On spoiling the grandchildren — a poll
Three things that are always true: As soon as you wash your car, it will rain. A dog will be your best friend. And grandparents exist to spoil their grandchildren. I’ve long believed the first two. But more and more, the third seems to be undergoing challenge and change. Once upon a time, grandparents were relentless, surreptitious treat providers. If their precious little... READ MORE
Local legend retires from life on the road
Johnny Castle, a Mid-Atlantic music legend, has officially retired from almost 60 years of playing rock ‘n’ roll, bluegrass, country, rockabilly, and pretty much any musical style you can imagine. He has been a member of many bands, including the Nighthawks, the Thrillbillys, Bill Kirchen and Too Much Fun, Tex Rubinowitz and the Bad Boys, Arty Hill and the Long Gone Daddys,... READ MORE
Local writer publishes new Jackie O bio
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis has occupied the mind of local author Oline Eaton since she was 12 years old, the year the former first lady passed away. Some three decades later, Eaton has published Finding Jackie: A Life Reinvented, which looks with compassion and insight into the glorious and tragic life of “Jackie O.” Although many other biographies of Jacqueline Onassis... READ MORE
Should Tom Brady hang up his cleats?
My adult children and I agree on many things, but sports is not one of them. They root for teams. I root for individuals. Asked if I watched the latest big game on TV, I will usually say yes. Then I will launch into a detailed analysis of how my favorite player performed. “But don’t you CARE who wins and loses?,” my son will typically ask. “Not really,” I will reply.... READ MORE
Funny calendars, cartoons and guides
The Bibliophile Resolve to start the new year with a smile. Subpar Parks: America’s Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors, by Amber Share, 224 pages, Plume hardcover, 2021 What could be more entertaining than a humorous guide to the National Parks? Pick your next vacation destination without being overwhelmed with exhaustive... READ MORE
Oz backstory, “Wicked,” is a holiday treat
The crowd-pleasing, Tony Award-winning musical Wicked was first performed on Broadway in 2004. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, it is today among the top 12 longest-running productions on Broadway. Now at the Kennedy Center on a national tour, a recent performance included a number of young adults decked out in sparkling green attire in honor of ... READ MORE
Sherlock Holmes spoof now at Everyman
Believe it or not, not everyone is a fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s creation, Sherlock Holmes. There’s a certain reproach for a man who seems to have all the answers, is ever in command, and whose lifelong companion, Dr. Watson, seems specifically designed to make him look superior. That’s why such a character makes a wonderful target for comedy. Fortunately for theater... READ MORE
Make way for younger folk? No, thank you
She’s 83 years old and still the dynamo she has always been. She works full time. She volunteers for countless causes. She jogs three miles every morning. She’s right there to care for her husband, her grandchildren, her pets, her petunias. She’s what all of us should hope we still are in our ninth decades. Except for her attitude about making way for the next generation. She ... READ MORE
Gift books that take you round the globe
The Bibliophile These lavishly illustrated travel books make great gifts: Go Here Instead: The Alternative Travel List, by DK Eyewitness, 224 pages, DK Eyewitness Travel hardcover, 2022 Choose your itineraries with the input of 40 travel writers, editors and tour guides who can direct you to less crowded sites that replicate the experience of more congested destinations. The... READ MORE
Fairy tales intersect in “Into the Woods”
Into the Woods, playing at Signature Theatre in Arlington and directed and choreographed by Mathew Gardiner, is an excellent production of the Stephen Sondheim musical. Running through January 29, 2023, it brings together four fairy tales: Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Rapunzel and Little Red Riding Hood, intertwining them in clever ways. Act I presents more-or-less traditional... READ MORE
