Growing up middle-class leaves invisible marks on how we behave at restaurants—from anxiously calculating exact tip ...

Nice restaurants bring out subtle habits people don’t always notice in themselves. Servers clock these behaviors quickly because they repeat under social pressure.

This article follows the Direct Message methodology, designed to cut through the noise and reveal the deeper truths behind the stories we live. We’ve all been there at least once: You’re invited to a ...

The tang and feel of the American experience: class, culture, and consumption -- Terrapin a la Maryland: the era of the aristocratic restaurant -- Playing at make believe: the failure of imitation -- ...

While the average middle-class income has increased slightly over the past decade, a great deal of their expenses, from healthcare to groceries, rent, and transportation, have become more expensive ...

The concept of being middle class in America has shifted dramatically. What used to guarantee a comfortable lifestyle now barely covers basic expenses in many areas. With rising costs, changing ...

The restaurant business in D.C. took a huge hit in 2025, seeing a record number of restaurant closures with over 90 ...