Arts & Life

Robin Thede is head writer for Comedy Central's The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. She's previously been a reporter for E! News, a writer for BET's Real Husbands of Hollywood and head writer for The Queen Latifah Show.

Arts

In The Writer's Room, One Woman Quietly Makes Late Night History

2:14pm July 21, 2015

by Eric Deggans

Robin Thede's wide-ranging career has included stints in both journalism and comedy. Now, at The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, she's the first black woman to work as a head writer in late night TV.

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Christopher Day, the dining room manager at Eleven Madison Park, is also the man behind its tea program. "My goal has always been to put together a tea list with the same standard and rigor as you would with wine," he says.

Science
Arts

Tea Sommeliers Are The Hot New Thing In Food Pairing

2:01pm July 21, 2015

by Ina Yang

Which black tea goes best with blue cheese? It turns out there is an art to unlocking new flavors in your food by pairing it with tea. And a whole new breed of experts has risen up to spread the word.

Books
Arts

Pop Culture Happy Hour: The Romance Novel Special

10:37am July 21, 2015

by Linda Holmes

This week, we dive deeply into the world of romance novels with our special guest, Sarah Wendell of the web site Smart Bitches, Trashy Books.

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Republican presidential candidate and real estate mogul Donald Trump is polling atop recent national surveys and is a virtual lock to make the cut for next month's first GOP presidential debate.

Trump Could Bump GOP Veterans Off Debate Stage

8:17am July 21, 2015

by Jessica Taylor

The billionaire businessman is under fire for remarks about prisoners of war. But his inclusion in GOP debates could mean Republicans' only two military veteran candidates don't make it on stage.

Irrational Man is a Hitchcock-style mystery wrapped in a Woody Allen romance.

Arts

Sleuthing With Offbeat Variations In 'Irrational Man' And 'Mr. Holmes'

10:03pm July 20, 2015

by Bob Mondello

NPR film critic Bob Mondello reviews two crime movies — Irrational Man and Mr. Holmes — that have different philosophies on logic.

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Books
Arts

Savor The Quiet Sweetness Of 'The Blue Girl'

8:09pm July 20, 2015

by Juan Vidal

Laurie Foos' gently surreal new novel is set in a small lakeside town where the local mothers bake their secret confessions into moon pies, which they feed to a silent, mysterious blue-skinned girl.

Caillebotte's 1875 painting The Floor Scrapers was rejected by the elite Salon, but it was the work that launched his career.

Arts

Known As A Collector, Gustave Caillebotte Gets His Due As A Painter

4:14pm July 20, 2015

by Susan Stamberg

Caillebotte was an independently wealthy artist who — unlike his Impressionist buddies — didn't need to sell paintings to make a living. Now, many of his works are on display at the National Gallery.

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Arts

At 76, Actor Ian McKellen Embodies An Older Sherlock In 'Mr. Holmes'

1:31pm July 20, 2015

The acclaimed British actor talks about playing a 93-year-old Sherlock Holmes, serving as grand marshal to New York City's gay pride march and his Lord of the Rings tattoo.

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Herrera looks out from amid his sculptures at his place in El Rito, N.M.

Arts

Jesus In A Lowrider: El Rito's Santero Carves Saints In Modern Clothing

12:30pm July 20, 2015

by John Burnett

Nicholas Herrera puts his own touch on the tradition of saint carving. The santero works out of his studio in a small New Mexico town — but his edgy work can be found in museums around the country.

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On the day that he announced his resignation, Richard Nixon ordered cottage cheese, pineapple slices and a glass of milk.

The Sad, Stately Photo Of Nixon's Resignation Lunch

11:49am July 20, 2015

by Dan Charles

A White House photographer captured the lunch that Richard Nixon ate before announcing his resignation. It's an unusual image of a humble meal as power is slipping away.