Watermen's Appreciation Day Sunday August 14th

The Talbot Watermen’s Association is bringing the 7th Annual Watermen’s Appreciation Day to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md. and the Miles River on Sunday, August 14, 2016. The event is a joint fundraiser for both organizations.

The “watermen’s rodeo” boat docking contest returns to Navy Point, near the 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse. Bleacher seating will be provided for spectators to the contest.

Steamed crabs, beer, and other foods and beverages will be available for purchase. The event is hosted by TWA in cooperation with CBMM, with proceeds benefiting both organizations. The pricing for steamed crabs will be set by July 24, and will be announced at that time on CBMM’s website.

Watermen’s Day also offers the public the rare opportunity to see and board a collection of historic buyboats from around the mid-Atlantic region along CBMM’s docks and waterways, as CBMM hosts the 12th Annual Chesapeake Bay Buyboat Association’s reunion.

These unique craft were used to haul seafood and cargo along the Chesapeake Bay’s waterways before many of the peninsulas were connected by bridges. As the seafood harvest declined and highways became the mode of travel the large graceful buyboats faded from local waters. Today, no more than 30 of the oyster buyboats remain on the Bay. Buyboats at CBMM during Watermen’s Day include F.D Crockett, Nellie Crockett, Thomas J., Prop Wash, East Hampton, 55th Virginia, Iva W., Old Point, and Winnie Estelle.

Beginning at 11 a.m., watch the spirited boat docking contest along Navy Point. Children’s on-the-water activities include a Pot Pie skiff rowing competition, with prizes awarded.

Starting at noon, the classic rock, country, and blues sounds of Bird Dog and the Road Kings will have people tapping their toes and dancing along the museum’s waterfront as the region’s favorite band plays live from the historic Tolchester Beach Bandstand. Also beginning at noon, the day’s catch of steamed crabs—served by watermen—will be available for purchase, in addition to beer, water, soda, hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream, and more.

Children and families can enjoy games and activities throughout the day, including competing in an anchor toss, line baiting, or a rowboat racing contest. Scenic river cruises aboard the museum’s 1920 buyboat, Winnie Estelle, will take festival-goers out on the Miles River throughout the day.

Bids can be placed on a number of silent auction items, including work by noted Chesapeake artist Marc Castelli. Silent auction bids can be made up until 4:30 p.m., with proceeds supporting the Talbot Watermen’s Association.

Throughout the day, festival-goers can get an up-close view of the museum’s floating fleet of historic Chesapeake vessels, along with a selection of working watermen’s boats. Festival admission also includes entrance to CBMM’s permanent and temporary exhibitions, including the temporary Waterfowling exhibition, Chesapeake Camo, Ammo, & Calls, and full access to the 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse.

Josh Harris and Casey McManus from television's Deadliest Catch - F/V Cornelia Marie will be joining the talbot watermen and Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in the Town of St. Michaels, Maryland for Watermen's Appreciation Day & Buyboat Reunion is August 14 in St. Michaels, MD. Get your tickets now at http://bit.ly/WAD2016 . Crab pricing soon to be announced. Stay tuned. 

“Watermen’s Day is an annual favorite among locals and guests alike,” said CBMM President Kristen Greenaway. “You can meet many of the watermen who work to bring seafood to tables across the region, while having a great time celebrating the Chesapeake in such an incredibly authentic way.”

Admission to the 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. event will be collected at the gate the day of the event and includes the boat docking contest, celebrity appearances, and the Bird Dog and the Road Kings performance at $18 for adults, and $8 for children 6-17, with all children under six years of age admitted free. Museum members along with licensed watermen and their families get discounted admission at $10 per adult, and $6 per children ages 6-17. Boat rides, steamed crabs, beer, and additional food and beverages will be available for purchase.

All event parking will be available at St. Michaels High School, with free shuttle service to the museum running throughout the day.

For safety reasons, non-service dogs need to be kept home during CBMM festivals, including Watermen’s Appreciation Day. Leashed dogs are only permitted on the museum’s campus during regular operating hours.

For more information, visit www.cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916.

 Pricing includes the boat docking contest, guest appearances live music with Bird Dog & the Road Kings, children’s activities, and much more. Food and drink are extra cost. This event is a joint fundraiser for the Talbot Watermen’s Association and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

FESTIVAL ENTRY PRICING

$18 Adult
$10 CBMM Member Adult & Licensed Watermen Adult*
$8 Children 6-17
$6 CBMM Member Child & Licensed Watermen Child*
FREE Children 5 & Under

*Must show license

Tickets for the event and crabs will be available at the gate, the day of the event. CBMM Member and watermen discounted tickets can be purchased in advance at CBMM’s Welcome Center and Museum Store. Watermen and their immediate family members must show proper identification for discount.

STEAMED CRAB PRICING WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN EARLY AUGUST 

*Absolutely NO CARRY-ON Alcohol is permitted for this event. All alcohol must be purchased on premise with a valid ID.

Chautauqua Summer Series returns to St. Michaels July 11-13

Chautauqua Summer Series returns to St. Michaels July 11-13

On the evenings of July 11-13, the 22^nd annual Chautauqua Summer Series brings three live performances to the waterfront campus of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. This year’s Maryland Humanities’ series features Pulitzer Prize winners Duke Ellington, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Ernest Hemingway, with all living history performances taking place from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. along the Miles River, and offered free and open to the public.

The 2016 Chautauqua Summer Series at CBMM is generously sponsored by Easton Eye Care and Karen and Langley Shook, and is funded in part by a grant from the Talbot County Arts Council, with revenues provided by the Maryland State Arts Council, Talbot County, and the Towns of Easton, Oxford and St Michaels.

“Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it, and above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.” With these words, American publisher Joseph Pulitzer articulated a set of standards that inspire journalists, writers, artists, and musicians in their creative endeavors.

This year's Masters of their Craft theme commemorates the centennial of the Pulitzer Prizes by featuring three Pulitzer winners on the Chautauqua stage.  On Monday, July 11, Baltimore vocalist, pianist, and actor Tevin Brown will portray Duke Ellington, the incomparable showman, and one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century with a career that spanned over fifty years. On Tuesday, July 12, educator and actress Dorothy Mains Prince will portray Gwendolyn Brooks, the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize capturing the black experience in America through her poetry. On Wednesday, July 13, the series wraps up in St. Michaels with Hemingway on Stage author and actor Brian Gordon Sinclair portraying Ernest Hemingway, one of the greatest American literary figures of the twentieth century whose work continues to influence modern literature with his trademark style of simple yet perceptive prose.

A Chautauqua performance is a historical dramatization featuring individuals who are part scholar and part actor. Each performance is broken into three acts, where the performer represents a historical figure in the first person, then invites audience questions; and in the final act, steps out of character to answer questions that the historical figure could not have been able to answer.

“Chautauqua” was the name for the Chautauqua Lake area in upstate New York, where the movement began in 1874 as a Methodist summer retreat. A wide range of religious lectures and educational programs attracted a huge following. As it evolved, the Chautauqua movement presented the latest in thinking in politics, economics, literature, science, and religion. Maryland Humanities launched the modern Chautauqua program in Maryland in 1995. 

The Chautauqua Summer Series at CBMM is free and open to the public, with guests encouraged to bring chairs and blankets for seating. All performances are held on the lawn of Fogg’s Landing, near the museum’s Steamboat Building. In the event of rain, performances will be held in the Van Lennep Auditorium, with space limited. No registration is required.

For more information, visit www.cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916. Additional information about the Chautauqua Summer Series can be found at www.mdhumanities.org.

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Maryland Humanities’ 22^nd annual Chautauqua Summer Series, Masters of their Craft, is coming to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md. on July 11, 12, & 13. This year's theme features living history performances of Pulitzer Prize winners Duke Ellington, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Ernest Hemingway, as illustrated by Tom Chalkley here. The CBMM performances are scheduled to take place from 7-9 p.m. along the Miles River on Fogg’s Landing. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets for seating. In the event of rain, the performances will be moved inside. No advanced registration is required. For information on specific performances, visit www.cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916.

St. Michaels Art League Juried Exhibit & Art Hunt in July

The St. Michaels Art League’s Juried Exhibit at the A.M. Gravely Gallery in St. Michaels continues through the month of July. Over thirty artists submitted their work, which was judged for hanging in the show. The Art League thanks its Juror, Dr. Anke Van Wagenberg, Senior Curator at the Academy Art Museum in Easton, for her work in assembling an amazing show.

Dr. Van Wagenberg holds a Ph.D. in Art History for the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. Prior to joining the Academy Art Museum staff, she has worked at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, taught art history for 12 years at Salisbury University, and has been a researcher at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. Ms. Van Wagenberg is a recognized expert on baroque, renaissance and contemporary art. The Art League is most appreciative of her artistic assessment of the paintings which has resulted in a remarkable show.

St. Michaels Art League’s Juried Exhibit is at the A.M. Gravely Gallery, 408 South Talbot Street, St. Michaels through the end of July. Gallery hours are Friday through Sunday from 10am to 6pm and on Monday and Tuesday from 10am to 3pm.  Visit www.smartleague.org  for more information.

The St. Michaels Art League and Talbot County Arts Council are once again sponsoring the Art Hunt event during the entire month of July. Beautiful paintings by the League's talented local artists will be put in each of 15 St. Michaels participating stores for scavenger hunters to find for a free ice cream cone from Justine's.  For more information on this fun event, visit www.smartleague.org

St. Michaels Brewfest to be held Saturday, June 4th

By Land and Sea, St Michaels Brewfest 2016 offers a Delicious and Educational Event!

The 3^rd annual St. Michaels Brewfest scheduled for June 4, 2016 is not only a great place to taste an amazing variety of local craft beers, but is a fun way to experience the heritage and tradition of St. Michaels, MD and maybe even learn a thing or two!  

Buying a ticket gets the purchaser into several different venues that are on an easy walking trail designed to enable visitors to enjoy the town during the day. Partnering this year are the waterfront venues of Foxy’s Harbour Grille, Town Dock Restaurant, and the famous St. Michaels Crab Claw in addition to the working Eastern Shore Brewery. 

The Crab Claw dates back over half a century and the Brewery is located in the lovingly restored Mill property on Talbot Street.  Along the walking path between each venue, visitors will be treated to views of historic homes and gardens, museums, and fantastic water views of the Miles River. The back streets of this town that dates to the late 1700’s are a little-known gem to most visitors and walking throughout the day is a great way to get a feel for this town that began hundreds of years ago as a busy maritime seaport.

Adrian Moritz, owner of Eastern Shore Brewing Co.  states, “If you’ve been to another beer festival, you’ll figure out pretty quickly this is unlike any other.” Close to one hundred  beers have been carefully selected and featured in the festival and many of the brewery owners and Brew Masters will be on hand to discuss their craft in detail. Many participants choose to spend the weekend and dig into the seafaring culture and fine cuisine featuring locally processed crabs and oysters.

For even more delectable education, VIP ticket holders will be treated to an hour long cruise on the Miles River aboard the Patriot Cruise boat. The host on the Patriot will be Hugh Sisson, founder of Heavy Seas Beer in Baltimore, along with Heavy Seas Brewmaster Christopher Leonard. They will be available to answer questions about how the microbrew industry has evolved over the years and will offer special samples of special small-batch brews not available to the public.

On hand this year will also be a variety of Firkins, or cask, beers, which are fresh, small batch brews that are completely unique and must be consumed at time of “uncorking” - creating a lively atmosphere for the guests. This traditional method of serving beer that has not been filtered, pasteurized, or carbonated goes back centuries before our modern draught beer was invented for shipping and preservation purposes. 

RAR Brewing, Devil’s Backbone, Eastern Shore and Evolution are among a sample of the breweries offering firkins.

Each of the past two Brewfests have sold out. The Brew Fest committee expects the same this year. They believe that the teamwork and cooperation between the festival and the town has a lot to do with the successful event. Community partners that are involved to make the event safe as well as entertaining include the St. Michaels Rotary, which will man “Hydration Stations” at each venue sponsored by Check Yourself Talbot and Comfort Keepers of the Eastern Shore.

“We applaud the Brew Fest organizers for their commitment to alcohol responsibility and are excited to again partner for the third year,” said Beth Williams, Check Yourself Talbot chairwoman. “The inaugural Brew Fest marked the first time our coalition participated in an event, and the response proved overwhelmingly positive! We handed out hundreds of waters and snacks, and had so many participants thank us for being there.

“This year, we’re bringing more than 2,000 waters to keep everyone hydrated. We look forward to another great festival and greatly appreciate the organizers for their continued effort toward hosting a safe – and fun – event.”

To purchase tickets and get up-to-date information about St. Michaels Brewfest, visit www.stmichaelsbrewfest.com.

Hosts St. Michaels Brewfest, Teddy Bear Fresh, Kelley Distributors and Eastern Shore Tents and Events remind you to please drink responsibly.  CheckYourself Talbot is a community-based coalition of people who are committed to
supporting positive and safer drinking choices among young adults.

Information is available online at www.checkyourselftalbot.com. CheckYourself Talbot also is on Facebook and Twitter.

Media contact: Terye Knopp, owner St Michaels Brewfest 443-786-1245

Media Contact: Adrian Moritz, Eastern Shore Brewing, 410-200-0468

Media Contact: Kelley Allen, Check Yourself Talbot, 410-829-2937

Antique and Classic Boat Festival in St. Michaels June 17-19

Antique & Classic Boat Festival in St. Michaels June 17-19

Wooden classics, vintage racers, and other antique and Chesapeake Bay-related boats are coming to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum June 17-19 for the 29th annual Antique & Classic Boat Festival and the Arts at Navy Point in St. Michaels, Md. 

Hosted by the Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society, this Father’s Day weekend event brings a sense of nostalgia to the Miles River and CBMM’s docks and campus, drawing some of the area’s finest classic boats, nautical and maritime treasures, entertainment, food, and libations to the waterfront festival.

“With a competition among entrants for best restored and preserved boats, this festival attracts the best of the best when it comes to classic and antique boats,” commented ACBS-Chesapeake Bay Chapter Festival Chairman Chuck Warner. “The boats you’ll see are in pristine condition, with the festival offering the rare opportunity to see them all together.”

The show attracts the finest runabouts to yachts, including race boats, work boats, launches, hydroplanes, and utilities. Chris-Craft, Trumpy, Gar Wood, Donzi, and Lyman are among some of the boats represented.

This year’s festival will feature a special appearance of the 1903 Lawley yacht Witchcraft. Now sailing along the Chesapeake, the 66-foot Witchcraft was designed by B.B. Crowninshield for William Bowditch Rogers for use as a racing yacht on Lake Champlain, and built by Boston’s famed Lawley boatyard in 1903.

The festival also features Drew Nugent and the Midnight Society performing live jazz on Saturday, June 18 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. from the Miles River-front decks of CBMM’s At Play on the Bay exhibition building. Drew Nugent and the Midnight Society are a group of jazz musicians bringing back the days of hot and traditional jazz with their syncopated tempos and fiery improvisations. Drew Nugent, the ensemble’s leader—playing piano, trumpet and vocals—is also a jazz composer, with influences primarily spanning from Fats Waller and Jelly Roll Morton, through to Gershwin, Berlin, and the great Walter Donaldson. Drew has played venues including Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center, Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” the Delta Queenand Mississippi Queen Steamboats, and the Governors Island Jazz Age Lawn Party in New York City. 

Along with the East Coast’s largest gathering of antique and classic boats, the festival’s signature Arts at Navy Point pavilion brings more than 70 juried fine artists, craftspeople, and vendors offering nautical and maritime-themed items for boat and home.

Workshops and seminars, building demonstrations, family activities, and a nautical flea market will be available throughout the weekend, along with a selection of regional and grilled foods, music, and a Pyrat Rum bar for libations and other drinks. This year, Friday and Saturday bring “Historic Yachts of the Chesapeake” seminars to festival-goers, with times and more information available in the program given out at the event.

Children’s activities include boatbuilding craft projects, and the Hagerty Insurance Marine Youth Judging program, where youth learn about the award-winning qualities of preserved and restored classic boats. Along the Fogg’s Landing side of CBMM’s campus, the festival’s Field of Dreams features an array of restorable classic boats and motors, along with other items in a nautical flea market sale.

Festival hours are Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Father’s Day, Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festival includes two-day admission to all museum exhibitions where authentic Chesapeake boats and traditions are highlighted. The event is $5 for CBMM members and children 5 and under, or $18 for adults; $15 for seniors and students with ID; and $6 for children 6-17.

REMINDER: During CBMM festivals and special events, dogs are not permitted on Museum grounds, with the exception of certified service dogs. Leashed dogs are permitted on Museum grounds during regular business hours.

Scenic river cruises aboard the museum’s 1920 buyboat Winnie Estelle will be offered throughout the festival, with boat rides and food an additional cost. For safety reasons, non-service dogs are prohibited at CBMM festivals.   www.cbmm.org