From CPA to haute chocolatier
As Valentine’s Day approaches, lovebirds will line up for chocolate-covered strawberries at Ruthie Carliner’s evocatively named Velvet Chocolatier shop in Stevenson Village. Her chocolates can also be found at Whole Foods, and Oprah included her creamy sea salt-topped caramel cups in her list of “favorite things” back in 2011. But Carliner’s calling in creating decadent... READ MORE
A 94-year-old American hero looks back
It’s about the size of a small pancake. It hangs around the man’s neck on a ribbon. “I use a lot of Brasso on it,” he jokes. He must, because it shines. And so does he. Hershel “Woody” Williams is 94 years old. He is one of 464 American soldiers to have received the Medal of Honor for extraordinary service during World War II. Only four survive. Williams is the oldest.... READ MORE
Picture book takes a romp through Richmond
Fun. Upbeat. Thoughtful. These three words perfectly describe Short Pump Bump! A Lyrical Spherical Rhyming Romp Through Richmond, a children’s book just published by lifelong Virginian Angie Miles. Short Pump Bump! pays homage to our fair city with a collection of poems illustrated by Scott DuBar, a VCU graduate with whom Miles has worked for the past eight years. Short Pump Bump!... READ MORE
Crazy about a Gershwin musical revival
Though the end-of-year holidays are over, it’s not too late to experience some of that seasonal spirit at Arlington’s Signature Theater, where the revival of Crazy for You continues through Jan. 14. The musical originally opened in 1992 as a brand-new production largely inspired by George and Ira Gershwin’s 1930 musical Girl Crazy, and featuring other songs by the famous... READ MORE
Artist retires, rekindles dream
This past August, LeeNan Hayden Manzari was watching “Project Runway” — the long-running fashion design reality television show — when to her amazement, her painting of a flamenco dancer flashed on the screen. She’d submitted it online to the show’s Remake It Work contest, where fans of the show submit artwork inspired by the program. But she never thought it would... READ MORE
TV to protect our fragile world
From fly fishing in the hemlock-shaded tributaries of the Savage River in Garrett County, to exploring the marshes and woodlands of Dorchester County that Harriet Tubman traversed to lead slaves north, Mike English is an intrepid explorer of Maryland’s natural environment. His Maryland Public Television (MPT) show, “Outdoors Maryland,” has given viewers more than 700 vivid slices... READ MORE
Series sparks thought and conversation
The newly founded Great Talk Maryland Series is hoping to bring people together throughout the state to discuss issues that matter to Marylanders and spark our curiosity. “Good old talk is still the ultimate art form and social engine that people crave,” said Great Talk President Eve Vogelstein. “The Great Talk Series will provide Maryland with a live forum to voice and exchange... READ MORE
Through the looking glass at Center Stage
It’s been more than 150 years since English mathematician Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (a.k.a. Lewis Carroll) introduced readers to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland — a literary classic that spawned a 1903 silent film, a 1951 Walt Disney adaptation, and a couple of Johnny Depp movies, while providing inspiration to songs, books, comics, a Web series and even a video game. Now,... READ MORE
Beautiful books for everyone on your list
Books that take readers pictorially to unique places and times are fun to peruse. They also make great gifts. Many books that are received as gifts become treasured keepsakes, especially if a thoughtful and heartfelt inscription is added. Moreover, a book of photographs with accompanying text can be enjoyed repeatedly and at greater leisure than a visit to a museum exhibit. Here are... READ MORE
34th Street retains its miraculous charm
No doubt you’re familiar with the 1947 film, Miracle on 34th Street — a classic featuring a young Natalie Wood that challenges you to suspend disbelief and embrace the idea that Santa Claus is real. But you probably didn’t know there’s a musical theater version, penned by Meredith Willson, composer of The Music Man. The show debuted to mixed reviews in 1963 and was originally ... READ MORE
Arts 2024
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