Our favorite shopping picks for women, men, kids, the home and more.
A juicy beach read that packs a bit more intelligentsia punch, THE INTERESTINGS ($27.95; Riverhead Books) by Meg Wolitzer (author of the Ten Year Nap and daughter of writer Hilma Wolitzer) details the connections and disconnections among a circle of friends, from their idealistic selves at a summer arts camp, through their successes, failures and later-life wisdom. Local bookstores.
The perfect poolside hat: Roll it, squish it and jam it into your beach bag, and Eric Javits’ SQUISHEE IV WIDE BRIM HAT ($198) snaps back to elegant form. Available in a rainbow of sunny colors. Area Nordstrom stores (nordstrom.com).
Serve up retro charm at your alfresco summertime soiree (sweet for kids and casual chic for grown-ups) with these dishwasher-safe glass MASON JAR SIPPERS ($48 for a box of 12, including striped straws) with daisy-patterned perforated metal lids. ACME Party Box Company (acmepartybox.com).
“For our dad’s 50th birthday we wanted to do something very special, something that would show him that we had paid attention during our times in the kitchen together,” wrote Benno (16) and Leo (14) Batali, sons of New York City chef, restaurateur and author Mario Batali (owner of Babbo, Lupa and Otto, among others). With a little help from mom, Susi Cah, who snapped photos on her iPhone, the boys presented their dad with THE BATALI BROTHERS COOKBOOK ($14.95; Ecco), a compilation of the family’s favorite recipes to whip up together during summers at their home in Northern Michigan. Chock full of yumminess like Cinnamon Swirl French Toast, Blue Cheese Pocket Burgers and Peach Shortcakes, the book, in honor of its official publication, has been appended with a few of Mario’s own favorites, like Grilled Mozzarella Sandwiches and Oven-Dried Cherry Tomatoes with Breadcrumbs. Local bookstores.