When you think of pastel, your mind conjures up pale colors, lightness, softness—not always true from a medium that has been used since the Renaissance and does not rely on brushes for application. Pastels come in cylindrical sticks that have…
Birds are dinosaurs. They descended from a group of dinosaurs called theropods and, because they are dinosaurs, birds are also reptiles. Wondering if this is scientifically controversial? It isn’t. Early on when the dinosaur-bird link was being discovered, circa 1860,…
The Farewell (PG) This is one of my favorite films for the entire year. An exquisite study of the American belief in independent spirit versus the Chinese belief in family above all, this film is introduced by the warning: “This…
Immediately upon learning that Jacqueline Winspear had published a new novel, I reserved it on the public library website and eagerly awaited my turn. Consistent with expectations based on previous experiences, “The American Agent,” no. 15 in the Maisie Dobbs…
Recent news that the Gaithersburg Artist Collective’s home, Artists on Market, was asked to find a new space after Aug. 31 didn’t hamper the enthusiasm at the July 14 reception for their last show, “Oceans of Creativity” at 201 Market…
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (R) It is 1969. Everything is big cars, scantily clad hippies, overpaid starlets, drugs and, eventually, the Tate murders. The Tate murders are not previewed until a shot of the street name “El Cielo,”…
I sit in my favorite chair snuggled under a blanket, coffee mug in hand and watch the closing credits of “Switched at Christmas.” Which would all be completely normal if it wasn’t the middle of July. Or maybe this is…
In most cultures, exploring food means exploring history, and the Italian south has plenty of both to offer. Most people think of tomato-based sauces with pasta as being representative of all of Italy and “Italian food,” but this is not…
Let me count the ways Tessa Hadley’s “Late in the Day” captivated me. Most of all, I appreciated its elegant yet simple prose, but its evocative ambiances, astute insights into long-term relationships and the inequities between men and women as…
Abstract art is a passion. It is occasionally underrepresented and shunned, but the grand pieces in the city’s “Big, Bold & Beautiful” show affirm that the genre is alive and well locally. Curated by Mary Weiss-Waldhorn, the exhibit features large…