One of the best concert venues in the world — Standing at the top of the open-air amphitheatre, I could see my breath. A light rain fell, and as the sky turned to indigo, the temperature plummeted, transforming the summer day into a crisp, late-fall night. Before I returned to my seat with snacks and an overpriced warm beer for…

And it has nothing to do with J.K. Rowling — After the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (or, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in the UK), I devoured the 300+ page novel in one sitting. I was slightly beyond the age of the series’ target audience, but it sparked an internal, dormant magic in me. I…

A heated exchange reminded me of the silly nature of social media — If someone mentions Twitter in a real-life conversation, my stomach clenches and I want to hurl. I first joined Twitter in 2020 when a publishing house told me that in order to have a thriving writing career, I needed to form a sizable following on the platform. The pool of…

Grandma Betty was a hilarious, “before her time” rebel — “I grew marijuana,” Grandma Betty managed to spit out between snorts of laughter. She called my mom to tell her about the pot in her garden, and my mom dropped the phone. This was the 1980s, and Grandma Betty was 67 years old. Along with her decidedly “grandma” first name…

A love letter and guide to Maryland’s favorite pastime — Thickly coated with delectable spice, my hands look like they belong to a mythical beast. Actually, my entire body is covered in Old Bay seasoning. My eye itches, but I can’t touch it. My sister, Heidi, laughs and points out the Old Bay in my eyebrows and flakes in my…

The Writer’s Room on Succession is among the best in current television — On HBO’s smash-hit TV show, Succession, the Roy family and those in its sphere of influence are corrupt, broken, detestable characters. Yet their dynamics are of the “car accident you can’t look away from” variety. You may shake your head in disgust at the characters’ actions, but once you’ve watched…

A look at 5 popular TV characters represented by catchy tunes — Although Dawson’s Creek aired its final episode in 2003, when “I Don’t Wanna Wait” by Paula Cole blasts through the loudspeakers at my local grocery store, my mind immediately conjures images of the relationship drama surrounding Pacey, Dawson, and Joey. I am transported back to a simpler, more hopeful time…

My youthful vigor evaporated overnight — Every day, we’re all one step closer to death. How’s that for uplifting, fun news? For the most part, none of us know the day or manner of our demise, but that creepy, taloned beast is coming for us all. Some of us will pass long before the natural end…

‘From’ on Epix is ‘Lost’ with vampires and curse words — *Warning: Some spoilers ahead In 2022, Epix quietly released the supernatural, character-driven horror series From to little fanfare (see what I did there?). The show’s first season received high praise from Stephen King, who tweeted about From, “I was absolutely riveted. True edge-of-your-seat stuff, believable and scary as hell.” However…