Blog
"Life is a curious mix of fantasy, experienceand interpretation."
How to Guesstimate Your 2018 Taxes in Three Easy Steps
You don’t need software or an online calculator to run the numbers. It’s easier to visualize how the law affects you by using your 2016 federal income tax return as a scratch pad.
6 Ways the Tax Overhaul Could Hurt You
Open your 2016 tax return, check this list, and say good-bye to the American dream: a home of your own, a living wage and a comfortable retirement.
Airbnb ‘Instant Book’ Is Devastating to Older Hosts
As the homesharing company pressures hosts to rent to strangers without vetting them, those who resist are suffering the consequences.
Shopping for le Weekend in Paris
One of the great joys of visiting Paris is weekend shopping at neighborhood food markets. Here are some of my favorites.
How a Visit to Basque Country Cured Me of Fish Phobia
Each time I asked a vendor in the St. Jean-de-Luz market which ingredients they used for marmitako, they looked at me like I was, um, a fish out of water.
How to Eat Like A Basque Without Breaking the Bank
Don’t be seduced by the constellation of Michelin-starred restaurants in this foodie’s paradise. Here’s how to make your money — and your feast — go further.
Cooking in Other People’s Kitchens
Some of the best meals I have eaten in France have consisted of food I prepared myself. How to navigate the quirky kitchens of vacation rentals.
Savoring Alsace: A Slow Traveler Goes Beyond the Façades
Being able to experience the rhythms of daily life in a rural French village is one of the joys of visiting Alsace. Here are others.
From a Page of French History, Lessons for Modern Times
From the rubble of Alsace, survivors gathered the remains of World War II. Now objects donated by their descendants have been turned into a striking museum.
How I Sued My Health Insurance Company for a Premium Refund
Solving the nation’s health care crisis goes far beyond turning back the latest Republican proposal. We need a system that not only provides quality health care, but also protects consumers’ rights.
In Alsace During Grape Harvest, ‘BYOB’ Means Bring a Bottle to Fill
Along the Route des Vins, visitors to Alsace can observe time-honored traditions, as Alsatians celebrate the vendange in the vineyards and villages.
10 Things to Love About France in the Fall
Autumn is at once a celebration of abundance and a last hurrah. Here are aspects of life in France that we look forward to as fall unfolds.