History

Rich Harlan prepares Coney hot dogs at his restaurant, Red Hots Coney Island, in Detroit. Harlan has been working at the restaurant for 48 years.

Coney: The Hot Dog That Fueled Detroit's Middle-Class Dreams

6:56pm July 12, 2016

Hundreds of eateries selling chili-topped hot dogs dot Detroit. The story of how this food became the city's signature dish is deeply entwined with its auto industry and the workers who flocked to it.

Queue Listen Now

A team of archaeologists work at the excavation site in the coastal Israeli city of Ashkelon on June 28.

Long Buried By Bad Reputation, Philistines Get New Life With Archaeological Find

8:17pm July 10, 2016

by Colin Dwyer

They're one of the Hebrew Bible's greatest villains, but not much is known about the ancient Philistines. An uncovered cemetery, which researchers say is the first of its kind, could change all that.

National

'Hamilton' Reminds Us Of Our Country's Promise

5:18pm July 10, 2016

by Michel Martin

Lin-Manuel Miranda made his final performance in the hit musical Saturday. Michel Martin reflects on what Alexander Hamilton's story can teach us after a troubling week of news.

People gather in a prayer vigil following the shooting deaths of five police officers in Dallas on Thursday night.

The Code Switch Podcast, Episode 8: No Words

12:08pm July 09, 2016

by Kat Chow

It's hard to figure out what to say after this week's horrific violence, which began with two viral videos of police shooting black men and ended with a deadly attack by a gunman on police officers.

Daal — yellow, red, brown or black — is a staple across India. It is often described, inadequately, I think, as lentil soup. Except it's so much more.

A Longing For Lentils, Or How I Learned To Find Home Where The Daal Is

4:59pm July 08, 2016

by Kavitha Rao

Daal, yellow, red, brown or black, is a staple across India. It is often described, inadequately, as lentil soup. Except it's so much more. For a lifelong expat, it's an anchor in a shifting world.

Spectacles with copper frame, circa 1600-1800. Jenny Benjamin of the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Museum of Vision says a lack of innovation in frames over certain time periods can make dating spectacles quite difficult.

Health & Safety

What Did Nearsighted Humans Do Before Glasses?

6:00pm July 07, 2016

by Natalie Jacewicz

Many of us would be at a loss without our glasses. We asked historians and ophthalmologists how humans managed before modern corrective eyewear.

Marraqueta is often part of every meal in Chile. Many Chileans fondly remember simple childhood breakfasts of marraqueta with mashed avocado on top — a tradition that predates the current avocado toast craze.

In Chile, 'Marraqueta' Is The Daily Bread

5:56pm July 07, 2016

by Eileen Smith

This crusty bread likely originated with French immigrants of centuries past, but it's become deeply entwined with Chilean identity, diet ... even language. Yet most people don't make it at home.

Dishes with Oysters, Fruit, and Wine, c. 1620/1625, oil on panel, Patrons' Permanent Fund

Arts

QUIZ: What Does Food Symbolize In Art? Test Your Knowledge

11:33am July 07, 2016

by Natalie Jacewicz

Artists have been painting food into their work since ancient times. You know it looks delicious, but how well can you decipher what foods mean in art? Take this quiz to find out.

Tuskegee Airman Roscoe Brown poses during the publicity tour for the 2012 movie, Red Tails. The film was based on their experiences during World War II.

National

Remembering Tuskegee Airman Roscoe Brown, Educator And Civil Rights Trailblazer

3:26pm July 06, 2016

by Karen Grigsby Bates

Brown was one of the last surviving "Red Tail" pilots of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. These African-American pilots served in World War II, laying the foundation for integrating the U.S. armed forces.

Queue Listen Now

Aragvi wasn't just for spies. Cosmonauts and Soviet movie stars were frequent visitors, too.

Dine Like A Soviet Spy: Old KGB Haunt Opens Its Doors Again

8:31am July 06, 2016

by Mary Louise Kelly

Soviet-era movie stars, cosmonauts and, yes, intelligence agents once socialized at Aragvi over chicken tabaka and Georgian wine. Now the restaurant has reopened for regular diners.

Queue Listen Now