Essays

1097 results
Page 36
Could Josh become another Adam Lanza? (photo via biography.com)

A troubled student on the day of the Sandy Hook massacre

December 14th

Each day a teacher stands in front of another fragile soul, not ignoring behaviors and signs, but often helpless to do anything. We want to support the student and help him or her reach an educated, productive adulthood; we also know that weird is often not wrong, especially in the arts. Would any of us really want to see our 20-year-old selves categorized and judged, again, especially in the arts?
Susan Beth Lehman

Susan Beth Lehman

Essays 4 minute read
Sure, HE had a good time. (Pope Francis and President Obama, photo courtesy of the White House)

Pope Francis's visit to Philadelphia

I fled the pope and I liked it

When the great Papal Visit of 2015 drew perhaps a tenth of the crowds predicted and local businesses became victims of the hype, now we must decide whose fault it all is.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Essays 5 minute read
Serena Williams in 2012. (photo by Charlie Cowins via Creative Commons/Flickr)

The many kinds of success of Venus and Serena Williams

Raising champions

That Serena and Venus are excellent, well-adjusted, and curious about things outside their area of expertise is phenomenal. That they are best friends on top of that is even more amazing; the investment Oracene Price and Richard Williams made in their children has paid many important dividends.
Maria Thompson Corley

Maria Thompson Corley

Essays 5 minute read
The swoonworthy Cary Elwes (with Robin Wright) in “The Princess Bride” (© 1987 – MGM)

'The Princess Bride': An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes

Sometimes “as you wish” isn’t

I planned to ask Cary Elwes a question at his recent appearance at the Keswick, but the moment the house lights went up and I readied myself to get in line, my brain emptied out. Being in the same room as an artist you’ve loved so much, for so long, can be overwhelming.
Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey

Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey

Essays 5 minute read
Rafael Pondé and El Caribefunk at the Clubhouse

Musicians vs. writers

You thought writers were obsessed with their craft? They’ve got nothing on professional musicians.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Essays 5 minute read
Neither rain nor — well, rain. . . . (photos by the author)

Philadelphia Dîner en Blanc 2015

Dinin’ in the rain and lovin’ it

What makes Dîner en Blanc so enticing? Is it the exclusivity? Or the inclusiveness? There’s something about being part of a global phenomenon that I just can’t resist. Even if it did rain on my parade this year.
Naomi Orwin

Naomi Orwin

Essays 4 minute read
Would The Doctor wear a T-shirt to work? (photo © BBC)

My 'Dr. Who' T-shirt is bigger on the inside

You can’t possibly come to work at a major law firm in a Doctor Who T-shirt. But in a public library? No problem.
Roz Warren

Roz Warren

Essays 4 minute read

The continuing joys of Yiddish

Here's looking at you, Yiddish

I love the sound of Yiddish, the memories it evokes, and the people who created it.
Robert Cherry

Robert Cherry

Essays 2 minute read
“Adam Naming the Animals” by Theophanes the Cretan; St. Nicholas Anapavsa Monastery, Meteora, Greece. 16th century.

Rachel Dolezal and Caitlyn Jenner

Odd fruit

I look forward to a time when we bust the categories — male, female, black, white, gay, straight — wide open to make room for the complicated, contradictory, nuanced experiences that live inside and between those boxes.
Anndee Hochman

Anndee Hochman

Essays 5 minute read
Library books or placemats? The distinction is getting unclear. (photo by Abhi Sharma via Creative Commons/Flickr)

Abusing library books

Do I need a Hazmat suit to read library books?

Did courtesy go out of style and no one told me? I don’t expect everyone to treat books as holy, but taking a little care would be nice.

Tara Lynn Johnson

Essays 2 minute read