Items of local interest to the four-state area (Western Md, Southern PA, Northern VA, and Eastern WV).
The holiday season brings many, many traditions that are observed by family and friends. Some of these have been passed down from generation to generation, some are created from the blending of families through marriage or commitment, and some are newly created on the spot in a single year that turn into an annual occurrence. When I was growing up, the big night for our family was Christmas Eve. Following an evening church service (where my brother and I were…
I see a lot of what I would consider “questionable” business ideas around my local area. For example, we’ve got a ‘Bed, Bath, & Beyond’ that seems to be on its last legs in one of our local shopping strip malls, and what did some genius decide to put in just a few storefronts down? A ‘Home Goods’ store. Are their pillows really that much better than the ones at BB&B? Just how many candles holders does one household need,…
All of this holiday shopping has folks flustered and flummoxed trying to find that perfect gift, but buying that perfect present is only part of the story. There’s still one thing left to do before it can be enjoyed (or hated) on Christmas morning. It still has to be wrapped. There are many schools of thought on this. There are those who work hard to “theme” their wrapping paper, making sure it either all matches or follows some coordinated color…
Thanksgiving has come and gone, so now – yes – you’re allowed to go “whole hog” on your Christmas holiday celebrations. Listen to the 24 x 7 Christmas songs on the radio, get your fill of schlocky movies on “The Hallmark Channel”, and decorate your home (inside and out) to your heart’s content. This brings up the age-old question on timing. When, exactly, is one supposed to decorate for the holidays? Just like people, there are a lot of answers…
Recent cooler temperatures have had me listening to the usual seasonal complaints from friends and family. “I hate the cold weather.” “I can’t wait until the summer temperatures are here again.” “There’s snow in the forecast? God, I hate snow – I just hate it.” Let me take a moment and throw my “two cents” into the ring and answer some of these detractors. First off, one of the reasons all of us like living in this area is the…
Ahhhh, beer. These days, brew masters are always finding new ways to ferment ingredients into an elixir enjoyed by humans since the dawn of time. Whether it be lagers, ales, stouts, sours, or ciders – if it can be brewed into a beverage, someone local is doing it. With the weather turning colder, it’s a great time to get out and sample some of the concoctions these local artisans have to offer. Listed below are some of the places I…
Well, Halloween has come and gone, so now we can all get amped up for the Christmas holiday season, right? Christmas songs have already started playing on the radio, Walt Disney World has their holiday decorations up, Mariah Carey announced that she is ready for the Christmas season (as if anyone cared), and retailers are touting their holiday deals. Hang on – how about we pump the brakes on all the “holly-jolly” there for a minute. Aren’t we forgetting something? …
A very, scary Halloween to you! Yes, this is the day to celebrate ghouls, goblins, and all things dark and terrifying. Not my favorite holiday, I must say. If you know anything about me, you’ll know that I am not a big fan of “things that go bump in the night” – or for that matter – things that go bump in the day. Imagine ‘Barney Fife’ from ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ when he’s scared or nervous. Yeah, that’s basically…
Ahhhh, fall. Being out and about, I love the sights and sounds of autumn. The crunching leaves, the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg, a hearty casserole, the Christmas shopping. Wait – what? The Christmas shopping? No doubt you’ve already seen some Christmas displays up at your local box stores or favorite department stores. Every year, retailers just can’t seem to get this stuff out fast enough. They’ve got Halloween decorations out in July, Thanksgiving never gets any love whatsoever, and…
After being blasted in my rear-view mirror by the headlights of a gargantuan behemoth that was so wide it barely fit in its lane yesterday, I’d like to take a moment to talk about trucks. I’m not talking about 18-wheelers, mind you. I’m talking about all of these Dodge Ram, Chevy Tundra, Ford – whatevers I see more and more of on the road each year. It used to be that a man (or woman) wanted a small truck to…