Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past month, by now you’ve no doubt heard about the total eclipse of the sun that is upcoming this Monday, August 21st, 2017. The eclipse event won’t be a “total eclipse” here in the four-state area (we’ll get about 84% coverage), but that hasn’t stopped everyone locally from going off the deep end trying to get ready for it. Honestly, a month ago these yokels couldn’t tell you what an eclipse…
Friends who know I am a “foodie” have been asking recently – “have you tried ‘Foster’s On The Point’ yet?” So, while the kids were out of town recently on a trek with my mother, my wife and I got the chance to check the place out for dinner. Located on Salem Avenue on the west side of Hagerstown, MD., Foster’s took over and totally rehabbed the restaurant and bar space formerly occupied for many years by the old Woodpoint…
As this Independence Day draws near, I hearken back to a time when America threw probably its biggest celebration party to date – the Bicentennial celebration. Yes, in 1976, the nation went wild with festivals and celebrations for the nation’s 200th birthday, and in the days before cell phones, YouTube, or Go Pros, one had to actually visit the special events going on around the country to experience the pomp, circumstance, and majesty of the spectacle. Remember the “Tall Ships”? …
I recently had the privilege of attending the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts (BISFA) spring production of “Seussical: The Musical” at the Maryland Theatre. Let me say that if you’ve never attended one of their shows – you should (they also do a wonderful “Holiday Spectacular” at Christmas). These kids are putting out top-quality entertainment and are all extremely talented. Honestly, you’ll forget they are high school kids in less than five minutes. Some of them are definitely bound…
As I get older, I find I’m looking back with nostalgia at things I used to do when I was a kid. Places I used to go, things I used to see and do – buildings and landmarks I remember from childhood. If I had a time machine, I would love to travel back to the 40’s and 50’s – a time when it seems as if Hagerstown and the surrounding areas were in their heyday and “golden” years. Sadly,…
There are 4,664 Walmarts in the United States[1]. It’s the number one retailer in America. I’m sure there are very nice locations around this great land (the one in Spring Mills comes to mind), where the shelves are fully stocked, the store is impeccably clean, and the employees seem helpful and happy to work there. That being said, if getting your shopping done is of secondary concern and for sheer entertainment value, I’d rank the Hagerstown Walmart Supercenter on Garland…
Ever since I was little, I’ve loved model trains (and that ladies and gentlemen – is a long time). I love to watch them wind around the track, chugging through tiny worlds that are lovingly created in exact detail. There are tiny shops, tiny trees, and tiny people. It fascinates me, and I could stare at model railroad displays for hours. I can fondly remember traveling out to the Hagerstown Fairgrounds when I was a wee lad to view the…
What’s happened to all the “fine dining” choices in Hagerstown? “LJ’s”? Gone. “Aqua 103”? Being “re-launched”. “Family Meal”? Didn’t make it 6 months. These days, it’s easier to spot a Sasquatch or an “I’m with Hillary” bumper sticker than it is to sit down to a linen tablecloth when dining out in the county seat. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good Legion Steak Feed or hog butchering as much as the next guy, but there are times when…
Is your travel wish to take part in this year’s Oktoberfest celebrations in Germany? Do you secretly wish you could drink your German beer out of a stein? Do you have a weird affinity for lederhosen? If the answer to any one of these questions is “yes” then you, my friend, are in luck. This weekend marks the 21st anniversary of the “Augustoberfest” celebration in downtown Hagerstown, MD. Celebrating the German heritage of the four-state area and the 64th year…
While my wife and oldest daughter were out of town on various trips last week, my youngest and I headed out for a dinner of sushi and conversation at Sakura, located in Hagerstown, MD. While most of my friends refer to sushi as “bait”, my daughter was up for the challenge. We ordered off of the sushi menu, selecting a variety of sushi (fish with rice), sashimi (fish without rice), and several rolls. (Pro Tip: There is an abundance of…