I will admit that it’s saddening to watch summertime fade away. After waiting all year for some warm weather and beach days, I always feel like summer goes by too quickly. But the inevitable changing to shorter days does have its bright sides. For example, fall presents a much more comfortable climate. The cool, crisp autumn air will alleviate the summer’s oppressive humidity. [...]
I recently went to Storm King Art Center an open-air museum in New York that boasts 500 acres and contains one of the most impressive sculpture collections in the country. Located in the Hudson Valley, this museum aims to bring modern sculpture art to the people of New York while preserving the natural landscape. Some standout pieces during my visit included a sailboat [...]
For this next installment of destination literature, I found inspiration in Vendela Vida’s The Lovers, a novel about loss and the passing of time. When the novel’s protagonist, Yvonne, finds herself a lonely widow, she travels to the coastal village of Datça, Turkey, where she and her husband honeymooned 28 years before. By traveling to the breathtaking beaches, ancient ruins and winding village [...]
Did you know that Shakespeare is the most adapted author in history? There are over 400 feature film adaptations of Shakespeare’s famous plays. They say that Shakespeare stands the test of time, and to save you some time from shuffling through every adaptation, here are a couple of my personal favorites. 10 Things I Hate About You This retelling of The Taming of [...]
Growing up in Gloucester, Massachusetts, I learned all about my hometown’s rich maritime history from a very young age. Known as “America’s Oldest Seaport,” Gloucester was founded in 1623 and has always been deeply entwined with the ocean that surrounds it. One of my favorite summer events, the Gloucester Schooner Festival, brings some of that history to life right before your eyes, and [...]
I’ve been a barista at a European-style coffee shop for almost two years now. Since I’ve started, there have been many customers who look at our large and foreign menu and don’t know how to decipher it. It’s easy to get lost in a list of European names for drinks, so I thought I’d make a short cheat sheet for anyone feeling the [...]
Summer is winding down, but I’m happy to announce I’ve made a significant dent in my TBR (To Be Read) pile. Here are some of the top books that have brightened up my summer. A Guide to Being Born by Ramona Ausubel—This collection of short stories is packed with vivid characters in unique situations, from a group of elderly women stranded on an abandoned [...]
A couple of years ago, I wrote a blog post about the popularity of period dramas on TV. Now that several TV seasons have passed since then, there’s a different crop of period pieces to fall in love with. If you’re looking for a new show to binge, check out one of these series. Victoria This popular British series chronicles the early reign of [...]
Summer might be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean music festival season necessarily is. There are plenty of cities across the country hosting music festivals throughout the upcoming autumn months. Dana Point, California, is hosting their Ohana Festival in September on Doheny State Beach. Headliners of the festival will include Mumford & Sons, Eric Church and Beck. Ohana even donates a portion [...]
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a love for stories of the supernatural. My favorite of these mythical creatures has always been vampires. The history of these undead humans spans centuries, and I enjoy seeing new interpretations of them. So that you too can fall in love with some modern Hollywood vampires, here is a list of movies and television [...]