Times editors have handpicked 11 stories for you to enjoy. Welcome to The Weekender.

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Everybody Knows Flo From Progressive. Who Is Stephanie Courtney?

A polo shirt, a white apron and a retro hairdo changed an actor’s life forever.

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Need Therapy? In West Africa, Hairdressers Can Help.

An initiative to train hairdressers in mental health counseling is providing relief to hundreds of clients in a region with the world’s poorest access to therapy.

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Disney Rejected Her a Few Times. The ‘Wish’ Director Just Kept Trying.

After she was finally hired by the studio, Fawn Veerasunthorn worked her way up the ranks, and has applied that lesson of perseverance to her new film.

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Mars Needs Insects

If humans are ever going to live on the red planet, they’re going to have to bring bugs with them.

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Jewish Theatermakers Are in Good Company

So many of America’s great plays and musicals have been created and performed by Jews. T Magazine’s Holiday issue explores why.

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Could a Drug Give Your Pet More Dog Years?

Longevity drugs for our canine companions are moving closer to reality. They also raise questions about what it might mean to succeed.

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Round and Round We Go: Circular Strolls Near London

A handy guidebook outlines 27 bucolic walks outside the city that begin and end at train stations. We tried some out.

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What We’ll Be Obsessing Over in 2024

We asked 46 artists, filmmakers, chefs and other creative people to forecast next year’s cultural trends.

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Is It True Love if They Won’t Peel Your Orange?

A one-question relationship test popular on TikTok proposes petty inconvenience as the ultimate measure of love.

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The 10 Best Books of 2023

The staff of The New York Times Book Review choose the year’s standout fiction and nonfiction.

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How Do the Pros Create Holiday Magic?

Whether you’re a minimalist, a maximalist or agnostic about holiday decorating, these designers have some suggestions for you.

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Thanks for reading. I’ll see you next weekend.

This edition of The Weekender was edited by Jonathan Wolfe.