Arts

James Baldwin poses at his home in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France in 1979.

Arts

Director Raoul Peck: James Baldwin Was 'Speaking Directly To Me'

3:08pm February 14, 2017

Baldwin "gave me very early on the instruments I needed to ... deconstruct the world around me," Peck says. His documentary, I Am Not Your Negro, chronicles the life of the civil rights era writer.

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Gifting chocolates to your sweetheart on Valentine's Day wasn't always part of the holiday.

Arts

How Chocolate Became A Sweet (But Not So Innocent) Consort To Valentine's Day

12:56pm February 14, 2017

by Jeff Koehler

From the time of the Aztecs, chocolate has been seen as an aphrodisiac. (Casanova certainly thought so.) But it took many centuries for it to become the taste of the love holiday.

Books
Arts

'Insomniac City' Is A Valentine To New York, Oliver Sacks And Life Itself

10:00am February 14, 2017

by Heller McAlpin

Bill Hayes was Sacks' partner during the renowned author and neurologist's last years, and Insomniac City is a charming, intimate portrait of their relationship, full of sweet, unguarded moments.

Renae Quinn's favorite valentine ever was a very punny one from her late husband on the Valentine's Day before they were married.

Arts

Drawn From The Heart: Your Most Memorable Valentine's Day Cards

9:56am February 14, 2017

No snark or anti-commercialism rantings here, just a dose of simple sweetness. Readers share stories and photos — and an NPR artist re-creates a couple of valentines that live on only in memories.

Yes, it is Valentine's Day â but we like romance novels all year 'round.

Books
Arts

3 Romances To Remind You That Love Is All Around — All Year Long

7:00am February 14, 2017

by Maya Rodale

Sure, it's Valentine's Day — the day we set aside for flowers, chocolates, wine and declarations of love. But love is more than one day, so here are three romances you can enjoy any time of year.

William Faulkner's Home Illustrates His Impact On The South

4:36pm February 13, 2017

by Melissa Block

As Melissa Block's "Our Land" road trip takes her to Mississippi, she visits William Faulkner's home: Rowan Oak, in Oxford, Miss. With curator William Griffith, they talk about Faulkner's running theme of the South in conflict with itself.

World Press Photo awarded its top honor to Burhan Ozbilici's image of a man with a gun standing over the slain Russian ambassador in Ankara in December.

'Explosive' Image Of An Assassination Wins World Press Photo Of The Year

3:17pm February 13, 2017

by Merrit Kennedy

Photographer Burhan Ozbilici's image of the killing of Russia's ambassador to Turkey was described by one jury member as the "face of hatred." Jurors have made it clear that it was a heated debate.

'Aisles Have Eyes' Warns That Brick-And-Mortar Stores Are Watching You

1:36pm February 13, 2017

Consumers have grown accustomed to the idea of online retailers collecting information about them, but author Joseph Turow says that now physical stores are doing it too.

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"It's all about listening," McDowell says. "... All you need to say is, 'I'm here,' and 'I'm thinking about you,' and 'How are you doing today?' and then let the person talk."

Books
Arts

'There Is No Good Card For This': What To Say When 'Condolences' Isn't Enough

9:54am February 13, 2017

by NPR Staff

Have you ever struggled with how to be there for a friend in pain? If so, you're not alone. Illustrator Emily McDowell says her new book is a "guide for how to show up ... after you've sent the card."

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New York City's Blue Hill restaurant is the biggest buyer of "Habanadas," a habanero bred to be heatless, so the focus is on its melon-like flavor.

Science
Arts

This Heatless Habanero Packs All Of The Flavor With None Of The Burn

7:00am February 13, 2017

by Tove Danovich

Some breeders vie to grow ever more mouth-burning peppers. The guy behind the Habanada had a different goal: a habanero with no heat all. The aromatic, melon-like result is winning over top chefs.