IN EASTPORT, WE KNOW spring is here when the bittersweet aroma of burning socks fills the air. Sailors gather around a fire to burn their winter socks. This year, the quirky ceremony takes place at the Eastport Yacht Club on First Street at 4 p.m. Sunday. The public is invited. Bring your own socks.
Flavor mixes with fun
How do you combine an exercise regimen with civic duty? Follow Doug Lamborne as he hikes around town, passing out fliers announcing the third annual Chili Tasting Contest he's organizing for the Community Associations of Annapolis (CAA). Doug, also known as "Jalapeno," is recruiting chefs from community organizations.
As a former winner, I can tell you it's a fun event, because you get to sample all of the entries. The cook-off takes place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 30 at the Ram's Head Tavern, 33 West St., Annapolis. A $5 cover includes appetizers and a cash bar, with proceeds benefiting the CAA.
The distinguished panel of judges includes Mike Ashford, owner of McGarvey's Saloon; Patricia Croslan, executive director of the Annapolis Housing Authority; Linnell Bowen, executive director of Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts; Carl Snowden, legislative liaison for the county executive's office, and sportswriter Joe Gross.
Tamara Thiel of Eastport won first place last year. If you think you have the winning chili recipe, call Doug Lamborne at 410-263-1606.
History for the future
There's still time for kids to enter the Celebrate 350 poster contest. As director of Celebrate 350 Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, I'm eager to see the historically-inspired artwork from fourth- and fifth-graders and middle-schoolers.
The "History Now!" contest is being organized by Mianna Jopp, manager of the Information and Guide Services at the Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center at the Naval Academy. "This contest challenges students to bring history alive by having them depict some element of our 350 years of cultural heritage in an artistic form," Jopp says.
Winning posters will be displayed at Marley Station Mall, sponsors of the contest. First-place winners will receive $100 gift certificates, second- and third-place winners will get gift certificates valued at $50 and $25.
"There will also be a special drawing for all schools submitting entries," Mianna adds. "The winning school will receive a $200 gift certificate for art supplies."
Entries are due at the Marley Station Mall Customer Service Desk by April 19. For information on the "History Now!" poster contest, call Mianna Jopp at 410-263-6933, extension 11.
Artists already winners
Two Annapolis kids recently won $100 savings bonds in the Washington Jewish Week Purim Art Contest, reports Anna Foer, artist and art teacher at Aleph Bet Day School on Spa Road in Annapolis.
"This is a real feather in our cap," she says. "More than 800 students entered the contest throughout the Washington area and our tiny school, with only 47 kids, took two of the three first places."
Winners were 6-year-old Matthew Foer, son of Anna Foer and her husband, Paul, and 8-year-old Elliot Goldberg, son of Mark and Joy Goldberg of Annapolis. Matthew created a Persian castle scene in crayon and watercolor. Elliot's winning piece was a multimedia portrait of a king from one of the Purim holiday tales set in Persia.
An evergreen memory
Homestead Gardens' 25th anniversary Gardening Celebration started over the weekend and continues next weekend.
"It's a flower show combined with a nostalgic tour through Homestead's journal," says Lydia Phillips, the event's organizer. "We've got pictures on display from the very beginning, showing our teamwork with the Baltimore Orioles and all of the wonderful projects we've done in the community."
The garden center, on Route 214 in Davidsonville, will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Information: 410-798-5000.
Pub Date: 3/15/99