Surgeon lost sight and became a sculptor
Dr. Matthew Kessler was working as a dental surgeon and teaching at two D.C.-area universities when he noticed changes in his vision. “It came on pretty quickly,” Kessler, now 88, said. “It looked like someone put Vaseline on everything.” Diagnosed with macular degeneration about 25 years ago, which blurred his central vision, Kessler had no choice but to retire. Although... READ MORE
Musical tells story of jazz, R&B pioneer
In the 1940s, an Arkansas woman with an electric guitar began playing gospel music in night clubs, and music has never been the same. Shout, Sister, Shout!, now playing at the historic Ford’s Theatre, is a unique and meaningful musical about her life. Written by Cheryl L. West and based on a biography by Gayle F. Wald, it is the story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915-1973), an... READ MORE
A nod to my late penny-pinching friend
Which regular human activity reveals the inner truth about a person? Some would say driving, which can uncover hostility and entitledness in surprising amounts. Some would say the telephone, which can unmask just how friendly — or unfriendly — you really are. But my vote goes to the grocery store, in memory of a friend who died a couple of months ago. He was in his late... READ MORE
Teaching brings joy to poet, art instructor
“When I teach poetry, I get more energy after the class than when I began. It’s the opposite of being drained — it’s being hydrated,” said Maryland Poet Laureate Grace Cavalieri. At age 91, Cavalieri is passionate about teaching poetry to students at different universities and schools across the country. “Younger generations are where the energy is,” she said. Cavalieri ... READ MORE
Movies remembered on the printed page
The Bibliophile The 95th Academy Awards will be presented March 12. Not up to speed on new releases? You may prefer a stroll down memory lane. These books add context to your favorites of years gone by. Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli: The Epic Story of the Making of the Godfather, by Mark Seal, 448 pages, Gallery Books hardcover, 2021 Journalist Mark Seal has penned a rollicking and ... READ MORE
Shakespearean spoof amuses at Toby’s
The musical Something Rotten, currently running at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, is both thoroughly Shakespearean and completely modern. In the tradition of Cole Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate, this madcap 2016 Broadway musical pulls names and characters from the Bard’s most famous works and turns them on their head in very amusing ways. For example, Nick Bottom, the blustering anti-hero from... READ MORE
Festival encourages writers of all stripes
“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it,” Toni Morrison, the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, said in a 1981 speech. This may well be true for how CityLit Festival, Baltimore’s annual celebration of literary arts now in its 20th year, came to be. “Honestly, it was a grassroots kind of... READ MORE
Books about the residence of presidents
The Bibliophile Learn more about the White House, also known as the Executive Mansion, in these three books. Although John Adams was the first president to live in the White House, it was George Washington who selected the site and was instrumental in planning and building the home of all his successors. The White House: An Historic Guide, by the White House Historical... READ MORE
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
Arts 2024
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