Zooming with Friends: Brancey Mora
Welcome to the new feature “Zooming with Friends,” where I have a fun photoshoot via Zoom with my friends, and they answer some questions on how they're holding up and give us some suggestions on what to eat, drink and watch.
Name: Brancey
Location: Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn
Do you live alone/who do you live with?
I live with roommates and two cats: Dru and Willow
Are you working?
I was in graduate school and working as a TA with 92Y art and afterschool classes. We switched to Zoom classes mid-March but since the semester ended, I haven’t been working.
What show has been giving you life during quarantine?
Avatar: The Last Airbender – it’s full of adventure and really great characters that experience spiritual and emotional growth. It’s really funny and silly and also incredibly relevant.
What We Do In The Shadows – three vampire roommates try to take over Staten Island, they are bad at it and also there’s another roommate who is an energy vampire who attends city council meetings. It’s based on the film by Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi and it’s perfect.
Song everyone should listen to?
“This Year” by the Mountain Goats and “Back Pocket” by Vulfpeck
What’s the outfit you cannot wait to wear when the shelter-in-place is over?
Cocktail dresses and date-night outfits. Also ‘teaching clothes’ because it means I’ll be back in the classroom with students running around with paint and art supplies.
What was the best cocktail you made?
Oof shout-out to Pearl’s Billy and Social Club & Palmetto’s to name a few really amazing bars that have kept us well stocked with pre-made or DIY kits because I have no head for mixing cocktails. I managed an Aperol Spritz but mostly just drank the prosecco, the other drinks I tried were not great.
What's been the lowest point for you during the shelter-in-place?
My partner got COVID, so we went to Long Island with his family but stayed quarantined in their basement. Being away from my own apartment and space made it hard to cope with how worried I was for him, how to handle the loss of control and how there was nothing to fix or do, except wait. The upside was when we got out we were able to do food and errand runs for the family, and pay back a little of the kindness they gave feeding and taking care of us in quarantine.
First restaurant you are going to when it’s open?
Faro restaurant in Brooklyn, where they do in-house pasta, bread, and a whole bunch of other stuff. The whole set up is super clean and sparse, the food is inCREDible.
Any happy surprises about your current situation?
My community – from here in Brooklyn to the west coast I’ve felt so lucky to see and share in how people troubleshot, check-in, share best practices for advocacy, memes, self-care, and creative activities. We’ve found ways to celebrate birthdays, hold each other’s grief and anger, and spread joy in ways I didn’t know how to before.
What is your favorite way to keep in touch with people right now?
Zoom, texting, and calling. Figuring out google hang out(s?) vs zoom took some time, but now it’s been amazing to catch up with multiple people at a time with zoom or group-watch a movie in a text chain.
What is the best recipe you have made?
We made a blueberry cheesecake that was really good but was intense to make, we also splurged a little a bought really nice cuts of steak to cook.
What habits are you forming now that you will bring into the future?
My partner and I have been reading books out loud to each other. It’s been a great way to wind down and share stories we love. I’ve also been painting and drawing postcards to send to people, which is something I was doing off and on but am now getting into a groove of doing regularly.
3 words to describe your current situation:
Patience, Resilience, Empathy
You can check out some of Brancey’s artwork here. Thank you so much Brancey!!
