From the Editor James

IN A HOT FLASH, August has arrived.

Where ’o where has our summer gone? The season is quickly moving along. And it’s these dog days that offer, perhaps, the most plentiful schedule of festivals, concerts, fairs, and outdoor recreation—all before Labor Day puts a bowtie on summer and the kiddos return to school. I have many memories of hot August days and nights. I’m sure you do too.

Thinking back to 1995 or ’96, I’m laughing as I type this memory out. I haven’t thought of this in the years since, so it returned to me as a pleasant surprise when I was proofreading this issue. We have a feature article in this magazine about local musician/entertainer Kelly Bell, who, in my estimation, has achieved notoriety as one of Maryland’s all-time greats—a designation that puts him in good company. His “phat-blues” band has played venues big and small throughout the Mid-Atlantic, including their annual summer concert at Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis (August 27th for those taking note).

But it was a memorable performance in the mid-’90s that hooked me; an absolutely wild appearance by the Kelly Bell Band at a local rock festival held at the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds. Our group of high school hooligans went to the festival to check out headliner Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, another local notable who, at the time, was making mild waves on MTV. It was still daylight as I recall, when a mid-bill act began taking the stage: a drummer, bassist, two guitarists, and another couple folks lined up on stage. A steady drumbeat began and as each instrument joined in, a tight, funk-riff developed into a cohesive jam. And then…

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This larger-than-life behemoth of a man, dressed in denim overalls, whose face and arms were painted entirely in blue, hopped from stage right to center with his dreadlocks flinging and flying about, grabbed the lead microphone with gusto, and began belting out tunes!

What the…?!

My friends and I turned to each other in bewilderment. “Who is this guy? What is this band?” We didn’t know, we didn’t care. We liked the sound, the groove, the energy. They were great. They brought the x-factor to the stage. And I laugh because here I am thinking who else, but Kelly Bell, would paint himself blue and jump around onstage hollering, singing, and swooning funk-rock-blues? Only Kelly.

So that was my introduction to Kelly Bell and his band—a great summer memory from many years ago. I hope our article on Bell inspires you to catch a concert of his, or maybe venture to some of the festivals in your neck of the woods where you never know who or what you’ll experience. You might just encounter a memory of a lifetime.

We pack a lot into this issue. Real estate is a big theme and why not? Seems the market is on everyone’s mind as we navigate economic turbulence—but there’s plenty of good news to cling to and many of our local professionals answer your questions within. We also introduce the first of three installments of the Chesapeake Retirement Guide— handy for those entering this new chapter of their lives. We also turn up the heat on the controversy surrounding recreational water access in the Bay region—private versus public property rights. And hey, it’s almost football season, so we checked in with Navy Football Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo to get his take on all-things pigskin.

Lots to soak in before summer slips away. Thankfully, it’s a very full August of events, activities, entertainment, and this magazine’s worth of ideas and inspirations. Please enjoy!

James Houck, Editorial Director