LOS ANGELES — On a recent Saturday afternoon in the Arts District, a group of seven friends — plus a tiny dog — contorted and twisted their bodies to fit inside a light brown, 8-foot-tall box that had a mirrored door inscribed with the words "Memory Archive."

Once they were all mostly inside, they looked up toward a Canon DSLR camera that...Read more

This has been a breakout year when it comes to my prized, golden needle conifers by the name of Fluffy. Don’t get me wrong, I have loved them from the start, but they were trial-sized in the beginning, which was 5 years ago. So proper spacing meant they would look a little lonely for a while.

This year the partnerships with azaleas were ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- Alexis Wood received a notification on her phone. It was an anonymous call from a pay phone. She listened and was momentarily paralyzed. And then she couldn’t stop crying.

The call wasn’t completely unexpected. Days earlier, Wood and her partner Adam Trunell had gone prowling for working Los Angeles pay phones, placing ...Read more

DENVER — Against all odds — and with an assist from beloved children’s program “Ms. Rachel” — Christina Galliani doubles as a stay-at-home mom to her toddler and a full-time employee at an information-technology company.

During working hours, Galliani tends to emails and Zoom calls from her house in Parker while wrangling her 2½-...Read more

Dear Anna,

Hi Anna. I’m 40 years old and single. I met someone over a year ago. Things started off well. She mentioned that she wants to spend time together, but when the time comes around I get a reason as to why she can’t make it and it's a repeat process. I feel like I’m being dragged around. What should I do? — Looking At Some ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS -- The pain started while Miriam Orta pushed carts as a hotel housekeeper in Woodbury, Minnesota. She found the sudden aches in her back and shoulder surprising: Orta had worked as a welder in Colombia and her native Venezuela without incident, and just survived a grueling journey to America seeking asylum.

She was scared to go to ...Read more

Every May, I fly from New York to Austin, Texas, to compete in the annual O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships. Yes, this is a thing … and it’s serious. I’ve now attended five times and have twice come home with a third-place medal and once with a first-place trophy. Win or lose (though hopefully win — fingers crossed!), I know I’m ...Read more

CHICAGO — When River Kerstetter was asked about three years ago to help curate an exhibit at the Newberry Library about Native Americans and pop culture called “Native Pop!,” she said getting involved with the exhibit was a “no-brainer.”

The artist, who is a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, had not only worked with archival ...Read more

Jonathan and Jacqueline Sanchez didn’t grow up learning about money. But now, at ages 41 and 42, they’ve built a million-dollar net worth and are making sure their two kids have a financial head start most adults never get.

The couple built their wealth through a strategic mix of real estate and traditional investments. The Sanchez family ...Read more

Dear Kid Whisperer,

My 8-year-old grandson is experimenting with using borderline expletives: saying “Darn it!” but saying it in such a way that could be perceived as saying the more taboo word. My son, his father, and I are at a bit of a loss as to what to do about this.

Answer: Behold, The Human Kid.

The Human Kid is born quite small. ...Read more

Q. My child’s father and I share custody of our 14-year-old daughter. She and I have always been great friends, and she often confides in me. Evidently, she recently cut first period, got caught and the school requires an email from a parent to allow her to return to class. She wants me to write the letter and not tell her dad. I’m torn ...Read more

The first thrift store I remember going to as a child was called Amvets. It was a warehouse-like space that sat between the alley of an apartment complex, a trailer park and a gas station. I'd spend hours under the rows of industrial fluorescent lights playing with the plastic toys that lined the left wall, or I'd hide behind the cheap bridal ...Read more

Our youngest daughter called the other day sounding harried. “I’m in the middle of cooking and I’m short an egg. Is it still OK to borrow an egg from a neighbor?”

I didn’t know what to say. Miss Manners never covered this one. Then again, Miss Manners probably never paid more than 75 cents for a dozen eggs.

It used to be fine to ...Read more

Now that my office has new flooring and is finally so clean that it could win an award from Good Housekeeping, I am turning over a new leaf.

Actually, 17 new leaves, which belong to a houseplant that my wife, Sue, gave to me so I could have someone (or something) to talk to when I am lonely or need inspiration so I can write drivel like this.

...Read more

Judith Joseph has spent most of her life building an impressive résumé. She is a board-certified psychiatrist, chair of the Women in Medicine Initiative for Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Center, the principal investigator of her own research ...Read more

“All of my friends who have kids are in hell.”

When Chappell Roan said these words on a recent episode of the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, she probably didn’t foresee the online firestorm they would create. The 27-year-old pop star went on to say that she doesn’t know anyone her age with children who is “happy, well-rested, or has light...Read more

MIAMI -- For many South Florida Jews, Passover is a holiday marked by spending time with family and friends, observing long held traditions and of course, eating festive food. As many sit down to their Seder meals Saturday night, one Broward organization is remembering those who struggle to put food on the table.

The Dorit & Ben J. Genet ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA -- Kenneth B. Morris Jr.’s family treasures have always been American treasures.

Morris, 62, is the great-great-great-grandson of abolitionist and orator, Frederick Douglass, and great-great-grandson of famed educator and founder of Tuskegee Institute, Booker T. Washington.

Growing up surrounded by the relics of his famous ...Read more

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A train sounds in the distance, and Columbia groans.

A line of cars and trucks stack up, exhaust pipes fuming. Drivers fuming. People are late for dinner, for class, for band practice. Boxcars crawl past. Somehow even more follow.

Two miles north, no one is upset. Everyone is happy. Trains chug along undisturbed, even ...Read more

The last few weeks, I have been showing my followers on Facebook their favorite flowers used in combinations. Last week someone requested that I post combinations with hostas. Now, the hosta pros would probably choose a different hosta as a partner. While that works, I’ve been on a 6-year adventure trying special partnerships. I get more ...Read more