mardi gras

A highlight of the 33rd festival, held this weekend, is the costumed parade known as 'Playing Mas'

Ragin' Cajun is part of Maryland theme park's new Mardi Gras section.

The Prince George's County Board of License Commissioners, otherwise known as the Liquor Board, on Tuesday denied a request by the owner of Rio Bar & Grill to transfer the now-defunct sports bar's liquor license to owners of The Original Kilimanjaro, a family business that previously owned several local go-go clubs.

The Laurel Board of Trade is beckoning Mardi Gras to Main Street as the theme of its 34th annual Main Street Festival, scheduled rain or shine on Saturday, May 10.

Maryland theme part launches season and new Mardi Gras section

March closes with these birthdays: Charlie Immel (March 22); Courtney Tramontana (March 27); and Chad Deal and J. Elwood Payne (March 29). Happy birthday you all!

The Rev. Bonnie McCubbin, 27, will be celebrating her first Easter next month as pastor of Good Shepherd, a United Methodist congregation of 60 members. While it's the biggest UMC in Hampden, that's not saying much, as mergers in recent years have left only two UMC churches in Hampden. She is one of only three full-time pastors in the area of any denomination. We profile her.

Not to be confused with the king cake common during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, this traditional, flour-less almond cake from the Piedmont region of Northern Italy is a popular choice for Passover dessert

Havre de Grace's annual Mardi Gras parade fell victim to the snowstorm that came through Harford Monday morning. The parade will tentatively still be held on Friday, but the crowds will not be celebrating in downtown Havre de Grace on the actual day of "Fat Tuesday."

Brigitte Peters, at the Office of Tourism, and I are making the parade list for the March 4 Mardi Gras parade at 6:30 p.m. down Bourbon Street from the high school, to Washington Street into downtown, ending on St. John Street at Legion Square and David Craig Park at Lafayette's Statue

Senior Briefs

The annual Mardi Gras Parade in Havre de Grace will be this Tuesday evening, March 4, and there's plenty of other great Fat Tuesday fun going on around town leading up to the big night, as the city embraces French culture with a grand week of celebration.

February is Snack Food Month. Anyone in need may snack at Grace Place Serving Center at St. John's Episcopal Church, 114 N. Union Ave., 410-939-2107,

What is nearly as remarkable as Jenny Campbell's costumes - the glittering swirls of ribbon and whirling snow globe headdresses - is the path that led to her second career as a costume maker.

Mary Boehly informed me about a free, open to the public concert by the USAF Heritage Ramblers Saturday at 3 p.m. in Havre de Grace United Methodist Church, 101 S. Union Ave., Havre de Grace. Sponsored by the Havre de Grace Arts Commission, the Heritage Ramblers are six members of the USAF Heritage of America Band from Langley, Va., known for their brilliant brass sound and precision. For information, visit www.heritageofamericaband.af.mil or phone 410-939-2100.

A little more than four months later, Geiger and Lane's luck would take a sharp turn. In the early morning hours of May 10, Geiger would awaken in the couple's Ellicott City home to a knife struggle between Lane and then 19-year-old Jason Anthony Bulmer, the boyfriend of Lane's then 14-year-old daughter, that would ultimately leave Lane dead.

Happy January birthdays, dear readers

The Polar Bear Plunge Havre de Grace-style, the Susquehanna Hose Company Duck Dunk, a fundraiser for the volunteer fire department, will be held Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon at the Havre de Grace Yacht Basin's far launch ramp.

Calling all polar bears! Joe Kochenderfer will lead Havre de Grace's polar team to brave frigid temperatures on Saturday at 10 a.m. for a "Frost Bite Walk of the North Park Trail

Good luck in 2014. May you accomplish all your new year's resolutions

The brightest block in Hampden flickered into full holiday kitsch Saturday night, its tens of thousands of lights twinkling, its hub-cap Christmas tree gleaming and its Natty Boh-themed display drawing oohs and awws from revelers.

On Friday night, singer/songwriter Matt Nathanson shared his decades-in-the-making theory with a sold-out crowd at Rams Head Live.

A recap of the opener of Season 11 of 'Top Chef,' as we head to New Orleans for frog, turtle and alligator

Coakley's Pub in Havre de Grace was fined $1,000 by Harford County's Liquor Control Board for disturbing the peace after police said the Coakleys allowed a group of drunk, rowdy and loud visitors to take over the pub on April 21.

A recap of the first night of the finals of 'Dancing with the Stars'

See how Jacoby Jones and Karina Smirnoff fared in the first part of the "Dancing with the Stars" finale.

After saying repeatedly that he wanted to remain with the Ravens, Ed Reed found more money and more interest elsewhere.

'Dancing With the Stars' recap, Jacoby Jones, a 'Bachelor,' Andy Dick and more

Jacoby Jones descends the staircase in a purple shirt, with a faux untied gold bowtie stitched on. It's not so much Ravens purple as Mardi Gras purple.

Happy St. Patrick's Day on Sunday, March 17. Remember to wear something green and declare your "Irishness." March is Irish-American Heritage Month. Erin go bragh! March is a time to remember the many ways that America is enriched and strengthened by contributions from people of Irish heritage

This year's celebration in Havre de Grace was a substantial step up from the original Mardi Gras parade in the city six years ago, but it is just a small version of what goes on in New Orleans.

Feb. 27 is National Polar Bear Day. The Susquehanna Hose Company volunteers successfully sponsored a Havre de Grace/Chesapeake Bay equivalent polar bear/Duck Dunk on Jan. 19. Let's hope it continues as a fun, frigid tradition in Havre de Grace. Nonetheless, you can celebrate the upcoming day by hugging and snuggling with your own favorite polar bear, but make sure it's plush and lovable; the real bears are not prone to snuggling

Bourbon Street was lit up with brightly colored floats, costumes and lights for Mardi Gras Tuesday night.

For Harford County's Catholic residents, the annual Lent season is a time to reflect on how they can improve as people.

Mardi Gras this year got caught between the Super Bowl and Valentine's Day.