As soon as I saw this book in Barnes & Noble, I knew I’d be buying the whole collection. The Pop Classics series from Penguin Random House is one of the smartest uses of IP I’ve come across. There was a time when kids got up to speed on films and shows that their parents watched because that’s just what was on the TV and there was nothing else available. Animal House, Troop Beverly Hills, Twins, Short Circuit 2 (not the original), La Bamba, Caddyshack, Fletch—the list goes on and on. These films basically played on loop on local channels (for me, WPIX), and even though they had “been modified” from their original versions, watching them connected us with the rest of society. We were able to understand cultural references way beyond our years. I probably saw five Rocky films before I was five, so no “Yo Adrian!” reference (of which there were many in the 1980s and ‘90s) was ever lost on me. But then streaming and on-demand came along and all of a sudden kids weren’t forced to watch whatever happened to be on at 2 PM on a Sunday afternoon. They had agency and every single thing ever made at their fingertips, so why sit through another showing of Overboard or Spies Like Us? Why pretend to care about The Money Pit or Stripes? But now thanks to Pop Classics, I can prime my son for the wonders of Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Back to the Future and The Karate Kid. To him, these are just children’s books that they made movies of, just like most of the other movies he likes. It’s genius. Whoever came up with the idea for this series deserves a raise and should be working on a hundred more. Where’s my Trading Places children’s book?
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Fungus Festival 2025 is just around the corner and I know you're all psyched. And, perhaps, almost as exciting—especially for those of you outside the tristate area—is the fact that this year’s festival T-shirts just dropped. Designed by Juli Sasaki (who also did some graphic design for urban Boomer’s favorite show, The Gilded Age), these shirts continue the trend of the New York Mycological Society putting out some of the best merch Randall’s Island has ever seen. They’re 10% off until September 12th, so get yours before it’s too late.
-DW
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In an attempt to soothe my creeping anxiety about the coming cooler months, I’ve been putting together a little wish list of items that will soften the blow of 6 PM sunsets. In the number one spot are these new shearling slippers from Tekla, the Copenhagen-based home and textiles brand. They come in four chic but neutral colors—black, deep berry, powdery teal, and warm white—and look extremely cozy. I think the teal would work especially well with my Dogwalker.
-VvP
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Another discovery from my time in Basque country, Olatu’s artisanal drinks are a local delight. They are also, honestly, just very pretty to look at. Featuring classic flavors like apple and orange, and flavorful combinations like apple, cucumber, and pineapple, I basically had a bottle of Olatu in my hand throughout my whole time there. I’m hoping they expand to other places, otherwise I’m going to have a very expensive juice habit.
-DW
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Over the past year or so, these 1mg THC mints from Cycling Frog have become a staple in my life. Taking one—or maybe two—on a weekend morning takes away any stress I’m feeling in the moment and lets me focus on the tasks at hand. Your mileage may vary, but for me, they are the perfect mood-enhancing product that allows me to easily control my dose. Two bits of advice though: you’re better off chewing them up and not sucking on them, as the mint flavor ultimately gives way to a more herbal one, and be sure to keep them someplace safe as they look exactly like regular mints. (Although someone would have to eat a ton of mints to really go overboard with these.) Highly, highly recommended.
-DW
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