When Michael Klein looks back at his portrait from 1988, the memory is bittersweet. “I’m not that person,” he said. Klein was early in his writing career when photographer Robert Giard first contacted him about a portrait. more

Last time, we talked about one of two astonishing botanical references in the book “Crazy Rich Asians.” The first was Epiphyllum oxypetalum, also known as Dutchman’s pipe cactus or the orchid cactus. more

Another run around the sun brought the Hudson River’s best party back to Riverdale. It was a weekend for sailors and landlubbers to rejoice in the river and the neighborhood’s lush landscape along the river’s edge. Families, performers and seafaring explorers convened on the College of Mount Saint Vincent’s campus to celebrate all things Hudson River. more

Left to my own devices, I would prefer reading mysteries exclusively for entertainment. However, I discovered that there is a separate rack of both recently returned fiction and non-fiction at my local library. more

Only a few openly gay activists were protesting in the 1960s, yet Kay Tobin Lahusen was there — with her camera. more

It was a day to remember. The North Riverdale Baseball League and local veterans came together on Sid Augarten Field on May 25 to play ball and take a moment to honor those who served their country and lost their lives in the line of duty. more

Next year will mark the centennial of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the landmark legislation that gave women the right to vote. Historians and educators nationwide will spend this year highlighting the women who fought alongside their sisters for the most basic of democratic rights. more

This column has taken three years to reach you, dear reader. more

Herb Snitzer has always added a personal touch to his photography. more

Sometimes, what you expect is not what you get! Visiting Israel several weeks ago, I had made arrangements to see how the residents of Netzer Hazani, a reconstituted community that had been expelled from Gush Katif, were creating a tourist destination built on its bird population. more