Author: Ms. R.

St. Peter’s Collegiate Church, by far the oldest in England‘s Wolverhampton, has shrouded origins in the Anglo-Saxon era. Even more mysterious than the church itself are some of the ancient objects lying in its churchyard. The Bargain Stone, located on the south side of the church just inside the railings surrounding it, is one of the only standing stones to have a hole in it. Its name comes from the old practice of merchants shaking hands through its hole……

Read More

The Ernst Thälmann Monument is one of the last artistic remnants in Berlin that recalls the “good old days” of the Geman Democratic Republic (GDR), as most other statues and sculptures have been removed. The monument is part of Ernst Thälmann Park, a protected historical site created in 1987 on the grounds of a former gasworks. The park was a socialist prestige project commemorating Berlin’s 750th anniversary. The statue, designed by Russian artist Lev Kerbel, was a colossal work…….

Read More

Stockport played a significant role as one of the manufacturing powerhouses of the 19th-century Industrial Revolution. The town was renowned as a center of excellence for the hatting industry. If you want to see how the modern industrial world was formed, Stockport is a compact and historically rich way to find out more.  In the 1960s, Stockport borough began its journey to modernity, transforming the town center from the remnants of a textile production powerhouse to a stylish post-industrial……

Read More

Peter Vazquez might be the best chef in New Orleans you’ve never heard of. And he probably likes it that way. Once upon a time, he ran Marisol, a restaurant much loved and much ahead of its time. After Hurricane Katrina forced its closure, he served Sunday meals outside Bacchanal Wine Shop to those desperate for comfort and community in a newly-unknown landscape—a stint that eventually inspired a character arc on the New Orleans-based TV show, Treme.  There were other……

Read More

One could easily overlook a vending machine in a nation full of them, particularly one tucked into the entrance of a nondescript shopping mall. However, this particular vending machine specializes in nori: sheets of chopped, dried Pyropia seaweed that has become a staple in Japanese cuisine.  The district of Ōmori is considered by some to be the birthplace of nori processing, beginning in the Edo period. Nori cultivation in the area came to an end in the 1960s with……

Read More

This statue on the Metz Cathedral has a story that reflects the town’s tumultuous political history. It forms part of the grand, gothic West Portal, which is covered in dozens of statues of saints, prophets, and angels. At first glance, it looks—like the rest of the cathedral—to date from the High Middle Ages. But the portal was actually built in 1903, during the period that Metz was part of the German Empire. The original medieval doorway had been destroyed……

Read More

The humble sandwich has been lifted to legendary status around the world, but perhaps nowhere more so than in New Orleans, where the po’ boy has taken on a life much larger than itself, and acts as a fitting entrée into the city’s vast and storied dining scene.  With a history that dates back to the early 20th century, the po’ boy as a symbol of New Orleans has gained traction across generations, and its limitations are bound only……

Read More

Once known as Anderson Cottage, this Gothic Revival-style residence was the setting where Abraham Lincoln penned the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation.  Built between 1842-1843, the cottage first served as home to George Washington Riggs, founder of Riggs National Bank. It was later used as a seasonal getaway for several U.S. Presidents, including James Buchanan (1857-1861), Abraham Lincoln (1862-1864), Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881), and Chester Arthur (1881-1885). The cottage stands on the same 251-acre complex as the Soldier’s……

Read More

The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, better known as the Shakers, are an offshoot of the Quakers that originated in 18th-century England. The group got its nickname from its physical expressions of worship, which resembles dancing and shaking. The Shakers also became distinguished in their communal, egalitarian lifestyles that mandated celibacy and gender equality. Under the leadership of Ann Lee, they moved to the Northeastern United States, where they became known for their furniture, music, and……

Read More