“New, good restaurants in L.A. are few and far between,” the Los Feliz-based jewelry designer Sophie Buhai told me on a recent summer evening as we walked into Stir Crazy. Buhai, it soon became clear, was not alone in singling out the intimate wine bar, which co-owners Mackenzie Hoffman, Macklin Casnof, and Harley Wertheimer quietly opened on Melrose in May; nearby, similarly discerning Angelenos—Grammy-winning producer Emile Haynie; Yola Mezcal founder Gina Correll Aglietti—were also delighting in the plates of chili-laced melon, romesco-roasted zucchini, and cherry blossom-topped crudo (paired, perhaps, with an off-menu bottle of Marioni rosé)that flowed from the open-format stainless steel kitchen. Which is all to say: with its casual, European cafe-esque ambience and refreshingly light, farmer’s market-driven fare, Stir Crazy’s arrival was well worth the wait. (instagram.com) —Zoe Ruffner

When Robert Kime died, in 2022, London’s design world was forever changed. A masterful collector and decorator, Kime had an aesthetic that informed some of the U.K.’s most stately homes, including royal residences Clarence House and Highgrove House. While Kime’s Pimlico Road shop remains open, his personal effects (including the contents of his homes in London and Provence) are coming up for auction at Dreweatts from October 4 to 6. Expect Chinese porcelain, Indian textiles, and furnishings of many persuasions. The collection charts the evolution of the style he developed alongside his wife, children’s-book author Helen Nicoll. Highlights from the sale will be on view at Dreweatts’s London gallery from September 8 to 14, and it is not necessary to traipse up to Berkshire for the sale—telephone and Internet bids will do nicely. (dreweatts.com) —Ashley Baker

According to David Sedaris, there are really only two acceptable types of candles: Diptyque and Trudon. But has he been to Provence lately? Because in the small (but unmissable) town of Mausanne-les-Alpilles, in the quasi-mountainous region around Avignon and Arles, there’s a newish candle-maker whose all-natural formulations rival the greats. L’Antidote founder Marie-Caroline Guerin was working in luxury fashion and ping-ponging between France, England, and Hong Kong when, in 2019, she was diagnosed with cancer. Determined to re-orient her career toward a passion project, she channeled her love of fragrance into a line of candles. Beautifully scented with perfumes from Grasse, they are made of pesticide-free sunflower oil and mixed by hand at her atelier. Don’t leave the region without procuring at least a few to take home. Our favorites are Le Figuier (fig), Balthazar (tobacco, orange, and sandalwood), and La Maussanaise (an homage to the scents of Guerin’s home). She also offers candle-making workshops at the studio, where guests are able to mix and pour formulations of their own design. (from $15, lantidotebougies.com) —Ashley Baker

There are few things quite as frustrating as spending hours trying to find the perfect gift for the friend who has everything, only to settle on a Diptyque candle or spa gift card. Enter the Go-To, a new online marketplace and the ultimate “destination for elevated gifting.” A curated selection includes everything from catchall trays and bespoke dining sets to fine jewelry and monogrammed cigar cases. Whether you’re shopping for that hard-to-please birthday girl, a minimalist new homeowner, or even a pampered pooch, the Go-To has gifts for every personality and price range, from a $60 passport holder to a $22,000 Linley jewelry box. (thegoto.com) —Lucy Horowitz

Where have I seen that person before? We’ve all been there—watching a show and knowing we recognize an actor but being unable to remember from where. Enter Callsheet, a new app that solves the problem quickly and gets you back to the movie. Think of it like a thoughtfully designed IMDB. Callsheet’s best feature? The ability to hide spoilers when browsing. Not interested in learning that your favorite protagonist gets killed off after two episodes? No problem. Plus, Callsheet links out to trivia, where to stream, and parental guidance. ($9 per year, apps.apple.com) —John Tornow

India was in the news this summer for two reasons: a lunar landing and record-breaking heat waves—114 degrees. All that technological know-how and investment, and India, of all nations facing pestilence and drought, chooses to trail other superpowers into space? (O.K., maybe not Russia, not anymore.) The world shouldn’t need an astronomer to remind Elon Musk and his acolytes that Mars is not the solution to climate change on Earth, but evidently it does. Marcelo Gleiser, who is also a philosopher and theoretical physicist at Dartmouth, has just published a short book, The Dawn of a Mindful Universe, which he calls a manifesto for humanism and the preservation of the planet. He doesn’t say how—at this point we kind of know what needs to be done. He explains why, elegantly and persuasively. Of Mars exploration, Gleiser says, “Curiosity drives us forward, and shortsightedness slows us down.” ($29.99, amazon.com) —Alessandra Stanley