The Weekender: The Vogue quiz, 5 movies to stream and packing tips
Plus, your biggest questions about death, answered.
The Weekender
July 19, 2025

What do the U.S. secretary of transportation and one of the biggest podcast stars in the world have in common? A ’90s MTV show. Emma Goldberg, a Styles reporter, spoke to a creator of that show, “Road Rules,” about its surprising impact on our current culture. Speaking of impact, the director Ari Aster has set his new film, “Eddington,” smack in the middle of summer 2020. Alissa Wilkinson made it a Critic’s Pick. Her review is below along with a few pieces of advice, including on how to pack (really) light for a trip, make NYT Cooking’s most popular dishes and turn your garden into a lush, maximalist masterpiece. — Kellina Moore

COMPETITIONS

Teenagers sitting in red blazers and white cowboy hats with the word Texas in black.

BUILDING A LEGACY

Meet a team of high school rookies who competed in the national mock tiny home construction contest. Could they defend their school’s title? →

Stevie Ruiz sits on yellow stair steps with a white wooden railing on each side of him.

DAILY DOUBLE

To afford living in Montauk, N.Y., he went on “Jeopardy!” →

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Alamy; Eric Lee/The New York Times; MTV

REMEMBER THEM?

Here’s how MTV turbocharged the reality TV machine that feeds culture today. →

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The New York Times

HIRED OR FIRED?

Could you have landed a job at Vogue in the ’90s? Take our quiz based on the real exam that prospective staffers had to pass. →

WHAT TO WATCH AND READ

Two men stand in the middle of a mostly empty street, engaged in a tense conversation. One man in a cowboy hat gestures with open hands, while the other, wearing a patterned shirt and vest, points a finger at him.

Richard Foreman/A24

IN THEATERS

Our critic calls “Eddington” a dystopian conspiracy western comedy. Here’s what she loves about it. →

An illustration shows a black-and-white portrait of Jane Austen, along with scraps of title pages from her works.

Portrait by Hulton Archive, via Getty Images

THE ESSENTIALS

Which Jane Austen novel should you read first? Or revisit for its relevance to modern times? Consult our guide to her life’s work. →

A woman in printed bomber jacket is seen in profile with her back to the viewer. A car with neon lights is in the background.

Carole Bethuel

FREE FILMS

Here are 5 great movies you can stream without paying a subscription fee. →

ADVICE FOR LIVING (AND DYING) WELL

An illustration of two men facing one another. The man in the foreground has torn paper fragments surrounding his head. The other man is standing in the distance with arms folded.

Marta Monteiro

ASK THE THERAPIST

A reader asks: I’m losing my memory. Why is my husband being insensitive about it? Get Lori Gottlieb’s answer. →

An illustration shows a man sitting in a cramped airline seat, focusing only on his legs, feet and hands as he slides a small bag beneath the seat in front of him.

Weston Wei

TRAVEL 101

Here’s one way to avoid baggage fees: Use our tips to fit everything in one ultralight personal item. →

A stone path lined with bowls and troughs filled with moss leads to a door.

Bob Stefko

IN THE GARDEN

Find out what it would look like to take your garden “to the max.” →

An overhead image of sauced shrimp next to rice and a cucumber salad.

Christopher Testani for The New York Times

WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

Try making one of our 25 most popular recipes of the year (so far). →

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Xiao Hua Yang

TALKING ABOUT DEATH

It can be hard to discuss things like end-of-life care, burials and even our own emotions. Let’s get started. →

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This edition of The Weekender was edited by Farah Miller and Kellina Moore.

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