EDITOR’S NOTE
Happy Saturday. I’ll admit, I’m still reeling from the news that comedy legend Catherine O’Hara died yesterday at the age of 71. Her contributions to film (Best in Show, Beetlejuice, Home Alone, I could go on) and my memes folder (“fold in the cheese” forever) cannot be overstated. Thankfully, in between reading the heartbreaking celebrity tributes (you’ll need tissues for Macaulay Culkin’s), the internet delivered some much-needed distractions, like:
Forget those glittery Keds — Bridal Birkenstocks have entered the chat, and you don’t have to be engaged to need them immediately.
The 2026 version of my favorite middle school necklace. Trust me, you’re not prepared for how fancy they’ve gotten.
The chicest boots this season aren’t pointed or square — they’re Princess Diana-approved.
David Beckham stepped out with the biggest Birkin I’ve ever seen, and I need to know what’s inside. Perhaps all of his family secrets?
Plot twist: This year’s biggest perfume trend comes straight out of the ’90s. If only I still had that star-shaped bottle.
— Jamie Feldman / Writer, Culture & Lifestyle / Brooklyn, NY
These Ooey, Gooey Oatmeal Carmelita Toffee Bars Are All You Ever Wanted
theSkimm
Let’s face it, what a year this month has been. So we hereby grant you permission (not that you need it) to treat yourself this weekend — starting with these Oatmeal Carmelita Toffee Bars from The Salted Sweets. Not only does the wildly popular dessert take basically no time to make (with zero fancy equipment required), but it features a buttery, oatmeal cookie-like base, melty globs of chocolate, crunchy toffee bits, decadent pockets of caramel, and a crumbly topping. Plus, with all that oatmeal, you could technically call this breakfast. Do with that information what you will.
The Time Commitment: Around 30 minutes.
Key Tips: While Brooke Homec (aka The Salted Sweets) prefers Peter’s Caramel Loaf for this recipe, Kraft Caramel Bits work equally well and may be easier to find. But for peak convenience, use a caramel sauce (like this Trader Joe’s one).
Other Takes: For more dangerously good dessert bars that you may or may not eat by the pan, try…
Peanut Butter Cup Cookie Bars. The only thing better than the World’s Most Elite Flavor Combo? Adding the World’s Most Perfect Candy. Fair warning: One commenter declared an 8 x 8 pan simply wasn’t enough.
Brown Sugar Goo Blondies. For anyone who eats cinnamon buns exclusively for the gloriously gooey middle, this is for you.
Lemon Brownies. Don’t let the name fool you, there’s no milk or dark chocolate here. Just the bright, tangy punch of a lemon bar and the irresistibly fudgy texture of a brownie.
Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden
theSkimm
You’d think an advice columnist would have her sh*t together — but in Freida McFadden’s Dear Debbie, Debbie Mullen’s personal life is messy enough to fill her own inbox. Her husband’s hiding something, according to the tracking app she’s installed on his phone. Her teenage daughters are making questionable choices. And she loses her job after telling a reader to get a divorce. So she pursues payback — and her revenge plot quickly spirals from petty to properly unhinged. From the author who gave us The Housemaid, expect wickedly dark humor, diabolical twists, and an endearingly flawed protagonist in a thriller that — no surprise — already has Hollywood calling dibs. We asked McFadden a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…
Q: What’s one thing everyone needs to watch?
McFadden: Tom Holland performing Rihanna’s “Umbrella” on Lip Sync Battle. If you haven’t seen it, go watch it now.
Q: What’s one unpopular opinion you have?
McFadden: I hate coffee — even anything coffee-flavored. Tiramisu, I’m looking at you.
Q: What’s one thing that’s made you 10% happier?
McFadden: A heated steering wheel on my car. (I live in New England.)
Philly’s About to Have Its Biggest Year Ever — Here’s Why You Should Visit in 2026
theSkimm
Sometimes the best idea is the one sitting right in front of you. By idea, we mean city. By city, we mean Philadelphia. Not only is the City of Brotherly Love only getting better, but 2026 will undoubtedly be one of its biggest years yet, with the FIFA World Cup, the MLB All-Star Game, and America’s 250th birthday (in the span of a few weeks, no less). All of which explains why it’s been named one of this year’s hottest destinations. But whether you’re going for one of those events or just because, you’ll discover a city with rich history, thousands of striking murals, leafy parks and gardens (including “Philadelphia’s answer to Versailles”), and destination-worthy food markets (the Italian Market is a must). Oh, and love for a certain green king.
🍴 You could spend your entire trip arguing with Philadelphians about where to get the best cheesesteak (this is the correct answer). But the city’s food scene is so much more than that — just ask the three restaurants that earned Philly’s first Michelin stars last year. Like Her Place Supper Club, which feels like going to a dinner party at a friend’s house…if your friend happened to be a phenomenal chef.
🎨 Philly’s cultural credentials are no joke — and they go way beyond the Rocky Steps. Spend an afternoon exploring the city’s “Museum Mile” to admire masterpieces by Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso and see one of the largest collections of Auguste Rodin sculptures outside of Paris. Or, head to the mesmerizing Magic Gardens, where a local mosaic artist has covered nearly every surface with mirrors, ceramics, glass bottles, bicycle wheels, and other objects.
🔔 Here’s the thing: Historical sites hit different when you’re not on a fifth-grade field trip. Start at the Liberty Bell and the newly reopened Independence Hall (where the founding fathers debated and signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution), then make your way to the nearby Old City neighborhood. There, you’ll find the Betsy Ross House and Elfreth’s Alley, a ridiculously photogenic cobblestone street lined with homes dating back to the early 1700s.
💡 For a different side of the city’s history, take a group or self-guided tour of Eastern State Penitentiary — the first in the nation and apparently one of the most haunted places in America. You’ll learn how the notorious prison pioneered solitary confinement and radial floor plans, peek inside cells that once housed inmates like Al Capone, and see how the site grapples with the current state of mass incarceration in the US.
🛍️ Fishtown may be Philly’s hippest neighborhood, but Queen Village has some of the best shopping. Fuel up with a cardamom honey latte at Three Graces Coffee Co., then browse secondhand and first-edition gems at Brickbat Books, hunt through the racks of Sweet Peel Vintage for ’70s floral dresses and ’80s leather jackets, and pick up handmade jewelry and chic home goods at Moon + Arrow.
We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:
My friend keeps saying we should hang out more, but she’s terrible at texting back when we’re making plans. We’re both busy, so coordinating is hard — and her slow responses make it worse. How do I bring this up without making her feel bad?
“The next time your friend says you should hang out more, ask her to set up a time and place on the spot. If she can’t do that, explain that you really value your friendship, but you’re frustrated because you’ve had a hard time setting things up via text. She might not even be aware [she’s been hard to pin down], and communicating openly about the issue may improve the situation. If she reacts poorly or is unwilling to commit to a get-together after you talk, it might be a sign that she’s ambivalent about the friendship. You could suggest that in the future, she take the initiative, and see what happens.”
Sure, strength training sounds great. But finding the time to do it? Yeah, that’s the hard part. Thankfully, Apple Fitness+ strength workouts are built for packed calendars and limited time, so you can get stronger even when you have a busy schedule. We’re fans of the express edition of their 3 Perfect Weeks of Strength program, which takes the guesswork out of strength training. Each week, expert trainers guide you through three 20-minute total-body strength workouts that make the most of your time. Fitness+ has a variety of strength workouts that range from 10–30 minutes and drop every week, so staying consistent actually feels doable. Psst…new subscribers get one month of Apple Fitness+ free.†*
Skimm’d by: Jamie Feldman and Melissa Goldberg. Fact-checked by Jordan Mamone.
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