Yesterday was the autumnal equinox, so fall has officially arrived! What are your hopes and dreams for the season (apart from eating Reese’s pumpkins every night after dinner)? Just for fun, here is a juice-y list of fun stuff to read, watch, cook and wear…
Movies: In King Richard (November 19), Will Smith plays the doting, determined father of tennis champs Serena and Venus Williams. “One of the greatest honors as an actor is to be able to celebrate someone’s legacy while they’re still here creating it,” Smith wrote on Instagram. The trailer looks great, and my hope is that this biopic won’t be a hagiography and shy away from the more complicated sides of each person. Fingers crossed. Side note: how much do you love the track jackets?
Tomorrow night, I’m going to see I’m Your Man (September 24), and I can’t wait. The German film follows a scientist in Berlin, who must live for three weeks with a humanoid robot designed to be the perfect life partner for her. As you can imagine — especially because the robot is played by Dan Stevens — her feelings get complicated. “Don’t humans say, ‘Love knows no bounds?’” he asks her; but, she wonders, can you love something that’s not real?
TV: The third season of Succession drops October 17th — is your calendar marked?! The satirical drama about the wildly rich Roy family, all fighting for control of their media corporation, is one of the most fast-paced, jaw-dropping TV shows I’ve ever seen. To be honest, I hated the first couple episodes — the characters were just so awful — but then got swept up and now I’m addicted. Do you watch it?
And, on October 24th, the award-winning comedy-drama Insecure kicks off its fifth and final season. In the fourth season’s finale, Issa learned that Lawrence’s ex-girlfriend is pregnant, and now we’ll discover what happens next. “Whatever it is, I just want her to find her footing and be okay — and also not broke,” says Issa Rae, co-creator and star.
For kids, The Wonder Years reboot started last night, and The Baby-sitters Club season two premieres October 11th.
Books: Good news: comedian Phoebe Robinson — co-host of 2 Dope Queens — is coming out with a new collection of essays, Please Don’t Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes (September 28). She discusses her relationships with her boyfriend (nicknamed “British Baekoff”), her decision not to have children, and the continual struggle to love her 4C hair — but, honestly, she could write about staring at a brick wall and I would still preorder this book.
My favorite novel is Olive Kitteridge, and now the Pulitzer-Prize-winning author Elizabeth Strout is coming out with a new one, Oh William! (October 19). It centers on an older woman embarking on a road trip with her ex-husband; and while that premise might sound mundane, I can tell you, THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. I was lucky enough to nab a review copy, and I want to shout from the rooftops about this gorgeous novel, which reads like you’re chatting with a dear friend who tells funny anecdotes and analyzes people you both know.
Other much anticipated books this fall: Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr (September 28) and Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead (September 14).
Recipes: Alex and I are always looking for food inspiration, so I’m curious: what are you cooking these days? I bookmarked this bright chicken salad to have in the fridge for quick lunches. And for dinner, zucchini butter spaghetti from Deb Perelman, who always gets it right.
Beauty: Fall is such a fun season for beauty, don’t you think? Recently, I’ve been skipping lipstick and doubling down on rosy cheeks. For a berry color, I LOVE this stick. Also, maybe a good old hair tuck? For silky skin, our marketing director Maureen swears by Follain Glow Oil after showers; and of course this little guy, always and forever.
Fashion: Lastly, every time we sit outside for a drink or walk around the neighborhood, I’ve been spotting women wearing Mary Janes. The shoes look cool and casual with jeans and a top. Also, here’s a great workhorse shirt and a ruffle blouse with Döen vibes. (By the way, major applause to Old Navy for now carrying ALL their styles in sizes 0-30, both online and in stores. And on their website, you can see different models wearing small, large or extra large sizes, so you can better envision what pieces will look like on your body. Bravo!)
What other recommendations would you add? I’d love to hear…
P.S. The ultimate TV guide, and funny dos and don’ts.
(Top photo by Stella Blackmon.)