By Timothy Long Pittsburgh is a fun sports town. It always has been. It’s the only city in the United States where all the professional sports teams wear the same colors. The Pirates, Steelers, and Penguins all don the black and gold. So, sports conversations are usually easy. Everyone is on the same page, and probably wearing the same colors. All the patrons of the bar you’re in are friends, buddies, compadres. It’s all fun and games, until a certain question is posed. A question that can divide the bar and create chaos. It’s a simple question, an innocent question. A question that gets asked in most places without any unseemly results. “What college team do you root for?” The bar will immediately split three ways. Sides will be taken, and the smack talking will get loud. University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), Penn State University, and West Virginia University (WVU) fans will stand their ground and proudly display loyalty to their alma maters. Where there was friendship, there is now animosity. Buddies are suddenly rivals. Many Pittsburghers attend one of these three universities, so the city has large alumni bases from each. The three schools used to play each other every year. Now that each is in a different college conference, the games aren’t as common. But when they do occur, they are ferocious. The Pitt and WVU game is the Backyard Brawl. People tend to know this; the matchup is famous. But they often don’t know where the appellation comes from. It’s really simple: the schools are only one hour and twenty minutes from each other. As far as major universities go, that close distance is rare. The two are literally in each other’s back yards. My wife and I just attended the most recent Backyard Brawl. It was in…
By Lori Welch Brown With the election looming, life is getting more crazy by the hour it seems. As of this writing there have been two attempts on former President Trump’s life. I’ve lost track of school shootings, and both sides seem to disagree on everything from the price of eggs in 2020 to the fate of some missing pets in Ohio. Don’t get me started on international news—it would be impossible because I’ve been avoiding it like an Ozempic ad. Social media is a total melt down. I’ve paused several ‘friends’ because I can’t take the hate spreading, not to mention the dissemination of fake news. People—check your sources! Anyone with access to wifi and a laptop can write a ‘news’ story so just imagine what a Russian intelligence office can knock out. Don’t mention AI to me because I am 1000 percent head in the sand on that one. Now I understand why my parents refused to learn how to set the timer on their VCR. At some point, you just have to draw the line on tech. Speaking of which, stop sending me links to TikTok. I politely refuse to introduce another rabbit hole of doom and gloom into my life. It’s hard to know what to believe. Even the ‘credible’ news sources are biased so while there is truth, it is painted in a certain light. Like Taylor Swift so eloquently said, “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice. Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make.” So, do your homework. Unfortunately, the research isn’t easy, but a lot is riding on it. Bret Stephens, Opinion columnist for the NYT, when describing his current state of mind “so readers can understand how it stands with uncertain voters like…
By Mark Edelman October leaves a few more weeks (now thru October 13) to enjoy DMV Theater Week—tickets as low as $20 for a number of these productions. The discounts end October 13—plenty of time to enjoy the great theater our area has to offer, including some of these (check each box office for participation and prices): Through the 6th THE COMEUPPANCE Woolly Mammoth An excellent cast, anchored by the moody Jordan Bellow, animates Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ new play about a group of high school honor alums attending their 20th reunion. Morgan Green directs the eerie proceedings, as the spectre of mortality overshadows old friends facing hard truths past, present and future. You might say death becomes them. Tickets at http://www.woollymammoth.net Through the 6th SOJOURNERS Roundhouse Theatre A Nigerian couple living in Texas in the 1970s welcomes the promise of America but remains homesick for their roots. Tickets at http://www.roundhousetheatre.org Through the 13th LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL Atlas Theatre In this handsome production of Lanie Robertson’s off-Broadway and Broadway hit, DC’s own Roz White makes the role of a down-on-her-heels Billie Holiday her own. That golden voice rings out just a little too true (Roz is in much better vocal shape than Billie was) in Mosaic Artistic Director Reginald Douglas’ deftly directed performance. Designer Nadir Bey creates a warm and friendly club environment so snag a table up front. Tickets at http://www.mosaictheater.org Through the 13th JA JA’S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Arena Stage This Tony® Award nominated Best Play takes us inside a bustling West African salon in Harlem where a lively group of braiders create masterpieces on the heads of neighborhood women. Tickets at http://www.arenastage.org Through the 13th MR LINCOLN Ford’s Theatre TV star Scott Bakula assays the role of our 16th President…
by Bob Matthews That time of year has rolled back around…Going out to a pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins, is a fun filled rite of the fall season. Whether you go out to a field filled with pumpkins, or get them from a roadside stand, we want to be certain that you get the absolutely best pumpkin for carving, decorating and eating! Pumpkins are called “Long keepers”. A healthy, uncarved pumpkin can last to Thanksgiving and beyond. How to Select the Perfect Pumpkin: Select a pumpkin that is completely orange. A partially green pumpkin might not ripen any further. Size is an important factor. Medium pumpkins are best for pumpkin carving. Small pumpkins are better for cooking. Do not pick a pumpkin that is too big for you to carry, especially if you have back problems. Does the shade of orange matter? If so, there are hundreds of varieties, some with different shades of orange. Selecting the shape is a matter of personal preference. Some like ’em tall. Others, like ’em round. Often, people select shapes to fit the carving patterns they will use. Pick your pattern before you go. Do not lift or carry a pumpkin by its stem. The pumpkin stem gives it character. A ripe pumpkin has a hard shell that does not dent or scratch easily when pressing on it with a thumbnail. Do this on the back or bottom of the fruit…….never on the face. Examine the entire pumpkin carefully for soft spots. If you find even one soft spot, go on to the next pumpkin. Check the pumpkin for cracks and splits. If you find one, examine it to be sure it is not turning into a soft spot or has mold inside of the crack. Look for bugs and insects. Specifically, look for…
By Bob Tagert This Publishers Notes isn’t going to be quite like my others. In fact, I have never lived through a more unsettling time in my life, including the unrest during the Vietnam War. Like some of you, I grew up here in the Washington D.C. area. First in Oxon Hill, Maryland and now in Alexandria. We learned about our constitution and the Bill of Rights. We saluted the flag and recited the Pledge of Allegiance each morning before class began. Like most, I frequented Georgetown in its early years. Watching John Denver and others perform at the Cellar Door and dancing at the clubs in Georgetown. A long neck bottle of beer cost 75 cents. I was in chemistry class when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Quiet and tears. I watched Washington D.C. 14th street burn when Dr. Martin Luther King was murdered. I have volunteered to work at Presidential Galas even though it was for the other party. I have visited the Lincoln Memorial at night, listened to the National Symphony on the west lawn of the Capitol and watched the fireworks on the Fourth of July. I have seen a lot in this beautiful City…the Capitol of the Land of the Free! Our Capitol city has been under attack several times over the years and it continues to this day in the halls of Congress. On November 5th we will be faced with one of the most consequential elections in American history, and we are writing that history. Early voting has already started in Virginia and other states. Get out and do your duty as an American. VOTE. Getting off of my soap box…this issue of the OTC is our 442nd issue. That means we have a little under 5 years to hit the 500 mark….
By Miriam R. Kramer “This is the most important presidential election of our lifetime.” This is the third time in ten years we have heard this statement, and it has always been true. President Joe Biden decided to step down as the 2024 Democratic nominee and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in July. In so doing, he upended the dynamic of the 2024 presidential campaigns. The country now faces a stark choice between two very different tickets. Fred Trump III (Fritz)’s chronicle, All in the Family: The Trumps and How We Got This Way, and his estranged sister Mary’s book, Who Could Ever Love You: A Family Memoir, may help undecided voters better evaluate current presidential candidate and former President Donald J. Trump. It offers fascinating perspectives on the behaviors of real estate builder Fred Trump Sr. and his family dynasty. Icy-veined patriarch Fred Sr. created and exacerbated a web of extreme psychological dysfunction that permanently affected the behavior of Freddy, Donald, their siblings, and everyone else in their families. Until now, almost no one has written about the dynamic of the Trump family from an intimate family perspective. Mary Trump’s first such book, a 2020 dissection of the former president, Too Much and Never Enough, offered a licensed clinical psychologist’s view of Donald Trump’s mental instabilities and pathologies. I reviewed it in the Old Town Crier four years ago ( https://oldtowncrier.com/2020/08/01/books-for-an-uncertain-summer/ ). That account is a more detached, cutting analysis which is also very worth reading. This memoir, however, is a personal account of the keen pain and isolation Mary experienced growing up within a wealthy family driven by ruthlessness, greed, and dysfunction. Freddy (Fred Jr.), Mary and Fritz’s father, tried to escape his tightly controlled, airless family structure by attending TWA’s highly competitive flight school as one of…
By Chef Glenn Morel As the presidential election heats up, it’s time to spice up your gatherings with a culinary celebration of democracy. Get ready to toss together a dish that’s as vibrant and diverse as the political landscape itself! Presenting the “Two Party Salad,” a delightful mix of ingredients that will have your taste buds voting for flavor! Ingredients: For the Salad: New Green Deal Lettuce Because every salad deserves a fresh start! Candi-dates Sweet little treats that are sure to win over voters (or your guests)! G.O.Peaches Juicy and ripe, these peaches will add a refreshing twist! Demo-crans A sprinkle of tartness to balance the sweetness! Govern-mint Leaves (optional) – For a zesty kick that keeps the conversation lively! For the Main Dish: Red, White, and Blue Chard Rolls With pork and Tariff rice for a hearty addition to your political potluck! For Dessert: Red and Blue Jello Balls A fun, wiggly treat, topped with house party whip cream for that celebratory touch! Instructions Prepare the Salad: Start by washing the New Green Deal Lettuce thoroughly, then chop it into bite-sized pieces. This lettuce represents fresh ideas and new beginnings! Next, add in your Candi-dates**these can be gummy candies or even candied fruits, depending on your preference. Sweeten the deal! Dice up the G.O.Peaches and toss them in. Their juicy goodness symbolizes a fruitful economy. Sprinkle in the Demo-crans for a pop of flavor and color. These little gems are sure to spark some lively debate and provided some much needed brain food! If you’re feeling adventurous, toss in some Govern-mint Leaves for that extra zing! Create the Chard Rolls: Take your Red, White, and Blue Chard (the vibrant greens symbolize our nation’s colors) and blanch them briefly in boiling water to soften. In a bowl, mix together cooked…
By Lani Gering All of our regular readers know how fond I am of The Wheel in the Harbor. I am very excited to see what the new lighting makeover is going to entail. Construction began in mid-September and they are installing new state of the art technology that will include brighter lights, animation, logos, text and more! I am really looking forward to seeing what the “animation” option is going to include. Our friends at the wheel provided the following detailed info about the makeover: The Capital Wheel has been spinning for 10 years, marking countless celebrations with spectacular light shows and providing breathtaking views year-round. As part of the celebration the wheel will be receiving a full makeover with a new state of the art technical lighting package that will run 40 plus frames per second compared to the current 10 frames per second allowing the lights to produce animation, text messages, company logos, more detailed lighting shows, and so much more. “For the last ten years The Capital Wheel has been an icon at National Harbor,” said Derek Lovato, vice president and general manager at The Capital Wheel and Flight Deck. “Millions of people visit every year to experience National Harbor, eat at fantastic restaurants and take a spin on the wheel. This new lighting technology is going to be out of this world. Our guests will be able to propose with personalized messages, reveal their baby’s gender with colors, graphics and text, organizations can promote their cause with logos, and we will be able to cheer on our local sports teams with their iconic graphics. The sky really is the limit with this new lighting system, and we can’t wait to unveil it later in the year.” “We’re delighted to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The…
By Lani Gering I didn’t know much about Dia de los Muertos aka Day of the Dead until I moved to Old Town in 1992 and met my good pal Catherine Jean. She has always been huge fan of Halloween and has hosted some of the best pumpkin carving parties I have ever been to. However, one year she was talking about hosting a “Day of the Dead” party instead and I looked at her like she had gone over the edge. What?? Little did I know what a cool celebration this is and looking into what it would entail was an education. Unfortunately, the plan for the party didn’t come to fruition at that time but I have faith we will pull it off in the future. I am sure there are many of you who have admired the gorgeous costumes and makeup that people don for Halloween that feature skeletons with beautiful flower rings on their heads and the colorful designs painted on their faces. These are a result of the traditions of Dia de los Muertos. I am hoping to find someone who can paint my face this year. I want to share what I found out about this Mexican holiday that we celebrate in the USA almost as much as we do Cinco de Mayo! Who doesn’t need another good excuse to eat tacos and drink some tequila. Check it out: “The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos), is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration. A blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion and Spanish culture, the holiday is celebrated each year from October 31-November 2. While October 31 is Halloween, November 2 is All Souls Day…
By Bob Tagert This month we decided to revisit one of our favorite small towns, Culpeper, Virginia. As we expanded our distribution of the Old Town Crier into the Blue Ridge, the beautiful town of Culpeper was a perfect distribution point. Over the years we got to know many of the merchants as well as other places of interest. The town was founded in 1749 and soon became the hub of the region. The train station and the railway became an important feature of the town as well as a key target of both the Confederate and Union forces during the Civil War. Today the Amtrak trains run north and south with stops in Culpeper as well as Alexandria and Washington, D.C. The train is an excellent way to visit Culpeper for a day. However, if you wanted to stay overnight, the Fountain Hall B&B is a short walk from the station. There are other overnight accommodations as well. Culpeper is centrally located between three other great towns…Sperryville 11 miles on Route 522, Warrenton 25 miles on Route 29 and Fredericksburg on Route 3. There are two distinct sides of Culpeper. The large box stores are located on the north side, and the quaint shops and restaurants on the south side of town. We will focus on the south side of town along East and West Davis streets that make up Historic Downtown Culpeper. Some of the stores are now gone since we first visited. I miss Mr. Minnick and Clarke’s Hardware. That store had everything you ever needed. Some of the other stores that were still here twenty years ago that remain downtown are Calhoun’s Ham House & Country Deli (they also have a place at the Old Town Farmers Market on Saturdays), Frost Cafe, It’s About…
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