In a Brick from a few weeks back I referred to a recent novel that had Fort Smith, Arkansas, as one of its main locales. But I hadn’t read but a few pages. It’s time to do the right thing: finish and reflect. It’s A Secret Word by Jennifer Paddock, 2004, published by Touchstone, an […]
From today’s Democrat-Gazette The site currently under construction isn’t a replica of the original building, but a ‘faithful facsimile.’” — Tommy Jameson, project architect for Little Rock’s new Mosaic Templars black history museum. I’m not trying to advocate more drinking. I’m trying to get more tax revenue for our county.” — Richard Hodo, owner of […]
PHILADELPHIA — Often, we try to locate a decent diner early in any multiday stay. On our own, we stay at Hampton or Comfort inns that include a regrettably starchy breakfast. You still need a diner. For conferences, like the one of last weekend, you reside on-site. The Sofitel here had a terrific and expensive […]
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Museum of Art had a special exhibit of the calligraphy of the 17th-century Japanese artist Ike Taiga, as well as his wife, Mamie. As is customary, he illustrated the words with scenes of woods, mountains and a few people here and there. Often Taiga and Tokuyama Gyokuran (his wife, really) used […]
PHILADELPHIA — A fellow columnist, Ernesto Portillo Jr., on hearing my description of my mom’s favorite cousin, who’s lived in a suburb in New Jersey for 19 years, said last week, “Mexicans would call him your uncle, never mind the precise lineage.” I’ll continue to call him by his name, or Cousin (my brother calls […]
PHILADELPHIA — While columnist conferees last Friday toured both the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, I had a 40-year closure issue with Benjamin Franklin so My Beloved and I skipped the latter. When I was age 10 3/4, late summer 1968, Dad had business in Camden, N.J. Time for a road trip! From Fort Smith, […]