Missed Manners
Q. The comforts of home without all the chores? Sure. That’s a winning hotel formula. But, do we want to see other guests in their rumpled, blinds-down, teeth-out, home glory? We do not. What types of in-hotel behaviour do others find particularly off-putting? . A. Groan number one: put on
In Full Fig
Q. They are awfully stubborn. The elephants refuse to leave the room, the thoughts cower inside the box, and the tattered idioms worm their way back into innocent conversations. What are some more examples of lesser used idioms? . A. The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms houses thousands of these ‘phrases that
Down To The Last Episode
Q. You’ve put a lot of time into watching this show: episode after episode, year after year. Now, it’s all coming to an end. How on earth will they wrap things up in the finale? Will the tone fit what we have experienced so far? Will the ultimate character arcs,
Ice Cream Quiet
Q. I scream. You scream. We all scream. Wanted: a moment of peace away from the worldwide madness. A sensory distraction. What types of food are particularly comforting? A. Through all the stress, it’s important to take a breath, to find some small moments of comfort. In April 2020, Cornell
The Art of Easter Sunday
Q. Happy Easter! With Easter Sunday here: what are some notable historic paintings that depict the Resurrection? . A. Jan Joest. Resurrection of Jesus An Aragonese painter from the 15th Century. The Resurrection . Dirk Bouts. The Resurrection of Christ. 1455 . Sandro Botticelli. The Resurrected Christ. 1480
At the Theatre
Q. “Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos…” Yes, Stephen Sondheim. Bring on the art; this world needs it. In a double dose of chaos-quelling art: how have remarkable painters captured the world of theatre on canvas? . A. . Antoine Watteau. The Italian Comedians.
Tough As Old Boots
Q. What are some forgotten idioms that are well-suited to our odd times? . A. We scanned the Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms (because, you know, rabbit hole …) to find old-fashioned sayings that could be revived for life as we currently know it. In our words … . .
Cherry, Cherry Blossom
Q. They’re out here with their phones: some shooting up at the blossoms, some twirling below, some angling their freshly washed cars for the perfect cover shot. Others drag out their easels, brushes, and watercolours for a longer visit with the sakura. ‘Here,’ for us, is Vancouver. In which other
What A Cold Little Hand
Q. Opera is drama central. Come for it, and expect a drubbing. Quiet, I say. Keep quiet. Wise words from ‘The Magic Flute’s’ Tamino. Which operas have been particularly popular over the 21st Century? 🎭 A. In looking at Operabase’s analysis of professional performances from 2000 to 2025, we see..
Whose Day Is It?
Q. Sure, Sure, Pi. Everyone’s talking about the fact that it’s your day. 3.1415926535 cheers to you. But, how about you share a bit of the stage with your co-celebrant: the potato chip. Happy National Potato Chip Day. 🎈 Just how much do we like this crispy delight? . A.
