The play’s still the thing for over 20 years
In this season of discontent, the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company offers solace in the beauty and drama of theater. From its modest beginnings 20 years ago, the company is now among the 15 largest Shakespeare theater companies in the country. Its repertoire has expanded beyond the Bard to feature more modern classics. In fact, its new season opened in February with the company premiere ... READ MORE
When, where and how to prune plants
Master Gardeners often get questions about how and when to prune correctly — and we also get questions about how to “fix” shrubs when pruning has gone wrong. The first piece of advice is to reduce the need for pruning by selecting the right plant for the right place, including the appropriate cultivar. For example, crape myrtles range from ‘Natchez,’ which grows 30 feet... READ MORE
Watch Bob Levey carbon date himself
By now, we graybeards should have stopped declaring that the good old days were always good. Our grandchildren are our reality check. “Oh, so you thought TV with rabbit ears was so great, Grandpa? Well, now we have 1,000 channels on cable.” “Oh, so you thought a cross-country train was a big deal, Grandma? Now we can make that trip in five hours.” As for rotary-dial... READ MORE
Teacher helps others with their memoirs
It’s difficult for anyone to put the hard truths of their life on paper. But Valley Haggard, a Richmond writer, teacher and mentor to many, seems to have found the formula. In her “Life in Ten Minutes” class sessions, Haggard teaches writers and non-writers how to share their innermost secrets — from their traumatic experiences to their greatest joys. “When you tell your... READ MORE
New insights about George Washington
The Bibliophile Our first president remains the focus of research by historians 290 years after his birth. These books by older authors shed light on fascinating aspects of his multifaceted life. First and Always: A New Portrait of George Washington, by Peter R. Henriques, 240 pages, University of Virginia Press hardcover, 2021 Historian Peter Henriques has spent a distinguished... READ MORE
Legendary music hall still going strong
An estimated three million or more fans have flocked to Alexandria’s Birchmere over the last 56 years to see and hear artists like Ray Charles and Joan Baez, bluegrass stars like Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash, and lesser-known performers like Mousey Thompson and Shovels and Rope. The 30,000-square-foot club, housed in a former Kodak film developing plant, is featured in a new book, All ... READ MORE
A few overdue thank-yous to my docs
It was the end of yet another doctor’s appointment — routine, as it turned out, thank heavens. The doc pronounced me fit as a fiddle. I beamed. I purred. He gathered up his papers and prepared to leave. And then I said thank you. Thank you to a doctor who works more hours than any human should. Thank you to a doctor who has been by my side for more than 35 years. Thank you for... READ MORE
New and newsworthy plants for 2022
We can all agree that 2021 was a year for strange news, from British bakeries using illegal U.S. sprinkles for cake décor to the sky-high prices for NFT (non-fungible token) artwork such as the $69 million paid for a digital photo collage. In the midst of 24/7 broadcasting, however, you may have missed some of these unusual plant articles. Philodendron’s price peaks Philodendron is... READ MORE
Comedy man Mel Brooks shares stories
Bagels and Nova Scotia lox for the writing team’s breakfast while punching up the script for the movie “Blazing Saddles.” Earl Grey tea and English digestive biscuits while developing Gene Wilder’s idea for “Young Frankenstein.” Cottage cheese topped with fruit while hashing out yet another writer’s pitch for “Silent Movie.” Besides an uncanny memory for food, Mel... READ MORE
Greet 2022 with wit, whimsy and humor
The Bibliophile Resolve to start the new year by exploring new subjects and exercising your mental curiosity to the fullest. But don’t be weighted down by the gravity of the issues you contemplate. Lighten up and make learning a fun preoccupation. Cranial Fracking, by Ian Frazier, 180 pages, Farrar, Straus and Giroux hardcover, 2021 Septuagenarian Ian Frazier has been delighting... READ MORE
