Summer is here, and that means it’s time to have some fun in the sun. In the dating world, that might mean keeping it casual, but you can still find love when the weather is warm.
If you’re a guy looking for a long-term relationship this summer, licensed therapist and relationship expert Jordanne Sculler has five “unconventional and intentional” tips to follow, which she shared with Men’s Journal this week.
For this tip, Sculler recommends thinking outside of the box about the type of people you pursue and “giving people a chance before disqualifying them based on a list of qualities you think you should want.”
“We often rely on mental shortcuts when dating, filtering people based on superficial traits, assumptions, or a rigid idea of our “type.” But research suggests that we’re not always great predictors of who we’ll actually connect with,” she says. “When we loosen those preconceived criteria, we create space for genuine chemistry, shared values, and emotional compatibility to emerge. Connection often grows through interaction, not on paper.”
Step Outside of Your Typical Dating Routines
Sculler calls this “one of my favorite pieces of dating advice.” In addition to rethinking your dating pool, she advocates deviating from your usual routine–changing how long your typical dates are, how many drinks you have etc.
“We tend to operate on autopilot. We bring the same habits, expectations, and behaviors into dating and then wonder why we keep getting the same results,” she explains. “When we intentionally change the pattern, we create opportunities for new experiences, new connections, and new insights about ourselves.”
Examine the Stories You Tell Yourself
According to Sculler, people enter the dating world “carrying stories about who we are, what we deserve, and how relationships work.” Challenging these narratives, particularly if they are negative ones, is critical.
“Our beliefs shape what we notice, expect, and even how we behave in relationships. When we assume a certain outcome, we often unknowingly reinforce the very patterns we’re trying to avoid,” she says.
Choose Curiosity Over Chemistry
Sculler asks men to think not just in terms of are they attracted to the person they’re on a date with, but also if they can learn from them.
“Many people make snap judgments within minutes. Curiosity slows down our tendency to judge and allows attraction to develop over time,” she adds. “Some of the strongest relationships begin with moderate, not instant, chemistry.”
Don’t Wait for a ‘Spark’ – Look for Regulation
Everyone is looking for “butterflies,” but that’s no the be-all, end-all.
“Many people mistake anxiety, unpredictability, or emotional intensity and insecurity for chemistry,” Sculler says. “Healthy relationships often feel calm, safe, and consistent rather than emotionally chaotic.”
I visited a $26,000-per-night villa in Costa Rica with an on-call yacht, guides for fishing, surfing, and fitness, a full-service spa, and a team of twenty staff members (including a private chef and a mixologist) and it was one of the most personalized and thoughtful luxury travel experiences of my life. No matter what your idea of the perfect tropical vacation is, Villa Avellana will curate it for you. To put it simply, it felt like the private jet version of a five-star resort.
The Art of Seamless Luxury
(Villa Avellana)
I kneeled on the nose of a paddle board as a laid-back long-haired waterman named Rolo paddled me from a 42-foot yacht across the clear waters of Prieta Bay to the beach. I’d spent the past few hours surfing for the first time in years at one of the world’s most famous surf breaks, Witch’s Rock, and my arms were like noodles. Rolo pointed out a ray gliding through the water beneath us as the nose of the board nudged onto the sand and I stepped onto the beach.
I walked the short path to the modern villa; an architectural showplace nestled in the shade of indigenous Guanacaste trees for which this region of Costa Rica is named. After rinsing off the salt water in the outdoor shower, I walked up the steps into the giant indoor/outdoor living space facing the pool with lounge chairs, couches, and fans spinning overhead.
Tatiana, the villa’s mixologist, looked up from the bar and asked if I was ready for a cocktail. I had a rare craving for a Piña Colada, but it takes serious skill to nail that drink with the right balance. As she began cutting a fresh, ripe Costa Rican pineapple, I knew I was in good hands. Moments later, as I settled into the hot tub and looked out over the edge of the infinity pool at the ocean, Tati handed me the best Piña Colada I’ve ever had in my life. Not too sweet, the perfect texture from the first sip to the last, and just strong enough to where I only needed one.
(Stinson Carter)
I had the pool and hot tub all to myself. I watched an iguana lounge on a tree branch as I sipped my drink. The seamless transition from surfing at a world-class break to sitting in the hot tub with a perfect cocktail was something I had never experienced. Even at luxury resorts, there’s usually a staff handoff after an excursion, a check to sign at the bar, then a lounge chair to claim by the pool. But at Villa Avellana, all those moments vanish.
The service at the Villa Avellana is always a step ahead of you. At dinner, the wine you enjoyed the night before is remembered, and something else suggested if the menu calls for it. If you ordered a cortado after lunch, another one will appear the next day at the same moment without you even having to ask. And if you ordered a Piña Colada after your surfing trip, there will be one waiting for you when you get off the boat the next afternoon.
Getting There
(Villa Avellana)
If you pack light and plan it right, from the moment you step off the plane at Liberia airport, you could be stepping out onto the Villa’s private beach in a little over an hour. The airport has a VIP service called V-Pass that makes customs a breeze. V-Pass handlers met me on the tarmac, and I was through customs and headed out to a Villa Avellana Suburban ten minutes later. After a forty-five minute drive, we entered Papagayo: a private, gated peninsula whose cliffs are clustered with modern mansions and several luxury hotels including The Four Seasons, Andaz, The Ritz-Carlton. (St. Regis will soon join the group.) Villa Avellana is a different kind of resort experience, but the presence of these nearby ultra-luxury properties means that gourmet ingredients and the finest wines and spirits are easy to procure around here. The nearby hotels are also nice if you’ re out on one of the villa’s two boats and want to drop in for a meal or a cocktail.
Arrival At The Villa
(Villa Avellana)
When you arrive, you’re offered a chilled coconut with a straw as a welcome drink. There is no formal check-in process. I was met by the charming general manager, a Canadian expat named Thomas, and by the vigilant lead concierge, Sergio. He led me upstairs to a large king suite with a massive balcony looking out over the ocean, a walk-in closet, and a palatial bathroom with an outdoor shower. As I rolled my suitcase into the room I asked about a room key. “We don’t do locks here” said Sergio, with a smile that made me realize I didn’t quite yet understand how different this would be from a typical luxury resort. I would soon find out.
A Typical Day At The Villa
(Villa Avellana)
You wake up to the sounds of nature, and with a push of a button a shade lifts to reveal the bright blue water of Prieta Bay in a floor-to-ceiling window. Downstairs in the kitchen, your breakfast is waiting for you whenever you want it. There’s a buffet with fresh pastries, bacon, and eggs, and there’s also a made-to-order breakfast dish that changes daily. If you’re heading to a yoga class or on a hike and want to keep it light, there’s a smoothie station with every possible kind of milk, protein powder, or specialty add-on you could imagine. I ordered a cappuccino on my first morning there, and one was brought every morning after without me even needing to ask. If you need a couple Tylenol for last night’s wine, you can text Sergio and he’ll bring it to you in minutes.
(Villa Avellana)
After breakfast, Sergio will have already planned your customized morning activity. That might be a fitness class, a private fishing trip, a massage in the spa, or snorkeling with sea turtles. Lunch can be a group experience at the table, or you can dine in any configuration of company you want, nearly anywhere on property. The cuisine of Executive Chef David Moya is insanely good. Every day there is a different menu, and it can range from local fish and Costa Rican classics like avocado rice and plantains, to wood-fired pizza and parrilla barbecue.
In the afternoons, perhaps after a siesta, the adventures continue. Thomas, the GM, took me and my wife and our two kids on a private sunset cruise to “Cathedral,” a hidden place in the trees that only their smaller boat can access. Once inside, he cut the engine so we could listen to the birds echoing on the water. On the boat, there’s always snacks like fresh guacamole and homemade chips, fresh-baked cookies, and a cooler full of local beer and bottled water.
At cocktail hour, Tati usually has some drink du jour made with local ingredients, but she’s happy to improvise with whatever base spirit you prefer, alongside excellent Palomas and spicy margaritas. Tati may be working her magic for a small group, but she could shine behind any cocktail bar in the world. Dinners were served at a long table by the bar or on our final night, on the beach. José, the warm and friendly F&B manager got a sense of what kinds of wine I liked and always had the perfect bottle ready.
Around 9pm, José and Tati would give last call. Whatever you have been enjoying so far, they make sure you’ll have more of it, as late as you want. If you’ve been drinking wine or Champagne, they’ll leave a bottle or two on ice. If you’ve been sipping Glenfiddich 18, Tati will leave out the bottle for you. If the group you’re with wants to party later into the night with the full bar and sommelier on hand, Tati and José can also make that happen.
Nights are magical at Villa Avellana. It feels like your private home. Passing around a chilled bottle of Sancerre, lounging in the couches by the pool, breeze blowing through from the ocean on one side to the woods on the other. You can hear the water lapping against the sand and see the lights on the peninsula reflected in the bay.
Rates & Details
The 33,000-square-foot property has 10 en-suite bedrooms. Rates starting at $26,000 nightly for up to 18 adults and 5 children, with a 5-night minimum stay, plus gratuity and tax.
Final Thoughts
(Villa Avellana)
When it was time for me to leave, I wheeled my suitcase out of the villa’s front door to find the entire staff lining the stairway to say goodbye to me. In a sudden wave of gratitude, I found myself welling up. I spent over a decade working in a luxury hotel, LA’s Chateau Marmont, and I still experience resorts and hotels not just through my eyes but also through the eyes of the staff. But at the Villa Avellana, I couldn’t do that. Because it felt like we experienced something together. And that’s a level of luxury that can’t be measured in stars.
Few guitar riffs are as instantly recognizable (and deliciously catchy) as the opening of Dire Straits’ 1985 smash hit “Money for Nothing.”
Driven by Mark Knopfler’s crunchy, unmistakable guitar tone, the song became one of the defining sounds of the 1980s — and decades later, critics still rank its opening among the greatest guitar riffs ever recorded.
Classical-Music.com recently included “Money for Nothing” on its list of the greatest guitar riffs of all time, praising the song for perfectly capturing the spirit of the decade.
The Guitar Riff That Defined the ’80s
According to Classical-Music.com, “Money for Nothing” distilled the energy and contradictions of mid-1980s Britain into one unforgettable riff.
“Dire Straits captured the zeitgeist perfectly with a guitar riff emerging as though robotically beamed in from a future that didn’t seem so far away,” the publication wrote.
It added that “few things sound as ’80s as that guitar riff.”
Written by Mark Knopfler and featuring backing vocals from Sting, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and became one of Dire Straits’ biggest hits.
The Song That Helped Define MTV
“Money for Nothing” wasn’t just a hit on the radio, it became one of MTV’s signature songs.
Its groundbreaking computer-animated music video won Video of the Year at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards and helped establish the network’s visual identity during the channel’s golden era. The song also made television history overseas.
When MTV Europe launched on Aug. 1, 1987, “Money for Nothing” was chosen as the very first music video the network aired, making it part of one of the biggest moments in music television history.
The choice was fitting. The song’s lyrics famously poked fun at rock stardom through the eyes of appliance store workers watching MTV, while its now-iconic refrain, “I want my MTV,” became forever linked with the channel itself.
More Than Four Decades Later, It Still Rocks
Released on Dire Straits’ blockbuster album Brothers in Arms, “Money for Nothing” remains one of the band’s defining achievements. From its instantly recognizable opening riff to its groundbreaking music video, the song helped shape both rock music and the MTV generation.
Forty years later, it’s easy to hear why critics continue to rank it among the greatest guitar riffs ever recorded, and why its influence on music and pop culture remains impossible to ignore.
Capris have their ups and downs. Even culottes have their loyal fan base. But this summer 2026 trouser trend has divided even the most stylish of fashion people. Yes, I’m talking about balloon trousers. Accurately named, these billowy trousers resemble the curve of a balloon. The tapered leg cinches at the ankle, anchoring the pant, while the waist and leg deliver an oversized look. Fashion people who aren’t afraid to be extra—literally, these pants are made up of a lot of fabric—are styling these curved-leg trousers with highly specific shoe trends.
Scroll on to see how It girls from L.A. to London to Oslo style the balloon pant trend. Heads up: open-toe sandals are a popular choice, so if you’re thinking about picking up a pair of these controversial pants, I recommend booking a pedicure too.
3 Shoe Trends It Girls Are Styling With Balloon Trousers
Style Notes: Combat the voluminous shape with a sleek and polished shoe choice. The heeled flip-flop is paramount amongst these. With an elevated finish—both figuratively and literally—minimalist shape and simple silhouette, this is a style that offsets the boxy shape whilst still complementing it.
Shop the Trend:
Massimo Dutti
Strappy Lace-Trim Top
Perfect for the boudoir to after-work drinks at your favourite cocktail bar.
Lié Studio
Silver and Quartz Necklace
From Tiffany & Co. to Jennifer Behr, every luxury jewellery brand is banking on the pendant necklace trend.
Reformation
Aven Pant
Billowy perfection.
Alaïa
Le Teckel Small Leather-trimmed Suede Shoulder Bag
This suede of shade is so sumptuous—despite how much effort you’d have to go to to keep it clean.
Toteme
Leather Heeled Flip Flops Black
When it comes to heeled flip-flops, everyone with taste is reaching for this Toteme style.
Style Notes: For something with a bit of visual intrigue, reach for a strappy stiletto. Balloon trousers are quite a straightforward silhouette, with an uncomplicated shape and unfussy design, so contrast this simplicity with a shoe that packs a bit more of a punch.
Shop the Trend:
Reformation
Evie Knit Top
This two-toned bandeau top feels so Calvin Klein circa spring/summer 1997.
M&S
Relaxed Balloon Trousers
M&S always delivers well-crafted and affordable-priced pieces that adhere to the latest trends.
Reformation
Serenity Bare Sandal
Inspired by The Row’s Bare sandals, this Reformation pair is far more accessible.
Strathberry
Mini Tote Croc-Embossed Bottle Green
Scottish luxury accessory brand, Strathberry, delivers some of the most covetable and exceptionally crafted pieces in the entire United Kingdom.
Missoma
Chunky T-Bar Chain Necklace
For a softer jewellery look, try this classic T-Bar shape, which has been brought back into the mainstream after Anne Hathaway wore one in The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Style Notes: Skip the heels altogether and reach for the most in-demand shoe trend this summer: two-toned flip-flops. Most commonly seen in a red-and-black colour palette, this trend can be traced back to last summer, when styles from The Row and Ancient Greek Sandals reigned supreme, which is good news for anyone who has held onto their pair for this season.
Shop the Trend:
FLORE FLORE
Jill Organic Cotton-Jersey Tank
Flore Flore is one of those emerging brands that specialises in exceptional basics that are incredibly fun, flirty and refined.
These have a slight eveningwear feel to them, making them perfect for day-to-night dressing.
Reformation
Medium Vittoria Tote Bag
Suede bags continue to reign supreme.
Ancient Greek Sandals
Saionara Jelly PVC Flip Flops
The flip-flop of the summer, for another year in a row.
Shop More Balloon Trousers
COS
Fluid Cotton Balloon Trousers
Fluid and elegant.
DISSH
Francis Balloon Woven Trousers
Australian brand DISSH knows how to deliver elegant essentials that remind you of coastal living.
The Frankie Shop
Mio Sheer Crêpe Balloon Pants
If Barbara Eden from I Dream of Jeannie shopped at places like Relik Vintage in Portobello Road, these The Frankie Shop trousers are the precise pair she’d wear.
Steve McQueen starred in dozens of memorable films throughout his career, from Bullitt and The Thomas Crown Affair to The Magnificent Seven. But according to one ranking, no performance topped his role in the 1963 World War II epic The Great Escape.
More than 60 years after its release, The Great Escape continues to stand as one of Hollywood’s defining war films.
Steve McQueen’s Signature Performance
Directed by John Sturges, The Great Escape is based on the true story of Allied prisoners of war who orchestrated an ambitious escape from a German POW camp during World War II.
McQueen stars as Virgil Hilts — better known as “The Cooler King” — a rebellious American prisoner whose repeated escape attempts land him in solitary confinement. The character became one of the actor’s most iconic roles, thanks in part to his trademark cool demeanor and unforgettable motorcycle chase.
Gold Derby called The Great Escape the definitive prison-break movie and ranked it as McQueen’s greatest film, praising what it described as perhaps the finest performance of his career.
The outlet also highlighted the film’s sweeping cinematography, Elmer Bernstein’s memorable score and its remarkable ensemble cast, which included James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, James Coburn and David McCallum.
A War Movie That Still Holds Up
While many World War II films focus primarily on combat, The Great Escape takes a different approach.
ScreenRant praised its balance of suspense, humor and action. Although the publication noted that the film takes creative liberties with the historical events that inspired it, it argued that The Great Escape remains an exceptional piece of entertainment.
“The Great Escape plays quite fast and loose with the truth, but it still makes for a memorable war adventure,” ScreenRant wrote, calling it “a deft piece of escapism.”
The publication also described it as “the best POW movie ever made,” citing its exciting action, compelling story and charismatic performances.
