Allow Me to Introduce Myself
February 8, 2025
Welcome to the inaugural edition of The Gab Guide, a bi-weekly newsletter from me, Gabby Shacknai. In each edition, I’ll share five things I’m currently loving—something to shop, something to watch, something (or somewhere) to eat, somewhere to travel, and something to read. Every recommendation is carefully selected by yours truly (and occasionally, by my very discerning goldendoodle, Alvy), so you can trust that it’s well worth your time.
In today’s newsletter, discover the new device that’s made me actually look forward to brushing my teeth, the hotel you should book after watching the new “White Lotus,” what makes SNL’s 50th anniversary special so very special, and much more.
Until next time xx,
Gab
Quip Ultra Toothbrush
Yep, you read that correctly: my very first ‘Shop’ recommendation is indeed a toothbrush. But rest assured, this is not just any toothbrush. Quip’s new Ultra Next Generation Smart Sonic Toothbrush is more akin to a cutting-edge, high-tech beauty device than your standard, run-of-the-mill teeth-cleaner. While the focus of Ultra is, of course, to effectively remove plaque and keep your mouth healthy and cavity-free, it genuinely makes the twice-daily (or if you’re my mum, thrice-daily) task enjoyable—and that’s coming from someone who dreads going to the dentist and avoids flossing at nearly all costs.
Quip’s latest toothbrush features an LED touch bar display, which not only lets you choose from 10 gentle-to-deep-clean intensities but also moves from bottom to top as you brush to show you how much time is left in your two-minute cleaning. Ultra also comes with a stand, a mirror mount, a charging cable, and a travel case, offering seamless use in your own bathroom or on the road. There’s even a complementary app that shows you what spots you’re missing. What really sets this toothbrush apart, however, is its EasyClick Brush Pods. Unlike traditional electric toothbrushes, Ultra’s brush head can be changed by swapping just the bristles, not the entire top half of the device. This makes the new Quip toothbrush is dramatically more sustainable, with 70% less waste, but it also means toothpaste and other gunk can’t get stuck inside and interfere with the toothbrush’s battery or performance.
All of this for just $100, compared to competitors’ $200 to $400 price tags? The Quip Ultra is a no-brainer.
“SNL50: The Anniversary Special” on Peacock
(But really, just a sappy, little love letter to this amazing quinquagenarian of a TV show)
I began watching “Saturday Night Live” when I was 12 years old; but rather than simply tune into the current season—one that featured a star-studded cast of Tiny Fey, Amy Poehler, Fred Armisen, and Jason Sudeikis—I assigned my middle-school-aged self some serious homework. In addition to tuning into the newest episode every Saturday night, I would also watch at least one vintage SNL episode each week, a fairly easy task for an old-soul like myself. I started with George Carlin's 1975 premiere episode and worked my through The Blues Brothers, Eddie Murphy's "Buckwheat," and Rachel Dratch's "Debbie Downer." I watched Chris Farley do a Chippendale's-style striptease next to an impossibly-toned Patrick Swayze (an image that is permanently seared into my brain), and I laughed along as Gilda Radner played a memorable "Roseanne Roseannadanna." Finally, I fell in love with the casts of my own time, with Will Ferrell's unparalleled George W. Bush, Kristen Wiig's "Gilly," and Bill Hader's truly hilarious "Stefon."
I have watched SNL religiously for over 15 years. Growing up, my friends and family knew to never bother me on Saturday nights at 11:30pm (or really, 8:30pm since I was on the west coast), and even when I lived in the UK for college, I would routinely wake up at the early hours of the morning every Sunday to see just how Alec Baldwin would caricature Trump’s latest fumble or how Larry David would become an even better Bernie Sanders than the senator was himself. In the political and social divisiveness of the last decade, I have found comfort and light in SNL. When my heart was broken in the days and weeks following the 2016 election and I felt like America would never again be the same, Kate McKinnon's cold open as Hillary Clinton singing "Hallelujah" reminded me that I was not alone.
But SNL has also been there for me throughout my personal ups and downs, an eternally reliable beacon of joy and hope during every breakup, every unexpected loss, every argument, and every seasonal-depression-filled winter. This silly, little show has played a constant and integral role in my life, following me from the uncomplicated chaos of childhood and the angst of my teenage years into the uncertainty, stress, and delight of adulthood. SNL has watched me grow up. So, when I realized this year would mark the show’s 50th anniversary, I relished the chance to reminisce on how it grew up.
“SNL 50”—the three-hour-long, star-studded anniversary special that took over screens across the globe last weekend—was the perfect culmination of it all. The biggest names of the show’s many, many casts (and beyond) were in attendance, taking to the stage to resurrect the most memorable sketches of each era, and giggling along from every seat inside Studio 8H. It was an evening filled with uninterrupted laughter and pure, unadulterated joy, and as 50 years of ‘not ready for primetime players' crowded around for the final goodnights, tears began streaming down my face. I cried not because because I’m famously the world’s easiest crier, and not even because Laraine Newman and Jane Curtain were holding up a photo of their fellow founding cast member, the late, great Gilda Radner. I cried because at that very moment, I knew that this unserious, unassuming, and unpredictable, 50-year-old variety show had struck a chord with generations of viewers and had made just as profound an impact on millions of others as it has on me.
Whether you too are a die-hard fan or you’re only vaguely familiar with SNL’s illustrious history, “SNL 50: The Anniversary Special,” and the “SNL Homecoming Concert” that aired two nights earlier, are must-watch events, the very best of television and all that it can be.
Tony’s Chocolonely Caramel Sea Salt Milk Chocolate Bar
Anyone who’s spent more than five minutes with me knows that I am completely, hopelessly addicted to sweets (an addiction I happily justify with my need to eat sugar when my blood sugar goes low). I’ve tried just about every candy on the shelf and fancy myself an expert on all things chocolate. But even though I’d learned about (and tasted) gourmet chocolatier Tony’s Chocolonely some years ago, when the brand first launched, it wasn’t until a few months ago that I discovered the deliciousness that is the Caramel Sea Salt Milk Chocolate Bar. A friend had picked up a bag of the mini bars as an airport snack on our way to Mexico, and when I realized two days later that we’d finished the entire bag (despite being on a beach vacation, where bikinis were the required dress code), I knew I’d found a new go-to sweet.
For better or worse, I have been completely obsessed with the Tony’s flavor ever since. I have at least one bar in my pantry at all times, I introduced every member of my family to it via their Christmas stockings in December, and somewhat shamefully, I even know when my local CVS runs a “buy one, get one 50% off” special on the bars.
It’s truly the perfect blend of sweet and salty, creamy and crunchy. And like all Tony’s Chocolonely bars, the Caramel Sea Salt Milk Chocolate features unique geometric shapes to savor depending on how much you want to enjoy (I like to save the huge rectangular piece at the center for last—something to look forward to!).
Capella Bangkok
With last weekend’s long anticipated return of “The White Lotus,” all eyes are very much on the beautiful setting where this season’s drama unfolds: Thailand. I was lucky enough to experience this incredible country firsthand a few years ago on a press trip—and since the trip was organized by the board of tourism, I got to experience the very best that Thailand has to offer. This included several days in Bangkok, at one of the city’s newest (and most celebrated) hotels, Capella.
Situated right alongside the Chao Phraya River, the Bangkok outpost of the acclaimed Capella group is the pinnacle of luxury and top-notch hospitality. The hotel’s common areas are at once opulent and welcoming, its restaurants and bars are glamorous yet cozy, and the pool’s sweeping views of the river make for an endlessly restorative day of cabana lounging. Each of the 101 rooms at Capella are stunningly appointed in neutral finishes and decor and feature floor-to-ceiling windows to river-gaze, as well as sprawling bathrooms with rain showers and bathtubs large enough for two (make sure to try the bath teas for a truly sumptuous experience). The spa, too, is an absolute haven and one of the best I’ve been to anywhere in the world, which as a beauty and travel journalist, I assure you is saying a lot. While the Thai massages are an obvious choice, the Tok Sen massage and Harmonized Qi are not to be missed. The spa’s aquatherapy lounge, which boasts a range of hot baths, therapeutic shower experiences, and sauna and steam rooms, is accessible to all guests, so even if you don’t opt for a treatment, the spa (and the neighboring fitness center) are very much worth stopping by.
What really sets Capella Bangkok apart from other high-end hotels in the city, however, is its unparalleled hospitality. The staff is there to ensure your every need and want is catered to, and the concierge will pull out their very impressive little black book to arrange unique experiences, like chef-led street-food tours and meditation sessions with a local monk. Capella is a true diamond and should be at the top of your list for a visit to Bangkok—and unlike The White Lotus, it’s sure to bring you unending rest and relaxation only the way Thailand can.
Everything You Need to Host a Winning Oscars Party
Okay, I promise this realm will not usually be used for self-promotion, but as anyone who follows me on Instagram (or really, anyone who sees me for even a few minutes during the months of January and February) will tell you, I am absolutely obsessed with the Oscars. Seriously, it’s quite possibily my favorite day of the year. I even prefer it to my birthday, which as a Leo, is saying a hell of a lot.
I have long made a habit of watching all of the Best Picture nominees each year, and my weeks between the nominations announcement and the ceremony are always filled with constant screenings—and of course, lots of popcorn. But the true gem of my awards season comes on Oscar Sunday itself, when I throw my annual Oscars Extravaganza.
Every year, I roll out the red carpet (literally) and fill my kitchen with all kinds of punny menu items—last year’s party featured “Barbie-Q Chicken,” “Sterling K Brownies,” “Popcornheimer Cupcakes,” and “Emily Blunts” (yes, those kind of blunts), among others—and my nearest and dearest friends pile into my apartment donning their fanciest pajamas, eager to see who will take home the little gold men at the end of the night. The evening is consistently one of the most joyous and memorable imaginable, not only for me but also for my less-movie-obsessed attendees—and not to toot my own horn, but I’d like to think it’s because the Oscars Extravaganza is truly the pinnacle of my hosting and party-planning skills.
So, it seemed only fair that after a decade-plus of throwing this annual celebration, it was time to share my tricks of the trade with the masses, which is why I decided to pen a definitive guide to hosting a winning Oscars party. This story features all of items that I’ve found essential for a successful fête, from decor and attire to snacks and gift bags, all guaranteed to make for an unforgettable night. Whether you’re an Academy Awards devotee and veteran host or you’re simply looking to up your movie night game, I am certain you’ll find some inspiration in this guide. (Let’s just hope none of my own guests find too much inspiration, lest they show up to my party in the same outfit—I’m certainly not about to bring back the tired “Who wore it best?” refrain!)
Love this!