Bob Dylan has spawned countless fans who’ve spent decades parsing every word he’s written, but Steely Dan isn’t far behind in regards to the focus many of their listeners bring to analyzing their lyrics. Founded in SoCal in the early 70s by Bard College alums Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, the duo released seven albums before parting ways in 1981, each bearing hits such as “Kid Charlemagne” and “Reelin’ in the Years.” In Quantum Criminals, Alex Pappademas reveals the stories behind many of those songs and, in the process, gives us a book that shows what the right kind of obsession leads to—joyful, contagious passion. Featuring terrific illustrations by Joan LeMay, this is a fascinating, fun, and deep dive into the stories behind the music and the men who created it. Rick Rubin might be on the book charts these days explaining “how” creativity works, but this is an awesome counter-note. Knowing that there really was a Rikki (and she did indeed lose that number that Fagen gave to her) may or may not add to your enjoyment of the song, but after you read this book, you’ll never be able to forget the genius of these two writers. ($35, amazon.com) —Michael Hainey

In 1989, Donald Judd translated his minimalist artistic style into a new medium: tableware. Early sketches reveal his vision for geometric, sleek collections, featuring tight 90-degree angles. Judd produced ceramic and stainless-steel prototypes, but the pieces never featured the sharp-edge precision he desired. Now, more than three decades later, the French silversmith Puiforcat has partnered with the Judd Foundation to bring the artist’s original vision to fruition. An eight-piece sterling-silver set includes dinner, bread, salad, soup, and dessert flat-planed and bowl-like plates, in addition to serving bowls and cups. Perfectly echoing the artist’s distinct style, the high-shine dinnerware transforms any table into a work of modern art. (Starting at $6,000; puiforcat.com) —Gracie Wiener

Controversial opinion: there is no place for a clutch at a cocktail party. Ninety percent of the time, it will end up scrunched awkwardly in your armpit. A stylish, dressed-up, smallish shoulder bag is a much more useful appendage, which is why Valentino’s new Small Rockstud23 will be assuming a place of prominence in our warm-weather wardrobe. The tone-on-tone studs add a bit of panache without excess flash, and the strap will adjust to four different lengths, meaning that it can be worn long, short, or crossbody. ($2,590; valentino.com) —Ashley Baker

Walk around any London neighborhood and you can spot the addresses of its most notable residents by looking for circular blue plaques, courtesy of English Heritage. For those curious to learn more about these illustrious inhabitants, download the new walking tours from Storystock Sounds. All you need is a smartphone or tablet and you can plug into the free hour-long tour, which takes you all around Belgravia. (Mayfair, Chelsea, and Bloomsbury are also in the works.) Stop outside James Bond author Ian Fleming’s bachelor pad, early explorer Dorothy Bland’s smart town house, and Mozart’s family home, where he composed his first symphony. Blue Plaques Talk Back is an entertaining—and free—way to discover London’s history. (storystock.co.uk) —Daisy Dawnay

While we will happily travel for the sole purpose of visiting a great restaurant, sometimes it’s just as nice for an award-winning culinary experience to come to you. Moveable Feast brings Michelin-starred cuisine to your doorstep. Each month, the platform features a new restaurant. Upcoming ones include New York City’s Dirt Candy, San Francisco’s Octavia, and Washington, D.C.’s Alibi. Take the stress out of your next dinner party with boxes of food that just require heating up and that will serve as many as 12. A half-hour after their arrival, I had cacio e pepe profiteroles, Dungeness-crab-Rangoon dip, prime New York strip, chopped salad, potato terrine, Parker House rolls, and miso-chocolate-chip cookies on the table, courtesy of San Francisco’s Ernest. Plus, the meal comes with an excellent, easily downloadable playlist. They really do think of everything. (Starting at $385 for four, moveablefeast.io) —Hannah Seligson

When I heard there was a new bar at the intersection of Canal and Division, the center of what is now known as Dimes Square, I said, “O.K.” Founded in 2018 by Grant Reynolds, the former sommelier at Charlie Bird, Parcelle first started as an online wine shop, then grew into a physical wine bar. Now they’ve opened a quaint beer shop. Parcelle doesn’t actually have a bar but, rather, a long wood table with woven benches. The bartender serves gourmet hot dogs in brioche buns and baguettes stuffed with prosciutto. The oak armoire has Kettle Chips, Charleston Chews, and Pocky. Even if you aren’t a regular beer drinker, the craft beers are good enough—and the interior design beautiful enough—to compel you to knock one back. (parcellewine.com) —Jensen Davis