Eat, Read, Stay: Herby Chicken Salad, “Sleep” and Resort Day Passes

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. You couldn’t pay me to go back to college — but at least we didn’t have to prove we weren’t using AI to do our homework (the lengths students are going to are a lot). As for what else melted my brain this week? Let’s review:

• Gen Z rediscovered this fried appetizer, made it viral, and gave my favorite high school restaurant a second wind.

• “Sleepover nails” are on the rise — and they essentially look like Limited Too meets the Klutz Nail Art book (you know the one). 

• This unexpected item dethroned Lip Smackers (RIP) as Gen Alpha’s party favor of choice.

• Cereal milk is trending again — but this time, it’s coming for your cocktails. 

• The hottest summer print is giving...autumn. Florals and stripes need not apply.

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

Warning: This Is Not Your Grandma’s Chicken Salad

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In the small, exclusive, maybe made-up world of chicken salad influencers, Bethenny Frankel (yes, that Real Housewife) reigns supreme. While she may think she’s tried the best, we’re here to not-so-humbly inform her she’s missing out on this Herby Chicken Salad from The Defined Dish. It’s an easy, everyday recipe made with a Greek yogurt-based sauce featuring lemon, mustard, chives, basil, and thyme — meaning, it’s bright, tangy, and nothing like the mayo-heavy versions from your childhood. Whether you spoon it on toasted bread, serve it over mixed greens, or happily eat it straight from the bowl, it’ll be — in the words of Frankel — “sick” and “insane.” Both of which, we should note, are compliments.

The Time Commitment: About 50 minutes — but the salad chills for more than half of that time (during which, you can too).

Key Tips: Turning this into a main-course salad? Alex Snodgrass (aka The Defined Dish) says to toss the greens with a simple lemon vinaigrette since the chicken already offers enormous flavor. Also, if you don’t know why anyone in their right mind would add fruity things to chicken salad, simply leave out the golden raisins.

Other Takes: For more creative spins on classic deli-style salads, try...

• This smoky, spicy, protein-packed Southwestern Chicken Salad, which, by law, must be served with a pile of tortilla chips. 

• Pickle Lovers’ Egg Salad, loaded with sweet relish, pickle juice, and itty-bitty pickle pieces — so it absolutely lives up to its name. 

• Green Goddess Tuna Salad — accurately described as a “revelation,” thanks to the bright, light, and zippy dressing, which you’ll want to put on everything.

Sleep by Honor Jones

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Honor Jones’s Sleep opens with 10-year-old Margaret hiding under a blackberry bush during a game of flashlight tag. Idyllic, maybe — except her childhood is anything but. Jump ahead 25 years: Margaret’s a recently divorced magazine editor with a co-parenting schedule, a new lover, and a life that’s finally (sort of) hers. But when one of her daughters asks for a birthday party at Margaret’s childhood home, she’s forced to revisit the place — and memories — she’s spent decades trying to escape. Profoundly moving and sharply observant, Sleep is a gut-punch of a debut about motherhood, friendship, and the secrets we carry. We asked Jones 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?

Jones: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. It is a perfect book.

Q: What’s one thing that makes you laugh without fail?

Jones: My daughter trying to say the word “monopoly.”

Q: What’s one unpopular opinion you have?

Jones: There is no wrong way to load a dishwasher. No one should care about this.

No MDW Plans? Your Couch Can’t Compete With a Resort Day Pass

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Still figuring out your long weekend plans? ResortPass can help with that. Unlock luxe hotel amenities (think: rooftop pools, private cabanas, spa access) with just a day pass — no overnight stay or planning required. Whether you’re staying local or leaving town, here are our favorite ways to make the holiday weekend feel like a full-blown getaway.

Stuck in the city? The William Vale is located right off the Bedford L stop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and it’s home to the longest outdoor hotel pool in NYC. Plus, there’s a spacious terrace with reservable shaded daybeds, panoramic skyline views of Manhattan, and cocktails that taste like PTO. Warning: It’ll be hard to justify leaving once you're horizontal.

Just an hour from LA — and even closer to San Diego — is the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, a family-friendly resort that strikes the perfect balance of chaos and calm. Kids hit the waterslides while parents retreat to the award-winning spa. Pro tip: Head to the adults-only pool if you’re craving peace and quiet, or book a cabana to keep the whole family happy. Bonus points for the panoramic canyon views.

Want to keep the MDW momentum going without leaving downtown? Cue the WET Deck at W Austin in Austin, Texas — a sun-soaked rooftop retreat with an adults-only pool. It’s the kind of spot where you can post up on a daybed, sip something refreshing, and forget you’re just blocks from 6th Street. With a rotating calendar of events (including moonlight swims and live DJ sets), there’s always a reason to come back. Mediterranean bites and on-demand valet are just the cherry on top.

No itinerary? No problem. Your next great daycation is waiting. Whether you’re close to home or on the move, ResortPass makes relaxation feel stress-free (imagine that). Permission to do nothing: granted.

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

Q: I have a new friend who loves to spontaneously text “Are you free?” with no context. I always feel trapped because I don’t want to say yes unless I know what the plan is first. How do I navigate this?

“[Of course], those ‘Are you free?’ texts can feel stressful. It’s not just the spontaneity that’s difficult — it’s also that not all ‘free time’ feels the same. You might technically be available, but that doesn’t mean you have the energy for anything. Maybe you’re up for a cozy chat over tea, but not a night out. Or, perhaps you’d tag along for an errand, but hosting someone feels like too much. That doesn’t make you flaky — it makes you human.

When someone reaches out, [we should] thank them for thinking of us, let them know we do want to spend time together, and gently offer a better way to connect. Here are a couple ways you can respond:

If you’re open but need more info: ‘I’d love to see you sometime soon. Today kind of depends — what did you have in mind?’ This keeps the door open without overcommitting … [You could even add], ‘Are we talking a phone call? Moving a couch? A quick trip to Vegas?’ A little humor can invite details and encourage them to be clearer next time.

If it’s a no for now: ‘Ah, I wish! Today’s a full one, but I appreciate you thinking of me. Also, just a heads-up, I’m more of a planner, so last-minute things can be hard for me. But let’s find a time that works soon.’ Kind honesty goes a long way.

Here’s the truth: Good friendships aren’t about saying yes to everything — they’re about communicating in ways that help both people feel seen, respected, and excited to spend time together.”

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.