Eat, Read, Go: Blackberry Upside Down Cake, “We Are All Guilty Here,” and Bar Harbor

EDITOR’S NOTE 

Happy Saturday. Just when I thought there could be no shoe crime worse than Kylie Jenner’s ankle-breaking platform flip-flops (millennials, they’re even more ludicrous than you’re imagining), in walked Lauren Sánchez Bezos doing the unthinkable on the beach (I can’t decide if I should be impressed or horrified). If you, like me, lean more…practical when it comes to fashion, thankfully, I also uncovered plenty of inspo on that front:

• Despite the, frankly, concerning name, Hailey Bieber’s “mullet T-shirt” may be the easiest way to upgrade your summer uniform.

• From sporty jackets to polo sweaters, these are the eight pieces that should be in everyone’s fall-wardrobe starter packs. 

• Against all odds and logic, this colorful sneaker has become the most versatile, most neutral transitional shoe.

• And finally, you’ll soon see this preppy-chic staple on stylish people everywhere — if you haven’t already.

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

Why Bother Making Other Desserts When This Blackberry Upside Down Cake Exists?

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Quick question: Do you know how to behave around summer produce? Or, do you also become a woman possessed at the market, bringing home more berries than is financially advisable? If you’re the latter, meet The Palatable Life’s Blackberry Upside Down Cake. Featuring a layer of juicy blackberries and a tender, moist lemon cake, the 10-ingredient recipe is both ridiculously easy to make (there’s no frosting, filling, or fancy equipment required) and, unlike most things in life, incapable of looking bad. And while this is technically a dessert, it’d be a crime not to eat the leftovers — should any survive — for breakfast.

The Time Commitment: Just over an hour — but the cake bakes for the majority of that.

Key Tips: No blackberries? Mallory Jones Oniki (aka The Palatable Life) says you can use raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries (halved or quartered, depending on size) instead. Whatever you choose, this dream of a dessert is best served with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, a dollop of whipped cream, and/or a generous scoop of ice cream.

Other Takes: Still have 15 cartons, give or take, of berries? Make the most of your haul with…

• Blueberry Muffin Cookies, in which fresh fruit + swirls of blueberry jam + a crunchy streusel topping = what many commenters described as the best cookies they’ve ever made.

• Lemon Blueberry Spoon Cake. If you’ve never made the strawberry version (aka The Greatest Dessert of All Time), all you need to know is the center is so gloriously gooey that, as the name implies, it’s best eaten with a spoon.

• Brown Sugar Berry Crumble Bars, which include the holy trifecta of blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries, plus a buttery topping that you will definitely need to pick at.

We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter

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The only thing better than a new Karin Slaughter novel? A new Karin Slaughter series. In We Are All Guilty Here, teenagers Cheyenne Baker and Madison Dalrymple disappear from a quiet Georgia town during a holiday celebration. Assigned to the case? Emmy Clifton, a cop with a personal stake — Madison is the daughter of her longtime friend. When the girls’ bodies turn up and a suspect is identified, it seems like case closed. That is, until a 14-year-old girl vanishes under extremely similar circumstances. Expect small-town secrets, morally gray characters, and a twist so shocking, it’s worth canceling all plans to finish. We asked Slaughter a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: What’s one thing that’s made you 10% happier?

Slaughter: My Ergatta rowing machine. You can compete with people all over the world, then get your ass kicked by someone whose screen name is KevinsMommy. It’s exercise, but with a lesson in humility.

Q: What’s one thing everyone needs to watch?

Slaughter: My favorite movie of all time is Clay Pigeons. It’s very dark and funny and fantastic.

Q: If you could be the world’s leading expert on one thing, what would it be?

Slaughter: An expert in telling people that just because they read something online, that doesn’t make them an expert.

Come for the Stunning National Park, Stay for the Lobster Rolls in this New England Gem

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There’s exactly a 0% chance that Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus was referring to Maine’s Bar Harbor when she sang, “you get the best of both worlds” — but perhaps she should’ve been. While the tiny Mount Desert Island town is famously known as the gateway to Acadia National Park (where deep green mountains, pink granite cliffs, and postcard-worthy trails will keep outdoor enthusiasts busy), it’s also home to one the quaintest, most quintessential New England coastal communities. Think: a main street lined with mom-and-pop gift shops and restaurants, seaside views that look straight from a landscape painting, idyllic inns and boutique hotels (stay at Balance Rock Inn), and boat-filled marinas. Plus, how could we forget, the obscene amount of lobster.

🏞️ Acadia isn’t just a reason to visit Bar Harbor — it’s the reason. One of the most popular ways to explore? Hiking its 150-plus miles of trails, from the family-friendly Ocean Path (prepare to max out your camera roll) to the adrenaline-pumping Beehive Loop, with its near-vertical cliffside climb. If you’re more of a biker, hit the 45 miles of car-free carriage roads, where you’ll pass picturesque granite bridges, mossy brooks, and the park’s only restaurant (fuel up on the legendary, oven-fresh popovers). Or, for something less demanding, drive the 27-mile Park Loop Road, which includes must-see spots like Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Cadillac Mountain — where sunrise and sunset are so spectacular, you’ll need an in-season vehicle reservation to access the summit.

🛍️ Spend an afternoon wandering around Bar Harbor’s downtown, which, thanks in part to the brightly painted clapboard buildings, is about as charming as seaside New England gets. Grab some reading material at Sherman’s bookstore, purchase locally made art at Island Artisans, pick up handcrafted toys and puzzles at In the Woods, and get a scoop of the Maine sea salt caramel at Mount Desert Island Ice Cream. Have a few extra hours? You can also visit the Abbe Museum to learn more about the history and culture of the region’s indigenous peoples; sail around Frenchman Bay on a four-masted schooner; or join a whale-watching tour to spot minkes, humpbacks, and finbacks.

🍴 If you weren’t aware, Maine has its own food pyramid: lobster, lobster, and more lobster. Get your recommended daily servings at Frenchman Bay Lobster Rolls, a fishermen-owned shack popular for its hot and classic rolls, and C-Ray Lobster, a no-frills joint where you can enjoy a lobster bake on an outdoor picnic table (don’t sleep on the blueberry pie). Lobstered out? Order a stack of blueberry buttermilk pancakes from Jeannie’s Great Maine Breakfast and snag a dinner reservation at Havana to feast on seafood paella, pepita-crusted halibut, and more Latin-fusion dishes.

The lead-up to vacation can feel like a full-time job. But Booking.com makes it easier to find budget-friendly flights that make sense for your schedule, with a comprehensive search that lets you compare prices across airlines. So you’ll have more time to do your laundry, plan your outfits, get your nails done, go to the dry cleaner, etc.

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

Q: I recently went out to eat, and a person at the table next to me was so loud, I could hardly think. I didn’t say anything because I was worried about seeming rude, but what could I have done?

“[People often use body language to indicate that they’re annoyed or uncomfortable], but [it may not be] effective — if the person is that loud, they either don’t know how to read the room or don’t care if they’re offending anyone else. Speaking to them directly, even in a neutral or kind tone, may also backfire because you never know how another person is going to respond, [as evidenced by] the many viral videos of people overreacting in public.

[Give it a moment], in case the outburst is temporary. But if it continues, [find your server] and ask if you can be seated in another location. If there isn’t another table or you feel more comfortable talking to the general manager, you can also take that route, but let your server know that you are speaking to them about the situation, not the quality of their service. The general manager may be able to offer you a reserved table that is not being used or a comped meal for another night.”

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.