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Back Porch

Back Porch is a monthly column with light-hearted stories and topics by Andria Frankfort. Illustrations by James Arturo. Also, see Andria’s weekly blog, Back Porch Table, for recipes.

wrapping

Wrapping Things Up: Gift-wrap stories and ideas

By Andria Dilling | November 27, 2024
People in this article:
Andria Dilling, Sarah Sampson, Philip Sampson, Tina Pyne, Nancy Beck, Joy Yeager, Sarah Dyke, Liz Wozencraft
Private School Directory
POPCORN READY

The Shows: What to watch during holiday downtime

By Andria Dilling | October 27, 2024
People in this article:
Andria Dilling, Bob Luna, Debra Orkin, Katherine Center
COME TOGETHER

Sunday Dinners: Connecting at the table

By Andria Dilling | September 27, 2024
People in this article:
Diana Brackman, Tina Pyne
THE PARENTHOOD JOURNEY

Growing Up Together: Kids who need us, and friends we need

By Andria Dilling | August 26, 2024
People in this article:
Kelsey Blake, Rowan Blake, Andria Dilling, Frank Hill
POLITE OR PRACTICAL

Returning the Cart: Considering etiquette

By Andria Dilling | July 26, 2024
People in this article:
Katie Kirbo, Sandy Sales
QUICK LEARNER

The Game of the Summer: Mahjong takes over

By Andria Dilling | June 27, 2024
People in this article:
Andria Dilling, Jacqui Kneese, Heather Consoli
WHAT GOES AROUND

Reading for Fun: Getting over the high school hump

By Andria Dilling | May 27, 2024
People in this article:
Aerin Kalmans, Matthew Desmond, Paul Tough, Belle Martire, Lisa Genova, Zoulfa Katouh, Elin Hilderbrand, Lucy Frankfort, Tim O’Brien, Ernest Hemingway
UP IN THE AIR

Airplane Stories: Surprise encounters in the air

By Andria Dilling | April 27, 2024
People in this article:
Andria Dilling, Kimberly Miller, Chris Miller
OF A CERTAIN AGE

Sprucing Up

Or, aging isn’t for sissies
By Andria Dilling | March 31, 2024
People in this article:
Andria Dilling, Nora Ephron, Diane Keaton
LIFE IMITATES ART

Oscars Month: Classic quotes and new movies

By Andria Dilling | February 27, 2024
People in this article:
Michael Holthouse, Wayne Kearney, Joy Yeager, Allan Fradkin, Charles Fletcher, Paul Danziger, Nancy Beck, Peta Rubenstein, Jacqueline Kenneally, Bernie Milstein, Wendy Gold, Julia Humphreys, Ryan Dilling, Jennifer Block, Donna Gershenwald
A LITTLE HELP FROM MOM

Online Dating: Swiping toward disaster or love?

By Andria Dilling | January 27, 2024

Order the Cake: Slowing down to savor it

By Andria Dilling | December 27, 2023
People in this article:
John Stamos, Bob Saget, Willie Geist
THE GREATEST GIFT

Saint: The Best Hanukkah Gift

By Andria Dilling | November 27, 2023
People in this article:
Andria Dilling
TRADITION

Don’t Mess with My Turkey

Keeping it real
By Andria Dilling | October 27, 2023
People in this article:
Lisa Myers, Barbara Trautner, Kevin Trautner, Carlene Kalokathis, Nancy Wells
Halloween is all fun and candy

Halloweens Gone Wrong

The fine line between fun and fright
By Andria Dilling | September 26, 2023
People in this article:
Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, Ryan Magaziner, Flo Magaziner
THE NOT-SO-STRAIGHT PATH TO ADULTHOOD

Back to School: Not-So-Smart Choices

By Andria Dilling | August 25, 2023
READY OR NOT

AI: Are you excited, scared, or clueless?

By Andria Dilling | July 27, 2023
People in this article:
Andria Dilling, Lewis Kalmans
HOT AND COLD

AC Wars: The hot and cold of it

By Andria Dilling | June 25, 2023
People in this article:
Deanna Sheaffer, Steve Sheaffer, Heather Kearney, Wayne Kearney, Kathryn Rabinow
HAPPY READING

Summer reading 2023: Uplifting reads

By Andria Dilling | May 25, 2023
People in this article:
Cindy Burnett, Carin Collins, Steven Rowley, Rachel Linden, Bonnie Garmus, Elissa Davis, Kate Bowler, Jessica Richie, Koshin Paley Ellison, Elissa Epel, Micki Fine Pavlicek
STOP AND SMELL THE FLOWERS

Flowers flowers everywhere

By Andria Dilling | April 20, 2023
People in this article:
Andria Dilling, Myrna Engler, Amy Engler, Tracy Pesikoff, Josh Pesikoff
BEYOND EGGS

An Easter basket primer for big kids

By Andria Dilling | March 27, 2023
People in this article:
Andria Dilling
THINK BEFORE YOU TOSS

Spring Cleaning Gone Wrong: You threw that away?

By Andria Dilling | February 27, 2023
People in this article:
Tiffany Smith, Mary Evelynn Sorrell, Forrest Hodges, Mary Ellen Hodges, Clarence Hodges, Norma Faye Hodges, Wendy Burgower, Laura McCullough, Tevia McLaren, Allison Wagner, Terese Wagner
PASSION NOTES

The Notes Section: A little spicy

By Andria Dilling | January 27, 2023
People in this article:
Phyllis Rosenblum
WORTH IT?

Worth the wait?

By Andria Dilling | December 27, 2022
People in this article:
Suzi Weinstock, Raya Weinstock, Etan Weinstock, Cathy Burch, Allison Burch, Peyton Burch, Nancy Sirgo, Audrey Sirgo, Cristina Farrell, Maddie Farrell, Mary Clark Granberry, Stephen Friedlander, Taylor Swift
SPREADING CHEER

Neighbor love: Small holiday gifts

By Andria Dilling | November 27, 2022
People in this article:
Andria Dilling, Kelly Evans, Patti Evans, Scott Evans, Rachel Davis, Lindy McGee, Barbara Trautner, Bridget Wade
FALL PHENOM

Pumpkin spice invasion

By Andria Dilling | October 27, 2022
People in this article:
Claire Frankfort, Ali Leen
CANDY CANDY EVERYWHERE

The all-month-long candython

By Andria Dilling | September 27, 2022
People in this article:
Melanie Patton, Elyse Kalmans, Lewis Kalmans, Ahava Guefen
SMALL SCREEN LINEUP

What to watch: Award-winning TV

By Andria Dilling | August 27, 2022
People in this article:
Shelly Blalock, Laura McCullough, Brooke Halverson, William Halverson, Barbara Catechis, Anita Gaylor, Tracy Pesikoff
NOT AGAIN

Rise and shine

By Andria Dilling | July 27, 2022
People in this article:
Andria Dilling, Heather Kearney, Sandy Sales, Mel Robbins, Sarah Sampson
Summer movies

Summer box office memories

By Andria Dilling | June 27, 2022
People in this article:
Andria Dilling, Joni Hoffman, Randy Uzick, Tommy Uzick, Caroline Siegfried, Kathrine Kiersted, Brooke Halverson, William Halverson, Heather Kearney