Story: Lukas and Vendulka have loved each other since childhood, but his parents wanted him to marry another woman. Years later, wealthy farmer Lukas, now a widower with an infant, renews his affection for Vendulka, even smiling at her at his late wife’s wake.

Story: Charley Wykeham, an undergraduate at Oxford, is in love with Amy Spettigue, niece of the officious Stephen Spettigue. Jack Chesney, Charley’s pal and another Oxford undergraduate, is in love with Spettigue’s ward, KittyVerdun. The young men long to express their feelings to their respective heart-throbs, and use the excuse of a visit by Charley’s aunt, Donna Lucia D’Alvadorez, a wealthy widow in Brazil who plans to see her nephew for the first time, so that Donna Lucia can serve as the young ladies’ chaperone.

Two of our favorite things in the restaurant world are fine cuts of meat and a comfortable, low-key atmosphere to enjoy them in. Citizen Kane's Steak House has plenty of both, as we were reminded on our most recent visit.

The best way to eat heirloom tomatoes is simply to slice and serve them with a little oil and salt. The presentation below does just that. You also can dress them up with a few tapenades.

Story: Louise Seger, a Houston homemaker with a husband and two children, becomes an instant fan of rising young country singer Patsy Cline when she hears the latter perform on The Arthur Godfrey Talent Show on CBS in 1957. She soon pesters the local disk jockey regularly with requests for tunes by Cline. In 1961, when she learns that Cline will be performing at Houston’s Esquire Ballroom, she and her husband and boss arrive 90 minutes early for the concert.

The Baldwin Report

Trend section: Mint Condition

A veteran of the industry, Matthew Monzon has been styling hair for more than 20 years—most of it spent as a freelance artist doing runway, catalog and editorial looks for the likes of Elizabeth Banks, Alicia Keys, Julianna Moore, Kate Winslet and a bevy of other celebrities and brands too numerous to name. We asked the New York stylist how to best tame our tresses for the summer season—and look great while doing it.

From luxurious interiors and lavish landscaping to coveted locations, these multi-million-dollar estates will turn your head. Here, feast your eyes on some of the top local home sales from the past year.

Story: Writer Charles Bukowski (1920-94) lived most of his life in Los Angeles, and derived inspiration for many of his works from the City of Angels. He wrote during the same period as many of the Beat Generation writers, including poet Allen Ginsberg and novelists Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs.

The Date– October 20, 2012

Whether you are looking to relieve aching muscles or simply relax, a massage can provide a sweet escape from the daily grind. Let these tips for what to do before and after a session help you achieve the stress-free experience that will make the most of your massage.

Could there be a more appropriate first date for a pair of dyed-in-the-wool St. Louisans than attending a baseball game and cheering for their beloved Cardinals? Regardless of the score, things certainly turned out well for Caley Barnhart and Jack Lawlor.

The Date— November 3, 2012

Friends and family say that Megan McCarthy Strout and Ryan Emerson Maher were meant to be together—even if their paths often seemed to lead them apart.

When Chris Grimmig fell for Meredith Rull at her field hockey matches, he conspired with her teammates to take her on a date. “I got her number from her teammate and asked her to go to dinner,” he recalls. Luckily for Chris, Meredith said yes right away.