The Birchmere Cats: A Model for a Successful Community Cat Program

The Birchmere is a legendary music venue in Alexandria, VA, just outside the nation’s capital. It first opened in 1966, and has since then launched the careers of such musical luminaries as  Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lyle Lovett, Shawn Colvin, Jerry Jeff Walker, Dave Matthews, Vince Gill, John Prine, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, and k.d. Lang – and these are just a few of the artists counted as good friends of the Birchmere.

Last month, I went to the Birchmere to see Kris Kristofferson. I h...