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Tumble Leaf


If you’re looking for a TV show that will stimulate young minds without numbing yours, try Tumble Leaf. Each episode begins with a different object—a pair of binoculars, a pocket watch, a spoon—washing up in front of the beached galleon where Fig the fox lives with his caterpillar sidekick, Stick. Propelled by Fig’s boundless curiosity, they set off to learn its many uses, and to invent new ones. Created by Drew Hodges and brought lovingly to life by the stop-motion animators at Bix Pix Entertainment, Tumble Leaf debuted in 2014 and ran for four seasons. I am sympathetic to the viewer who drew up a Change.org petition demanding that Amazon un-cancel the show (362 signatures at this writing) but delighted that such a wondrously imaginative world is just a click away. (amazon.com) —Ash Carter

Swim

Cupshe


Are we accustomed to purchasing swimwear on Amazon? No, but after weeks—nay, months—of perusing the truly comical offerings (postage-stamp-size tops, V-necks extending below the belly button) on our go-to e-commerce sites, we were Instagram-influenced by @graceatwood to at least give this affordable beauty from a brand called Cupshe a chance. Sure enough, it’s a winner: entirely comfortable, and yet designed with style in mind. Good looks aside, it stays put while swimming, and the lace-up back ensures that it fits with precision. There are 18 colors and florals to choose from, so go wild. ($29, amazon.com) —Ashley Baker

Watch

Deutschland 83


With its nostalgic soundtrack of 80s synth pop and archival news footage flickering across the characters’ wood-paneled television sets, Deutschland 83 revisits the turbulence and social unrest of East and West Germany at a peak in the Cold War. Coerced by the promise of a kidney transplant for his ailing mother, 24-year-old East German border guard Martin Rauch (Jonas Nay) is sent to the West to spy on American plans to transport Pershing II missiles into West Germany. As nuclear warfare draws near, Martin finds himself caught between fear and joy at the unfamiliar decadence and freedom of the West. Both a spy thriller and a tale of lost innocence, this German-language mini-series is always suspenseful, often comedic, and absolutely heartrending. (hulu.com) —Kausaur Fahimuddin

Polish

Tenoverten


Nail-polish remover seems like one of those things easily found at your neighborhood Duane Reade. And yet, after years of struggling with that useless pink liquid, we’ve come to the unfortunate conclusion that whatever is in drugstore polish remover is no match for the diamond-hard polishes that dominate the market. An upgrade is in order, and the good people at Tenoverten have us covered with their Rose Polish Remover. The non-acetone, paraben-free formula is gentle on the hands and doesn’t dry out nails, but it packs enough power to actually remove polish. Importantly, there’s no headache-inducing scent, and it comes in a travel-friendly box of eight biodegradable cloths. ($10, tenoverten.com) —Ashley Baker

Shop

Carey Lowell


We loved her as a model, we loved her as an actress, but we really love Carey Lowell as a ceramist. It turns out that Lowell has had a thing for clay since she discovered it in her Colorado-high-school art class. Now, with her ceramics brand, she’s dealing in porcelain—throwing it, slipcasting it, hand-building it, et cetera—and the results are difficult to resist, especially for those of us who live with a chronic desire to beautify our tables. Curved trays tipped in blue, hexagon-shaped bowls painted with small wildflowers, smooth cups festooned with daffodils—there’s a lot to love. Lowell has shown her pieces at Celadon Gallery, in Water Mill, and Greenwich House Pottery, in Manhattan, but for the time being, some of them are also click-to-buyable. (arossgirl.com) —Ashley Baker

Stay

The Tawny


The owners of the Tawny hotel—located on the fringes of the Peak District National Park, in rural Staffordshire, U.K.—have spent the last three years working with conservationists and architects to create a high-end retreat that is both sustainable and appealing. With their rustic design, inspired by the great outdoors, the 55 rooms comprise various structures, from shepherd’s huts to tree houses to boathouses, and spread out across the 70-acre property. There are plenty of reasons to stay put, including the complimentary mini-bars, yoga mats (to downward dog on the private terraces), and the outdoor bathtubs for a starlit soak. There is also the inviting glass-walled Plumicorn restaurant, which serves local produce. (thetawny.co.uk) —Bridget Arsenault

Issue No. 107
July 31, 2021
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Issue No. 107
July 31, 2021