#412: A Cameo in the NY Times, Partytime Castles with Meryl Streep & My Return to the Food Network

+ a new ITSIT Episode, A christmas book & Morris develops a sneaker obsession

Welcome to issue #412 of New York Cartoons! I hope you’re having a great week…

I’m writing this from the airport in Madrid, because why not? It’s been a crazy week, and the rest of the year is only due to get crazier. I have a lot of fun stuff to share this week, including a teaser of a story that will be dropping tomorrow for paid subscribers.

Let’s dive in!

I had a little cameo in the New York Times this past week. They covered the Substack event I wrote about, where I was live-drawing some best-selling writers on the platform. I think they really captured my best side…

You can read the full article in the New York Times here.

Sneaking Into The Good Room with Meryl Streep: A Wild Night of Bottomless Martinis & Parasol Churros

WNYC's 100th Anniversary Party proves New York is still New York, even at $80,000 per castle

The Ice House looms over the Hudson like a glass-and-steel wedding cake, with the USS Intrepid providing the kind of casual military backdrop that says, "Sure, we could start a war, but first, let's have some Joe's Pizza." I was there because me and my Pickleball crew (a sentence I never thought I'd write) had been invited to the after-party of WNYC's centennial fundraiser by Ronny Chieng and Hannah Pham.

Our host for the afterparty was New York Nico, the city's unofficial chronicler-in-chief, whose new book sat in welcoming stacks by the entrance. Being chronically early –a habit that's saved me from more social anxiety than therapy ever could– we were first in line for the photo booth. This turned out to be a stroke of tactical genius as the queue later stretched longer than the wait for a Sunday table at Russ & Daughters.

Suddenly we were standing in a room where Meryl Streep had just casually bid $80,000 on an Austrian castle vacation like she was ordering a late-night burrito on Seamless. Seth Meyers then appeared as if summoned by the collective net worth of the room to introduce a solemn jazz duo playing the world’s longest version of Autumn in New York.

Upgrade to paid to read the full story…

Post-Election Episode of “Is There Something In This?”

Scott and I discuss our reaction to the US election results and our ensuing cartoon ideas. Scott was more analytical, and I was more emotional. You’ll also get to see one of the worst (best?) jokes ever told on a podcast. Subscribe below to get the episode in your podcast feed.

It’s that time again, Buddy!

I hosted and judged a show on the Food Network years ago, which pops back up on streaming and cable networks every year around this time. You can see some details below if you want to catch some episodes on the Food Network over the holidays.

Speaking of Christmas…

I did a book with Simpsons writer and Producer Mike Reiss, which makes a great holiday gift for the kids in your life!

Sandy was having the time of his life in Bali. He was living the care-free island life, surfing, and hanging out on the beach with his friends. He was so content that he had almost forgotten about Christmas. That is, until he got a call from someone he hadn’t heard from in years…his big brother Santa Claus!

This hilarious holiday book tells the story of what happens when Santa’s sleigh gets stuck in the wet sands of Bali and he has to call on his estranged, lazy, fun-loving little brother Sandy to save Christmas. With witty writing by Emmy® award winning humor writer and longtime executive producer of ‘The Simpsons’, Mike Reiss and delightful illustrations by New Yorker cartoonist Jason Chatfield, ‘Santa’s Brother Sandy Saves Christmas’ is sure to be a hit with everyone on your list!