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Events 2009

Educational Programs
Kitchen Guild 2009 Events
Scout Programs

January / February / March / April / May / June / July / August / September / October / November / December

January

Twelfth Night Ball Saturday, January 10, 2009. Come in period attire or black tie to celebrate the traditional end of the holiday season at this Regency-style ball. $25; capacity is limited and advance registration is required by January 2.

The Kitchen Apothecary: Foods & Medicine for the Sick and Convalescent Sunday, January 25, 2009, Noon to 4:00 p.m. Early 19th century domestic advice books often have numerous receipts for medicinal draughts and nourishing plain foods that can be easily digested by the sick. Panada, barley water, and essence of peppermint represent some of the remedies administered to the sick and convalescent?Stop in to learn more about these recipes.

Hands-on History: Teddy Bear Tea Friday, January 30, 2009, 2:00 p.m. Children ages 5-8, grab your favorite teddy bear and enjoy this afternoon off from school with stories, crafts, and a tea party. Dress up if you like. $15 resident*; $18 non-resident; advance payment required by January 19.

February

Hands-on History: Confectioner's Apprentice Monday, February 16, 2009, 10:00 a.m. In the early 19th century, young people learned crafts and trades through apprenticeship. Riversdale presents the first in a series of hands-on apprenticeship programs, for children ages 8 to 12, with the craft of the confectioner, who made fancy baked goods and sweets. $15 resident*; $18 non-resident; advance payment required by February 9.

The Plummers' Kitchen Sunday, February 22, Noon - 4 p.m. Adam Plummer, an enslaved worker at Riversdale from 1829 until 1864, and his wife, Emily Saunders Plummer, was an enslaved cook at the Three Sisters Plantation in Lanham, MD. After 1864, Plummer and his family lived at Riversdale where Adam was made foreman. By 1870, the Plummers had saved enough money to buy their own farm. Kitchen Guild volunteers will recreate some of the foods that were commonly eaten by African-Americans in the 19th century. See the Riversdale Kitchen Guild prepare foods common among 19th century African-Americans in Maryland, including the Plummer Family of Riversdale. Regular admission fees apply, includes tour of the house.

March

CANCELLED: Hands-on History: Teen Immersion Overnight Friday-Saturday, March 13-14, 2009, 5:00 p.m. Girls ages 13-19 will experience life in early Federal America, including cooking, crafts, and other activities, during 24 hours in the historic house. $75 resident*; $90 non-resident; advance payment required by March 6.

Soup Du Jour Sunday, March 22, 2009, Noon to 4:00 p.m. Join the Kitchen Guild at the hearth for an early spring cozy afternoon. With little fresh food available at this time of year, it would not be uncommon to eat lots of root-vegetable laden soups and stews. Drop by and see what the Riversdale cooks stir up!

Spring Lecture Series: The 1853 William Sides Map of Charles Benedict Calvert's Property and the Surrounding Area. March 24, 7:30 p.m. Dave Murray, Retired president of surveying firm Ben Dyer Associates, Inc. $5 per lecture.

Tavern Night, Saturday, March 28, 2009, 8:00 p.m. Join us for an evening of rousing entertainment by the Ship's Company Chanteymen and partake of tavern-style food and beverages. $20 resident*, $24 non-resident; advance payment required; must be at least 21 years of age.

April

Spring Lecture Series: The Stier-Peeters Art Collection , April 14, 7:30 p.m. Susan Pearl, Retired historian, M-NCPPC. $5 per lecture.

Open Hearth Cooking Class, Saturday, April 18, 2009, 10:00 a.m. Members of the Riversdale Kitchen Guild will teach basic techniques using a variety of equipment and seasonal ingredients. $38 resident*, $45 non-resident; advance payment required by April 13.

The Cat's Run Away with the Pudding String: Steamed and Baked Puddings, Sunday, April 19, 2009, Noon � 4:00 p.m. Learn the meaning of this nursery rhyme as you watch Kitchen Guild volunteers prepare two types of early 19th century puddings: a baked pudding in a paste and a pudding boiled in a bag tied with a string.

Not Your Mother's Packaged Gelatin: The How and Why of Calves' Feet Jelly, Saturday, April 25, 2009, 10:00 a.m. The Historic Foodways Guild of Maryland and the Riversdale Kitchen Guild present Sophie Frederickson, a food historian/holistic food counselor. She will explain the process of preparing the jelly from scratch and demonstrate various ways to use it. $5.

RESCHEDULED: Spring Lecture Series: "A Great Variety of Articles Both Elegant and Useful�: Antebellum American Agriculture Fairs." Tuesday, April 28, 7:30 p.m. Dr. Ann Wass, History/Museum Specialist at Riversdale. $5 per lecture.

May

Children's Day Saturday, May 3, 2009, noon. Come out and play! Children of all ages can enjoy old-fashioned, unplugged fun and games, a Maypole dance, Punch & Judy show, and make and take crafts. $2 children & adults; children must be accompanied by an adult. Also be sure to visit the Town of Riverdale Park�s ArtsFest nearby.

Spring Lecture Series: The Investigation of the Role of African-American Slavery in the Early History of the Campus., May 5, 7:30 p.m. Panel of faculty, staff, and students from the University of Maryland, College Park. $5 per lecture.

Rosalie's Dairy: Butter Making Sunday, May 17, 2009, Noon to 4:00 p.m. Mrs. Rosalie Calvert ran a successful butter-making business at Riversdale. See Kitchen Guild volunteers churn cream into butter. They will also wash it and prepare it for long-term storage the early 19th century way without the help of refrigeration.

June

Maryland Charter Day, Sunday, June 21, 2009, 11:00 p.m. Celebrate the 375th anniversary of the founding of Maryland with refreshments, children's crafts, and more. Regular admission fees apply, includes tour of the house.

From the Ice House: Ice Cream, Creams & Jellies Sunday, June 21, 2009, Noon to 4:00 p.m. Vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry are all ice cream flavors we know and love. But have you ever heard of parmesan cheese, millefruit, or burnt filbert flavors? See Kitchen Guild volunteers prepare early 19th century style ice cream. They will also make custard creams and gelatins using isinglass, a gelling protein found in the air bladder of fish!

Jazz on the Portico June 24 at 7:00 p.m.
Bring your blanket or lawn chair and relax on the grass for these free summer concerts featuring some of the area's finest jazz musicians. Dinner is available for purchase before the show, or bring your own picnic basket. In case of rain, the concerts move inside. These concerts are supported by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of Maryland and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Hands-On History Days: The Grand Tour Week 1: June 29-July 3, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Each day features crafts and games from a different country on the Grand Tour, including France, Italy, Turkey, and more. Children ages 8-12, $30 resident*, $135 for all 5 days; $36 non-resident, $144 for all 5 days, advance payment required by June 22.

July

Hands-On History Days: The Grand Tour Week 2: July 7-10, 10:00 a.m. - noon
Children ages 5-8, $15 resident*, $55 for all 4 days; $18 non-resident, $60 for all 4 days, advance payment required by June 30.

In a Jam: Putting Up Preserves & Jams, Sunday, July 19, 2009 Noon to 4:00 p.m. The strawberry patch in the Riversdale garden will be producing lots of strawberries that will need to be preserved. Watch Kitchen Guild members make jams, preserves or jellies out of strawberries and other seasonal fruit. FREE; Regular fee for house tours.

Hands-on History: Our Patriotic Past July 23, 9:30 a.m. For children ages 5 and up, activities will fulfill requirements for the Brownie "Wave the Flag" Try-It, Junior "Local Lore" badge, and the Cadette and Senior Scout American Patriotism Interest Project. Daisies, Juliettes, boys, and non-Scouts are welcome, too. Girls may register as individuals or by troop.
$10/child, $2/accompanying adult; advance registration required by July 16.

Jazz on the Portico July 29 at 7:00 p.m.
Bring your blanket or lawn chair and relax on the grass for these free summer concerts featuring some of the area's finest jazz musicians. Dinner is available for purchase before the show, or bring your own picnic basket. In case of rain, the concerts move inside. These concerts are supported by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of Maryland and the National Endowment for the Arts.

August

14th Annual Battle of Bladensburg Encampment August 15, Noon. Join British and American War of 1812 troops as they camp on the lawn to prepare for the battle. The Riversdale Kitchen Guild will sell period-inspired refreshments.
FREE; Regular fee for house tours.

In a Pickle: Putting Up Vegetables, Sunday, August 23, 2009, Noon to 4:00 p.m. Carrots, cucumbers, beets, peppers, and summer squash will be harvested; those that are not eaten fresh will be pickled in vinegar, salt, and spices. Kitchen Guild volunteers will tackle this summer chore the early 19th century way!
FREE; Regular fee for house tours.

Jazz on the Portico August 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Bring your blanket or lawn chair and relax on the grass for these free summer concerts featuring some of the area's finest jazz musicians. Dinner is available for purchase before the show, or bring your own picnic basket. In case of rain, the concerts move inside. These concerts are supported by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of Maryland and the National Endowment for the Arts.

September

Health Nut: Sylvester Graham and the 19th Century Whole Foods Movement Sunday, September 20, 2009, Noon. Did you ever wonder where Graham crackers got their name? They are named after Sylvester Graham, who realized that white refined flour was not wholesome and healthy. Instead, he promoted cooking with flour made from the whole grain. Consequently, in the 19th century, Graham flour was synonymous with whole wheat flour.
FREE; Regular fee for house tours.

Hands-on History: Toymaker's Apprentice September 25, 10:00 a.m. We continue the Riversdale apprentice series with children ages 8-12 spending this day off from school making toys similar to those the Calvert children might have enjoyed. Participants bring their own bag lunch.
$15 resident, $18 non-resident; advance registration required by September 18.

October

Riverdale Park Day Saturday, October 3, 2009, Noon to 5:00 p.m. Join the town for this celebration on the grounds with music, tours of the museum, and more. A variety of food will be available for sale. Visit the Riversdale Historical Society's booth to buy bulbs for fall planting at Mr. Stier's Bulb Sale. And see the Kitchen Guild's "From Field and Forest: Native Game" open-hearth cooking demonstration and learn about the native game that was available locally in the early 19th century. Kitchen Guild members will present a variety of dishes using wild game and seasonal vegetables.
Admission to the grounds is free; $2 fee for house tours.

A Taste of Amontillado Friday, October 23, 7:30 p.m. Adults ages 21 and over will enjoy macabre readings, including Poe's classic short story, "The Cask of Amontillado," accompanied by appropriate food and beverages suitable to the season.
$25 resident, $28 non-resident; Capacity is limited and advance registration is required by October 19. Sorry, we cannot accommodate walk-ins.

Hands-on History: Edgar Allan Poe's Apprentice Friday, October 30, 10:00 a.m. Children ages 10-14 spend the day off from school engaged in crafts and other activities inspired by the poet Edgar Allan Poe, who was born 200 years ago. Participants bring their own bag lunch.
$15 resident, $18 non-resident; advance registration required by October 23.

November

A Regency Ladies' Day in the Country November 14, 10:00 a.m. Fans of the early 19th century will choose from a variety of pastimes and amusements using herbs and flowers and enjoy lunch and late afternoon tea. Period costume is optional.
$50 resident, $60 non-resident; advance registration required by November 6.

Preparing for Winter: Sausages & Mincemeat Sunday, November 15, 2009, Noon - 4:00 p.m. Late fall was slaughtering time. Join the Kitchen Guild as they ready the larder for winter by turning pork into sausages and using suet to create mincemeat. Take home recipes that you can use to create your own mincemeat for holiday pies!
Free; regular fee for house tours.

December

Breakfast with St. Niklaas Saturday, December 5, 10:00 a.m. Children and their parents will eat a Belgian-inspired breakfast with Sint Niklaas, the Flemish forerunner of our modern Santa Claus, and receive a gift bag.
$8 resident-$10 non-resident/child; $5 resident-$7 non-resident/adult; Capacity is limited and advance registration is required by November 30. Sorry, we cannot accommodate walk-ins.

Calverts by Candlelight Sunday, December 27, 6:00 p.m. Pay an evening call on the Calverts and enjoy refreshments, live music, and children's activities.
$5/adult; FREE children 12 & under.

January 2010

Twelfth Night Ball January 9, 2010, 7:30 pm. Come in period attire or black tie to celebrate the traditional end of the holiday season at this Regency-style ball.
$25; Capacity is limited and advance registration is required by January 4.

2008 Events