All Culture
A gift that kept me groundedThe lasting value of my grandfather鈥檚 graduation present wasn鈥檛 clear at first. But over time, I've come to understand its pricelessness.
Comics are for kids? This Vermont college begs to differ.A dedicated college for cartoonists shows the power of visual storytelling to inspire youth, sell books, and aid the teaching of complex topics.聽
Live from anywhere: Musicians find new ways to connect with fansAs fans and industry groups rush to help聽out-of-work musicians, many performers get creative about keeping their art alive.聽 聽
Eating in: How to transform pantry staples into comfort foodCooking during coronavirus quarantine: How to turn those pantry staples into comfort food.聽
In a WordBeautiful-sounding words float like gossamerIt turns out that the words that English speakers find pleasing are more like聽papillon聽and less like聽Aschenputtel, according to phonaesthetics.
Home theater: Children鈥檚 films to delight the whole familySharing more screen time with family?聽Our critic鈥檚 latest list of comfort flicks shows that movies meant for kids can also charm the young at heart.
What is it about a fresh, warm bagel?It evokes childhood memories, it鈥檚 what expats long for, and聽it comes from just one place:聽New York City.
An artist embraces her Iranian past and her American presentIranian American artist Shirin Neshat calls on the experience of being an exile to create compelling images of people living on the margins.
First LookKenny Rogers, music legend and master four-minute storytellerKenny Rogers, a Grammy-winning balladeer who spanned jazz, folk, country, and pop with such hits as 鈥淟ucille,鈥� 鈥淟ady,鈥� and聽 鈥淭he Gambler鈥� died March 20.
Home theater: Our critic offers his favorite feel-good flicksIn times of uncertainty, we value a good laugh. Film critic Peter Rainer offers a selection of his favorite feel-good movies to help.聽
In a WordNeed a point person? Appoint a czar.How did czar, royal title of the rulers of Russia until 1917, become so prevalent in the United States?
This is what freedom looks like, peopleMilk and garbage trucks once plied these unpaved alleys. Now look at them. They're almost impassable because the blackberry bushes have taken over.
First LookUniversal to offer rentals to moviegoers stuck at homeUniversal Pictures became the first major studio to make its new films available for on-demand rental Friday as cinemas worldwide close to support "social distancing." This move could set a new precedent for home entertainment platforms.聽
First LookNo more sports on TV? Networks get creative with programming.To fill their programming, networks had to retool on the fly amid sports events cancellations by running infomercials and rebroadcasts. The template for the weeks to come is still unclear, but the question in viewers' minds is the same: What are we going to watch now?
In a WordWhich came first, the apple or the nickname?It turns out that apples and the Empire State are indeed closely connected, though interestingly, the 鈥淏ig Apple鈥� nickname came first.
Only the carrots were predictableA succession of farm animals taught the author never to expect any semblance of routine 鈥� except when it came to snacktime.
In a WordHow 鈥榮now鈥� words started a linguistic kerfuffleDoes the language you speak determine what thoughts are possible and what things cannot be thought because your language lacks the words?
Drawing on his roots, a rock guitarist finds a new rhythm in NashvilleThe musician and producer swaps the intensity of a previous album for the rustic freedom of 鈥淒ixie Blur.鈥�
Shelf love: Go behind the scenes with 鈥楾he Booksellers鈥�The documentary showcases fanatic dealers, but also reaffirms what bibliophiles know: The need for books is human.
How a snack cake gave me a glimpse of the futureMy teenage son is prone to eye rolls and sassy comebacks.聽But an encounter in a parking lot showed me a gentler side.聽
