Read, Eat, Go: "Catalina," Blueberry Lemon Icebox Cake, and Mystic

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. Thanks to Beyoncé, I’m ready for the Olympics. While I’m in no position to judge the world’s greatest athletes, that won’t stop me from judging celebrity fashion. On this week’s docket: Megan Thee Stallion showed off her cowgirl-inspired mani (a refreshing departure from this summer’s “Aperol spritz” nail trend), Zendaya gave “fresh-from-the-shower” mermaid glam, and Camila Cabello stepped out wearing the controversial “naked shoe,” which honestly looks pretty chic. Though all of this pales in comparison to Rihanna’s matching-thong-and-shoes combo (leave it to her to simultaneously promote her brands and start a new trend) and extremely baggy jeans that are long enough to mop my kitchen floor. At least they have some added utility?  

— Taylor Trudon / Writer, Culture & Lifestyle / Brooklyn, NY

Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio

theSkimm

Like most college seniors, Catalina faces that looming question, What’s next? But for her, this question is especially loaded. Because while the “blue-collar brainiac” from Queens may be getting an Ivy League degree, she’s also undocumented. In this magnetic debut novel, aptly named Catalina, Karla Cornejo Villavicencio’s protagonist must navigate an uncertain future — for both herself and her undocumented grandparents — along with Harvard’s elite social circles, which she observes with skepticism. And of course, it wouldn’t be a coming of age story without a budding romance. We asked Cornejo Villavicencio a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: What’s one recipe everyone should make?

Cornejo Villavicencio: I think lemon makes everything delicious. I put lemon or lime on basically all food. Try it for a week and then let me know how you like it.

Q: What's one thing that’s made you 10% happier?

Cornejo Villavicencio: The life and times of Jennifer Lopez.

Q: What’s the one thing that makes your AM or PM routine complete?

Cornejo Villavicencio: Washing my face — even though I hate washing my face. The water. Drips down. My arms.

This No-Bake Blueberry Lemon Icebox Cake Is (Almost) Too Pretty to Eat

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If you’re not eating blueberries by the fistful right now, is it even summer? Whether you’re picking them by hand (we applaud you) or picking them up at the farmers market, it doesn’t matter how you get them so long as you’re consuming them in every form possible. Which, should include dessert. Specifically, this Blueberry Lemon Icebox Cake by Sally’s Baking Addiction. Filled with layers of lemon-y whipped cream, fresh blueberries, and graham crackers, this no-bake cake may look fancy, but requires only seven ingredients. Meaning, it’s so easy, you may never go back to actually baking again.

The Time Commitment: Five hours. But before you panic, there’s only 25 minutes of combined prep and active cooking time — the rest is for chilling your cake.

Key Tips: Soft whipped cream is what we’re aiming for. To avoid curdling your cream or it forming “super stiff peaks,” Sally says it’s important not to over-beat it. Instead, you’ll want the texture to be “on the soft side where it’s thick like pudding, not like mousse.”

Other Takes: Got extra blueberries? Start with this Sheet Pan Blueberry Shortcake, guaranteed to impress dinner party guests. There’s also this jammy Blueberry Coffee Cake with a vanilla glaze that, in our opinion, doubles as breakfast. Not a cake person? Try this sweet, slightly tart Skillet Blueberry Cobbler (worth noting: you can also use a 8x8 baking dish) or these “buttery, shortbread-like” Blueberry Crumb Bars. Finally, you can go the cookie route with these supersoft Blueberry Cookies, topped with cream cheese frosting.

Looking for a Weekend Escape? Don’t Sleep on This New England Gem

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You may have heard of Mystic because of Mystic Pizza, but the ‘80s rom-com only shows a slice (don’t hate us) of the quaint, coastal Connecticut village. Before Julia Roberts stepped foot in town, Mystic was a major shipbuilding hub between the 17th and 19th centuries. Today, it makes for the ideal seaside respite from the city, or really, just everyday life. In addition to its rich maritime history, this New England treasure continues to attract visitors for its bustling downtown area, vibrant artistic community, and buzzy dining scene — that extends well beyond pizza.

🛏 Located in the heart of downtown, The Whaler’s Inn has been welcoming guests for over 125 years and houses five main buildings, each with its own history and nautical charm. Not to mention, the hotel is steps away from restaurants, galleries, and the Mystic Museum of Art. Come for the freshly baked cookies every afternoon and stay for the sublime sunset river views. 

⚓ While you’ll want to drive to Olde Mistick Village — a popular open-air shopping center designed as a 1720-style colonial village — the best way to take in downtown Mystic is by foot. Begin with the Mystic Seaport Museum, which boasts a recreated New England whaling village, a working shipyard, and more than 2 million artifacts, including the last existing wooden whaleship in the world. Afterwards, pop into Mystic Knotwork — the first and oldest knot shop in the country — and walk over the 102-year-old Mystic Drawbridge for some shopping and homemade ice cream.  

⛱️ Just a 25-minute drive over the Connecticut state line are the beaches of Watch Hill, Rhode Island. If you’re going to spend the day at one, make it East Beach (pro tip: go early to find parking) where you’ll be able to spot Taylor Swift’s famous summer house. After, stroll down Bay Street where you’ll find charming shops (check out The Candy Box) and the Flying Horse Carousel, claimed to be the oldest operating carousel in the country. If you’re feeling fancy, stop by the iconic Ocean House (where Olivia Culpo recently celebrated her nuptials) for a cocktail.

🍴 In recent years, Mystic’s food scene has made headlines. Start your morning with mouth-watering pastries at Sift Bake Shop and then midday, head over to Red 36 for fresh seafood while overlooking the water. For dinner, make a reservation at James Beard Award-winning restaurant The Shipwright’s Daughter or the Oyster Club (grab drinks at the Treehouse before), whose locally sourced menu changes daily. Finally, stop at the nautical-themed cocktail lounge The Port of Call — which Esquire has called one of the best bars in America.

We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:

Q: My partner’s mother generously gives us home decor, but it’s not my taste. When she last visited, I could tell she was upset her gifts weren’t displayed. How do I approach this?

“It’s not your job to satisfy the gift giver, but it is your job to care for the relationship. Just like you’d rotate blankets, throw pillows, or decor, think about incorporating your mother-in-law’s gift when you know she’s going to be visiting. [It’s not about the gift, but rather], making your mother-in-law feel respected. [Which] in the long-run, is more important.

[Another idea is] to include her. You could say, ‘I saw this article on modern design, and I’m thinking about adding some of these pieces to my room.’ Involving her in the conversation and the design gives her ideas for her next gift. Or if she knows you love a [certain] shop, then she's thinking, ‘Maybe I can get her a gift card’ ... It’s about preserving the relationship and keeping communications open.”

Let the games begin. We invited 11-time Olympic medalist Allyson Felix onto our new sports podcast, Well Played, to talk about her work to get the Olympic Village’s first nursery up and running and who she has her eye on in the women’s 200-meter. Olympic bronze medalist and former member of the USWNT Sam Mewis also stopped by to share her takes on the steepest soccer competition in this year’s Games and how to watch the matches like a pro. For smart, entertaining sports commentary by women for women, give it a listen (and a follow). Merci.

Unleash your competitive side with today’s games and puzzles. Choose from an anagram word search, digital jigsaw puzzle, or crossword (with a twist). Better yet: Try them all.

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