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Barbara Falconer Newhall

Veteran journalist Barbara Falconer Newhall riffs on life as she knows it.

  • A CASE OF THE HUMAN CONDITION
  • MY EVER-CHANGING FAMILY
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Barbara’s Riffs on Life

Armistead Maupin: The Man Who Wrote the Quintessential San Francisco Novel — On a Newspaper Deadline

January 23, 2014 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 6 Comments

Tales of the City author Armistead Maupin reads from "The Days of Ana Madrigal" at Book Passage, SF Ferry Building

Army’s assignment was to show up at the offices of the San Francisco Chronicle every weekday morning and produce seven hundred words, give or take. The challenging part was this: Unlike most newspaper journalists, Army did not sit down to his Selectric typewriter fortified with a fat notebook of stats and quotes. Army’s job was not to report the news. It was to make it up. Read more.

SXSW: The Funky Charms of East Austin, Texas

January 16, 2014 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 12 Comments

colorful mural decorates the front of a store in Austin TX selling books, T-shirts and CDs. And tattoos. Photo by BF Newhall

Deep in the heart of Texas is a neighborhood that has everything it takes to be a first-rate hipster haven — street art, food trucks, farmers markets, coffee shops, parks, affordable (so far) housing, artists’ studios, walkability — and, most important, a carefree, offbeat vibe. Read more.

Christmas in Mexico — It’s All About the Baby Jesus

January 1, 2014 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 7 Comments

posada procession christmas eve 2013 san miguel de allende. photo by bf newhall

 

If it’s the Baby Jesus you’re looking for on Christmas Eve, the colonial town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, is the place to be. Read more.

A Festive Christmas in San Miguel de Allende

December 26, 2013 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 2 Comments

Santa was nowhere to be seen in the days leading up to Christmas in San Miguel de Allende.

We’re Having a — Merry — Christmas Without the Kids This Year

December 25, 2013 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 3 Comments

A young woman carves the Thanksgiving turkey in the kitchen. Photo by BF Newhall

Christmas has gotten to be a scheduling nightmare in our family. Peter lives in Minnesota. Christina lives in Southern California. Jon and I live in Northern California. That puts 400 miles between us and our daughter and 1600 miles between us and our son and daughter-in-law. Not exactly over the river and through the woods. Read more.

Winter Solstice — My Mother’s Last Words to Me Before She Died

December 19, 2013 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 9 Comments

tinka falconer at Lake Michigan

My mother’s last words to me were nothing much. No parting words of love. No heartfelt messages to the grandchildren. Read more.

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LET’S CONNECT

ON THE FUNNY SIDE

The Truth Behind That Happy Family Photo We Just Sent You. Sheltering at Home Week 39

happy-family-photo family-christmas-photo

We’re nothing like that happy family photo we send with our holiday card each year. Our photo rejects reveal we are a testy, scrappy lot.  Read more.

MORE "ON THE FUNNY SIDE"

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TO MY READERS

Please feel free to share links to my posts with one and all and to quote briefly from them in your own writing, remembering, of course, to attribute the quote to me and to provide a link back to this site.

My Oakland Tribune columns, btw, are reprinted by permission of the Trib. With the exception of review copies of books, I do not accept ads or freebies of any kind. Click on the "Contact" button if you have questions. Enjoy!

 

DON’T MISS!

Memorial to journalists killed in the line of duty at the Newseum in Washington, D.C, bears the names of thousands of journalists. Photo by Sam Kittner/Newseum

Journalists Killed in the Line of Duty: Foley, Sotloff Joined by Dozens Each Year

two women wearing 1960s Spirella Sarong girdle with sign "happiness is a flat tummy."

Mad Men Exposes the ’60s Girdle — But Will She Get It Off in Time?

two pinkish white star magnolia blossoms. photo by BF Newhall

Writing the Personal Essay — Forget the Good, Go for the Bad and the Ugly

Tori Isner, Poet: ‘You Are a Vehicle for Spirit’

MORE DON'T MISS!

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