What’s New in Maryland
For you Merliners out thereArchive for July, 2008
August 1 – 3 2008 Maryland Events
August 1st, 2nd, and 3rd – this weekend means the beginning of August already! Here’s a list of this weekend’s concerts and other events at local venues in Maryland.
Baltimore Restaurant Week continues and ends on Sunday. If you haven’t been to a restaurant you’ve been wanting to try, visit http://www.baltimorerestaurantweek.com/, find a restaurant you’re interested in, and check out the menu they’re offering for Baltimore Restaurant Week. The special means you get a three-course meal for a lower price than normal, $20 lunch or $30 dinner, plus tax and gratuity. If you select a popular restaurant, you might want to call in advance and make a reservation to be sure they can accommodate you.
Friday August 1 Meyerhoff – A Symphonic Tribute to the Grateful Dead at 8pm
http://www.bsomusic.org/main.taf?erube_fh=tessitura&tessitura.submit.CalendarPerfLink=1&PerfNo=7343
Saturday August 2 Pier Six Pavilion – BSO Rocks with the Music of Led Zeppelin at 8pm
http://tickets.piersixpavilion.com/ordertickets.asp?p=50019&backurl=default.asp
Sunday August 2 Merriweather Post Pavilion – Summer Spirit Festival featuring Jill Scott w/ The Roots, Chuck Brown, Estelle at 6pm
http://www.merriweathermusic.com/schedule.php
Sunday August 2 Pier Six Pavilion – Gladys Knight w/ The Dells at 7:30pm
http://tickets.piersixpavilion.com/ordertickets.asp?p=50006&backurl=default.asp
Check back every Thursday for a list of the upcoming weekend’s events at major local venues in Maryland.
Baltimore Restaurant Week Summer 2008
Well, once again Restaurant Week is here in Maryland. Baltimore Restaurant Week starts Saturday July 26 and runs until August 3, 2008. Enjoy a three-course meal at a favorite Baltimore restaurant or one you’ve been wanting to try. $30.08 for dinner or an even better deal – $20.08 for lunch. Remember, you’ll still have to add gratuity and tax to the price.
Many restaurants are offering this deal not just in the city, but in a couple nearby counties. If you go to the city, some of the garages are offering discount parking. Be sure to pay attention to the time offered; garage prices can often change throughout the day depending on the events going on. Visit http://baltimore.about.com/od/fooddrink/a/REstaurantWeek.htm for more information on the parking and many of the individual restaurants. Yum!
Maryland Events for July 25 – July 27
So what types of events or shows are happening this weekend in Maryland? This weekend kicks off Baltimore Restaurant Week plus there’s a bunch of concerts going on at Maryland’s most well-known venues.
Baltimore Restaurant Week – where you can get a 3-course $20 lunch or $30 dinner not including tax or tips – starts Saturday the 26th and runs through August 3rd.
Friday July 25 Meyerhoff – Leon Fleisher-80th Birthday Celebration at 8pm
http://www.bsomusic.org/main.taf?erube_fh=tessitura&tessitura.submit.CalendarPerfLink=1&PerfNo=7340
Saturday July 26 Pier Six Pavilion – Roots Rock Reggae Festival at 2pm
https://tickets.piersixpavilion.com/
Saturday July 26 Merriweather Post Pavilion – O.A.R. at 6pm
http://www.merriweathermusic.com/schedule.php
Saturday July 26 Oregon Ridge Park – BSO Goes Bluegrass at 8pm
http://www.bsomusic.org/main.taf?erube_fh=tessitura&tessitura.submit.CalendarPerfLink=1&PerfNo=7368
Sunday July 27 Merriweather Post Pavilion – Guerilla Union Presents Rock the Bells at 11am
http://www.merriweathermusic.com/schedule.php
Sunday July 27 Pier Six Pavilion – STS9 & Umphrey’s McGee at 5:30 pm
https://tickets.piersixpavilion.com/
Remember to check back every Thursday for the weekend’s concerts and other events.
Maryland Minimum Wage Increases To $6.55 Per Hour
As of July 24, 2008, the mimimum wage in Maryland will increase $.40, from $6.15 to $6.55. The increase affects 64,000 employees in Maryland. Whoa. Keep in mind many of these workers are high school students. The raise will effect other workers as well, such as those who work 40 hours per week, raising their pay to $13,624 a year.
Maryland Buses Going Hybrid
Maryland will be transitioning its transit buses to hybrids over the next few years. When a bus needs to be replaced, instead of buying a diesel-only bus, a diesel-electric hybrid one will be purchased. Aside from the obvious environmental benefit of using less fuel, hybrid buses are also quieter, which might make for a more pleasant riding experience. The biggest factor may be that they’re more reliable though, going slightly over 6,000 miles before needing to be serviced versus about 3,000 miles for strictly diesel buses.
Right now, 10 of the Maryland Transit Administration’s 653 buses are hybrids. Buses will be replaced at up to 100 per year beginning in 2009.
July 18th – 19th 2008 Events in Maryland
Looking for Maryland event information for the weekend all in one place? Check the list below for this weekend’s events at local Maryland venues. Probably Maryland’s biggest event this weekend is Artscape, but there’s other shows going on too. Remember to check back every Thursday for the weekend’s upcoming concerts and other events in Maryland.
Friday July 18 – 20 Mt. Royal Ave. – Artscape on Friday and Saturday from 12pm – 10pm, Sunday from 12pm – 8pm
http://www.artscape.org/
Friday July 18 Pier Six Pavilion – Phil Vassar w/ Steve Azar
https://tickets.piersixpavilion.com/
Friday July 18 Meyerhoff – Play! A Video Game Symphony at 8pm
http://www.bsomusic.org/main.taf?erube_fh=tessitura&tessitura.submit.CalendarPerfLink=1&PerfNo=7336
Saturday July 19 Meyerhoff – Artscape: Free BSO Concert at 3pm
http://www.bsomusic.org/main.taf?erube_fh=tessitura&tessitura.submit.CalendarPerfLink=1&PerfNo=7377
Saturday July 19 Oregon Ridge Park – BSO concert Hocus Pocus at 8pm
http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/recreation/countyparks/oregonridgelodge/bsoconcertinformation.html
Saturday July 19 Pier Six Pavilion – Volunteer Jam 2008 featuring Charlie Daniels Band, .38 Special, Shooter Jennings
https://tickets.piersixpavilion.com/
Verizon Changes to All Digital TV…Some May Need a Digital Converter Box
If you are at home wondering why your tv isn’t working, it might not be your tv per se. It may be because as of today, Verizon has switched to digital broadcasting only for Maryland and Northern Virgina residents. If you have an analog tv and want to keep it, you’ll need a digital-to-analog set-top converter box. These boxes can be bought at places like Sears, Best Buy, and Target.
But don’t toss out your analog tv just yet if you don’t want to buy a digital converter box. Video games, DVD players, and VCRs will still work with your tv. Another option is buying a new tv; it doesn’t have to be high definition. It just needs to have a digital turner, which all tvs bought in the U.S. after March 1, 2007 are supposed to have.
Those with analog tvs that would like to buy the converter can request two coupons at https://www.dtv2009.gov/ from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to help subsidize the cost . The coupons are for $40 each, a great deal considering the cost of a digital converter box is around $50 to $60. With the $40 coupon, consumers can expect to pay around $10 to $20.
The reason for the switch is more efficiency, greater programming options, and more room for emergency communications like police and fire responders.
July 11 – 13 2008 Maryland Events
Curious about concerts and shows in the Maryland area? Like buying tickets one or two days before the actual show? Hate visiting different websites to search? Disappointed that you hear about something after it’s over? What’s New in Maryland will begin posting weekend shows for local venues. Check every Thursday for the weekend’s upcoming events.
Friday July 11 Pier Six Pavilion – “Weird Al” Yankovic “Straight Outta Linwood Tour” https://tickets.piersixpavilion.com/
Friday July 11 1st Mariner Arena – TI and Friends “E&R Smoke Tour” at 7:30pm http://www.baltimorearena.com/event-more-info.shtml?e_id=163
Friday July 11 Meyerhoff – Four Seasons at 8pm
http://www.bsomusic.org/main.taf?erube_fh=tessitura&tessitura.submit.CalendarPerfLink=1&PerfNo=7333
Sunday July 13 Merriweather Post Pavilion – John Mayer w/ Brett Dennen http://www.merriweathermusic.com/schedule.php
What to Do in Maryland for the 4th of July
Ready for the 4th of July? Looks like a chance of rain but that won’t stop many of us from going to a parade or fireworks display. Whether it’s barbeque or steamed crabs, boating or the beach, there’s lots to do in Maryland for the 4th.
If you’re planning to travel, let’s hope you left a couple days ago (otherwise have fun with that traffic). If you’re planning to stay local, check out your local newspaper for times of events, parades, and fireworks. Or visit http://baltimore.about.com/od/events/a/July4th.htm for more information on celebrations in Baltimore, DC, and Annapolis.
Maryland Rain Brings More Mosquitos
Have more mosquito bites this year? One reason could be that we’ve had more rain this spring as compared to the droughts of recent years. All this rain combined with warm weather can lead to increased mosquito populations.
To prevent large mosquito populations, get rid of objects that hold excess water in your yard and if you have a pond, consider getting fish to swim in the pond because fish will often eat young mosquitos.
