Eat, Read, Go: Tropical Drinks, “A New New Me,” and Cardiff

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. As someone who has spent the last 30 years, give or take, suffering from the (very unofficial) condition known as “sweat rage,” I’ll admit this week’s freakishly cold weather sparked a little joy. Now, while I’m not willing to go full-PSL mode just yet, I will add a few trends to my fall starter pack, including:

• If the effortlessly cool vibes of jeans and a tee came in a slightly elevated form, it would be this dress — which, no surprise, is already being called the “Next Wardrobe Hero.”

• Forget Carrie Bradshaw-coded rosettes — this unexpected flower is taking the fashion world by storm.

• If you, like me, look chronically awful in button-downs, try one in this color (somehow, even chicer than classic white) and follow these brilliant, not-at-all-basic styling tricks.

• Finally, not to be dramatic, but Hailey Bieber’s faded French manicure might be the only thing everyone can agree on — and that’s coming from someone historically against nail art.

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

Summer might be winding down, but your hydration streak shouldn’t. With 5g of collagen, 3g of prebiotic fiber, and electrolytes, FlavCity's Anytime Essentials are here to help you transition into the fall. Each stick is packed with flavor from real fruit, so whether you're clinging to summer with tropical coconut flavors or channeling back-to-school energy with caffeinated tea blends, it's the kind of functional upgrade that doesn’t sacrifice taste. Water you waiting for? (Sorry, had to.)*

A New New Me by Helen Oyeyemi

theSkimm

If you think managing your personality during your luteal and follicular phases is impossible, imagine having an entirely different identity for each day of the week. That’s the nightmare at the center of Helen Oyeyemi’s A New New Me. In the novel, we meet a 40-year-old woman named Kinga. Well, Kinga-A through Kinga-G, depending on the day. Each version wakes up with almost no memory of what the others did, so the Kingas leave voice memos and diary entries to stay somewhat aligned. But things spiral when Kinga-A finds a handsome man tied up in her apartment. Naturally, questions quickly arise: Who is he? How did he get there? And, more importantly, who took him in and why? We asked Oyeyemi a few of our own questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: What’s your shortcut to relaxation?

Oyeyemi: Remembering and fully appreciating that I don’t ever have to go to maths class again.

Q: What’s one unpopular opinion you have?

Oyeyemi: Cats (2019) is an avant-garde banger with high rewatch value. Years from now, this film will get some of the respect Cocteau’s films do.

Q: What’s one thing you’re an armchair expert on?

Oyeyemi: Gong Yoo’s facial expressions. And few things make me happier than coming across fellow experts. Let’s rewatch Coffee Prince, the first episode of Squid Game season 2, or any other gem featuring GY, and discuss everything.

This Is the Vibrant UK Capital That Brits Hope You Never Discover

theSkimm

We’re well aware that when it comes to UK vacation destinations, Cardiff probably isn’t the first spot that comes to mind. But while everyone has been looking the other way (or, more accurately, at London and Edinburgh), Wales’s capital has quietly become one of Britain’s most exciting cities. Here, you can watch Dirty Dancing on the grounds of a fairytale-like castle, eat at restaurants that would cost twice as much in London, stay at an actually affordable luxury hotel (see: The Parkgate), and wander through streets so idyllic, they often double as movie sets. Not to mention, there are enough parks, bars, and cultural gems to have you feeling the “hwyl” (the Welsh version of “hygge”) for days.

🏰 At the heart of city is Cardiff Castle, a fortress with a nearly 2,000-year history, a 12th-century stone keep (climb to the top for sweeping views), Roman walls, and no-expense-spared living quarters (Game of Thrones set designers are jealous of the fantastically over-the-top fireplaces and gold-gilded ceilings). Next, swing by Bute Park’s storied arboretum to walk among 3,000 trees, followed by the National Museum Cardiff — where the neoclassical facade rivals its collection of Impressionist art. Finally, meander through the Victorian- and Edwardian-era shopping arcades, like the Royal Arcade (visit Uncommon Ground for coffee and Wally’s Delicatessen for local cheeses) or Morgan Arcade, home to the world’s oldest record store.

👟 Don’t sleep on the areas surrounding the city center, which have just as much — if not more — charm and character. One standout is Cardiff Bay, a former port turned ultramodern waterfront boasting something for everyone: tour the Senedd to see where the Welsh Parliament meets; learn about exploding stars and distant galaxies at Techniquest’s 360-degree planetarium; catch a show at Wales Millennium Centre, the country’s main performing arts venue; and stroll the Barrage, a walkway that connects Cardiff to the quaint seaside town of Penarth. Looking for something more low key? Head to stylish Pontcanna, where you’ll find lush parks, grand townhouses, hip shops and cafes, and Cardiff’s first Michelin-starred restaurant.

🍴 Start your day with a trip to Cardiff Market, where famously chatty vendors sell everything from inventive fusion tacos to warm, hand-griddled Welsh cakes. For dinner, make a reservation at The Potted Pig — a fixture of the local food scene, with a British-Italian menu of fish cakes, braised lamb shoulder, and exceptional sticky toffee pudding. Or, try Indian hotspot Purple Poppadom to feast on curry-dusted softshell crabs, the chef’s signature seared sea bass, and four types of naan. Wherever you eat, end the night at The Dead Canary, a speakeasy-style bar serving quirky cocktails with a side of jazz music.

You’ve figured out your next vacation destination. Great choice. Skip the scramble for a place to stay and use Booking.com. It serves up thousands of vetted hotels, villas, apartments, and other accommodations that you can filter according to your nice-to-haves and nonnegotiables. Plus, their price match guarantee helps you lock in the best rate. Enjoy that (necessary) hot tub.

Brie Larson (yes, that Academy Award–winning Brie) and Courtney McBroom (chef and former culinary director of Milk Bar) want to help you reframe how you gather. In this Skimm+ event, they’ll share their eight-step blueprint for nights that actually spark connection — plus recipes that double as conversation starters (Doritos Canapés, anyone?).

✨ Why you’ll want in: Their new book Party People is about more than food — it’s about building joy and community. This is your first look.

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

Q: My coworker has breakfast and lunch at her desk and is a very noisy eater. I find it distracting and rude, so is there a polite way to ask her to be quieter?

“Before pointing out someone else’s annoying habit, remember that we all do irritating things that others overlook. If you take a straightforward approach and tell her that she has bad table manners, there’s no guarantee she’ll correct them. In fact, she could even eat louder or more frequently or stop talking to you. One option could be to casually comment, ‘sounds delicious’ or ‘I always know when it’s lunchtime.’ Though both are, admittedly, a little sassy. Some more-polite options include:

• Take your break when she eats.

• Have your earbuds handy, so you can play music during her meals.

• Say something like, ‘It’s great that you enjoy your lunch so much, but it can make it hard to concentrate.’ She may try to curb her chomping for a while, but habits are hard to break.

• If your office has a suggestion box, you could recommend a new policy: No eating at your desk.”

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.