‘Mission’ Possible: Cecilia Bartoli Rules the Classical Roost

With Mission, her acclaimed new album of Agostino Steffani songs, CECILIA BARTOLI is not only getting the best reviews of her distinguished career, but says she is 'going against the typical cliche of a diva, of being beautiful...
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Power of a Song

GHANDI's inspiring Salt March of 1930 provides the inspiration for a powerful new album by CHANDRIKA KRISHNAMURTHY TANDON, who reimagines the 241-mile trek, which led to India's independence, for a new generation. Interview and...
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Deep Roots Yuletide Baedeker 2020

Welcome back our CHRISTMAS BAEDEKER, the all-inclusive guide to the best in holiday fare, from movies to cartoons to music to stories behind the songs to Christmas poetry to...well, you name it, we got it! Buon Natale!
by David McGee
 

 
 

Surf in Verse

SURF IN VERSE: Our annual feature marking summer's arrival. This month we spotlight, exclusively, the poetry of BRYAN KNOWLES, who has posted a wealth of his original poetry at the website Surf Poetry.com. Also: some choice SUR...
by David McGee
 

 

 

Swingin’ and A-Surfin’, All Summer Long

SUMMER BEACH PARTY offers 19 examples of the music featured in various Beach Party-style movies in the '60s. Not to worry--for every FRANKIE AVALON, there's two DICK DALES, or THE ASTRONAUTS, or JAN AND DEAN, or THE BEACH BOYS...
by David McGee
 

 
 

‘It’s Almost Like We’re Standing Against an Evil Giant’

NAVAJO WOMEN are rising up against unfettered oil and gas development on Native lands; a statue of CHIEF JOSEPH of the Nez Perce is going into Statuary Hall.
by David McGee
 

 

 

A Great Storm in Utah

From his collections of essay published in 1819, JOHN MUIR recounts 'A Storm in Utah,' and proves himself as insightful about the 'salt Latter Days' as he is poetic about the forces of nature.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Hark the What? Ironies of a Beloved Carol

REV. MARK D. ROBERTS knows 'If you don’t want to tick people off, then don’t change the words of the hymns and carols.' As he explains, 'HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING' is a perfect example of this maxim.
by David McGee
 

 

 

What Christmas Is As We Grow Older

Writing in his twopenny weekly, Household Words, in 1851, CHARLES DICKENS penned one of his most thoughtful Yuletide pieces, 'What Christmas Is As We Grow Older,' comprising thoughts arising against a backdrop of great personal...
by David McGee
 

 
 

In The Woods, In the Illustrator’s Eyes

IN THE WOODS, DAVID ELLIOTT's poetry collection that explores 15 creatures in their woodland habitats, is beautifully illustrated by ROB DUNLAVEY, who discussed the project with JULES.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Last Stop on Market Street: A Visit with Matt de la Peña & Christian Robinson

JULES sits down with MATT DE LA PEÑA, author of one of her favorite new books of 2015, LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET, beautifully illustrated by CHRISTIAN ROBINSON.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Sustainable Agriculture News & Notes

Organic seeds with your coffee? The ancient Pongamia Tree as a biofuel feed solution? A New Britain, CT, farm seeks to improve a neightborhood with sustainable urban agriculture? Read about it here.
by David McGee