Eat, Read, Go: Big Fat Greek Salad With Souvlaki-ish Chicken, "My Friends," and Copenhagen

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. Nothing made my New England heart swell more than hearing that The Real Housewives are headed to Rhode Island. While I speculate who’ll join the cast (Bravo, if you’re reading this — we need her), I’ll also: 

• Debate whether to splurge on this functional yet chic Tibi x L.L. Bean tote that comes with a detachable leather belt (yes, really). 

• Investigate the viral sneakers flight attendants apparently take “tens of thousands” of steps in (they’re surprisingly…stylish?). 

• Contemplate the sculpting tank top with a cult following that includes everyone from Bella Hadid to Olivia Rodrigo. 

• Try the fizzy beverage trend (nope, it’s not seltzer or champagne) that tastes luxe without breaking the bank. Cheers to that.

— Taylor Trudon / Writer, Culture & Lifestyle / Brooklyn, NY

A Salad So Good, You’ll Forget You’re Not in Santorini

theSkimm

If a trip to Greece isn’t in the cards for the foreseeable future, consider Meredith Hayden’s Big Fat Greek Salad With Souvlaki-ish Chicken the next best thing. Inspired by monochromatic maroulosalata (aka Greek “lettuce salad”), the base of this simple-yet-impressive dish — included in The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook — is a bed of bright, crunchy, micro-chopped green things, including romaine, bell peppers, pepperoncini, capers, and dill. Pile on chunks of salty feta and juicy, flavorful chicken thighs and suddenly, you’re on vacation — at your kitchen table.

The Time Commitment: Just under an hour, as long as you marinate the chicken overnight.

Key Tips: No grill? No problem — Hayden says you can also cook the chicken in a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. And while the salad is perfectly filling as is, it’s equally delicious when stuffed into pillowy pita bread, particularly if you’re using this one, which we firmly believe is the superior grocery store option.

Other Takes:  For more salads serving main character energy, try…

• Protein-packed Hot Honey Chicken and Veggie Bowls, which come together in 40 minutes and are cheaper and — dare we say — more tasty than the Sweetgreen plate. 

• This spin on the classic Niçoise, featuring mustard-coated salmon instead of tuna and crispy smashed potatoes in place of boring boiled ones.  

• Chopped Salad With Chickpeas, Feta, and Avocado — aka The New York Times’s “brightest, spring-iest salad” and one of its most beloved (see: nearly 7,000 five-star reviews).

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

theSkimm

Bad news: Fredrik Backman — the bestselling author of tearjerkers like Anxious People and A Man Called Ove (yes, the one that became a Tom Hanks movie) — is here to make you cry in public again. At the heart of his latest novel, My Friends, is 18-year-old Louisa, a budding artist who becomes obsessed with a world-famous painting. Specifically, the three barely-there figures sitting at the edge of the artwork’s long pier. Most people just see a tranquil seascape, but Louisa is convinced there’s a deeper story hidden in the brushstrokes — so she sets off on a cross-country journey to uncover the identities of the teens who inspired the painting 25 years earlier. Told across alternating timelines, Backman’s story is a deeply moving ode to friendship, chosen family, and the art that connects us. Just make sure you have tissues nearby.

Less Spritz, More Scandi — This Summer, Copenhagen’s Calling

theSkimm

What comes to mind when you think of a European summer? Sipping spritzes in Italy? A picnic under the Eiffel Tower? Copenhagen said “hold my Carlsberg beer.” The bike-friendly Danish city has long been lauded for pilgrimage-worthy design and dining (hello, Noma), but it’s quietly emerging as Europe’s new capital of cool. So expect plenty of harborside swimming spots, renowned cultural institutions (don’t miss the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art), vibrant neighborhoods, Scandi-chic hotels (check out Villa Copenhagen), and outrageously good bakeries. Add in blissfully long summer days and the world’s second-oldest amusement park, and it’s no surprise Denmark regularly ranks among the happiest places on Earth. Disney, who?

📐 There’s no better place than Copenhagen for a crash course on what’s arguably Denmark’s top export: design. Kick things off at the Danish Architecture Center to learn how the city became a global design capital, then join one of its guided walking tours. After, swing by Designmuseum Danmark — worth visiting for the Danish Modern exhibit alone (see: the famous “chair tunnel”). And to bring a little hygge home, stop by Strøget — Copenhagen’s main shopping street — to browse sleek furniture, stunning textiles, and covetable ceramics at stores like HAY House and Illums Bolighus.

⚓ Copenhagen's idyllic waterways aren’t just for show — they’re central to the city’s charm and packed with things to do. After wandering around the picture-perfect Nyhavn harbor (imagine colorfully painted townhouses, wooden ships, and outdoor cafés galore), sail through the city’s famed canals, either hopping aboard an organized boat tour or renting your own via GoBoat (no experience necessary). Need to cool off? Join the locals and take a dip at one of the many swimming spots along the harbor (we promise, it’s much cleaner than you think), including at La Banchina, a popular hangout/restaurant in the buzzy Refshaleøen neighborhood.

🍴 There’s only one acceptable way to start the day in Copenhagen — and that’s with a heavenly croissant, gooey cinnamon roll, or buttery cardamom bun (we’re partial to the ones at Juno the Bakery). When you’re ready for lunch, head to Barr to try an inventive spin on traditional smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches on rye bread), with toppings like fried pickle herring or beef tartare. Come dinnertime, snag a reservation at Kødbyens Fiskebar, where the seafood is just about as fresh as it gets — think: razor clams, mussels, and the “famously good” oysters you won’t want to skip.

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.

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

Q: Whenever we hang out, my friend immediately starts gossiping about the others in our friend group. While it’s not mean-spirited, it makes me uncomfortable. What should I say?

“People [generally avoid] doing things that they think will be unwelcome … [So ask yourself]: ‘What have I done to make my friend think that’s something I’m also interested in?’ To change the dynamic, [it helps to come with other] topics to [discuss], so you can take control of the convo. If your friend is always the one diving in with [gossip], maybe she’s worried there’s nothing else to talk about. So share what’s going on in your life and ask questions about your friend’s life or what she’s reading or watching. It might sound formal, but it models other ways of connecting. 

… If that doesn’t work, be direct. Say, ‘I’m working on how I speak about other people. Can we just talk about what’s going on in our lives?’ It’s important to use ‘I’ statements because, again, it takes two [to create this dynamic].”

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.