Ghost towns are both eerie reminders of what once was and useful demonstrations of how the Earth moves on without us. Filmmaker Alexander Trowbridge reflects on nature taking over after discovering Doodletown, a secret ghost town just north of New York City. Alan Weisman, author of The World Without Us, and Cal Flyn, author of Islands of Abandonment: Life in the Post-Human Landscape, offer insights on nature's comeback after humans.

Blogger Heather Summers and her husband Michael take us inside their charming 600 sqft apartment on the Upper East Side, New York.

Heather and Michael, along with their daughters, moved from California to New York City when Michael started law school. Although they found their apartment on a whim, they quickly fell in love with its two bedrooms and cozy atmosphere. Functionality is key in this compact space, and Heather has masterfully created a light and airy feel to avoid any sense of clutter. Clever storage solutions are seamlessly integrated, making the most of every inch.

This small space has not only been a design challenge but also a bonding experience for the family. The Summers know this won’t be their forever home, but the intimacy of living in close quarters has brought them closer together. Heather's skillful blend of practicality and aesthetic charm transforms their apartment into a delightful and efficient haven.

Today, Bon Appétit spends the day with Nonna Maria, one of the resident grandma chefs at Enoteca Maria on Staten Island. At 90 years old, Maria has been cooking Italian food longer than most bringing a lifetime of experience and flavor to her dishes. “Enoteca Maria is a place where we invite grandmothers from all over the world in to cook their traditional dishes. Nonna Maria has been working here for about 10 years now, and she lights up the place as soon as she walks in the door. She’s 90 years old and runs around like she’s 16.”