Lifestyle Columns

Carolyn Hax

Carolyn Hax

Carolyn Hax: Are friends with kids taking advantage?

She’s happy to be Auntie Kate but misses one-on-one time with the parents.

Carolyn Hax

Carolyn Hax

Carolyn Hax: Helping mom and daughter, 4, through a loss

A woman who has had a miscarriage worries about showing her emotions in front of her 4-year-old.

Carolyn Hax

Carolyn Hax

Carolyn Hax: My best friend, the doormat

Reader wonders how she can help a friend who is repeatedly mistreated by her boyfriends.

Anne Midgette

Anne Midgette

Two opera groups turn to a young audience

Productions reflect differing goals of writers in relating the art to children.

Anne Midgette

Anne Midgette

WNO’s ‘The Lion, the Unicorn, and Me’ is holiday delight

The new opera by a musical theater composer, written with children in mind, has an adroit, polished sound.

Anne Midgette

Anne Midgette

Opera for kids: What makes it childlike?

As WNO prepares to premiere a new work by Jeanine Tesori, some thoughts on children’s opera.

Ann Hornaday

Ann Hornaday

‘Saving Mr. Banks’ depicts the making of ‘Mary Poppins’

Emma Thompson delivers a tart tour de force as ‘Mary Poppins’ author P.L. Travers in ‘Saving Mr. Banks.’

Ann Hornaday

Ann Hornaday

Review: ‘Go For Sisters’ okay, with great performances

‘Go For Sisters’ may succumb to contrivance, but benefits from strong chemistry between its two actresses.

Ann Hornaday

Ann Hornaday

David O. Russell, ‘American Hustle’ and the art of survival

David O. Russell talks about ‘American Hustle,’ comebacks and the dangers of ‘going Hamlet.’

Sarah Kaufman

Sarah Kaufman

Dance review: ‘Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty’

The familiar fairy tale is subtitled ‘A Gothic Romance’ and is more dance theater than ballet.

Sarah Kaufman

Sarah Kaufman

A ballet program that’s annual frustration

REVIEW | The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, as always, is so close, but ultimately frustrating.

Sarah Kaufman

Sarah Kaufman

‘Play/Pause’: Lovely dance, but ultimately disappointing

Susan Marshall’s interesting new work, at the Terrace Theater, ends up seeming self-important, overworked.

  

Ask Amy: Crush of family at Christmas creates stress

Her family’s demanding behavior around the holidays is exhausting her. And she has a baby on the way.

Ask Amy: Cohabiting couple face family opposition

Her live-in’s disapproving mother, who agreed to a fresh start, has resorted to stealth tactics.

Ask Amy: Has Facebook replaced sympathy cards?

For a grieving 40-something, Facebook “sympathy” feels hollow.

More Ask Amy

Hank Stuever

Hank Stuever

Best TV shows of 2013 (and biggest letdowns)

TV critic Hank Stuever picks his favorite shows: “Breaking Bad,” “Orange Is the New Black” and more.

Hank Stuever

Hank Stuever

‘Sound of Music Live’ proves to be an impossible climb after all

TV REVIEW | Props to NBC for the ambition, but stiff acting zaps the beloved musical of its ebullience.

Hank Stuever

Hank Stuever

‘Kirstie’: A plastic replica from the old sitcom machine

TV REVIEW | Kirstie Alley returns in a a capable but outdated comedy. Also reviewed: TNT’s ‘Mob City.’

Lisa De Moraes

Lisa De Moraes

The TV Column: Alec Baldwin’s puzzling Nat Geo Channel gig

The actor and animal rights supporter will narrate documentaries about, among other things, bear-hunting.

Lisa de Moraes

Lisa de Moraes

Emmy and Tony can’t seem to get enough of Neil Patrick Harris

Actor will host the Emmy Awards for the second time this year after hosting the Tonys for the fourth time

Lisa de Moraes

Lisa de Moraes

Animal Planet nets biggest audience with ‘Mermaids’

TV COLUMN | “New Evidence” “documentary” follows last year’s “Mermaids: The Body Found.”

Philip Kennicott

Philip Kennicott

What the Smithsonian needs in a leader

You can say it in three words: curiosity, courage, generosity. Or you can say it in one word: Ripley.

Philip Kennicott

Philip Kennicott

Dying Gaul on view at National Gallery of Art

The exhibition is part of a year-long cultural program organized by the Italian government.

Philip Kennicott

Philip Kennicott

Library of Congress to unveil work by key ‘outsider’ artist

Drawing by Martín Ramírez, one of the most famous self-taught artists of the 20th century, was found in 2009.

Gene Weingarten

Gene Weingarten

A tsk force report

Gene and Gina debate the results of a study on “slut shaming.”

Gene Weingarten

Gene Weingarten

Gene Weingarten: Oy!

Gene repents his sin.

Gene Weingarten

Gene Weingarten

Words to the wisenheim

Gene helps identify unnamed phenomena.