First things first: seven weeks from today, at midnight, Caesar's due is due. Because April 15 falls on Saturday, your income tax return has two extra days to get itself done.
The IRS has extended hours for its telephone assistance program: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The regular phone number is 1-800-829-1040; the number for hearing-impaired taxpayers is 1-800-429-4059.
Happy dialing.
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For a jolt of unmitigated, unapologetic beauty to help you through the tax season, schedule a stop at the fourth annual St. John's College Flower and Garden Show on March 18 and 19.
Even better, take a little more time to partake of the gala preview party from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 17, or the very popular "Bloomin' Breakfast" at 9:30. March 18. Both events are by reservation only; call 268-0847, or 268-1476.
The St. John's Flower and Garden Show is sponsored by Caritas, the organization founded to assist St. John's College students with emergency financial needs. Hours for the show are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 18 and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 19. For the first time this year, local caterer The Main Ingredient will be offering breakfast pastries and luncheon sandwiches.
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Winter is almost over, folks. It's time to dig out the calendar and start scheduling and juggling, balancing this against that with many wonderful options.
For instance: The U.S. Navy Commodores, a jazz ensemble that is known worldwide opens the South County Cultural Arts spring season in Owensville on March 11 at 7:30 p.m. But scheduled on the same night is the first Saturday of the Colonial Players' "Fiorello," with harpist Carrol McLaughlin at Southern Senior High School as part of the South County Concert Association's 1995-1995 subscription program; and Ensemble Galilei "A Journey Through the Celtic Lands," a St. John's College Music in the Great Hall presentation.
The only unavoidable conflict is between the two South County events. "Fiorello" runs through April 8 at the Colonial Players theater on East Street in Annapolis, and the Ensemble Galilei performs again at 7 p.m. March 12.
For information on the U.S. Navy Commodores at Our Lady of Sorrows Hall, call Tom Coleman at 867-0888.
For the South County Concert Association concert with Carrol McLaughlin, and the open admission concert by the Russian State Chorus on April 21, call 867-1587. Colonial Theater information is available at 268-7373.
Details on Ensemble Galilei's performance in honor of St. Patrick's Day are available through Barbara Goyette at 626-2539.
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The Junior League of Annapolis' 15th Annual Carousel Thrift Sale is in high gear, preparing for its opening at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Medford National Guard Armory on Hudson Street in Annapolis.
The famous "instant department store" features new and used clothing, furniture, collectibles, antiques, sporting goods, electronics, appliances and household goods. For the best selection, go early. The line forms before dawn.
Two preview parties are scheduled: the traditional Friday evening $10 fete, with food, beverages, a silent auction and on-site raffle; and new this year, a party for residents of several local homeless shelters, who will have a chance to buy clothing and accessories at prices deeply discounted below those for the general public.
For information on any of the Carousel events, call 224-8984. Money raised by the events go toward the Junior League's support programs aimed at family solidity.
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I had a dynamic grandmother, a product of a 19th-century childhood, who supported herself, six sons and one daughter (putting all through college) by traveling six months of the year and lecturing on current events for the other six.
It is my loss that I didn't take advantage of a few adult opportunities to get to know her. She terrified me. I do know that she hadn't the least understanding or sympathy for the women's movement of the 1970s. She simply couldn't see the need.
She would probably have bought a ticket for the Annapolis Chapter of Hadassah Book and Author Luncheon March 26 at the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront Hotel.
I think she'd have had a challenge or two for Judy Mann, Washington Post columnist and author of "The Difference: Growing Up Female in America." She would surely have read Ellyn Bache's book based on the 1982 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, and would probably have already interviewed Polly Nelson, author of "Defending the Devil," about her experience as defense lawyer for serial killer Ted Bundy. Mame Warren's works on Maryland's visual history, alone and with her father, Marion Warren, would have been well-thumbed by my grandmother.
The good thing about the Hadassah luncheon, the major annual fund-raising event for the organization, is that we -- female or male -- need be neither goaded nor intimidated by grandmothers to enjoy it fully. We need only be interested in the work of talented people with a point of view and the ability to articulate it.
Reservations for the luncheon are $30 if received before March 17, and $35 after. Call Betty Goldstein, 269-0445, or Sallie Abeles, 721-1215.
My grandmother, by the way, was Genevieve Pfeiffer (Hallett) Taylor. I would love to hear from anyone who may have heard her lectures -- or anyone with other interesting programs to promote. Call me at 626-0273.