The Weekender: A $7 house, less bad alcohol and 2025’s best movies (so far)

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View in browser|nytimes.com May 24, 2025 Welcome back to the Weekender. To mark the unofficial start of summer, we've got beach books for every type of reader, the top 10 movies of 2025 (so far), and, of course, thoughts on what to make for picnics, barbecues and gatherings this Memorial Day. And we didn't forget trip recommendations. Are you dreaming of Italy, or looking for adventure closer to home? Or do you want to leave it all behind and enter to win a house in Ireland for $7? That's all below, with more great reads about culture and the way we live today. — Farah Miller Julia Gartland for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Yossy Arefi. KITCHEN RULES Do you need to refrigerate ketchup, butter or syrup? Settle some scores with our A-to-Z guide to storing condiments. → A MOVIE GAME Your mission? Match 20 movies to their original Times review headlines. → Tony Cenicola/The New York Times RENTERS Owen Levy moved into his current apartment in 1979. In the decades since, he's watched Harlem transform. → Eric Helgas for The New York Times ASK WELL Is there a least bad alcohol? Get the answer. → via Roberts Family LAST GYM STANDING All that remains of the Lucille Roberts gym empire is a modest location in Queens. Meet the devotees. → Abercrombie & Kent WHERE TO GO Whether your budget is $100 a night or $1,800, we've got charming choices for an Italian getaway. → HBO INSIDE THE PLAYHOUSE Here's what we learned in a new documentary about Paul Reubens before and after his Pee-wee Herman days. → Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Rebecca Jurkevich. SUMMER KICKOFF Here's what to make for picnics, barbecues and gatherings this long weekend. → Karen Cox for The New York Times WINNER'S MARKET Want to buy her house in Ireland? You'll need $7 and some serious luck. → Ezra Shaw/Getty Images SUMMER TRAVEL Consider visiting one of these five stunning state parks. → via Sotheby's ART QUIZ Are you smarter than a billionaire? Guess which pieces of art sold for the most at auction to find out. → Warner Bros. Pictures COUNTDOWN And the best movies of 2025 (so far) are … → SUMMER READING Ready to refresh your "to be read" list? Start here. BEACH READS You don't need to be on the sand to enjoy these novels. You just need a certain willingness to be transported. → NEW FICTION Taylor Jenkins Reid heads to space, Megan Abbott climbs a pyramid (scheme) and Gary Shteyngart channels a 10-year-old. → NEW NONFICTION How did streetwear become high fashion? Why are there so many serial killers in the Pacific Northwest? Prize-winning writers tackle these questions. → Thanks for reading. For more culture and lifestyle stories from The Times, click here. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here. This edition of The Weekender was edited by Farah Miller and Kellina Moore. You might also like the Evening newsletter. Catch up on the biggest news, and wind down to end your day. Get it in your inbox If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe here. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this message because you signed up for updates from The New York Times about The Weekender. To stop receiving The Weekender, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018