MARCH 10, 1999

Full News Archive

• Headline: Olga's Garden: A Community Legacy. Impact: Olga's Garden became a symbol of community spirit, inspiring future generations to plant more than just flowers—like ideas about urban gardening that might have led to the avocado toast craze years later. Thanks, Olga!. Fact: Imagine if every civic-minded individual had the foresight of Olga; we might have a garden on every corner instead of another Starbucks..
• Headline: Tobacco Litigation and Its Legal Impact. Impact: The rise of tobacco-busting lawyers led to a dramatic overhauling of the legal landscape, eventually creating the litigious culture we know today, where everyone sues everyone over everything—including that one time you borrowed a pen.. Fact: These lawyers may have paved the way for the most dramatic courtroom moments since 'The People vs. O.J. Simpson'—watch out, Hollywood!.
• Headline: Senate's New Hand on the Military. Impact: Sen John W. Warner's ascendance to the Senate Armed Services Committee heralded a new era of military leadership that might have inspired future politicians to dress like they just stepped off a WWII battlefield. Veterans in suits? So chic!. Fact: Warner's age made him a literal living history book; too bad he couldn't sell autographs at a markup..
• Headline: N.E.A. Couldn't Tell a Book by Its Cover. Impact: The cancellation of the grant for 'The Story of Color' by the N.E.A. sparked a movement toward more diverse storytelling in literature, eventually leading to the wide array of children's books that now graces the shelves—thank you, guerrilla artistry!. Fact: Subcomandante Marcos may have unintentionally started a revolution in children's literature; who knew political insurgency could lead to better bedtime stories?.
• Headline: Enticing Flavors From the Italian Mediterranean. Impact: The Italian restaurant review opened the floodgates for a wave of culinary exploration, leading to the eventual rise of food bloggers who think they know better than Michelin-star chefs.. Fact: If you think a $25 meal is a steal, just remember that the real cost is in your Instagram feed later..
• Headline: A Fish Puts Chefs in a Quandary. Impact: The escolar fish dilemma became the ultimate cautionary tale for chefs, leading to a whole new genre of restaurant warnings—and the birth of the 'I can't eat that' excuse at dinner parties.. Fact: Who knew that ordering fish could lead to a life-changing experience? Just hope nobody orders the escolar when you're around..
• Headline: Where History Is Always on the Menu. Impact: Ruth Reichl reviewing Bayard's helped solidify the restaurant's reputation, which eventually made it a must-visit spot for anyone claiming to be a foodie—because if it's not reviewed by Reichl, did it even exist?. Fact: Dining at a fancy restaurant was basically the 90s version of flexing on social media; now, we're just one Yelp review away from infamy..