Village Green/Town²

 A few unrelated things: This year’s new American Girl doll is named Summer McKinny and she apparently lives in Columbia, Maryland. From what I can tell there’s really nothing idiosyncratically Columbia about her. She looks to be an upper middle class white girl.  The author of Summer’s story, Clare Hutton, grew up in Columbia. I sincerely hope that some enterprising young local doll owner runs with this and creates a social media account photographing Summer all around her hometown. I’m thinking Instagram. Just imagine: Summer at the Mall, the Lakefront, the People Tree, the fireworks, the ice rink, a concert at the Chrysalis, the farmers market…Let’s give this doll the full Columbia treatment. ***** I bumped into a short video on TikTok that said,  “This is your sign to volunteer at a bunny adoption center.” Did you know Columbia had a bunny adoption center? I didn’t. It’s called Friends of Rabbits and was founded in 1997.  Check them out on Facebook and Instag...

  “Wine is, perhaps, the closest thing the planet has to an elixir of life.” - - Thom Elkjer I don’t know if that’s true. But I did have an experience with wine last evening that’s definitely worth writing about. My mother in law provided some lovely chilled white wine to go with our Thanksgiving meal for those who desired it. My daughter and her husband brought an alcohol-free red that they purchased at Hopscotch Bottle Shop which is near to where they live in Baltimore. Daughter: Have you tasted this? You need to taste this.  Husband: Takes a sip. Eyes widen, eyebrows go up. Daughter: It’s salty! Husband: No, its cherries. Lively conversation bordering on argument ensues. Daughter: Maybe it’s curry. Two other guests, now curious, decide to try some. More lively conversation. Is it salt, is it cherries? Is it curry? I should point out that daughter is a restaurant manager and son-in-law is a sommelier. This was a rather elevated conversation. It was witty, informative, fast-...

Thank goodness for small favors. This is the time of year when advertising nudges us to make grand gestures. New cars bedecked with enormous bows. A complete kitchen renovation just in time for holiday entertaining.. A trip to Disney. A cruise. Large pieces of statement jewelry. Yet there is something far more powerful than the big ticket items, as tempting as they may be: the small gift. It takes a special kind of person to excel at the giving of the small gift. I spent years trying to give the most amazing, people-pleasing gifts possible. It took me a while to comprehend the sheer delight of a small gift.  It is not size alone that dictates a gift’s success - - it’s thoughtfulness, and imagination. It’s the confidence of communicating to someone that they are valuable to you without crossing the line into wanting to impress them.  I've been thinking a lot about small gifts in the last few weeks. A friend went on vacation and brought me back a seashell. Another mailed me a ca...

Hey there, HoCoLocals!  My brain is just plain broken over here this morning. That most likely because I’m obsessing over a certain local story which I feel like I should write about but feels too hot to handle all at the same time. I hate it when that happens. Anyway, as I often do under similar circumstances, I’m going to put you to work. Here’s the topic: What are the local places/events you’ll definitely be visiting between now and December 31st? Whether you are trying to “get things accomplished” before the New Year or celebrating annual traditions, what places are your local go-tos at this time of year?  I feel strangely unmoored at the moment but I do know I’ll make the trip to Touchet Touché for one of their gingerbread men. The WBAL Concert for Kids is always a fun outing. We used to go to Pier One every year just to look at all the holiday “stuff” and to pick out a new ornament for the tree. Same with River Hill Garden Center.  Maybe you have some suggestions of...

  Oh, look! Here’s an upcoming seasonal festive event in Elkridge.  Celebrate the season with us on Thursday, December 5, 2024, as we come together to decorate and light up our community trees in Elkridge! Join your neighbors and community staff for a festive evening filled with holiday cheer. At the Elkridge Fire House, decorating begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the tree lighting at 5:45 p.m. Over at the Elkridge Library, decorating starts at 6 p.m., with the tree lighting at 6:15 p.m. Decorations will be provided, so just bring your holiday spirit and loved ones to make Elkridge shine bright this season. We look forward to seeing you there! - - Howard County Executive Calvin Ball’s Facebook page  And, just as soon as the information gets posted, the trolls move in. They are not community trees. They are Christmas trees. Only in your world, which is a farce, is a lit tree called a community tree. Human beings, and Christians, call these Christmas trees. There is nothing...

  Help Wanted? Well - - something like that. Today’s post has to do with HoCo locals who are looking for something.  First up, this request on a local foodie page. It has since disappeared but it got me thinking.  Does anyone know where I can get a soul-food Thanksgiving meal? My friend who usually hosts an amazing friendsgiving won't be able to this year, so will have to look elsewhere. From what I can tell, Howard County isn’t exactly teeming with soul food establishments. I certainly haven’t seen anyone advertising soul food Thanksgiving meals. Is that a missed opportunity? Certainly soul food cooking is outside of my area of expertise, so, I’m open to suggestions. What would constitute a soul food Thanksgiving meal to you? And, do you think there’s a market here for restaurants to do that? Or is this the kind of food one is expected to master at home and from scratch? I don’t know what became of this fellow but I hope he connects with a happy and delicious Thanksgivin...

  I’ve been noticing several Girls’ Night Out events on local calendars recently. There was one at Ace Hardware, and there’s one coming up at Savage Mill, I believe. Main Street Ellicott City sometimes hosts Girls’ Night Out events.  I don’t recall seeing any Boys’ Night Out events. Ever.  Why is that?  The truth is that if one is a girl, girlhood lasts until adolescence - - say, age thirteen - - and after that one is a woman at eighteen (or twenty one, conservatively speaking.) No one over the age of twelve is a girl.  What is the deal, then, with the Girls’ Night Out phenomenon? Do women need to be infantilized in order to cajole them to come out and spend money? Is it a nod to suggesting that we can put down our adult cares and responsibilities and just “be girls” again? Don't men want to put down adult cares and responsibilities, too? Then why don’t I see specially themed Boys’ Night Out events with equal frequency? Can’t you sell them things by enticing th...

  Yesterday’s conversational snow event was a treat, at least for me. I didn’t need to be out in it and my most pressing responsibility was keeping seed in the birdfeeder. Cold birds are hungry birds. There’s no more snow in the immediate forecast and it looks like the sun might even come out a bit today if you’re thinking of getting out and about. There’s a Thanksgiving Market at Clarksville Commons from 10 am - 2 pm. Join us for our annual Thanksgiving Market at the Commons! Most of our regular market vendors will be on the plaza, plus some exciting newcomers. Stop by to stock up for your Thanksgiving feasting and the holidays ahead! The Robinson Nature Center is hosting the HoCo Rec & Parks   Mistletoe at Midday Makers Market  from 11:30 am - 3:30 pm. Meet local artisans and shop their handmade and sustainable wares at tables spaced out both outside and inside Robinson Nature Center. Admission is $3 for everyone 3 years and older and free for Robinson members. Loca...

  It’s Friday so I’m getting out my soapbox. You have been warned. I’m here to lament the continued trend in entertainment to reducing everything to a competition. You might even call it Competition Creep.  I hate competition. I find it stressful. I also realize that some folks enjoy watching it and even thrive on participating. Not me. Give me some fascinating history shows, arts programs, human interest stories and home shows that don’t take themselves too seriously. Throw in some old episodes of “Whose Line?” where the rules are made up and the points don’t matter. If you are looking for competition, there are plenty of sporting events to follow and game shows, too. Isn’t that enough?  Apparently not. It seems that almost everything on television these days is framed as a competition. For those of us who remember a life before there was this thing called “Reality TV” the change is noticeable. Perhaps you’d like to see a seasonal show on the making of gingerbread house...

I got up at two am this morning because I thought the clock said four am. Yes, even I think that is odd logic but sleep has been sketchy recently. You’d think that would have given me more productive writing time but…at two am one isn’t necessarily focused.  I’ve spent the past few hours reading thoughtful and empathetic statements on Trans Day of Remembrance from local individuals, public servants, and institutions. There’s an indescribable horror in seeing those words interspersed with the hateful actions and speech of Nancy Mace and others of her ilk in Washington, DC.  We may have successfully pushed back on attitudes like that in the hcpss school board race but I don’t think there will be much time to rest and enjoy that success. The prejudice and persecution that our LGBTQIA family, friends, and neighbors experience occurs daily. Our support for them must also be daily.  Here’s a little something to think on today: One of the country’s few gender-affirming thrift s...

Well! It’s always the pieces that I work the hardest on and I put out into the world with great hopes than nobody reads. And the ones that I suspect will slip soundlessly into the night turn out to be the ones that everybody reads. Let that be a lesson to me, I guess. Some folks seemed to think that I wrote yesterday’s post about one particular person. Holy cow, no. It was about a pattern of behavior which has been employed by a number of people on the local scene, and, as I noted, probably elsewhere. This is not a gossip column. I am not here to churn out breathless hit pieces. A clarification: I mentioned my own passionate involvement in 1) covering a certain BOE race and 2) the importance of music education to make it clear that I do know what it’s like to be outspoken about issues because one cares so much about them. But that was not the point of the piece. If that was not clear I sincerely apologize. When I wrote “It can be a very fine line between caring deeply about somethi...

True confession: after reading the reports from Reservoir High School yesterday I actually did double check that the bottle of Barium sulfate waiting in my refrigerator would not render me radioactive. Yes, I should know better but it’s still early in the morning.  Mysterious ‘uranium’ vial at Howard County high school prompts evacuation , Cody Boteler, The Baltimore Banner  In case you can’t read that, the upshot is that the school took every precaution and there is no real danger. My apologies to anyone who thought they might get the rest of the week off due to hazardous materials.  ***** My next topic is inspired by local goings-on but I suspect it’s more a function of human nature and can be found everywhere in one form or another. My current examples are from the world of social media. If you operate more in the real world than I do these days I think you’ll concur that it’s visible anywhere human beings assemble. My pet peeve this morning is with people who are se...

“Don’t let your mind wander. It’s far too small to be let out alone.” This admonition, which I first spied on a bumper sticker, would be funny if it weren’t so true. People seem to feel the need to let their minds run any old place without benefit of a plan, a map, or adequate provisions.* Simply put: if you’re going to present an argument you need to be ready to prove it. Show your work. A current example of brains that have been let out to wander is the trend to vilify the Howard County new flag initiative by stating: We don’t need a new flag. There’s nothing wrong with the old flag. It’s a misuse/waste of public funds It’s nothing but a vanity project/ego trip for the County Executive. Okay: prove it. If you’re going to make those accusations then I want evidence. Where is it? I have yet to see one shred of evidence backing up these accusations but they sure must be fun to say because they are popping up all over the place on social media. Have you done enough research into the hist...

Today I tip my hat to PATH (People Acting Together in Howard) who are hosting a Statewide Action for a Just Democracy at Wilde Lake Interfaith Center this afternoon from 3 to 5 pm.  PATH is a multi-racial, multi-faith, non-partisan residents’ organization, rooted in local congregations and organizations. Our dues-paying member institutions include over 20,000 Howard County residents, and represent the diversity, hope, and dreams of our community. For the full details on the event, click on this link   which includes information on how to register and how to signup for childcare during the event if you will need it. Dinner will be provided. After what has been for many of us a disheartening and brutal outcome of this year’s election season, the thought of coming out and organizing around important issues may hold less appeal than it might otherwise. There exists (at least for me) a deep desire to grieve, stay in bed, or possibly just hide under the bed in the face of wha...

  Brace yourselves. I am once again going to focus on a part of the story that is not the main point. Bear with me.  Howard County Schools let us taste new lunch options. Here’s what we thought . Christina Tkacik, Baltimore Banner You may be aware that HCPSS is in the process of upgrading their food offerings. The school system is partnering with the Horizon Foundation and the Healthier Choices Coalition (a local advocacy group) to bring fresher, healthier, and more diverse menu items to the school lunch program. They held a community taste test event Thursday night at Guilford Park High School. There will be another such event in Columbia in the Spring.  Ms. Tkacik is a food reporter for the Baltimore Banner and before that she held a similar post at the Baltimore Sun. It must be quite a mental shift to taste lunchroom food when you are more used to the intricacies of fine dining. She is a good sport. One of the things that struck me was that any changes the school syst...

I need your help. I’m on the trail of a mystery and the clues are few and far between. Here goes: What has happened to all the creative, high-quality children’s television programming? With the exception of Bluey and PBS offerings, everything feels junky and ordinary to me these days. Yet when our youngest was little we had our pick of Blues Clues, Out of the Box, Bear in the Big Blue House, Wonder Pets, the Backyardigans, Jack’s Big Music Show plus excellent PBS shows like Between the Lions, Fetch!, and Postcards from Buster.  What happened? Now, when I was little children’s programming was still a new thing and most of it was junk. Captain Kangaroo was probably the high point of those years. If we could get UHF to come through clearly we could watch Educational Television (and eventually Sesame Street made its debut) but most of the animated shows for kids were unmitigated crud. Some that I remembered fondly do not hold up well.  Mostly, though, you had Saturday morning cart...

  On Saturday Columbia Community Care put out an urgent call for food and personal care items due to serious depletion of supplies at their Long Reach pantry. I wrote about it on Sunday.  Image from Columbia Community Care Social Media Yesterday’s pictures were astounding. This represents some of what has arrived since Saturday: Image from Columbia Community Care Social Media Are you connected to Columbia Community Care on Facebook ? They are good folks. They remind us that we can be good folks. Right now is a remarkably good time to be reminded what community care looks like: it is powerful.  We can be powerful in support of one another. In that same vein, you may recall that I mentioned some examples of human kindness about a week ago. Despite the enormity of Tuesday’s election bearing down on us, I’ve seen some lovely things unfold on social media in the last twenty four hours. Not political, but examples of genuine human kindness. They aren’t my stories to tell but I...

Sometimes I save photographs for what seems like no good reason. Often it’s purely because it reminds me of something else. This one may have been a listing for materials in Facebook marketplace. But, to me, it bore a resemblance to another photo that grabbed my attention a year or so ago. This one: And that photo put me in mind of this . Architect’s/Artist’s rendering of Columbia’s Lakefront Library Columbia/HoCo’s Current Obsession , Village Green/Town², May 4, 2023 I've been pondering whether that first photo…  …was possibly a “starter kit” for the Lakefront Library. (Think IKEA but without the Allen wrenches.) I was wrong. A press release yesterday from County Executive Calvin Ball shifted my focus.  Howard County Executive Calvin Ball Announces Advancement of New Cultural Center in Downtown Columbia , HoCo Gov, 11/12/2024 The New Cultural Center will be an exciting epicenter for dynamic visual and performing arts, not only for Downtown Columbia but throughout our county a...

  Good morning, HoCo! What’s happening? Here are a few things I have in my bag of tricks. Thursday night, November 14th, Wilde Lake CARES is hosting an event focused on recycling. Just a reminder of this recycling event we are hosting this Thursday night. We would love to see you there. Bring a few items that you have questions about and our expert will tell you if they can be recycled or not. Please share this event throughout the community, we hope to have a good crowd. KNOW before you THROW HOWARD COUNTY, MD Thu, Nov 14 at 7 PM What's in, What's Out in Howard County Recycling? Also on Thursday evening: Calling ALL Creative Minds: Save the Date for #HowardCC's 6th Annual Creative Write-In!  Unleash your imagination, mingle with fellow wordsmiths, or just soak up the creative vibe. Free pizza will be served. Registration is not required. It looks to be free and open to the community. I’m tempted. Have you visited Howard County’s new restaurant, Old Line Kitchen and Wine Ba...