Lady Macbeth used spiked possets to drug the royal bodyguards so her husband could murder the king. That was the only thing I knew about possets until Diana Henry showed me that they had far kinder uses. Historically a milk-based libation fortified with ale or wine, these days the word “posset” more likely refers to…
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After a long hike on a hot day, few things are more rewarding than a tall, frosty glass of water. The rush of pleasure that comes with a drink might feel like a sign from your body that you’ve done the right thing, a reward for remedying your dehydration. But that pleasing sensation isn’t actually…
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I love to eat outside whenever possible, even on a sunny winter day. But when warm summer weather hits, outdoor dining is a definite preference, whether it’s a formal sit-down dinner or a casual picnic. A picnic can take many forms. Sometimes, it’s setting places at a table in the backyard, but it can also…
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BURLINGAME, Calif. — Sarah Jane Bradley was an unmarried, “spiritual but not religious” professional in her early 30s, with a rowdy group of friends and a start-up when she moved out of her communal house and into a convent. A bunch of friends went with her. They called the project Nuns and Nones, and they…
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Many people use so-called feminine hygiene products — such as intimate cleansers and wipes, douches, and even deodorants — hoping to feel clean and fresh. Do these products really help maintain genital health? In this Spotlight feature, we investigate. Is it ever advisable to use ‘feminine hygiene’ products? In high school, I used to take…
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Name: Kodi Smit-McPhee Age: 22 Hometown: Adelaide, Australia. Now lives: In a two-bedroom apartment in Marina del Rey, Calif., that he shares with a roommate. Claim to fame: Mr. Smit-McPhee, who is in the next “X Men” movie, and has appeared in a short film for the fashion label Kenzo, is a rising star who…
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HOTBOXInside Catering, the Food World’s Riskiest BusinessBy Matt Lee and Ted Lee James Beard, Martha Stewart, Ina Garten, Giada De Laurentiis, Carla Hall: Where were they before they became masters of the food universe? They were catering. If this is news to you, it’s not your fault. While restaurants and the life and times of…
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When Patricia Park celebrated the publishing of her first novel at a Brooklyn bookstore in 2015, Brett Taylor’s gift to her did not come in a card or in a vase or in a gift-wrapped box. It came in a keg, filled with her favorite beer. “He brewed me a batch of India pale ale,…
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You’re reading this week’s At War newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Email us at atwar@nytimes.com. On Monday, the United States observed Memorial Day, a federal holiday that capped a three-day weekend of events honoring those who died in American military service. Each year, this weekend pushes into…
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Traveling — even for fun — can be tough on our bodies. Hours spent in airline seats, heavy meals and long stretches of touristy walking or standing can leave muscles and joints stiff and achy. I asked two well-known fitness trainers, Elisabeth Halfpapp and Fred DeVito, for some simple exercises that travelers of any age…
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