This year’s cookies
Each year I bake up a few cookies for our neighbors, so I can try out a few recipes and also make up for being socially awkward the rest of the year.
A 24/7 Diner Chain Gave Its Workers Christmas Day Off, Then It Had To Figure Out How To Close
Today in 1988, a report in the New York Times noted that restaurant chain Denny's was shutting its doors for Christmas Day, only to run into a little hiccup around those doors.
25 Days of Holiday Songs 2024: “Christmas In Vietnam” by Private Charles Bowens
Probably don’t lead with this at your holiday singalong.
Poinsettias Have Gone By A Whole Lot Of Names Over Time
Cuetlaxochitl, flor de Noche Buena, poinsettia, estrella federal… here’s the story of a plant with a lot of names.
25 Days of Holiday Songs 2024: “(Merry Christmas) We Must Be Having One” by Tammy Wynette
if this was almost any other singer, you’d think to yourself what a sweet scene this song is painting. But this is Tammy Wynette, and in her songs, you don’t find love without also finding more turbulent feelings close by.
Animation Legend Chuck Jones Made Dr. Seuss’s Grinch A Part Of TV History
Today in 1966 CBS first broadcast a holiday classic, “Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas.” It came to the small screen largely because a giant in the cartoon industry happened to be an old friend of the author.
25 Days of Holiday Songs 2024: “Christmas Time Is Here Again” by the Flirtations
The Flirtations are Americans, but they’re much better known in the UK. Our loss!
Chas Newby, Beatle Bassist For Two Weeks
Today in 1960, Chas Newby of Liverpool got a temp job that would he could dine out on for the rest of his life: for two weeks, he played bass for the Beatles.
25 Days of Holiday Songs 2024: “Vive le vent” by Renée Martel
After a hard day for my hometown, I’m choosing a song from one of my favorite times in 2024.
May Kaarlus Was A Trick Shot Billiard Prodigy Who Walked Away From It All
Today in 1901, a newspaper article proclaimed 16 year old May Kaarlus as perhaps the greatest trick shot billiard player in the whole world. She really could play that well, though the career of this pool table prodigy went on to take a surprise turn.