A little secret: I place a small but mighty Madewell order at the onset of each summer, mainly for their assortment of wash-and-wear shirts, which can be worn over a bathing suit, with shorts or an easy skirt, and transition beautifully from lakeside or beachside to lunchtime or cocktail hour. This ever so crinkly cotton popover top—a surprising spin on the button-down that has the ease of a T-shirt but lots more smarts—features a jaunty camp collar and a hint of stripe, giving a much-needed upgrade to one’s hot-weather ensemble. ($72, madewell.com) —Ashley Baker

The Finch boutique, in Hudson, New York, first opened eight years ago and has been improving the looks of homes far beyond the upstate area ever since. Now the design-and-lifestyle store has expanded, moving into a sprawling concept shop located in a former police station. Yes, there is a full-service barbershop in the back, but the real draw is the top-notch assortment of vintage and contemporary goods, including pieces by John Derian, Astier de Villatte, &tradition, and more. Furniture, apparel, art—it’s all there, smartly arranged and yours for the shopping. (finchhudson.com) —Ashley Baker

Summer has hardly started, and yet we find ourselves fatigued by the barrage of floral prints parading around Greenwich Village. What to do? Get back to basics with a solid-color cotton dress. Roksanda’s Alenia style has a drawstring waist, which ties with a scarlet ribbon, and its crisp poplin and expertly placed pleats ensure maximum elegance. The rich shade of burgundy is unexpected for summer, but that makes it all the more appealing. Imagine how beautifully it will travel on the cobblestoned streets of Venice or Santorini. ($1,245; matchesfashion.com) —Ashley Baker

Though this podcast’s title is far from subtle, it tells its story, about a camp for troubled boys and the abuse that occurred there, with nuance and depth. Founded in 1962, the Anneewakee Treatment Center for Emotionally Disturbed Youth was led by Louis Poetter, a quack psychologist and pedophile, who was ultimately imprisoned for life. (The camp was eventually bankrupted by lawsuits.) The series is not for the faint of heart, but several fascinating characters help keep it more interesting than your average true-crime tale—for instance, two former counselors who spent years trying to shut the camp down, to almost no avail. That the camp stayed in business—with Poetter at the helm, no less—for as long as it did is shocking, but perhaps more unbelievable is the number of alarm bells rung before anyone would listen, and the various power brokers that helped silence the center’s survivors and their advocates. (podcasts.apple.com) —Clementine Ford

Bars are open past midnight, masks are becoming relics of the past, and while the chirping optimists once seemed delusional, it turns out they bet their bottom dollar correctly. The sun has indeed come out and, with it, an equally far-flung prospect: a new Lorde album—well, almost. Eight years after her hit single “Royals” earned New Zealand’s electro-pop queen her crown, and four since her sophomore album, Melodrama, cemented it, the 24-year-old singer-songwriter has shed layers of angst (and clothing) to celebrate brighter days. “Solar Power,” the newly released title track of her upcoming album, is exactly what it sounds like: bright, beachy, and bursting with life. The music video lies somewhere between Mamma Mia! and Midsommar, and that’s exactly where we want to be this summer. (spotify.com) —Sarah Nechamkin

Entertaining your pooch is no small task, particularly if he or she has discerning taste. My work-from-home sanity has held, in large part, thanks to the OurPets sushi dog puzzle, which makes my eight-toothed Yorkie rescue feel like a coveted guest at Sukiyabashi Jiro, the legendary restaurant featured in Jiro Dreams of Sushi. (Or so I imagine, anyway.) In lieu of lusting after your takeout with a slobbery whine, your dog can poke his nose around this cleverly designed puzzle toy. Each piece of sushi acts as a slider, so you simply place a pungent treat beneath it and watch as your dog sniffs it out. Chopsticks sold separately. ($15, chewy.com) —Sarah Nechamkin