Bram Stoker is a legend thanks to his most famous work, Dracula, but there's more to the author than you might have known. The Forgotten Writings of Bram Stoker, a new book that was recently excerpted on The Huffington Post, includes 12 previously unknown published works, three that have never been reprinted, 12 rare writings about Stoker by his contemporaries, and the estate sale catalog of Stoker's personal… Read More >>

I suffer from CLMSS. Chronic Last Minute Shopping Syndrome. Have you heard of it? Perhaps you're familiar.  I've pored over my co-workers posts about gift giving and emerged with an arsenal of awesome tech gifts, quirky presents and foodie finds. But there are still a few people on my list that I haven't crossed off. Late last night, inspiration struck, and I thought "If getting a gift once a… Read More >>

Year-end lists make great gift guides, and I'm partial to the cookbook roundups that feature the year's most delicious reads. So if you're still looking for a few thoughtful presents for family and friends (or yourself), peruse these lists from top food websites. Then all you'll need to do is hit the bookstore (or website)! For the best of the best:Epicurious; TheKitchnThese two must-read lists… Read More >>

As the clock winds down to Christmas, two camps begin to form. There are the people kicking back with a mug of eggnog, who have been done with their Christmas shopping for weeks now. And then there are the procrastinators, who, despite their best intentions, are finding the space under the tree still a bit sparse. If you’re like me and you still… Read More >>

There's more to finding the right wine than choosing a white or a red. But moving past that simple distinction is a challenge for those of us with less experience (though I will stand by two-buck chuck until the end). Now, just in time for New Year parties (or quiet nights home, away from the madness), the sommeliers at Wine Folly have created the ultimate wine infographic, detailing 200… Read More >>

It's time once again to gather around the TV and watch Ralphie Parker and his family overcome bullies, a pack of ravenous dogs, an ancient electrical system, a hideous bunny suit and other hurdles as they celebrate their favorite holiday. To help us all better enjoy our annual wallow in the wacky joys of a 1940s Indiana Christmas, Mental Floss has put… Read More >>

The end of the year is often a time of reflection, with "Best Of" lists seemingly everywhere. Since 2006, the "Black List" has rounded up the most popular movies that weren't—that is, unproduced screenplays that make the rounds in Tinseltown each calendar year but don't get made. Hollywood executives rank the scripts. The 2012 "Black List"has been released, and it's… Read More >>

Want to download a quick, compelling, no-cost read? A free app called Bookslinger treats you to a new short story (fiction) every week on iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch; plus there's a trove of earlier stories. to browse by category (Love & Consequences, Future Fiction & Fantasy; Thrillers, etc.).  The stories are all selected from published collections.  The newest… Read More >>

Remember how the Oxford American Dictionary deemed "GIF" its word of the year? Well, Buzzfeed joined the Graphics Interchange Format craze by compiling "The 40 Greatest Dog GIFs Of All Time." There are diving corgis, a trampolining bulldog, a dog with serious swag, puppies French kissing and more. But don't forget about the cats! Head over here for cat GIFs galore. So how do you make an animated GIF? Gickr.c…lets… Read More >>

My sister texted me a picture of her brunch last weekend—eggs Benedict with tomato and spinach. "Christmas food!" she wrote. And she was right. Somehow, the natural green and red turned the year round dish into something with holiday flair. So I set out to find other foods that are (almost) naturally red and green. (Except for this red and green velvet… Read More >>