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First LookNemo, Eurovision鈥檚 first nonbinary winner, gets a hero鈥檚 welcome in SwitzerlandEurovision has long been embraced as a haven for the LGBTQ+ community. This year鈥檚 competition struck a particular victory for acceptance, crowning the contest鈥檚 first nonbinary winner with an eclectic anthem about being true to oneself.
A love letter to lilacs and the joys of fleeting pleasureThe mission to capture my lilac鈥檚 fleeting scent was a flop. What I gained instead was far greater: a reminder to be present during its brief season.聽
First LookIn war-torn Haiti, Vodou draws thousands seeking comfort, protection from gangsAs gang violence grips their country, the ancient tradition of Vodou is experiencing a resurgence among Haitians. Followers find links in the religious practice to the nation鈥檚 history of resistance and endurance.聽
Behind the verse: Six Monitor poets share why they write poetryIt鈥檚 no secret that poetry is one of the least lucrative forms of writing. So what keeps poets returning to write poems? We asked six contributors where they draw their inspiration.
A 鈥榦ne-way ticket鈥� through the Harlem RenaissanceAn exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art includes more than 160 works of art 鈥� and exudes dignity in its timeless celebration of Black life.聽
First LookMamma Mia! Here we go again. Eurovision wraps up in Sweden with pomp and protests.Eurovision鈥檚 2024 competition is bringing flashy and theatrical pop music to Malmo, Sweden. It鈥檚 also bringing thousands of protesters who are criticizing Israel鈥檚 participation in the contest.
In cleaning up my corner of the world, I reclaimed my trust in othersAs we stooped down to pick up litter, my neighbors and I rose above our partisan differences.
NBA playoffs without Curry? James? Durant? A new guard rises in basketball.For the first time in 15 seasons, the second round of the NBA playoffs will be without the familiar trio of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant.
Gardening lessons: Planting hope and harvesting peace of mindGardening was a central part of my grandma鈥檚 life. Her pleasures were simple: She found a storehouse of riches in her backyard garden.聽
Why Ugandan farmers gladly grow crops for chimpsWith encouragement from the Jane Goodall Institute, Ugandan farmers are playing an important role in lessening tensions between people and聽chimps.
Singer Laura Veirs finds creativity everywhere 鈥� bikes, skates, power sawsFor some artists, inspiration comes when ideas flow naturally, rather than being demanded. With the release of her latest album, songwriter Laura Veirs reflects on how creativity manifests itself.
In Kentucky, the oldest Black independent library is still making historyWestern Library is the oldest Black library still independently run in the U.S. Its current librarian has made it her mission to share its history with her community.
First LookBreaking a 92-year barrier, Choctaw artist brings native brilliance to Venice BiennaleA Mississippi Choctaw with Cherokee descent, Jeffrey Gibson is the first Native American to represent the U.S. solo at the Venice Biennale, a聽celebration of the arts in Italy. He uses color and craft to respond to historical traumas and pursue healing.聽
鈥榃e Grown Now鈥� review: Amid gritty Chicago reality, two friends embrace childhoodFor the Monitor鈥檚 reviewer, the young boys in 鈥淲e Grown Now鈥� exude something that is often difficult to find believable amid tough surroundings: innocence.聽The new film, he says, honors 鈥渏ust being a kid.鈥�
OK, she鈥檚 worth $1 billion, but can Taylor Swift write poetry? We ask the experts.Taylor Swift鈥檚 new album, 鈥淭he Tortured Poets Department,鈥� will be released on April 19. In advance, we asked poets what they think of the pop star鈥檚 wordsmithing.
鈥楽tay gold, Ponyboy鈥� ... set to music? 鈥楾he Outsiders鈥� comes to Broadway.鈥淭he Outsiders鈥� offers a timely 鈥� and tuneful 鈥� reminder that differences that seem so intractable might not be impossible to overcome after all. Adam 鈥渘ot a musical theater person鈥� Rapp talks about how he came to write the book.
Andr茅 3000 trades hip-hop for the flute 鈥撀燼nd still resonates with listenersOur commentator says that even if the artist, one-half of the hit duo Outkast, doesn鈥檛 say a word in his new music, he鈥檚 still able to impact culture in a way that invokes creativity and healing.聽
Bird migration to Kashmir Valley brings a wonderland of wingsMore than 1 million migratory birds flocked to a wetland reserve in the Kashmir Valley, bringing cheer to gray skies 鈥� and to wetland officials.
Bryan Stevenson Q&A: Alabama park confronts difficult history in sculptureIn Montgomery, Alabama, a new sculpture park has joined two memorials created by the Equal Justice Initiative started by Bryan Stevenson, a lawyer perhaps best known for his memoir, 鈥淛ust Mercy.鈥�
Not 鈥榗ountry enough鈥�? Beyonc茅 proudly proclaims her Texas roots in 鈥楥owboy Carter.鈥�Houston native Beyonc茅 offers her takes on everybody from the Beatles to Dolly Parton in a clarion call of an album, 鈥淐owboy Carter.鈥�