The photograph looked as though it could’ve been a modern-day reproduction—yet the original was shot in 1864 during the American Civil War, decades before the advent of color photography.
The Kid's Book That Made Me Afraid of Brussels Sprouts
Many kids grow up with an aversion to certain vegetables, but I can recall the exact moment my disdain for Brussels sprouts turned into a full-fledged fear.
Why Can't Hearing Aids Be Stylish?
I want the Warby Parker of hearing aids: smart-looking and aesthetic and maybe tortoiseshell. I'd even settle for an ear trumpet.
How the Internet is Changing the Way Dogs Find Homes
In the age of the viral doggo, shelters and rescue organizations are recognizing the need to hop aboard the meme train — or risk getting left behind.
When Groupon Ruled Chicago
In an arid wasteland of jobs, Groupon and its imitators were like desert oases for income-thirsty 20somethings.
Mike & Shyretha Sheats Serve Community in Atlanta
Over sweating cans of cucumber gose, Shyretha’s telling me about Ma Ruby: “People would get off work and stop by to get a plate to bring home. That was dinner on Friday nights.”
What We Really Mean When We Say Something Is ‘Flattering’
Often, the word “flattering” simply boils down to camouflaging your body’s flaws.
Leprosy Coins and the Legacy of Stigma
The coins are a lasting symbol of how a fearful society stripped away the humanity and agency of people affected by the disease.
I Registered at a Liquor Store
In the midst of navigating all the outdated customs that come with planning a wedding, any chance to stray from tradition—like registering for whiskey instead of Waterford—is a revelation.
Life Inside Louisiana's Last Leprosy Colony
Carville was often witness to agony, but it was also a place where life continued to unfold anyway: a functioning civilization in miniature.
Pay to Slay: The Language of MLM
No longer is the promise simply extra income: In its place is a rhetoric that reads like a patois of pseudo-empowering marketplace feminism with a tinge of gig economy side hustle-speak.
No One Knows if Porn is Bad For You
With every scrap of data, science nudges a millimeter forward toward a better understanding of how porn might mould us into the people we become.
Profile: Neil Summerour
This type designer and letterer makes words luscious, curvaceous and anything but ordinary.
A Spiritual Cynic Gets Her Tarot Cards Read
Whether it’s a serendipitously drawn Empress card or the weight of a smooth stone in the palm of your hand, it’s hard to turn your nose up at a lighthouse in a storm.
Inside the Minds of Self-Proclaimed Makeup Addicts
Here’s how our brains — and the internet — can turn a hobby into a full-blown obsession. (We’re looking at you, YouTube gurus.)
Where Do Tiki Bartenders Find All Those Tropical Shirts?
“I love power-clashing patterns... I feel like leopard print is a neutral.”
Possums are the Mutant Beauty Queens of Instagram
This morning, New Orleans–based artist and business owner Ally Burguieres woke up with an opossum next to her in bed.
Why Do People Buy Pricey Fakes?
Class anxiety festers and thrives under capitalism. Buying fakes can feel like a sneaky way of beating these luxury empires at their own game.
Revisiting "Gossip Girl," 15 Years Later
For someone growing up in a small-ish Southern town where wealth was displayed via head-to-toe Lilly Pulitzer, this book represented a portal to a whole new world.
A Beer Guide for Cocktail Drinkers
The ability to draw out clues about a guest’s palate (“I like fruity drinks!” “Just don’t make it too sweet...") and turn that into a drink recommendation they’ll love is the hallmark of a great bartender.