Streisand writes about acting, music, life
Her book is called My Name is Barbra, and it runs nearly 1,000 pages. You expected less from Barbra Streisand? Streisand spent the past decade working on one of the epic narratives in modern show business — her uncompromising rise from working class Brooklyn in the 1940s and 50s to global fame. During a recent telephone interview, she reflected on her tastes in music, her tastes in... READ MORE
Agatha Christie’s most convincing witness
Even if you’re not that familiar with whodunit writer extraordinaire Agatha Christie, chances are you’ve caught a bit of the myriad stage, film or TV productions of her short story and play “The Witness for the Prosecution.” It’s a murder mystery and trial drama which has starred everyone from Marlene Dietrich and Tyrone Power to Edward G. Robinson and Beau... READ MORE
Mixed emotions about work from home
He was 30-something — a bit smug, a bit too fond of his own opinions. But I was seated beside him at a fancy dinner, so I was stuck. After the salad, I asked how he had weathered the pandemic. “Perfectly,” he announced. I wasn’t sure that I had heard him correctly. In whose universe was the pandemic perfect? His. “I didn’t have to go into the office once,” he said.... READ MORE
Games, calendars for mental gymnastics
The Bibliophile When you’re stuck indoors this winter, exercise your mind. Find a new board game to enjoy or hone your skills mastering your favorite game. Seven Games: A Human History, by Oliver Roeder, 306 pages, W.W. Norton & Company paperback, 2023 Read an engaging account of these seven games: checkers, chess, Go, backgammon, poker, Scrabble and bridge. Learn their... READ MORE
Artists spread joy to senior communities
One cold, sunny morning, two dozen residents of an assisted living community in Rockville, Maryland, form a circle with their wheelchairs. A teacher enters the circle, greeting each person with a smile. “I’m Deborah. And we are going to do some dancing together today in our chairs,” she says. As Deborah Riley, a teaching artist from Arts for the Aging, turns on some music, one... READ MORE
Joan Baez shares secrets in documentary
Bob Dylan called it her “heart-stopping soprano,” and it’s true that when Joan Baez unleashed that pure, angelic voice on the protest song “We Shall Overcome,” you could believe we would, indeed, overcome. The celebrated folk singer and activist was singing about civil rights, of course. But what we learn in the thoughtful, thorough and sometimes harrowingly intimate... READ MORE
Illuminating Baltimore’s stained glass
When author, anthropologist and human rights activist Linda Rabben moved to northeast Baltimore in 2021, she wanted to get to know her new neighborhood better. On her daily walks, she noticed that many houses had stained glass windows. Rabben, who grew up in Philadelphia and lived for 30 years in Takoma Park, Maryland, became curious. “I really hadn’t paid any attention to them” ... READ MORE
A curmudgeonly defense of using cash
Brunch for the two couples was done. It was time to settle the bill. The male of the other couple plopped down a credit card. This male reached for his wallet and produced a wad of cash. I handed it to him. He treated it like a rare species of poisonous mushroom. “What am I going to do with it?” he asked. “Uh, spend it?” I replied. He gave me a look somewhere between... READ MORE
NASA offers new, free streaming service
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is launching more than just rockets these days. Last month, its new streaming service, NASA+, took off. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, NASA said the ad-free, no-cost and family-friendly streaming service will feature Emmy-award winning live shows and original series. The service “embeds you into our missions through... READ MORE
Books on home design for reading, gifts
The Bibliophile These three books are meant for more than display. They will inspire you with ideas on how to decorate your home in time for the holidays. They make great gifts, too. Inspire: The Art of Living with Nature: 50 Beautiful Projects to Bring the Outside In, by Willow Crossley, 176 pages, CICO Books hardcover, 2023 Create a warm, welcoming festive environment for your home ... READ MORE
Arts 2024
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