After being at the helm of the 8 Days a Week calendar for over a year, I feel as if I live and breathe calendars. So it’s a good thing I love a good calendar. One of the best tools for organization and prioritizing and goal setting, a calendar becomes a thing of beauty when used repeatedly. And beautiful they can be. We live in a region that lends itself spectacularly to photography. Those photos grace 12 months of pages in the wall calendars that came across my desk this month. In this digital age, wall calendars are becoming a rarity, so take note of these as stocking stuffers or perhaps as a New Year’s gift.
January
Annapolis Tides
A must-have for boaters, this calendar shows 2017’s tides, as predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. An easy-to-read sine wave graphic runs across each week, also displaying times for high and low tides and weekly sunrise and sunset times. Even better, you can customize your calendar for one of 23 specific tidal regions. Go even bigger and add your own photos if you wish.
Grid squares are mostly full of tide information, holidays and moon cycles, leaving little space for personal additions. A bonus page in the back shows tidal differences between Annapolis and locations across the Chesapeake.
$18.95 (for standard), $19.95 (personalized photos) from Tidelines: www.tidelines.com.
February
Captain Avery Museum
Want some help keeping track of the popular Captain Avery Museum’s winter luncheon series? The historical society’s calendar does the penciling in for you. This 12-month calendar features photos taken in and around the museum in every season. Important events are already printed on the dates for you — right down to holiday parties and Sundae Sundays.
$10 at Capt. Avery Museum, Shady Side, and Greenstreet Gardens, Lothian: www.captainaverymuseum.org.
March
Grauel’s Office Supply
Another rare local calendar, this offering by Grauel’s in Deale is a delight. Each month features shop dogs Marvelous Marvin, Sam-R-I and Paunxsutawney engaged in their everyday hijinks and adventures. The dogs are captioned with thought bubbles, and the back pages encourage us to “greet each day with enthusiasm and optimism” as the pups do. While the blocks are small, they are filled with holidays and observations, even chances for some freebies at the store. Grauel’s can help you make a calendar of your own furry friends, too.
There may not be a better local calendar on this list than the one produced by the Town of Chesapeake Beach. All the info you need is right here: tides, moon phases, town hall meetings, holidays and important phone numbers on every page. Pictures by community photographers highlight the town’s felicities.
Free, Chesapeake Beach Town Hall: 301-855-8398.
May
National Electronics Museum
The weather may be frightful, so this is a great time to gaze upon the wonders of the National Electronics Museum in Linthicum. This beautiful calendar is right for the engineer or gadget-geek in your family. Every month also tells you important dates in technological and electrical history with an up-close photo peek inside common and rare components.
$10 at the National Electronics Museum gift shop, or $13 mailed. www.nationalelectronicsmuseum.org/index.shtml for online purchase, click donate button to buy via PayPal, enter $13 and type 2017 NEM Calendar under Additional Note to Seller.
June
Community Bank of the Chesapeake
This 12-month calendar features the winners of Community Bank of the Chesapeake’s annual photography contest. Each month features a beautiful photo from around Chesapeake Country with plenty of space to add your important upcoming dates.
Free at branch locations: www.cbtc.com.
July
Baltimore Orioles Pet Calendar
My kind of pinup! Sixteen months of Baltimore’s boys of summer paired with adorable pets and shelter animals. Orders of this calendar benefit the nonprofit Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter. The Orioles have helped raise mroe than $180,000 for BARCS over the years.
$15 at Oriole Park and the Orioles Team Store in the York Galleria: http://m.mlb.com/orioles/tickets/info/pet-calendar.
August
Ladies of Hampden
Brought to my attention by a rep from the American Visionary Museum and another one of my favorites, the Ladies of Hampden has amassed a cult following. Last year’s Boys of Hampden calendar, featuring business owners as pinups, was such a success that the ladies stepped up, creating two calendars, Circus and Side Show. Each month features a local female business owner in a performer’s role. The startling photos were shot by photographer Justin Tscucalas of Plaid Photo. Nikki Verdecchia, a local stylist, organized the calendar, which benefits the Hampden Family Center. This calendar will spark many conversations.
$20 plus $6 shipping, stores on The Avenue of Hampden or online: www.facebook.com/LadiesOfHampden.
September
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
If you love our state and its wildlife and wild places, this calendar needs to be on your wall. The 13 photos (one each month, plus the cover shot) are winners of DNR’s annual photo contest — and the competition is fierce. I love September’s blue crab and the info given on each page. Squares are a decent size, with important fishing, boating and hunting dates. Buy one before December 31 at the sale price of $7.49.
$9.99: www.shopdnr.com.
October
Wild and Scenic Maryland/Chesapeake Bay
Browntrout produces several calendars featuring photos of the region. Each celebrates Maryland’s many landscapes from Talbot to Garrett County and from Assateague National Seashore to Susquehanna State Park. Images reflect the seasons: a frozen river in January, flowering dogwoods in May and colorful leaves in October.
Information includes major American and international holidays plus moon cycles. It’s a large calendar, so there’s plenty of room for personal touches.
$14.99 from Browntrout Publishers: www.browntrout.com.
November
Maryland Environmental Trust
Spend your year gazing at pastoral scenes and calm waters and the faces of area conservationists. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Maryland Environmental Trust works with landowners and communities to permanently protect landscapes from the mountains to the beaches. The 12 photos were all captured by MET staff, volunteers and friends. Each month features a tidbit of information about the organization with all major holidays noted.
Free with a donation, Maryland Environmental Trust, Crownsville: www.dnr.maryland.gov/met.
December
Christopher’s Fine Foods
This calendar is your typical promotional calendar full of food photos and recipes. But I appreciate a calendar that throws an extra month in there, as this one does — starting in December 2016. My favorite photo is for December 2017 by local photographer Lisa Masson. Masson presents us a scrumptious looking apple pie paired with mulled apple cider.
Free, Christopher’s Fine Foods, Churchton: www.ChristophersGrocery.com.
