With 40,000 menus dating from the 1840s to today, The NYPL's restaurant menu collection is one of the largest in the world, used by historians, chefs, novelists and everyday food enthusiasts. All it takes is an Internet connection to take part! more »

The power and intricacy of The Tiger’s Wife mark the beginning of what, if Téa Obreht keeps writing, should become a distinguished literary career. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, now in paperback, is both a cautionary tale and a call for justice. In 1951 no laws were broken when Henrietta Lacks’ cancer cells were passed on, but ethical issues were ignored by medical and science communities more »

The Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry review at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum gave us a chance for a virtual stroll to the online shop. Because the Museum itself is a paean to the art of design, it's not surprising that the shop has some less-frequently-seen items more »

There are highly stylized necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, brooches and watches, in addition to finely crafted accessories like clutches, cigarette cases and tobacco lighters. Objets d’art, such as a 1908 butler’s bell push comprised of a model yacht riding a wave fashioned from jasper, drew audible gasps. more »