It wasn’t all bad
■ American and Italian archaeologists have unearthed a 5,000-yearold tavern in southern Iraq. Scientists suspect that the site, in the fertile region between the Tigris and Euphrates, was once a public eatery that featured open-air seating, an oven, and a primitive refrigerator—a jar placed within a larger one to preserve beverages. Project director Holly Pittman says the ancient Sumerians preferred beer to water—a preference underlined by the primitive beer recipe found on a cuneiform tablet at a nearby temple.
■ This February, Randy Carlson found himself looking for the perfect wave in what might seem like the unlikeliest of spots: Lake Superior, near Duluth, Minn. In fact, Carlson is part of a community of surfers who flock to isolated havens along the Great Lakes, including Duluth, Minn., Grand Haven, Mich., and Sheboygan,Wis.—the “Malibu of the Midwest.” Carlson teaches surfing in Duluth, and he’s not alone. Australian transplant Sam Macsai runs a surf school not far away in Ontario.The draw: big waves, including a 2017 monster that reached 28.8 feet.The downside:The best surfing comes in a blizzard. “A day like this would horrify my students,” Carlson admits.
■ While attending Bowling Green State University, Craig Caswell fell in love with college basketball and set off on a quest to see every Division I team play. Along the way, Caswell and his then-girlfriend, Jaclyn Meyer, explored each team’s campus and dined at local restaurants. Twenty-one years and 442 games later, the Ohioan has achieved his goal: Last month, he attended an American University game in Washington, D.C., completing his checklist of 364 teams with Meyer by his side. Caswell promised he’ll stick with hoops. “This feels more like a milestone than a conclusion,” he said.