Summer Bucket List
what we’re doing, watching, and listening to this summer!
Go: Summer of Moomin
Photos: Marlon Co.; Images © Moomin Characters; Summer of Moomin at New York Botanical Garden. Courtesy the New York Botanical Garden.
New York has a new borough this summer: Moominvalley!
If you're not already familiar, the Moomins are a family of adventure-loving, hippopotamus-shaped creatures invented by Finnish author and illustrator Tove Jansson, and they’ve arrived at the New York Botanical Garden!
First published in 1945, the Moomin books became beloved around the world for their warmth, humor, and philosophical reflections on what it means to be alive. Jansson was passionate about the great outdoors, having spent her summers on an island off the coast of Finland, and the Moomin universe reflects her love, curiosity, and appreciation for the natural world.
Running through September 13 and presented alongside NYBG's summer exhibition Flower Power, the Moomins are taking over the Everett Children's Adventure Garden with immersive installations, hands-on nature crafts, a clue-based quest called "The Mystery in Moominvalley," and a larger-than-life character photo moment.
Good for: flower children, nature lovers, and cuteness connoisseurs.
See: Cookie Queens
Roadside Attractions
Cookie Queens (releasing August 7) follows four Girl Scouts competing for the title of top-selling “Cookie Queen,” navigating the complexities of girlhood alongside the $800 million business of one of America’s most cherished traditions: Girl Scout Cookie season.
Good for: Girl Scouts past and present, little sisters with big plans, and Thin Mint enthusiasts.
Hear: Olivia Rodrigo
Geffen Records
Olivia Rodrigo's third studio album, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, arrived June 12, marking her first album since 2023's GUTS. The record splits its title into two sides by theme, "girl so in love" and "you seem pretty sad". She previously shared two singles: "drop dead," accompanied by a Petra Collins-directed video filmed at the Palace of Versailles, and "the cure," which she's called the album's thesis statement: that being in love doesn’t fix you.
Good for: older sisters, hopeless romantics, and late-night overthinkers.
Play: Groovy Girls
Manhattan Toy, Groovy Girls®
Groovy Girls are back! The iconic yarn-haired dolls have been reimagined for a new generation, with new characters, outfits, accessories, and pets to adopt. The new Groovy Girls even have magnetic hands, allowing them to hold hands and swap accessories. Groovy Girls are available now online and at specialty retailers across the US.
Good for: nostalgic older sisters, a new generation of fans, and anyone groovy at heart.
