Lifestyle

Writer Thoreau warned of brain rot in 1854. Now it's the Oxford Word of 2024
The term brain rot first appeared in Henry David Thoreau's famous “Walden,” according to the Oxford University Press. How did he use it — and what might he have made of its modern meaning?
Deaths from ATV crashes in Minnesota surged in 2024
As of Nov. 5, 30 people have died in ATV crashes on Minnesota roads, ditches and trails in 2024. That number surpasses a previous high of 27 people killed in 2020.
How to be not lonely? 'Cohousing' is an answer for some people
In cohousing communities, neighbors share common spaces, chores and a sense of connection that benefits everyone. For some, it's an answer to the isolation of parenting that many families feel today.
Minnesota businesses that rely on snow hope for better conditions after less-than-ideal winter last year
Unprecedented warmth and record-low precipitation during the 2023-24 winter season left many Minnesota businesses that rely on snow and cold weather struggling to survive. Now those businesses are working to prepare for their upcoming seasons after a less-than-ideal experience last year. 
Thanksgiving recipes from Minnesota’s best culinary minds
For Thanksgiving this year, we asked some of Minnesota’s best culinary minds — many of them regulars on Appetites — to share what they’re thankful for this year and some dishes you can add to your Thanksgiving menu.
Flint corn: the Indigenous staple crop making a comeback
Flint corn — it’s the kind used to make hominy and cornmeal. It’s been a staple for Native communities in Minnesota for centuries but through colonization it’s been removed from Indigenous stewardship and care. Now, it’s making a comeback.
On the hunt for Minnesota‘s best cookie recipes
MPR News host Angela Davis talks about our favorite cookies — from ginger drops to cranberry swirls and almond palmiers — with the founders of the Minnesota Star Tribune cookie contest.
A cancellable feast? When politics sabotage Thanksgiving
With Thanksgiving coming up this week, holiday season is officially underway. But for some, getting together with family and friends feels challenging this year after a divisive election.