Baccala, bacalhau, bacaloa — it’s all cod to me

There’s really no practical reason for baccala anymore. They have this thing called “refrigeration” now and you can freeze fish for months. The original concept — drying out flanks of Atlantic cod and salting them to preserve them — goes back centuries and remains a thing only because there’s a market for the resulting Old … Continue reading Baccala, bacalhau, bacaloa — it’s all cod to me

Recipe: Classic chicken cacciatore

A reader asked me for the recipe for Chicken Cacciatore that she had heard on Midday on WYPR when I was the show's host (2008-2016). I could not recall the recipe or who offered it. But, no surprise, Donna Crivello of Cosima (and formerly Donna's) had one, and, also no surprise, it comes from her … Continue reading Recipe: Classic chicken cacciatore

By law, how Baltimore can end the gun violence

I took this photo of the fence line where a Baltimore police officer’s car crashed early Thursday, on Pennington Avenue in Curtis Bay. The officer, Keona Holley, was shot in an apparent ambush. You can read about her at this link to The Baltimore Sun’s coverage. Here’s my Friday column on the shooting, my second … Continue reading By law, how Baltimore can end the gun violence

Yes, America has a gun problem. It has a violence problem to go with it.

I no longer assume the following: That the vast majorty of Americans (meaning, 75% to 80% of us) understand the fundamentals of democracy and the Constitution, that the vast majority of Americans can clearly discern fact from fiction, that the vast majority of Americans understand that peace is better than violence. That last one — … Continue reading Yes, America has a gun problem. It has a violence problem to go with it.

Last words on justice and parole for lifers

I have written on the topic of parole for lifers a lot, but I think I've reached the end of my efforts on this issue. I'm not giving up. I just think my job's done here. The Maryland General Assembly has finally taken an action that will remove politics from the parole system, and that's … Continue reading Last words on justice and parole for lifers

Never fry bacon while naked and other kitchen lessons

My column in today’s Baltimore Sun is all about cooking — some lessons I’ve picked up from cooking every day and from watching some good chefs, professional and at-home, do their thing over stoves and countertops. It’s a data dump of 32 pointers and suggestions, offered for readers as the holiday cooking season gets underway. … Continue reading Never fry bacon while naked and other kitchen lessons

Essay and photos: Sunset and candles at Antietam

Sharpsburg, Md -- On Saturday, one thousand volunteers placed 23,000 candles on the Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland. It was the annual illumination of grounds where nearly that number of Americans were killed, wounded or reported missing in the violent struggle to end slavery and preserve the union. The battle of Antietam took place on Sept. … Continue reading Essay and photos: Sunset and candles at Antietam

Model city: Baltimore in HO scale at the B&O Museum

As mentioned in my weekend column in The Baltimore Sun: The newest addition to the B&O Railroad Museum is a large model train layout of Baltimore landmarks — Oriole Park (on the day of a Baltimore-Seattle playoff game in 1997), the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower, the World Trade Center, the Lord Baltimore Hotel, the Hippodrome … Continue reading Model city: Baltimore in HO scale at the B&O Museum

E stands for Encouragement, Enthusiasm and Ernie

My Sun column today is about someone many from the newspaper knew -- and someone I wish the rest of you could have known: Ernie Imhoff, longtime reporter and editor for the Sunpapers of Baltimore, an assistant managing editor of the bygone Evening Sun and its last managing editor. Ernie, who died the other day, … Continue reading E stands for Encouragement, Enthusiasm and Ernie

Online premiere: ‘Hidden In Full View,’ the Matthew Williams lynching in Maryland

This Saturday, December 4, from 1pm-3pm ET  the #breathewithme Revolution and the Maryland Lynching Memorial Project present the World Premiere of Hidden in Full View, a short film that documents the lynching of 23-year old Matthew Williams in Salisbury, Maryland 90 years ago. The release is part of a national campaign that includes the upcoming publication of a book about the Williams … Continue reading Online premiere: ‘Hidden In Full View,’ the Matthew Williams lynching in Maryland