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Weekend Roundup

Thursday December 2, 2010

Happy almost weekend Baltimore, and Happy Hannukah!

Thursday

Washington Monument Lighting - One of America's oldest monuments to our first president is awash in lights for the holiday season. Live entertainment, food, drink, and even fireworks are on the tap during the pre-event, which starts at 5:30 in the heart of Mount Vernon. (The actual lighting is at 7).

Friday-Saturday

Night of 100 Elvises - A uniquely Baltimore event, Elvises as far as the eye can see gather at the Lithuanian Hall, 851-3 Hollins St. The main ballroom will host at least 12 bands and 12 Elvis tribute artists. All entertainers will perform all Elvis music, all night. No song will be duplicated in the ballroom. You get the picture. General admissions tickets are $57 and include drinks and a southern buffet.

Saturday-Sunday

Dollar Days Weekend - Every year for one weekend in December, downtown Baltimore attractions drop admission prices to $1 or less. Dollar admission at the Baltimore Aquarium may be the highlight, but dozens of other attractions also offer up this holiday treat. The 2010 dates are December 4th and 5th.

Sunday

Children's Chorus of Maryland Holiday Concert - The Gordon Center for Performing Arts in Owings Mills (3506 Gwynnbrook Ave.) hosts its 35th-annual holiday concert at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12-$18 and can be purchased online.

Mayor's Annual Christmas Parade - The annual parade begins at 2 p.m. at Poly/Western High School and ends on 37th St. It's a 2.5-mile path that includes more than 150 marching units.

Washington Monument Lighting

Wednesday December 1, 2010

Tomorrow marks the official start of the Christmas season in Baltimore, as our very own Washington Monument becomes awash in holiday lights.

Now in its 39th year, the Mount Vernon event features local entertainers, food, and holiday activities. The holiday village featuring food and crafts vendors will open in Mount Vernon's West park on Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. The entertainment on stage will begin at 6 p.m. and the monument lighting and fireworks display will occur at 7 p.m.

A quick aside. I had always thought our Washington Monument was the first to our first president in our country. Turns out that while it was completed before Washington D.C.'s version, it is not the first. A reader named Richard wrote in to inform me that the first completed monument to George Washington is in Boonsboro, Maryland. According to the state's Department of Natural Resources, it was finished in 1827.

Thanks for reading and writing in Richard. I'm putting Washington Monument State Park in Boonsboro on my to-visit list.


Task Force to Study Ways to Improve School Buildings

Monday November 29, 2010

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake last week announced the formation of a 10-member task force that will analyze sources of revenue, legislative changes, and financing options to pay for an estimated $2.8 billion in construction and improvements that are needed in Baltimore's public schools.

"While we don't have a solution to address this shortfall today, one thing is clear -- we can't do nothing," the mayor told The Sun.

I've always considered the disparity between the quality of education received by economic "haves" compared to "have nots" one of this country's greatest tragedies. Nowhere is the divide more striking than in Baltimore. Many city schools lack functioning heating and air conditioning, and have windows that do not open and electrical systems that are unable to support computers and other devices, according to a report released in the summer by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Can you imagine trying to teach or learn in a sweltering classroom with no air conditioning and windows that don't open? It's more just unfair to the students and teachers - it's unjust.

Will this task force help the situation? I have no idea, but I am pleased to hear SRB seems to have made this issue a priority. She's asked that the task force, comprised of city and school system employees, report back to her by February.

The Sun reported that the task force will look at changing rules for seeking bonds, directing tax proceeds for school improvements, and will examine how school systems in Georgia and Greenville, S.C., paid for sweeping overhauls.

Finding $2.8 billion in this or any other economic climate seems like a tall task, but I think it's worth it. I'd urge anyone who feels that much money could be better spent elsewhere to visit a crumbling, decrepit school on a sweltering September day and report back to me.

Ravens Game at 4:15 on Sunday

Friday November 26, 2010

A quick heads up. The NFL announced a few weeks ago that it was changing the start of the Ravens game Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium to 4:15.

Originally the game had been scheduled for 1 p.m. Baltimore is taking on Tampa Bay, and the game is now a nationally televised one on Fox.

Should be a dandy.

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