A solution to the older driver conundrum
He was an 80-year-old behind the wheel of an SUV. In March, he became the centerpiece of a major disaster — and a major controversy. The driver lost control of his vehicle on a sunny weekday. He smashed into diners having lunch outside the Parthenon Restaurant in Northwest Washington. Two diners were killed and nine others were seriously injured. No one has fully explained how the... READ MORE
Spice up your edible garden with a theme
During the pandemic, about 15 million people became new gardeners, and research shows that the majority of them are growing or plan to grow edible plants. Always grow the herbs and vegetables that you and your family enjoy. May is a good month to get many of those plants in the ground. Whether you’re new to gardening or a seasoned grower, mix it up by selecting a theme for this... READ MORE
Places for you to cut the rug your way
When people think of dancing, they may think of twirling around a ballroom with a partner. Sure, there are wonderful dances like the waltz, the Texas two-step, foxtrot, salsa, tango and rhumba. There is West Coast swing and shag, too, and they are all wonderful. But freestyle dancing allows you to express yourself in a personal way. With freestyle dance, there is no wrong way, no steps... READ MORE
Poetry to read and contemplate at leisure
The Bibliophile Poets are challenged to condense thoughts — often moving and profound — into fewer words than a full-length book. The imaginative reader fills in the rest. The Light on Sifnos, by Barbara Quick, 34 pages, Blue Light Press paperback, 2021 How many of us can retain the inner musings that travel evokes and transform them into elegant verse? Join Barbara Quick on a... READ MORE
Chorus of singers 55+ celebrates 15 years
This month, Encore Creativity for Older Adults, the largest choral organization for Americans over 55, celebrates its 15th anniversary and honors its founder Jeanne Kelly on her retirement. The group will host a gala in Washington, D.C. on May 13, and a pay-what-you-can concert at Strathmore Music Center in N. Bethesda, Md. the following day. Kelly created Encore in 2007 after having... READ MORE
Ford’s musical ‘Grace’ is food for thought
What are the most important foods in your family? Are they the ones your grandmother made, the link to past generations or a world they left behind? In my family, Yorkshire Pudding, a savory popover, declares, “This is a holiday; here is our family,” connecting us with our mostly forgotten English forebears. In some communities, however, food, like other parts of culture, carries... READ MORE
‘Rocky the Musical’ packs a punch at Toby’s
Earlier this year, Toby Orenstein, owner of Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, was walking to the corner bakery when she happened to notice a new gym, Title Boxing Club. The gym reminded her of Rocky, the famous 1976 boxing film and subsequent 2014 musical, which coincidentally had just been licensed globally. Excitedly, Orenstein called her colleague, executive producer Mark Minnick.... READ MORE
TV series on Baltimore’s crooked cops
The Baltimore police are on the move, invading the home of a known drug dealer, pushing the woman of the house aside, laying out the dealer, finding his mountains of cash and tossing the packs of money to each other — for their own keeping. That’s in the opening TV chapter of “We Own This City,” the new HBO series about crooked cops in Baltimore in and around the year 2015. The... READ MORE
The truth behind gardening proverbs
Many gardeners rely on a proverb, an almanac or their grandmothers for gardening advice, while Master Gardeners are trained to convey information that is research-based. Here are a few adages with a little bit of scientific discussion to clarify the level of their validity: April showers bring May flowers This saying can be traced back to English poet Thomas Tusser, who wrote in the... READ MORE
In praise of politically active older voters
Political season is heating up, both locally and nationally. As usual, older Americans are front and center. The reasons are tried and true. We vote, and we give money. Younger people might do the first, and sometimes do the second. But so often, they are too busy and too cash-strapped to lean into campaigns the way their elders do. So, we oldies-but-goodies will soon see and hear... READ MORE
