September 13, 2025

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. No, I will not be participating in the “Great Lock In.” But I will be locking myself in the house this weekend to give my wardrobe the refresh it desperately needs. Some questions I’ll ponder: Do the chunky necklaces of my 20s pass for "quirky decadence" — apparently, the theme of fall's biggest jewelry trends? Can I find jeans that look as good as Katie Holmes’s cozy yet effortlessly chic denim trousers? I’m not sure, but one thing I know is they won't be from the brand I was never cool enough to wear in high school — even if Kylie Jenner is courageously trying to bring it back. I also won’t be trying the boot trend that supposedly “makes every outfit instantly cooler” but is mostly giving me teenage house-party uniform flashbacks. In fact, the only 2000s revival I’m willing to support these days is this Disney Channel icon’s return to music. That is what dreams are made of. 

— Jamie Feldman  / Writer, Culture & Leisure / Brooklyn, NY

This Simple, Satisfying Chicken Meatballs with Orzo Recipe Is a Weeknight Dinner Dream

theSkimm

We aspire to be the kind of person who can throw together a perfectly roasted chicken on a random Monday night à la a Nancy Meyers movie (ideally, in one of those kitchens, too). But since our dinner-making situation is typically more Fast & Furious than The Holiday, it’s good to have a few easy-yet-impressive recipes in our rotation. Like Food by Maria’s Chicken Meatballs and Orzo. In the one-pan wonder, meatballs loaded with sundried tomatoes and parsley are baked alongside seasoned greens, fluffy orzo, and a lifetime supply of herbs — all of which is smothered in a wildly delicious dressing. Plus, the leftovers (should any survive) are excellent for lunch the next day.

The Time Commitment: 50 minutes, though the dish is in the oven for at least half of that time. You’re welcome.

Key Tips: We can all agree there are few things sadder than a dry meatball, right? So Maria Koutsogiannis (aka Food by Maria) says to mix the meatball ingredients until they’re just combined and to pull them out of the oven as soon as they’re cooked through. Also, this dish can be easily tailored to your taste or what you have on hand: sub rice for orzo; swap ground chicken with ground turkey or beef; and replace sundried tomatoes with artichoke hearts.

Other Takes: For more antidotes to your eating-dinner-over-the-sink proclivities (just us?), try..

• Lemony Pasta With Chickpeas and Parsely. We’ll make anything Melissa Clark, the Patron Saint of Weeknight Dinners, tells us to — especially a quickie recipe that clears your pantry.

• This Easy Chicken Enchilada recipe. Not only is it cheesy, saucy, and kid-friendly, but you can also use store-bought rotisserie chicken and enchilada sauce — so it truly lives up to its name.

• Grilled Corn Orzo Salad With Scallion Dill Dressing. Packed with edamame, arugula, and marinated artichoke hearts, this crowd-pleasing salad is summer corn’s grand finale.

The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham

theSkimm

Calling all Hilderbabes: The Queen of Beach Reads is back — and starting a new chapter. On Tuesday, Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter, Shelby Cunningham, will release The Academy, trading Nantucket’s sandy beaches for an elite New England boarding school where the students are known more for their social lives than their academic excellence. So when Tiffin is named the country’s second-best prep on move-in day, the year seems off to a strong, if surprising, start. But things quickly spiral when a new app begins delivering scandalous blind items about the students and staff, revealing that everyone — the resident queen, the new girl, the young history teacher — has secrets they want to hide. Expect everything Hilderbrand does best (imperfect protagonists, interpersonal chaos, deeply vivid food descriptions), plus, she says, “all the sex, drugs, and profanity.” We asked the authors a few questions. Here’s what they had to say…

Q: What's one unpopular opinion you have?

Hilderbrand: Summer does not end the day after Labor Day. It ends September 22. Related: I will not ingest any pumpkin spice before October 1.

Cunningham: I don’t like animals.

Q: What’s the last social media post you sent to your friends?

Hilderbrand: I send my friend Debbie atrocious and/or excellent names for children. Naming is our thing. 

Cunningham: I sent my roommate a TikTok that on one slide said, “Sober, working out, in bed by 9, academic grind, focusing on myself,” and on the next slide said, “...Until Thursday.”

Q: If you were stranded on a desert island and could only eat one thing, what would it be?

Hilderbrand: Tuna fish sandwiches.

Cunningham: Dino nuggets.

We’re Calling It: This Is the World’s Most Underrated Wine Region — At Least, for Now

theSkimm

Finish this sentence: Bordeaux is to France as ______ is to Spain. The correct answer? La Rioja. Located less than an hour and a half south of Bilbao, Spain’s most prized wine region is home to more than 500 wineries (or, “bodegas”), mind-bending contemporary architecture, dramatic landscapes, and sun-drenched medieval cities and towns. Like Logroño, the capital of La Rioja and an ideal home base. Check into the Áurea Palacio de Correos, then stroll winding cobblestone streets, pop into ancient churches and art galleries, sip impossibly affordable wine, and walk a small stretch of the Camino de Santiago. And if all that sounds a bit exhausting? Remember, you’re in the land of the siesta.

🍷 Let’s start with the reason you’re here: the bold reds. Whether you join a guided tour or do your own thing, your first stop should be Bodegas Ysios — with its women-led wine-making team, postcard-worthy mountain views, and eye-popping building designed by Santiago Calatrava. Two other spots where the architecture is almost as epic as the pours? Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal, which topped the World’s Best Vineyards list last year and includes an avant-garde masterpiece by Frank Gehry. Plus, R. López de Heredia, known for its aged wines and Zaha Hadid-designed tasting room in nearby Haro. There, you’ll also find Barrio de la Estación, a historic district with six approximately century-old wineries in walking distance, like family-run Bodegas Muga.

🗺️ La Rioja is filled with ridiculously idyllic towns and villages, many of which are less than an hour’s drive away. Head to Laguardia to wander around mazelike streets, browse cute boutiques, and soak up what some say is the area’s most picturesque town. Though teeny-tiny Briones is equally worthy of that title, thanks to its medieval buildings, stunning scenery, and impressive wine museum chronicling 8,000-plus years of wine-making history and showcasing some 220 grape varieties from around the world. Finally, design enthusiasts shouldn’t miss Ezcaray. Specifically, Mantas Ezcaray, a textile company that’s famous for mohair blankets and scarves — and collabs with high-end fashion brands, like Hermès and Loewe.

🍴If there’s one thing Logroño takes more seriously than wine, it’s pintxos — or bite-sized snacks that should be eaten while standing (we don’t make the rules). Head to Calle del Laurel and Calle San Juan, which are lined with dozens of bars focused on one or two specialities: Bar Soriano serves garlicky mushrooms topped with prawns, Bar Lorenzo is popular for its marinated pork sandwich, and Bar Sebas offers a Spanish tortilla with spicy sauce. Ready for a sit-down meal? Try Michelin-starred Ikaro, where the husband-and-wife chefs draw inspiration from their respective Basque and Ecuadorian roots. And don’t leave without sampling DellaSera’s inventive ice cream flavors, like lemon cream with olive oil and aged goat cheese with berries.

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.

Your friend finally got the promotion she deserved. Someone you love moved to a new city for a fresh start. Another one is going through a breakup. Enter: Hallmark's everyday cards that help you acknowledge the moments that matter most — big or small. Because your friends deserve to feel seen and supported, so why not give them something special to hang on their fridge?*

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

Q: My sister-in-law asked to borrow one of my nice purses for a wedding, but she has a history of losing things or not taking care of them, so I don't trust her with it. How can I say no, without making it personal?

“The key is to respond with tactful options that won’t hurt her feelings and still show you care … [That could mean] offering a different purse from your collection that you'd feel comfortable lending. Or, another option is to propose a fun outing to shop for a purse that she can use for the wedding, as well as future events, without the anxiety of having to return borrowed items in perfect condition … [And] if she explicitly asks why a particular purse is off limits, you may need to be more direct and explain that you prefer to not lend your most special or sentimental pieces, but that you’re excited to help her find something stunning she’ll love.”

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.