Oodles of films, art and artist documentaries, documentaries to take you to France, a new film about books and writing, the return of Apple’s top drama series, AND the GBBO is back for new bakes in the tent, plus books on understanding the gift of simply eating well, a praised novel from 2020, a must-see play in London, chic fall capsule items worth the investment, unique items for your home and so much more.

Books

—Just Eat: One Reporter’s Quest for a Weight-Loss Regimen that Works by Barry Estabrook

Intrigued and appreciative for what investigative reporter Barry Estabrook discovered when he sought to answer the following questions – Which diet would keep the weight off? What program could he maintain over time? What diet works best—or even at all? Revealed in his new book released this past spring, his findings reassure a healthy, long-term approach outweighs the marketed diets claiming to help us lose the weight and do so for our good health. It turns out the latter may definitely not be the case.

“Over the course of three years, Estabrook tried the regimens behind the most popular diets of the past forty years—from paleo, keto, gluten-free, and veganism to the Master Cleanse, Whole30, Atkins, Weight Watchers—examining the people, claims, and science behind the fads, all while recording his mental and physical experience of following each one. Along the way, he discovered that all the branded programs are derived from just three diets. There are effective, scientifically valid takeaways to be cherry-picked . . . and the rest is just marketing. Perhaps most alarming, Estabrook uncovered how short-term weight loss can do long-term health damage that may go undetected for years. Estabrook contextualizes his reporting with an analysis of our culture’s bizarre dieting history, dating back to the late 1800s, to create a thorough—and thoroughly entertaining—look at what specific diets do to our bodies, why some are more effective than others, and why our relationship with food is so fraught.”

—Oona Out of Order: A Novel by Margarita Montimore

A national bestseller in 2020, if you are looking for a fun, yet thought-provoking read, pick up Oona Out of Order.

“It’s New Year’s Eve 1982, and Oona Lockhart has her whole life before her. At the stroke of midnight she will turn nineteen, and the year ahead promises to be one of consequence. Should she go to London to study economics, or remain at home in Brooklyn to pursue her passion for music and be with her boyfriend? As the countdown to the New Year begins, Oona faints and awakens thirty-two years in the future in her fifty-one-year-old body. Greeted by a friendly stranger in a beautiful house she’s told is her own, Oona learns that with each passing year she will leap to another age at random. Hopping through decades, pop culture fads, and much-needed stock tips, Oona is still a young woman on the inside but ever changing on the outside.”

—The Well-Loved House: Creating Homes with Color, Comfort and Drama by Ashley Whittaker

Being released next Tuesday, interior designer Ashley Whittaker’s first book The Well-Loved House offers guidance on furniture plans, complementing the architecture of a space, playing with color, and mixing pattern. She explains why it is important to have consistent threads throughout a home, but also contrast and juxtaposition with the tour of “a selection of dwellings, from gracious Connecticut estates to chic Manhattan pieds-à-terre to waterfront beach houses on the Florida coast, most exclusively photographed for this book, including her own house never before seen.”

British Find

—The Great British Bake-Off, Channel 4

It’s back!!! A new season of The Great British Bake-Off will premiere in the UK this coming Tuesday – September 21st on Channel 4, and those of us watching on Netflix only have to wait three more days as it will premiere on Friday September 24th. I absolutely cannot wait. I am ready for the comfort baking. 🙂 Have a look at the trailer below (not much is revealed, but it’s fun to watch).

—Mr Mouse Door Stop, David Linley

—Operation Mincemeat, play in London

If you are in England and will be in London this September or this coming January and February, purchase your tickets for a play that the Financial Times and Persephone Books highly recommends – Operation Mincemeat. Set in 1943 Britain, based on true events, well, I’ll let the cast walk you through the plot in the video below. Needless to say, I wish I could go see it.

Cookbooks

—Getaway: Food & Drink to Transport You by Renee Erickson

Craving a getaway? Even if you can’t hop on a plane to your favorite destination at the moment, cook and enjoy food and drinks that carry you vicariously to the vision in your mind. To Paris, to Rome, to London, to Normandy and Baja, California (the author’s hometown), Renee Erickson’s new cookbook is a “practical guide to cooking at home, offering 120 recipes and 60 cocktail recipes for simple meals that evoke the dreamiest places and cuisines. From not-too-intricate cocktails and snacks to effortless entrées, these are the recipes that inspire Erickson and make for relaxed, convivial evenings, whether at home or abroad.”

—Lemon, Love & Olive Oil by Mina Stone

Being released on Tuesday, having “grown up in a close-knit Greek-American household, Mina Stone learned to cook from her Yiayia, who taught her that food doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious—and that almost any dish can be improved with judicious amounts of lemon, olive oil, and salt. In this deeply personal cookbook, Stone celebrates her grandmother and the other influences that have shaped her life, her career, and her culinary tastes and expertise. Lemon, Love & Olive Oil weaves together more than 80 Mediterranean-style dishes with the stories that inspired them.”

Film

—Best Sellers

Premiering today in theaters, Best Sellers looks like a hoot of a good film, starring Aubrey Plaza as a new and upcoming book editor and Academy Award Winner Michael Caine as the author who she needs to produce a book. Have a look at the trailer below and enjoy.

—Sunflowers

A documentary that was released this summer, I only just learned about it while watching The Lost Leonardo (shared in last week’s This & That), which by the way, I highly recommend going to watch. Centered around Vincent Van Gogh’s many paintings of sunflowers, the film shares the discussion of curators and art experts opining about the various aspects of a series of Sunflower themed paintings by the artist. Look for it in a theaters now, and have a look at the trailer below.

Francophile Find

—Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché

Released a couple of years ago, but worth returning to, narrated by Jodie Foster, the French film maker Alice Guy-Blaché was all but forgotten, until a recent investigation revealed all that she created in the early 20th century French film industry and why we didn’t know her name by the end of the same century. A documentary about a woman to know and a bit of a mystery to solve as well, have a look at the trailer below.

Shopping

—Double Breasted Trench Coat, Lauren Ralph Lauren (on sale)

—Saint James Breton stripe Sweater with Button Shoulder (more colors)

—Theory Double-Faced Wool-Cashmere Belted Coat (more colors)

Television

—The Morning Show, Season 2 Premiere

Friday plans are set for the foreseeable future. Between The Morning Show kicking off its second season today on AppleTV+ as well as continuing the second season of Ted Lasso and soon the GBBO, I’ll be staying in on Friday nights this fall, happily. Check out the trailer for the new season which brings in some new characters – both well-known actors and up-and-coming.

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A week of Bend blue skies and seeing the garden receive a boost of a second breath before the first frost arrives in October. The squash are beginning to come to size, and the sunflowers continue to share their blooms, prompting me to tie a few up as they have become quite prolific and top-heavy. A wonderful problem indeed. More rain is on the way this weekend, and I cannot wait for it to arrive.

The blackberries continue to ripen at a rapid pace, so last evening I turned a small bowl into an ice cream cake complete with shortbread and hazelnuts (check out Thursday night’s IG Stories). While a full week of completing a few cooking episodes (be sure to check out the first episode of the season which aired on Saturday, and tune in tomorrow for a new episode sharing a simple satiating, as well as a healthy with a touch of decadence dinner to enjoy at the end of a long work day – 20 minutes is all it requires), making progress on the book – three quarter of the way done through edits!, and a start date for the demoing of my primary bathroom next week, the week was full, yet fulfilling. I hope your week as well brought many good sighs of appreciation and now you are looking forward to the final week of summer.

Thank you for choosing to stop by today, and until tomorrow bonne journée.

~Repeated studies have finally concluded how many steps you should take to live longer or how much time each week you need to exercise, whichever approach works best for you [The New York Times]

~How to garden sustainably [House & Garden UK]

~I appreciated this blog post – How I stopped wanting to ‘grow out of being an introvert’ [Introvert, Dear]

~Curtains Up! How Broadway is coming back from its longest hiatus. [The New York Times]

~The documentary film Julia will be released on November 5th in select theaters, and this article shares How Julia Child helped people cope during the pandemic [Variety]

~A big thank you to a TSLL reader for sharing this recipe with me – the official Ted Lasso Biscuit Recipe! [Kitchn]

~Discover the exhibits in Paris to see this fall [Vogue Paris]

~While in France, be sure to visit Giverny, and if you can’t stand on the terra firma, this lovely post shares a detailed visit of Monet’s gardens and inside his home. [Everyday Wanderer]

~I enjoyed reading this profile piece on a landlord in Brooklyn who dedicated her management to building a neighborhood of community [The New York Times]

~The US Tennis Open this year produced amazing matches throughout the two weeks event. Leylah Fernandez quickly garnered my awe, and so the women’s final was a must-watch match this past Saturday. Even though Fernandez did not take home the trophy, she deserved much applause, and both of the women gave speeches I recommend checking out. Below is the champion Emma Raducanu’s on-court interview. What a tournament she had as well, making history and bringing British women’s tennis back into the limelight. Beyond inspired by her efforts, her talent, her poise, her humility and sportsmanship.

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~Catch up and read last week’s This & That: September 10, 2021

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