Welcome!

Here, just as in T.S. Eliot’s “Waste Land,” you’ll find remnants of our great and priceless Western tradition, carefully preserved. Wonder, curiosity, contemplation, and creativity thrive here. From classic films to classic texts, I’ll show you how to glean wisdom from the greatest treasures of our civilization.

I’m Ava Helms, a proud graduate of Hillsdale College and an “old soul.” I’m here to prove that tradition need not be behind the times, but the very restorative our times need. Subscribe if you’d like to discover why!

P.S. My Substack name (i.e. “Sophisticated Lady”) comes from a favorite song composed by the brilliant Duke Ellington and sung by the talented Ella Fitzgerald (who has to be one of the greatest singers our country has ever known).