Mad Men, Sundays at 10 p.m. on AMC
Easily the most intelligent and thought-provoking hour of television currently gracing the airwaves, "Mad Men" follows the professional and personal exploits of the suave yet mysterious Don Draper, an advertising executive in the early 1960s whose glamorous facade obscures dark secrets and a troubled past. Created by Matthew Weiner, the man responsible for some of the most memorable moments of The Sopranos, the show offers a heady mix of scandal and intrigue against the backdrop of a society at the crossroads of change. For those who enjoy sharp and provocative drama, Mad Men is a must see.
-- Stefanie Zychowski
The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer
Soon to be a major motion picture, these books -- there are four in the series -- are seriously addicting, and every 16-year-old girl in New York was reading them on the subway this summer. Twilight chronicles the impossible love between 18-year-old Bella, a human, and perpetually 17-year-old Edward, a vampire. Edward and his family of vampires live a quiet life in rainy Forks, Wash., and try to abstain from drinking human blood. It sounds quirky, but it is wildly entertaining. Big print, fast-paced action and short sentences will have you through it in no time.
-- Christine Paquin
Sanders Swiss Dark Fudge Dessert Topping
Confession: Sometimes I buy a can of frosting at Topside already knowing that it will never be used for icing anything but the roof of my mouth. I feel much less declasse dipping a spoon into a jar of Swiss Dark Fudge. I admit I would probably feel ridiculous buying it of my own accord; luckily my favorite ex-roomie saved me the dilemma by doing the honors for me. The fudge topping, which claims to be "crafted in small batches" totally pwns Betty Crocker and her plasticy aftertaste. And nothing says "happy birthday," "welcome back to school" or "sorry for sexiling you" better than a faintly repulsive chocolate-binge-in-a-jar. Oh, and it would probably be amazing on a sundae, but who has time for all that prep work?
-- Amy Davis
