Daily Skimm

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday, and happy Halloween. My fiancé and I really locked in this year and came up with the perfect couples costume: Kermit and Miss Piggy, specifically from Muppet Treasure Island (allegedly, Tim Curry’s personal favorite). Because if there’s ever an opportunity to wear a feather boa, you can bet I’m taking it. I’ll also…

Ease my wardrobe into Actual Fall Weather with the surprising print that’ll be inescapable this season. It’s moody and romantic, and it flawlessly straddles the line between girly and grungy. Florals? For November? Actually groundbreaking.
Try this softer take on the cat eye. For starters, it’s doable — quite a feat for those of us who think the hardest part about a cat eye is, well, everything. Plus, it only gets better as it smudges throughout the day.
Watch a horror film or two — and not just because of the holiday. Apparently, they’re a great way to de-stress. I’ve been on a Stephen King kick since finishing Carrie, so maybe I’ll put on The Shining or It.
Finally retire my summery red nails for a plum polish, my forever fall/winter shade. It’s chic and more interesting than a neutral, but still understated enough to go with everything.
Vote. Yes, because it’s my civic duty. But also because early voters who hit the polls in NYC today get a special Halloween-themed sticker.

— Julia Reinstein / Writer, Culture & Leisure / Brooklyn, NY

This Deceptively Easy Coffee Cake Is Canned Pumpkin’s Highest Calling

theSkimm

Since the dawn of time, philosophers have wrestled with the big questions: What’s the meaning of life? Why are we here? Is coffee cake breakfast or dessert? We can’t help with that last one, but we do know Broma Bakery’s Pumpkin Coffee Cake is delicious either way. The love child of plush pumpkin bread and buttery crumb cake, the no-mixer recipe pairs the spice-blend equivalent of a cozy sweater (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves) with a crunchy topping that’s impossible not to pick at (speaking from experience). Finish with the maple glaze and you’ll understand why one fan warned it’s “not safe to make if you don’t have a bunch of people around to help you eat it.” Good thing Halloween parties exist.

The Time Commitment: Just over an hour, though the cake bakes for more than half of that — leaving you with plenty of time to panic-assemble a costume.

Key Tips: The cake freezes well, according to Sarah Fennel (aka Broma Bakery), who recommends stashing a few squares in your freezer for the next time you have last-minute guests or an emergency sugar craving.

Other Takes: As for what to do with the rest of that can of pumpkin? Try…

Spiced Pumpkin Snickerdoodles. Cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, and a dash of black pepper give the classic cookie a little more bite.
Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars. A commenter said they’ve “contemplated buying a case of canned pumpkin puree (and bulk chocolate chips!)” just for these. Same.
Mini Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Muffins. Think: all of the donut-hole energy, with none of the messy frying. And did we mention they’re ready in 45 minutes, start to finish?

What’s new in food & home:

🎃 Suddenly adding pumpkin puree to your shopping list? Consider skipping this brand, which came in dead last in a recent taste test. Allrecipes, we thank you for your service.

🥫 Calling all Soup Girls: Making the store-bought stuff taste restaurant-worthy requires one ingredient, which you probably have left over from last night. (It works on your homemade batch, too.)

🍳 If your “perfect” seven-minute egg was perfect exactly once, Trader Joe’s new viral find lets you skip the guesswork. As one person put it, “I want to hate on this but I know it’s going to change someone’s life.” Hi, hello, it’s us.

The Brightness by Chad Harbach

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If your baseball knowledge begins and ends with The Art of Fielding, good news: Chad Harbach is back with his first novel in 15 years. The Brightness returns to the fictional Westish College and to some familiar faces (no need to have read the first book). This time, the spotlight is on two best friends, Pella and Irma. Pella, now in her late 20s, has finally finished her degree, is newly engaged to a Westish coach, and is trying to retire her wild-child era. Then she attends a friend’s glamorous Rhode Island wedding, where a few unexpected guests threaten all of it. Back on campus, scholarship student Irma puts her future on the line when she and two pals — the self-described Witches of Westish — go national with a provocative prank protesting the school’s rape culture. Expect love, grief, and some very messy 20s. We chatted with Harbach about what he’s reading and his eggspert kitchen skills.

Q: If you could be the world’s leading expert on one thing, what would it be?

Harbach: Making omelets. It’s such a simple dish — three eggs, salt, butter — and yet there’s so much attention and technique that goes into doing it right. You really have to be present and keep practicing. One of my prized possessions is a dedicated omelet pan just like Julia Child’s.

Q: What’s the one thing you can’t leave the house without?

Harbach: I like small paperbacks that fit in a jacket pocket.

Q: What’s your shortcut to relaxation?

Harbach: Reading in bed before sleep — a habit I’ve had since kindergarten.

PS: The book that Harbach called “spellbinding” and “as lyrical as anything in F. Scott Fitzgerald”? Find out here.

Meanwhile, on the internet…

First, hotels decided bathroom doors were optional. Now, another in-room necessity is quietly disappearing. One star, would not recommend.
A list of the year’s most popular baby names is in — and while you might guess the top girls’ name, good luck with No. 2.
Before you hand out a single piece of Halloween candy, you should know there’s a right way to pronounce “Reese’s Pieces.” And, naturally, half the internet isn’t taking it well.

We think this slightly niche animal print is the chicest of them all.

Wanna shop? Here's what our Senior Commerce Writer is buying from this week's sales.

Keep scrolling...more recs below

Think You Know Everything About This Hip Hudson Valley Town? Think Again

theSkimm

Yes, Hudson in the fall is an obvious pick. But hear us out, because the once-sleepy New York town has transformed dramatically in recent years — and autumn is when it truly shines. Sure, there are enough leaf-peeping opportunities and local farms to satisfy even the most passionate Fall Person™. But you could also spend an entire weekend exploring the buzzy restaurants, fantastic bakeries, eclectic shops, and stylish accommodations (stay at The Maker, which feels like the world’s chicest library) that now fill downtown. Plus, at just over two hours from NYC by car or train, it’s a weekend escape that’s doable on a whim — or before the holiday madness sets in.

👟 Hudson earns its nickname as “upstate’s downtown,” largely thanks to Warren Street — a lively main drag lined with boutiques and cafes that feel more Williamsburg than small-town New York. First, fuel up with a buttery croissant from Mel the Bakery. Then browse quirky greeting cards at The Social Type, pick up a dried floral bouquet at The Quiet Botanist, buy country-chic clothes at Jamestown, and flip through new releases at The Spotty Dog Books & Ale. You can also live out your Architectural Digest dreams at Hudson’s many home-design and antique furniture stores: midcentury fans should check out Neven & Neven Moderne to admire its collection of chairs; Ina Garten acolytes will love shopping for French glassware at Red Chair on Warren; and those with endless patience will find treasures at the 40,000-square-foot Antique Warehouse, just a short walk away.

🍂 Part of the beauty of a trip to Hudson is that it’s surrounded by many equally charming towns, all within driving distance. Art buffs should head to Beacon, home to superb galleries like BAU and Dia Beacon, a massive contemporary art museum that’s worth the trip alone. Outdoorsy types should trek to the area around High Falls, where you’ll find — you guessed it — an impressively tall waterfall, Minnewaska State Park Preserve (Severance fans might recognize Awosting Falls), and maybe Mandy Patinkin. Finally, for a little bit of everything, visit Kingston, another Brooklyn-like town with top-notch restaurants, excellent shopping (don’t miss Clove & Creek), colorful art studios, expansive green space, and rich history as New York’s first capital.

🍴 Let’s be real: Hudson’s food and drink scene is half the reason to visit. For New York’s best bagel (don’t come for us), go to Circles and order an everything bagel, topped with cream cheese, shiso, cucumbers, red onion, and chili crisp. Want to eat Bolognese surrounded by stunning floral arrangements and a cozy fireplace? Of course you do, so make a dinner reservation at Feast & Floret. Or, for something more casual, swing by Mr. Cat Brasserie, a hotspot with French bistro vibes and a farm-fresh menu that includes crispy fries, baked Parisian-style gnocchi, and moules-frites. Wherever you eat, end the evening with one of The Hereafter’s inventive cocktails (we’re partial to The House Dirty martini).

Black Friday came early for your vibrator collection.

This oversized sweatshirt is a little bit country, a little bit rock n' roll, but mostly very comfy.

PS: Want more product recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram.

We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:

My mother-in-law told my husband that my sister-in-law and her partner were coming to Thanksgiving at our house. I love my SIL, but it bothers me that I wasn’t part of the conversation — and it wasn’t even posed as a question. What can I say to my MIL?

“If this isn’t your MIL’s typical behavior, give her the benefit of the doubt. Then, start a conversation with your husband since he’s the one she told. Be clear with him that you’d like to be part of any future conversations about your home. He might say something to his mother like, ‘Let me talk this over with my wife and get back to you,’ or ‘Let’s bring my wife into this conversation.’

As for your MIL, let her know that you love your sister-in-law but simply want to be asked about holidays that take place in your home. To minimize resentment, be open about how the situation made you feel and what you would have preferred. Remember that in your home, you and your husband get to set expectations about who attends. Going forward, gently and casually bring up holiday plans early in the year, and mention who you’d like to be there.”