Blog

This quarantine is killing me. I miss the Institute and the members of our community so much. Even the smallest of interactions, checking out a book, sharing an elevator, raising eyebrows at YOU across the reading room, or just waving at faces I recognize on my way into the building now seem to have a greater meaning in the scheme of life. This separation from you all is a weight on my heart.

Nevertheless, we have to get through the time somehow. I’ve spent a bit of time reading and c...

The Metropolitan Opera has launched nightly Opera streams. Each night's performance will be available for 23 hours after it starts. To view/listen online 

1. Go to the Met's webstie:  https://www.metopera.org/ 
2. Register (free, look in the upper right corner of the window for the "Login/Register" link). 
3. After you register (or login, if you're returning), click on the words "The Metropolitan Opera"...

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Due to the coronavirus, baseball season and just about everything else, is understandably delayed; but every year about this time I am reminded of a “curious incident” that took place some years ago.

It was a typical day at the Reference Desk at the Mechanics’ Institute in March 2013 when a young man, clad in a slim, dark suit knocked on the door of the 3rd floor. I opened the door and loudly said “Hi!”

Slightly taken aback, the man asked in a tentative voice, “Have you heard...