Good hospitality doesn't have to be complicated, and sometimes the best moments happen when nobody planned them at all. Kat Hong shares some wonderfully down-to-earth wisdom about welcoming people into your home, while Heather Wake brings us a crowd of concertgoers creating a little magic together. We're also uncovering the surprising purposes of familiar things you've probably never given a second thought.
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‘She never called it hosting’: Midwest mom goes viral for teaching Gen Z to throw better parties | ||
“Can she… Run my life? Please. Thanks.” | ||
By Kat Hong | ||
Here’s a strange sentence: Gen Z is throwing more dinner parties than any generation in history. | ||
What? | ||
Yes, Gen Z. The generation we all picture glued to their screens, who we assumed had given up on getting together. Turns out, they are the most enthusiastic group of hosts we’ve ever seen. They’re swapping pricey nights out for fun themed dinners, potluck spreads, and cozy nights in with their friends. The dinner party, once a symbol of stuffy adulthood, is officially back on the menu. For a generation that’s battling loneliness on a historic scale, yes, it really is that serious. Dinner parties have become a lifeline. | ||
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Thousands of concertgoers in Poland spontaneously sing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and it’s flawless | ||
You can’t not sing this song. | ||
By Heather Wake | ||
The music of Queen has a profound visceral effect on so many people. Few pieces of art can cause complete strangers to put aside their differences and come together in song, but by golly, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is one of them. It would be cheesy if it weren’t so absolutely beautiful. | ||
This holds true even in countries where English isn’t the first language, it appears. At Harry Styles’ July 2, 2023 concert in Warsaw, Poland, thousands of concertgoers began cheering as those iconic beginning piano notes penetrated the air. | ||
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An Upworthiest Poll
What's the secret to a great party?
Yesterday’s Results
In yesterday's issue, we shared a hairstylist who helped solve an ancient Roman mystery.
And we asked: What was a Roman 'vomitorium' actually used for? Just 19.4% knew the answer: moving crowds through venues. Nearly half pictured a decidedly less dignified use. Those Romans really did know how to give an exit a terrible name.
Disposing of leftover food (48.3%)
Public bathing (16.3%)
Moving crowds through venues 🏆 (19.4%)
Storing wine (16.0%)
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Close-up of a calculator (left); a person putting toast into a toaster (right) | ||
8 things people have used their whole lives without knowing what they actually do | ||
Finally, the C and CE buttons on a calculator make sense | ||
By Evan Porter | ||
There’s a famous quote from Parks and Rec where lovable goofball Andy Dwyer says, “I don’t know who Al Gore is and, at this point, I’m too afraid to ask.” | ||
The quote has become legendary and the subject of endless memes because it’s so relatable. If we’re being honest, we deal with a lot of things in our daily lives that we don’t really understand, but we roll with it and pretend. Because, in the immortal words of Andy Dwyer, we assume everyone else knows, and asking would just make us look dumb. | ||
Here are a few of those everyday mysteries, clarified without shame. | ||
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