Asked the forbidden question, Janis stared at me with dagger eyes, rose, and projectile vomited on me.
Less than a year after I met Janis Joplin, she was dead. Fifty years ago, I was an ambitious, plucky …
History
Cuban-born American artist Carmen Herrera, “I never met a straight line I did not like.”
At age 104. Carmen Herrera says, “I waited for my bus for 94 years.” She’s referring to the saying, “if …
A new musical is coming to off-Broadway during PRIDE Month: With a title like this, it’s bound to be fun.
Camp Morning Wood is billed as Rocky Horror meets Naked Boys Singing. Directed by Marc Eardley and choreographed by Ian Coulter-Buford and Jay Falzone, …
Baltimore’s Little Italy: One thing you need to know about the Festival of St. Anthony.
Sure, at Little Italy’s annual festival honoring St. Anthony there are stacks of fresh, hot calzone and trays of delicious …
The Lavender Scare: Documentary details results of Pres. Eisenhower’s Executive Order 10450.
Most Americans of a certain age are familiar with the Red Scare of the ’50s and Senator Joseph R. McCarthy’s …
On revisiting a 52-year-old newspaper clipping, my first job in radio, and an argyle sweater.
Time flies; memories are rich.
Easter needs its own cocktail and the 3-ingredient Pink Squirrel needs to regain some respect.
Creamy and as blush-pink as a bunny’s nose, the Pink Squirrel is as perfect for Easter as any cocktail could …
Film: Amazing Grace. Aretha Franklin & choir at Watts’ New Bethel Baptist Church, 1972.
Last week I posted the trailer for the documentary, Amazing Grace, without comment because the power of the content speaks volumes …
Meet the late Hilma af Klint. The New York Times calls her work “jaw dropping, staggering.”
Hilma af Klint was born in Stockholm in 1862. Af Klint started to create radically abstract paintings in 1906—years before Vasily …
Never before released. A must see. Aretha Franklin’s Amazing Grace. Prepare to be moved.
This post needs no comment from me. Variety reports: “Aretha Franklin is going on tour—or, rather, the concert movie she …
THE MET celebrates International Women’s Day with a Heilbrunn Timeline of Women artists.
New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art created a timeline of women artists and their work as part of their …
A holiday tradition with spirit—Anthon Berg’s dark chocolate, foil wrapped, boozy bottles.
I don’t exactly remember how many decades ago it was that I discovered the little chocolate bottles from Denmark filled …
Ed Asner performing in Baltimore this weekend at the Gordon Center for the Performing Arts.
Did the Nazis make soap from the bodies of murdered Jews? That thought creates the central question that Baltimore native, …
Here’s your printable 2019 SAG Awards ballot along with the 25th Anniversary viewing guide.
[UPDATE: Here’s the ballot for the 2020 Awards.] On February 25, 1995, a much-loved performer walked to the podium on …
John J. Henehan, Jr—20 years old, slight build, brown wavy hair, tattoos. Warhol made him famous.
Actually, John Jr was marginally infamous before Warhol came along. His mugshot was taken by the New York Police Department …
“Fake News” ruled the airwaves on the night of October 30, 1938. Here’s a recording of the broadcast.
The War of the Worlds, the 17th episode of the radio drama series The Mercury Theatre on the Air, was performed …
Official Houdini Séance for 2018 hosted by the Jewish Museum of Maryland. Here’s your invitation.
Houdini died on Halloween 92 years ago. October 31, 2018 will mark the 91st annual Official Houdini Séance—and its first-ever occurrence …
He asked me why I went there and I told him. (Remembering Schwab’s Pharmacy on Sunset Boulevard.)
He paused for a second or two and said, “For just one day, I’d like to see the world as you see it.”
Another legacy department store is closing. Gump’s San Francisco has been a destination for generations.
Their names are the stuff of legend. Every large city in every state had one or two, some cities hosted …