Update: Event Pick of the Week 10/15/09: Cars

>Pick of the Week

The Rockville Antique and Classic Car Show will be POSTPONED until Saturday, October 24th due to the RAIN.

Alternative plans for this rainy Saturday, October 17, 2009 can include the Halloween Family Funfest, sponsored by Rockville’s Department of Recreation and Parks and Finmarc Management, which will be held rain or shine from 10 AM -1 PM at Potomac Woods Plaza. Attend the Funfest instead with its costume parade, moonbounce, DJ, face painting, pumpkin decorating, and story/craft time. Bring old pants with belt loops, shirts and panty hose because you can build a scarecrow.

Rockville Antique and Classic Car Show
Will be held on the RAINDATE Saturday, October 24, 2009
11 AM to 3:30 PM
Grounds of Glenview Mansion at Rockville Civic Center

Most years, we make it over to the auto show and find unusual cars from years past. Let’s face it, cars aren’t as imaginative and sexy as they used to be. This year Italian cars will be featured among the 400 antique and classic vehicles during this 48th Rockville show which has grown to be an East Coast destination. You can vote for the people’s choice while listening to the Rockville Swing Band.

If it rains, all the cars will drive on over the next Saturday, October 24, 2009. If we need to check, the inclement weather hotline is 2401-314-5022.

If you are into this kind of thing, mark your calendars for the Rockville Zombie Walk on October 30, 2009, 7:30 PM. Meet at the Apollo Bar and Restaurant then walk through Town Square in a mob of zombies! Wind up at the Regal to view Zombieland (#1 last weekend. Let’s hope it’s still playing.) Spread the virus!! Tell your friends!! Hosted by Bill Bird and Cindy Cotte Griffiths.

Events in Rockville

Here’s the links to Rockville Living’s events in two formats – a one week list or six week calendar.

Six Week Calendar

This community event listing is a partnership between Rockville Central and Rockville Living. If you would like your community event listed, submit your information to Rockville Living using this form. Please become a regular contributor by requesting a username so that you can enter the information directly to the database.

If you attend an event in Rockville, we invite you to write a Contributor Review. Share the experience. Let everyone know about an event worth attending. Tell us about the school play, fair, or city activity, as long as it’s recent and you are not offering it for publication elsewhere. We prefer short, not more than 500 words. Please include a photo if you have one. Send it along to Cindy Cotte Griffths for consideration.

A Tea Party!

>Not that kind!

For months, VisArts has been collecting tea pots from well-known artists for their biggest fundraiser of the year, a High Tea Party and Sale of Artful Teapots to be held on Sunday, October 25 from 1 to 4 PM.

You’ll be able to purchase teapots, tea bowls, tea cups, and tea sets from 95 American and Canadian artists at this elegant event in this beautiful 28,000 square foot art center. All funds raised will benefits VisArts’ Education and Outreach Programs which have served the metropolitan DC area for more than twenty years.

Photo from VisArts

International tea ceremonies will be demonstrated in the Portfolio Gallery. Xuti, in conjunction with Eric Serritella, will be brewing and serving Chinese Gongfu Style tea.

Getting into the spirit of the fundraiser, artist Judith Heartsong has been painting eight fanciful teapot designs in her VisArts studio which will translate into note cards for sale in her studio during the Art of Tea.

Tickets are $60 and can be purchased in advance by contacting Callie Prassinos at 301-315-8200, ext 105. If you don’t decide in advance or find a friend at the last minute, tickets will also be available at the door.

Event Pick of the Week 10/8/09 by a Guest

>Pick of the Week

Fellow blogger, Dan Reed of Just Up the Pike (the other Pike on the East side of the County!) wrote about a Rockville event, so I asked to feature his “pick”.

Rocky Horror Picture Show
Parilla Performing Arts Center at Montgomery College Rockville
October 7-11, 2009
Wednesday to Saturday at 8 PM, Sunday at 2 PM
$10/ticket, $8/seniors, students and MC employees

In it’s a month of rocky horror Dan begins:

During my first semester of college, I accidentally joined a theatre company on campus that does shadowcasts of the Rocky Horror Picture Show despite never having seen the movie before. (A shadowcast, for those who don’t know, is a performance in which people act out a film on stage while it is being screened behind them.) It’s funny how freshman-year shyness can make you do crazy things.

Read his whole post on the “stage version of the horror-rock-opera-parody-etc. movie” because he does a much better job of describing the show than I could, and he is a wonderful storyteller.

As Dan mentions, in addition to the performance at the Parilla Theater, the Kensington Arts Theatre will also be doing a production in the Kensington Town Hall. Lot’s of Rocky Horror this month.

Looking Ahead to the Rockville Zombie Walk

If you are into this kind of thing, mark your calendars for the Rockville Zombie Walk on October 30, 2009, 7:30 PM. Meet at the Apollo Bar and Restaurant then walk through Town Square in a mob of zombies! Wind up at the Regal to view Zombieland (#1 last weekend. Let’s hope it’s still playing.) Spread the virus!! Tell your friends!!

Events in Rockville

Here’s the links to Rockville Living’s events in two formats – a one week list or six week calendar.

Six Week Calendar

This community event listing is a partnership between Rockville Central and Rockville Living. If you would like your community event listed, submit your information to Rockville Living using this form. Please become a regular contributor by requesting a username so that you can enter the information directly to the database.

If you attend an event in Rockville, we invite you to write a Contributor Review. Share the experience. Let everyone know about an event worth attending. Tell us about the school play, fair, or city activity, as long as it’s recent and you are not offering it for publication elsewhere. We prefer short, not more than 500 words. Please include a photo if you have one. Send it along to Cindy Cotte Griffths for consideration.

Jazz Fest and Taste of Town Square This Saturday

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Town Square will be all jazzed up this Saturday, October 3, 2009 from noon until 6 PM.

Here’s the schedule for an afternoon of cool, smooth music:

Noon – Swing Speak
1:30 PM – Donato
3 PM– James King
4:30 PM– Jeff Carmella Band
6 PM– The Kevin Mittleman Trio

Stop by the ATM because the Taste of Town Square is cash only with $5 food tastings. Wine and Signature drinks will also be sold at various prices from these fine Town Square restaurants:
Bobby’s Crabcakes
Gordon Biersch
La Tasca Spanish Tapas Bar
Noodles & Company
Oro Pomodoro
Primo Italiano
SpiceXing
Taste of Saigon

If you spend $15 on taste tickets or retail purchases, they’ll be giving away mini-insulated coolers while supplies last. Only one per customer and the quantitiy is limited so buy early.

You can also sign up at the information tent for a chance to win gift cards from your favorite Rockville Town Square merchants.

For more information, please contact 301-998-8178 or email jpowell@federalrealty.com.

Chorale Joins National Philharmonic for Season Opening

>Rockville Central friend, Daryl Newhouse, was kind enough to pen an announcement for the National Philharmonic concerts which start the 2009-2010 Season this weekend.

Last Tuesday night as several residents of the West End prepared to carpool to the Music Center at Strathmore for their National Philharmonic Chorale rehearsal with artistic director Stan Engbretson, they passed Maestro Piotr Gajewski knocking on their neighbors’ doors, campaigning for re-election to the City Council. On October 3 & 4, 2009 he will pick up his conductor’s baton to direct the National Philharmonic’s Opening Concert “Beethoven 1-2-3.”

The Chorale, with 6 soloists, will join the full orchestra and piano for the last 5 minutes of Beethoven’s Fantasia op.80 (or “Choral Fantasy”) (It’s been jokingly said that these concert soloists must be earning the highest pay per note of all time!) The Choral Fantasy, written in Beethoven’s “middle period” in 1808, foreshadows his Ninth Symphony, which he completed 16 years later. As you listen, you will hear some familiar variations on the well-known “Ode to Joy” finale of the Ninth Symphony. The text celebrates the power of art to dispel the storm and stress of daily life.

Performances are Saturday, October 3, 2009, 8 P.M. and Sunday, October 4, 2009, 3 P.M. All National Philharmonic concerts at the Music Center at Strathmore are preceded by free pre-concert lectures at 7:00 p.m. in the Education Center. Parking is FREE in the Grosvenor – Strathmore Metro Garage.

The 2009–2010 season marks the National Philharmonic’s fifth full season in residence at The Music Center at Strathmore. The group now known as the National Philharmonic Chorale originated as the Montgomery County Masterworks Chorus. Since moving to Strathmore, the National Philharmonic Chorale has grown to almost 200 members. With six concerts and eight performance dates, this will be our busiest season to date. We will be performing exquisite and greatly varied musical works in addition to the Beethoven, including Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Mendelssohn’s Hymn of Praise, Handel’s Messiah, Bizet’s Carmen, Brahms’ Requiem, and Vivaldi’s Gloria.

Visit nationalphilharmonic.org for concert subscriptions and ticket information. Tickets for this weekend range from $29 to $79 each. Season subscriptions are available. Kids 7-17 are ALL FREE, ALL THE TIME (sponsored by The Gazette). All kids tickets must be purchased in person or by phone.

Event Pick of the Week 9/24/09: Police

>Pick of the Week

Open House at the 1st District Rockville Police Station
1451 Seven Locks Road
Saturday, September 26, 2009
12 Noon – 3 PM

People always rave about all the activities at this event: Apple Dumpling the Clown, the Police Command Bus, SWAT Team demo, motorcycle officer, moon-bounce, K-9 Demonstration, the Maryland-National Capital Park Police & Horse, a Police helicopter and fire & rescue vehicles. Stop by for a busy time. I don’t think you need to have a kid!

Events in Rockville

Here’s the links to Rockville Living’s events in two formats – a one week list or six week calendar.

Six Week Calendar

This community event listing is a partnership between Rockville Central and Rockville Living. If you would like your community event listed, submit your information to Rockville Living using this form. Please become a regular contributor by requesting a username so that you can enter the information directly to the database.

If you attend an event in Rockville, we invite you to write a Contributor Review. Share the experience. Let everyone know about an event worth attending. Tell us about the school play, fair, or city activity, as long as it’s recent and you are not offering it for publication elsewhere. We prefer short, not more than 500 words. Please include a photo if you have one. Send it along to Cindy Cotte Griffths for consideration.

KidzRock on the Rooftop

The littlest kids are invited to party on the >Rooftop at Rockville Town Center! This Saturday, September 26, 2009 from 6 – 8 PM, kids ages 2 to 6 years can dance, laugh, and have a great time.

DJ Ramzy will be spinning the hip hop so everyone can dance. If you don’t know how, Studio-310 will teach the kids how to move on the dance floor.

The Great Zucchini will do whatever it is he does in his off-beat and notoriously amusing way at 7 PM. He’s one of my favorite performers because he keeps it simple and the kids love him. He’s actually a kid himself and proud of it! If you’ve never been introduced to The Great Zucchini, read Gene Weingarten’s feature in The Washington Post where he tries to unravel the secrets of his success.

You’ll need to reserve your tickets, email info@rockvillerooftop.com Tickets are $10 per person and proceeds will benefit local nonprofits. Under 2 years old is free. If it rains, the party will move to the VisArt event room.

Event Pick of the Week: Live Fights 9/17/09

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Pick of the Week

Uprising
Live Fight Night in Rockville (Directions)
at LA Boxing
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Doors open 6:30 PM
Discounted tickets bought in advance at the gym: General Admission $20, VIP $35
At the door: General Admission $30, VIP $45

I mean it! Amateurs are really going to fight each other in Rockville. Boxing and kickboxing. Women, men and even a kid’s match. This is going to be way over the top. LA Boxing’s first live action in Rockville.

Fight Card

Main Event
Rodney Lewis (Arlington) vs Miquel Leon (Rockville)

Co-Main Event
Matias Salina (Rockville) vs Eaton Criado (Rockville)

Men’s Boxing
Yarid L. (Rockville) vs Tim J. (Rockville)
Mike P. (Arlington) vs Brian (Rockville)

Women’s Boxing
Marlo (Rockville) vs Barbara (Rockville)

Men’s Kickboxing
Mike (Arlington) vs Brendon C. (Rockville)
James K. (Arlington) vs Jerome W (Alexandria)

Women’s Kickboxing
Amanda W. (Arlington) vs Denni (Rockville)

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Eric (Rockville) vs Andrew E. (Rockville)
Jessica B (Rockville) vs Mimi (Rockville)

Youth Boxing
Mercedes (Rockville) vs Danni (Rockville)
Christian (Rockville) vs Pete (Rockville)

I started working out at LA Boxing when my kickboxinig trainer moved to California last month and our class needed to find a new place. New it is! This gym grows daily and it’s all the rage. Check out the CNN article on how you lose 1,000 calories per workout. Unlike me, some people are really training to fight and they’ll show off what they’ve learned.

Everybody will head over to the Orange Ball for an After Party from 9 PM till midnight where the Mayweather fight will be televised.

Events in Rockville

Here’s the links to Rockville Living’s events in two formats – a one week list or six week calendar.

Six Week Calendar

This community event listing is a partnership between Rockville Central and Rockville Living. If you would like your community event listed, submit your information to Rockville Living using this form. Please become a regular contributor by requesting a username so that you can enter the information directly to the database.

If you attend an event in Rockville, we invite you to write a Contributor Review. Share the experience. Let everyone know about an event worth attending. Tell us about the school play, fair, or city activity, as long as it’s recent and you are not offering it for publication elsewhere. We prefer short, not more than 500 words. Please include a photo if you have one. Send it along to Cindy Cotte Griffths for consideration.

A Mechanical Bull and The West End

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As I was leaving Rockville Roundtable today, I came across a new addition. A mechanical bull was being delivered to Austin Grill Rockville. So of course, I snapped his picture. He’s being installed today and will be ready to ride by happy hour tomorrow, Friday, September 11th.

The West End rocked their Concert in the Square last month.

Perfect timing for The West End’s show this Saturday, September 12th from 9 PM till mid-night with special guest Terry DeFrees joining Brad Rourke, Mike Shawn, Monique DeFrees, and Matthew Taylor. Since The West End’s last CD was entitled This Ride Could Be My Last, let’s hope that if you get on the bull, it isn’t!

The bull will be available on a “somewhat regular basis” on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. There is a charge to jump on his back.

I’ve never been on a mechanical bull and want to try, but my arm is busted up so I probably shouldn’t. Who’s riding?

Event Pick of the Week 9/10/09

>Pick of the Week

John French. Photo from the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Whoop it up at the Rockville Science Cafe

“Whooping Crane Biology and Restoration” presented by Dr. John French, Jr., Research Manager, Patuxent Research Refuge Center.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009, 6:00 PM
Branded 72 Pit Barbecue, 387 E. Gude Drive
Admission is free but you’ll have to purchase your food and beverages.

My family goes to the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge on a regularly to learn about the fowl who fly through our state. John B. French, Jr. Ph.D. is a research manager and scientist at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center who oversees the crane program and the environmental contaminants program.

Science Cafes are held by the Rockville Science Center organization on a regular basis. I follow the Rockville Science Cafe on Twitter.com/ScienceCafe and you can too.

Events in Rockville

Here’s the links to Rockville Living’s events in two formats – a one week list or six week calendar.

Six Week Calendar

This community event listing is a partnership between Rockville Central and Rockville Living. If you would like your community event listed, submit your information to Rockville Living using this form. Please become a regular contributor by requesting a username so that you can enter the information directly to the database.

If you attend an event in Rockville, we invite you to write a Contributor Review. Share the experience. Let everyone know about an event worth attending. Tell us about the school play, fair, or city activity, as long as it’s recent and you are not offering it for publication elsewhere. We prefer short, not more than 500 words. Please include a photo if you have one. Send it along to Cindy Cotte Griffths for consideration.

Event Pick of the Week 9/3/09

>Pick of the Week

Three day weekend, so top it off with a giant birthday cake on Sunday, September 6, 2009 during Happy Birthday Montgomery County! from 2 – 5 PM at the Beall-Dawson Historical Park, 103 W. Montgomery Avenue (parking on Wood Lane) Free!

Scheduled Events:

2:00-2:45 In the Heirloom Garden with Michael Twitty
2:30-3:30 Montgomery County Police Canine Unit appearance
3:30 Birthday cake with County Executive Ike Leggett
3:45 Taiwan Aboriginal Folk Dancers *This is new!*
4:00 Rockville High School Pipe Band

The Montgomery County Historical Society sent along this list of activities:

• Montgomery Connections will help you learn about the county’s past
• Museum tours in Spanish and Chinese
• Tour the Beall-Dawson House and see the exhibit The Other Member of the Family: Montgomery County Pets
• Use your “Passport to the Past” to discover local history with county history groups
• Make a painted floorcloth mat, a fan and a yarn doll or try to write with a quill pen
• Discover heirloom vegetables in the garden and make a seed mat
• Dig into the past at the model archaeological pit
• Try on period costumes or see yourself in an historical portrait and have your photo taken by Photographer Tom Meeks
• Mrs. Beall and Miss Margaret share practicalities of home life in 19th century in the Beall-Dawson house
• Meet Dr. Stonestreet at the Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine and learn about the medicine he practiced during the Civil War
• “Ask the Historian” something you always wanted to know about Montgomery County history
• Pan for “gold” and learn about gold mining in the county
• Play with historic toys

For more information: 301-762-1492 or info@montgomeryhistory.org

ALSO, this Friday, September 4, 2009 is the last First Friday Deck Party from 5-8 PM on the Rooftop, Do the Deck!

Events in Rockville

Here’s the links to Rockville Living’s events in two formats – a one week list or six week calendar.

Six Week Calendar

This community event listing is a partnership between Rockville Central and Rockville Living. If you would like your community event listed, submit your information to Rockville Living using this form. Please become a regular contributor by requesting a username so that you can enter the information directly to the database.

If you attend an event in Rockville, we invite you to write a Contributor Review. Share the experience. Let everyone know about an event worth attending. Tell us about the school play, fair, or city activity, as long as it’s recent and you are not offering it for publication elsewhere. We prefer short, not more than 500 words. Please include a photo if you have one. Send it along to Cindy Cotte Griffths for consideration.

Uncorked Is One Big Party

>When we arrived at Uncorked last Saturday at about 3:30 PM, all 2,000 commemorative glasses had already been dispersed. The staff had to resort to handing out little plastic dessert-looking cups. At $10 per admission, the event had collected over $20,000 by the time it was halfway over.

Last year when I saw all the people around the winery tables, I thought the event was crowded with long lines for mouthful-sized tastes. This year, I realized everyone was actually enthusiastically discussing the wines, not waiting in line. People were gladly standing around to share their opinions on scents and tastes. Complete strangers were enjoying each other’s opinions. From Elk Run’s “Montgomery College” to Solomon’s Island fruity wines, people would take a sip and inevitably make a comment and enter into a conversation about wine.

In the Town Square, you could sit at a table with friends and enjoy a newly purchased bottle of wine together. The purple tablecloths and large grapes were quite festive. Many of the wines in the booths were sold out by the end of the event, proving the event was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the finest wines Maryland has to offer.

All the while, you could hear the bands playing. Arty Hill and the Long Gone Daddy’s entertained Maryland Avenue then Lori Kelly brought smiles to everyone’s face on Gibbs Street. Sons of Bill stole the show as the final act on the main stage. Their youthful exuberance made me wish I was 20 again. The band wandered around the stage completely immersed in each other’s sound. Although I haven’t been to every show in Town Square, this was the first time I have witnessed the audience call for an encore. When Sons of Bill finished playing the crowd didn’t budge. The clapping and cheering continued until someone from the City announced there couldn’t be an encore. When I spoke with James Wilson he confirmed that he and his two brothers in the band have a father named Bill. He also said Rockville is “a good town and everybody’s really friendly”. I always like to hear it! But we need to allow encores even if it’s just one song.

Who made it to the demonstrations under the big tent? How was the L’Academie de Cuisine presentation by Patrice Olivon? What about the wine tasting or winemaking seminars? Were they worth it and did you learn anything?

Later in the evening when my husband and I were having dinner at Sushi Damo, I realized I hadn’t seen Divine, the woman covered in vines who comes alive after hiding in plain sight. She must not have performed in close proximity to the bands.

Although the day was hot, the wines kept everyone cool enough to enjoy a summertime afternoon while making new friends.

Event Pick of the Week 8/27/09

>Pick of the Week

Of course, the big event this weekend is Uncorked in Town Square from 12 – 6 PM, click here for my post with all the details on the bands, wineries and demos.

Not tired of the sun yet? Then here’s another noteworthy performance this week at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre
Ballet Folklorico Ritmos del Peru presents “Inti Raymi”, the Inca Festival of the Sun
Saturday, August 29, 2009
7 – 9 PM
Tickets: $30 center and $25
During these hot days of summer, it’s appropriate to celebrate the Peruvian Festival of the Sun with colorful dances, vivid costumes and processions. Dancers of all ages will perform high energy twirls from diverse Peruvian dances.

Events in Rockville

Here’s the links to Rockville Living’s events in two formats – a one week list or six week calendar.

Six Week Calendar

This community event listing is a partnership between Rockville Central and Rockville Living. If you would like your community event listed, submit your information to Rockville Living using this form. Please become a regular contributor by requesting a username so that you can enter the information directly to the database.

If you attend an event in Rockville, we invite you to write a Contributor Review. Share the experience. Let everyone know about an event worth attending. Tell us about the school play, fair, or city activity, as long as it’s recent and you are not offering it for publication elsewhere. We prefer short, not more than 500 words. Please include a photo if you have one. Send it along to Cindy Cotte Griffths for consideration.

Do Not Miss This Thursday’s Concert in the Square

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TWE at Uncorked 2008

Although the movies and kid’s activities have ended, the bands play on. I’ve been waiting for this Thursday’s show all summer.

My Rockville Central partner, Brad Rourke, will be playing and singing with The West End from 6 – 8 PM as part of the Concert in the Square series. The band also includes Rockville friends Monique DeFrees on drums, Matthew Taylor on bass and guitar, and Mike Shawn on keyboard, with a special guest appearance by Terry DeFrees (Monique’s uncle on harp). Although we had to leave their last show before Terry performed, I hear his talent is unbridled and the crowd loved him.

When The West End’s CD was released last year, I wrote a review on CD Baby. Here’s an excerpt:

This Ride Could Be My Last is a new rock experience. The West End proves without a doubt that they can play a diversity of styles with a true rock quality in a special unison of talent. The West End blasts through this CD leaving you to try to keep up with their unbridled enthusiasm. They Go and Father Lou are their get up out of your seat songs, foot stomping not tapping. Monique DeFree’s intense drumming and Matthew Taylor’s strong bass are both just right there and steady, pounding out these brand-new favorites. Brad Rourke has a deep tone to his natural story-telling voice that matches his meaningful songs. Mike Shawn’s Hard to Sleep captures the longing of lost love and makes you glad the song’s not just in your head because his piano just pours all over you in the real world. The West End has absorbed slightly obscure rock influences from the last few decades into a sound that is all their own. This CD knocks seriousness into uncommon rock.

TWE at Austin Grill 4-09

If you don’t own it, you can hear them live on Thursday. You’ll also be able to buy a CD at the show the old-fashioned way — in person.

An impressive new sound system was installed on the stage this summer and there’s been a noticeable improvement at concerts. If you haven’t been to one this season, this is your chance for a guaranteed great show. Come on over and let’s have a big old Rockville party to bid summer farewell. Grab some dinner in Town Square, listen to our favorite Rockville band, and leave full of the best Rockville has to offer.

If you’re interested in the remaining outdoor shows through September, check out my Ultimate Outdoor Summer Guide for Rockville Town Center.

Free Showing of a Chinese Classic

>Rockville Central friend, Brigitta Mullican, sends along this event note:

At 7:00 PM on Friday, August 28, 2009, the Rockville Sister City Corporation will present a Chinese Film at the Rockville Senior Center on Carnation Drive. This is a free cultural event and light refreshments will be provided.

The film is Springtime in a Small Town, directed by Tian Zhuangzhuang (2002). It is a remake of a 1940s Chinese classic about a love triangle in a small town the year after the end of World War II. It is a tightly controlled tale about thwarted desires, filmed with lovely scenery. The dialogue is in Mandarin but the film is subtitled in English.

We hope that you will be able to take advantage of this opportunity to experience something of Chinese life and Chinese culture.

For additional information, call Brigitta at 301-230-0890