Of This and That for a Friday

Just a short prelude to the weekend, not much depth here (what’s new? you say…) but maybe a couple of things worth your attention…

Today (being Friday) will be the second in the River Concert Series at St. Mary’s College. Tonight will be “Trills and Thrills”. The former may refer to the flautist, but the latter baffles me. No acrobats seem to be on the program. The other performers will be a harpist (if that’s a word) and a guitarist. Lots of “ists”. Of course Jeffrey Silberschlag and the venerable Chesapeake Orchestra will accompany them. Music will be supplied by Stravinsky and Strauss (maybe the “composists”?). Anyway I think we’re getting a break from the stifling, oppressive, energy draining, mind numbing heat, so it might be a good chance to sneak in an appearance. Place to see and be seen…I feel a little empathy for the RCS folks, this going into the tenth year (or maybe 11th?) it must be tough to keep topping themselves. Seems like the same faces appear year after year. Anyway, if you’ve been many times come and be social, if you haven’t come see it. Just another nothing to do in St. Mary’s County

Or, tomorrow (being Saturday) you can go over to Sotterley Plantation and see another in their excellent (IMHO) lecture series. “Free at Last ~ Black History Celebration" will be the subject from 10:00 to 4:00 and will feature interpreters Sandi and Liana English portraying slave life, the original (now restored) Slave Cabin will be open, children’s activities, gospel music. Learn and have fun!!

Besides that, there’s not much to do. Oh, unless you’d like to experience the Pax River Ringers, a handbell ensemble that will perform tomorrow at 7 in La Plata (Christ Church), or closer to home go see “The Eds” in Leonardtown, Sunday at 6 in the square, or maybe Lee Murdock also Sunday at 7 in the Calvert Marine Museum…what a boring place to live…

Right turn

There is a front page article in the Enterprise today about “beach bars”. Mr. Mercer may have branched out from his “Around Town” litany of the best food he’s ever eaten every week. I will, however tip my hat to him that he always reviews/describes/advertises locally owned places, I don’t remember him doing any “chains”.. I may be wrong in that but mostly not, although I do remember he visited Jaspers in Prince Freddie..

Which is a nice segue into reminding you that the first ever St. Mary’s County “Restaurant Week” is only a month away. It will be July 25 through August 8th, and will feature dish(es) with local ingredients: “Local farms are providing fresh seasonal items to the region’s locally owned restaurants who produce tasty dishes for customers to enjoy while making financial donations to help kitchen ministries feed the area’s hungry.” More to come and keep your eyes open for more info around town…talk it up!!

Last Turn

I had an interesting conversation with a loyal reader about my romanticizing the Tobacco Barns. You recall (of course) that MFO and I attended a “Barn Summit” a couple of months ago whose purpose was to discuss preservation techniques, adaptive uses, and how to tell the story of the importance of tobacco in the history of Southern Maryland. And, I have photographed the unique structures that we’ve all seen. Anyway, the conversation was to the effect of “why do you want to save those things?, they were just a mechanism for spreading and promoting a cancerous, habit forming, debilitating product (tobacco). Just let’em fall down!”. I suspect that is a valid point, and in fact, that opinion was briefly mentioned at the summit. I guess the only rejoinder is that they are a fact, they were an integral part of the history of our Southern Maryland economy and culture and therefore maybe deserve having their story told. Not necessarily to promote them, but to let people hear the story. Interesting thoughts…

Speaking of which, I was surprised the other day to see a field of Sotweed on the way to the produce auction. Still not eradicated..

Okay enough, wish I had something to do, so I could

DF…….?