In 2014, shortly after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Shannon Leon moved to Washington and rented a room in an all-female house via Craigslist. Her new roommates sometimes got together with a group of guys that included John Keiran, who admired Ms. Leon from afar for months. “I thought she was extremely beautiful,” he…
When Lesley Friedsam took a three-week boating excursion to Antarctica in 2003, it was planned months in advance. Peter Damisch bought a ticket for the same trip just days before it started. They met accidentally a week into the journey when both left the group tour to go to Grytviken, South Georgia Island, to see…
Since reopening last summer, the Breakers has hosted weddings with an average guest count of 50 to 100; its largest wedding had 150. “We meet every other week with our risk management department and some members of the executive group, and review every event that’s coming up,” Ms. Scarpinato said. Among their choices for safety:…
Humor and perspective were similarly useful below the water. “We’d say things like, ‘Life sucks, but at least the ocean’s not coming into the submarine,’ and we’d laugh,” he said. “Sailors have dark humor, but it helped.” One informal rule to maintain comity on the sub was to “assume good intent,” Cmdr. Marquet said. “If…
As weddings are moving away from big bashes to small-scale affairs because of the coronavirus, couples are embracing the fact that they can focus less on pleasing hundreds of guests and more on creating the perfect day for just the two of them. “An elopement no longer means that the event would be decided on…
This year, even those who typically go all out on Valentine’s Day are reconsidering it. Caitlin Kiernan, 50, and Kenny Kaplan, 46, who are engaged, normally spend Feb. 14 dressing up and having a fancy adult dinner. Not now. “It’s freezing cold,” said Ms. Kiernan, a former beauty editor who lives in Freehold, N.J., with…
Every January we collectively set intentions to become better versions of ourselves. With the desire to refresh, reset and renew at the forefront of everyone’s mind, many couples use the top of the year as a time to establish their own health and relationship goals. We checked in with four leading fitness gurus, wellness influencers…
By the time they checked out, his four-string rendition of the theme to “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” had captured their heart. Days later, the pair were holding hands down the streets of England, singing at the top of their lungs. But with only two weeks before Mx. Hoffer’s U.K. tour was over, neither…
In fall 2019, Portia Carryer was mourning the loss of her beloved dog, a German shepherd named Rilke. That’s when Rory Jelinski made her presence felt. “Rory is not a huge dog person, but when Rilke passed away, she was there for me,” said Ms. Carryer (left), 32, a teen librarian for the San Leandro…
Imagine this: In the wee hours one morning, during a vacation in Southeast Asia, you set off with a guide to hike to the top of Mount Merapi, a volcano in Indonesia. After a grueling, miles-long plod, you arrive at the top, just in time for sunrise. You find the perfect spot to sit. As…