This Weekend: Ready for Some Robot Love?

Imtiaz Ali is an expert rom-com aficionado at this point, going from a TV writer who spent three years working on a debut film that flopped to breaking big with his second feature, Jab We Met, in 2007. We reflect here on his latest, Love Aaj Kal, a follow up to his greatest box-office hit of the same name from 2009. A Bollywood flirtation showing what work-life balance looks like when you’re also chasing down love, the movie follows the entrepreneurial Zoe, who has carved out a life of one-night stands, and Veer, a software whiz and hopeless romantic who believes she is the one.

2. The Crew League

Watching the artists you revere succeed is fun. But watching them fall all over themselves while trying to get some glory? Now that is priceless. Double down on your celebrity fandom this weekend with an Entourage-meets-Hoops spectacle produced by Diddy’s Revolt TV. These 10 basketball squads go head-to-head, with everyone from Russ and Jack Harlow to Swae Lee and G Herbo headlining rosters made up of their personal posse. While the on-court product could be questionable, the event is set up to be a fascinating social dynamic: The boss playing alongside a strange medley of engineers, bodyguards and childhood hangers-on. Bragging rights are on the line, plus a $100,000 prize to the winner of the 4-on-4 tournament

3. Space Sweepers

The girl relying on the help of strangers in a foreign land is Dorothy, but she apparently ain’t even human — and this for sure ain’t Kansas. This Netflix comedy follows a group of interplanetary scavengers who go from surviving off the abandoned scraps of space debris to thinking they’ve found the golden ticket in an android child. Based on the acclaimed Japanese sci-fi anime Cowboy Bebop, Space Sweepers flirts with Western noir elements as a band of misfits awkwardly navigates a postapocalyptic world.

DJ Bruno Martini and IZA’s newest collab with legendary producer Timbaland is musical escapism at its finest. The techno-pop tune showcases the Brazilian songstress’ silky voice atop Martini production quality you expect from two artists who embody Brazil’s world-famous club scene. The American Timbaland gets into the party too, dropping vibey ad-libs that serve as a serotonin hit with each beat drop.

2. The Food That Built America

OZY and History are proud to bring you your new podcast obsession, The Food That Built America. Hear about the bold visionaries behind some of the most recognizable brands on the planet. We start with chemical genius and opium addict John Pemberton and a brilliant pharmacist-turned-promoter, Asa Candler, who transformed an obscure soda tonic into one of the most recognizable brands on the planet: Coca-Cola. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts.

3. E Be Mad

Nigerian-Ghanian heavyweight Mr Eazi is back with a new EP, Something Else, providing Afro-trap vibes you can most definitely sway to. My favorite of the five tracks is “E Be Mad,” with its entrancing strings, horns and drums that feel like a dream in your ears. Although he spent much of the last year going from “Don Eazi” to mentoring mogul while working on his new artist development platform, emPawa Africa, his solo return proves he hasn’t lost a step.

What if The Great British Bake Off were a novel, one with all the juicy dishes that also dished out that sweet gossip you crave? Alright, so maybe I’m just a true Chatty Patty, but Jennifer Ryan’s work of historical fiction about four women competing in a cooking competition to become a BBC presenter seems mouthwatering. Set in Britain during World War II, scandal is guaranteed, but the surprising side dish is a warmhearted story of friendship. Oh, and the coolest part? The book includes historically accurate wartime recipes, so you can cook along.

2. Klara and the Sun

Anyone familiar with Japanese-British author Kazuo Ishiguro knows his writing is emotionally intuitive and unflinchingly human, never failing to connect with the world at hand. The Nobel laureate’s latest offering is no exception, although it takes a twist, applying that same compassionate treatment to an android searching for a connection … a human one, that is. With themes that somehow feel both futuristic and familiar, universal and personal, it’s not surprising that this read manages to be both deeply moving and entertaining.

3. Antes Empleado, Hoy Millonario

The personal finance sphere doesn’t have enough options for the Hispanic world. In this Spanish-language tome, translated as “Before an Employee, Today a Millionaire,” Iván Tapia is not stingy with his knowledge. Nor is he stingy with self-praise. The former civil engineer touts himself as the most successful Latino in network marketing, a confidence earned from being bankrupt and indebted $70,000 during the 2008 real estate crisis to now being his own boss with nearly a dozen income streams. If you want to seize control of your finances, this is the book for you.

Hey, men: It’s 2021. If you still don’t have a skin care routine, you’re not being manly — you’re being left behind. But it’s OK. There are some great masks out there for beginners from Dr. Jart. If skin care is good enough for singer-entrepreneur Pharrell Williams and actor Jonathan Majors to livestream their routines, it’s good enough for you, sweet cheeks. Get in line and level up.

2. Nightly Rejuvenation

And ladies, don’t think you’re off the hook if your self-care routine ends in the morning. These rejuvenating masks from Glow Recipe take beauty sleep to another level, to replenishing after the wear and tear of a long day. In the lifelong battle to keep your skin radiant and stave off the signs of aging, this is one weapon you’ll want to grab.

3. Fucking Fabulous Candle

If there are levels to winning at self-care, Tom Ford’s Fucking Fabulous candle is the endgame boss destroying life’s anxieties. Your peace is a deserving investment (and this is an investment, at $132). Still, once you light this (aptly named) scent of clary sage and fresh lavender — with bitter almond and vanilla inflections — you won’t ever be bothered by the petty things again.