The garden cycle works out just right

The peony in the corner of the front of our home in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood gave us its all during a furious week of budding and beauty. A full 15 flowers shot out of that one sturdy green plant in one week. They lasted slightly longer than that. I let the petals…

‘War of the Roses’ with grown kids, ‘Ant-Man’ big, too?

A quarter-century ago, movie-goers took great pleasure watching the Roses — that would be Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner — do very mean things to each other as their marriage fell apart right in front of the world’s very eyes. Now there’s a sequel in the works, also being adapted from a novel by Warren…

Another talented journalist waves goodbye

A man who worked more than 30 years in a Syracuse newsroom wore a Hawaiian shirt proudly, worked the barroom like he owned it, shook hands, told stories, hugged people, told more stories, hugged more people, confidently gave a speech, choked up just a bit, listened to a little whisper in his ear, and thanked…

We can’t play pickup baseball on the Terps’ field?

Fresh to the University of Maryland campus, the three transfer students ran around the baseball field like the little boys we were just a few short years prior. We tested our throwing arms from shortstop to first base, and stood at home plate and did that little self-toss and crack-the-bat move to try to whack…

Listen to music, watch the people, taste the food

For more than two decades, when I went out to hear music, music was my sole focus. My job was to review concerts for the big daily in Syracuse. Hey, people, I’m trying to hear a band here. Even when I went to local series and bars and such, I knew I’d be writing about…

No, not that kind of pound, Dogamous Pyle

Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle, had her regular check-up at the vet’s yesterday afternoon. I marched her up on the scale, and she sat pretty still, as far as big rescue mutts in the vet’s office go. The nice lady behind the desk asked me the verdict, and I read out, “77 pounds.” Then we…

‘El Jefe’ feeds the soul of father, son, audience in ‘Chef’

There is no such thing as dabbling in social media. Or fatherhood. Or running the menu of an L.A. restaurant. So learns Carl Casper, the very hard way, in the movie “Chef.” It’s a total creation from Jon Favreau, producer, director, writer, star, and it’s quite fabulous, a little movie that’s hugely satisfying. When you…

A new game to the Backyard Olympics …

At our great friends KP and Sue’s big shindig Sunday afternoon, I discovered a new sport in the Backyard Olympics collection. Elisabeth knew it. My wonderful daughter picked up one of the stringed things and took aim. Her solid boyfriend George knew it. He enthusiastically stepped up for the two-person contest using the six swingie…