Make It a Great Year (A Mamie and Solly Story)

(Scene: Mamie and Solly eating out while recapping the year.) Mamie (cutting her salad): Been a heck of a year, Solly. Solly (pouring his dressing): Mamie, I’m glad to be retired. M: You taught in the Spring. S: Started out teaching in person which was great. M: Then, a friend in the Midwest passed away.... Read More

Fiction

December 14, 2024

Our Complete Discourse

What? You ask as if my reply had skewed our conversation, its meaning, its focus on ordinary words, their simple, honest thoughts we’d waited so long to express. Clarity had come as an informant each of us knew yet hesitated to trust with revived affection, its stippled emotions.

Poet's Corner

December 12, 2024

The Bible Raised High

This being the month of December, many will pick up the Bible and turn to the Gospels to read the Christmas Story silently, or aloud to their children. Or they will hear it read to them in church. Sometimes as an accompaniment to a group of fellow parishioners in “Biblical garb” which looks suspiciously like... Read More

Essays

December 10, 2024

May There Be Sparkle in Your Holiday Season

While we’re fans of sparkling wine any time of year, there’s no question that the holiday season is the time to break out the bubbly. From spirited cocktail parties to elaborate dinners with family and friends, the holiday season is about special occasions, and we love celebrating with bubbles in hand. And who can blame us? There’s... Read More

The Wine Spot

December 7, 2024

Movies You Missed From 20 Years Ago: Hotel Rwanda

Hotel Rwanda (7/10 Rating) Released December 22, 2004 (Limited) Streaming on Tubi, for rent/purchase on all major platforms. Genre: Docudrama, Biography, Drama, History, War PG-13: On appeal for violence, disturbing images, brief strong language 2h 1m Nominated for three Academy Awards, Hotel Rwanda is based on true events that took place during the Rwandan... Read More

Movies You Missed

December 5, 2024

INside OWE Arts & Culture: Trevor Percario

Trevor Percario is something of a prodigy. At 23, he is already an accomplished pianist and musician playing gigs in bands and as a solo act across the region. As prodigies typically do, Trevor started young. At five, he was playing music with his nine-year-old brother. On one occasion, his father was showing his older... Read More

Collage

December 3, 2024

From Retail to Nature’s Art: One Man’s Journey of Self-Discovery

Robert Huggins spent six years racing from one retail holiday season to the next, always planning months ahead. Today, you’re more likely to find him thoughtfully collecting pinecones along a hiking trail or crafting whimsical woodland creatures inspired by his childhood love of FernGully: The Last Rainforest. This transformation didn’t happen overnight—it’s the result of... Read More

Cover Features

November 21, 2024

Right Bank or Left Bank, It’s All About the Blend

You have probably heard about the differences between the Left Bank and the Right Bank of the River Seine in Paris, but this Right Bank vs. Left Bank comparison concerns a different part of France. Recently, I visited a wine shop to purchase a red Bordeaux for a dinner with friends. I found the wines... Read More

The Wine Spot

November 19, 2024

Why We Linger…

Linger. Our snow will melt, slick roads will dull like doormats. Our sun will return bright and vigorous as ever. Our seasonal respite welcomes our desire to embrace for days or weeks; we are time’s distractions, reliable harbingers of spring.

Poet's Corner

November 13, 2024

Movies You Missed From 20 Years Ago: National Treasure

National Treasure (6/10 Rating) Released November 19, 2004 Disney+ or For rent/purchase on all major platforms. Genre: Quest, Action, Adventure, Mystery, Thriller PG: Action violence and some scary images 2h 11m In the early 90s Jon Turtletaub directed 3 Ninjas and Cool Runnings, two films that are not exactly masterpieces, but I loved as... Read More