My microplastics panic began with a chopping board They’re here to stay, but is an obsessive quest for plastic-free alternatives for everyday gadgets worth the trouble? ✍️ @joelgolby bit.ly/4BnIOKR

Elif Shafak: ‘Put on any heavy metal song and I will headbang’ The Turkish-British novelist and political scientist has published 21 books. Her latest, In One Brief Moment All Eternity, is out now ✍️ Kathryn Bromwich bit.ly/4i6Su4Q

The happiness index: Sophie Ashby on books, pops of colour and plastic plants The founder of Studio Ashby and United in Design shares the home details that do, and don’t, bring her joy ✍️ Sophie Ashby bit.ly/4Bvpiw0

The Buzz of the Ballz How neon-coloured RTD cocktail spheres conquered youth culture and challenged conventional alcohol industry marketing ✍️ @han67787 bit.ly/3WsjOSt

Ceramic constellations to enhance any ceiling A New York design practice and a London artist collaborated on a unique ceramic ceiling installation, creating a signature studio style ✍️ @aimee_farrell bit.ly/4spCcaP

Interior decorators Clarke & Reilly at large in Arezzo Bridget Dwyer and David Grocott found their creative haven in the Italian city of Arezzo, opening a gallery and embracing its authentic charm ✍️ @aimee_farrell bit.ly/3VXd6nv

Bohemian rhapsody: reasons to love the new Boho aesthetic Boho is back, updated for the modern era with a touch of toughness and enduring appeal ✍️ @helenseamons bit.ly/3Wq4e9X

Nigel Slater’s recipe for baked apple ice-cream A delightful ice-cream made with sharp cooking apples, perfect for autumn celebrations ✍️ @NigelSlater bit.ly/4khVqwG

Why has Portuguese red wine become so sweet? The incredible success of Porta 6 has inspired a wave of copycats. Fortunately, drier alternatives are available ✍️ @Daveydaibach bit.ly/4jvZ85I

Where to eat with children – and still enjoy yourself Twenty-two places to eat that offer more than just a colouring sheet for the children ✍️ Laura Goodman bit.ly/4i9zD7U

‘The menu is very short, always an excellent sign’: Cassette, London The name doesn’t let on, but the energy is Parisian and the service notably kind at this modern bistro in Covent Garden ✍️ @TanyaGold1 bit.ly/4estS47

Classified ads are back in all their inky, kinky glory As the world burns, the voices in the back pages and personal columns call loudly to me. Does their power lies in their human wonkiness? ✍️ Eva Wiseman bit.ly/4eldjqI

That’s offal! What children really think of fancy grown-up food Children brave some of the most challenging dishes on a fine-dining menu, from oysters to pig’s head. What do they think? ✍️ Holly O'Neill bit.ly/3U9eiTZ

‘I’ve been looking for this all my life’: @DavidHarewood Finally, aged 60, the actor is portraying a man in full, in Channel 4’s new legal drama Pierre. Is his the slowest overnight success story in the business? ✍️ Stuart McGurk, @helenseamons bit.ly/4sj7lwq

Kid-friendly recipes for fussy eaters and frazzled parents Georgina Hayden shares her go-to soup for using up fridge odds and ends, while Charlie Hibbert offers his baking recipes that kids will want to get involved in ✍️ Georgina Hayden, Charlie Hibbert bit.ly/47vQwEY

Nigel Slater’s recipe for chorizo cheese puffs Forget the spooky decorations – this year Halloween is all about celebrating around the table with comforting, seasonal dishes ✍️ @NigelSlater bit.ly/4zFKa1A

Hannah Crosbie’s life choices: ‘My quest for the perfect brown-nude lip shade’ Left-field literature, frosty drinks and the eternal quest for the perfect Posh Spice lip ✍️ Hannah Crosbie (@han67787) bit.ly/4yYcJaB

The rise of the expensively scruffy British dive bar A new wave of bars is embracing a deliberately unpolished aesthetic, offering a welcome antidote to the minimalist trend ✍️ Hannah Crosbie, Aaron Graubart bit.ly/4jn9PHG

A sprawling Cambridge house where the artists are taking over A newly established artist residency in Cambridge offers free rein for creatives, transforming a family home into a hub of experimentation and inspiration ✍️ Rosalind Jana, Jasper Fry bit.ly/4i4MAjc

O, Really? The Observer Magazine’s weekly quiz Fingers on buzzers. Now is the time to take a moment to test your knowledge of culture, style, history, science – and much more ✍️ Lydia Heaton bit.ly/4hUIES0