The Weekender: Kitchen clutter busters, super short workouts and 5 free movies to stream
Plus, who “Heated Rivalry” appeals to.
From The Times
January 17, 2026

Welcome back to The Weekender, where you’ll find a batch of the week’s top stories about culture and the way we live today.

In my estimation, there are two types of people in the world: those who have watched the show “Heated Rivalry” and only want to read, think or talk about it, and those who have not. Who is in that first camp? Our Styles desk explored that question this week and found “a broad, colorful fan base — which includes, but is not limited to, hockey followers, pop-culture fanatics and romance-book readers.” And, many many women. In the latest episode of “Cannonball,” Wesley Morris has a take on why it appeals to us; it’s because “‘Heated Rivalry’ is about more than sex and hockey.”

If you’re in the second group but still want a dose of romance, we have William Blake’s “The Clod & the Pebble,” a poem that might tell you what kind of lover you are, A.O. Scott says. His close read is below along with the recipe for a less romantic but highly productive weekend: super short workouts and kitchen organizing hacks. (But also, Shane is the clod and Ilya is the pebble, and now you know which type of person I am.)

— Farah

An illustration of a man putting his arms around a woman who has collapsed into him with her body straight as a board. The man wears a suit, the woman wears a green dress. There is a red background and purple floor

Isabella Cotier

CLOSE READ

What is love? This poem has some ideas.

Illustration of colorful rectangles, three of them with photos, one of the Rubbermaid Brilliance Pantry Food Storage Containers, one of the Benchcrafted Mag-Blok, and another of the Yamazaki Magnetic Kitchen Organization Rack.

Source photos by NYT Wirecutter, Yamazaki

GETTING ORGANIZED

Tackle cupboard chaos with these 30 kitchen-organizing picks.

Against a cloudy sky at sunset, a close-up of John Sudsina, left, in a black tuxedo jacket, kisses Joel Kim Booster, wearing a white tuxedo jacket, on the side of the head.Their eyes are closed.

Mandee Johnson

VOWS

They met in Mexico and became “vacation boyfriends” — then much more. Read Joel Kim Booster and John Michael Sudsina’s love story.

At sunset, a stone fortress within circular walls juts out into the sea. In the background is a bay dotted with boats and a coast with scattered small buildings. Beyond them are hazy mountains.

Athanasios Gioumpasis/Getty Images

YOUR BUCKET LIST

These are the 10 destinations Times readers are most excited to visit in 2026.

A hand reaches down toward a miniature barbell weight sitting on colorful interlocking mats.

Andrew B. Myers for The New York Times

SUPER SHORT WORKOUTS

How little exercise can you get away with?

Black and white portrait of a woman with short, straight hair, wearing a dark blazer and a necklace, looking slightly to the side with a neutral expression.

AN AMERICAN (OSCAR-WINNER) IN PARIS

Jodie Foster told us about taking on her first solo lead role in which she also speaks fluent French.

An illustration of three people in front of a scene of street food vendors standing at carts with umbrellas. The traveler in the foreground is drinking from a bottle of water. The traveler behind her is happily eating a sandwich. The traveler in the background, seen between the other two people, is holding his stomach with one hand and gripping a medicine bottle with a cross on it in the other.

Weston Wei

GUT CHECK

Here’s how to avoid stomach trouble when you travel.

Article Image

Alex Goodlett for The New York Times

GAMIFIED

Keeping score isn’t fun anymore. C. Thi Nguyen tells us why.

Connor Storrie, left, and Hudson Williams standing together on a stage near a microphone.

Kevork Djansezian/CBS Broadcasting, via Associated Press

HOT HEADS

So, who is watching “Heated Rivalry”?

An overhead image of roasted potatoes next to a yogurty dipping sauce.

Julia Gartland for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.

TV DINNER

It’s the perfect easy meal for a cozy night on the couch. Get the recipe.

A woman wearing a red hooded coat and scarf looks off to the side, surrounded by snow-covered trees. Snow is dusted on her hood and shoulders.

Sean Porter/Amplify

FREE MOVIES

These films all revolve around the possibility of new beginnings (and don’t require a subscription to stream!).

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This edition of The Weekender was edited by Farah Miller and Kellina Moore. Reach our team at weekender@nytimes.com.

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