Since Memorial Day weekend (May 23-25) is the unofficial start of summer vacation, here’s a checklist to get you ready for summer: 1. Watch summer vacation movies. I must say that my favorite is Mr. Hulot’s Holiday (Les Vacances de M. Hulot), a 1953 French movie from Jacques Tati which was nominated for the Grand [...]

O, the month of May, the merry month of May, So frolic, so gay, and so green, so green, so green! In France May 1 is Labor Day (la Fête du Travail) and it is customary to exchange lilies of the valley for good luck. This tradition goes all the way back to the French king [...]