Concerts in the Park Series begins June 8th in St. Michaels, MD

The St. Michaels Community Center’s Concerts in the Park Series is returning to the waterfront Muskrat Park on Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. beginning June 8 and continuing through Aug. 31.

 

The sounds of summer begin with Rosewood performing on June 8. The Eastern Shore-based band features the dynamic and lush vocals of Sandy Ryder performing great standards from the ‘60s to today, including country, blues, and contemporary rock.

 

All 13 performances are listed on the St. Michaels Community Center’s website, with earlier performances including JCT 33, Sarah Campbell, New & Used Bluegrass, Ampersand, Down the Road, and more.

 

Muskrat Park features an expansive lawn overlooking St. Michaels Harbor and the Miles River, with limited picnic tables and a covered gazebo for performances. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or their own seating, along with friends, family, neighbors, your leashed dog, or just yourself to enjoy the concerts. Picnics are encouraged, with alcohol prohibited.

 

Ice cream, popcorn, snow cones, bottled water, and other treats will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the children and adults served by the St. Michaels Community Center. Plenty of locally-owned restaurants and parking are also nearby.

 

The free concert series is made possible through the generous sponsorship of local businesses acknowledged at each concert. Concert series sponsors include Ava's Pizzeria & Wine Bar, The Blue Crab, Blue Heron Coffee, Bridges Land Management, Built on Love and Dreams, The Crab Claw Restaurant, Eastern Shore Ship | Print | Connect, Foxy’s Harbor Grille, The Galley Restaurant, Gina’s Café, Guilford & Company, The Harmon Family, Higgins & Spencer, Higgins Yacht Yard, Justine’s Ice Cream, Log Canoe Inn, Marasun Roofing, Mid-Atlantic Waste System, Ophiuroidea "The O", Pemberton Pharmacy & Gifts, The Preppy Redneck, Rebecca Thomas Events, Ruse, Shore Orthopedics, Shore United Bank, Simpatico, St. Michaels Running Company, Talbot Watermen Association, Tickler’s Crab Shack, Theo's Steaks, Sides & Spirits, Total Home Performance, Wades Point Inn on the Bay, and The Wildset Hotel.

 

The St. Michaels Community Center is currently campaigning for donations supporting the renovations now underway of its building at 103 Railroad Ave., with expanded programs and services to include its new culinary arts and hospitality workforce training program.

 

The renovations support SMCC’s mission to serve, empower, and connect the community, with year-round programs and activities. Architectural renderings of the new building and more about SMCC’s capital improvements are at www.stmichaelscc.org/future.  

 

Donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels help the nonprofit ensure children and adults from the Newcomb Bridge to Tilghman Island have the resources they need. More is at www.stmichaelscc.org.

 

St. Michaels ChocolateFest returns Saturday, March 4th

The 5th Annual St. Michaels ChocolateFest will be held March 4, 2023 and will include restaurant chefs conjuring up amazing delectable special menu items to showcase chocolate inspired dishes and desserts.  The Chocolate Crawl will take place on Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. until sold out throughout the Town of St. Michaels at participating businesses and restaurants.  There will be no tickets sold in advance, so come hungry and bring cash to pay for delectable items throughout the Town of St. Michaels.

Chocolate lovers will enjoy shopping throughout town sampling amazing artisan chocolates, desserts, locally crafted wine, beer and spirits.

Kick off your morning with the Hot Chocolate 5k (3.1 mile) Fun Run/Walk and burn off those calories (so you can fill them back up with delicious CHOCOLATE!!!!) before heading to town for the ChocolateFest Crawl. The 5K will start at the St. Michaels Running Company at 9 a.m. continue down Railroad Ave to the St. Michaels nature trail and back for some tasty hot chocolate. The course will take you on the scenic St. Michaels Nature Trail.

There will also be events throughout the Town of St. Michaels, including the 5th Annual Chocolate Pie Eating Contest starting at 3pm held at The Galley Restaurant located at 305 S. Talbot Street. Kids and adults are welcome and encouraged to participate and register early, space is limited.  Visit website for complete details and to register for special events. www.stmichaelsmd.org 

St. Michaels Community Center names Culinary & Hospitality Advisory Team

St. Michaels Community Center names Culinary & Hospitality Advisory Team

 The St. Michaels Community Center's current renovations are about more than just a building because the new Community Center will be home to new programs, including culinary and hospitality workforce training.

 A new Culinary & Hospitality Advisory Team is helping the St. Michaels Community Center plan and execute these new workforce training programs, with advisory members including Chesapeake College Workforce Programs Dean Jason Mullen, Maryland 2022 Chef of the Year and The Inn at Perry Cabin Executive Chef Gregory James, Ava's Pizzeria & Theo's Steakhouse Executive Chef Derek Dilley, Gina's Café Owner and Executive Chef Gina Werner, Perdue Farms Culinary Team Corporate Executive Chef Chris Moyer, CEC, CRC, and Hambleton House Events & Catering Owners Executive Chef Jordan Lloyd and Alice Lloyd.

 “The St. Michaels Community Center has a three-point mission that includes connecting people to resources,” says SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “And now we have connected an incredibly talented group of culinary professionals to help build our future programs. We are extremely grateful for the insights and guidance from these advisory team members."

 

The Community Center’s renovated building will be an adaptive redesign of its current structure, meaning some parts of the World War II-era building will remain. The project team includes general contractor Harper & Sons, Inc. and engineering by Lane Engineers, both of Easton, Md. The project’s architect is McInturff Architects of Bethesda and Neavitt, Md.

 The new building will include a modern, well-equipped commercial kitchen, where SMCC will train people for jobs in restaurants and hotels, and from which the Center can continue to serve and deliver prepared meals and tens of thousands of bags of groceries to those in need.

 The new Community Center also will include a Technology Center where students can do their homework and space for after-school programs and community gatherings. SMCC is working with Chesapeake College and other partners to provide high-level instruction right in the middle of town.

 Architectural renderings of the new building and more about SMCC’s planned capital improvements, including updates and information about how to support the campaign are at www.stmichaelscc.org/future.

 The St. Michaels Community Center’s mission is to serve, empower, and connect the community, with year-round essential human services programs and activities for children, families, and adults. Tax-deductible donations to SMCC and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels help the nonprofit provide year-round programs, services, and community events for people in St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred’s communities, with more at www.stmichaelscc.org. 

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 PHOTOS/CUTLINES:

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SMCC Culinary & Hospitality Advisory Team Member Chef Jordan Lloyd of Hambleton House Events & Catering, left, with SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe, right, in SMCC's temporary kitchen space during renovations. SMCC is renovating its Railroad Ave. building, which will include a modern, well-equipped commercial kitchen for a new culinary and hospitality workforce training program, with a Culinary & Hospitality Advisory Team helping to guide the program’s success. More is at www.stmichaelscc.org/future.

 

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From left: The Inn at Perry Cabin Chef Skylar Pasaante, Executive Chef Gregory James, and Food and Beverage Director Katt Bradley bring and serve salad for a recent holiday meal at the St. Michaels Community Center, serving more than 150 people. James is a member of SMCC’s Culinary Advisory Team and is helping the St. Michaels Community Center plan and execute new culinary and hospitality workforce training programs. More is at www.stmichaelscc.org/future.

 

21st Annual Midnight Madness to be held Saturday, December 3, 2022 in St. Michaels

 Celebrating the holidays in St. Michaels is a tradition for many, and this year is no different. Maryland’s Eastern Shore is home to many picturesque towns, but none embody an old-fashioned holiday feel quite like St. Michaels.  With our quaint shops, world-class dining and jolly spirit, St. Michaels is transformed during the holidays into a Christmas Village. The holiday spirit is felt throughout town, which makes coming to St Michaels during the holiday season a special experience, year after year, and provides a wonderful backdrop to shop for the holidays. 

Our Countdown to Christmas starts with Small Business Saturday on November 26^th, followed by the 21^st Midnight Madness on December 3^rd where you can Shop, Dine and Stay at participating businesses to receive tickets for your chance to win amazing gift baskets. 

The second weekend in December brings the 36^th Christmas in St. Michaels to town December 9th-11th with Breakfast with Santa, home tours, lighted boat parade, parade through town and much more.  On December 17^th and 18^th we will celebrate “It’s a Wonderful Life in St. Michaels” with participating stores offering specials and refreshments and will donate a portion of their sales to the St. Michaels Community Center.

This year’s 21st Annual Midnight Madness event starts with the lighting of the Christmas Tree at St. Luke's Church on Friday, December 2nd.  The tree lighting started in 2021 to show support for the businesses in town and adorns ornaments representing the town’s businesses. 

Start collecting your tickets at participating retailers on November 12^th through December 3^rd and on December 2^nd at participating restaurants and lodging partners.  On the morning of Midnight Madness, start your day out with a brisk run or walk with St. Michaels Running Company's Holiday Hustle, a scenic 5k Run/Walk along St. Michaels Nature Trail (weather permitting).  New this year, the elves will put on a special event during the day from 1pm - 4pm at St. Luke's Church which will include a Cookie Contest and Ugly Sweater Contest for humans and dogs!   There will also be a jewelry sale at St. Luke's Church during the special event. 

As day turns to night, St. Michaels becomes a beautiful twinkling Christmas Village.  Shops will be open late with refreshments and snacks, and special sales during Midnight Madness, plus each purchase at participating businesses gives you a chance to win raffle prizes valued at over $15,000.   Look for Midnight Madness sponsor posters at your favorite shop, restaurant or lodging locations.  Drawings start at 11:00pm at The Galley Restaurant and participants must be present to win. 

Details can be found on the SMBA website www.stmichaelsmd.org

Christmas in St. Michaels ornament features Maryland Blue Crab

The nineteenth annual Christmas in St. Michaels Limited Edition Collectors Ornament celebrates the consummate Chesapeake icon, the Maryland Blue Crab. The ornament was adapted from an original drawing by local designer and artist Scott Sullivan.

“This year’s ornament is a celebration of our favorite crustacean,” said Christmas in St. Michaels Board President Pat Martin. “Our limited-edition ornament pays homage to the summertime staple of cracking and eating steamed hard-shells or feasting on soft-shells in St. Michaels and throughout Maryland’s Eastern Shore.”, and this year’s ornament is a celebration.”

The ornaments are crafted in 24k gold-plated brass and delivered in a gift box. Included in each box are a description and historical information pertaining to the theme of the ornament. The cost of each ornament is $26.50 including shipping.

The ornaments are available for purchase online, at the Christmas in St. Michaels Marketplace and Sweet Shoppe, and at select retail locations including American Holiday Home, Brackish Life, Charisma, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Store, Chesapeake Trading Company, Pemberton Pharmacy & Gifts in St. Michaels, Sea Captain’s Cottage, Shore United Bank’s St. Michaels office, St. Michaels Harbour Inn, Marina & Spa, The Christmas Shop, The Preppy Redneck, and Trade Whims in Easton.

The Dec. 9-11 Christmas in St. Michaels events include a Lighted Boat Parade and festive Talbot Street Parade; a Tour of Homes; Breakfast with Santa; Holiday Music and Meals; a Santa Dash; a Marketplace and Sweet Shoppe, and more.

 

Proceeds from Christmas in St. Michaels help the people served by local non-profit organizations, with more than $1.4M in support provided since the event began in 1987. Event updates, online purchases, and more about Christmas in St. Michaels are at christmasinstmichaels.org.