Eat, Read, Go: Crispy Gnocchi, “We Love You, Bunny,” and Woodstock

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. Apologies to friends and family reading this, but I’d be content to never attend another wedding — with one exception: Charli XCX and George Daniel’s second celebration in Sicily, which, virtually, was a cool-person convention. Between the guest list (somehow Lorde didn’t make it), the outfits (like Charli’s after-party look: a rumored $25 million necklace paired with a bra), and the sheer number of spritzes consumed, I’m a little (brat) green with envy. As for what else hurt my feelings this week: 

• The boots I owned, ruined, and promptly got rid of in college are not only back in style — but are “taking over for fall 2025.”

• Jennifer Lawrence boldly declared we’re resurrecting this divisive jean — which means I’ll have to answer my grandmother’s inevitable question: “Why would you pay money for that?”

• The historically very stylish Cameron Diaz channeled her best Adam Sandler, complete with oversized shorts and a bucket hat (I’m afraid I’ll never unsee it).

• Ever since I learned Kourtney Kardashian got these effortlessly cool bangs (the name could not be more on-brand), I’ve had intrusive thoughts about cutting my own.

• The fact that the wellness industry is going from targeting me to targeting my roommates. 

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

This Crispy, Comforting, One-Pan Gnocchi Recipe Is the Best Decision You’ll Make All Week

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Italian grandmothers, avert your eyes. Better yet, don’t, because we firmly believe that gnocchi are at their best when they’re pan-fried rather than boiled. You’ll see what we mean with Dishing Out Health’s One Pan Crispy Gnocchi with Sausage and Brussels. Not only is the weeknight dinner made with the store-bought kind, but it also comes together in just one skillet: The orbs of starchy goodness are seared until they’re crispy yet chewy, then combined with flavor-packed Italian sausage and caramelized Brussels sprouts. Toss everything with a garlicky, autumny, maple-cider sauce and a generous helping of Parmesan cheese — and you’ll wonder why you ever boiled gnocchi in the first place.

The Time Commitment: Just over 30 minutes — less time than your usual what-to-make-for-dinner? debate.

Key Tips: The secret to getting gloriously crusty gnocchi? Jamie Vespa (aka Dishing Out Health), says to let them sauté undisturbed. Otherwise, they’re more likely to stick together and less likely to brown. Plus, this recipe is easily adaptable: swap Brussels sprouts for green beans, kale, or broccolini, or use plant-based sausage for a vegetarian version.

Other Takes: If you’re ready to embrace store-bought gnocchi as a weeknight staple, try…

• Brown Butter Sage Cauliflower Gnocchi. Featuring perfectly tender butternut squash and a heavenly sauce, this is the greatest thing you can do with the Best Trader Joe’s Product of All Time. 

• Crispy Gnocchi with Burst Tomatoes and Mozzarella — essentially, a caprese salad, but in the form of an ooey, gooey, and deeply comforting dinner. No wonder it has 14,000 five-star reviews. 

• Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi. In addition to being hearty and impossible to mess up, this recipe requires a white wine that’s good enough to drink while cooking. Twist our arms.

We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad

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Misfit creative writing student attends an elite MFA program, joins a clique of rich girls called “The Bunnies,” and discovers they turn actual bunnies into men. That special kind of nightmare is exactly what unfolded in Mona Awad’s cult classic Bunny — the “dark academia” darling of many 2019 book clubs. Now, Awad is back with the highly anticipated follow-up, We Love You, Bunny. The prequel slash sequel picks up just as our former misfit (Samantha) has published her thinly veiled autobiographical debut, and the heavily featured bunnies are not pleased. So they do what any frenemies would do: kidnap Samantha from a book-tour stop, hold her captive, and tell their side of the story in a novel that’s just as unsettling and laugh-out-loud funny as the original. We asked the woman that Margaret Atwood called her “literary heir apparent” a few questions. Here’s what Awad had to say…

Q: What’s one thing you can’t stop listening to?

Awad: Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love. She was absolutely my North Star for this novel, and that is one of the best albums ever made.

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

Awad: A good blowout. Maybe more than 10%.

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

Awad: Dragonfruit overnight oats. It’s what I ate when I was writing We Love You, Bunny, and I fell in love with it. I wanted to start each day with a hot pink breakfast to get me in the mood — and I’ve never looked back.

Live Out Your Hallmark Movie Dreams in This Quintessential New England Town 

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In the Northeast, there are roughly 10 minutes between the collective acceptance that summer is over and the first (cursed) day of puffer season. OK, that might be a slight exaggeration — there’s at least enough time for a trip to Woodstock, Vermont. You’d be forgiven for packing up the car, queuing up “All Too Well,” and booking it there for the stunning fall foliage alone. But the small town ticks all the Vermontcore boxes: scenic hikes, a quaint main drag, Norman Rockwell-worthy accommodations (like the Woodstock Inn & Resort), a vibrant farm-to-table scene, and maple syrup-infused everything. Of course, you could also forget all those things and just follow the Vermont Cheese Trail — but, warning, you’ll never look at grocery store cheddar the same.

🍂 Does involuntarily repeating “ooh, look at that one” count as an activity? It does in Woodstock, where every fall adventure comes with a side of red- and gold-dappled trees. Like a visit to Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, where you can hike more than 20 miles of trails, including to Mount Tom’s roughly 1,360-foot-tall peak (well worth the panoramic views). Looking for something less strenuous? Take a quick drive to Quechee State Park to walk along the 165-foot-deep gorge — dubbed “Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon.” Or, pop by one of the many local farms: Sugarbush Farm is known for its maple syrup production, while Billings Farm & Museum is popular for its Jersey cows and cheeses.

🖼 Live out your Gilmore Girls fantasy, with a day wandering around Woodstock’s cute-as-a-button downtown. Start at The Green, where you can admire textbook New England homes and buildings (see: what may be the world’s most charming library) and cross the idyllic Middle Covered Bridge. After that, hit bustling Central and Elm streets to purchase foliage photos slightly more professional than the hundreds in your camera roll, flip through new releases at The Yankee Bookshop, and browse everything from puzzles to penny candy at F.H. Gillingham & Sons, a nearly 140-year-old general store. Finally, you are in Vermont, so it’s practically state law to buy something plaid (preferably from The Vermont Flannel Co.) and enjoy a maple creemee — no matter how cold it is.  

🧀 Look, if you want to drink maple syrup for breakfast, we’re not going to stop you. But you’ll probably prefer it poured over the challah French toast or steel-cut oatmeal at local institution Mon Vert Cafe. In the evening, have dinner at The Prince & the Pauper (expect hearty classics like tomato bisque, stuffed bell peppers, and filet mignon), followed by a nightcap at Au Comptoir, an auto shop turned chic cocktail bar. And if you also think visiting the local market is a key part of any trip, don’t leave town without swinging by the Woodstock Farmers’ Market to load up on personal-size pumpkin cheesecakes and — why not? — more cheese.

When you’re in a new city, best not to rely on an iffy Uber situation or impossible-to-read bus schedule and risk getting stranded. Do yourself a favor and rent a car, instead. With Booking.com, you can easily compare prices and find the right vehicle for your adventure, with options from all the major rental companies. Who’s up for a Eurotrip? 

Every season has that signature piece — the one you reach for on Mondays when your brain’s still on Sunday, and depend on when you’ve got dinner plans but refuse to sacrifice comfort. Enter: Vuori’s Halo Essential Wideleg Pant. Equal parts cozy (hi, DreamKnit™) and sleek, these pants are basically an autumn cheat code. Bonus: they come in short, regular, and long lengths — aka no hemming nightmares. Pair with sneakers, boots, or your comfiest socks. Congrats, your fall uniform just assembled itself.

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

Q: A couple weeks ago, I visited a close friend who lives in another city, and the guest bedroom and bathroom were so dirty, I almost got a hotel room. Is there a way to address this without embarrassing her? Or should I just let it go?

“If you’re never going to go to this person’s house again, it may not be worth having a formal sit-down to discuss the cleanliness of her home. If you are, you can approach it as a joint effort, so you’re staying in the present, and it doesn’t seem like you’re telling her what standards of cleanliness you think she should have. [The next time you stay with her], you could say something like: ‘I’m so excited for dinner tonight. Before we go, can you come help me clean up a bit so I can lay my stuff out while I get ready?’ or ‘I’ll run the vacuum really quick while you put your laundry away so we have space to relax and catch up.’ [That said], if staying with her is going to make you physically uncomfortable or anxious, you should ask yourself if it’s worth doing.

Also, if your friend normally maintains a certain standard of cleanliness, and you notice that things are uncharacteristically disheveled or unkempt, it might be an indicator of something bigger. For some people, this is the first sign of depression. I would ask how she’s doing, and pay attention to whether she seems engaged and connected.”

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.

The lead-up to vacation can feel like a full-time job. But Booking.com makes it easier to find budget-friendly flights that make sense for your schedule, with a comprehensive search that lets you compare prices across airlines. So you’ll have more time to do your laundry, plan your outfits, get your nails done, go to the dry cleaner, etc.