Southern Maryland - This is Living Magazine

Spring Fare with a French Twist

Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 06:45:31 GMT

This delightful spring menu was shared with us by chef Loïc Jaffres of Leonardtown’s Café des Artistes. He and his wife Karleen, along with their original staff, have been running the elegant “country French” restaurant for the past 11 years. Their devotion to its success has paid off - readers of Maryland Life magazine recently voted it “Best Restaurant” in the central region of Maryland.

Plein Air Painting: A Breath of Fresh Air

Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 06:42:46 GMT

A plein air artist’s plight might be compared to the postal worker’s unofficial motto: “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers [artists] from the swift completion of their appointed rounds [paintings].” Painting “en plein air,” a French term meaning “in the open air,” is a tradition still popular and practiced today in Southern Maryland, but it’s not for the weak of heart.

Singer-Songwriter Gets By With a Little Help From Friends

Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 06:40:28 GMT

Local musician Benjamin Connelly arrived for the interview at Solomons Pier on a wet, fog-shrouded afternoon, but inside the popular restaurant, the warmth of friendship overpowered the gloom outside. The bar was packed with friends sipping drinks, munching on appetizers and preparing for the Baltimore Ravens game.

Maestro Brings Passion for Music to Southern Maryland

Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 06:37:04 GMT

What does Southern Maryland have in common with Northern Italy? St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) and its campus in Alba, Italy, share Jeffrey Silberschlag, world-renowned trumpeter and conductor.

For One Local Woman, All the World’s a Stage

Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 06:34:34 GMT

While Therese Thiedeman is always running in numerous directions, she has a one-track mind. And that track always leads back to a stage of some sort. “I like being busy all the time,” said Thiedeman. “I love the arts and I love meeting people - creative people even more!

DB McMillan’s - Pub Food, Irish Music and Fun

Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 06:33:54 GMT

Dana Spicuzza is no stranger to the restaurant business. The co-owner of DB McMillan’s, an Irish pub and grill located in California, Md., comes from a family well-entrenched in the St. Mary’s County dining scene.

Fabulous Fashion Boutiques

Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 06:30:19 GMT

Nothing compares to the feeling of pride when hearing the words, “Where did you get that!?” A comment of admiration on a carefully selected accessory or piece of clothing that reflects your personal sense of style is a true compliment, indeed. And, if you’re willing to share your source with your admirer, imagine her delight when you tell her you bought your treasure at a boutique right here in Southern Maryland.

Washi Paper Eggs

Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 06:27:19 GMT

One of the first crafts I learned when my husband and I moved to Okinawa, Japan, was making washi paper eggs. The Japanese use washi to do origami, and the ornate paper is perfect for decorating eggs.

Time to Sow: Grow Your Own Vegetables This Season

Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 06:23:55 GMT

There is little that can compare to the taste of a just-picked, vine-ripened tomato still warm from the sun. Growing your own vegetables is not only economical, it also provides you the utmost in nutrition. Whether organic, heirloom or just the newest variety offered, growing your own vegetables is sure to guarantee you and your taste buds satisfaction.

Therapy Pets Bring Joy and Love to Nursing Homes

Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 06:19:00 GMT

Animals have a profound effect on our wellbeing. Studies have shown that snuggling with a furry friend, gazing into an aquarium, or communing with a variety of creatures benefits our overall health. Interaction with animals can help lower blood pressure, increase exercise, alleviate loneliness and even lessen depression.

Margaret Brent: A Colonial Heroine

Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 02:53:57 GMT

Margaret Brent, a key figure in Maryland colonial history, has been much honored in the 330 years since her death, but not always for the right reasons. She has been called America’s first suffragette and first woman lawyer, claims that some historians question. Yet relatively little recognition has come to her most important role: She was nothing less than the woman who saved the Maryland colony.

Music Lessons

Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 02:47:26 GMT

Darlene Adams, a La Plata resident and retiree from the University of Maryland, did something last year she hadn’t done since she was ten years old: take piano lessons. The mention of music lessons may bring to mind images of children being coerced into practicing or dressing up for the big recital, but many empty-nesters and retirees find they finally have time to pursue interests they postponed due to work or family, and one interest they frequently turn to is music.

Southern Maryland’s Got Dance

Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 02:29:33 GMT

From ballet to belly dancing and square dancing to hand dancing, Southern Marylanders both young and old are taking to the dance floor. As singles or couples, and in groups, they are expressing themselves through movement and reaping the physical and mental benefits that dance brings.

Art is Everywhere

Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 02:23:57 GMT

In the hallways of government buildings, tucked away in little cafés, in hospital corridors and in front of banks, in the back of antique shops, in church basements, schools and gardens, art is everywhere in Southern Maryland. Often it is viewed from the periphery or overlooked - after all, Southern Marylanders can take a short drive to see Picassos and Van Goghs. But the abundance of Southern Maryland’s natural beauty inspires an abundance of creativity.

A Guide to: Purchasing Art

Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 02:14:26 GMT

Could your living room be more eye-appealing? Your dining room less bare? Nothing dresses up a home like a work of art, but deciding what to buy and where to buy it can be daunting. Let’s assume you won’t settle for a mass-produced reproduction from a big-box store; neither are you likely to bid on art at a Sotheby’s auction. Fortunately, Southern Maryland offers plenty of options between those two extremes.

Postgraduate Education Right Around the Corner

Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 02:07:29 GMT

Many years ago in Southern Maryland, obtaining a higher education locally was possible, but a student’s options were limited. The then-Charles County Community College and St. Mary’s College of Maryland primarily offered ways to obtain an associate or bachelor’s degree, but for those who wanted to go on even further to obtain graduate degrees, a trip to College Park, Md. (to the University of Maryland), or to one of the many universities in Baltimore was where the road to a master’s degree or doctorate often began. Today, things on the Southern Maryland higher education scene are much different and, indeed, much better.

The Best Way to Learn About Computers? Keep It Simple

Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 01:59:14 GMT

Wouldn’t we all like to keep it simple? No tiny home repair that morphs into major remodeling; no job description that expands yearly; no juggling family, job, home and community. Well, Laura Allison of Keep It Simple can’t solve all our problems, but she can keep one thing simple: the technology training we all need to cope with our jobs and our lives.

Athletes Extraordinaire

Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 01:47:31 GMT

In 1958, Eunice Kennedy Shriver had the idea that people with intellectual challenges would benefit from competing in sporting events. She opened “Camp Shriver” in her own backyard, and 75 children with intellectual disabilities participated. Ten years later, Special Olympics was born. Today, the international organization lives out its mission: “Through the power of sport, Special Olympics strives to create a better world by fostering the acceptance and inclusion of all people.”