Life + Family - Courant.com

Write Stuff: Pulitzer Winner Annette Gordon-Reed At Stowe Center

By CAROLE GOLDBERG, Special To The Courant — Thu, 31 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Pulitizer Prize And National Book Award Winner

On Tuesday, June 5, The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, 77 Forest St., Hartford, will hold its first Stowe Prize Student Award ceremony, as well as hosting a talk byaPulitzer Prize-winning author and a panel discussion on community activism, all free, and a cocktail party and picnic supper under a tent on the grounds for which tickets must be purchased.

Pastina Is A Rich, Cheesy Dish

By LINDA GIUCA, Special To The Courant — Thu, 31 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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In Linda's family, one comfort food surpasses all others, and its name is quite simple: Pastina. Four generations have been eating this variation on the mac-and-cheese theme. It's our go-to recipe when we need a dish that is warming, rich, filling and, well, comforting.

An Extraordinary Life: An Advocate For African Caribbean Community And The Disabled

By ANNE M. HAMILTON, Special to The Courant — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:30:00 GMT

A college internship led Merva Jackson to her real calling: helping parents of children with disabilities learn how to get appropriate help.

Blow Dry Blow Bar Coming To Blue Back

By MARYELLEN FILLO, mfillo@courant.com — Tue, 29 May 2012 11:46:00 GMT

Need to be “party ready” quickly and affordably?

College Couple Sweet On Each Other For Life

By M.A.C. LYNCH, Special to The Courant — Sun, 27 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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When Jim Roberts' college fraternity invited Sally Armour's sorority for a Dessert Exchange in April 1946, it was the pair that went sweet on each other.

The Scuttlebutt On Rumor-Related Words

By ROB KYFF, Special to The Courant — Sat, 26 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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Pssssst. Have you heard the latest about the origins of "gossip," "scuttlebutt" and "canard"? The histories of these rumor-related words are really quite dishy . . .

Jim Shea: Fit Is Everything When It Comes To Jeans

Jim Shea — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:57:07 GMT

And getting the right fit is becoming more complicated

What says summer weekend better than a pair of broken-in jeans?

Parents: Step Away From Your Kid's Project

By Teresa Pelham — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:28:00 GMT

You Are Not Being Graded Follow CT Lifestyle & Entertainment News On The Courant's Features Buzz Facebook Page

Form to be completed by parent/guardian of fourth-grade student and handed in with project. Please check all that apply. For this project I:

Author Sightings: Ann Patchett, Joel Stein, Kristan Higgins

By CAROLE GOLDBERG, Special to The Courant — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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J oel Stein , the Time magazine humor columnist who has made an art form of being hilariously self-absorbed, will give a talk in the "A Pen Warmed Up in Hell" series Thursday, May 24, at 7:30 p.m. at The Mark Twain House & Museum, 351 Farmington Ave., Hartford.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin The Star Of This Pasta Salad

By LINDA GIUCA — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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Boneless pork tenderloin has a lot going for it. With minimum fat and no bone, this cut is pure meat with good flavor and versatility. Supermarkets seem to feature the tenderloin on sale every few weeks.

Best Travel Apps: Don't Leave Home Without The Public Bathroom Finder

By KORKY VANN, kvann@courant.com — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:16:00 GMT

Get Business Mobile Text Alerts

Want to have a fun, hassle-free, deal of a summer vacation?

Jim Shea: Retire? Sure, As Soon As I Hit The Lottery

Jim Shea — Wed, 23 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Baby boomers have never been shy, and as we are now finding out, they aren't retiring, either.

How We Parent Remains A Sensitive Debate

By John Rosemond — Wed, 23 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

How they raise their kids is a touchy subject for lots of parents. When I was growing up, it was said that one should not engage in discussions of religion or politics. These days, engaging in conversation concerning how someone raises their children is just as likely to end the relationship as a discussion of their religious or political beliefs.

Hundreds Expected At Multidimensional Paradise City Arts Festival This Weekend

By SUSAN DUNNE, sdunne@courant.com — Tue, 22 May 2012 15:01:00 GMT

260 Artists Participating From All Over Country At Showcase In Northhampton Follow CT Lifestyle & Entertainment News On The Courant's Features Buzz Facebook Page

Some artists get thorough training at prestigious schools. Some are unschooled and just go on instinct. Some know from the start of their careers what medium they want to work in, and what themes they want to pursue. Others arrive at their niches gradually. But when the end result is beautiful art, it doesn't matter where it came from.

Connecticut Strawberries, Blueberries Expected Early

By LINDA GIUCA, Special To The Courant — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:53:00 GMT

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In the past nine months, Mother Nature proved again to Connecticut farmers that she calls the shots.

Robotic Lifeguards Making Their Way To East Coast Shore

By SARAH CODY, FOX CT — Mon, 21 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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I was about 13, swimming off the coast of Martha's Vineyard with a friend. We were having fun, body surfing and riding the waves, when suddenly, we could no longer touch the sandy ocean's floor.

Humorist Joel Stein To Man Up At Twain House

By CAROLE GOLDBERG, Special To The Courant — Sun, 20 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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Joel Stein writes The Awesome Column, a tasty blend of satire, snark and self-absorption, for Time magazine. In it, he recently riffed on why he'd never wanted a home burglar alarm, although his "lovely wife, Cassandra," as he habitually refers to her in print, certainly did.

One Mistaken Phone Call Leads To Lifetime Love Affair

By M.A.C. LYNCH, Special to The Courant — Sun, 20 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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The door is locked at 12 o'clock. That was the law in the Zotti house, and 22-year-old Richard, who had survived fighting with the amphibious Navy unit in Guam and Saipan, knew not to breach his father's dictate.

Jim Shea: By The Time We Reach 70, We've Wasted 3 Years Waiting, Waiting Waiting

Jim Shea — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

I'm waiting.

An Extraordinary Life: A Passion For Urban Planning, And For Food

By ANNE M. HAMILTON, Secial to The Couran — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Terry Tondro's life embraced opposites.

Scores Of Artists, Vendors Part Of ArtWalk Simsbury

By SUSAN DUNNE, sdunne@courant.com — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Public Bike Sculpture To Be Unveiled Follow CT Lifestyle & Entertainment News On The Courant's Features Buzz Facebook Page

About 20 years ago, when she was living in Australia and working as a veterinary nurse, New Zealand native Julie Wilson-Foster was diagnosed with cancer. The ordeal was emotionally overwhelming and she needed a way to cope with the chemotherapy and radiation. So she enrolled in art school.

Scores Of Artists, Vendors Part Of ArtWalk Simsbury

By SUSAN DUNNE, sdunne@courant.com — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

A Weekend Destination: The Waters Of Falls Brook Put On A Show

Peter Marteka — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:19:00 GMT

Whenever I awoke Christmas morning at 2 a.m., I had two choices: I could burst out of bed, rumble downstairs waking everyone up, pull my stocking off the mantle and rip through my presents. Or I could roll over and fall back to sleep and wake up again at a reasonable hour, like 3 a.m.

Salad Season: Try Quinoa Instead Of Pasta

By LINDA GIUCA, Special To The Courant — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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We're heading into the season when salads and side dishes that feed a crowd are much in demand. Picnics, backyard barbecues, graduation parties and the like often go the pot-luck route. Most cooks have their favorite go-to recipes but don't mind trying out a new dish on family and friends.

Author Appearances: 'Real Housewife' Kelly Killoren Bensimon, Jack Hitt

By CAROLE GOLDBERG, Special To The Courant — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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Amateur inventors, Italian cuisine, Girl Scouts, girls gone bad and a former U.S. senator's perspective on America are the subjects of books whose authors will speak at R.J. Julia events this week. Except as noted, programs take place at 7 p.m. at the bookstore, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison, and are free. Reservations are required: 203-245-3959 or http://www.rjjulia.com .