From Washington to Obama – “America’s Presidents” at the National Portrait Gallery
When the National Portrait Gallery scheduled an extensive renovation of the museum’s “America’s Presidents,” the exhibition briefly closed from February 26 through March 23. A temporary exhibition has now been installed in the west gallery on the second floor and will remain on view until September 4. The newly restored gallery space will reopen on […]
Life – Rethinking that Trip to Mars
We earthlings are obsessed with finding signs of life on other planets. Why? Are we afraid of being alone in the cosmos? Do we hope that alien beings know things we don’t know and can solve our serious problems, like global warming or acne? In Daniel Espinosa’s Life, six astronauts on the Mars Pilgrim 7 […]
Nothing Is Simple in Darcey Bell’s A Simple Favor
The publishing industry and the movie industry are lemmings, following popular trends rather than thinking outside the box to come up with something exciting and different. When a new book or film does break out – The Hunger Games (first book, then film) – everyone rushes to replicate that success. So we have had a […]
Saratoga Payback – Who Killed the Small Town Pest?
Mystery writer Stephen Dobyns has staked out Saratoga Springs as his territory. That’s a great thing for mystery lovers, especially those, like me, who know Saratoga. We recognize the horse-centered culture, the various places where tourists, horse owners, stable hands, and locals hang out. And we also recognize the characters that become part of the […]
Intelligence – Outing a CIA Operative
In 2002, former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson was sent to the the African nation of Niger to assess whether Iraq was buying uranium ore to build nuclear weapons. Wilson’s investigation found no such evidence, but in the 2003 State of the Union address, President George W. Bush said, “The British government has learned that Saddam […]
Airline Passengers – Get Ready for Your Pat-Down
When I was 60 years old, after many years of running and one New York City Marathon, I made the decision to have my knees replaced. Yes, both of them at the same time. It was a good move. The operation and rehab went well and after six months, I was able to resume most […]
Beauty and the Beast – Live Action Disney Film is a Gem
The Disney magic has struck again. The studio’s live action remake, with a superbly talented cast, breath-taking sets, lavish costumes, and special effects that enhance rather than detract, surpasses the original 1991 animated classic. With the previous film, as well as the stage version, in the rear view mirror, and with La La Land whetting […]
The Select (The Sun Also Rises) at Shakespeare Theatre
The Select is not everyone’s cup of tea (or, more accurately, shot of whisky). The Elevator Repair Company, the group responsible for Gatz, an afternoon and evening marathon reading of The Great Gatsby, has followed up with a production of Ernest Hemingway’s masterwork that, after touring cities in the U.S, and Europe, opened in 2011 […]