Archive by Author

Changing Tunes

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I was anxious heading into my first karaoke night at The Cellar on Treadwell. I feared I’d encounter hours of off-key wailing followed by audience ridicule or, worse yet, long intimidating silences broken only by the occasional bold soul.…

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Super Bowls and Plates

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Whatever your reason for watching Sunday’s Super Bowl LVIII—you love checking out the multimillion-dollar advertising; you’ve invested big bucks thanks to legalized online sports gambling; you’re a Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce ’shipper; or, you know, you enjoy watching football—you’re going to …

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Items of Import

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According to The Japan Times, “zakka” emerged in postwar Japan as a catch-all term for “everyday tools and objects such as kettles, brooms and buckets.” In 2001, the International Herald Tribune noted that latter-day Japan had elevated it to …

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Advanced Coursework

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Michelin Guide has referred to omakase as one of the most “revered” and “intimidating” dining experiences. The Japanese word means “I leave it up to you”; that is, the diner leaves it up to the chef to present a meal …

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Magic Kingdom

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Now in its 35th year, Curious Goods New Age Shop in West Haven promises “all those with an open mind a Magical Temple, a repository of secrets, a mystery school, and a safe haven from the everyday world. To those …

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Like Fine Wine

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I trust the proprietors of Hamden’s Mt. Carmel Wine & Spirits Co. more than I trust my doctor. In decades of frequenting the store, the suggestions I’ve gotten, no matter the price, have never disappointed. The staff—currently including Bob Feinn, …

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Shifting Sandwiches

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There’s a classic scene in the Oscar-winning 1963 film Tom Jones in which the titular “adopted bastard,” played by Albert Finney, enjoys a succulent meal with actress Joyce Redman that’s clearly not focused on what they’re eating. I was recently …

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Hole Story

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Yesterday, the nation celebrated a major icon on his day of remembrance—and, understandably, forgot about another. But we here in New Haven have special reason to acknowledge National Bagel Day: the local family that almost singlehandedly made the ring-shaped breadstuff …

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Past Experience

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It looked like a little home library, with parlor chairs, bookshelves and a Christmas tree. Then I found the slot where I was supposed to give the password…

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World Pieces

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According to Akil Tanriguden, proprietor of the upmarket Re-Unique Art & Antique Center in Old Saybrook, a certain magic happens when someone enters his shop. “Say you come in looking for a statue of Buddha. If you stay just …

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