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Events 2011

Educational Programs
Kitchen Guild 2011 Events
Scout Programs

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

January

Twelfth Night Ball—Saturday, January 15, 2011. 7:30 p.m. 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.

February

Quarterly Lecture: "Had on and Took with Her": African American Dress in the Federal Era Tuesday, February 8, 7:30 p.m. Costume historian Ann Wass presents this illustrated lecture, a Black History Month program. Fee: $5; $2.50 students

House will be CLOSED for regular tours, Feb. 11-March 11, as the new HVAC system is installed.

The Plummer's Kitchen Sunday, February 27, noon-3:30 pm. Members of the Riversdale Kitchen Guild demonstrate 18th and 19th century African America foodways in the Dependency kitchen. Fee TBA

March

Hands-on History: The Architect's Apprentice Friday, March 4, 2011, 10 am. Using Riversdale as their model, children ages 8-12 will sculpt, draw, and sketch as they learned about the trade of architecture. Fee: Resident $15; Non-Resident $18; registration required by February 18.

Tavern Night Saturday, March 12, 8 pm. Join us for an evening of rousing entertainment by the Ship's Company Chanteymen and partake of tavern-style food and beverages. Ages 21 & up. Fee: Resident $20; Non-Resident $24; advance payment required by March 3; must be at least 21 years of age.

April

Tasting the Past: Heirloom Grains Saturday, April 9, 2 pm Take a culinary journey back to the 19th century. A short talk will be followed by a guided tasting of historic recipes made from heirloom grain varietals. Guests can also visit the Dependency kitchen where the Riversdale Kitchen Guild will be cooking grain dishes on the open hearth. Fee: Resident $12; Non-Resident $15; reservations required by April 1.

May

Lecture: The Lords Baltimore and Their Houses Tuesday, May 3, 7:30 p.m. David Fogle, professor emeritus of the University of Maryland's School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation presents this illustrated lecture on George Calvert ancestors. Fee: $5; $2.50 students

Mother's Day Tours Sunday, May 8, 12:15-3:15pm. Bring your mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, or other special lady for a free guided tour of the house. Limited to one free tour with each paid admission.

Rome at Riversdale Saturday, May 14, 10 am and Sunday, May 15, 12 noon. Early 19th century America was greatly influenced by the classical world. Celebrate ancient Rome as you participate in activities and watch battle demonstrations by Legion XX on the lawn and enjoy neoclassical pastimes inside the museum. Fee: $5; $3 students; admission to grounds includes all activities.

June

Garden Day Sunday, June 5, 12:30 pm. Meet gardener Sarah Urdaneta for an in-depth look at Riversdale's garden and orchard, and enjoy light refreshments, a demonstration by the Kitchen Guild, and other special activities throughout the afternoon. Fee: $5, includes tour of the house; reservations required by May 31.

Jazz on the Lawn Thursday, June 16, 7:00 p.m. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy some of the area's top jazz musicians. Visit the Riverdale Park Farmers Market before the show. Buy dinner at the market or bring a picnic from home. In case of rain, the concerts move inside. The concerts are supported by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive.

Father's Day Tours Sunday, June 19, 12:15-3:15 p.m. Bring your father, father-in-law, grandfather, or other special gentleman for a free guided tour of the house. Limited to one free tour with each paid admission. CANCELLED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION

Hands-on History Weeks: Riversdale Time Travelers
Week 1: June 27-July 1
Participants will blast into the past as they explore pastimes, games, food, music, and more from different periods in Riversdale's 200 year history!
Week 1: 10 am-3:00 pm; Children ages 8-12. Resident $30, $135 for all 5 days; Non-Resident $36, $144 for all 5 days; advance payment required by June 13.

July

Hands-on History Weeks: Riversdale Time Travelers
Week 2: July 5-8
Participants will blast into the past as they explore pastimes, games, food, music, and more from different periods in Riversdale's 200 year history!
Week 2: 10 am-noon; Children ages 5-8. Resident $15, $55 for all 4 days; Non-Resident $18, $60 for all 4 days; advance payment required by June 21.

The Art of Housewifery, Saturday, July 16, 9:30 a.m.
Spend the day learning a variety of skills the 19th century housewife had to know to run her household efficiently. Registration required by July 1. Resident $50; Non-Resident $60

Jazz on the Lawn Thursday, July 21, 7 p.m.
Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy some of the area's top jazz musicians. Visit the Riverdale Park Farmers Market before the show. Buy dinner at the market or bring a picnic from home. In case of rain, the concerts move inside. The concerts are supported by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive.

August

Quarterly Lecture: Rosalie's Antwerp, Tuesday, August 2, 7:30 pm.
Godelieve Bartley, Belgian native and Riversdale docent, leads guests on a virtual tour of the city as Rosalie Stier Calvert might have seen it. $5; $2.50 students

Battle of Bladensburg Encampment, Saturday, August 13, noon
Bring the family for a FREE afternoon and join British and American War of 1812 troops as they camp on the lawn to prepare for the battle. You could be recruited to join the American militia! There are children's activities and live music through the afternoon. The Riversdale Kitchen Guild sells period-inspired refreshments. Scouts--Call for info about how you can earn a badge! Nominal fee for house tours.

Jazz on the Lawn Thursday, August 18, 7 p.m. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy some of the area's top jazz musicians. Visit the Riverdale Park Farmers Market before the show. Buy dinner at the market or bring a picnic from home. In case of rain, the concerts move inside. The concerts are supported by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive.

September

The Art of Cookery Made Seasonal and Historic, Saturday, September 10, 6:30 p.m.
Riversdale lays a bountiful table with the locally grown produce of the kitchen garden and orchard, prepared using historic recipes. Also enjoy locally made beverages courtesy of Franklin's Restaurant, Brewery, and General Store. Registration required by September 1. Resident $30; Non-Resident $36

October

Gothick Evening: Historic Whodunit, Saturday, October 22, 6:30 p.m. In 1805, a Frenchman visited Riversdale and insulted everyone. What if he were found dead? Meet the victim during dessert, then, working in teams, collect the clues to solve the puzzle of who killed him. Was it the British army officer? The housemaid? Or someone else? Registration required by October 7. Ages 18 & up. Resident $25; Non-Resident $30

Hands-on History: The Writer's Apprentice, Monday, October 31, 10 a.m. Children ages 8 to 12, make paper, write your own stories with quill and ink, create illustrations, and more! Registration required by October 17. Resident $15; Non-Resident $18

November

Choregraphie Antique, Saturday, November 5, 2 p.m. Goucher College's dance history ensemble brings history to life through reconstructions of dances popular in Federal-era Baltimore, Washington, and, of course, at Riversdale. Concessions will be sold before the concert. Tickets: $20

December

Breakfast with Sint Niklaas, Saturday, December 3, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Children and their parents will enjoy a Belgian-inspired breakfast with Sint Niklaas, the Flemish forerunner of our modern Santa Claus and receive a gift bag. Chose the 9 am or 11 am seating. Sorry, we cannot accommodate walk-ins. Advance payment required by November 23: Fee: Resident $9/child, $5 adult: Non-residednt $11/child, $7 adults; capacity is limited.

The Calverts by Candlelight, Friday, December 30, 6 p.m. Pay an evening call on the Calverts and enjoy refreshments, live music, and children's activities. Adult $5; FREE children 12 & under.

Coming January 2012

Twelfth Night Ball, Saturday, January 14, 2011, 7:30 p.m. Come in period attire or black tie to celebrate the traditional end of the holiday season at this Regency-style ball. Registration required by January 4. Resident $30; Non-Resident $36

*Resident fees apply to residents of Prince George's & Montgomery counties. Please note that popular programs where reservations are required may sell out prior to the registration deadline noted.

2010 Events