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Barbara Falconer Newhall

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

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For Wetter, For Drier — I’m Married to California

February 27, 2014 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

The slopes along the Grapevine in Southern California are dry and grey during February 2014 drought. Photo by BF Newhall

Basically, there are two kinds of Californian. Those who are delighted by a sunny February day. And those who are dismayed. Jon is one of the latter. You can chart the weather by Jon’s moods. Read more.

Stalking Superman

February 13, 2014 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Actor Christopher Dennis on curb of Hollywood Boulevard dressed as Superman. Photo by BF Newhall

There he was. In the flesh. Tall and slender and muscled and oh-so-handsome. Sigh. It was Superman. The Man of Steel of my girlhood fantasies. My dream man. Read more.

Shanghai Chic – Where a Woman’s Style Starts With Her Shoes

December 5, 2013 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Canvas espadrille shoes decorated with stars and stripes in red, white and blue on the streets of Shanghai. Photo by BF Newhall

 

I thought I was traveling to China to explore the mysteries of China’s storied past — the big dynasties with their poetic one-syllable names: Ming, Tang, Han. But what really caught my attention was China’s storied present: The skyscrapers. The ubiquitous one-child families. The traffic jams. The fashionistas . . . Read more.

Photo Ops: China’s One-Child Families — They’re for Real (For Now)

November 18, 2013 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

A mother in Shanghai China wipes the face of her schoolage boy in a crowded bazaar in Old Town. Photo by BF Newhall

China’s one-child families may soon be a thing of the past. But for now, they are very real. Jon and I saw them everywhere during our trip to China in September — and I took lots of pictures of mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers doting on that one child. Read more.

The Mother-in-Law Diaries: A Groom’s Dinner at a Place Called the Bachelor Farmer

June 11, 2013 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

The Afghan Room at Minneapolis' Bachelor Farmer restaurant is covered with colorful afghans. A groom's dinner took place there in May, 2013. Photo by BF Newhall

 

The wedding ceremony was going to be a simple one, so there was no need for an actual rehearsal. But that didn’t mean we couldn’t have ourselves a rehearsal dinner. Read more.

The Mother-of-the-Groom Diaries: The Day Before the Big Day

June 8, 2013 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Bearded groom wearing purple necktie and vest with tux at Mens Wearhouse. Photo by BF Newhall

In a little more than twenty-four hours our son Peter would be a married man. But first, he and Jon had to pick up their wedding duds. My outfit was already hanging in the closet. Read more.

A Dad, a Mom and an 8-Year-Old With a Bashed Lip

April 11, 2013 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

eight-year-old boy smiling up from a swimming pool. photo by bf newhall

At 7 on a Saturday night, eight-year-old Peter came home from the park with a lip the size of a ping-pong ball. He had been hit by a hardball on the fly. I wanted to take him to the ER. Jon said no, it was just a fat lip. Read more.

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ON THE FUNNY SIDE

‘It’s Not My Jam’ — Is Not My Jam. Of Course, It Isn’t. I’m 81 Years Old, for Heaven’s Sake

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People in the know were saying, ‘It’s not my jam.’ A product of the 20th century, I was sticking to, ‘It’s not my cup of tea.’  Read more.

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