In 1888, Vincent van Gogh exchanged the electric nightlife of Paris for the tranquility of the French countryside. There, in Arles, the Dutch artist flourished creatively, even as his mental health declined. He created 200 paintings and over 100 drawings inspired by the idyllic landscape, local people, and charming towns. Among the many iconic works that emerged from this year in Arles was the masterpiece, Café Terrace at Night.

Completed in September 1888, this blue-and-yellow canvas depicts a snapshot of a street in Arles, situated by the Place du Forum and the rue de Palais. At an unknown late hour, people are huddled at the outdoor terrace of a local cafe as folks walk by on the street. Nestled between the two rows of buildings is a glimpse of a vibrant starry sky, reminiscent of Van Gogh's other famous work, The Starry Night. Like the rest of the Post-Impressionist's oeuvre, the Café Terrace at Night was underappreciated during Van Gogh's lifetime. Today, however, it is recognized as one of the artist's most significant works.

Scroll down to learn 10 interesting facts about Café Terrace at Night.

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While many of the sights from famous paintings can no longer be found, the café from Van Gogh's painting not only still exists, but is still operating as well. Renamed Café Van Gogh in the artist's honor, this destination restaurant was restored in the 1990s to resemble its appearance in the famous painting.



https://mymodernmet.com/vincent-van-gogh-cafe-terrace-at-night-facts/

The U.S.S. Intrepid is an amazing symbol of resilience. Under attack at Pearl Harbor, it endured. It stands for the sacrifice of our armed forces and our nation’s power to recover from tragedy. We still need that spirit today, and I honor the sacrifices that made it possible.

Exclusive: We’ve just obtained this image from today’s NRA convention of the items banned from entry. The list includes firearms, toy guns, selfie sticks and backpacks such as the ones kids wear to school.

Meghan Markle Visited Uvalde To Donate Food To Volunteers And Pay Tribute To The School Shooting Victims

"I had no idea who she was. She just was carrying on a conversation like her and I knew each other for years," a community center volunteer who spoke to the Duchess of Sussex told BuzzFeed News.



UVALDE, Texas — Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, on Thursday visited Uvalde, Texas, where she donated food at a community center hosting a blood drive and laid flowers at a memorial for the victims of the elementary school shooting that killed 21 people, including 19 children.

BuzzFeed News spoke with volunteers at the Herby Ham Activity Center who accepted the duchess's donations. Photographers captured images of Meghan at the memorial site.

According to blood drive volunteers, Meghan, wearing a baseball cap and a black mask, quietly dropped by the community center's kitchen to drop off two "large" crates filled with sandwiches, beverages, and desserts for blood donors.

"I had no idea who she was. She just was carrying on a conversation like her and I knew each other for years," volunteer Gloria Contreras, 40, told BuzzFeed News. "We were just talking about, you know, the situation and what happened what we were doing here. I told her about us giving out water to the people and feeding them."

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kadiagoba/meghan-markle-uvalde-texas-school-shooting-memorial-blood

Victor Hugo's tragic yet beautifully spun story Les Misérables is considered to be one of the greatest novels in literature. However, this complex tale is equally beloved for its musical version—lovingly known as Les Mis—which has been running in London since 1985. While there are many standout songs in the adaptation's lineup, “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” might be the most emotional. Even so, a 13-year-old from Lancashire stepped up to the plate and performed a stunning rendition of the solo that has gone viral.

The talented youth, named Cormac Thompson, released a video of himself singing the iconic piece to help raise money for a charity called Acting for Others, which provides financial and emotional support to theater workers in need. In the video, we see the British chorister vocalizing into a microphone, his melodic voice gliding into high notes with ease as a gentle piano accompanies the lyrics. Interspersed in the short film are haunting clips of coffins, solitary figures, and scenes of medical staff, all of which allude to the traumas brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The song “Empty Chairs and Empty Tables” occurs towards the end of Les Mis and is performed by the young character, Marius, who is mourning the death of the many people killed at the barricade. For this reason, the somber undertones of the solo match the grim portrait of the previous two years. Thompson was only 11 when he had to endure the pandemic lockdowns, during which time he released his first famous video of a rendition of “Danny Boy,” which was intended for his grandparents in Ireland.

https://mymodernmet.com/13-year-old-sings-empty-chairs-at-empty-tables-les-miserables/

There's a grief that can't be spoken
There's a pain goes on and on
Empty chairs at empty tables
Now my friends are dead and gone