Mark Knows It All

Washington, D.C., is a great city and one of my favorite places to visit. Sure, it’s a no brainer because I love politics. But it is more than that. It is beautiful city with good entertainment, great food, great shopping, and a ton of things to do. Once you get over the obvious touristy stuff, you can explore other parts of the city, as well as Maryland and Virginia, and have a great time. Shopping is great in Georgetown and Chevy Chase… and you can get some great meals in Alexandria, plus soak up some of that George Washington atmosphere. Those forefather dudes really walked those streets. Our favorite time to go to Washington is Easter. The government is shut down, and over Easter weekend itself the tourists are at a minimum. That makes for cheap hotel rates and relatively easy access to otherwise busy restaurants and stores and attractions. We like to stay at the Ritz Carlton in Arlington (but only on the cheap…normal rates would require me to mortgage the house) and the Georgetown

This past week, I was able to experience two reasons why I choose to live in the Mahoning Valley. I have written numerous times about the extreme levels of talent in our area. For those in the arts, and for a very midland talent like myself, it gives us a chance to participate in events that would not be available in cities substantially larger than ours. For its spring concert, my Seraphim Chorus presented a full blown version of Mendelssohn’s Elijah. It was approximately three hours long, and presented with four world class soloists, a boy soprano, a chamber orchestra, a kick ass organ, and of course, the 50 member Seraphim Chorus. St. Michael’s Church in Canfield provided an outstanding venue. Attendance was better than expected notwithstanding the Vindicator’s multi-day mistake saying there was a $22.00 admission fee (it was actually a free will offering)…but that’s the Vindicator for you. Although I enjoy classical music to a degree, I have to take it in small doses. Unfortunatel

Show business lost a real talent this past week with the death of Dixie Carter. She died at the early age of 70 after a long and illustrious career on the stage and television. Her breakthrough show was Designing Women , which aired from 1986 – 1993. It was and is one of my all time favorite television programs. Ms. Carter’s death also ends the character of Julia Sugarbaker that she played to the max with gusto. Yes, I am a male, but the character was role model for me. Although Designing Women was a story about four women who ran an interior decorating firm in Atlanta, it also managed to be gender neutral in many of the ideas that came from its very talented writers. Its story line usually centered around a group of people who tried to maintain grace and style in their lives midst a world that was a little more prone to slobbery. Dixie Carter played the feisty, responsible one, who was there to pick up the pieces of whatever fiasco befell these folks, especially her sister, Suzanne

One of my guilty pleasures is a television show on TLC entitled What Not to Wear. I'd like to say it is probably one of the dumbest shows on television today, because it is really kind of stupid. But so many others are worse, I don’t think it makes the top ten list. Has anyone watched Jersey Shore ? The premise is simple. Stacy London, a self appointed fashion diva, and Clinton Kelly, who used to work on a cruise ship, take nominations from the huddled masses for a person who needs a makeover. They show up at this poor soul’s job or at some other public place to “surprise” her. Of course, the What Not to Wear crew has been secretly taping the week's target beforehand to save for posterity all of this individual’s fashion misdeeds, and to humiliate her coast to coast on national television as she waddles about in over sized sweats and fairy wings. The hook: the “frumpette du jour” gets a $5,000.00 shopping spree in New York City. In exchange, she has to relinquish all of her c