Episode #40: The Art of Hooking Up: Great Courtesans of 19th Century Paris

A look into the public and private worlds of the 19th-century Parisian courtesan and an exploration of three of the century’s most famous.  They were beautiful, elegant style makers. They were also savvy, shrewd businesswomen who, in one way or another, practiced the world’s oldest profession. They were the courtesans of 19th-century Paris. In this show we take a look… Continue reading Episode #40: The Art of Hooking Up: Great Courtesans of 19th Century Paris

Episode #31: Christmas in Old New York and a Chat with Charles Dickens

A special festive double episode tracing the history of Christmas and holiday celebrations over 19th-century New York City history and a very special look at Charles Dicken’s beloved A Christmas Carol.  Christmas and the holiday season is always extra special in New York City. From all the lights and the traditional treats of the Radio City… Continue reading Episode #31: Christmas in Old New York and a Chat with Charles Dickens

Episode #24: Where Thrushes Sing and Dreams are Dreamt: The Gardens of Beatrix Farrand

Beatrix Farrand, Edith Wharton’s niece, was born during New York’s Gilded Age and went on to become the first successful female landscape designer of the early 20th century. Her path was not easy since any career for a woman held challenges at the time and landscape design was at that point a men’s domain. But… Continue reading Episode #24: Where Thrushes Sing and Dreams are Dreamt: The Gardens of Beatrix Farrand

Episode #19: Stealing a Smile: The Theft of the Mona Lisa, Paris 1911

La Joconde "Mona Lisa", Leonardo Da Vinci

The enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa has captured the attention of the public for centuries. But even today, few people actually realize that on a warm summer morning in Paris in 1911, the Mona Lisa was also stolen. The theft captured the attention of the world and made this masterwork of DaVinci’s quite simply… Continue reading Episode #19: Stealing a Smile: The Theft of the Mona Lisa, Paris 1911

Episode #15: Castle Howard to Highclere: Treasures of the English Country House

Highclere Castle Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

For fans of the great period television and film dramas Downton Abbey and Brideshead Revisited among many others, one of the great pleasures is seeing the grand, sumptuous, imposing interiors of some of England’s greatest homes used as stage sets in the drama.  This week’s episode features Nick Dawes, master specialist and appraiser seen regularly on “Antiques… Continue reading Episode #15: Castle Howard to Highclere: Treasures of the English Country House

Episode #5: To Catch a Prince: The Story of Alice Heine, Monaco’s First American Princess

Grace Kelly captured the attention of the world when she married Prince Rainier III and became Princess of Monaco in 1956. Few people realize that she wasn’t the first American-born princess to hold the title. Travel back to the Belle Epoque and discover the story of a New Orleans beauty who captured the heart of a… Continue reading Episode #5: To Catch a Prince: The Story of Alice Heine, Monaco’s First American Princess