Ingenious play about an autistic genius
Imagine — or allow the Round House Theatre’s excellent cast and stage crew to imagine for you — the story of a 15-year-old math genius with Asperger Syndrome (a form of autism), whose attempts to solve the murder of a neighbor’s dog leads him to delve into the mysteries of the human mind and heart. The boy, whose relations with others of the human species are, at best, on the... READ MORE
Counting one’s blessings despite tears
You know what they say about rain. Into each life some of it must fall. But gushers of it? Count your lucky stars if that has never happened to you. I’m counting mine after a tear-soaked dinner recently with a woman I hadn’t seen in more than 50 years. She was a high school classmate, but we were not close. We hadn’t laid eyes on one another since that day in 1962, when all... READ MORE
Beautiful books address varied interests
The Bibliophile As Garrison Keillor once said, “A book is a gift you can open again and again.” Consider these exceptional coffee-table offerings for the readers in your life — from star gazers to sports lovers to bird watchers and more. Mission Moon: How 50 Years of Space Exploration Defined Houston, by Houston Chronicle, 160 pages, Pediment Publishing hardcover, 2019 It’s... READ MORE
Guests can stay inside an Edward Hopper painting
When Alex Nyerges, director and CEO of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, heard curator Leo Mazow’s idea that the museum should build an actual hotel room to mimic one of Edward Hopper’s paintings he said, “I thought he was crazy!” But Mazow’s idea evolved and was accepted — and now, Nyerges said, “I’m so glad we did it.” In an innovative move, the museum allows... READ MORE
Mannheim Steamroller rolls into town
Every November and December for the past 35 years, the neoclassical new-age band Mannheim Steamroller goes on tour, its three troupes giving 80 performances in the space of two months. “The music is so uplifting and full of joy,” said Roxane Layton, group spokesperson and one of its 20 members. She plays percussion and recorder. “Like a steamroller, it really moves you. It’s... READ MORE
Historian makes history as Smithsonian secretary
A girlfriend convinced Lonnie G. Bunch III to jump out of an airplane when he was 17 years old. “I jump out, and I’m yelling, screaming, cursing,” Bunch — now the new head of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. — recalled in an interview with the Beacon. But he learned something important from the experience. “It taught me that I could do things that scare the... READ MORE
Structure in the wintertime garden
The leaves have fallen, nothing is blooming, the garden looks forlorn. Can you stand three more months of this? If not, how can you create beauty in the winter garden? Structure provides the interest you need now as well as the framework for all seasons. Of course, structure can mean literal structures: pergolas, potting sheds, garden gates, stacked stone walls. However, structure... READ MORE
Cabaret series honors legendary singers
Richmond theater aficionado Mark Singer, 69, has attended performances in major cities all over the world, but he is still impressed by the “fantastic talent” he sees among Richmond performers. Because of the quality of local talent, Singer subscribes to Legends on Grace, a series of cabaret-like performances presented by the Richmond Performing Arts Alliance (RPAA). RPAA... READ MORE
Today’s shiftless youngsters don’t get it
There are many ways for a 20th-century baby to feel his or her age: —When some youngster says he has just discovered this cool rock group called The Beatles. —When you realize that Watergate happened almost 50 years ago. —When your knees crack and clatter every time you stand up. —When you mention the unforgettable date of November 22, 1963 to an all-younger crowd and... READ MORE
At harvest season, books by and for cooks
The Bibliophile For many of us, a printed recipe is handier than a mobile device in the kitchen, where food stains and splatters are ubiquitous. These cookbooks will help you prepare dishes to wow your guests this holiday season. Read the stories that accompany the recipes with relish. The Complete America’s Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook 2001-2019: Every Recipe from the Hit TV Show... READ MORE
