WILL YOU decorate your rooms for the holidays like you always have before, or would you like some new ideas and creative tips this year? The Ferndale Garden Club invites you to its annual Christmas show for fun and inspiration Wednesday at Michael's Eighth Avenue. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m.
This year's theme is "Home for the Holidays," and features a different format from previous years. Kathy Shatt, mistress of ceremonies, will introduce crafters and florists who will take you through the process of turning an entrance, living room and dining room into beautifully decorated spaces for the holidays.
The show begins at a front porch, where Debbie Croghan of Petal Pusher Florist demonstrates how to make and hang a holiday garland to welcome your guests. Completing the picture will be a Williamsburg wreath for the front door constructed by Marie Price of Willow Oak Herb Farm.
Bonnie Lear from A.C. Moore will decorate the main Christmas tree in the living room. Carol Wagner of Forever Yours will decorate the room's fireplace mantel.
Watch as Christie Culp, hospitality consultant for Southern Living at Home, sets a holiday table using Southern Living accessories. Diane Carpentieri of Stampin' Up will put finishing touches to the table setting with her handmade place cards. She also will demonstrate how to make invitations and a decorative candle. Suzy Provine of Blooming Basket Florist will make other holiday arrangements.
Learn how to make not only an attractive decoration but also a delicious gingerbread house and gingerbread men cookies that your guests will surely enjoy. Jim Conlee of Kake Kraft Korner will be the demonstrator.
By the end of the evening, the rooms will have a smart new holiday look.
A packet of how-to information will be distributed to each attendee. The club will serve refreshments of homemade cookies and punch. Door prizes from local merchants and a raffle of a beautiful snowman will also take place.
Tickets are $4 in advance and $5 at the door. A $1 discount will be given off tickets bought at the door if a nonperishable item is brought for the Anne Arundel County Food Bank.
Michael's Eighth Avenue is at 7220 Grayburn Drive at 8th Avenue in Glen Burnie. Information or advance tickets: Jeanette Lehman, 410-761-1716.
Vocal duo in concert
On Saturday, the Performing Arts Association of Linthicum will present Sam Hagan and Kit Prothero, a classically trained vocal duo, in concert at 8 p.m. at the Chesapeake Arts Center, 194 Hammonds Lane.
Hagan grew up in Atlanta and is a full-time biology professor. He studied opera with Metropolitan Opera soloists. But his musical talents are not confined to classical. Hagan also leads a rock band. As a classically trained singer, he has shared the stage with orchestras in Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. Some of his most notable engagements include singing for Pope John Paul II and doing a solo at President Jimmy Carter's inauguration.
Mezzo-soprano Prothero has degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory and has received advanced training in Stuttgart, Germany. She has also worked under the tutelage of Swedish soprano Birgit Nilsson, and has studied at the Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts. Prothero has had recitals at the Vienna Choral Society, the Miami Messiah Festival and the Emory University's Chamber Music Society.
Tickets to this and three other performances are sold on a subscription basis for $34. The following concerts are all held at the Chesapeake Arts Center: Stephan Scaggiari jazz pianist at 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 16; Chorus of the Chesapeake at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 29; Chevalier, Maurice & Me, a one-man show at 8 p.m., Saturday, May 3.
PAAL also sponsors the U.S. Navy Band at 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 17. This is a free concert open to the public.
In the event of inclement weather, the performance will be held if the artist can get to the concert. Cancellations will be announced on WBAL or WBJC.
Information: Jo Barker, president, 410-859-3308..
AARP meeting
Patapsco Valley AARP Chapter 3850 will hold its monthly meeting Wednesday, at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 18 Marydel Road. Social hour starts at noon, the program is at 12:45 p.m. and the business meeting is at 1:30 p.m. The speaker will be Rick Deale from the YMCA, who is coordinator for the Elderhostel Program.
Members can bring their local and national membership card and pay the yearly dues of $5. The fee for the Christmas luncheon will also be collected.
Information: Paul Bagley, publicity chairman, 410-255-2601.
Meet the author
The Ann Arrundell County Historical Society will sponsor Meet the Author/Book Signing from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Benson-Hammond House, Aviation Boulevard and Andover Road. Byron A. Lee, a retired Navy captain and former naval engineer, is the author of Naval Warrior: The Life of Commodore Isaac Mayo.
The volume, an excellent contribution to our local history, details the fascinating career of one of Anne Arundel County's true heroes whose naval career spanned almost half a century. The book also discusses the commodore's personal life, his acquisition of a large estate in southern Anne Arundel County, and contains an extensive family genealogy.
Admission and parking are free, and parking will be available for people with disabilities. Refreshments will be served.
Information: Mark Schatz, 410-760-5206.