Engaging performances for the holidays

By Robert Friedman
Posted on December 08, 2017

Dazzling lights, Christmas carols, Hanukkah’s greatest hits, Santa on a fire engine, twirling dolls, mice, soldiers and snowflakes, and one department store miracle are among the events on tap for county residents this holiday season. The annual Symphony of Lights — whose 300,000 or so bulbs will illuminate more than 100 larger-than-life animated and stationary holiday creations —... READ MORE

Columbia’s candid cameraman

By Robert Friedman
Posted on December 04, 2017

Ron Fedorczak has spent the last 43 years — more than half his life — putting the history of Columbia in focus. He has attended seminal events at various locations, wandered up and down the streets, cruised highways and searched out byways, always clicking away with his trusty Nikon at whatever was happening in the town he says he became enamored with ever since moving here in... READ MORE

‘Tis the season to celebrate in Baltimore

By Carol Sorgen
Posted on December 01, 2017

It’s that time of year again. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, or simply the fact that a new year is on the horizon, this is when Baltimore sparkles! Time to shop Holidays mean gifts, so why not skip the mall and look for some unique items at these local venues? Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar Underneath the Jones Falls Expressway at Holliday and... READ MORE

The Walters celebrates varied arts of Asia

By Carol Sorgen
Posted on November 30, 2017

Stillness, serenity and an air of quiet contemplation are the sentiments evoked by the Walters Art Museum’s long-awaited installation, “Arts of Asia.” The visually stunning display of more than 150 works spanning 2,000 years explores the artistic traditions from diverse cultures and regions across India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia. The... READ MORE

Finding art in Antarctica’s ice

By Zita Petrahai
Posted on November 21, 2017

Not everyone’s idea of a summer vacation includes hiking through Antarctica’s frigid expanses for seven weeks, but Helen Glazer was dogged in pursuing the opportunity. She applied five times over a 10-year period for the National Science Foundation’s Antarctic Artists and Writers Program, until she finally got her chance in 2015. Glazer, who is 62 and lives in Owings Mills, is the... READ MORE

Cookbooks to expand your holiday menu

By Dinah Rokach
Posted on November 16, 2017

You may remember the Pillsbury jingle, “Nothing says lovin’ like somethin’ from the oven.” When you open your front door, the aroma of home cooking envelopes your guests in a warm, welcoming embrace. In time for Thanksgiving, these cookbooks make great resources for preparing your holiday meals. Whether you’re feeding family and friends, or bringing a homemade offering to your... READ MORE

Poet publishes two collections at age 79

By Alexis Bentz
Posted on November 15, 2017

Editor’s note: This article is the first in a series about local artists and poets, as we launch the Beacon’s year-long Celebration of the Arts, which encourages older adults to take up a new visual art or poetry, or rediscover a past interest. In the spring, readers will be invited to enter their works in a contest, and the winners will be exhibited at several venues. Last spring,... READ MORE

Columbia Orchestra going strong at 40

By Jamie Lee Pricer
Posted on November 07, 2017

The Columbia Orchestra was born in 1977 with a handful of string musicians playing a smattering of performances. Today, it’s a full orchestra with 100 members with a robust schedule of sold-out performances. How has the orchestra grown and thrived in an age crowded with digital opportunities and pop music? Credit a breadth of programming, strong community outreach, and devotion by the... READ MORE

Recalling the heyday of Baltimore theaters

By Carol Sorgen
Posted on October 31, 2017

When photographer Amy Davis began researching Baltimore’s forgotten movie theaters nine years ago, she had no idea how many of these structures were still standing.Her new book, Flickering Treasures: Rediscovering Baltimore’s Forgotten Movie Theaters, celebrates 72 of the more than 240 theaters that have existed in Baltimore since 1896. Only 11 of the movie houses... READ MORE

Community group welcomes new artists

By Mel Tansill and Danielle Rexrode
Posted on October 27, 2017

When Jody Primoff moved to the Charlestown retirement community five years ago, she hoped to connect with others who shared her love of art and passion for painting.It turns out she didn’t have to look far. Before she even settled into her new home, Primoff was welcomed into the Fireside Artists — a group of Charlestown neighbors who gather every Friday to paint, draw and... READ MORE