To most people, the term "opera house" conjures up images of mink-coated dowagers accompanied by tuxedo-clad men in the gilded interiors of opulent buildings like the Met in New York or La Scala in Milan. However, the opera house in the United States has a far more varied-and far more interesting-history than that stereotype implies. In Local Glories, Ann Satterthwaite explores the creative, social, and communal roles of the thousands of opera houses that flourished in small towns across the country.

By 1900, opera houses were everywhere: on second floors over hardware stores, in...

Are healthy whole grains killing us? Find the answer to why grains, especially today's modern wheat is making us sick. Find out how to loose weight effortlessly and maintain an optimum weight. Find out how to regain health through diet and what foods to eat to stay healthy and live longer. Included here are meal plan suggestions and recipes to get you started along with simple advice on how to stay healthy.