The Optimist: How artists are capturing the return to ‘normal’

A bakery lost a client when it made rainbow Pride cookies. So others bought every item in the shop.; Lin-Manuel Miranda's 'In the Heights' comes home; Sacrificing sleep to make time for yourself? Tips to stop 'revenge bedtime procrastination.'; Container plants can transform your outdoor space. Here's how to use them.; We could all use a laugh. These comedic romance novels deliver.; Red velvet cake is 'the color of joy.' Here's how it rose into America's dessert canon.; TV writer Danielle Henderson finds the humor in her own harrowing life story; The pandemic empowered me to realize I'm nonbinary; New York City's first road race since the pandemic is women-only. 3,000 runners will carry on a storied legacy. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Sign up for this newsletter Read online Stories that inspire.     (Emily Flake/The Nib) How artists are capturing the return to 'normal' They're drawing unmasked parties, close hugging, workplace returns and road trips. By Michael Cavna ●  Read more »   A bakery lost a client when it made rainbow Pride cookies. So others bought every item in the shop. The line outside the tiny Texas bakery Confections stretched for several blocks after customers heard what happened. By Sydney Page ●  Read more »   Lin-Manuel Miranda's 'In the Heights' comes home The neighborhood turned out for the premiere of the movie version of Miranda's musical, even if nobody had tickets. By Jada Yuan ●  Read more »   Sacrificing sleep to make time for yourself? Tips to stop 'revenge bedtime procrastination.' "Revenge bedtime procrastination" rose with the pandemic, as lines between work, home and school were erased. By Angela Haupt ●  Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT   Container plants can transform your outdoor space. Here's how to use them. Whether you're growing annuals, tropicals, herbs or anything else, there are many good reasons to turn to plants in pots. By Adrian Higgins ●  Read more »   We could all use a laugh. These comedic romance novels deliver. Christina Lauren and Alexis Daria dole out happily-ever-afters with a side of humor. By Mia Sosa ●  Read more »   Red velvet cake is 'the color of joy.' Here's how it rose into America's dessert canon. The deep history of red velvet involves mahogany cakes, beetroot cakes, food coloring and cream cheese frosting. By G. Daniela Galarza ●  Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT   TV writer Danielle Henderson finds the humor in her own harrowing life story "The Ugly Cry" is one of those memoirs that's both funny and really sad — and in the end, uplifting. Review ●  By Nneka McGuire ●  Read more »   The pandemic empowered me to realize I'm nonbinary I feel like I'm meeting myself for the first time. The Lily ●  By Christine Suggs ●  Read more »   New York City's first road race since the pandemic is women-only. 3,000 runners will carry on a storied legacy. The New York Mini 10K made history in 1972 as the first official women's road race. The Lily ●  By Amanda McCracken ●  Read more »     We think you'll like this newsletter Check out Bold School for smart advice on how to get better with age, plus tried-and-true tips from our readers, every Monday and Friday for 12 weeks. Sign up »

Manage my email newsletters and alerts | Unsubscribe from The Optimist | Privacy Policy | Help You received this email because you signed up for The Optimist or because it is included in your subscription. ©2021 The Washington Post | 1301 K St NW, Washington DC 20071