Entertainment

The looks, books, TV trends and more bringing sizzle to summer

Dynamic concert duos

WireImage
Stadium shows are always a highlight of the summer, but this year two of them have been supersized. Beyoncé and Jay Z — who have recorded no fewer than seven songs together, including “Drunk in Love” and “Crazy in Love” — are bringing their “On the Run” tour to MetLife Stadium on July 11 and 12. Meanwhile, Eminem and Rihanna — who hit No. 1 with both “Love the Way You Lie” and “The Monster” — go toe-to-toe at the same venue, Aug. 16 and 17. Each artist will perform individually, of course, but it’s safe to expect a duet or six.

Trend that needs to die: Bow ties

Darren CrissWireImage

The bow tie made a splash last summer, thanks to celebs like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Darren Criss and Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who has his own line of ’em. Now hipsters, twinks and male fashionistas from Hollywood to the Hamptons have gone crazy with precious bow tie / short-sleeve shirt, suspenders / shorts combos. Unless you’re at prom or the Preakness, ditch the bow — or run the risk of looking more Pee-wee Herman than Pharrell Williams.

In the string of things

Kyle Pompey

As Brandee Younger’s Twitter bio spells out, she’s not your grandmother’s harpist. The 20-something Brooklynite is determined to earn her instrument the same respect saxes and basses get in jazz. In addition to performing with her “4tet,” she’s taken the stage with notable jazz artists such as Bill Lee. And as a testament to her versatility, Younger has worked and recorded with pop and hip-hop stars such as Drake and John Legend. This year, she is releasing the follow-up to her 2011 debut EP, “Prelude.” Clearly, she’s not just harping on one string.

Hot stage ticket

Lisa Tomasetti
Every time Cate Blanchett does a play in New York, she can do no wrong. She could read the phone book and we would be entranced, but from Aug. 6 to 16 she shares the stage with Isabelle Huppert, in “The Maids.” The pair engages in psycho-sexual mind games as housemaids fantasizing about offing their employer, and it’s a power combo not to miss.

The don’t-miss pop-up shop

Marco Pirovano

Choose-your-own sandal adventure!

On the hunt for the ultimate pair of sandals? At the Capritouch pop-up shop at Bloomingdale’s 59th Street flagship, you can get exactly what you want — down to the last detail. Cobblers from the Capri Palace hotel on the Italian isle whip up the shoes of your dreams while you wait: You choose the heel height, the silhouette, the materials and the adornments. You can even have your initials emblazoned on the insole. The shop is open through Aug. 30, and prices range from $195 to $745.

What to watch

No one wants to stay on the couch this summer, but that’s the beauty of modern television: You can watch it anywhere, anytime.

‘The Hotwives of Orlando’

Casey Wilson as Tawny and Danielle Schneider as Shauna.Hulu

The “Real Housewives” franchise is a parody of itself by this point. But this summer, it’s getting fully lampooned by comedy all-stars in the new Hulu show “The Hotwives of Orlando.” Casey Wilson, late of “Happy Endings,” and Kristen Schaal are among the actresses playing frenemies in “the 97th most glamorous city in the world.” Each lady fills a token role: the trophy wife, the bankrupt overspender, the cougar. And Joey “New Kids on the Block” McIntyre plays a hot trainer! The entire season premieres on Hulu Plus July 15.

‘The Leftovers’

Justin TherouxPaul Schiraldi/HBO

What if the Rapture took place . . . and everyone had to get on with their lives? Mapleton, NY, used to be the kind of town where nothing much happened — until the world lost 2 percent of its population in a mysterious vanishing referred to simply as The Departure. Starring Liv Tyler and Justin Theroux and based on the Tom Perrotta novel of the same name, “The Leftovers” doesn’t try to answer the “how?” or “why?” Instead, the series focuses on the population that’s left, as families attempt to continue on. Premieres June 29 on HBO.

‘Welcome to Sweden’

Greg Poehler as Bruce Evans, Josephine Bornebusch as Emma WiikLinus Hallsenius/NBC

Amy Poehler’s lawyer-turned-actor brother, Greg with Josephine Bornebusch, hit a home run with his first TV series … in Sweden, that is. Now NBC will air it, loosely based on Greg’s life as he moved from New York to Stockholm for love. Greg created and produced the runaway smash series, which is mostly in English, with about 15 percent in Swedish with subtitles — it’s worth the effort, we swear. Look for cameos from the likes of Aubrey Plaza and Will Ferrell (whose real-life wife is Swedish). Premieres July 10 on NBC.

‘Chronic Gamer Girl’

Ilana GlazerGetty Images

You know her as the wackier half of the duo from Comedy Central’s “Broad City,” but comic Ilana Glazer has her own Web series devoted to playing video games while in a, shall we say, freewheeling frame of mind. “Chronic Gamer Girl” features Glazer on a couch surrounded by snacks as she tries out a new game each week (a screen inset shows her game play simultaneously). Her favorites? Mario Bros., Tetris and Snood, she recently told genre publication The Cannabist. Airing now on Glazer’s YouTube channel, ChronicGamerGirl.

Buzzy beach reads

Here are summer’s top five most buzzed-about books, according to Goodreads.com.

1. “Landline” by Rainbow Rowell

After teen hit “Eleanor & Park,” Rowell returns to adult fiction with this tale of troubled marriage.

2. “I Am Pilgrim” by Terry Hayes

Readers are calling this clever espionage thriller — about a superspy pulled out of retirement — the next “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.”

3. “The Girl With All the Gifts” by M.R. Carey

Don’t go hunting for spoilers to this post-apocalyptic novel. All you need to know is that scientists are keeping kids strapped to wheelchairs at a military base — and the truth will be slowly revealed.

4. “The Book of Unknown Americans” by Cristina Henriques

Readers recommend this literary novel as a thought-provoking read that tells a love story while illuminating the immigrant experience.

5. “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr

This sweeping historical novel about a blind French girl and a German radio expert is earning rave reviews for its unique take on World War II.

2048

Addictive game: 2048

It’s impossible to ride the subway without spotting someone zombied out and playing 2048. Launched as a free app for iOS and Android last month, the incredibly lo-fi game has become the new Candy Crush. Each time two sliding tiles with the same number touch, the numbers are added and the two tiles merge. The goal? Tally up a tile of 2048 before you run out of spaces. You wouldn’t expect a math puzzle to excite the masses, but 4 million users can’t be wrong.