Fear of public speaking is enough of an epidemic that it has its own doctory word and everything: glossophobia. To some, the thought of getting up in front of strangers and muttering even a few phrases can lead to crippling anxiety.We have it easy at the Insider. Our work is read by editors before it is received by millions of faithful readers - not that we ever make mistakes, mind you.…

Name: A.J. SilvaOwner, BravoHow long have you been making gowns?Going on 26 years.What inspired you to get into dress making?My niece got married and couldn't find a headpiece she liked, so I went ahead and bought the materials and I made her one. People told people, and it just gave me the inspiration to go into it. I'm entirely self-taught. It just snowballed from there.What…

I have never come across another hiker where I have been hiking this winter in the back woods northeast of Concord - until today. At first, I saw a small dog coming toward me in the trail ahead and then a hiker pushing his way through the brush. As he came closer he said, "I never expected to see anyone else back here this deep in the woods."I said, "Likewise.""My name is Doug Ponusky,"…

Salad greens for pennies a day? Yes, it's possible - and it's easy. So easy, in fact, that I'm stumped as to why everyone's not doing it.Growing sprouts in the kitchen, year-round, is one of the simplest and least expensive ways to incorporate fresh, organic greens into your diet. From seeds to sprouts in a matter of four or five days, you'll soon be chomping…

(Editor's note: While on an expedition in his yard Brady Carlson claims to have caught a case of Academy Award fever, and has written this column under the assumption that he has just won an Oscar in the heretofore non-existent category of Best Moral Support for a Walrus in a Musical or Animated Feature.)Thank you all so much! Wow, this is turning into a truly magical evening for all of us here, except for Joan…

As you may know, when our resident food critic The Food Snob isn't stuffing his craw with the finest delicacies Concord has to offer, he's stuffing his eyes and brain with movies. And, with the Academy Awards taking place just last weekend, he's a bit more stuffed than usual. Before you seek out and watch this year's Best Picture nominees, check out his reviews. You might…