Eat, Read, Go: Basil Vinaigrette Pasta, “Park Avenue,” and Santa Barbara

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. Tomorrow is my birthday — but unlike my fellow Gemini Emily Ratajkowski, I’ll be celebrating with a…far less cheeky cake. A few other things on the agenda for my big day:

• Treat myself to an expensive-looking, two-piece skirt set, which instantly makes it seem like you’ve got your life together (a gift, indeed).

• Read up on The Traitors. Now that the season 4 cast has been announced — and includes a certain Kelce, a Laguna Beach alum, and a Real Housewives icon — I’m in. 

• Try what Olympian Ilona Maher describes as her “version of a sound bath” (I promise, it’s not what you think).

• Learn how to pull off the “lazy luxury” trend. It’s apparently the new quiet luxury and “a lower-effort take on peak richness.”

• Pray someone surprises me with the kitchen-drawer upgrade of my dreams (I just know it’d make me 20 times happier).

• Finally, because I firmly believe in two-a-day desserts, I’ll make Chocolate Chip Cookie Brittle — essentially, a sheet pan of buttery, perfectly crispy edge pieces.

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

A Basil Pasta So Obsessively Good, It Changed Our Beliefs Entirely 

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As soon as June rolls around, we become devout members of the Cold-Foods-Only Club. But when we came across this Basil Vinaigrette Pasta from What’s Gaby Cooking? Well, we folded — fast. In addition to being almost too easy (it takes less time to make than an episode of And Just Like That…), the light, bright, and supremely summery dish features delightfully al dente noodles, crunchy zucchini, and slightly sweet shallots. But the real star of the show is a basil vinaigrette so delicious, it’ll occupy your every thought between now and Labor Day (we would know).

The Time Commitment: Just 15 minutes. Because the only thing that should be high-effort right now is your SPF.

Key Tips: In case it wasn’t clear, you’ll want to put this basil vinaigrette on everything — so double or triple the recipe, then portion a batch into an ice cube tray and freeze. That way, according to Gaby Dalkin (aka What’s Gaby Cooking), you can “add a little pizazz to any dish at a moment’s notice.” Also, if you don’t have enough basil, use cilantro, chives, or other herbs. No zucchini? Swap in corn or whatever summer veggies you’ve got on hand.

Other Takes: For more pasta recipes that are worth spending a few minutes standing over the stove, try… 

• This luscious-but-not-heavy Lemon Artichoke Capellini. It’s made largely from pantry ingredients, topped with garlicky breadcrumbs, and destined to become a weeknight staple.

• Creamy Corn Pasta With Basil, which, according to one commenter, is the answer to two very important questions: “Do you want to be happy? Do you want to make the most of life?” 

• Restaurant-worthy Saucy Green Pasta With Calabrian Breadcrumbs, featuring a sauce that falls somewhere between a pesto and green goddess dressing — a wildly tasty place to be.

Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh 

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Cross Crazy Rich Asians with Succession and Schitt’s Creek, and you get Renée Ahdieh’s Park Avenue. Her latest novel follows Jia, the daughter of Korean immigrants and an ambitious junior law firm partner who’s this close to making her lifelong dream of owning a gold-on-gold Birkin come true (relatable). So when her boss ropes her into a high-stakes case, she’s all in. But the clients are none other than Sora, Suzy, and Minsoo Park — the three squabbling children of one of the wealthiest (and pettiest) Korean families on the planet. United behind one goal, they’re trying to take down their father, convinced he’s hiding assets and cheating their terminally ill mother in a messy divorce. Jia’s job? Protect their fortune — and her future — in just 30 days. We asked Ahdieh a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: What’s the last thing you read that you can’t stop thinking about?

Ahdieh: Sarah MacLean’s These Summer Storms. It was delicious and decadent and everything I love about Sarah and her writing.

Q: What’s your favorite unapologetic indulgence?

Ahdieh: Poutine and a good book.

Q: What’s one recipe everyone should make?

Ahdieh: Homemade bibimbap. You can put anything you want in it, and it’s always a winner.

Visit This Coastal California City Once, and You’ll Want to Move Here ASAP

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If a trip to the Mediterranean isn’t in the cards anytime soon, good news: There’s a Spanish Riviera dupe a couple hours outside Los Angeles. Yes, we’re talking about Santa Barbara, the coastal California enclave that’s long been dubbed the “American Riviera” — thanks to its spectacular sandy beaches, almost always perfect weather, established food and wine scenes, ridiculously chic hotels (stay at Drift Santa Barbara), and stunning Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Add in day trips to Montecito (where residents include Oprah and a certain royal couple) and Santa Ynez Valley (a must-visit for wine lovers), and a scoop from McConnell’s — and you’ll be pulling up Zillow listings before your trip is over.

👟 Spend a day on State Street, Santa Barbara’s palm tree-lined main drag. It’s packed with buzzy restaurants, hip tasting rooms and wine bars (don’t miss the natural pours at Satellite), cultural gems like the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (its 25,000-plus works range from Impressionist paintings to classical antiquities), and a dizzying number of cute boutiques. Those include Domecíl (for handwoven baskets, ceramic bowls, and more coastal-cool home decor) and Diani (for boho-chic clothes and accessories). And pay a visit to the nearby Santa Barbara County Courthouse (yes, you read that right), which boasts a climbable clock tower with 360-degree views, impressive murals, and sunken gardens. 

🌊 Now, for the main event: the glorious, cliff-draped beaches. Rent a bike and cruise along the 4.5-mile-long Cabrillo Bike Path, which hugs the coastline and passes some postcard-worthy spots. Stop at East Beach (one of the largest and liveliest), Leadbetter Beach (a go-to for surfers), and Butterfly Beach (a local fave with calmer vibes and striking sunsets). For more aquatic activities, explore the Santa Barbara Harbor via kayak or paddleboard (keep an eye out for sea lions), join a whale-watching excursion, or book a boat tour to Channel Islands National Park — where tide pools, scenic hikes, and more wildlife than a Nat Geo special await.

🍴 Santa Barbara takes its tacos seriously — so, naturally, your first agenda item should be Lilly’s Taqueria, a no-frills spot known for pillowy corn tortillas, marinated pork adobada, and an extensive salsa bar. For dinner, head to Bettina, where exceptional wood-fired pizzas (topped with hand-pulled mozzarella and seasonal ingredients) are served alongside whipped ricotta and cacio e pepe arancini. Or, snag a reservation at Barbareño for California-inspired dishes, like grilled avocado and halibut crudo — and whatever you do, don’t skip the Baked California for dessert.

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

Q: My partner often gets overexcited and cuts people off midsentence. I don’t want to make them feel bad, but I’m worried friends and family think they’re being rude. What’s the best way to bring this up?

“It’s important to be able to give our partners constructive feedback, so you’re on the right track. Rehearse what you’d like to say, so you feel strong and clear … especially if your partner is sensitive. You might say something like: ‘I’ve noticed you get really excited when you’re having conversations with other people, [which] is something I love and admire about you. And because I care about you so much, I wanted to let you know that sometimes — particularly when you’re excited — you cut people off. I’m bringing this to your attention because I know how much you value being kind and respectful to others, and I hope you’d do the same for me.’  

… Ideally, you should find a time when you’re both calm — not hungry, angry, lonely, tired, or stressed. If you feel anxious, take a moment to breathe and remind yourself you’re coming from a place of care. Then, ask your partner if they have time for a quick chat, which helps get their buy-in and sets the stage for a positive interaction … The more you practice open and honest conversations, the easier they’ll become.”

If a “summer friday” were a purse, we just know it’d be DKNY’s new Paula Commuter Tote. This bag is what happens when a sleek office purse meets a spacious weekend away tote. It has just enough structure to give it shape, but the sides are fully adjustable in case you want to switch up the silhouette. Plus, it comes with a removable pouch to keep smaller essentials easily accessible. Just like an early sign-off, this bag isn’t so much a want but a need.*

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.