Illuminating Baltimore’s stained glass
When author, anthropologist and human rights activist Linda Rabben moved to northeast Baltimore in 2021, she wanted to get to know her new neighborhood better. On her daily walks, she noticed that many houses had stained glass windows. Rabben, who grew up in Philadelphia and lived for 30 years in Takoma Park, Maryland, became curious. “I really hadn’t paid any attention to them” ... READ MORE
A curmudgeonly defense of using cash
Brunch for the two couples was done. It was time to settle the bill. The male of the other couple plopped down a credit card. This male reached for his wallet and produced a wad of cash. I handed it to him. He treated it like a rare species of poisonous mushroom. “What am I going to do with it?” he asked. “Uh, spend it?” I replied. He gave me a look somewhere between... READ MORE
NASA offers new, free streaming service
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is launching more than just rockets these days. Last month, its new streaming service, NASA+, took off. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, NASA said the ad-free, no-cost and family-friendly streaming service will feature Emmy-award winning live shows and original series. The service “embeds you into our missions through... READ MORE
Books on home design for reading, gifts
The Bibliophile These three books are meant for more than display. They will inspire you with ideas on how to decorate your home in time for the holidays. They make great gifts, too. Inspire: The Art of Living with Nature: 50 Beautiful Projects to Bring the Outside In, by Willow Crossley, 176 pages, CICO Books hardcover, 2023 Create a warm, welcoming festive environment for your home ... READ MORE
‘Ragtime’ sings of tumultuous early 1900s
Travel back in time with Signature Theatre’s outstanding production of Ragtime, superbly directed by Matthew Gardiner. The musical, based on the 1975 novel by E.L. Doctorow, narrates the lives of three different families in the early 1900s and the problems each family faces. One large upper-class family must adapt to the enormous social changes taking place around them. The members of... READ MORE
Miniature trains delight kids of all ages
Thomas the Tank Engine chugs past a tiny Kensington Train Station, curves around a pond and a farm, and finally reaches the Brookside Gardens Conservatory buildings. If you peer into the miniature conservatory’s glass roof, you’ll spot a further miniaturized replica of this same railroad display, the Garden Railway at Brookside. Every winter for more than 20 years, G-gauge model... READ MORE
‘Miracle’ at Toby’s parades holiday spirit
It all started when Robert Biedermann did his regular “warm-up” routine at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, dressed in a sparkling Santa suit with a twinkle in his eye. Who else of Toby’s coterie of actors could better play Kris Kringle in the musical version of Miracle on 34th Street and bring such sincerity and warmth to the role? The show, directed superbly by Shawn Kettering and... READ MORE
Remembering East Baltimore in the 50s
Those who’ve ever lived in a Baltimore row house may remember scrubbing the front steps with a strong brush and brown soap or Ajax until the stone brightened and the white marble gleamed. “There was something about the cleanliness of the vestibule,” author Janet Vanik Divel remembers. “It was pride in ownership, maybe old-fashioned thinking,” but owning a home “was the end ... READ MORE
How to say farewell to a dear friend?
Friends die. No escaping that. Some die suddenly, but many do not. They linger. So does this question: How do you say goodbye to a close friend without being maudlin, and without defeating the friend’s sense of hope? So it has gone over the last few months with a very dear amigo of four decades. He has a form of brain cancer that is usually fatal within two years. He is just... READ MORE
Cookbooks for creativity in the kitchen
The Bibliophile Relax and rest easy this season. Here’s expert advice on preparing your holiday feasts. Delicious Gatherings: Recipes to Celebrate Together, by Tara Bench, 260 pages, Shadow Mountain hardcover, 2022 This cookbook offers 105 recipes for brunch, dinner, cookout and buffet-style meals. Occasions such as Thanksgiving feast, mezze dinner party and Tex Mex fiesta are... READ MORE
