BOOK OF THE WEEK
Mary McGrory: The First Queen of Journalism by John Norris.
Although this is a biography, it is perhaps even more a rollicking review of presidential campaigns and Congressional politics from the McCarthy hearings through the Bush eras, all as viewed from the perspective of columnist Mary McGrory and her colleagues. Brash, yet elegant, Mary McGrory was a wielder of words and winsome charm. She contrived to never have to carry her own luggage and was both chummy with and critical of presidential and politician friends from Jack and Bobby Kennedy to Gene McCarthy and Mario Cuomo. Her column in the Washington Star ran for almost thirty years and when that newspaper folded, she joined the Washington Post, but never found its culture as pleasing as the warm, family-like atmosphere at the Star. A pioneer in the field, her talent and dedication smoothed the way for other women columnists like today’s Maureen Dowd and Gail Collins.
ART WALK
Having house guests can be an incentive to visit a new place. With my sister and brother-in-law from North Carolina, we took advantage of the Art Walk at the Ringling College of Art and Design. This small private school is situated on the northern edge of Sarasota, and its charming campus, tucked just off Tamiami Trail, is a mix of attractive Spanish architecture and more contemporary buildings. For this event, six of the campus’ galleries were open and free to the public. Included were a display of pieces from the Basch Collection of art glass, a tour of the letterpress lab, and the opening reception for an exhibition of works by alumnus Amer Kobaslija. Faculty were also on hand to try to entice us to sign up for their continuing education courses, everything from creative writing to zentangle (a new structured way to create art) to metal working, to publishing interactive books online. The morning downpour was over, the weather had cleared and walking around this snug campus was a different way to spend the late afternoon.
ON THE SMALL SCREEN
Thanks to the Chief Penguin, my treadmill workouts are now enhanced by watching the Spanish drama, Gran Hotel, available on streaming Netflix. Called the Spanish “Downton Abbey,” and set in 1906, it is the story of the Alarcon family who own and run an elegant country hotel. The matriarch, Dona Teresa, rules with an iron will and is not averse to employing chicanery, secrets, and lies to get her way. Add in her beautiful daughter Alicia, a wayward son (Javier), the unexplained disappearance of one of the maids (Cristina), a waiter (Andres) who is the son of the head housekeeper, and the arrival of a young man (Julio) seeking answers about Cristina’s disappearance, and you have the makings of an entertaining and diverting stew. Full of murders, mysterious letters, and implausible coincidences, it keeps getting better and better. There are three seasons and I’m now into season 2 or about halfway through the 30+ episodes. It is subtitled, but I don’t find that at all a problem, even while striding along on the treadmill!
Header Photo: Morning on Manatee Beach (copyright JWFarrington)
