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Matthew Macfadyen, Colin Firth, Johnny Flynn, “Operation Mincemeat” (2022).
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Operation Mincemeat


The film Operation Mincemeat, which is set in England during World War II, is less about derring-do on the battlefield and more about the war at home and the stiff-upper-lipped chaps (and women) who helped win it. Technically, it stars Colin Firth as a British-intelligence officer who oversees a secret plan to fool Hitler about the impending Allied invasion of Sicily. But the real treat of the movie, which is based on Ben Macintyre’s page-turner, is Johnny Flynn, who plays a young Ian Fleming, the originator of the scheme. Shots of Flynn quietly typing away on what we presume are notes for his future James Bond novels give viewers a bit of a wink in a film that is a crisp, taut, and beautifully shot drama. (netflix.com) —Michael Hainey

Bloom

Bear Creek Farm


You’re required to give your mom a bouquet of flowers on Mother’s Day. This year, take it a step further and give dear Mom something that blooms week after week: a flower subscription. Through their community-supported agriculture program, Bear Creek Farm offers four different ones throughout the year. In the spring, the Hudson Valley–based farm provides Iceland poppies and tulips; in the summer, peonies; and in the fall, dahlias. Each week, pick up the flowers at selected locations, including the Union Square Greenmarket, in Manhattan, the Greenwich Historical Society, in Connecticut, and the John Jay Homestead, in Westchester. ($140 per bunch, bearcreekfarm.com) —Michael Pescuma

Wear

Emporio Sirenuse


Unfortunately, our summer travel plans do not include Positano. But that doesn’t mean we can’t dress as if they do. Since 2013, Emporio Sirenuse—the brainchild of Carla Sersale, proprietor of Positano’s Le Sirenuse hotel, and her niece Viola Parrocchetti—has infused the hotel’s aesthetic into a rock-solid collection of clothes and accessories. It only gets more covetable with each passing season. For the summer, this palm-tree-print Azzurra dress is the piece to get. Made in India from high-quality cotton, it feels like a proper garment but is as well suited to the beach as it is to the terrace. The open back provides an element of intrigue, but the construction is sufficiently thoughtful to prevent wardrobe malfunctions. Bonus points for the contrasting straps and sculpted bodice. ($495, matchesfashion.com) —Ashley Baker

Apply

Chanel


Locating a lipstick that offers both a vibrant color and the nourishing power of a quality lip balm can be a challenge. Apparently not for Chanel, though. The French house’s expert team has devised a winning formula in its Rouge Coco Flash collection. There are more than 20 colors to choose from. (Although my favorite, Boy, a beigy-pink lipstick, sells out quickly.) It glides on smoothly and delivers an intense—yet not cakey or matte—layer of color with just a hint of shine. The Hydraboost Complex, which consists of sunflower, jojoba, and mimosa wax, ensures that lips stay moisturized all day long. ($42, nordstrom.com) —Ashley Baker

Manhattan bird alert
Follow

@BirdCentralPark


New York City—especially Manhattan—often feels devoid of wildlife, aside from flocks of pigeons or hordes of rats. The Twitter account Manhattan Bird Alert reminds us city dwellers of the nature that our island—a former wetland—has to offer. @BirdCentralPark shares images and videos of bird-watchers’ finds throughout the day. It’s fascinating to see the variety of birds the city has, from well-known ones, such as snowy owls and bald eagles, to the more obscure ones, like black-and-white warblers, and learn where to find them. The account’s tweets are a delightful break from an otherwise bleak newsfeed, and a reminder to log off and get outside. (twitter.com) —Gracie Wiener

Mark

Tom Dixon


While I understand the appeal of going to the beach with a light, digital device that holds an entire library in it, I’ve always preferred the starchy pages of an actual book. Once you have a much-too-dog-eared one, you need a suitable bookmark. I go for ones made by Tom Dixon, a British artist who got his start welding discarded, everyday objects into stylish benches and chairs. (His furniture is on view in museums around the world, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, MoMA, and the Centre Pompidou.) He makes his bookmarks from solid brass and in a range of shapes, such as quills, postcards, and dandelions. They look as good wedged between the pages of a Louisa May Alcott classic as they do resting on a table. ($20, tomdixon.net) —Bridget Arsenault

Issue No. 146
April 30, 2022
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Issue No. 146
April 30, 2022