Encounter

Talking with ambassador nominee Lana Marks, who’s ready to ditch Palm Beach for Pretoria.

Comments: Week of February 4, 2019

Readers sound off on the Catholic Church, Jill Abramson’s tenure at the New York Times, and more.

The Approval Matrix: Week of February 4, 2019

Our deliberately oversimplified guide to who falls where on our taste hierarchies.

On the Cover: How The Matrix Predicted Everything and Lizzo on the Flip Side

How The Matrix predicted (almost) everything about 2019 two decades early.

Best Bets

Paper vases, Nest Fragrances opens a store, and custom suits in Boerum Hill.

Look Book

The vintage maven who traded bloomers for acid wash.

The Dish

Augustine’s Viennese wedding soup is like a Middle European ramen.

The Underground Gourmet’s Guide to Plan-B Dining

Where to eat when you can’t get at table at Misi, Ho Foods, Frenchette, and Lucali.

The Movie Review

Arctic is grim, but worth watching.

The Movie Review

Steven Soderbergh’s High Flying Bird is compelling despite its narrative flaws.

The Theater Review

A True West that simmers instead of boiling over.

To Do: February 6–February 20, 2019

I Think About This a Lot

Catherine Cohen on Frances Ha; Aparna Nancherla on the “Goat” headline; Gabriella Paiella on the catastrophic desire behind “run me over.”

Please Explain These Shoes

Historical context for contemporary styles.

‘How Do I Look?’

Portraits from dressing rooms around New York City.