LYST 127

Osmotourism, Alice B. Toklas, Union Station Nights, Citron Pressés, and More.

ALICE B. TOKLAS

I recently thrifted a copy of The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, Gertrude Stein's playful "autobiography" told in Toklas's voice, largely because it is illustrated by Maira Kalman, one of my favorite artists. That purchase inevitably sent me down an Alice B. Toklas rabbit hole, where I rediscovered the recording of Toklas reading the famous "Hashish Fudge" recipe from her 1954 cookbook. Contributed by artist Brion Gysin, the recipe unexpectedly transformed Toklas into a counterculture icon, despite later insisting she had no idea what the mysterious ingredient actually was. Listening to her read it aloud is about as Wonderlyst-worthy as it gets. And if that inspires your own Alice B. Toklas deep dive, I Love You, Alice B. Toklas, the wonderfully groovy 1968 Peter Sellers comedy inspired by the recipe's cult status, begins streaming on HBO on July 1.

ADDING TO THE TBR PILE

My summer TBR pile is already overflowing, but I can't stop, won't stop adding to it. Here are three that have recently found their way onto it. The Fine Art of Lying by Amil Niazi follows a young woman who takes a job with a charismatic art collector and quickly finds herself pulled into a web of deception. Waist Deep by Linea Maja Ernst became a word-of-mouth sensation in Scandinavia before making its way to the U.S. It follows two sisters through a Danish summer filled with swimming, friendship, and the messiness of adulthood. And while we'll have to wait until August, I already have Rachel Cusk's Life of M on pre-order. A new novel from the author of the Outline trilogy automatically earns a place on my reading list.

MORE WONDER BRINGERS (A FEW TO START…)

A LOOK I use this app to help me plan my gallery-hopping sARTurdays in LA, and it’s also available in other major cities around the world • A LISTEN I love a seasonal playlist. This is Le Sud, from author Rebekah Peppler, named after her Provence cookbook • A TASTE What The Cluck? You will be the hit of the potluck if you bring this summer treat!