Arts & Life

In 16th century Italy, the nobility began decorating their tables with "triumphs" made entirely from folded napkins. The art form had pretty much died out by the time artist Joan Sallas began studying centuries-old illustrations and taught himself how to

Unfolding The History Of Napkin Art

by Tove K. Danovich

The simple napkin has a surprisingly complex history. The masterful table centerpieces of the Renaissance were rich in status and meaning.
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Queen Of The Desert Gertrude Bell, In Her Own Words

by Genevieve Valentine

Explorer and activist Bell is best remembered today for helping create the modern state of Iraq. A smartly edited new collection of her writings presents a fascinating (if not always smooth) portrait.
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A House That's Not A Home In 'Bright Lines'

by Genevieve Valentine

Tanwi Nandini Islam's debut novel is an understated queer coming-of-age tale, set in a vividly-portrayed Brooklyn brownstone whose residents all ache for some kind of home they've never been to.
Slice Harvester

Pizza As Autobiography In 'Slice Harvester'

by Jason Heller

Colin Atrophy Hagendorf decided to review a plain slice of pizza from every joint in Manhattan — a project that evolved into a two-fisted memoir of his own life and struggles with substance abuse.
Le louche refers to the transformation that happens when water is added to absinthe, turning the liquor from a deep green to a milky, iridescent shade. At left, a classic pour. At right, an absinthe glass fitted with a brouilleur, a device that holds the

The Art Of Drinking Absinthe, The Liquor Of Aesthetes

by Tove Danovich

Absinthe was a favorite of artists like Picasso and Van Gogh. Perhaps that explains why a complex ritual rose around drinking it, spawning some of the most beautiful alcohol paraphernalia around.