Slice Of Life Summer

As trends come in and out, there are still ways to use what you already own to follow these new trends. For this weeks’  ins and outs, we’re focusing on matcha, and Love Island (our dream date).

For everyone who needs at least one fun beverage to function: look no further than Blank Street’s Pistachio, Cookies & Cream, and lavender matcha’s. Refreshing and cooling on a summer day! And lastly, with Love Island Season 7 coming to a close, swoop in on the best looks.

As the season comes to and end, check out a full breakdown of your favorite islander’s fits here!

As I began my annual Sex and the City rewatch, I couldn’t help but wonder: how do the 4 gorgeous girlfriends strut New York’s streets like it’s their personal runway as the rest of us are trying to make Zara look couture?  I do at times have to remind myself that while the 2000s show portrays timeless pieces that the Gen Z now call vintage, the current financial state of the country makes it almost impossible for the fashion girlies to afford $500 Manolos without triple checking their bank account.

As much as a designer label makes us feel invincible, this fellow New York girlie knows that serving high fashion doesn’t have to come with a high price tag. There are many great secondhand shops that give you the look without the financial heartbreak.

While most of these are pretty well known, here are some spots you can shop designer looks from:

• Depop

• Vinted

• Poshmark

• ThredUp 

• Housing Works e-shop

So while Ms. Bradshaw had her closet filled with expensive Gucci and Chanels, this generation of fashionistas developed a killer eye for secondhand steals. Because in 2025 fashion isn’t just about the price—it’s about the story you wear, and the confidence you Carrie.

Bad Bunny’s 30-day residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico is here…

and isn’t just about music — the food is just as much of an experience. The limited-time menu created for the shows is one of the most popular topics on the island right now, and for good reason.

It features classic Puerto Rican dishes with fun, modern twists: croquetas made with arroz con gandules, a smashed burger with sweet plantains, and stuffed tostones filled with stewed chicken or ground beef. There’s also a whole fritura bar with alcapurrias, bacalaítos, and pizza empanadillas — crispy, flavorful, and straight from the heart of Puerto Rico.

Even the drinks are something to be excited about— refreshing cocktails made with local rum, cold brew, passionfruit, coconut water, and more.

Everything is made with ingredients sourced in Puerto Rico, supporting local farmers, bakeries, and small businesses. If you’re planning to visit the island once tickets open to everyone, make sure you show up hungry! This menu is Puerto Rican culture on a plate, and it’s not something you’ll want to miss.

Blondes or brunettes? Well, my whole body is brunette. 

A TikToker named Bailey received lots of backlash  and eventually deleted her video after participating in “the price of being Black in suburbia” trend. Though intended for Black girls who grew up in predominantly white suburbs, Bailey used the trend to express her feelings of isolation and undesirability as the only brunette in a friend group of blondes. Hair color becomes a microcosm of race relations in America.

Approximately 2% of the global population has blonde hair, predominantly of Northern European descent. Red hair is even rarer, found in about 1% of the population, yet, redheads are rarely included in conversations surrounding hair color preferences. 

Why? Beauty standards and belonging are still entangled with proximity to whiteness, even among white women. There’s often an unspoken pressure to align with traditional European beauty standards—blonde and fair. No spice.  

Hair becomes a proxy. Because brunettes come from a diverse array of ethnic and geographic backgrounds,“blondes vs brunette” becomes a shorthand for race and origin — a way of organizing people and power, without explicitly talking about race at all. 

So if you “prefer blondes,” I’m hoping you mean Beyoncé.

Dubai Dreams: A Perfect Stopover in the Gulf

If your next layover is in DXB airport, extend your stop and spend some time in Dubai! After 5 trips these past few years, Dubai is without a doubt one of the most unique destinations in the region, with influence from across the Middle East, South Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Dubai Mall: Especially during the hot Gulf summers, after sunset is the optimal social hour– and Dubai Mall is the place to be at night! Wander and window-shop, and treat yourself to Dubai chocolate and Turkish desserts at Hafiz Mustafa 1864. 

Sky Views Observatory: Looking for those perfect Dubai photos? Skip the Burj Khalifa and go next door instead – not only is it cheaper and less crowded, but every photo will capture you with the Burj Khalifa background.

Beaches: Dubai is lined with beautiful beaches– for night swimming & a picnic with friends, I love Umm Suqeim; for endless restaurants and nightlife try JBR Beach; for cafes and aesthetic photos try La Mer beach. 

Al Fahidi/Dubai Old City: This national historic area offers a glimpse of the Emirates’ past and culture along with museums, abundant souvenirs and cafes, hookah, and even ferry rides along the canal. 

Welcome back to The Interlude–otherwise known as Quiet Parts, the Column–with art and poetry pairings for the busy patron. Each week, I’ll be sharing some things I’m reading, seeing, and the ways I’m staying invested in culture  this summer. 

This week, I’ve been loving the short, seemingly-perfect poems of Jericho Brown’s The New Testament. 

In my estimation, this poem pairs nicely with John Singer Sargent’s portrait of Thomas McKeller, available for viewing at the Isabella Stewart Gardner. 

John Singer Sargent’s portrait of Thomas McKeller at the Isabella Stewart Gardner, 

Photo by Jesse Costa for WBUR.

Florence: so nice I went twice. Its streets are bursting with iconic Italian charm, street performers, wine windows, and life. ❤️

If you just have a weekend, make the Duomo your first stop - it’s not worth paying to get in unless you climb the dome. The exterior holds its beauty, so save the money, or run in for free during Sunday mass. 

Piazzale Michelangelo is a must see. It’s a 20 minute uphill walk worth every step. I preferred going in the day to get the most stunning view of the city, but the nightlife there is brilliant.

Wine windows ? A Florence must (duh). Do yourself a favor and skip the ones by the canals or any sporting plastic/take-away cups. I preferred the plainer ones with real glasses and quality wine. These windows are ideal for socializing with happy strangers. 

Pro Tip: Pisa is an easy morning/day trip, it’s a $12 dollar ticket and an hour train ride. You just need an hour to get there, an hour to see the tower, and an hour to get back. Seriously, that’s it. Do yourself a favor and scratch this quick trip off your bucket list!

I rewatch almost every movie or show because I like catching the little things I could have missed. The emotions and plotlines I wasn’t ready for the first time. Though I have this habit, the film  When They See Us directed by Ava DuVernay is too powerful, painful, and real to rewatch as just another film. Inspired by the true story of the Central Park Five, When They See Us is a story of how racial bias and convenience  is often used in many cases within the ‘justice’ system. It's one of those stories that doesn’t leave you. The story of five boys who were villainized, criminalized, and denied the right to be young. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m the first person to say I absolutely HATE the saying “boys will be boys,” but it hits differently when young men of color aren’t given the grace to explore without being seen as a threat. This series broke me and not just for what happened to them, but because the fear is so familiar for myself and those around me. Films like this aren’t easy to watch, but it's a reminder. It's a reminder that the system sees some kids as threats before it ever sees them as children.

Quote of the Week By Kinnerith Din

I won’t be able to write from the grave

so let me tell you what I love:

oil, vinegar, salt, lettuce, brown bread, butter,

cheese and wine, a windy day, a fireplace,

the children nearby, poems and songs,

a friend sleeping in my bed and the short northern nights.

— Fanny Howe (1940 – July 9, 2025),  Selected Poems