New group helps people find their encore
In the Hawthorne Pool in Columbia a couple of years ago, a middle-aged man was telling a friend that he had retired from his pharmacist career and was looking for a meaningful way to stay engaged. The woman with whom he spoke said she was an activities director at an assistance living facility in Columbia and suggested he volunteer at the site, perhaps to ensure residents that their... READ MORE
Enjoy early bird and happy hour deals
On a sweltering Saturday evening, I step into City Café in Mount Vernon for a cold drink and nice meal. With a spacious, earth-toned interior and tall windows, the eatery has an ambience both laid-back and upscale. Quiet acoustic music plays in the background as a group of adults in business attire chat at one table. An older couple sits at a table for two near the window, enjoying a... READ MORE
A classic rock band’s wit and wisdom
As the drummer for a classic rock band called Wasted Gravity, Ron Appel is considered the bedrock and rhythmic heartbeat for the Baltimore area band. Composed almost entirely of Boomers, the band’s eldest member is Appel, 76. Age aside, the fellas and one lone female member continue to rock to the music of their youth — music appreciated by their burgeoning fan base. Wasted... READ MORE
Virginia Rep taps into 50s nostalgia
If the daily news or the daily grind gets you down, head to Virginia Repertory Theater and enjoy their production of Forever Plaid, a musical revue by Stuart Ross. You’re in for lots of laughs sandwiched among a tight harmony-line’s rendition of songs popular in the 1950s and 60s, ranging from “Three Coins in a Fountain” and “Lady of Spain” to “Chain Gang” and “Sixteen... READ MORE
Daylilies give many years of pleasure
What looks pretty all summer but blooms for just one day? The answer: the daylily. While each bloom lasts only one day, the plant develops numerous buds for a succession of blooms. Some varieties bloom in late summer, others rebloom, while still other varieties bloom over a long period. The daylily is hearty enough to withstand our heat and humidity and, unless you have problem... READ MORE
Retirement: It’s all in how you look at it
Once upon a time, retirement was about gold watches, golf and trundling off into the sunset. You served your time. Now you can kick back and do everything your way, on your schedule. No more awful bosses. No more commuting. Just endless smiles and jelly doughnuts, all day, every day. Of course, the reality of retirement is a lot more complicated, and always has been. If health... READ MORE
Books in translation widen our horizons
The Bibliophile The translators of these works of fiction and nonfiction have made foreign authors and their perspectives accessible to us. The Coronation: A Fandorin Mystery, by Boris Akunin, translation by Andrew Bromfield, 362 pages, First Grove Atlantic hardcover, 2019 Andrew Bromfield, a British literary editor who has translated numerous Russian authors, explains that his... READ MORE
It’s never too late to pursue lost passions
Think back to your school or college days, when you may have enjoyed playing a musical instrument, acting in plays, or simply were engrossed in a subject that particularly enticed you. It may even have been your major in college. If that love, or that major, didn’t translate into a paying job or career, you might have let it go for years or even decades. But if that interest lingers,... READ MORE
