All Culture
Cover StoryAs Americans fly the coop, county fairs spring back to lifeCarnivals, fairs, and festivals have returned. Beyond face paint and fried food, they鈥檙e a chance for Americans to gather communally.聽
In a WordThe more productive side of 鈥榩rocrastination鈥�Procrastination can be a bad thing. But Latin also has another word, otium, for doing things that聽enrich one鈥檚 life but don鈥檛 further one鈥檚 career.
Comedies usually reward cynicism. Then came 鈥楾ed Lasso.鈥�As 鈥淭ed Lasso鈥� returns for a second season, culture watchers reflect on what has made a comedy show that aims for optimism and kindness a sleeper hit.
New generation of cooks lifts lid on India鈥檚 diverse cuisineRegional Indian cuisines with distinct ingredients and techniques are being rediscovered and celebrated through new cookbooks.
Russians say Marvel鈥檚 鈥楤lack Widow鈥� is 鈥榢lyukva.鈥� That鈥檚 not flattering.Marvel鈥檚 latest blockbuster is about former Soviet superheroes in Russia. But for Russian filmgoers, 鈥淏lack Widow鈥� doesn鈥檛 feel very Russian.
First Look'I felt seen': First trans actress nominated for EmmyMj Rodriguez stars in 鈥淧ose,鈥� a period drama about New York City鈥檚 drag ballroom culture. Critics say she has raised the bar for trans representation in media, while LGBTQ rights activists say聽her historic Emmy nomination is 鈥渓ong overdue.鈥�
鈥楻oadrunner鈥� brings Chef Bourdain 鈥撀燼nd his wanderlust 鈥撀爐o the big screen鈥淩oadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain鈥� sheds light on the late chef, who helped others see the world as he did via popular books and TV shows.
My daughter had confidence enough for both of usMy task was to build a bunk bed for my daughter's dolls.聽I knew next to nothing about woodworking, but to her, I was an expert.
Farewell to a tree: An ancient maple held memories, sons, and wildlifeThe silver maple in my front yard was the first thing visitors noticed. 鈥淗ow old is it?鈥� they asked. 鈥淗ave you ever climbed it?鈥�
In a WordDid JFK really call himself a doughnut? It鈥檚 a great story.Embarazada聽means pregnant, not embarrassed. A Berliner聽is a man 鈥� and a pastry. And how did we get the name for the聽Yucat谩n Peninsula? We don't know.
Buoyed by an ever-evolving ocean of used booksAs the demands of my life change, so do my tastes and my wants. These internal changes are physically seen in my ever-changing library.聽
Parents, everywhere I turnFor this obliging son, there鈥檚 no escaping parents鈥� watchfulness and care, from the U.S. suburbs to a village in Senegal.
Pop music: Fewer gatekeepers, more opportunitiesTechnology has made producing pop music more democratic. As songs flood streaming platforms, what opportunities are there for access and creativity?
In a Word鈥楾ranslation fails鈥� thrive on the webThe internet collects mistranslations found on T-shirts, menus, and instructions for tourists around the world. But there's beauty in those failures.
Five-star 鈥楽ummer of Soul鈥� captures the music, and unity, of 1969 Harlem festivalThe Monitor鈥檚 film critic gives five stars to 鈥淪ummer of Soul,鈥� a new documentary from Questlove about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival in New York.
Window dressing: Empty storefronts host New York City artistsArt on the Ave is filling retail vacancies with emerging artists鈥� work, bringing collectors and artists together without established galleries.
In Pictures: Drive-ins, dusk, and dashboardsAs moviegoers flocked to drive-in theaters in search of a pandemic distraction, they found something more.
In a WordAs English evolves, so too does the word 鈥榤aster鈥�Some Americans are uncomfortable with a word that, despite its long history, conjures images of plantation slavery. Others object to the objections.
Why I choose to send tactile textsBefore she had a phone, my grandmother would write postcards to her friends inviting them to routine activities, like having tea or going on a walk.
First LookBruce Springsteen: The Boss helps reopen BroadwayBruce Springsteen returned to Broadway for a series of summer shows, fresh evidence of a revival of live entertainment after a 15-month pandemic pause.
