The Year I Lost Both My Parents

On a warm summer night, in our final meal together before he withered away into someone else, my father and I went for pie. It was late July 2015, and he was visiting me in Los Angeles. Over a week, I had ferried him to a legendary deli on Fairfax, a pancake temple in Hollywood, and a chic outdoor dinner in Malibu. He appreciated my efforts, but on our last evening before he flew home, I acquiesced to his favorite genre, so we visited Pie Hole, a hip dessert spot in L.A.’s Downtown Arts District. As we stood before the clear display case, a glistening array of artisan options tempted us: Mexican Chocolate Pie, Bananas Foster Pie, Earl Grey Pie, Maple Custard Pie, plus Chai Cheesecake. I’d watched many salivating customers deliberate for long minutes before this very case, but Dad reached a verdict almost immediately: “I’ll have Apple Pie.” He commanded a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a root beer, completing the all-American order. And with his pie before him, he paused, then steadily aimed his fork through the crust, spooned on a generous dollop of ice cream, and took a perfect bite. “You know,” he said between bites, “if it weren’t for apple pie, you wouldn’t be here.”   [View in Browser]( [Esquire]( [SHOP]( EXCLUSIVE [SUBSCRIBE]( [Love, Marriage, Loss, and Apple Pie]( [Love, Marriage, Loss, and Apple Pie]( On a warm summer night, in our final meal together before he withered away into someone else, my father and I went for pie. It was late July 2015, and he was visiting me in Los Angeles. Over a week, I had ferried him to a legendary deli on Fairfax, a pancake temple in Hollywood, and a chic outdoor dinner in Malibu. He appreciated my efforts, but on our last evening before he flew home, I acquiesced to his favorite genre, so we visited Pie Hole, a hip dessert spot in L.A.’s Downtown Arts District. As we stood before the clear display case, a glistening array of artisan options tempted us: Mexican Chocolate Pie, Bananas Foster Pie, Earl Grey Pie, Maple Custard Pie, plus Chai Cheesecake. I’d watched many salivating customers deliberate for long minutes before this very case, but Dad reached a verdict almost immediately: “I’ll have Apple Pie.” He commanded a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a root beer, completing the all-American order. And with his pie before him, he paused, then steadily aimed his fork through the crust, spooned on a generous dollop of ice cream, and took a perfect bite. “You know,” he said between bites, “if it weren’t for apple pie, you wouldn’t be here.” [Read More](   [Say Hello to Your Now and Forever Coat]( [Say Hello to Your Now and Forever Coat]( Todd Snyder's take on the Balmacaan is a real stunner. [Read More]( [Shaq Isn't Holding Anything Back]( [Shaq Isn't Holding Anything Back]( For the first time, the Lakers legend recalls his narrow escape from death as a teenager. Plus, he says he could get out on the court right now and “bust Rudy Gobert’s ass”—and he means it. [Read More](     [The Best Movies of 2022]( [The Best Movies of 2022]( Well, we’re now closing in on the end of 2022, which means that the year in movies is coming to a close. Since the prehistoric days of January, we’ve been compiling and periodically adding to our list of the best films of the year, In this final installment, we’ve added new titles that we here at Esquire believe are not only worth checking out, but will also still hang around in the pop-culture conversation well into 2023—and certainly after year-end Top 10 lists are trotted out. As you’ll see, our countdown includes a sci-fi horror film, a certain buzzy psychological thriller, a misty-eyed offering from the great Steven Spielberg, and, of course, a romantic comedy to round things out. Hell, if you scroll down far enough, you might even see (gasp!) an Adam Sandler flick. Here are the 35 best movies of 2022, plus where to watch them. [Read More](   [10 Timeless Leather Sofas That Offer Both Comfort and Class]( [10 Timeless Leather Sofas That Offer Both Comfort and Class]( You waited your whole life to buy one of these. [Read More]( [JJ Redick is Putting the NBA Through Therapy, One Podcast At a Time]( [JJ Redick is Putting the NBA Through Therapy, One Podcast At a Time]( The Old Man and the Three is bigger than the former Duke standout could've ever imagined. So, what's next? [Read More](     [The Hands-Down Best Japanese Whisky to Drink Right Now]( [The Hands-Down Best Japanese Whisky to Drink Right Now]( In 2021, some good news for Japanese whisky fans arrived in the form of new labeling standards set forth by the Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association. Yes, age statement bottles are still going to be in short supply and often prohibitively expensive when you find them for the foreseeable future, ensuring that you may never get to taste the sweet nectar that is Hakushu 18. But, finally, Japanese whisky is going to be subject to rules that clearly define what is in the bottle, although at this point it’s really an agreement among producers rather than a legal requirement. According to Kris Elliott, cofounder of High Road Spirits which imports Japanese whisky among other spirits, the intent is for these standards to become law within a few years, ensuring that Japanese whisky will be defined as specifically as scotch or bourbon. [Read More](   [RUN 2023 Wall Calendar]( Follow Us [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Notice/Notice at Collection]( esquire.com ©2022 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019