Travel
May 31, 2018

Japan Invites Visitors to Walk Through Its Twinkling Tunnel of Lights

Japan is known for its impressive fall foliage and spring cherry blossoms, which are often illuminated at night for locals and tourists alike. But Nabana no Sato, a flower park located in Mie Prefecture, takes things up a notch with its illuminated tunnels. From mid-October to early-May, the park hosts the Winter Illumination event, which attracts visitors from across the country.

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Art History
May 30, 2018

How Artists Have Kept Still-Life Painting Alive Over Thousands of Years

Édouard Manet once called still life “the touchstone of painting.” Characterized by an interest in the insentient, this genre of art has been popular across movements, cultures, and periods, with major figures like Paul Cézanne and Pablo Picasso sharing the Impressionist artist‘s view. Here, we explore the age-old genre, tracing its history and looking at well-known works to answer the questions: what is still life painting, and how has it evolved?

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Travel
May 29, 2018

New Zealand Has a Real-Life Version of Middle Earth You Can Visit Called “Hobbiton”

For those whose hearts belong forever in the Shire, there’s a place they can go to celebrate the iconic The Lord of the Ring and The Hobbit trilogies. Called Hobbiton, it’s a movie set experience that’s nestled in the heart of Matamata, a small town in New Zealand. Lush pastures are punctuated with 44 tiny Hobbit holes built directly into the sides of rolling hills.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.