This Month’s Featured Articles…

I recently read a book called The New Chardonnay: The Unlikely Story of How Marijuana Went Mainstream, by Heather Cabot. Essentially, the book challenges the conception by people of my age and generation, who may have experimented with marijuana and other drugs in their 20s but have been wine drinkers since “growing up,” that pot is a mind-altering gateway drug whose only long-term effect is, well, dead brain cells. Getting stoned was for drop-outs. It may have been fun, but it was inherently dangerous, which [...]

As May floods into the Hudson Valley and winter’s levee breaks, its cold, barren seams burst giving way to an overflow of boundless greens and fertile earth. As it is each year, residents of rural upstate New York begin to fantasize of warmer temps, the scent of a freshly mowed lawn, lazy days and neighborly chats. Spring in the Hudson River Valley, as it does in most places around the nation, brings with it a sense of rebirth. For the better part of a decade, [...]

The human body, and its ability to endure, will never cease to captivate and inspire with each story of struggle and perseverance. As the dust settles upon the events of the past year, these stories seem to be more present than ever and continue to hearten the human consciousness – yet they have always been with us. Perhaps the greatest example of human endurance can be found in the world of athletics. For the modern athlete, success is based upon one’s ability to endure. To [...]

French high-wire artist Philippe Petit speaks so passionately about his desire to learn, that it’s ironic to hear him discuss his experiences as a schoolboy. “When I was a kid, I was thrown out of several schools because I was caught practicing magic under the desk or stealing my teacher’s watch,” says Petit. Now, at 71 years-old, he continues to devote several hours per day to practicing his art and skills. “It’s an ongoing journey. I’m not giving up,” says Petit. Renowned for completing 90 appearances on the wire, Petit has performed in spectacular settings around [...]

As a kid, I was always brought along to big, loud car shows and flashy, bustling car auctions. Meanwhile, I never really understood why anything besides the fried food was so important. Cars haven’t been a huge part of my life by any means, but attending these events while growing up showed me just how passionate my father, Eric Clark, is about vehicles. Thus, whenever the topic arises, I can’t help but think about the many classic cars my dad has tucked away in his [...]