Eat, Read, Go: Easy Fresh Strawberry Sheet Cake, "Flashlight," and the Finger Lakes

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. Just as it seemed that Glen Powell apparently going on a date with this Laguna Beach star would be the most shocking thing I saw all week, I discovered Sex and the City’s Trey MacDougal — sorry, Kyle MacLachlan — recreated Lorde’s “What Was That” music video (between the dance moves and the baggier-than-baggy jeans, it’s a lot to digest). While I process that, I’ll…

• Contemplate the deeply polarizing, ’90s-inspired shoe that, despite all odds and logic, continues to have a chokehold on every stylish person in NYC.

• Purchase “summer’s must-have item”: These easy, breezy, pajama-adjacent pants (I fear they’re the only way to survive the heat and humidity, while still looking cool and chic).

• Copy Jennifer Lawrence’s “fail-safe styling trick” for elevating even the schlumpiest outfit.

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

We’re Calling It: This Strawberry Sheet Cake Is the Dessert of the Summer

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Apologies to strawberry shortcake, but there is a time and place for a baking project — and, if we’re being honest, rarely is it the case. Perhaps that explains why we’re evangelists of Bake With Zoha’s Easy Fresh Strawberry Sheet Cake. Perfect for peak strawberry season, the fixation-worthy recipe is exceptionally simple to make (there’s no roasting, layering, or fancy stand mixer required), and the delightfully light and fluffy cake tastes like actual strawberries (a surprisingly tricky feat). Top it with tangy cream-cheese frosting and fresh strawberry slices, then eat it barefoot on a porch — or anywhere, really — for maximum enjoyment.

The Time Commitment: One hour, start to finish — including cooling. You’re welcome. 

Key Tips: While fresh strawberries are ideal, you can use frozen ones — just thaw them for 30 minutes beforehand. Also, for the prettiest presentation (yes, looks matter), you’ll want strawberry specks throughout, so Zoha Malik (aka Bake With Zoha) says to pulse the fruit in the food processor until it’s 90% pureed. And don’t hesitate to add a few drops of food coloring to get that perfect pink hue.

Other Takes: For more of our favorite strawberry recipes (it was not easy to whittle them down), try…

• Mini Strawberry Cream Cake, in which a part-sponge, part-pound cake base is topped with fluffy whipped cream and fresh berries — and is technically big enough to share with one or two people. But we wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t.

• Gloriously ooey, gooey Upside-Down Strawberry Skillet Cake, featuring a buttery vanilla-cornmeal base and a topping of jammy, spiced strawberries that’s impossible not to pick at (speaking from experience). 

• These supremely soft and chewy Strawberries & Cream Cookies, which take less than 30 minutes to make and are described as “another great reason to eat cookies for breakfast.” Not that you needed one.

Flashlight by Susan Choi

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At the heart of Susan Choi’s Flashlight is one fateful evening: Ten-year-old Louisa takes a walk on a beach with her dad, a gruff, Korean-born academic named Serk. Not long after, Serk has vanished — presumed drowned — and Louisa is found half alive, with almost no memory of what happened. From there, the story unfolds in unpredictable ways, skipping through time, place, and perspective to trace the fallout, which includes Louisa’s unraveling, her mother’s mysterious illness, and the sudden appearance of a secret half brother. But as the years pass, one thing becomes increasingly clear: Serk’s disappearance wasn’t what it seemed. Spanning decades and continents, expect a gripping mystery about identity, memory, and the wreckage we carry — even when we think we’ve moved on. We asked the National Book Award winner and author of Trust Exercise a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

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

Choi: Meditation. It’s actually made me 100% happier.

Q: What’s the one thing you can't leave the house without?

Choi: My EpiPen, because certain stinging insects have the power to kill me.

Q: What’s one thing everyone needs to watch?

Choi: Their manners! Ha, just kidding. I truly have no idea — I never manage to watch anything. I still haven’t watched The Sopranos.

The Best Weekend Getaway in New York Is Hiding in Plain Sight

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When it comes to upstate New York getaways, the Catskills are probably the first that come to mind. But allow us to (politely) redirect your compass west — to the Finger Lakes. Specifically, Ithaca, the ideal home base for exploring the criminally underrated region. Once you’ve arrived (stay at the historic Argos Inn), prepare for incredible hikes along rocky gorges and cascading waterfalls, lazy afternoons on the lake, rich history (see: the birthplace of the women’s suffrage movement in nearby Seneca Falls), farm-to-table feasts, day trips to charming villages and towns (don’t skip Skaneateles), and some of the world’s most interesting Rieslings. We’ll raise a glass to that.

🥾 We wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t tell you to get outside. Sure, the 11 Finger Lakes are an obvious draw (think: boating, kayaking, paddleboarding), but the region also boasts hundreds of miles of trails, plus an impressive number of waterfalls — many right in or around Ithaca. Some of the most popular? The Taughannock Falls Gorge Trail (for dramatic views of a waterfall taller than Niagara Falls); Watkins Glen State Park, where the gorge path winds around 19 waterfalls and looks like something out of a fantasy novel; and Robert Treman State Park (bring a bathing suit so you can swim under the Lower Falls). But if you’re more into peaceful strolls than uphill climbs (we get it), the Cornell Botanic Gardens offer a stunningly serene escape.

🍷 With more than 100 wineries, the Finger Lakes are essentially New York’s version of Napa — except they’re much more affordable and relaxed. Whether you follow one of the established wine trails (we’re partial to Seneca Lake, the largest and arguably most idyllic) or map out your own sip-and-stroll, expect lots of riesling, chardonnay, and cab franc — the region’s main characters. Be sure to stop by: Ravines Wine Cellars (a pioneer of the area’s bone-dry, super minerally riesling); Forge Cellars (the A+ atmosphere and charcuterie can’t be beat); and Red Newt Cellars (the semidry riesling is an excellent summer sipper).

🍴 Visting on a weekend? For the best start to your day, fuel up at Gimme! Coffee’s Cayuga Street location, then head to the Ithaca Farmers Market to pick up fresh produce, exquisite baked goods, and locally made honey and jams. When you’re ready for dinner, swing by Le Café Cent-Dix for superb moules-frites, beef tartare, and other French-bistro classics. Or, make a reservation at F.L.X. Table in Geneva, where the seasonal tasting menu — served at a single 14- to 16-seat farmhouse table — is well worth the drive. Finally, cap it all off with a scoop from Purity Ice Cream, a local staple since 1936.

Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear sneakers with arch support. Or a baseball hat that has seen better days. Fathers — and father figures like uncles, brothers, and grandpas — show up in all kinds of ways. Celebrate yours with Hallmark’s Father’s Day collection. Whether he’s into dad jokes, sports stats, or grilling gear, you’ll find crowd-pleasers for every type of dad — even the ones who say they “don’t need anything.” Add to cart (then call your dad).*

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

Q: My partner ignores my restaurant and vacation destination suggestions — but when their friends talk about the same place, it’s suddenly a great idea. I’ve tried pointing this out, but they’ve denied it. How else can I address it?

“It’s possible your partner doesn’t even realize they’re doing this … [Consider saying] something like, ‘Do you ever notice how, when I suggest something, it gets ignored, but when your friends say it later, it’s genius?’ 

If you bring it up once or twice and nothing shifts, [don’t] stew in silence. That’s a fast track to resentment. [Instead], step out of the dynamic. The next time you’re making plans for dinner,  book the reservation and say it’s a surprise, or if you want to play nice, offer two choices and let them pick. Vacations? [That’s a] bigger investment. Then again, so is your future. You’re their partner, not their concierge. So stop scrolling Google Flights and start asking: Where else am I being dismissed?”

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.

Can you really call yourself a pro traveler if you don’t have CLEAR+?

We think not. It’s a fast, easy way to verify your identity so you can get to your gate faster. Enroll now to get two months free of CLEAR+. Or, sign up for $169 per year — that’s $30 off. Less time waiting in line = more time at the MAC kiosk at duty free.