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June 6, 2026

I want to spend less time with my phone, but the only way I’ve found to do that is a hard reset. Every so often, I have to delete my most addictive apps — and that is how I missed the dotcake explosion. I was off TikTok (for just a couple of weeks!) and suddenly everyone was talking about single-serving cakes with nonpareil sprinkles, along with how much they cost ($11), how long the lines were to acquire them and why they went so viral (A.S.M.R.?). My colleague Gabriella Gershenson took one for the team and went in search of answers as well as samples for the Styles desk. “The story is kind of encapsulated in our experience trying them,” her editor posted in the comments. “Did it taste like a lot of cakes I’ve had before? Yes. But did I still devour the entire vanilla cake cup? Absolutely.”

However, as Gabriella points out, dotcakes are “easy enough to make at home,” and that is what I found my tween daughter doing with her friends immediately after putting Gabriella’s story in this newsletter. It’s below, along with the start of Well’s “Touch Grass” Challenge, designed to help all of us put down our phones and reconnect with the real world. Join me out there this weekend(er)?

— Farah

Sofia Jain/Butterfield Market DOT DASH What are all those people waiting in line for? An $11 confection. →

Dana Scruggs for The New York Times THE TONY'S Thirty-eight nominees reveal the strangest skill they’ve picked up for a role. →

Eric Helgas for The New York Times ASK WELL Is it OK to sleep with your pet? →

The New York Times AMERICAN SONGBIRDS We asked you to vote for the 100 greatest living American songwriters. Here’s who you picked. →

CHECK MATE A homeless chess hustler, a scholar and an aging recluse battled their demons and saved two lives. →

THE LAST STRAW Inside the tiny community of English master thatchers, a fight is unfolding over a tradition that may not survive. →

Taarush V ONE WEDGE AT A TIME Who is the Baklava Guy at the Knicks games anyway? →

Lyndon French for The New York Times CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK The new Obama Presidential Center has two very different sides, our critic writes. →

The New York Times HEAR HEAR These are the best audiobooks of 2026 (so far). →

Particle 6 A STAR IS PROMPTED Taffy Brodesser-Akner profiles celebrities for a living. Nothing prepared her for Tilly Norwood. →

NYT Wirecutter PROTECT YOURSELF Do you have an iPhone? These are the four security settings you should turn on right now. →

THE WELL SUMMER CHALLENGE Let’s log off and head outside. Start here. →

Jancee Dunn Health columnist One of our experts calls the time that we spend scrolling “ultraprocessed time,” because it doesn’t restore or fulfill us. Do you wish you spent less time on your phone? If so, how do you manage to keep your screen time in check? A Alex New York @Jancee Dunn first step, like all others addictions, was admitting I have a problem. I work in tech, so screens are my work life. As soon as I saw my 2 yo son mimicking me on the phone, I knew I had to stop. I’ve taken a few steps (delete all socials, sleep with my phone in the closet) but lots of the habits are hard to break!

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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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