Hobbies

We can't think of a more appropriate way to celebrate Black History Month than by reading terrific books that illustrate the many facets of Black lives, both fictional and through autobiographies. Consider these selections. ...

“Cleveland is an amazing place,” says Les Roberts. “There’s so much to write about and so much that inspires me — the neighborhoods, the ethnicities, the people. The years I’ve spent here have been the best of my life.” ...

I noticed two things not so long ago, while I was working outside getting my yard ready for winter. First, all my neighbors had the same leaf blower. Did I buy the wrong one? Was there a Groupon I missed? The other thing I noticed is they were all putting their grills away, and that’s when I stopped feeling crazy for having the wrong leaf blower and started thinking they were crazy for not wanting to do some wintertime grilling. ...

Many of us have turned to hiking as a way to safely connect with friends while getting some much-needed exercise, fresh air and sunshine. That was easy to do when the weather was nice and the days were long. Winter is a tougher sell. Don’t be intimidated. Judging by the dozens of hikes scheduled each week throughout Northeast Ohio, a lot of people are doing a lot of wintertime hiking and they encourage the winter-weary to join them. ...

Birth month flowers, like stars and gemstones, have symbolic and sentimental meanings. There's the January carnation, the April daisy and the October marigold, for starters. Find your birth month flower and see if its symbolism characterizes you. ...

What better way to spend a winter day than enjoying exotic orchids? We're in luck. Head over to the Cleveland Botanical Garden and prepare to be surprised by the variety of shapes, colors and fragrances from these delicate-looking flowers. ...

Look for the January/February issue of Northeast Ohio Boomer and Beyond coming to newsstands (Marc's, Discount Drug Mart, Giant Eagle and others) starting Jan. 21. Of course, Boomer Insider Club members get our print issue mailed directly to their homes. But if you're out and about, look for our next issue featuring winter hikes throughout Northeast Ohio, just for starters. You can also read the issue online at northeastohioboomer.com. You'll find a wide range of topics that will enrich your journey to “Better Living After 50.” ...

The Cleveland Orchestra has announced details of its 41st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. Events will take place virtually, with video and audio performances presented on the Adella streaming app and website, social media, radio, and TV beginning on January 14, an encore broadcast of the Orchestra’s 38th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert will be available for free on Adella. The celebration includes new and revived performance and historical videos from The Cleveland Orchestra and Community Partners, released on social media starting January 18. ...