Judith Thurman Is Fluent in the Language of Style

Judith Thurman notices everything. Meticulous observation has been a hallmark of her 50-year career as a writer whose laser-sharp gaze traverses millenniums, countries and genres. She is as interested in the faintest details of Stone Age cave paintings (which she descended to examine for herself, flashlight in hand) as she is in little-known dying languages…

Looking for a Menorah Drake Would Own

During the holiday season a few years ago, my mother sent me a dozen Fabergé egg-inspired ornaments from one of the Joan Rivers for QVC holiday collections. Instead of trying to parse any of the cultural meeting points going on — Russian Orthodox meets Jewish woman meets Christmas decorations — I hung them up on…

The Holiday Edition

Last week, I put a call out to Where to Eat readers for holiday-themed questions. You didn’t disappoint, sending in a fun mix of dining inquiries. One reader wanted to know which bars and restaurants have the best holiday decorations; another was looking for a special holiday meal before Christmas Day. There was also a…