Improve Your Outdoor Photography Skills!

On Saturday, June 12th, award-winning nature photographer Robert Tinari will offer his guidance and expertise to students during an Outdoor Photography Workshop at Sotterley Plantation. His instruction will include the basic fundamentals of capturing the essence of a subject with a camera, with the emphasis being on gardens and architectural applications.


Mr. Tinari works as a commercial and fine art photographer and is a master printmaker. Regularly chosen to appear in juried art competitions, his photographs have also been used in calendars, magazines and websites. He teaches photography and lectures on fine art photography throughout the Washington, DC area, and judges photography contests throughout the area. Robert is an active member and strong supporter of Sotterley Plantation.

FEES:

• $85 for non-members of Sotterley Plantation
• $75 for current members of Sotterley Plantation

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Sotterley Plantation.

To register, please contact Robert at 410-286-5445 or email him at roberttinari@comcast.net. Class size is limited.

David J. O'Neill to Speak on "Conservation and Exploration - Understanding the Capt. John Smith Trail"

On June 4 at 7 p.m., Sotterley Plantation, in partnership with The Boeing Company, will host David O’Neill, President of the Friends of the John Smith Chesapeake Trail, as part of the Speaker Series 2010 at Sotterley.  He will share the story of Capt. John Smith and the creation of the first water-based national historic trail delving into the politics and the policy behind the new park entity. Current plans to implement the Trail, highlighting how it is being used to advance geo-tourism and regional conservation planning policy and practice will also be discussed.


Best known in the Chesapeake region for his leadership of the Chesapeake Bay Trust, Mr. O’Neill increased revenues by 200 percent during his tenure and more than doubled its grant making to support Chesapeake Bay environmental restoration and protection activities. While at the Trust, he helped develop and pass several important pieces of legislation, including the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund that dedicates millions of dollars annually for Bay restoration. He was awarded the prestigious Andrew White Medal from Loyola University for outstanding commitment to the Chesapeake Bay and the State of Maryland. He has also presented papers and given speeches on issues of land use and environmental policy in cities across the United States and in Europe.

Because of the generous grant and continued support from The Boeing Company, Sotterley Plantation is able to offer this important community outreach, fulfilling its mission of serving as an educational resource and cultural venue while it seeks to preserve, interpret and research the plantation’s diverse cultures and environments through its history.

This event is free to the public. Please call Sotterley for reservations: 301-373-2280.  For more information, visit the Sotterley Plantation website, http://www.sotterley.org/.

CANCELED: Piney Point Lighthouse Celebration

The Piney Point Lighthouse Celebration is CANCELED due to impending construction and will resume in 2011!

Colonial Printing Workshop

Printed documents are essential to the smooth operation of government and business, so it’s not surprising that the first printer in English North America south of Massachusetts operated out of St. Mary’s City, Maryland’s first capital!  Modern visitors to Historic St. Mary’s City (HSMC) can explore a colonial printer’s operation in the reconstructed Print House.


In June, HSMC will offer a two-day intensive workshop for those who wish to immerse themselves in the colonial print trade. Sessions will take place on consecutive Saturdays, June 5 and 12, from 9 a.m. until noon. “Apprentice” printers will enjoy a hands-on experience using ancient skills and replica tools to compose, justify, and produce documents. Discover where Maryland’s first printer, William Nuthead, got the supplies he needed. Try each of the steps involved in making a print and keeping a typical 17th century printing Franklin press in working order. You will gain a new appreciation for your desk jet!

Attendance is limited and pre-registration is required by contacting interpretive programs coordinator Aaron Meisinger at 240-895-4978 or abmeisinger@smcm.edu. There is a non-refundable fee of $50 ($40 for Friends), which includes all materials, including a suitable-for-framing print to take home, and admission to the museum.

For more information about Historic St. Mary’s City exhibits and programs, visit http://www.stmaryscity.org/ or call 240-895-4990.

Wine, Art, and Music - May Leonardtown First Friday

Tonight, the streets of Leonardtown will come to life during the May First Friday!  Shops and restaurants in uptown and downtown Leonardtown will be open from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., and many of them will offer specials and fun events!

Wine

The Port of Leonardtown Winery will be holding its soft opening today from 12 p.m. until 9 p.m.!  Stop by for a tour of the winery, sample the wines, and buy some to take home with you.  Tours of the winery will run every half hour until 8:30 p.m.  The spring wine line-up includes Vidal Blanc, Chardonnay, McIntosh Run (semi-sweet apple wine), Breton Bay Breeze (semi-sweet white blend), Breton Bay Shoals (semi-sweet red blend), and Autumn Frost (sweet dessert-style wine from Vidal Blanc grapes).  For more information on the Port of Leonardtown Winery, visit their website at http://www.portofleonardtown.com/ or read their blog at portofleonardtownwinery.blogspot.com.

Make it a night of wine samplings by heading over to Quality Street Kitchen & Catering, located on Fenwick Street in downtown Leonardtown, for a wine tasting with "big red" wines from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m.  Tastings are $5 per person.

The Good Earth Natural Foods Company, located on Park Avenue in downtown Leonardtown, will have Melissa from Bacchus Imports in the store to sample a selection of Sustainable Wines.

Art
The North End Gallery, located on Fenwick Street in downtown Leonardtown, will be holding the Opening Reception for the exhibit "Coastal Colors," which will run from May 4 though May 30.  The show features the artwork of Tom and Kathleen Ball.  Tom is a photographer and Kathleen works with watercolors.  Visit the North End Gallery from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. during First Friday for the reception featuring these two local artists.  For more information, visit http://www.northendgallery.org/.

Continuing with the art theme, visit the Maryland Antiques Center complex, located along Route 5 in uptown Leonardtown next to the Port of Leonardtown Winery.  From 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., the Leonardtown Galleria (located inside the Maryland Antiques Center) will be holding a Pyrography (Woodburning) demonstration by Rose Beitzell.  Creek Side Gallery (also located in the Maryland Antiques Center) will be holding an art show entitled "Local Treasures," featuring the art of Calvert artist Sue Stevenson.

In the Maryland Antiques Center Building 2, the Craft Guild Shop is hosting their "Celebrate the Grape in style" exhibit, which will feature artisan Nancy Wiehe's collection of dazzling beaded stemware and wineglass markers.  Treadles Studio (located in the Craft Guild Shop) will be showing how wool becomes yarn and demonstrating the techniques of needle feathering.  Guests will be offered the opportunity to create their own coaster.

Music

Add some music to your evening at Fenwick Street Used Books & Music in downtown Leonardtown!  Yumi, whose musical talents span from funk and rock to traditional West African rhythms, will be performing.  Yumi has worked in various music capacities touring across the U.S. with many well-known R&B and Rap artists such as Morris Day, The Barkays, Atlantic Star, and Doug E. Fresh.  Peruse the shop's wide selection of books and music while enjoying the music of Yumi.  All purchases will be 10% off.

Then, enjoy fine French dining at Cafe Des Artistes, located on the corner of Fenwick Street and Washington Street in downtown Leonardtown.  Randy Richie will be performing on piano from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m., and the special is Bouillabaisse, a celebrate seafood stew with shrimp, mussels, scallops, Seabass, clams and Hawaiian Marlin in a rich seafood broth.

For more information on all of the festivities going on during the May Leonardtown First Friday, visit http://www.leonardtownfirstfridays.com/!

Mother's Day Fun at Sotterley!

Sotterley Plantation is offering a special gift for all mothers on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 9, 2010. From Noon until 4 p.m., mothers will receive a Guided Tour of the Plantation House at HALF PRICE!

You and your mother are invited to stroll the exquisite blooming gardens, walk the plantation grounds and nature trails, see the historic outbuildings including Sotterley's original 1830’s Slave Cabin, or picnic out on the lawn while enjoying the breathtaking views of the Patuxent River. Top off the day with buying a memorable gift at the Museum Shop, now located in Sotterley's NEW Visitors Center. It will be a day she will never forget!

For more information on upcoming Sotterley Plantation events, visit http://www.sotterley.org/.

The Leonardtown Criterium is Back!

The first bike arrived in Leonardtown via steamship over 131 years ago in 1879, and in 2010, the bikes are back!  The 13th Leonardtown Criterium bicycle race will be held on Sunday, May 16 from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.  Sponsored by Patuxent Velo, the official Southern Maryland cycling club, this high-energy bicycle race features five racing categories and will send professional cyclists on a 0.7 mile course through Leonardtown.

Racers have the option of entering the Junior Division or the Masters Division, which are divided into Men’s and Women’s categories. Kids are invited to participate in the Street Sprints event, which is free and open to kids under 10 years of age.

Registration is now available on http://www.bikereg.com/, but racers can also register by completing and mailing the registration form found on the Patuxent Velo website at http://bit.ly/ch1gbI, or in person on race day starting at 7:30 a.m. Registration closes 15 minutes prior to the beginning of each event. All riders must have a USAC racing license. One-day license applications will be available at the registration desk on race day for Cat 5 Men or Cat 4 Women only.

Spectators are invited to come out and cheer from the sidelines along the Leonardtown Square as the cyclists race past!  Many Leonardtown businesses will be open during the event and some will be offering specials. For more information on all there is to see and do in Leonardtown, visit the St. Mary’s County Division of Tourism website, http://www.visitstmarysmd.com/.

For more information on the Leonardtown Criterium, contact Hans Welch at 240-925-4806 or visit http://www.paxvelo.com/.

Photo by Tom Roland.