T&C's 2023 Summer Survival Guide
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Rule No. 1
Spend long afternoons in air-conditioned spaces—like the movie theater.
Rule No. 2
Take the scenic route.
“We go upstate and on the drive stop by Red Rooster Drive-In in Brewster. We drink milkshakes—chocolate, of course—and play minigolf.”
—Clint Ramos, costume designer, Here Lies Love, on Broadway in July
Rule No. 3
Explore the great indoors—with a good book.
Alexander Stille’s rip-roaring The Sullivanians tells the shocking story of a commune in the most unlikely of places.
Rule No. 4
Get lost at home.
From Kennedys and Capote to small-time crooks, this summer isn’t short on characters.
Rule No. 5
Hydrate but elevate.
“After a day in the sun, my favorite drink is my version of the Indian nimbu pani. I squeeze two small limes and mix with seltzer, and add . teaspoon of crushed pink salt. It’s refreshing and gives you energy!”
—Sarita Choudhury, star of And Just Like That…
Rule No. 6
Skip town for what might just be the best new restaurant in Paris.
Rule No. 7
Listen to your 8-year-old self, and indulge in some soft-serve.
It’s easy to take for granted now, but gourmet soft-serve didn’t exist before 2008, when pastry chef Christina Tosi opened the first Milk Bar bakery and introduced us all to her cereal milk–flavored ice cream. “I never understood why soft-serve wasn’t a thing in the big city,” she says. Like most of us, she associated it with roadside custard stands, carnivals, fast-food chains—but why shouldn’t it be a little fancy? “It’s operationally a light lift,” Tosi says, “and emotionally and creatively a nostalgic delight with infinite flavor possibilities.” Today, Milk Bar has expanded beyond New York to Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, and other outfits are taking frosty swirls to new culinary heights. At Laser Wolf in Philadelphia, brown sugar–infused soft-serve is sprinkled with hazelnut shortbread crumble and drizzled with rhubarb syrup; at Doi Moi in DC there are always two flavors on tap (Vietnamese coffee and dragon fruit and banana, for example); and at Pagu in Cambridge the dessert menu reads “matcha, maple, or swirl.” It never changes, because it doesn’t need to.
Rule No. 8
Embrace alfresco.
“My favorite thing in Barcelona during the summer is to have a picnic at sunset in Montjuic. I also recommend a cold drink in Parc de la Ciutadella, where there’s live jazz and classical music concerts.”
—Antonio Diaz, magician whose El Mago Pop comes to Broadway in August
Rule No. 9
Don't just think pink, drink pink, and try an exceptional rosé with a Chanel pedigree.
Rule No. 10
Have a plan.
“In L.A. we do morning hikes. The goal is to finish before 10 a.m., then end up at the Little Beach House in Malibu, and come home to catch the sunset from our roof. Those are the essentials, give or take a pool.”
—Awol Erizku, artist whose book Mystic Parallax is out June 16
Rule No. 11
When in doubt, add ice.
By William Li
Nothing beats the heat like a frozen cocktail. Luckily, an icy renaissance is upon us as creative mixologists are saying so long to the sickly-sweet daiquiris and margarita slushies of yore and reshaping the summer cocktail scene.
Rule No. 12
Summer like a Kennedy.
Rule No. 13
Say no to lobster rolls
Not every Cape Cod delicacy has to come with a side of hype. Put these on the menu instead.
By Todd Plummer
1. FRIED CLAM CHOWDER
Skipper Chowder House, Yarmouth
The clam shack thickens its chowder, chills it, then breads and fries it to gooey perfection.
2. FANTASY SEA SALT FUDGE
Chatham Candy Manor, Chatham
This dark, creamy confection with a sprinkling of Atlantic sea salt has been on the menu for 69 years. It’s no wonder why.
3. COD CHEEKS
Strangers & Saints, Provincetown
Fishermen historically discarded these jowls, but a renaissance is on thanks to this version: pan-fried with crispy shallots and chili oil.
4. HOT DOGS
Depot Dogs, Harwich
The franks from this stand are an obsession for Cape locals. The secret? They’re custom-made with a proprietary blend of spices and fillings— and that perfect snap.
Rule No. 14
Bury Your Toes
“I love UK beaches. I found one called Highcliff, about two hours outside London, that has beautiful cliffs and actual sand.”
—Marisha Wallace stars in Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre in London.
These stories appear in the Summer 2023 issue of Town & Country.
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