Items of local interest to the four-state area (Western Md, Southern PA, Northern VA, and Eastern WV).
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…
Hurricanes are back in the news again, as Ian rumbled across the Florida peninsula this past week and we’re smack dab in the middle of the 2022 storm season (hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th). Many folks in the four-state region may think they know what it’s like to “ride out” a storm. This area sometimes gets the remnants of a hurricane that rumbles its way up the Eastern seaboard and into the Chesapeake Bay, or maybe…
At last! As of this past Thursday, we have officially entered my favorite season of the year – fall! Do I write a blog about autumn every year? Yes – and why? Because it is the perfect season. Living in the mid-Atlantic region allows me to enjoy each and every part of the annual cycle. It is cold and snowy in the winter, spring brings life-giving rain as new growth bursts across the landscape, while even summer has its pleasures,…
You know fall is approaching when college football season is back in business. The excitement starts this coming weekend – so who are you pulling for? Who’s your favorite team? Many folks root for the university they attended. That’s all well and good, except for when your college is without a football team. My alma mater, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) doesn’t have a football squad (although they did become the darlings of March Madness in 2018 when…
Ever since German immigrant Gustav Brunn created the Old Bay Seasoning blend back in 1939[1], it has become synonymous with the identity and culture of my home state of Maryland. The familiar yellow and red can is found in almost every Maryland kitchen, and for those of you who haven’t tried it, you really should. Not only is it great on seafood (its original purpose), but its versatility adds a “Maryland flavor” to chicken, beef, or even scrambled eggs. Some…
OK, I don’t mean to sound old here, but I have some strong opinions on all of this social media hoo-haa. Let me first point out that my career choice was Information Technology, and as such I do work with computers, servers, networks, and other technology services on a daily basis. That being the case, I am usually loathe to spend my non-working time on them in any form or fashion. Hell, I rarely even answer the house phone when…