Welcome to Hello, Weekend, our new guide to the best things to do, see, and pack for the best weekend every weekend.
We’re taking a break from the news with some wholesome flicks and a Pacific Northwest getaway, but first…
What’s Going On
At Home…
One of the great joys of thrift shopping is the hunt. The anticipating you feel as you sift through garment racks, bins, and shelving until you get to the moment where all that hard works pays off and you finally uncover that hidden gem. ThriftCon, which will take place in the Little Haiti neighborhood in Miami on Sunday, will put over 100 vendors of vintage and second-hand clothing, home goods, and collectibles in one spot so you can spend more time finding and less time looking.
And Abroad…
In celebration of its 20th year, the London Eye will be transforming 20 of its pods into a variety of immersive experiences. There will be classical performances, a sky-high garden party, and one pod that’s getting the full British pub makeover (complete with dartboard). When else will you be able to join the Queen(‘s Madame Tussaud’s wax figure) in a mid-air throne room or toast to the Eye with a glass a bubbly and some canapes while taking in the London skyline?
Top Picks for You
Recommended Fodor’s Video
Where We Want to Go This Weekend
Ashland, Oregon is about as well-rounded as weekend destinations get. Thanks to the town’s famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which stages a variety of plays (not necessarily just Shakespeare) across three theaters from February to November, you can get a little culture. You can engage in a little retail therapy at Prize, a meticulously curated boutique that bills itself as a “modern general store.” And connecting with nature is as simple as gazing out at the adjacent mountains—though more dedicated lovers of the outdoors who are looking for something a little more active will have a myriad of options (Mt. Ashland for skiing, Emigrant Lake for swimming, White Rabbit Trail for hikers) to choose from.
Stay: The Ashland Springs Hotel opened its doors back in 1925 and still serves as an elegant respite for travelers in search of an idyllic Pacific Northwest retreat.
Do: With so many charming features (a gorgeous fountain, duck ponds, a Japanese garden, a rose garden) contained within its 93 acres, Lithia Park is exactly the sort of place to take a long, golden hour stroll.
Eat: Coquina serves seasonal, regional cuisine in an upscale setting (and a wine list that features plenty of opportunities to sample a range of varietals from the Pacific Northwest region).
What We’re Reading
You might find actress and comedian Jenny Slate’s Little Weirds in the essay or maybe humor section of your local bookstore (if you’re lucky enough to have a local bookstore these days), but it’s not quite either of those things. It’s a collection of essays and vignettes and exercises and scenarios and poems that explores heartache, frustration, love, and the wild joy of living an unconstrained life with stunning intimacy, vulnerability, and whimsy. True to the collection’s title, there’s plenty of weirdness here (such as a section entitled “I Died: The Sad Songs My Vagina Sings”), but it’s all in service of evoking something pretty relatable: that being a human being is a baffling, singular experience.
What We’re Downloading
It seems like there should be a maximum number of bad/stressful news the human psyche can bear. But as the unrelenting pace of news cycle tests the existence of such an upper limit, it’s time to step away from the cable news and soothe yourself with the gentle adventures of a polite bear and his doting adoptive family. Based on the beloved children’s books, Paddington and Paddington 2 pair earnest, family-friendly charm with the visual style and sophistication of a Wes Anderson movie. These films are an experience that will leave you utterly delighted and wishing there was a Paddington 3 so that you could spend more time in this warm, storybook version of London.
What’s in Our Weekend Bag
If you’re planning on getting in one last ski weekend (or spending any time outdoors in this dry winter weather) before it’s officially spring, make sure you give your skin some extra TLC with this Nourishing Après Ski Serum. It contains pumpkin, jojoba, and rosehip seed—honestly, your skin feels moisturized after just reading that list.