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Rachel Lopez

Rachel Lopez is a a writer and editor with the Hindustan Times. She has worked with the Times Group, Time Out and Vogue and has a special interest in city history, culture, etymology and internet and society.

Articles by Rachel Lopez

Refine your palette: How to develop your own interest in art

Don’t let galleries, abstracts and jargon intimidate you. To build your own taste in art, start small, stay with familiar words and build on your experiences bit by bit.

Damien Hirst’s spot paintings may seem simplistic. But consider for a moment why an artist would do it, and how it differs from Yayoyi Kusama’s work, which also features dots.

brunch

Updated on May 05, 2023 08:13 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Listicle: 10 things about dining out that we used to love

From maroon interiors to finger bowls, 10 things we miss from the once-posh restaurants of our childhood

It didn’t matter if the restaurant served Indian or Chinese or both. The faux-leather upholstery was maroon. The shiny table runners were maroon.

brunch

Updated on Apr 28, 2023 11:28 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Here’s how: To get more books and reading into your life

To break free from the constant scroll of memes, start with straightforward writing and pick a subject that already interests you. Keep books visible and swap out other activities for reading. Focus on enjoying books and keeping momentum going. No need to track progress.

Start off by reading what’s already in your comfort zone. Mesmerised by the futuristic details in The Martian? Andy Weir’s novel has even more to unpack.

brunch

Updated on Apr 15, 2023 01:41 AM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Making up the words: Fictitious bands to add to your playlist today

What happens when made-up groups play original tunes, in films and TV series? The fantasy feels more real, and dream records are born. Our pick of the best.

Songs by the fictional band Daisy Jones and The Six, from the show of the same name, have topped real-world Billboard charts

art culture

Updated on Apr 08, 2023 01:43 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Tryna take short-cuts with English? Prolly a good idea

If you’re still hung up on proper grammar and usage, get out of the way. Language is trying to evolve

John Leguizamo, who is hosting The Daily Show, recently joked that he wants to play Gwyneth Paltrow if a show on her ski-accident trial is ever made. Grammarians attacked his English instead of heeding his critique of racism.

brunch

Updated on Apr 08, 2023 12:21 AM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Listicle: 10 of our favourite high-school clichés

They don’t make American high-school clichés like they used to. Here are our most treasured from film and TV

She’s wanted. She’s hot. She’s everything you’re not. Even outside of practice, the cheerleader is always in uniform and a high ponytail.

brunch

Published on Mar 17, 2023 10:52 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Can paper straws save the world? Weighing our green choices

It’s the little paper straw against a planet slowly destroying itself. Do our little switches really add up to big differences for Earth?

Switch to a bamboo toothbrush and wood-stem cotton swabs, by all means. But remember that addressing the climate crisis is more than a consumer choice. (Shutterstock)

brunch

Updated on Mar 11, 2023 01:32 AM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Fanning an old flame: Chef Gaggan Anand on his India dreams

The chef best known for his chart-topping Bangkok restaurant Gaggan is in India for a residency, serving up 25-course meals at ₹50,000 per head. The event is sold out and wait-listed. Does that mean it’s time to finally drop anchor here too, with his first restaurant in India? The diners are ready, but he wonders if the industry is.

‘I’ve conquered my fear of trying new things. I’ve taken my risks with Indian cooking. The Indian restaurant industry, however, is as rigid as when I left it,’ Anand says. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

art culture

Updated on Mar 10, 2023 07:08 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

A timeline for therapy

When should you seek professional help? Any time is a good time, but some milestones call for a helping hand

Grief, anxiety, depression, divorce, abuse, addiction and phobias are difficult. But therapy can help in smaller ways too. (Shutterstock)

brunch

Published on Mar 03, 2023 08:41 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Outdated etiquette? Just don’t give a fork

Good behaviour shows refinement. But some rules are sexist, ageist and classist. Here are the manners you don’t need to mind

Etiquette consultants like Sara Jane Ho (left) believe that good social behaviour puts everyone at ease, but that way of thinking may be outdated. (Netflix)

brunch

Published on Feb 17, 2023 07:38 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Ghosting someone is all right. So get over it, already

You’d best make your peace with it

Must every dalliance end with a long exit interview? Sometimes, it’s better to be quiet than to hurt someone’s feelings. (Shutterstock)

brunch

Updated on Feb 11, 2023 12:02 AM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Hide, don’t bend. Low-rise jeans are back in style

All through 2022, we dismissed them as one-offs, well-intentioned sartorial errors we assumed would be quickly dismissed

We may have dismissed low-waist jeans as one-offs all through 2022, but, to everyone’s horror, the style — tight on the hip, fitted at the crotch — seems here to stay (Stella McCartney)

brunch

Updated on Jan 27, 2023 04:04 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Patty smiths: Check out the latest advances in meatless meat

As manufacturers rush to innovate, mushrooms and seaweed are fast becoming popular. See which other plants and proteins are being used to raise the steaks.

art culture

Updated on Jan 20, 2023 05:51 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Way of all flesh: A look at meat-eating patterns worldwide

Global per capita consumption is growing. Poultry is the most popular form of meat, followed by pork, beef, fish. See which tiny countries eat surprisingly large portions, and where India stands amid it all.

art culture

Updated on Jan 20, 2023 05:47 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Eats shoots and leaves: How green is our diet really?

Around the world, people are cutting back on eating meat, or giving it up entirely. So is vegetarianism winning? We looked at how various countries have fared and found that the numbers vary in unexpected ways, and our diets are not as green as you’d expect.

art culture

Updated on Jan 20, 2023 05:36 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Suite spots: Which hotels from films and TV to waltz into, and which to avoid

White Lotus seems almost as high-risk as the Bates Motel. Expect a break to stretch on and on at the Cherry Tree Inn. See where to check in and where to stay out.

Both seasons of The White Lotus were shot on location, at Four Seasons hotels.

art culture

Updated on Dec 23, 2022 08:43 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Mr Fix-it: Author and influencer Ankur Warikoo on failure,mistakes and making it

He’s known disappointment and fear; changed his mind about what he wants to do; started over at 40. It’s all part of what makes this author and entrepreneur, co-founder of Nearbuy, just the right person to craft life hacks for young India.

art culture

Updated on Dec 17, 2022 01:06 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

For better and for worse: Wedding-night rituals from around the world

Some customs are endearing, others downright abhorrent. See who is harassing grooms, and where karaoke has entered the fray.

art culture

Updated on Dec 10, 2022 10:07 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

A case of monumental errors: Bright hues cover ancient temple art

As temples, some over 800 years old, get makeovers, bright, shiny paint is being used to decorate exteriors. This can damage stone, obscure workmanship and impede archaeological study.

Murals have long adorned the insides of the Meenakshi temple in Madurai. But interior and exterior surfaces are increasingly being given bright coats of enamel paint, risking damage to the stones beneath. (Shutterstock)

art culture

Updated on Dec 03, 2022 07:40 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Summing it up: Manil Suri’s new book looks at the wonder of maths

Stop chasing calculations and correct answers, and math starts to get magical. It can unravel mysteries of the universe and prompt questions about why we’re here, says mathematician Manil Suri. See how his book accounts for it all

In his new book, Suri takes a step back from the Big Bang that created the cosmos, and looks at what came before: mathematics. Not merely the calculations and correct answers, but the larger principles that govern numbers. (Shutterstock)

art culture

Updated on Nov 26, 2022 12:51 AM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Starry knight: Meet the first Indian to use the James Webb Space Telescope

Manoj Puravankara, a researcher of young stars, is focusing JWST’s giant lens on points far back in space and time. How did the universe evolve? Are planets a natural by-product of all stars? What can the answers, whatever they are, tell us about how we came to be?

‘Stars are, in some sense, like human beings. They’re born, they have an active and violent youth, and a staid, sedate middle-age. Then they expand... and die out,’ Puravankara says. (Satish Bate / HT Photo)

art culture

Updated on Nov 07, 2022 03:01 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Stuff of legend: The history of the buffet, via Rachel Lopez

Large spreads have a history going back 2,000 years. The Roman empire, the Sikh langar, Vegas — see how the all-you-can-eat format came about.

art culture

Updated on Nov 04, 2022 03:27 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Parallel tracks: Not-to-be-missed films and shows inspired by reality TV

They use tropes such as backstories, voting rounds, alliances and surprise challenges to tell tales that are witty and unusual. Take a look at how the mockumentary, shockumentary and even animation have been influenced by the genre.

Drawn Together, an animated sitcom parodying a reality drama, premiered in 2004, with loud, crass, smutty stereotypes competing to evict each other from a house.

art culture

Updated on Nov 04, 2022 03:24 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

See plus: Reality shows that are giving the genre a good name

Reality TV has learnt a few lessons in its 30 years. One of them is that audiences don’t always want to see contestants squabble, squirm or scheme to get ahead. Some shows now focus on healthy competition, self-betterment, great ideas, and the occasional stubborn crocodile. Binge on these.

Shows such as Old Enough!, The Great British Bake Off, Fake or Fortune? and Wild Croc Territory focus on new themes such as toddler excursions and art, natural and culinary adventures. They also feature kind contestants, patient judges.

art culture

Updated on Nov 05, 2022 11:59 AM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Reality check: Are you still watching?

Reality TV is now 30 years old. The cameras are still rolling; the participants, as eager to squabble, sob, sweat and squirm. But new shows are reworking old tropes. Judges are more encouraging, competitors more relaxed, formats more informative. Even the cameras feel less intrusive. It’s almost as if being nice is finally being recognised as part of the human condition.

In 30 years, reality programming has expanded from humiliating elimination contests and scheming confessional dramas. They now also focus on niche skills and professions, offer lessons in business, conservation, inclusion, and spotlight life on the fringe. How many of these shows do you recognise?

art culture

Updated on Nov 08, 2022 01:05 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

See where your city has been: An interactive graphic maps Earth’s ancient past

Pick a location and see where it might have been on the globe, and what was around it, as much as 750 million years ago. It’s a whole new way to see the world.

When the first dinosaurs appeared, Mumbai and Delhi were likely coastal regions (above left). By the time the dinosaurs died out, the Indian landmass was on course for its crash into Asia. (dinosaurpictures.org)

art culture

Updated on Oct 29, 2022 04:42 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Retell therapy: Indian literature is flourishing in translation

Telugu thrillers, memoirs in Marathi, epic poems in ancient Prakrit... books from across the country are enjoying a second life in English. Where should you begin? Six translators, including Daisy Rockwell, Jerry Pinto and Poonam Saxena, pick their translated favourites.

art culture

Updated on Oct 18, 2022 02:46 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Sounds of not-so-quiet quitting: The disgruntled ditty

I’ve No More F***s To Give by Thomas Benjamin Wild Esq is all over Instagram. And he’s not the only one. It seems a welcome new genre is emerging: protest poetry for a generation that’s just starting to rage against the machine.

art culture

Updated on Oct 08, 2022 02:09 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

In a Barbie world: Why it’s time to give Ken his due

He’s remained a steady, loyal, supportive boyfriend for more than 60 years. What’s his story? How has it evolved? And what’s the dark twist in the Barbie film due out in 2023?

Ryan Gosling plays Ken in the Greta Gerwig film due out next year. ‘Ken’s got no money, he’s got no job, he’s got no car, he’s got no house. He’s going through some stuff,” the actor says.

art culture

Updated on Oct 08, 2022 01:14 PM IST

ByRachel Lopez

Ink spell: Celebrate Indian tattoos at The Godna Project in Delhi

From indigenous inks and hand poke styes to traditional motifs, the Godna Project in Delhi will bring together indigenous tattoo artists from across India, in an effort to document and discuss India’s inking traditions

Mangla Bai tattooed generations of her Baiga people in distinctive thick designs. The motifs are now a hit with city folks, as are kolams and symbols from central India. (The Godna Project)

art culture

Updated on Oct 01, 2022 12:37 AM IST

ByRachel Lopez

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Rachel Lopez

Rachel Lopez is a a writer and editor with the Hindustan Times. She has worked with the Times Group, Time Out and Vogue and has a special interest in city history, culture, etymology and internet and society.

Don’t let galleries, abstracts and jargon intimidate you. To build your own taste in art, start small, stay with familiar words and build on your experiences bit by bit.

From maroon interiors to finger bowls, 10 things we miss from the once-posh restaurants of our childhood

To break free from the constant scroll of memes, start with straightforward writing and pick a subject that already interests you. Keep books visible and swap out other activities for reading. Focus on enjoying books and keeping momentum going. No need to track progress.

What happens when made-up groups play original tunes, in films and TV series? The fantasy feels more real, and dream records are born. Our pick of the best.

If you’re still hung up on proper grammar and usage, get out of the way. Language is trying to evolve

They don’t make American high-school clichés like they used to. Here are our most treasured from film and TV

It’s the little paper straw against a planet slowly destroying itself. Do our little switches really add up to big differences for Earth?

When should you seek professional help? Any time is a good time, but some milestones call for a helping hand

Good behaviour shows refinement. But some rules are sexist, ageist and classist. Here are the manners you don’t need to mind

You’d best make your peace with it

All through 2022, we dismissed them as one-offs, well-intentioned sartorial errors we assumed would be quickly dismissed

As manufacturers rush to innovate, mushrooms and seaweed are fast becoming popular. See which other plants and proteins are being used to raise the steaks.

Global per capita consumption is growing. Poultry is the most popular form of meat, followed by pork, beef, fish. See which tiny countries eat surprisingly large portions, and where India stands amid it all.

Around the world, people are cutting back on eating meat, or giving it up entirely. So is vegetarianism winning? We looked at how various countries have fared and found that the numbers vary in unexpected ways, and our diets are not as green as you’d expect.

White Lotus seems almost as high-risk as the Bates Motel. Expect a break to stretch on and on at the Cherry Tree Inn. See where to check in and where to stay out.

He’s known disappointment and fear; changed his mind about what he wants to do; started over at 40. It’s all part of what makes this author and entrepreneur, co-founder of Nearbuy, just the right person to craft life hacks for young India.

Some customs are endearing, others downright abhorrent. See who is harassing grooms, and where karaoke has entered the fray.

As temples, some over 800 years old, get makeovers, bright, shiny paint is being used to decorate exteriors. This can damage stone, obscure workmanship and impede archaeological study.

Stop chasing calculations and correct answers, and math starts to get magical. It can unravel mysteries of the universe and prompt questions about why we’re here, says mathematician Manil Suri. See how his book accounts for it all

Manoj Puravankara, a researcher of young stars, is focusing JWST’s giant lens on points far back in space and time. How did the universe evolve? Are planets a natural by-product of all stars? What can the answers, whatever they are, tell us about how we came to be?

Large spreads have a history going back 2,000 years. The Roman empire, the Sikh langar, Vegas — see how the all-you-can-eat format came about.

They use tropes such as backstories, voting rounds, alliances and surprise challenges to tell tales that are witty and unusual. Take a look at how the mockumentary, shockumentary and even animation have been influenced by the genre.

Reality TV has learnt a few lessons in its 30 years. One of them is that audiences don’t always want to see contestants squabble, squirm or scheme to get ahead. Some shows now focus on healthy competition, self-betterment, great ideas, and the occasional stubborn crocodile. Binge on these.

Pick a location and see where it might have been on the globe, and what was around it, as much as 750 million years ago. It’s a whole new way to see the world.

Telugu thrillers, memoirs in Marathi, epic poems in ancient Prakrit... books from across the country are enjoying a second life in English. Where should you begin? Six translators, including Daisy Rockwell, Jerry Pinto and Poonam Saxena, pick their translated favourites.

I’ve No More F***s To Give by Thomas Benjamin Wild Esq is all over Instagram. And he’s not the only one. It seems a welcome new genre is emerging: protest poetry for a generation that’s just starting to rage against the machine.

He’s remained a steady, loyal, supportive boyfriend for more than 60 years. What’s his story? How has it evolved? And what’s the dark twist in the Barbie film due out in 2023?

From indigenous inks and hand poke styes to traditional motifs, the Godna Project in Delhi will bring together indigenous tattoo artists from across India, in an effort to document and discuss India’s inking traditions

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