Washingtonian Editor Discusses His New Book

The intrigue behind a little-known grape, called the Norton, is the main plotline of Todd Kliman's new book, "The Wild Vine," which he introduced to a crowd at Greenbelt's on Sunday.

Kliman, a 10-year resident of Hyattsville, grew up in Greenbelt and is food and wine editor and restaurant critic of Washingtonian magazine.

He's always been intrigued by the thing that doesn't fit, that people can't understand. That's why he chose the Norton.

"The quirkiness is what defines it," he said. "It's like there's a feral cat in the bottle."

Relaxing in the New Deal Cafe, Kliman reminisced on the similarities between his wine and his childhood world.

"Greenbelt is a singular place," he said, and as it is with the Norton, he speculated some people will never appreciate the city.

Though a resident of Hyattsville now, Kliman still comes to Greenbelt for a monthly book club and to visit his mom, Itsy Kliman, who has lived on Crescent Road for 40 years.

He's traveled all over the world, and the more he travels, Kliman said, the more he appreciates Greenbelt. It has an utter lack of pretension, embraces the creative and is not part of the money culture, Kliman said -- traits he felt it shares with Hyattsville.