Culture & Customs

In these difficult times, let’s celebrate life. Specifically, five Russians (from a diplomat to an conductor to an activist) who happen to share today, June 4, as their birthday.

If you think American high school graduations have fanfare, wait till you see what Russians in St. Petersburg do.

A swimming pool for the disabled is set to be built in an unorthodox location.

The life of Rasputin's daughter, Maria, was full of twists and turns almost as dramatic as her father's, and took her deep into the American heartland.

A lovely short film on Brighton Beach's Your Highness Babushka Beauty Contest.

This week arts and crafts flourish under quarantine; a heatwave hits an unlikely place, and coronavirus fashion hits a new high (or low?).

“On the day of his 80th birthday, Brodsky returned to Pestel Street—he is looking directly at his balcony in the house where he lived, those same one and a half rooms from where he left forever. But poets always return.”

– Creators of a large graffiti display depicting the poet Joseph Brodsky

Quarantine is hard on the mind, soul, and waistline.

One of Russia’s beloved comedians wrote a song about quarantine, and performed it in an unusual manner.

This week: soccer games return, cultural events go online, and an 11-year-old girl makes us all look like pansies.

A new report finds that, for the first time, Russians are drinking more coffee than tea.

This week: Putin cracks down on smartphones, some things go online that probably shouldn't, and new coronavirus advice seeks to preserve the peace (and health).