Novel looks at the wacky US, composed by an American doctor
Get my free weekly newsletter, The Friday Mix
Latest Articles

7 Famous Musicians From St. Louis
Back in 1995, a series of rejections resulted in an unexpected opportunity—thirty years later, I would be able to write

Arts Vibrancy: Where Upstate NY Dominates
There’s nothing worse than having weak metrics jammed down your throat. Self-worth, after all, is often measured by house size,

The Best Jet Lag of All Time
A time difference of thirteen hours, I had a feeling, would make for the jet lag from hell. Flying into

10 Hints You’re the Dumptown Guy
It’s one thing to occasionally appreciate an undervalued city. It’s another thing altogether to force your family to vacation in

Sandusky: You Would Be Surprised!
Sandusky, I was pretty sure, would be my living hell. If the contrived world of Disney—in sunny Orlando—irritated me, I

Where Is Toledo? It’s in a Bad Spot
Where is Toledo? I asked myself as I fidgeted with Google Maps. A few zooms later, I had all the

Setting Sun: The Song That Makes Seattle Cry
The setting sun, as real as it may seem, is rising elsewhere. That is the reality I’ve been forced to

Why Smaller Cities Matter
Smaller cities—shall we say they’re my destiny? My life resume, after all, includes Milwaukee, New Haven, St. Louis, Hartford, and

10 Hints It’s Time for the Big Dance!
The Big Dance, as you know, isn’t really a dance. In 1977, when Al McGuire—the coach of Marquette—said he would

The Month Rochester Never Fails To Let Me Down
Every March, Rochester breaks my heart. Yes, I’m talking about the one in New York, and, no, I’m not talking

7 Famous Musicians From St. Louis
Back in 1995, a series of rejections resulted in an unexpected opportunity—thirty years later, I would be able to write

Arts Vibrancy: Where Upstate NY Dominates
There’s nothing worse than having weak metrics jammed down your throat. Self-worth, after all, is often measured by house size,

The Best Jet Lag of All Time
A time difference of thirteen hours, I had a feeling, would make for the jet lag from hell. Flying into

10 Hints You’re the Dumptown Guy
It’s one thing to occasionally appreciate an undervalued city. It’s another thing altogether to force your family to vacation in

Sandusky: You Would Be Surprised!
Sandusky, I was pretty sure, would be my living hell. If the contrived world of Disney—in sunny Orlando—irritated me, I

Where Is Toledo? It’s in a Bad Spot
Where is Toledo? I asked myself as I fidgeted with Google Maps. A few zooms later, I had all the

Setting Sun: The Song That Makes Seattle Cry
The setting sun, as real as it may seem, is rising elsewhere. That is the reality I’ve been forced to

Why Smaller Cities Matter
Smaller cities—shall we say they’re my destiny? My life resume, after all, includes Milwaukee, New Haven, St. Louis, Hartford, and

10 Hints It’s Time for the Big Dance!
The Big Dance, as you know, isn’t really a dance. In 1977, when Al McGuire—the coach of Marquette—said he would

The Month Rochester Never Fails To Let Me Down
Every March, Rochester breaks my heart. Yes, I’m talking about the one in New York, and, no, I’m not talking