Bestselling kids’ book has a special place in Jubilee celebrations

When the Queen visited a nursery school last winter near her Sandringham estate as part of her diamond anniversary activities, the giddy 3- and 4-year-old pupils had a surprise for her: they hung up hand-made replicas of her underwear for a display called ‘The Royal Laundry’.
“Oh,” the amused monarch commented, “they’re doing the washing.”
This sort of cheeky … Read More

When I was a teenager, I was obsessed with the Archie comic book series. I would sneak down to the Chateau Drug store two blocks from the house, spend all my allowance on Betty and Veronica dailies and hide them under the mattress before my mother came home. I was supposed to be doing my homework. At least she didn’t mind my dalliance during the summers. I was allowed to … 
It has been crazy hot this weekend; classic Memorial Day weather, a salute to the arrival of summer. I do not know why this holiday makes me think of all things nautical; beaches, boats, lighthouses and escape, but I suppose growing up on Long Island and living so many years on the ocean watered my psyche. The strange thing is, because of my proximity to the shore, I never really … 