Two years ago I started keeping a list of types of books I’d like to read. One of the types of books on that list: “a memoir by a big-city trash collector.” I think a memoir written by a sanitation worker based in a major metropolis could be fascinating. What kinds of things do they Read more
Category: Culture + Language
When I was putting together “Bellini and the bellini” I really wanted to include a screen grab of lexicographer1 Kory Stamper’s notecard for “bellini.” I remembered seeing it on-screen very briefly during an interview she gave, but I couldn’t remember where I saw the interview and so I couldn’t take a screen grab of it Read more
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Bellini and the bellini
Look bitch. These are the facts: The bellini was born in Venice in 1948 at Harry’s Bar; Harry’s Bar has always been popular, and remains famous for having been frequented by famous people (Ernest Hemingway being among the most famous and the most frequent); the drink is basically just an Italian mimosa—the original recipe called Read more
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Hot Cockles
Peep this palimpsest.1 It’s ivory, c. 14th century France. It was probably paired with another plaque of the same size2 and hinged down the center, the carved exterior serving as a sort of cover. The back of it, made of a thin layer of wax, would have been used by its owner to write notes Read more