Mark Morris's "Romeo & Juliet, on Motifs of Shakespeare," a Prokofiev-inspired, four-act ballet, came to the stage of Bard College's Fisher Center -- with a "happy" ending. Morris's production is about as intimate and idiosyncratic as many previous versions have been large-scale and sweeping.

One upscale Chicago suburb grappled with political correctness, and some troubling questions got asked on the way to a happy compromise.

The San Francisco Opera returned this summer to the opera house for three productions. "Das Rheingold" and "Ariodante" were satisfying -- but Natalie Dessay's "Lucia di Lammermoor" was a major disappointment.

Beth DeCarbo on what to do, where to stay and when to spot wildebeests in this Kenyan game reserve.

For a novel experience, try an adventure in the clouds at the White Mountain Exploration center in Plymouth, N.H. . . . Stretch your dollars in Europe by booking with luxury tour operator Tauck World Discovery . . . and more.

The souring economy is making it harder for golf fund-raisers to succeed.

Italy's Valle d'Aosta region is known among wine lovers mainly for small-production wines. But in recent years it has begun producing unusual new wines from grape varietals that have been saved from extinction.

Rum was the drink of choice for Gen. Washington and his troops. And these days there are no shortage of choices. Eric Felten samples an array of rum of the white variety and offers a recipe for Ti Punch.

In "Palace Council," Stephen L. Carter imagines a vast conspiracy aimed directly at the White House and underwritten by a wealthy cabal. Here, he discusses making racial points subtly and what he's learned about the book business.

Anne-Imelda M. Radice on raising museum and library awareness about the need for preservation.

Stars and business titans prize master tailor Romualdo Pelle, but his breed of pros is vanishing.

Brian Storm, president of MediaStorm, is trying to breath new life into the field of photojournalism.

Author Dinaw Mengestu writes about how the City of Lights's expat community has changed since the 1950s. Photos

With "Rome 1960," David Maraniss creates an appealing account of the 1960 Summer Olympics' competition and of the behind-the-scenes machinations. But despite the book's subtitle, "The Olympics That Changed the World," he does not exert himself to try to prove that large claim. Excerpt

Adidas and Nike are rolling out new designs for the Beijing Olympics in an effort to showcase their footwear technology and generate brand buzz -- even if they don't end up selling many archery or weight-lifting shoes.

Sixty years ago this summer, a cadre of arrangers and players worked in a basement apartment behind a Chinese restaurant. The result would later be tagged "the birth of the cool." The combo led by Miles Davis, with roots in the big band of Claude Thornhill, created a subtle type of jazz, awash in gorgeous chords.