Alina Simone

A story on Russian immigrants in Hawaii prompts a reader’s tale

February 5, 2015Culture

Reporter Alina Simone’s story on Russian immigrants in Hawaii caught the eye of one of our readers, who recognized her great-grandmother in one of the photos.

The founder of Torah Animal World in Borough Park, Brooklyn, says the museum gets 3,000 visitors a week.

This museum is devoted only to animals mentioned in the Bible

February 5, 2015Belief

At Meow Parlour in New York, you can hang out with cats while you drink your coffee. But you have to make a reservation.

At New York’s cat café, you can drink coffee and commune with cats — as long as you have a reservation

January 16, 2015Culture

A tense moment during a game of "Mafia" in Kiev, Ukraine.

Entrepreneurs around the world love this Soviet-era storytelling game

December 4, 2014Culture

Music heard on the air for August 19, 2014

August 19, 2014Music Heard on Air

In search of the perfect email sign-off

April 1, 2014Arts, Culture & Media

Are you mildly dissatisfied with your choice of sign-off, whether it’s “Best,””Cheers” or “XO”? Help is on the way.

In search of the perfect email sign-off

April 1, 2014Arts, Culture & Media

Are you mildly dissatisfied with your choice of sign-off, whether it’s “Best,””Cheers” or “XO”? Help is on the way.

Music heard on the air for March 21, 2014

March 21, 2014Music Heard on Air

These are the tunes played between segments on The World for March 21, 2014.
These are the tunes played between segments on The World for March 21, 2014.

Are you Ukrainian or Russian? It’s complicated…

March 3, 2014Lifestyle & Belief

Russian-speaking, Ukrainian-born writer Alina Simone says no map can really depict the mixed ethnicities and identities that many Ukrainians have.

Alina Simone's Russian grandmother. When congratulated on becoming 90, she declared that she was disappointed that she was still alive.

Do you answer ‘How are you?’ the American or the Russian way?

February 27, 2014Arts, Culture & Media

Alina Simone’s Russian family and American friends aren’t on the same page — not even close — when it comes to responding to this simple question.