Read, Eat, Go: “Exhibit,” Lemon Chicken Artichoke Pasta Salad, and Scottsdale

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. PSA for all “One Tree Hill” fans: If you, like me, were Team Lucas, you’ll deeply appreciate this Chad Michael Murray interview (and photos). I’m still processing it — along with the news that “medieval headpieces” (even more unhinged than whatever you’re imagining) are apparently making a comeback. Same goes for water beds, which are supposedly “getting more sophisticated.” While I decide how I feel about…all of that, I’m going to treat myself to this shockingly easy ice cream cake (think: no cooking, just assembling) and I might even buy a “milky” perfume — since apparently, fragrances can be milky.

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

"Exhibit" by R.O. Kwon

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A book that’s spicy enough for summer but substantial enough for book club? Sold. R.O. Kwon is back with “Exhibit,” a story that follows Jin, a young photographer at a crossroads within her career and marriage to her college sweetheart. At a party in San Francisco, she meets Lidija, a world-class ballerina (who’s also at a standstill in her career), and the two immediately connect. The catch? Jin’s family has a deep-rooted curse known to destroy relationships. Between the story’s provocative exploration of hidden desires and boundary-pushing creativity, this is a drama you won’t want to miss. We asked Kwon a couple questions. Here’s what she had to say...

Q: If “Exhibit” were made into a movie, who would be your casting for Jin and Lidija?

Kwon: One person who comes to mind for Jin is the incredible Korean actor Han So-hee, who has a lead role in the Netflix hit show “Gyeongseong Creature.” Han So-hee’s acting brings to mind some of Jin’s passion and ferocity. For Lidija, who’s a world-class ballerina, the dancer Hee Seo from the American Ballet Theatre would be fantastic. Hee Seo is the first Korean person to be promoted to principal ballerina in the ABT, and was one of the youngest dancers in the ABT’s history to become a principal. Her dancing brings me to tears.

Q: What prized possession do you treasure most and why?

Kwon: After I published my first novel, I bought a used set of the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary. Having the OED was a lifelong fantasy, and I prize that dictionary just as much as I thought I would. Physically having so very many English words in one place, in my apartment, at my fingers — it’s a dream.

There Are Pasta Salads You Date; This One You Marry

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We’re calling it: It’s going to be another pasta salad summer. And before you ask, we’re not talking about those mayo-filled macaroni dishes with random bits of carrots and celery. Instead, we’re making the fresh and inventive kind, complete with creative ingredients, the perfect ratio of dressing to pasta, and unconventional noodle shapes. Like How Sweet Eats’s Lemon Chicken Artichoke Pasta Salad. Not only does it taste like a ray of sunshine, but it also gets better as it sits — so it’s the ideal make-ahead dish for any cookouts or potlucks. That is, if you’re willing to share.

The Time Commitment: An hour. But if you use leftover or rotisserie chicken instead of grilling new, you’ll shave off about 20 minutes.

Key Tip: While we normally swear by shredding your own cheese (it’s worth the arm workout), How Sweet Eats makes a convincing case for using the bagged stuff: “It holds up really well in the pasta salad, especially overnight or in leftovers.”

Other Takes: While there’s nothing wrong with the traditional Italian route (in which case, we recommend this “stupidly easy” version), pasta salad is the perfect vehicle for experimentation. Just see this Chicken Noodle Salad with Spicy Peanut Sauce. Don’t eat meat? Try Esquites-Style Poblano Pasta Salad or Broken Lasagna Pasta Salad instead. You could also make this aesthetically pleasing Green Goddess Pasta Salad, which has a dressing so delicious, you’ll want to eat it on everything.

This Southwestern City Sizzles In the Summer

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Real talk: Summer is supposed to be hot, and there’s no better feeling than the sun on your SPF’d skin (followed by a dip in a perfectly blue pool and a delicious meal in just-right AC). The season is exactly as ordered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Located in the Sonoran Desert, it has more than 330 sunny days every year — and about as many dreamy resorts, luxury pools, and one-of-a-kind restaurants to explore.

🛏 Want to stay in the center of it all? Book the Bespoke Inn. It’s located in the heart of Old Town — Scottsdale’s center of shopping, art galleries, restaurants, and nightclubs — and the Scottsdale Trolley (which is free, btw) will pick you up and drop you off just a half block away. This boutique hotel boasts an extremely charming courtyard, a 43-foot infinity pool, and plenty of local coffee. 

⛳ Scottsdale has more than 200 golf courses. You (probably) won’t manage to hit them all, so we recommend making your pick(s) based on this list of the most scenic holes. Psst…if “real” golfing isn’t your thing, there’s always the mini version.

👙 We’re firm believers in a vacation that balances activities with leisure. For the latter, book a resort day pass. What’s that, you ask? Oh, just the chance to lounge by a picture-perfect pool of your choosing, sip cocktails, and bask in the wonder of this modern amenity. 

🍴 While you’re where the weather’s good, why not dine al fresco? The views are unreal at Cielo, with panoramic windows that capture the setting even if you sit inside. El Chorro has been around since the 1930s, and with good reason — the innovative, seasonally inspired dishes are delicious and its location between two mountains makes for a very vibey ambience.

Psst…we could go on, but we’ll let you discover even more warm-weather Scottsdale fun on your own. Happy hot-like-we-like-it summer.*

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

Q: I planned my friend’s bachelorette, and one of her guests, who I don’t know well, backed out last minute. Now she’s asking me to refund her portion of the rental house — which’ll make it more expensive for everyone else. Any advice?

“The person may have a financial hardship that you don't know about — maybe they lost their job or have a sick family member, so it’s important for both sides to be as generous and compassionate as possible. [That said, they did make a commitment, so it’s perfectly reasonable to ask them] to contribute [the original amount] or a portion of it. You can say, ‘Listen, it puts a hardship on all of us. Would you be willing to leave the deposit or contribute in some form?’ Or, ‘Because you committed, can we still count on some type of financial contribution?’

They may say no. So one thing to consider when you’re making these plans [in the future] is if someone does back out, will the group be able to take on some of that burden? If you can’t take on a portion of somebody else’s burden, you probably can’t afford it.”

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.

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