History
Book Review, The Swerve: How the World Became Modern and Chef Supreme
Swerve illuminates the fascinating nooks of antiquity, as well as the Renaissance, for the neophyte. This is the sort of book that, during these winter months, will bring the pleasure endorsed by Epicurus and Lucretius. Chef Supreme: Martin Ginsburg creates a paean to good food and its ability to create community; the recipes and tributes are rich, as was his life. more »
Happy 150th Birthday Edith Wharton!
Break out a glass of champagne, don an antique jet-beaded jacket and celebrate Wharton's 150th birth anniversary. Read a book of Wharton's, watch the Age of Innocence or The Buccaneers and visit her home, the Mount. more »
What if the Mayan Calendar is Right?
It’s become an annual tradition for my husband and me to create a calendar for an intimate group of friends. This year we decided to add an extra page. After the month of November 2012 is an illustration of the Mayan calendar with a 3-week ‘bucket list’ of things to do before the world is predicted to end on December 21st more »
Bicentennial of Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel; Nation's Oldest Natural History Museum
With eight books and a map of Switzerland, the founders began a library, which ranks among the world’s finest natural history libraries. Each founder also contributed a few specimens; the collections now number 17 million specimens more »






