DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a number of friends I regularly meet for meals out, as well as for friends’ birthdays. We’ve been friends for going on 40 years and first began socializing after ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: For my 40th birthday, my sister planned a bowling party. She is very organized, and pre-entered the names of all 12 guests into the lanes (two lanes, six people at each).

What the Pet Shop Boys’ Secret Service song means now. Guess who dropped by Political Beats to discuss his career with us? Returning to the more compelling storylines help guard the latest ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I loathe dogs, but I live in a dog-lover’s paradise. How can I let neighbors and strangers know that I don’t want to pet their dog or let it sniff me? “I’m allergic ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I will be hosting a family gathering for our kids and grandkids. On top of having many people to feed, there are my (medically dictated) dietary restrictions to ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My cousin invited me for dinner on a Sunday night and asked me to bring wine and a dessert. When I got there, she said it had been a very busy weekend and she hadn’t had time ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a friend who retells the same stories over and over and over again. It’s like he cannot recall telling them to me before, or he just wants to re-experience them himself ...

Dear Miss Manners: My spouse and I frequently host meals for 10 to 20 guests, both personally and professionally. We have a debate over whether to put out spoons for meals when we are not serving ...

Dear Miss Manners: We live in a small beach community. Five years ago, we met a lovely couple who have a vacation home across the street. We are all semiretired. They are both gourmet chefs and ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My children’s school district is the first organization I’ve dealt with in my professional career in which employees routinely ignore their customers. I make an effort to ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: What is the proper way to eat cherries with pits? Cutting them up to remove the pits seems excessive, but just spitting out the pits into a napkin doesn’t seem proper ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I entertained two guests on separate occasions: One was a guest for the weekend, and the other just for ...