Q. Happy National Coffee Day! Where does coffee rate in your – and others’ – ratings of favourite home smells? . A. Well, according to a 72 Point Poll of 1,000 adults, the sweet perfume of morning coffee sits atop our most beloved household aromatics. . The best smells to

Q. “Can you tell me the time?” “Do you have change for a five?’ ‘Will you take a picture of me with my cat?” Are you that person who strangers always stop to perform random tasks? Do they somehow find their way to you no matter how big the crowd?

Q. Fictional Eloises are not here to dot your i’s and cross your t’s. There is young Eloise of the Plaza – ‘I am a nuisance in the lobby. Mr. Salomone said so. He is the Manager.’ Add eleven years and we have Eloise Bridgerton – ‘If I’m forced to

Q. Think back to your middle school lunches or after-school snacks. You’re negotiating trades at the lunch table. You’re dashing en masse to the corner store. Which snacks are worth your hard-earned allowance money? Which snacks – whether available today or not – elicit the most nostalgia? . A. Nostalgia-inducing snacks

Q. Flash nostalgia is a curious thing. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the mind is abuzz: “remember when we used to…” Today’s random nostalgic nudge: the world of ‘Dial A.’  How many of us remember sneaking to the phone as kids to test out the much advertised Dial A services? Dial

Q. Well, look who finally made their way Into the Spider-Verse. Wow. I get the nominations and the hype. The use of character, art, music; the seamless melding between comic book and film animation – it’s brilliant. Just how passionate are people about their favourite superheroes? It depends, of course,

Q. New foods can both thrill and terrify when we are travelling. What should we be sure to try? Which foods from which countries are attracting the most attention? . A. Plenty of people neither take photos of their meals nor share their dining experiences on social media. Nevertheless, it

Q. The Negroni – another classic drink on James Bond’s ‘shaken not stirred’ list. Its three equal-part ingredients? Gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari. . In this excerpt from Ian Fleming’s 1960 short story Risico, we find 007 meeting with Kristatos. ‘The waiter came. ‘Good evening, sir. Signor Kristatos is at

Q. Who knew there were so many words for cloak-like overgarments. What are some lesser-known or historic cloak words? . A. Abolla A thick, woollen cloak worn in Ancient Rome. Artois A loose, long cloak favoured by European women in the 18th Century. Capuchin A cloak with a hood, traditionally

Q. If band class battles are any indication, we should all have triangles and glockenspiels in our music nooks. Which instruments are young people most excited to take home and play? . A. In 2022, London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra surveyed 1,000 students from the ages of 6 to 18. Did