Leon Hedgepeth on Cortados & Conversation Hats
Plus, the scent that always has the fragrance writer sniffing his wrists.
Hello, friends.
It’s been a long couple weeks, no? Last time we spoke, Amanda and West hadn’t even shared the joint statement heard ‘round the Bravosphere. We’ve lived so many lives. Hilariously, I’d ordered an Amanda Batula Swim one-piece about a month ago—allegedly, they are made for big boobs; can confirm they are not—and returned it this week. It felt ceremonial bringing it to UPS, in a way. (FWIW I found swimsuits that fit at Abercrombie; their Curve Love collection is great.)
This weekend is my birthday, but it’s not a big one so I’m celebrating my uncle’s instead (we’re “twins,” we share). That being said, in honor of the “big” day I’m offering 50% off both monthly and annual subscriptions through next weekend. If you enjoy reading Gatekeeping and don’t have a paid sub, now’s the time to upgrade:
Onto this week’s guest! I’m excited to welcome Leon Hedgepeth, a fellow freelance writer by way of Cincinnati. (S/o to the wonderful Jaime Maser who made the introduction!) You’ve seen his work on GQ, The Strategist, and others—and now Leon is sharing his faves here. Ahead, find his go-to Cinci spots, albums on repeat, and more. Enjoy!
Meet the Gatekeeper:
Name: Leon Hedgepeth
Calls home: Cincinnati, Ohio
In a nutshell: Driven, dreamer, reliable
What was the last great meal you ate?
Last date night with my wife, I got a striped chicken tortelli that was mouth-watering! It’s from one of our favorite restaurants, Wildweed.
What’s your favorite coffee order?
Always a hot small black coffee from Deeper Roots. Most of the time though, I just stop by their shop to buy a bag of beans and make a French Press for us.
What do you do when you need a pick-me-up?
I WFH, so I’ll sometimes run out in the afternoons to get a cortado. If it’s super late, I’ll make my self an espresso and listen to music. Lately, I’ve been listening to James Blake’s latest album Trying Times. A lot of the themes throughout the album have been resonating with me.
What is the seemingly random product you can’t stop talking about?
I’m a sucker for conversation starter hats. Can’t stop thinking about this cool one from this California-based landscaping company.
What’s your fashion secret weapon?
Not much of a secret, but a well-fitting pair of jeans is always the trick. I probably have close to 100 pairs in different washes, fits, and stories. My all-time favorite fit is a Levi’s 501 1947 fit.
What’s your favorite place to shop?
Probably C’H’C’M’. I always check their site out for educational purposes. If you wanna know what styles or brands are next up, chances are it’s already stocked here.
What’s your current desert island beauty product?
Anything La Roche-Posay since I have crazy super-sensitive skin.
What’s your current favorite scent?
It’s one of Aesop’s newer fragrances: Virēre. Whenever I spritz it, I just always find myself sniffing my wrists almost every hour.
What are you watching or listening to right now?
The latest Blood Orange album Essex Honey has been on repeat and as far as movies go, Bugonia was a little freaky, pleasant surprise haha!
What hotel do you recommend to everyone?
Last time I was in NY, I stayed at the Nolitan, which is in the heart of everything it seems and the rates aren’t terrible. I’d love to book a staycation one of these days for my wife and I at the 21C, which is part art exhibition and a hotel.
And a reminder before you go that monthly and annual subscriptions are half off for my bday right now. <3
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