Eat, Read, Go: Teriyaki Salmon Bowl, “The Wilderness,” and Wilmington

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. Ever since I heard Shosh (sorry, Zosia Mamet) say she’d be “1,000% on board” for this Girls spinoff, I’ve had intrusive thoughts about cold-emailing Lena Dunham with potential plotlines. Instead, eagerly await the Deadline announcement and obsess over the other things taking up real estate in my brain this week: 

• Olivia Colman’s appearance on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast — particularly, the extremely relatable thing that’s making the Oscar winner laugh right now.

• The incredibly easy, Olsen twins-inspired hairstyle that I’d forgotten all about — until Elle Fanning chicly resurrected it at Fashion Week.

• Whether I need the exact lipstick Belly wore in The Summer I Turned Pretty finale (who am I kidding, of course I do).

• The surprisingly practical accessory that’ll soon be everywhere. Consider it a dream come true if you, like me, suffer from the feminine urge to carry as many things as possible in one hand. 

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

These Easy, Flavor-Packed Salmon Bowls Are Here to Save the Day — Or, At Least, Dinner

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Whichever ancient man came up with the saying “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” definitely wasn’t talking about rice bowls — but perhaps he should’ve been. Specifically, The Modern Proper’s Teriyaki Salmon Bowl with Wasabi Dressing. The wickedly easy recipe pairs  fluffy, ever-so-slightly sweet coconut rice with an ideal combination of carby-crunchy-creamy elements. Think: teriyaki-glazed salmon bites, itty-bitty edamame, cucumber and avocado slices, and an obsessively good wasabi dressing. Add a sprinkle of cilantro and sesame seeds — and you’ve got a weeknight-friendly dinner bowl at its absolute best.

The Time Commitment: Just over an hour. But if you marinate the salmon overnight, you’ll shave off 30 minutes.

Key Tips: True to form, this bowl is endlessly riffable. Don’t love coconut? White or brown rice works equally well, according to Holly Erickson and Natalie Mortimer (aka The Modern Proper). No wasabi paste? Replace the dressing with sriracha mayo. Also, for extra goodness, pile on shredded carrots, snap peas, sliced radishes, and pickled veggies.

Other Takes: Want more build-your-own-bowl ideas? Try…

• Peanut Chicken Spring Roll Bowls, featuring tender vermicelli noodles and a plethora of colorful veggies. This speedy recipe is essentially the Vietnamese classic, deconstructed.

• Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl. As the name suggests, it includes everything you love about the original (namely, that rice) — minus the extra charge for guac.

• Cauliflower Shawarma Bowls. A happy jumble of flavors and textures, this vegetarian dish is loaded with crispy chickpeas, bold spices, and a slather-it-on-everything green tahini sauce.

The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy

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If the world is burning down, at least we have each other? OK, that’s a text from our group chat — but it’s also the premise of Angela Flournoy’s The Wilderness. The aptly titled novel follows five Black women over two decades, beginning in their 20s: Desiree moves through jobs and boyfriends with zero sense of direction. Her sister, Danielle, struggles with their estrangement. Monique, a librarian, aspires to be an influencer. Nakia tries to open her first restaurant. And pregnant January questions her relationship with the baby’s father. Described as “elegant and unsettling,” the sweeping saga — already named a 2025 National Book Award finalist — will have you hooked and nodding along, as the women reckon with their friendships, the messiness of adulthood, and the shifting world around them. We asked Flournoy — author of 2015’s The Turner House — 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?

Flournoy: The Devil Three Times by Rickey Fayne. It’s an intergenerational novel set primarily in Tennessee, from preemancipation days to present day. Not only do you grow to know and love many members of a single family over decades, but the novel is hilarious, has fantastical elements, and features the Devil as an enigmatic trickster character.

Q: What’s one thing you’re an armchair expert on?

Flournoy: Which Mariah Carey lyrics have the best multisyllabic words. 

Q: What’s a corner of the internet you recently discovered?

Flournoy: I find looking at before-and-after videos of tattoo cover-ups deeply therapeutic. It’s an Instagram rabbit hole that’s worth jumping down if you like to think about the changing human body, aesthetics, and impermanence.

There’s a Reason This Criminally Underrated Beach Town Looks Pretty Familiar 

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Pour out a pomegranate margarita: The sun has set on The Summer I Turned Pretty...for now. Whether you were Team Conrad, Team Jeremiah, or Team Date Someone Outside the Family, one thing all fans can agree on is Wilmington, North Carolina. Not only is the coastal enclave the real-life location of Cousins Beach (not to mention, Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill), but it’s also one of the country’s most underrated beach towns. Though, to be clear, it offers much more than just beach. There’s also a buzzy food scene, vibrant shopping areas (don’t miss the Cargo District, made of repurposed shipping containers), a ridiculously charming downtown, dreamy boutique hotels (stay at Arrive Wilmington), and, of all things, a highly rated ghost tour slash pub crawl. So, yeah, it’s definitely worth coming back from Paris for.

⛵️ Even in the offseason, Wilmington’s three nearby beaches boast plenty of reasons to visit. Fans of the boat life should head to Wrightsville Beach for sunset sails and charcuterie-filled cruises to a blissfully unspoiled barrier island and nature reserve (keep an eye out for dolphins). Hook-and-net enthusiasts should cast a line from Kure Beach’s 711-foot fishing pier, one of the Atlantic coast’s oldest. And for those who prefer to stay on land, Carolina Beach offers an old-school boardwalk and easy access to Carolina Beach State Park, home to serene trails, a massive dune, and lots of Venus flytraps — native to this small pocket of North Carolina. Speaking of plants, green thumbs should also check out Airlie Gardens, known for its pristine grounds, rotating art exhibits, and awe-inspiring oak trees.

👟 If you also spend too much time looking at Zillow listings you can't afford, make a beeline for Wilmington’s historic districts. You won’t be able to see the Cousins house (it’s on a private golf course), but you can explore stately homes that feel like movie sets. Those include: the Bellamy Mansion Museum, which spotlights the enslaved workers who helped build the 22-room architectural gem; the meticulously preserved Latimer House and Gardens (join a night tour to see it illuminated by gaslight); and the Burgwin-Wright House & Gardens, which dates back to 1770. While downtown, you can also browse cute shops, like Papercut Books (or, TSITP’s Whale of a Tale Bookshop) and Edge of Urge (for a lively mix of clothes and gifts), and stroll the Riverwalk’s nearly two-mile stretch of art galleries, waterfront restaurants, and picture-perfect views.

🍴 Fuel up for a day of beach hopping at Hidden Grounds Coffee, where signature drinks, like the Dino Campfire and Minty Matcha, are best enjoyed in its adorable backyard. For dinner, try Seabird, a fixture on every must-do list, serving up creative spins on Southern classics (like crispy smoked catfish) and a show-stopping seafood tower. Or, make a reservation at Olivero to feast on crab croquetas, shrimp linguini, and more Italian- and Spanish-inspired dishes in a chic setting. Finally, don’t snooze on the town’s craft beer scene, which includes popular spots like Ironclad Brewery and Flytrap Brewing.

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.

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

Q: I attended a bachelorette party earlier this summer, and I’m still waiting for one person to pay me back. After weeks of not responding to my texts, she finally replied, claiming she lost her job. I feel bad, but how do I get the $750 I’m owed?

“This is a tricky situation because you deserve to be paid back, but you want to be sensitive to the person’s difficult season. I’d acknowledge the hardship they’re experiencing, then set a plan for how you’ll get paid back — which allows you to be compassionate yet firm in your response. [That said, it’s important] to ensure your text or phone call is not framed as a question, which could leave room for pushback. You might say: ‘I’m so sorry to hear you lost your job. I’m sure it’s been incredibly difficult for you. Since it sounds like you won’t be able to pay in full right now, I’ll send you a [Venmo] request of $250 each month for the next three months. I’m hoping this will alleviate some of the stress for you.’

If they respond saying that’s still too much money, I’d offer an alternative payment plan with smaller sums over a longer period of time — and I’d ensure the agreement is written so everyone is held accountable. A written agreement may seem extreme, but it may be the only way you’re ever going to see your $750 again.”

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.