Astronomical Phenomenon (& Friday Links)

Next week is Manhattanhenge–an astronomical phenomenon and non-official holiday occurring twice a year when the sun sets in perfect alignment with the Manhattan street grid (first described in 2002 by “sexiest astrophysicist alive,” Neil deGrasse Tyson). Buildings along the East-West streets glow and crowds gather in the final moments of daylight—darting back and forth between light cycles, dodging traffic, and eventually gaining critical mass such as to keep traffic at bay.

This year you can catch it on May 29 at 8:13 p.m., when half of the sun will line up with the grid, and on May 30 at 8:12 p.m., when the full sun will line up. In July, the full sun aligns on the 12th and the half on the 13th. The first occurrence always seems to herald summer.

It’s going to feel like summer here this weekend—but even more so where I’ll be: I’m heading to Palm Springs with a group of friends! We’re reuniting with one of our dearest who moved away last year. I can’t wait!

Hope you have something fun planned as well! Here are some links of note if you’re in the mood…

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Table manners for kids

By now you’ve heard about those incroyable school lunches in France, where three-year-olds use grown-up plates and cutlery, and sit down for a leisurely communal lunch at the table—eating everything to boot. How, we wonder, can we get our schools to do that so that we might get some assistance in the table manners department? How much easier would our lives be?!

Our kids have a lot of experience eating out, so we’re managing alright, but we still spend an absurd quantity of dinnertime repeating things like “use your fork!” “One bite at a time!”

I recall getting some etiquette lessons at cotillion when I was in elementary school, but as neither that nor a manners bootcamp is in the cards at this stage, I’ve been looking for some guidance. Anyone else? Let’s start with the goals…

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Sunday at Scribe: Scenes from Mother’s Day

For the past few years, the Scribe Winery pickup party has fallen on Mother’s Day weekend. It’s becoming a bit of a tradition to spend at least part of the day picnicking on the hillside, looking out on Sonoma.

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