Cambridge From the Couch: (Land) Banking on Patience
When the City Council announced that it was seeking candidates for the board of directors of the Land Bank Authority of Cambridge, I curiously asked my AI pal, ChatGPT, what it knew about the subject. Most of what it was able to tell me came from my own reporting—in 2024. In fact, I first wrote […]
April 2026 Q & A with Chief Todd
The Cambridge Spy’s P. Ryan Anthony and Radio Chesapeake’s Jim Brady recently chatted with Cambridge Police Chief Justin Todd about crime trends in the city, what average citizens can do about it, police drone activity, CPD’s staffing problems, and the fallout from a local immigrant work crew’s arrest by ICE. That and more can be […]
Cambridge Time Machine: Along Race Street
Race Street is one of the most significant streets in Cambridge, running straight through the heart of the city and serving as a major connector. It stretches from the downtown area to the outskirts, and part of it is officially designated as Maryland Route 341, about 1.25 miles long. It used to be part of […]
Cambridge From the Couch: Mind the Gaps
In the first installment of this column, I mentioned my Cambridge-themed Instagram account, Cambridge_MD. Over several years, I’ve created posts about history and prominent local people, but most of them focused on the 20th century. I’ve been frustrated in my attempts to delve significantly into earlier Cambridge stories and personalities, such as those of the […]
Cambridge Time Machine: Along the Choptank
The Choptank River is a major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay that is known for its rich history, significant agricultural watershed, and ecological importance, especially for blue crabs and oysters. It’s characterized by tidal waters, extensive farmland, and a mix of natural and developed areas, with restoration efforts focused on improving water quality. It was […]
Cambridge From the Couch: Where Maryland Slows Down
For 18 years, I lived in Takoma Park, so close to Washington, D.C., that you can cross into the city without realizing it. The streets are crowded, the cultures layered, and the sense of connection constant. For seven years, I’ve lived in Cambridge, on the edge of the Choptank River, where the pace is set […]
Cambridge Time Machine: Algonquin
The stately late-19th century house at 7 Manito Drive in Cambridge, built by Paul Botticher for the Joseph Mundy family of New Jersey, is on land that was part of a 160-acre farm called Sandy Hill. It was originally a significant Native American settlement. When the property was purchased by US Senator Isidor Rayner (1850-1912), […]
Cambridge From the Couch: the Perfect Storm
A tree fell on my house. It happened during the last heavy winds that Cambridge experienced, a couple of weeks ago. In the middle of the night, one of the big trees in my backyard toppled and collided with the corner of the house, doing some damage and terrifying my little Yorkie, Marlowe. After the […]
Cambridge Time Machine: Shipbuilding Mecca
Shipbuilding was an early enterprise in Cambridge. The Cambridge Shipyard, located on the east side of the harbor, dates from the colonial period. Shipbuilding and repair continue today at the Richardson Maritime Museum.
Cambridge From the Couch: Always the Bridesmaid
Remember when ground was broken on an expansive project that would help transform a strip of waterfront near downtown into a new mixed-use development that would have residences, a hotel, restaurants, shops, a marina, public spaces, tourist attractions, and a river walk? You do if you were here in the summer of 2004. That development […]