A Very Inventive St. Patrick’s Day
March 14, 2019
St. Patrick’s Day has evolved into a celebration of Ireland, the people
of Ireland, and the influence of the Emerald Isle on world culture. To that
end, here are some indelible contributions to technology and science by those
of Irish descent. ...
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Esther Howland: Valentine Queen
February 12, 2019
In photographs, she presents the grim, humorless visage of a middle-aged, Victorian spinster. But Esther Howland popularized valentine giving in the United States and, by the time of her death in 1904, had earned the sobriquet “Mother of the Americ...
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The Nutcracker? Sweet!
December 19, 2018
Going to see a local production of The Nutcracker ballet is a holiday tradition for many families. Surprisingly, watching this old-fashioned entertainment is a relatively new idea. Based on a fairy tale
The ballet, with famous, original music b...
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Don’t Be a Scrooge — Read These Facts About “A Christmas Carol”
December 18, 2018
Nearly every TV Christmas special and Christmas movie indirectly or directly descends from A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens’ 1843 novel about Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the Ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. Here’s a deeper div...
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Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Rockettes!
December 17, 2018
Kick your holidays into high gear with these facts about America’s most famous dance troupe: the Rockettes, a part of Christmas for millions. The Missouri Rockets
The Rockettes’ performance home base has been Radio City Music Hall in New Yo...
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