Happy Last Saturday of 2023!

Hope Christmas was great for all who celebrate, and that you have something spectacular planned for New Year’s Eve. Back when I was fun in my early 20s, I was all about being at the best party and drinking the best champagne. Now that I’m in my early 50s, I’m all about sipping some non-alcoholic sparkling rosé on the couch and watching the ball drop on Times Square before climbing into bed at 9:01 pm.

But! I’m out and about being fun in the world now, as I’m writing this week’s newsletter from Boston (specifically, a dear friend’s house in Newton). I came here to join my sorority sisters in cheering on our beloved SMU Mustangs in the Fenway Bowl, where they suffered a stunning loss to Boston College, 23-14, despite being 10-point favorites. Yes, football, in a baseball stadium — and a historic one, where I’ve enjoyed and/or suffered through many a Red Sox game over the past quarter century. (Chris is from New Hampshire, and a lifelong fan.) They played “Sweet Caroline” toward the end and everything. They will literally turn anything into a Red Sox game in Boston.

Being here got me thinking about the many, many, many movies set in and around Boston, with about as many iterations of that notoriously challenging accent. An actor basically has to be from here to get it right; otherwise, it often sounds like an over-the-top parody. Some of my favorites are “Good Will Hunting,” “The Departed,” “Mystic River” and pretty much Ben Affleck’s entire oeuvre. Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers,” in theaters now, is excellent, and feels like a movie that was actually made in Massachusetts in the ‘70s. You can catch up with our Breakfast All Day review here. 

And of course, whenever I think about Boston movies, I think about this classic “Late Night With Seth Meyers” sketch. The film is fake, but the observations are dead-on in their accuracy.

On the way here, I caught up with a movie I couldn’t wait to tell you about: “Sitting in Bars With Cake.” I’d seen the trailer and it looked intriguing, but then it slipped past me for whatever reason. It was the rare movie among the in-flight offerings that I hadn’t seen, so I thought I’d give it a shot, and I’m so glad I did. Yara Shahidi and Odeza A’zion star in the comic drama, based on the true story of longtime best friends who go bar hopping with beautiful, homemade cakes to meet guys. It’s totally charming: The actresses enjoy a lively and authentic chemistry, and the way the film visually introduces the various kinds of cakes is consistently clever. But then when the story takes a more serious turn, director Trish Sie makes that tonal shift seamlessly because these characters and their bond are so well developed. It’s also a great Los Angeles movie, with very specific and recognizable locations – and they’re geographically accurate, which you know I always appreciate. “Sitting in Bars With Cake” is streaming now on Prime Video.

What’s your favorite movie with a great New Year’s Eve scene? I always think immediately of “The Apartment,” Billy Wilder’s 1960 romantic comedy and a classic example of his ability to find just the right spiky-sweet dialogue for his characters. Plus, Shirley MacLaine is impossibly adorable in the role of feisty Fran Kubelik. But “When Harry Met Sally …” has a classic, climactic one, too. There’s such inherent tension within this holiday: the pressure of the ticking clock, the yearning to kiss the right person at midnight and the hope of starting over once the calendar changes.

And the start of 2024 brings discounts from the brands we’re proud to work with and pass along to you. Among them:

• Dry January deals from Athletic Brewing Co. If you’re thinking of taking a break from drinking for the new year or stopping altogether, this is a great way to do it and stay social. Get 50% off your first month of non-alcoholic beers as an Athletic Club member. Offer runs through Jan. 31. I love their Run Wild IPA and Golden the best, but everything I’ve tried is tasty. Our code is BREAKFASTALLDAY.

• Take $250 off at CAROL Bike through Jan. 15. I have one of these well-made, easy-to-use stationary bikes in my home, and it provides a fun and efficient workout. I like it as a way to cross-train as I gear up to run the LA Marathon again. Our code is BREAKFASTALLDAY.

• Only a few bags left of the Coffee Bros. Holiday Blend, so grab yours at 20% off using code HOLIDAY24. We’ve loved the mix of cocoa, dried berry and wine flavors. Super cozy on these wintry mornings!

As we wrap up 2023, I want to thank you sincerely for supporting this new endeavor of mine. I hope you’re enjoying reading my newsletter as much as I’m enjoying writing it. With the new year beginning, I welcome any ideas for topics you’d like me to cover or questions you’d like me to answer. Next week, I’ll share my list of the year’s best (and worst) movies, and I’d love to hear yours as well. Wishing you and yours a joyous and safe New Year’s!