Bob & Wendy Sing a “California Melody”
Painting by Wendy Liepman Pennsylvania raised me, California saved me I flew across this continent so wide For a myriad of reasons, I have traded in the seasons To…
TV & Film Insider Bill Froehlich Turns a Page into Print
The perfect beach-reading companion this summer is a suspenseful mix of thrills, romance, and intrigue—plus head-spinning deception—all played out on the international stage in the high-class, high-stakes world of priceless…
George Benson Gives Us the Night
Call it concert serendipity. On the weekend before my birthday. At my second favorite venue in California (behind only the historic Hollywood Bowl). With a revered musician performing in his…
Back & Forth: Author MaryFrank Sanborn
Writer MaryFrank Sanborn redefines the term “slow starter,” waiting until the age of 80 to publish her first novel, The Lightning Field (Coalesce Press, 2026). Inspired by multiple visits to…
SLOIFF Review: “The Strawberry”
Photo by Sean Tuck © Slabtown Studios / Hidden Creek, LLC An Unexpected, Emotional Journey On his 80th birthday, Herb Kaplan (Mike Farrell) receives some unwanted news from his…
Reflections: Visiting a Literary Landmark in Paris
Photo courtesy Shakespeare and Company In preparing for a recent trip to Paris, my first ever, I had my “to do” list pretty well mapped out. Drink Champagne at…
“Solo Mio” Offers a Little Rome-ance
Perhaps the most surprising thing about the new romantic comedy Solo Mio is how surprisingly good this film actually is. On the surface, the storyline seems all-too-familiar: Matt (Kevin James)…
Ronnie Marmo Brings Lenny Bruce to Town
Lenny Bruce In 2017, Rolling Stone magazine ranked the greatest stand-up comics ever. Richard Pryor came in at number one. George Carlin finished in second place. No surprise. Both…
A Sequel (of Sorts) to “Hamnet”
The current film Hamnet is resonating with critics and audiences alike in its searing depiction of tragic loss in the life of William Shakespeare—and how that event inspired what is…
John Madden Gets Hollywood Treatment
Christian Bale and Nicolas Cage in Madden The two most famous graduates of Cal Poly are arguably comic “Weird Al” Yankovic and the late NFL football coach/sports commentator John…