What’s New in Maryland
For you Merliners out thereArchive for August, 2008
August 29th and 30th Events in Maryland
It’s the end of August already. The 11 best days of summer continues with the Maryland State Fair in Timonium continuing throughout the weekend. Not many concerts at Maryland’s major venues but check out local concerts near to where you live and here’s a couple events at Rams Head Live:
Friday August 29th Rams Head Live – Gridiron Singoff – listen to Ravens players sing, get autographs, and check out a memorabilia auction – 6:30pm
http://tickets.ramsheadlive.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=249
Saturday August 30 Rams Head Live – Battle of the Bands: This Time it’s for Real at 8pm
http://tickets.ramsheadlive.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=257
For more on weekend concerts and other events at major Maryland venues, be sure to check back next Thursday.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge Lane Closed
The bridge is closing, the bridge is closing. Just one lane and it’s all for safety. Due to bolts beginning to deteriorate, repairs to the eastbound span of the bridge are needed. One eastbound span lane will be closed at least three weeks.
To avoid heavy delays, travelers can take Interstate 95 to Route 1, which becomes Coastal Highway through Delaware. Perfect timing. Just in time for Labor Day weekend. Is that a popular time to go to Ocean City?
Find Concerts Near to Where You Live at gruvr
For Marylanders looking for a place where they can find local concerts – at large and small venues, gruvr might be a website to visit. http://gruvr.com/ shows you a list of bands based on the location it tracks when you visit its website. Visit the website and it will tell you the town you’re located in and list bands that are playing nearby for today and the next few days. There is also a large map in front of the list that will show you the approximate location.
Listed are bands that are very well-known as long as they are performing in a location near you as well as bands that are more local. The site gets its lists from bands that have their concert schedule posted on Myspace. For Marylanders just looking to go to a concert near them, this seems like a good resource, though this site tracks outside of Maryland as well.
August 22nd – 24th Weekend in Maryland
What are some events this weekend in Maryland? Friday, August 22nd kicks off the Maryland State Fair. This is the 127th year of the Fair, which includes animals, rides, games, craft exhibits, and vendors. The Maryland State Fair or “11 best days of summer” runs from August 22nd to September 1st. Regular admission to the Fair is $8 per person, $3 for those 60+ years old and children ages 6-11, and free admission for children under 6 years old.
Friday August 22nd Rams Head Live – Kottonmouth Kings & Tech N9ne at 6:30 pm
http://tickets.ramsheadlive.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=17
Friday August 22nd Pier Six Pavilion – Billy Idol at 7:30 pm
http://tickets.piersixpavilion.com/ordertickets.asp?p=5037&backurl=default.asp
Saturday August 23rd Pier Six Pavilion – The Robert Cray Band & Keb’ Mo Band at 7pm
http://tickets.piersixpavilion.com/ordertickets.asp?p=50018&backurl=default.asp
Saturday August 23rd Rams Head Live – Unhollowed & This Message Will Self Destruct at 8pm
http://tickets.ramsheadlive.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=238
Sunday August 24th Pier Six Pavilion – Slightly Stoopid w/ Dub Masters Sly, Pepper, and Robbie & The Taxi Gang at 7pm
http://tickets.piersixpavilion.com/ordertickets.asp?p=50027&backurl=default.asp
So next weekend the 11 best days of summer will still be here but the above concerts won’t and some new concerts and other events will be. Check back next Thursday.
Photowalk in Fells Point
The first Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk hosted by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals is taking place this Saturday, August 23rd and one Maryland location is included: Fells Point. The photowalk is a way for photographers to meet, take pictures, and compare photos. The grand prize (for the best national photo) could be considered a photographer’s dream:
- $500 B&H gift card
- $250 book bundle
- 2 conference passes to the Photoshop World Conference & Expo
- New Adobe Lightroom 2
- Adobe CS3 Creative Suite Premium Package
- Kodak Professional Portra Endura Paper/Two 20″x30″ Color Prints
- Wacom 6×11 Widescreen Tablet
The best photo taken in Fells Point will win a copy of the book, “Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers.” The Baltimore group is already full at 50 people, but if photography is something you’re interested in, consider signing up next year. For more information on the Baltimore walk, visit http://www.staciecmorris.com/wordpress2/?p=195
HSBC Finance Corp. in White Marsh Closes
In addition to Boscov’s, the White Marsh area has another employer / customer-oriented business that will be closing — HSBC. The closing of HSBC in White Marsh will lay off 450 employees. Ironically, HSBC managed Boscov’s credit card offering. It’s always pretty congested in the area around the White Marsh Mall and the shopping center with the Target. Guess this will mean a little less traffic.
Did You Know…Maryland Offers Homeowners Grants to Put Solar Panels on Their Homes
The Maryland Energy Administration has given away over a half a million dollars to help homeowners pay for solar power for the 2009 year. This is for around 95 projects; thus, averaging slightly over $6,000 per homeowner. When the state runs out of money to give out (and they have), they start a waiting list. Thus, the 60 homeowners already on the waiting list for 2009. Something tells me that as more people become aware of them, these grants will get even more popular.
The money given away has increased dramatically over the years, from around $85,000 in 2005 to just over $300,000 in 2008. As solar panels tend to be over $20,000, this can mean a significant savings for homeowners who receive these grants. In addition to a grant, homeowners may also be eligible for a federal tax credit. Maryland grants can also be used towards geothermal heat systems and solar water heaters.
Are you thinking, ok, how do I apply? To apply for a spot on the waiting list, email meainfo@energy.state.md.us or call 1-800-72ENERGY to request an application.
Maryland Concerts for August 15th, 16th, & 17th
Are you looking for a concert in Maryland this weekend? Though no one’s at First Mariner Arena, the Hippodrome or Merriweather Post Pavilion, a couple other venues in Maryland have shows going on this weekend, Friday, August 15th to Sunday, August 17th. Check out the list below.
Friday August 15 Pier Six Pavilion An Evening Anita Baker at 8pm
http://tickets.piersixpavilion.com/ordertickets.asp?p=50022&backurl=default.asp
Friday August 15 Rams Head Live – Peter Frampton at 8:30pm http://tickets.ramsheadlive.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=169
Saturday August 16 Pier Six Pavilion – The Legends of Hip Hop with Whodini, Big Daddy Kane, Doug E Fresh, Slick Rick, Kool Mo Dee, McLyte, Chubb Rock, Rob Base at 7pm
http://tickets.piersixpavilion.com/ordertickets.asp?p=5034&backurl=default.asp
Saturday August 16 Rams Head Live – Soulive at 9pm
http://tickets.ramsheadlive.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=209
Sunday August 17 Pier Six Pavilion – G.Love and Special Sauce w/ John Butler Trio and Eric Hutchinson at 7pm
http://tickets.piersixpavilion.com/ordertickets.asp?p=50026&backurl=default.asp
For more on a weekend’s concerts and other events at major local venues in Maryland, check What’s New in Maryland every Thursday.
Virgin Mobile Festival in Baltimore August 9th & 10th
The biggest concert (or shall we say concerts) in Maryland this weekend is the Virgin Mobile Festival at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Tickets are $97.50 a piece for one day (10am to 10pm Saturday or Sunday) admission and $175 for both days. VIP tickets are considerably more expensive at $250 for one day or $450 for both days but come with perks like special viewing areas, goody bags, chair massages, tastings, shuttle service, an event t-shirt, complimentary parking, and an air conditioned lounge with video screens.
Aside from the concerts, the festival will have pony racing, art sculptures, and other attractions.
Check out the line-up or buy tickets at http://www.virginmobilefestival.com/
Boscov’s Will Close in Glen Burnie, Owings Mills, & White Marsh
Some Marylanders will have one less place nearby to buy clothes and home furnishings. Boscov’s has announced that it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will be closing 10 stores.
Three of those stores that will be closing are right here in Maryland. They include the store in Marley Station Shopping Center in Glen Burnie, the one in Owings Mills, and the Boscov’s at the White Marsh Mall in Baltimore. If you’re near one of these locations, look out for the going-out-of-business liquidation sales. The 10 stores that will be closing will be trying to sell off their inventories.
Closing the stores and filing for bankruptcy allows the department store chain to reduce debt and other costs. After closing the 10 stores, the chain will still have 39 left in states that include Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Virginia.
