY beanie NYC Pigeon Pin and Magnet NYC Parking Violation Magnet As referenced in the episode: Callvin Condoms Blue Q gear NYPD Hoodie SNL “I Hate When that Happens" sketch and song (Note: we are not affiliated with these sites and do not receive any remuneration for anything purchased through these links.) Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Jed Becker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, art by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Margaret Flatley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, production assistance by Skye MacLeod. Contact [email protected]

Devin and Andy head to FAO Schwarz in Rockefeller Center. Will the Schwar(t)z be with them? Is this toy store overwhelming in a good way, just overwhelming, or not overwhelming enough? Are the toy demonstration vibes more state fair or uncanny sci-fi? Are you tempted by this magic snow? Does the floor piano live up to its star turn in Big? How cool is this McDonald’s wallet? Or this TMNT one?  Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Jed Becker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, art by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Margaret Flatley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, production assistance by Skye MacLeod. Contact [email protected]

Devin and Andy discuss “Underwear Power,” the lively last chapter of The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (From A to B and Back Again). It's an essay about shopping for socks and underwear with a friend at Macy’s. Is buying more American than thinking? Is underwear shopping really that revealing? Does everyone have a four minute set about losing socks in the laundry? What would Andy make of our current world? Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Jed Becker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, art by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Margaret Flatley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, production assistance by Skye MacLeod. Contact [email protected]

Devin and Andy visit a Gap Factory store and think about Gap. Does most of 90s pop culture emerge directly from Gap’s Khaki Soul (1999) ad? Are we still swinging to Khaki Swing (1998)? How crucial is pocket quality to a pair of pants? Does Gap Factory need the SNL Gap Girls to fold things into shape? What does the Gap arch logo on a sweatshirt mean these days? And what would it take for Gap to preside over the present as it once presided over the late 1990s, when it could just say (or sing) the word and have "everyone" wearing leather, or vests? Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Jed Becker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, art by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Margaret Flatley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, production assistance by Skye MacLeod. Contact [email protected]

Devin and Andy visit Foodtown: larger than a corner store, smaller than a supermarket. Does anyone read into font choices like Devin? Can Andy figure out how to open the door? Will Devin find spiritual uplift in the soda section? Can you Do the Dew on only 7.5 ounces? Why all the breadcrumbs? Is anyone in the salad dressing aisle shipping Paul Newman and Ken? Links: Tell it To My Heart by Taylor Dayne, Tig Notaro on Taylor Dayne, Parentheses by The Blow, 2010 NYT article about Foursquare mayoralties Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Jed Becker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, art by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Margaret Flatley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, production assistance by Skye MacLeod. Contact [email protected]

Devin and Andy explore fast food merch sites and discuss their findings. The expansive McDonald’s selection (two sites!) includes some tempting Crocs, but shouldn’t they be called Krocs? Why is the current Taco Bell merch so serious, as opposed to their normally playful vibe? Could Chipotle pivot from burrito seller to clothing/accessory line? How many podcasts have started with an idea jotted down in a Little Caesars Cheesy Notes notebook? What does it mean that we as a culture have shifted from souvenirs to merch?And Devin was right: Arby’s did sell curly fry bowling balls! Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Jed Becker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, art by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Margaret Flatley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, production assistance by Skye MacLeod. Contact [email protected]