Love Letter: The Decision After an Affair

In this week’s Modern Love essay, “My Spectacular Betrayal,” Samantha Silva describes her extramarital affair and her decision to start a new life despite the judgments of others. “My therapist said that when he asked me what I thought, I often told him what my husband thought instead,” Ms. Silva writes. “People who knew us…

Shrimp Cocktail for Dinner

I happen to live near a small but great seafood market, where the fish is impeccably fresh. Their poached shrimp is plump and juicy; the housemade cocktail sauce has just the right zing. I bought them once or twice as a starter for a special meal. But one day I realized that I was holding…

Cool Tribal Tattoo. Is It From the ’90s?

Sometimes, a customer walks into Name Brand Tattoo on North Main Street and asks Julian Bast to design a tattoo just like the ones on his Instagram account. They use words like “psychedelic,” “abstract” and “swirly.” “You mean, tribal?” Mr. Bast responds. At this point, according to Mr. Bast, some of the customers recoil. No,…