Odds & Ends: March 28, 2025

The Plaza Cafe, Santa Fe, NM. Our family went to Santa Fe, NM to do some skiing/snowboarding over spring break, and the real highlight of the trip wasn’t on the slopes — it was downtown at the Plaza Cafe, right in the historic Plaza of the Governors. We liked it so much that we ended […] This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Mar 28, 2025 - 16:37

A vintage metal box labeled "Odds & Ends" with a blurred background, photographed on April 14, 2023.

The Plaza Cafe, Santa Fe, NM. Our family went to Santa Fe, NM to do some skiing/snowboarding over spring break, and the real highlight of the trip wasn’t on the slopes — it was downtown at the Plaza Cafe, right in the historic Plaza of the Governors. We liked it so much that we ended up eating there twice during our short trip. The diner’s been around since 1905 and still has that authentic, cozy diner atmosphere. Their breakfast burrito might be the best I’ve ever had; it’s massive, and you can smother it in green or red chili (or both in what New Mexicans call “Christmas style”). It was perfectly complemented by their side of the best pinto beans I’ve eaten. (You guys know I’m always thinking about those beans.) On visit two, I went with their Hatch green chile cheeseburger that hit the sweet spot between flame-grilled goodness and New Mexican heat. Since burgers and breakfast burritos happen to be my two favorite food groups, this place was essentially my culinary paradise. Even the sopapillas, which tend to be forgettable, were a notch above the ordinary. Next time you’re in the Land of Enchantment, prioritize this spot.

Why Is Everyone Reading ‘Lonesome Dove,’ an 858-page Western From 1985? If you’ve been following AoM for a while, you know that Lonesome Dove holds the throne as my all-time favorite novel — I’ve been evangelizing for McMurtry’s masterpiece for 15+ years on the site and podcast and in conversations with friends. We even named our son Gus after the charismatic, philosophical Texas Ranger, Augustus McCrae. So I’m tickled to see this 858-page Western from 1985 has suddenly exploded in popularity thanks to BookTok and Instagram. Michael Sebastian’s recent Esquire piece explores this renaissance, noting how readers of all backgrounds are discovering what I’ve long appreciated: it’s a profound meditation on male friendship, purpose, regret, and the American West that transcends its genre trappings. While I’m tempted to feel like the guy who discovered a band before they went mainstream, mostly I’m just glad more people are experiencing what I consider the Great American Novel. If you haven’t read Lonesome Dove, consider this your sign, pick up a copy, and make sure to listen to our podcast episode with McMurtry expert Steven Frye about the book.

The Walk. Our family recently watched the overlooked (I know I don’t remember it coming out) 2015 film The Walk — directed by Robert Zemeckis — which tells the story of Philippe Petit’s audacious 1974 high-wire walk between the Twin Towers in New York City. It’s not a perfect film, neither in pacing, nor in the portrayal of Petit by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, whose earnest French accent, red-tinted hair, and blue contact lenses feel distracting. But the payoff comes in the portrayal of the climatic wire-walking scene. I was surprised by how physically affected we all were by it. When Gordon-Levitt steps out onto that cable 1,368 feet above Manhattan, the vertigo is palpable; we found ourselves periodically shielding our eyes and exclaiming, “Oh my gosh!” Conceptualizing Petit’s feat is genuinely inspiring to boot; real art requires real risk, and he was willing to put his very life on the line to realize his unbelievable artistic vision.

How to Be Better at Almost Everything by Pat Flynn. I had Pat Flynn on the podcast earlier this year to talk kettlebells, but he’s more than just a fitness coach. His 2019 book How to Be Better at Almost Everything offers a refreshingly contrarian approach to skill development. While conventional wisdom says to specialize in one area, Flynn makes the case for becoming a generalized specialist or a “jack of all trades, master of some.” Drawing on philosophical heavyweights like Aristotle and Aquinas, Flynn explores how virtues and skills develop through repeated intentional practice. What really resonated with me was his concept of skill stacking — strategically building a unique combination of skills that make you rare and valuable. Instead of trying to become the best at one thing, Flynn argues that becoming “pretty good” at several complementary skills can create a powerful synergy. His approach almost feels like a throwback to Renaissance thinking, and it aligns with my own belief that men should cultivate breadth alongside depth.

Over on our Dying Breed newsletter, we published Resonance as an Antidote to Social Acceleration.

Quote of the Week

To know yourself perfectly, you have only to set down a true statement of those that have ever loved or hated you.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.