We all have concepts that we believe to be true.  For instance, most of us have heard and believe as factual that “the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.”  Likewise, that the sum of “1 + 1 = 2” is a premise upon which virtually all of us would agree.   These concepts are […]

Growing up in South Philadelphia during the Great Depression, I enjoyed nothing more than a Jersey Tomato, in a salad or on a sandwich or cooked, it was delicious.  The climate and soil of South Jersey was the birthplace of this wonderful fruit.  When they were harvested, they were hand picked and sent to market.   […]

No one said it better then Sister Sledge when they sang, “We are Family…I’ve got all my Sisters with me!”  However, in our case we had all our sisters, mothers, aunts, cousins, and friends with us!  Just to make you a little more familiar with us, three of the four original Whine and Wine girls […]

The name Gerber is almost synonymous with baby food, the brand with the chubby, happy baby on the label.  But it is another Gerber who has thrown his hat into the ring to challenge the food magnate with his own victuals: Manhattan Bagels.   Now, John Gerber’s is not your run-of-the-mill sandwich shop, because he makes […]

Following a critical juncture in our nation’s history, our government designated a special day on which to commemorate the men and women who had defended our nation from enemies both abroad and within our borders.  Although each branch of the service had previously chosen a day on which to honor their own, Armed Forces Day […]

If you like your music computer-generated and bereft of soul, steer clear of Taylor Hicks’ latest CD, “The Distance.”  On his third independent release, you won’t find synthesizers or a techno-robotic voice; you won’t even find the ubiquitous box office star aspiring to overnight Top 40 fame.  What you will find on Hicks’ latest outing […]

  Dating back to seventeenth century England is the old adage that “a dog is a man’s best friend.”  While not true in the literal sense for everyone, a dog can certainly enhance the lives of its owners.  Loyal and trusted family members, dogs provide companionship, protection, and most of all, unconditional love to their […]

Have you ever stopped and wished you could know what someone else is thinking? It’s no secret that women and men have been wondering for years what the other is thinking, especially when it comes to relationships.   Better yet, have you ever wondered about someone else’s intentions toward you?  Well, when it comes to […]

There are those who still believe that Satan wears horns and brandishes a pitchfork.  There are others who believe that evil walks only on two legs: human appendages. And then there are those whose concept of wickedness defies their own prior notions. Thanks to a brief but chilling encounter that Mr. Smith (for purposes of […]

Brian Pastor is one of the premier trombonists in the universe.  He is the Principal Trombonist with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops.  In 1994, as a vehicle for professional musicians to play big band jazz music and provide a showcase for great jazz soloists, arrangers and composers, he founded The Brian Pastor Big Band […]