I got back to the gods in May. No need for concern. I was not undergoing a spiritual transformation. Instead, I had the illuminating and pleasing experience of reading Madeline Miller’s “Circe.” The 2018 novel—its stunning cover art; its mix…
Late Night (R) Katherine (Emma Thompson), though looking like soccer star Abby Wambach for much of the film, is bossy, cruel and out of it. (She can’t be bothered to learn her writers’ names, so she gives them all a…
The Season With Many Reasons to Celebrate This is the time of year with so many reasons to celebrate. It’s the time of year for outdoor eating: picnics, parties and barbecues. For me, it’s the time of year for baking…
Joy is what I hear and see surrounding the vivacious Vladimir Fridman who spreads this to students in his classical guitar classes at his home studio in Quince Orchard Park. This joy and love for music and his protégés was…
After spending a ridiculous amount of time in the car the last two weekends covering multiple states, I have the following observations … Our parents are heroes. Straight up, people. We struggled to make our way in unfamiliar territory with…
What’s Wrong With This Bird? “What’s wrong with this bird?” is a common question I receive, especially this time of year. What happens is that a regular feeder bird shows up at a birdwatcher’s home and it looks as though…
Rocketman (R) Taron Edgerton is a magnificent Elton John. He manages to capture the out-of-control rock star who rose, as they say, “from humble beginnings” to become a legend. John’s status might have been less elevated without the partnership of…
In anticipation of romantic indulgence—and also as diversion from the toxic overconsumption of politics—I read two contemporary “women’s novels,” one by a longtime favorite author who will be a featured author at the May 18 Gaithersburg Book Festival, the other…
A warm spring evening brought out a crowd to view the Gaithersburg Fine Arts Association’s 33rd Juried Art Show at the Kentlands Mansion. Juror Jean Hirons, a celebrated pastelist, author of “Finding Your Style in Pastel” and instructor at Artists…
For many years, my literal translation for Mother’s Day was, “where dreams go to die.” This is because I have found that the majority of women, like me, end up disappointed in some fashion. The vision they had for the…