Meet the Author

Toast local author Patricia Gates Lynch, author of Thanks for Listening: High Adventures in Journalism and Diplomacy, at a Library talk and reception. Purchase a copy of Lynch’s book after the talk for a signing. 2-4pm @ Calvert Library, Market Square, Prince Frederick. $20: 410-535-0291.

Thursday July 24

General Foolishness

Enjoy zany, fast-paced interactive Clown Theatre, featuring juggling, unicycling and slapstick comedy. 10am, noon & 2pm @ Crofton Library, 1681 Riedel Rd., Crofton: 410-222-7915.

Puppet Play

Ages 2-10 watch a summer-themed puppet show and craft. 2-3pm @ Watkins Nature Center, 301 Watkins Park Dr., Upper Marlboro. $3: 301-218-6702.

Stevens Puppets

Puppets perform versions of children’s stories with clever effects and music. 3pm & 7pm @ South County Library, 5940 Rt. 256, Deale: 410-222-1925.

Unleash the Magic of Reading

Magicians bring popular kid’s books to life with the art of illusion. 3pm & 7pm @ Riviera Beach Library, 1130 Duvall Hwy., Pasadena: 410-222-6285.

Saturday July 26

Do Your Chores

Grades 2 thru 4 roll up their sleeves for a day of farm chores with Ranger Shawna to learn what it was like to milk a cow, fetch water and hand wash clothes in the 1800s. Later, create a craft to remember your chores. 10am @ Kinder Farm Park, 1001 Kinder Farm Park Rd., off Jumpers Hole Rd., Millersville: 410-222-6115.

Green Hour

Explore the world of the oyster reef community. A hat, water and sunscreen are recommended. 10-11am @ Flag Ponds Nature Park, off Rt. 4, Lusby. $3; rsvp: 410-535-5327.

Craft with Nature

Ages 3 to 8 create art from natural objects, hear a story and meet an animal resident of the park. 10-11am @ Watkins Nature Center, 301 Watkins Park Dr., Upper Marlboro. $3: 301-218-6702.

Behold Bead

Ages 10 and up learn how different cultures made beads and craft their own beads to adorn a piece of jewelry. 10am-3pm @ Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, 10515 Mackall Rd., St. Leonard. $20; rsvp: 410-586-8501; www.jefpat.org.

Gray Squirrel Walk

Ages 6 to 10 learn about the life and habitat of the gray squirrel. 11-12pm @ Kinder Farm Park, 1001 Kinder Farm Park Rd., off Jumpers Hole Rd., Millersville. gate fee; rsvp: 410-222-6115.

Toil on Toad Houses

Ages 7 to 12 learn to construct clay toad houses from instructor Sarah Houde. Ages 7 to 9 with guardian. 1-3pm @ Annmarie Garden, off Dowell Rd., Solomons. $65/parent & child; $50/child; rsvp: 410-326-4640.

Calling All Singers

Kids 12 to 18 audition for the chance to join an elite group of young singers: the Broadway in Concert Ensemble. The 15-week class will create a Broadway Revue style show that will be performed during the year in festivals throughout the city of Annapolis. 4:45–6:15pm @ The Art Space, 105 Annapolis St., Annapolis. $275; rsvp: 410-703-4484.

Sunday July 27

Save Endangered Species

Ages 10 and up become environmental guardians, learning how they can protect endangered species. 1-2:30pm @ National Wildlife Visitor Center, Patuxent Park, Powder Mill Rd., between Rt. 295 & Rt. 197, Laurel. rsvp: 301-497-5887.

Monday July 28

Monday Morning Movies & More

Bring the little ones for stories, songs and a morning movie. 10-11am @ Calvert Library, Market Square, Prince Frederick. free: 410-535-0291.

Tuesday July 29

Enter a Reptile World

Ages 5 and up have a close encounter with Michael Shwedick’s scaly friends and learn about their world at an exotic reptile meet-and-greet. Free tickets available one hour before the show. Also July 30.

• 10am @ Northeast Community Center, 4075 Gordon Stinnett Ave., Chesapeake Beach: 410-257-2411.

• 2pm @ Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department, 3170 West Ward Rd., Dunkirk: 410-257-2101.

Wednesday July 30

Babies in Bloom

Babies up to 2 years and their guardians hear stories, listen to songs and make fingerplays. Thru Aug. 6. 10am @ Broadneck Library, 1275 Green Holly Dr., Annapolis: 410-222-1905.

Enter a Reptile World

Michael Shwedick’s introduces scaly friends at a second show. Free tickets available one hour before the show.

• 10am @ Patuxent Elementary School, off HG Trueman Rd., Lusby: 410-326-5289.

• 2pm & 7pm @ Calvert Library, Market Square, Prince Frederick: 410-535-0291.

Plan Ahead

Sing, Sing, Sing

rsvp July 27–Teens in the 7th grade and above learn musical theater skills, including auditioning techniques, monologues, cold readings, improvisation, vocal skills and various styles of dance. Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre workshop culminates in two performances for friends and family. July 28 thru Aug. 1, 9am-4pm. Final rehearsal Aug. 4, 5-10pm. Performances August 5 & 6, 8:30pm. free; rsvp: 410-798-0925

Join Pop, Rock & Broadway

rsvp Aug. 4–Kids 8 to 16 to join a special workshop to learn to sing melodies from pop to Broadway. 9:30am - 3:30pm @ St. Anne’s Parish Hall, 199 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis. $375 w/discounts; rsvp: www.merelyplayers.net.

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See the Moment

Fri. July 25 thru Aug. 2–Patuxent Players premiere Ken Garvin’s newest musical, The Moment. The play speaks on peer pressure and how it affects young and old. Matinee performance Aug. 2 at 2pm. 8pm @ St. John Vianney Family Life Center, 105 Vianney Ln., Prince Frederick. $15: 410-326-2871.

Step into the 20th Century

Fri. July 25 thru Aug. 3–Standing O Productions opens its season with the 1930s play On the 20th Century, the tale of a down-and-out director desperately trying to sign a star. Friday premieres with a cocktail party and actor meet-and-greet until 11pm ($50). 8pm FSa; 2pm Su @ Pascal Ctr., Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold. $20: 410-647-8412.

Forever Plaid

Thru July 26–“Beat your feet to Compromise Street to meet these cool cats,” advises Bay Weekly reviewer Jane Elkin, speaking on Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre’s Forever Plaid. The Plaids, a 1950s’ guy group, meet their end with the coming of the Beatles, but have a second chance. Read Elkin’s review: www.bayweekly.com/reviews2008.html. 8:30pm Th-Su @ Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, 143 Compromise St., Annapolis. $18: 410-268-9212.

Keeping Faith

Thru Aug. 2–Chesapeake Arts Center examines whether parents know best in Keeping Faith. The black comedy follows the abduction of 18-year-old Faith Givens by her parents on the eve of her wedding to a 45-year-old man. 7:30pm @ Chesapeake Arts Center, Studio 194 Theatre, 194 Hammonds Ln., Brooklyn Park. $5/Th; $12/FSa: 410-636-6597.

Maryland Hall

Thurs. July 24 reception (5:30-7:30pm); thru Sept. 12 Three Exhibits close out the summer at Maryland Hall. In the Chaney Gallery view photos that Cross Borders as students from the Bates High School’s English as a Second Language program snap their blended cultures. The Martino Gallery focuses on Pure Art, painted by differently-abled members of the Providence Center. In the Balcony Gallery Wynn Creasy examines Paintings as Inspiration. 10am-5pm @ Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St., Annapolis: 410-263-5544; www.marylandhall.org.

Historic Southern Maryland

Sat. July 26; thru Aug. 31–See Southern Maryland’s history at an art show of works from Creek Side Gallery, Leonardtown Galleria and Turning Leaf Gallery. Find artists from Charles, St. Mary’s and Calvert Counties. 10am-5pm @ The Galleries, Maryland Antiques Center, 26005 Point Lookout Rd., Leonardtown: 301-475-1960.

View Young Art

Wed. July 30; artists’ reception Aug. 3 (3-5pm); showing thru Aug. 10–See the snapshots taken by students at the Stanton Center at the budding artists’ first photography show. 11am-5pm Tu-Su @ Maryland Federation of Art, 18 State Circle, Annapolis: 410-268-4566.

Consider Quiet Art

Thurs. July 31 thru Sept. 7–In the Willow Gallery, look at landscape photography in Christine Hunt and Karen Guay’s This Land and Beyond. In the Garden Gallery, view Dick Arnold’s photos of the Butterfly Garden Benefit. 9am-4pm MWThF; 10am-4pm SaSu @ Quiet Waters Park, 600 Quiet Waters Park Rd., off Hillsmere Dr., Annapolis: 410-222-1777.

Continuing Shows

See Summer Art

Thru July 27–Summer blooms in a mixed-media show selected by Carla Massoni Gallery director Lawrence Schroth. 11am-5pm Tu-Su @ Circle Gallery, 18 State Circle, Annapolis: 410-268-4566.

Watercolors at Quiet Waters

Thru July 27–The Annapolis Watercolor Club adds a splash of color to the gallery, focusing on summer land- and seascapes. 9am-4pm MWThF; 10am-4pm SaSu @ Galleries, Quiet Waters Park, 600 Quiet Waters Park Rd., off Hillsmere Dr., Annapolis: 410-222-1777.

Lynn Reed’s Plein Air Paintings

Thru July 27–Nationally shown painter Lynn Reed exhibits plein air canvasses. 9am-9pm M-Th; 9am-5pm Fr; By appointment SaSu @ Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, 611 Rt. 648, Severna Park: 410-647-2550.

See Summer Splendor

Thru July 27–See the textured oil landscapes of palate-knife artist Janice Antinucci, the vivid blooms of painter JoAnn Rea and the classical oil still lifes of Linda Volrath in a show that celebrates the splendor of summer. 11am-6pm SuMWThF; 10am-8pm Sa @ Main Street Gallery, 109 Main St., Annapolis: 410-280-2787.

Summer Sights and Scenes

Thru July 28–See summer sights in painters Nancy Jung-Warmke and Gerry Wood’s vivid landscapes and beach-scapes. 11am-6pm Th-M @ ArtWorks @7th Gallery, 9128 Bay Ave., North Beach: 410-286-5278.

See Skewed Visions

Thru July 30–Crofton photographer Dolphy Glendinning shows everyday objects and landscapes from a skewed perspective. 7:30am-midnight M-F; 7:30-2am SaSu @ 49 West, West St., Annapolis: 410-626-9796.

Annapolis Goes Red, White, and Blue

Thru July 31–Buy a piece of classic Americana during this Annapolis-wide celebration of art. Participating galleries show paintings, scrimshaw, art glass and carvings, all with a patriotic theme. Visit www.artinannapolis.com for a list of galleries and times: 410-626-1583.

Look at Living History

Thru July 31–Twenty painters depict Annapolis through 300 years of change at the new Living History exhibit. The mixed-media exhibit displays landscapes, satiric political cartoons and paintings of Annapolis’ evolution. The exhibit also features wood from the Liberty Tree — which grew on St. John’s campus for over 400 years — with a colonial re-enactor to answer your questions about the tree (6pm, 7pm & 8pm). 10am-5:30pm M-Sa; noon-5:30pm Su @ McBride Gallery, 215 Main St., Annapolis: 410-267-7077.

See Sensual Paintings

Thru July 31– See the sensual paintings of German artist Jurgen Gorg at a solo exhibit focusing on the human figure in art. 9am-5pm @ Atlantic Arts, 1851 McGuckian St., Annapolis: 410-263-2554.

Look at Lodge Art

Thru July 31–See inside the minds of Arundel Lodge behavioral health center artists in mixed media art adorning the walls of the in-store Starbucks Café. 9am-10pm M-Th; 9am-11pm FSa; 9am-9pm Su @ Barnes & Noble, Harbour Center, Annapolis: 410-573-1115.

Worthington’s Mindscapes

Thru Aug. 4–See Nanci Worthington’s vivid paintings inspired by natural and imaginary worlds. 6am-10pm Su-Th; 6am-midnight FSa @ Hard Bean, 36 Market Space, Annapolis: 410-263-8770.

Montpelier Art

Thru Aug. 19–Montpelier builds its art gallery with a sculpture show of images formed of materials from candy to steel by artists Christian Benefiel, Mahwish Chishty, Aniko Makranczy and Stewart Watson. 10am-5pm @ The Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Rd., Laurel: 301-953-1993.

Gail Coe’s Magic Kingdom

Thru Sept. 8–Watercolorist Gail Coe paints a magic kingdom, inspired by her panoramic Bay-view balcony. 9am-5pm @ BayWoods retirement Community, 7101 Bay Front Dr., Annapolis: 410-267-9298.

Remember Annmarie Garden

Thru Sept. 21–The best of modern art comes to Annmarie Gardens with the premiere Olga Hirshhorn Recollects, an exhibit blending the works of art superstars Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Joan Miro. The works, on loan from the Corcoran Gallery of Art, were created for Joseph and Olga Hirshhorn, whose modern art collection became the basis for the Smithsonian in Washington DC that bears her name. Join in the garden’s public art project, Stick Together, and transform sticks and twigs into a colorful free-standing piece. See Margaret Tearman’s story: www.bayweekly.com/year08/issuexvi23/leadxvi23_3.html. 10am-5pm SaSu; 9am-5pm M-F @ Annmarie Gardens, off Dowell Rd., Solomons: 410-326-4640.

Lions and Tigers and Bands

Thurs. July 24 & July 31–See if music soothes the savage beast at the National Zoo’s Sunset Serenade series. Bring a blanket and your picnic to the Lion/Tiger Hill for this free concert. Every Thursday thru Aug. 7. 6:30-8pm @ Lion/Tiger Hill, The National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave., Washington D.C. free: 202-633-4480; www.fonz.org/sunsetserenades.htm.

• July 24: The Army jazzes up the hill with a performance from the Army Blues.

• July 31: A trio of performers brings a variety of music to the hill. First, Maureen Andary sings new-cabaret and classic jazz; Star FK Radium performs original folk rock; and The Adrian Outfit sings folk-inspired alternative rock.

Starry Night Cinema

Thurs. July 24 & July 31–Baltimore’s Federal Hill screens art-inspired films for the American Visionary Arts Museum’s Flicks from the Hill series. Inspired by the museum’s All Faiths Beautiful exhibition, the outdoor screenings feature movies that mull over faith and humanity. Rain movies the movies indoors to the Jim Rouse Visionary Center. Thru Aug. 7. 5-9pm @ Federal Hill, off Light St., Baltimore. free: 410-244-1900.

• July 24: Quiz Show

• July 31: Harold and Maude

River Concert

Fri. July 25–The final river concert plays Songs of the Earth, featuring mezzo soprano Olivia Vote and tenor Jason Collins singing Coleridge-Taylor’s “Overture to Hiawatha”, Mumford’s “Verdant and Shimmering Air” and Mahler’s “Das Lied von der Erde”. 7pm @ St. Mary’s College, off Rt. 5 South, St. Mary’s City. free: 240-895-2024; www.riverconcertseries.com.

Cinema Paradiso

Fri. July 25–Screen al fresco cinema in Baltimore’s Little Italy at the Friday Night Film Festival. The festival draws over 1,000 people to the dining district, where films are projected from an apartment on to a white brick building for lawn chair viewers. Stop by the dozens of Italian eateries nearby for a festive feast to accompany the flick. Live Italian music kicks off each film night (7pm). Tonight, go Greek for the evening at a screening of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Thru Aug. 29. 9pm film @ the parking lot at the corner of Stiles & High streets, Baltimore: www.littleitalymd.com/openair.htm.

Honor Erik Jansson

Sat. July 26–Celebrate the memory of Erik Torvald Jansson at a memorial service on what would have been his 62nd birthday. The environmental activist founded the Department of Planet Earth and led the Potomac River Association. Traditional Quaker service features tributes by family and friends, followed by a reception. Bring a chair and a sun hat. 9am @ Myrtle Point Park, 24050 Patuxent Blvd., California: 301-862-3517.

Crafts and Crabs

Sat. July 26–The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum celebrates the Bay in a new way — shucking the traditional two-day Crab Days festival for a Chesapeake Folk Festival. Crab is still the king of cuisine; bushels of steamed hard shells wait for pickers. Explore other culinary traditions, listen to live local bands, try your hand at the crafting table and set sail on skipjack rides. 10am-4pm @ Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michael’s on the Eastern Shore. $13 w/discounts plus food: 410-745-2916; www.cbmm.org.

Tour Open Studios

Sat. July 26–The 97-year-old Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower has been transformed into a home for visual and literary artists. Visit open studios to purchase digital photography, oil, acrylic, watercolor and charcoal as well as meeting playwrights and radio writers. 11am-4pm @ Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower, 21 S. Eutaw St., Baltimore. free; bromoseltzertower.com.

Unearth Fun at Dig Days

Sat. July 26 & 27–Join professional archeologists and delve into Historic St. Mary’s City soil, looking for remnants of the 17th century. Novices dig alongside professionals for two-days of hands-on instruction at Tidewater Archaeological Weekend. 10am-4pm @ Historic St. Mary’s City, St. Mary’s County. $10 admission w/age discounts: www.stmaryscity.org.

Cookin’ with Barb

Sun. July 27–Feast to fundraise at a bull roast and chili cook-off for Senator Barbara Mikulski in support of her re-election campaign. 2pm @ Arbutus Fire Hall, 5200 Southwestern Blvd., Arubutus. $45; rsvp: 410-547-1068 x300.

Rock the Bells

Sun. July 27–A Tribe Called Quest, NAS, Mos Def, the Pharcyde and many more perform live during this international festival featuring some of the most respected names in hip-hop. noon-11pm @ Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. $40; rsvp: 410-715-5550.

Back Barack

Wed. July 30–Fundraise for Barack Obama and the eight Maryland Democratic congressional candidates at a unity party. Sample hors d’oeuvres, sip spirits and mingle with campaign organizers. 6-10pm @ Iguana Cantina, 124 Market Place, Baltimore. $50; rsvp: 410-269-8818; www.mddems.org.

Feel a Flutter

Thru 2008–Walk through a pavilion filled with 30 species of butterflies and native plants in this special yearlong exhibit, learning how their interactions with plants works in the ecosystem. 10am-5pm @ National Museum of Natural History, 2nd Floor, 10th St. & Constitution Ave., Washington DC. $6 w/discounts; rsvp: 202-633-4629. Read Carrie Madren’s Bay Weekly review: www.bayweekly.com/year08/issuexvi11/leadxvi11_3.html.