A friend notes that, when she visits Italy, the question Italians ask is, “Why Donald Trump?” They think Americans were foolish for making him president in 2016 and for making him the Republican nominee again this year. They consider Trump an international joke. Of course, Italy had as prime minister through four governments Silvio Berlusconi, … Continue reading America: Exceptional for all the wrong reasons
Thank you, Arena Players, for an excellent ‘Gem of the Ocean,’ start of the August Wilson series
As mentioned in my column of April 4, starting with the current production of “Gem Of The Ocean” at Arena Players, a collaboration of Baltimore theater companies will stage August Wilson’s 10 plays about 20th century Black life over the next three years. That means a whole new generation of theatergoers will get to see … Continue reading Thank you, Arena Players, for an excellent ‘Gem of the Ocean,’ start of the August Wilson series
Learn more about the Harborplace redevelopment plan on May 8
The Baltimore chapter of the American Institute of Architects is hosting a public lecture toprovide professional information about MCB Real Estate's Harborplace redevelopment plan, the subject of my weekend column in The Baltimore Sun.It is because of the November voter referendum that AIA Baltimore's Urban Design committee is seeking to increase awareness of the plan … Continue reading Learn more about the Harborplace redevelopment plan on May 8
Baltimore hiring fair coming up
If you know someone looking for a job, here's some information from the Baltimore Mayor's Office about an upcoming event, a Baltimore City job fair to connect job seekers with a wide range of employment opportunities within local government, particularly historically hard-to-hire positions. This event will take place on Thursday, April 25, 2024 from 10 … Continue reading Baltimore hiring fair coming up
Common criminality: Take away Trump’s celebrity and the porn star, and the NY case is like many others prosecuted every day
My Sun column today notes the similarities between the New York criminal case against Trump and the many other cases that have come and gone in courts across the land with business owners, managers or employees caught in schemes to defraud. Trump is accused of falsifying -- or causing to be falsified -- the records … Continue reading Common criminality: Take away Trump’s celebrity and the porn star, and the NY case is like many others prosecuted every day
Trying to catch herring with your hands
The image with this post might seem a little surreal or abstract; it’s certainly not an example of high-definition nature photography. But it gives a sense of what you see in April, when herring first arrive in a freshwater creek. You detect movement of some kind, but you’re not sure. Your eye has to adjust … Continue reading Trying to catch herring with your hands
Americans still make lots of steel, mostly from scrap
A question about the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge — specifically, where will the steel come from to replace it? — got me to today’s Sun column: The state of Maryland should salvage as much of the FSK steel as possible, send it to modern mills, melt it down, refabricate it and use it to … Continue reading Americans still make lots of steel, mostly from scrap
Elegy for a bridge: Ironworkers recall building the Francis Scott Key
My latest Sun column is about three of the many ironworkers who built the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the 1970s and who this week mourn its destruction. With this post -- and the photograph above -- we meet a fourth ironworker who worked on the bridge. His name is Jim Bollino. He's 80 years … Continue reading Elegy for a bridge: Ironworkers recall building the Francis Scott Key
NBC’s Ronna McDaniel Mistake: A lesson in supporting journalists over ideologues
When NBC News announced that the network had hired the former chairwoman of the Republican National Committee as an on-air political commentator, Twitter filled up immediately with calls for a boycott of NBC and MSNBC. It was a typical reaction to something that hacks people off -- stop buying the product. That works for pillows … Continue reading NBC’s Ronna McDaniel Mistake: A lesson in supporting journalists over ideologues
Chesapeake Blue Catfish Dinners with Chef Nancy Longo, April 11 & 12
In this, the Year of Eating Chesapeake Catfish, Chef Nancy Longo of Pierpoint Restaurant in Fells Point will be hosting two Nights of Eating Chesapeake Catfish, specifically the invasive blue catfish that you've been hearing so much about (from me and others). There will be great eats in a multi-course meal and a discussion of … Continue reading Chesapeake Blue Catfish Dinners with Chef Nancy Longo, April 11 & 12
Dan Rodricks 