African American Heritage Festival 

The African American Heritage Festival is an annual family celebration of the history, culture, education, heritage and arts that embraces and promotes the rich traditions and zestful spirit of the city of Baltimore. Participate in a diverse offering of arts and entertainment including national and local talent; educational and historical exhibits; interactive children’s area; and crafts from more than 100 vendors, community organizations and merchants. Visit aahf.net for more information.

Black History Month

What began as Negro History Week in 1926 and changed to Black History Week in 1972, became Black History Month in 1976. Dr. Carter G. Woodson, noted historian, author, world traveler and Harvard Ph.D., is known as the Father of Black History. It was his dream of seeing Black History recognized in mainstream America that led him to establish the second week of February as Negro History Week.

As an historian, Dr. Woodson saw February as a significant month in the history of Blacks. The second week of February was specifically chosen to include the birthdays of both President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States, issued the Emancipation Proclamation that ended slavery in 1863. Frederick Douglass, born into slavery, managed to escape from slavery and had the courage to speak out against racial injustices. He served as advisor to President Lincoln during the Civil War and published the North Star, although he is best known for his autobiography. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.

While there are always events scheduled in Baltimore to celebrate Black History month, you can learn about Baltimore’s history any time of the year, as well as the stories of the people who helped make Baltimore the place it is today.

Baltimore is a thriving city full of life, culture, entertainment, recreation and education, with a rich history as well. Whether you live in Maryland or just like to visit, you’re likely familiar with such native attractions as the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore Orioles and the Inner Harbor. But if you look below the surface, you will find that there is a rich history to discover.

Baltimore’s African American population has played an essential role in our rich past, present and future. So get your shovel, dig a little deeper and take a look at what Baltimore Baltimore’s Black History is all about.

Since Baltimore’s founding in the early 1700s, the large black population has been making contributions to its growth and development both physically and spiritually. While slavery was legal in Maryland, there were more free blacks in Baltimore than there were slaves. The free blacks established and organized both churches and organizations to aide in the fight against persecution, resulting in an abundant number of black churches still standing in the city today.

Black History in Baltimore: a timeline

In 1784, when Blacks withdrew from the Methodist Church because of racially segregated seating, Daniel Payne Coker organized the Bethel A.M.E. Church. In 1816 Coker became the first African American Methodist Episcopal bishop. The church is still active at 1300 Druid Hill Avenue in downtown Baltimore.

Established in 1787, the Sharp Street United Methodist Church is the home of Baltimore’s first black congregation. It once served as a meeting place for the NAACP and is a National Historic Landmark that still stands at 1206 Etting Street.

Between 1789 and 1832, Joshua Johnson (also signed as Johnston) painted portraits of Baltimore residents. He is noted as the first prominent African American portrait artist. Some of his works depict a child holding a strawberry and, according to the 1814 Baltimore Directory, Johnson was noted as living on Strawberry Alley (although he is thought to have moved throughout Baltimore and Fells Point). The Baltimore Museum of Art and the Maryland Historical Society have some of his works on display.

The Peale Museum, located at 225 Holiday Street, is the oldest museum building in the Western Hemisphere. In a time when collections were displayed only for the elite, the Peale Museum was open to everyone. Built in 1814 by Rembrandt Peale, an artist best known for his portrait of George Washington which still hangs in the U.S. Capitol, it was the first free public school for black children.

In 1818, while the Centennial United Methodist Church was being built on Caroline Street, one of the most influential members in the battle against racial in justice was born into slavery on a farm outside of Easton, Maryland. Frederick Douglass later escaped the bonds of slavery and led one of the most incredible journeys recorded in black history. For more information on the life of this courageous Maryland native, read Sandra Thomas’s A Biography of the Life of Frederick Douglass or his own autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass .

Frederick Douglass came to Baltimore’s Fells Point at the age of eight. Memorials around the city in honor of Douglass include a marker in Fells Point Square and a statue in front of Holmes Hall at Morgan State University. During the summer months you can take the Frederick Douglass “Path to Freedom” Walking Tour (see our Annual Cultural Events and Festivals section).

When Frederick Douglass was in his 70′s, he returned to Baltimore as a prosperous man and built five houses on Strawberry Alley that he named Douglass Place. Today it is known as Dallas Street, just north of Fleet Street.

In 1825, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was born in Baltimore. Her parents died when she was only two, leaving her to live with her grandfather and attend the Baltimore Academy for Negro Youth School, at which her uncle taught. Influenced by their political activism and a strong education, she began writing poetry. Harper published a collection of poetry called Forrest Leaves in 1845, but is perhaps best known for her novel, Iola LeRoy, the story of a young woman who went South to offer help to the freed slaves following the Civil War.

In 1825, former slave Truman Pratt founded the Orchard Street Church, which is now home to the Greater Baltimore Urban League (founded in 1924). A passageway in the church leads to a sub-basement three floors below, which reveals an underground cistern and a portion of the underground tunnel, suggesting that the church was a stop along the underground railroad.

Since 1844, the Maryland Historical Society has been serving Maryland by preserving its heritage and is the state’s oldest cultural institution. Located at 201 West Monument Street, it contains a number of artifacts relating to black history in Baltimore. Many are on exhibit in the museum or can be accessed through the Historical Society’s library. The Historical Society also publishes several books annually and sponsors educational programs. Its mural replica exhibition featuring the Royal Theater and the former glory of Pennsylvania Avenue are both popular attractions.

In 1852, the Union Baptist Church was organized. Led by Reverend Harvey Johnson, the church became a center for the civil rights movement. The church remains active at 1219 Druid Hill Avenue.

From 1859 to 1861 the USS Constellation was flagship of the African Squadron stationed off the mouth of the Congo River. During her time there, her mission being to interdict slave trade ships, she captured and freed 705 men, women and children. The squadron itself captured a total of 14 ships and freed over 4,000 people. The USS Constellation is the last sail warship built by the US Navy and is the only Civil War era vessel still afloat. Tours of the ship are available.

Purchased in 1863 and dedicated in 1864, the historic St.Francis Xavier Catholic Church United States. Since slavery prohibited Blacks from receiving a formal education, many learned to read and write from the Catholic Church school that was started in the basement and taught by the Oblate Sisters (the first black Catholic religious order of nuns). In 1968 the church was moved to its present location on Caroline and Oliver Streets where it still holds services and houses a high school academy operated by the Oblate Sisters of Providence.

On February 12, 1865, Henry Highland Garnet was the first black person to speak to the U.S. House of Representatives. The Henry Highland Garnet Park was named after the famous Baltimore native Presbyterian preacher and lecturer.

Morgan State University is renowned for its contributions to Black History. Originally founded in 1867, it became a public institution in 1939. Of the 987 degrees awarded in the spring of 2004, 814 were earned by African American men and women (21 of which were doctorate degrees). Today, on the campus of Morgan State University, the James E. Lewis Museum of Art houses an impressive collection of African American artwork.

In 1883, James Hubert Blake was born the son of a former slave. Blake began organ lessons at the age of six and created a life surrounded by music. Better known as “Eubie” Blake, the famous pianist and composer met lyricist, Noble Sissle, and together they wrote their first Broadway show, Shuffle Along in 1921. When visiting Baltimore, don’t forget to take time to see The Eubie Blake National Museum and Cultural Center. Eubie Blake is known to have attended the first free public school for black children at Peale Museum.

Established in 1888, Saint Peter Claver Roman Catholic Church stood as the first church in the world dedicated to Saint Peter Claver, the apostle for the slaves. The church still stands at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and North Freemont. The oldest private African American school still in existence is associated with this church.

In 1892, The Afro-American Newspaper was founded by a former slave, John H. Murphy, Sr. He purchased the printing equipment at a public auction for $200 and used it to begin publishing his own newspaper, focusing mainly on church events. In 1900 it merged with other church bulletins to form one periodical. By 1922 the newspaper had evolved from a church bulletin into the most widely circulated black newspaper along the eastern coast.

Murphy’s five sons took over the business following their father’s death and the paper continued to increase its circulation and influence in American culture. A sports writer hired in 1941 still writes a weekly column for the paper and with more than 120,000 regular readers it is the leading newspaper for the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area as well as the longest running African American, family-owned newspaper in the United States. The newspapers headquarters are located on Charles Street.

Liberty Medical Center, currently found at 1600 Liberty Heights Avenue, was first named Provident Hospital and built in 1894 to provide both medical treatment and training for black nurses and doctors.

Founded at Douglass High School on Pennsylvania Street in 1900, Coppin State College, an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), was originally set up to offer one-year training courses for African American elementary school teachers. Within seven years it was governed by its own principal and had separated from the high school and by 1938 the curriculum was lengthened to four years and the college could grant a Bachelor’s of Science degree.

The college had many name changes, but always honored Fanny Jackson Coppin, the black woman who, born a slave in Washington, D.C., gained her freedom and eventually became a pioneer in teacher education. Fanny Coppin, one of the first black women to earn a degree from a major U.S. college, earned her bachelor’s degree in 1865 from Oberlin College in Ohio. Coppin State College is now located at 2500 West North Avenue.

Thurgood Marshall, born in Baltimore in 1908, was appointed as the first black Supreme Court Justice in 1967. Marshall played an integral role in the civil rights movement in the 20th century, representing Linda Brown in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case. A statue at the U.S. Courthouse on Pratt Street in downtown Baltimore honors Baltimore’s native son and great American lawyer, and a marker at 1632 Division Street marks the site of the house where he grew up.

In 1912, the first social club for African American’s on the east coast was formed. The Arch Social Club lounge and restaurant still regularly features jazz music, and is Baltimore’s oldest African American social club.

Billie Holiday was born Eleanora Fagan in Baltimore in April of 1915. The well-known jazz singer’s biography, Lady Sings the Blues, which chronicles her difficult childhood and her performance at Baltimore’s famous Royal Theatre, was loosely translated into a popular movie starring Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams in 1972. You can see James Earl Reid’s magnificent eight and a half foot bronze sculpture of Billie Holiday, complete with a Gardenia in her hair, on Pennsylvania Avenue in West Baltimore, directly across from Providence Baptist Church. Every year, a Billie Holiday contest is held in Baltimore to find the best singer of Holiday’s songs.

In 1922, the Douglas Theater opened as the finest black theater in America owned and controlled by African American people. The theater was eventually sold to whites and its name was changed to the Royal. Although the theater no longer stands, you can view a mural replica exhibition at the Maryland Historical Society on West Monument Street in Baltimore.

On July 11th, 1948, at Druid Hill Park 24 black tennis players left the courts in the Negro area of the park to play on the white only courts and were arrested. Today, right inside the park which also contains the Baltimore Zoo, you can view the famous Baltimore Tennis Marker listing the names of those 24 tennis players.

In 1953, nine aspiring Black actors and actresses formed Arena Playhouse, Inc., the oldest continuously operating African American owned Community Theater in the country. The Arena Playhouse, located at 801 McCulloh Street in West Baltimore, seats 300 and the Arena Players have included some famous Baltimoreans such as Howard Rollins and Charles Dutton.

In 1972, an off-campus branch of Antioch University called Homestead Montebello Center Antioch University and changed its name to Sojourner-Douglass College. At 500 North Caroline Street in Baltimore, as well as four off campus sites, the college operates only on nights and weekends, giving working adults the opportunity to attend classes. Dr. Charles Simmons is still the President of the college.

On May 30, 1972, the Negro Heroes of the U.S. Monument was dedicated by artist James Lewis to commemorate the African American servicemen from all American wars. Located in Battle Monument Plaza at Calvert and Lexington Streets, the nine foot bronze statue is an impressive memorial tribute.

In 1976, WJZ-TV on 3725 Malden Avenue in Baltimore made national history when Oprah Winfrey became the first African American woman co-anchor and reporter in the country.

And in 1978, the Black Classic Press was founded to print “obscure and significant works by and about people of African descent.” Located at 4701 Mount Hope Drive, they have published many authors including John G. Jackson, John Henrik Clarke, Yosefben-Jochannan, Dorothy Porter and Charles L. Blockson.

The National Aquarium in Baltimore, a favored attraction since its opening in 1981, actually received a rare fish collection from Henry Hall before it was even built. Henry Hall, sometimes referred to as the Father of Baltimore’s Black Engineers, also made the tanks that housed his donation. The Aquarium, the most visited on the East Coast, developed the Henry Hall foundation in honor of his generous gift.

Great Blacks In WaxIn 1983, Dr. Elmer and Joanne Martin founded the Great Blacks in Wax Museum in downtown Baltimore with 21 wax figures and the help of good friends. When they purchased four wax figures with money they had saved to make a down payment on a house, they began by traveling with the figures and setting up exhibits in schools, shopping malls, and churches. In 1988, they opened a 10,000 square foot facility on North Avenue, making their mark in Black History with over 100 life-sized and life-like wax figures and scenes, including Malcolm X, Sojourner Truth, Langston Hughes and a full scale model of a slave ship.

In 1986, the NAACP, founded in 1909 and the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization,moved its national headquarters to Baltimore. The headquarters, located at 4805 Mount Hope Drive, includes a Dorothy Parker Memorial Garden, named for the poet and short story writer. Ms. Parker, best known for her witty satire, left her entire estate to the NAACP after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Since 1968, the NAACP has been receiving royalties from Parker’s publications and productions.

On April 6th, 1992, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, located at 333 West Camden Street in downtown Baltimore, became the official home of the Baltimore Orioles. Camden Station, now part of the Oriole Park, was a part of Harriett Tubman’s Underground Railroad. The Eutaw Street entrance to Oriole Park was renamed Leon Day Way after Leon Day, the 12th Negro League player to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

In May of 2005, the Sports Legends at Camden Yards opened its doors to Baltimore. Baltimore had two Negro League teams, the Baltimore Elite Giants and the Baltimore Black Sox. With the artifacts now being displayed from the Negro Baseball League, the museum hopes that it will draw more attention and find other treasures to display, residents and visitors. With exhibits and other sports memorabilia moved from the Babe Ruth Birth place and Museum, it offers an extensive collection including a few souvenirs of the Negro Baseball League.

Reginald F. Lewis MuseumOn June 25, 2005, the grand opening of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture was held at 830 East Pratt Street in downtown Baltimore. With permanent exhibitions and special visiting exhibits and collections, the museum hopes to inspire all visitors with resources and information on black Marylanders. It is the East Coast’s largest African American Museum and the second largest museum of its kind in the world.

June 2006 marked the completion of The Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park, located on the waterfront in historic Fells Point, the primary area where Southern blacks sought jobs and housing upon coming to Baltimore. Founded by the Living Classrooms Foundation, the $12 million project honors Frederick Douglass, Isaac Myers and highlights the founding of the Chesapeake Marine Railway and Dry Dock Company, as well as the establishment of an African American community in Baltimore in the 1800s.

With an almost endless number of museums, churches, monuments, statues, tours, and more, Baltimore hopes to continue its homage to black history and the people and events that made an impact on the city and nation.

To learn more about Baltimore and the history of the African American community, you might find the works of Agnes Kane Callum and Louis Diggs helpful. Both were born in Baltimore and are experts in genealogy and research and have been exploring Baltimore’s rich history for years.

A study of Black History would not be complete without a visit to Baltimore. The African American Heritage & Attractions Guide is a publication of the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association.

Reenactments, encampments and demonstrations will take place on Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 9:00 a.m. each day. Reenactors will represent Confederate, Union and U.S. Colored Troops-including the 37th USCT Regiment and Battery “B.” An opening ceremony on Saturday will get underway at 10:30 a.m. with special guests, including Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo, New Hanover County Commissioner Jonathan Barfield, Civil War historian Dr. Chris Fonvielle, and Malcolm Beech, 37th US Colored Troops Infantry and President of the Cultural Heritage Museum in Kinston, N.C. On Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m., the 2nd annual Ghost Walk will lead a tour through the grounds where the skirmish was fought, encountering costumed reenactors along the way.

This outstanding educational program affords visitors a great opportunity to learn more about the role of African American troops during the Civil War. Step back in time with re-enactors who will demonstrate life as it was in the mid-1800s. Dress warmly and see the restored Civil War mounds at the site where the Battle of Forks Road actually took place. Events take place on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. (museum will remain open until 5:00 p.m.). The event is free and donations are welcome and appreciated. In honor of the Civil War Living History Weekend, Kids @ CAM family program from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. will feature Civil War era games and activities including a chance to make art that can be taken home. Visitors are also welcome to explore CAM’s exhibitions for free this weekend, including Civil War Era Drawings from the Becker Collection (on view through May 6). For more information and a complete schedule of events, please visit http://cameronartmuseum.com/civil_war.php or call 910-395-5999.

The original Battle of Forks Road battlefield is located on the grounds of the Cameron Art Museum, located at 3201 South 17th Street. The Civil War mounds were restored when the Museum opened at this location in 2002. The Battle of Forks Road was a significant skirmish that followed the fall of Fort Fisher, directly preceded the fall of Wilmington, and led to the final surrender of the Confederate armies. It was the final fight to take Wilmington on February 20, 1865. The site is where Major General Robert F. Hoke made his last stand against Union soldiers, primarily made up of African-American troops (referred to as U.S. Colored Troops during that era) from several divisions, before evacuating Wilmington. The “Sable Arm” of the US Army was made up of freed men and former slaves who volunteered for service after the Emancipation Proclamation.

When your favorite pastime is “past times,” Wilmington, N.C.’s historic river district and the island beaches of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach is a destination of choice. For a free Official Visitors Guide, call 1-866-266-9690 or visit www.GoWilmingtonAndBeaches.com where you’ll find visitor information and a complete event calendar.

Atlantic City Restaurant Week, March 4-10

Visitors can sample the city’s abundant gastronomic offerings during Atlantic City Restaurant Week. More than 65 of Atlantic County’s finest restaurants will serve fixed price, three-course meals, with lunches priced at $15.12 and dinners at $33.12, per person, excluding beverage and tip. Participating restaurants include seafood favorites such as Atlantic Grill, FIN and Harry’s Oyster Bar & Seafood; Italian spots such as Capriccio, Luke Palladino and Mia; and steak restaurants such as Chelsea Prime, Knife & Fork Inn and Scarduzio’s Steak Sushi and Lounge. For a complete list of participating restaurants or additional information, visit www.acrestaurantweek.com

Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival, March 30-31

More than 80 breweries from around across the country will showcase their unique libations at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Whether visitors consider themselves to be beer aficionados or casual beer drinkers, this event offers the opportunity to speak with company representatives and brewers responsible for some of their favorite brews, as well as discover a variety of new beers. Additionally, musicians from the Tri-State area will perform. Tickets are $44. For more information, visit www.celebrationofthesuds.com

Atlantic City Beer vs. Wine, May 19

The inaugural Atlantic City Beer vs. Wine event brings together 15 American craft breweries and 15 American wineries, all complementing dishes from 20 of Atlantic City’s top restaurants. Event attendees will have a chance to sample each beer, wine and paired dish, to decide once and for all which libation is better shared with dinner. Throughout the evening there will be chef demos, sommelier seminars, beer debates and much more. The event is scheduled from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. at Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall. Tickets purchased in advance are $74.99; same day admission is $79.99. For more information, visit www.acbeervswine.com

Chefs at the Shore, June 21

The ninth annual Chefs at the Shore benefit will take place at the Atlantic City Aquarium. The event will feature live cooking demonstrations of signature dishes from area restaurants. All ticket proceeds will benefit the Atlantic City Aquarium and the Professional Chefs Association (PCA). For more information, visit www.acaquarium.com

Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival, July 26-29

Visitors to the fourth annual Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival will enjoy four days of events, tastings and celebrity chef appearances that showcase the city’s abundant culinary offerings. For more information, visit www.acfoodandwine.com

For visitors looking to get in on the action instead of just watching it, Tony Boloney’s, an Atlantic City original that offers turn-of-the-century, Atlantic City street-style pizza, hosts pizza making classes every Saturday morning. The restaurant’s owner takes guest through a brief history of the area and techniques, and then teaches them how to make their own pizza from scratch. The cost to participate is $60 per person, with a limit of 12 people per class. For more information, visit www.tonyboloneys.com

Whether a novice or an experienced cook, visitors to the Viking Cook School at Harrah’s Resort can take part in a variety of culinary classes, such as learning and preparing bayou-country favorites during the Mardi Gras class, or indulging in the many flavors of the Eternal City during the Girls’ Night Out: In Rome class. For more information, visit www.vikingcookingschool.com

In addition to culinary events and classes, Atlantic City has seen more than 15 restaurant openings in the past year – from traditional seafood and Mexican, to steak and Asian fusion treats – creating a diverse and energetic dining scene. For more information or to book a trip to Atlantic City, visit www.atlanticcitynj.com

Released through Sutro World, the world’s largest publisher of independently authored travel guides, Harlem Travel Guide is currently ranked in the Top 3 of the company’s 325 different international guides. The Guide was originally published in hardcover in 2010, and this ebook version incorporates additional entries and photos. Harlem is the third most visited tourist destination in New York City, and the app provides helpful offline listings, articles, advice, and photos.

Unbeknownst to many visitors, Harlem is three distinct areas: Central Harlem, where African Americans first settled in the early 1890s; East Harlem or El Barrio, which is home to Latinos, with Puerto Ricans first migrating to the enclave after WWI; and West Harlem, which includes a diverse population of African Americans, West Indians, Latinos, and whites. Also included is Washington Heights, location of Morris-Jumel Mansion, which served as George Washington’s headquarters during the Revolutionary War.

The co-authors of Harlem Travel Guide for iOS are both homeowners and long-time residents of Harlem. Carolyn D. Johnson operates a tour company, a visitor’s center, and a website that carries information about Harlem. All three of these entities operate under the umbrella of Welcome to Harlem. Valerie Jo Bradley operates a PR and special events planning firm and is proprietor of a small guest house in Harlem. In addition to collaborating with other Harlem-based tour companies to develop unique tours of Harlem, she has trained Harlem residents to conduct tours in their neighborhoods. In developing the Harlem Travel Guide, they wanted to bring to light all the cultural diversity, creativity, beauty, and history of an area too long ignored. They knew they were creating a one-of-a-kind travel book about a one-of-a-kind community.

Feature Highlights:

* More than 360 entries with over 2000 photographs

* Entries sorted by name, category, distance, price, and neighborhood

* Live calendar

* Ability to share user comments and mark and save favorites

* Ask the authors questions through in-app comments to get personalized feedback

* YouTube video hyperlinks

* GPS enabled Google maps with walking, driving, and mass transit directions

* Access offline content anytime

* Free upgrades for life

* Nightlife and entertainment from jazz, Latin salsa, opera to classical music

* Theatre, dance, spoken word and more

* Restaurants featuring soul food to French cuisine and everything in between

* Unique ethnic retail shops

* Museums that celebrate various cultures

* Fine art galleries

* Majestic churches and gospel music

* Amazing landmarks

* Parks and free recreational activities

* Guest accommodations

* Free Internet access and Wi-Fi locations

* Authentic tours of Harlem

* Annual events and festivals

* Sales & Deals

Harlem Travel Guide is one of 325 different international destination guides available for use within the Sutro World viewer app. Operating in either portrait or landscape orientation, the viewer app provides interactive access to downloaded guides, each of which is available as an in-app purchase. The expertly designed app features: an integrated web browser to view hyperlinks without leaving the app; a text search function; a photo library; interactive Google street maps; list sorting by Name, Distance, Cost, or Neighborhood; and the ability to filter results by Category.

Easily accessed from the Apple infinite odometer, picker display are the following filter Categories: Everything (All), Accommodations, Baked Goods & Desserts, Bars & Lounges, Churches with Gospel Services, Cosmetics/Salons/Spas, Dining, Educational Institutions, Events, Faith-Based Institutions, Family-Friendly Tourist Sites, Galleries & Museums, Landmarks & Districts, Libraries/Internet/Wi-Fi, Live Entertainment, Neighborhoods, Parks & Recreation, Sales & Deals, Shopping, Sites Not to Miss, Theaters & Cultural Institutions, Things to Do & Tours, Transportation, and Useful Information.

Contents:

* A trove of information about area museums, galleries, gospel services, cultural institutions, and entertainment venues

* Listings of boutique guest accommodations in historic townhouses that evoke the elegant past of the region

* Performance schedules and information about the men and women who make music a vibrant part of the cultural scene

*A cornucopia of restaurants and eateries specializing in the cuisines of Africa, Latin America, Asia, and America are temptingly surveyed

* Includes detailed information on visitor centers, tourist websites, weather, news, holidays, sales tax, smoking rules, tipping, and transportation to and from airports and in the city

* Full descriptions that include little known cultural and historical facts, websites, phone numbers, hours of operation, prices, menus, and hyperlinks for more information

* Once click to websites, phones, online ordering, online reservations, current menus, and more

“Now, visitors to New York City can enjoy the interactive Harlem Travel Guide on their iDevices,” commented author Carolyn D. Johnson. “The app’s comprehensive, well-researched information about both contemporary and historic Harlem will appeal to first time visitors as well as established residents.”

Device Requirements:

* iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

* Requires iOS 3.0 or later (iOS 5 tested)

* Universal app optimized for display on all iOS devices

* 70.1 MB

Pricing and Availability:

Harlem Travel Guide 1.0 is $2.99 (USD) and available worldwide exclusively through the Travel app Sutro World, as an in-app purchase. Sutro World 1.3 for iOS is available as a free download in the Travel category of the App Store and offers 325 different travel destination guides as in-app purchases.

Welcome to Harlem: http://www.welcometoharlem.com

Harlem Travel Guide 1.0: http://www.welcometoharlem.com/page/Iphone_Droid/index.v3page

Sutro World Free 1.4: http://itunes.apple.com/app/sutro-world/id446206531

Reviews: http://www.welcometoharlemhiddentreasures.com/harlem-travel-guide-iphone-and-ipad-app/

Screenshot: http://www.welcometoharlemhiddentreasures.com/product_images/i/889/Harlem_Stage__74609_zoom.jpg

App Icon: http://a4.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/084/Purple/73/72/f3/mzl.bjxzpkuh.175×175-75.jpg

Based in New York, Welcome to Harlem was founded by Carolyn D. Johnson in 2005. Welcome To Harlem is known as the premier visitor center in Harlem, which provides authentic walking, bus, and custom tours. Welcome to Harlem is a member of NYC & Company, New York’s official tourism agency. Copyright (C) 2005-2012 Welcome to Harlem. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, and iPod are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other trademarks and registered trademarks may be the property of their respective owners.

www.Welcometoharlem.com

The Flickerwood Wine Cellars & Lounge in Kane hosts a Valentine Wine & Chocolate Tasting that will surely sweeten your lover’s day. On Saturday, Feb. 11, the winery, located at 309 Flickerwood Road, just off of Scenic Route 6, will pair wines and chocolate delicacies. The event, which starts at noon, is the perfect way to celebrate the weekend and your love. For more information, check them out at www.flickerwood.com.

If you love to play in the outdoors, the Allegheny National Forest Region has just the thing for you.

The Marilla Winter Trek, hosted by the Tuna Valley Trail Association, is an annual event that takes place at the Marilla Reservoir on Route 346 just west of Bradford.

The event, held from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, includes cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, ice fishing, geocaching or walking the Marilla Trail System, a system of five trails ranging from easy to more difficult.

If you are new to these winter sports, have no fear – there will be lessons on snowshoeing and cross-country skiing and guided snowshoe. Afterward, sit by the fire and enjoy the refreshments. For more information, call 814-362-9928.

Want to plan your own outdoor adventure? You will go nuts at the Country Squirrel Outfitters, located at 3 Main Street, Ridgway. The Country Squirrel Outfitters rents cross-country skis and snowshoes and sells many more items. Backpacks, clothing, equipment, hats, gloves, and goggles are just a couple of items available here. For more information, go to www.countrysquirreloutfitters.com.

While you are in the region, there are many other ways to indulge your loves.

Red roses, a sign of true love, are always a favorite during February. But for something different, why not combine a unique mix of flowers presented in a vase decorated with jewelry? Visit Grahams Florist and Gift Shop at 9 Kennedy St., Bradford, and ask Candy to design a personalized gift for your sweetheart for her special day.

If food is your passion, while in Bradford, stop at The Grocery Stretcher, 32 Main St., to make up a gift basket of Amish cheese and meats, adding some fresh from the oven specialty breads from John Williams European Pastry Shop, located just around the corner at 20 Mechanic Street.

Check out Tortugas West Texas Bar & Grill, 109 Main St., if you are more of a chicken wing and beer couple. This restaurant, located at 109 Main Street, Bradford, offers 34 flavors of chicken wings, including peanut butter and jelly, whiskey BBQ, butter and garlic parmesan, cinnamon sugar, lime and jalapeno, and maple brown sugar.

One flavor that is hot right now – literally – is the Phantom wings. The chefs at Tortugas are putting out a challenge to anyone who thinks they can tackle these wings. On Sundays, if you can eat 20 Phantom wings in 20 minutes, you receive the wings for free; $10 from the chef working that day and a free drink to wash it all down. Up to the challenge? Sign up on the restaurant’s website at www.tortugasrestaurant.com.

Romance Packages are available at two exclusive lodges in the Allegheny National Forest Region.

The Gateway Lodge, Cooksburg, offers a Valentine Romance Package which features a two-night stay in one of the lodge’s deluxe fireside Jacuzzi suites.

Available Feb. 3 to 5 and again Feb. 10 to 12, this special includes breakfasts and a Saturday night candlelit chef tasting for two, complete with wine parings and live musical entertainment. Prices are $499 per couple Feb. 3-5 and $599 Feb. 10-12.

A Moonlight Romance Package is available Feb. 17-19 and 24-26. It includes two nights in a suite, breakfast both mornings and dinner one evening. Couples can also take advantage of the Spa Romance Package, which includes Elemental Nature Messages, roses, champagne and chocolates. Call 814-778-8017 for reservations or click on www.gatewaylodge.com.

A Two Night Romance Package at the Lodge at Glendorn in Bradford offers a choice of accommodations in the Main Lodge, a wonderful historic redwood grand lodge, or two nights in the master suite of a deluxe cabin. Four-star fine dining, breakfast, lunch and dinner for two are included.

Chocolate-covered strawberries, champagne and candles are delivered to your suite on your first night’s turndown service. In suite, fireside couple’s Glendorn Signature massages are included with this package. Guests also have a choice of other on-site activities such as horseback riding that will create great memories of your forest get-away. Glendorn robes and mugs are your keepsake gifts with this package. Phone 800-843-8568 or visit www.glendorn.com.

To find out more about the Allegheny National Forest Region or to request a free travel guide and map, call the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau at 800-473-9370 or log onto www.visitANF.com for more information.

The $1.3 million Kingsmill Championship will be played September 6-9. In 2013, the tournament will return to a traditional early-May date. Kingsmill Resort is owned by Xanterra Parks & Resorts® affiliate Xanterra Kingsmill, LLC, a sister company of Anschutz Entertainment Group and a subsidiary of Anschutz Company.

“We are truly thrilled to bring the world’s best golfers back to Kingsmill, where the LPGA has such a great history,” said LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan. “As our players will attest, Kingsmill is a premier venue and we all look forward to working closely with the resort’s new owner, Xanterra, on this tournament. In 2012, the LPGA’s motto is “See Why It’s Different Out Here,” and we hope that fans and media will have the opportunity to find out for themselves.”

The Kingsmill Championship marks the most recent foray into professional tournament golf for Xanterra Parks & Resorts, having hosted LPGA, PGA and Senior PGA events at properties that it has previously managed,Silverado Resort, Napa, Calif.; or that are currently managed through affiliated properties including The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colo., and Sea Island, Ga.

“We are very excited about the LPGA’s decision to return to Kingsmill Resort,” said Andrew Todd, president and CEO of Xanterra. “Kingsmill’s history as a host of an LPGA tournament was one of the factors we found attractive when we purchased the resort, and it has been a goal of ours to reestablish a relationship with the LPGA and help bring a tournament back to Kingsmill Resort and Williamsburg. We look forward to hosting the players again and presenting a first-class event on our challenging River Course.”

Xanterra acquired Kingsmill Resort from Busch Properties, Inc. on August 1, 2010. Currently, Xanterra is undertaking a $6 million renovation of the resort, including a new resort pool complex and renovations to the marina restaurant and other resort facilities.

The River Course at Kingsmill Resort previously hosted the LPGA’s Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill from 2003 to 2009 with winners including Grace Park (2003), Se Ri Pak (2004), Cristie Kerr (2005, 2009), Karrie Webb (2006), Suzann Pettersen (2007), and Annika Sorenstam (2008).

In addition to adding four new North American events and one new international event to the 2012 schedule, the LPGA recently announced the renewal of eight of the nine tournament contracts that ended in 2011 and 10 of 11 marketing partnerships that also required new contracts. In addition to these extended agreements, the LPGA has added Kia as its Official Automotive Partner, Frontier Airlines as its Official Airline and MedJet Assist as its Official Medical Evacuation Program. Additionally, Symetra signed on as umbrella partner of the LPGA Futures Tour, now called the Symetra Tour.

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About Kingsmill Resort

Kingsmill Resort is a Xanterra Parks & Resorts® property. With 421 guest room accommodations, 15-court tennis facility, 17,000 square feet of meeting space and three championship golf courses, Kingsmill Resort is located on the north shore of the beautiful James River in south central Virginia, 100 miles south of Washington, DC. The resort is an AAA Four-Diamond property and a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide – a global association of the world’s finest independent luxury hotels. Kingsmill Resort is located between Richmond and Norfolk and is easily accessible via Interstate 64 and US Highway 60.

About Xanterra

Xanterra Parks & Resorts® (consisting of several affiliated Xanterra entities) operates lodges, restaurants, tours and activities at national parks and state parks and resorts. Xanterra Parks & Resorts is the country’s largest park concessioner. Xanterra Parks & Resorts has operations in the following locations: Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Zion, Crater Lake, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park, Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va. and five Ohio State Park Lodges as well as the Geneva Marina at Ohio’s Geneva State Park. Xanterra Parks & Resorts also operates Windstar Cruises based in Seattle, Wash., as well as Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Ariz.

Xanterra Parks & Resorts has been committed to the preservation and protection of the environment for many years. Through its environmental program, “Ecologix,” Xanterra Parks & Resorts has been recognized repeatedly for environmental leadership in the hospitality industry and is the recipient of many honors, including major awards from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Travel Industry Association of America, American Hotel and Lodging Association, National Parks Conservation Association, Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler, Colorado Department of Public Health, State of Arizona, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and Utah Department of Environmental Quality.

For more information about Xanterra Parks & Resorts, links to individual properties and reservations numbers, visit www.xanterra.com.

About the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association)

The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950, the association celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 1,700 members representing 29 different countries. With a Vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women’s golf, LPGA Tour Professionals compete across the globe, while dedicated LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management. The Symetra Tour consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida. Follow the LPGA on its television home, Golf Channel, and on the web via: www.LPGA.com,www.facebook.com/lpga.official, www.twitter.com/lpga, and www.youtube.com/lpgavideo

Celebrate 40 Years of Winter Fun at Massanutten Resort

Massanutten Resort is a four season resort located on more than 5500 acres near Harrisonburg. The resort features 70 skiable acres encompassing 12 ski slopes, two terrain parks, 12 lanes of winter tubing and extensive lesson programs. The resort also has an indoor/outdoor WaterPark.

The upcoming ski season marks the 40th anniversary of the ski area. To celebrate, Massanutten installed a new ice skating rink and prepared anniversary activities, specials, giveaways and events. The Ski Area Birthday Bash will take place on February 10, 2012 in the Ski Lodge with birthday cake and a 40th anniversary DVD and slideshow. During the birthday bash, the resort is showing its appreciation to any past Massanutten season pass holders by giving them a free four-hour slope-use ticket. And, anyone with a birthday on February 10th gets a free eight-hour slope-use ticket on February 10. The resort is also having a photo contest and asking folks to submit photos from past ski trips at Massanutten to be used in their 40th anniversary slideshow. The best photo wins a six-night stay with four extended day slope-use tickets.

On certain dates from now until the end of the ski season on March 1st, the resort is offering a 40th Anniversary Lodging Package that includes two eight-hour slope-use tickets and two nights in a one bedroom condo for $400. Also, as part of Learn to Ski Month, receive one four-hour Pathway Program for $40 on January 8th. Or, take advantage of the Four Hours for $40 deal and receive a four-hour slope-use ticket and rentals for only $40 on specified dates.

Hit the Slopes as a Family at Wintergreen Resort

Wintergreen Resort is one of the Mid-Atlantic’s premier ski areas and a favorite for families that hit the slopes together. The resort is located adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway near Charlottesville and features the region’s most extensive terrain, with ample slopes for beginners, intermediates and experts alike. The Plunge, Wintergreen’s snowtubing park where riders can reach speeds of 30 miles per hour, Shamokin Ice rink, which debuted last winter, and a variety of indoor activities add to the winter recreational offerings.

Get On Board Virginia is a new program this year where guests sign up on the website and receive a coupon for lift ticket (limited area), rentals and group lesson for $49. A bounce back offer for a repeat visit is included.

For 2011-12 the resort’s Winter Escape Package starts at $69 per person per night and includes lodging and a full (8-hour session) lift ticket, unlimited use of the Aquatics and Fitness Center and mountain shuttle access. The winter escape package is available daily through the entire season with rates varying depending on the date of stay.

The Homestead – A Winter Wonderland

Southern charm and luxury have been staples at The Homestead since 1766. One of America’s oldest resorts, The Homestead offers history and hospitality in a 3,000-acre setting in the Allegheny Mountains of southwestern Virginia. This historic resort is set to kick off the winter season with a whirlwind of activities at great package rates.

For families looking to hit the slopes, The Homestead ski area opens December 17 with 45 acres of well-maintained trails for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. And, new this year, The Homestead will offer night skiing every Saturday. The Homestead also recently introduced an ice skating rink to their list of activities. In November, the landscape surrounding the skating rink was transformed into a winter wonderland where families can enjoy hot cocoa and warm pretzels between skating sessions and then roast s’mores over the outdoor firepit.

The Homestead is offering a Ski & Skate Package that includes accommodations and unlimited ice-skating and skiing from $219 per night based on double occupancy from January 2 to March 13, 2012.

Bryce Resort

Located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, Bryce Resort is a 400-acre resort that is a great place for families with small children to getaway and to learn how to ski. Last year the resort opened their new kids’ area with brightly colored animals and a new carpet lift just for the little ones. Parent skiers can hone their skills at the nationally-known Horst Locher Ski School and enroll their children in the SKIwee or Mini Rider programs which cater to children ages four to eight years of age and teach them the basics of skiing and snowboarding.

Virginia’s Snowmotion Sweepstakes

One lucky family can win a “Learn to Ski and Snowboard” trip to Virginia. This prize trip includes a three-night, four-day stay at Wintergreen Resort for a family of four in a two-bedroom condo. The family will spend their time at Wintergreen learning the ropes of the slopes with a free ski or snowboard lesson, complimentary rental equipment and lift tickets for the entire stay, and a $200 gift card which can be used for dining at any of Wintergreen’s three restaurants. The trip prize winner will receive round-trip airfare for four and a rental car to explore the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and nearby destinations in and around Wintergreen Resort. The sweepstakes is open to U.S. residents 21 and over and runs through January 16, 2012 at www.Virginia.org/sweeps.

Love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Visit www.Virginia.org for more trip ideas or call 1-800-VISITVA for a free Virginia is for Lovers travel guide.

www.Virginia.org

For more information and a complete listing of 100 Miles of Lights events and celebrations, including illuminated parades, magical lighted drives and sparkling city skylines, visit www.Virginia.org/100MilesofLights.

Grand Illumination Parade – Norfolk – November 19, 2011

The festivities kick off on November 19 in Norfolk, VA with the Grand Illumination Parade, commencing the celebration of six weeks of holiday festivities including Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza and New Year’s Eve. The night begins with the illumination of downtown Norfolk and Olde Towne Portsmouth skylines, followed by an unforgettable parade featuring festive floats, marching bands, giant balloons, dancers and a special appearance from Santa Claus.

McDonald’s Holiday Lights at the Beach – Virginia Beach – November 18-January 1, 2012

The Virginia Beach boardwalk sparkles this holiday season as festive animals made from bright, colored lights set the night sky ablaze during the McDonald’s Holiday Lights at the Beach, a holiday-themed light display at the Virginia Beach oceanfront. It is the only time of the year that cars can drive right on the boardwalk and with over 30,000 vehicles expected, the stretching sea of lights only adds to the magic. With special appearances from Santa Claus and his elves, a 40-foot tall Christmas tree erected on the beach, a CD of free holiday music given to every vehicle, special hotel packages with free tickets to the light show and a giant “12 Days of Christmas” display, this exhibit is sure to spread holiday cheer throughout the region. Tickets are $10 weekdays and $15 weekends.

Celebration in Lights – Newport News – November 24, 2011-January 1, 2012

Set in Newport News Regional Park, the award-winning Celebration in Lights is Virginia’s first and longest-running drive-through light event. This spectacular two-mile drive illuminates the beauty of the park’s forests, fields and ponds with over 750,000 lights and 200 displays, including the animated “Winter Wonderland” and “Santa’s Enchanted Kingdom.” Multi-colored snowflakes, leaping reindeer, whimsical toys and more provide a kaleidoscope of dazzling color. Admission fee $10 for cars, $60 for buses.

GardenFest of Lights – Richmond – November 25, 2011 – January 9, 2012

This annual holiday tradition, set in Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, features more than a half million lights, botanical decorations, trains, holiday dinners, family activities and more. New this year, the Virginia is for Lovers LOVE artwork will be on display as part of Garden Fest of Lights, for families to take their picture and share the love for Virginia. Holiday dinners are available at the Garden Café and in the Robins Tea House. Merry Mondays include storytelling with the Garden Keeper and Butterfly Fairy. Other special events at the garden include the GardenFest Illumination on November 25, New Year’s Eve Family Frolic on December 31 and GardenFest for Fidos on January 5. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children.

Grand Illumination – Colonial Williamsburg – December 4, 2011

The holiday season in historic Colonial Williamsburg kicks off with the Grand Illumination and is the highlight of Williamsburg’s portion of 100 miles of lights. It is a spectacular evening where candles twinkle in the windows of homes and buildings, the streets are ablaze and thousands of guests assemble to celebrate the season with musical performances from multiple stages, holiday merriment and firework displays from three different locations within the Historic Area.

Holly Days Parade – Hampton – December 11, 2011

A sweet holiday treat for families, the theme of this year’s Holly Days Parade is “Candy Cane Lane” with grand marshal the “Candy Man” himself, Willy Wonka. The area’s largest illuminated holiday parade features well-crafted floats, marching bands, military units and Santa Claus. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early to secure a good spot at one of Hampton’s greatest seasonal traditions.

Love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Visit www.Virginia.org for more holiday trip ideas or call 1-800-VISITVA for a free Virginia is for Lovers travel guide.

Wilmington, N.C.: Wilmington, North Carolina’s historic river district and island beaches embrace an independent spirit and energy that nourishes the soul and recharges the spirit. So it’s no wonder that this creative coastal community is home to the Cucalorus Film Festival, a fiercely independent festival. On November 10 through 13, the 17th Annual Cucalorus Film Festival will celebrate the art of filmmaking with more than 140 independent films from around the world.

Cucalorus remains a non-competitive, laid-back event that filmmakers and audiences appreciate. The festival began in 1994 as a one-night screening of locally-made indie films. The festival now lasts four days with screenings of independent films that span the globe, as well as workshops, panel discussions, and special events. Over the years, Cucalorus has earned national respect. Earlier this year, Moviemaker magazine included Cucalorus among its “25 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee.” Other recent accolades are inclusion in the Brooks Institute’s 2010 list of “Top 10 Film Festivals in the U.S.”

Of the 140+ films to be screened at Cucalorus 17, there are 45 full-length documentary and narrative feature films and over 100 shorts. More than 70 guest filmmakers from across the United States and seven countries will share insights during Q&A sessions that follow screenings. This year Cucalorus launches the North Carolina Filmmaker Retrospective to showcase groundbreaking artists who have had a lasting impact on film culture in the state. The inaugural retrospective examines the inventive stylings of filmmaker Norwood Cheek, a Chapel Hill native/ former Sex Police bassist who is known around the world for his innovative music videos and short films. Cucalorus 17 also gives a nod to David Lynch’s Wilmington-made cult classic “Blue Velvet,” which celebrates 25 years in 2011, with movie location tours, a screening of the documentary “No Frank in Lumberton,” and a workshop production of “Blue Velvet: The Musical,” an edgy new musical produced by Wilmington-based TheatreNOW.

The 17th Annual Cucalorus Film Festival gets underway with Thursday morning screenings at Thalian Hall and Jengo’s Playhouse. In addition to screenings, on Thursday evening “Dance-a-lorus” returns with a unique communion of dance and film, followed by a Visual Soundwalls music video installation at the Soapbox Laundro Lounge. Fans of David Lynch’s made-in-Wilmington iconic indie film “Blue Velvet” can take location tours on Thursday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. For children, there’s Kids-a-lorus-a showcase of shorts made by and for kids, along with film-related workshops and activities at the Children’s Museum of Wilmington (Saturday). On Sunday night the festival winds down with a tribute to N.C. filmmaker Norwood Cheek at City Stage Theater. For a complete festival schedule: www.cucalorus.org/calendar.asp.

In honor of its North Carolina roots, more than 25% of the festival’s films have connections to its home state. This year showcases 37 feature-length films with N.C. credits. Highlights include: “to.get.her,” (a Sundance NEXT category winner by Wilmington director Erica Dunton); “Vacation!” (low-budget feature shot on the Outer Banks; stars Wilmington actress Trieste Kelly Dunn); “Defining Beauty: Ms Wheelchair America” (documentary featuring Erika Bogan, Ms. Wheelchair North Carolina); “Semper Fi: Always Faithful” (documentary with Camp Lejeune ties); “Fake it So Real” (documentary about wrestlers in Lincolnton); “On the Ice” (shot in Alaska; production design by Wilmingtonian Chad Keith); and the Norwood Cheek Retrospective (block of videos/shorts by NC filmmaker Norwood Cheek), among others. Thirty-five short films with Carolina ties will also screen, including eight that were made by kids, for kids in the Kids-a-lorus block.

This year’s central Ticketbox location during the festival will be at Thalian Hall in the 2nd floor ballroom. Screenings will take place at the following venues: Thalian Hall Center for Performing Arts (310 Chestnut St.); Jengo’s Playhouse (815 Princess St.); City Stage Theatre (21 N. Front St., 5th floor); EUE/Screen Gems Studios (1223 N. 23rd St.); The Soapbox Laundro Lounge (255 N. Front St.); and Wilmington Children’s Museum (116 Orange St.). For tickets, schedules, film descriptions, and venue directions, and more information about the festival, visit www.cucalorus.org.

Did you know that Wilmington, N.C., home to EUE/Screen Gems Studios, is a top location for film production? For a free official Visitors Guide for Wilmington, North Carolina’s historic river district and the island beaches of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach, call 1-866-266-9690 or email visit@wilmingtonandbeaches.com. For seasonal specials, featured events and experiences visit www.gowilmingtonandbeaches.com

Rappahannock County is home to the five-star, five-diamond The Inn at Little Washington, the renowned Castleton Music Festival, and the intimate Theatre at Washington, Virginia. Your getaway brings you close to nature at nearby Shenandoah National Park Organic farms and specialty food shops support Virginia’s buy-local, buy-fresh food movement. There’s much to write about in 2012 in Rappahannock County! Popular events are back and new events are planned. What better place to indulge your senses than this scenic destination so conveniently located, but oh, so far from the noise and the maddening crowd!

The historic village of Sperryville presents the 3rd annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on March 10…. A hometown parade kicks off the celebration and is followed by an Irish traditional lunch which includes Irish folk music, dancing, raffles and more. www.VisitrappahannockVA.com/events

On April 14, the 34rd Annual Fodderstack 10k Classic takes place…as one of the annual rites of spring in Rappahannock County. The race begins at the north end of the quaint village of Flint Hill and winds along Fodderstack Road through some of the most beautiful countryside in Virginia, ending at the Courthouse in “Little” Washington. www.fodderstack10k.com

Operas and classical concerts in a setting of incomparable scenic beauty weekends in July… World renowned Maestro Lorin Maazel, a “local” in Rappahannock County, presents the 4th annual Castleton Festival at his scenic home, Castleton Farms. The only American Festival with chamber opera as its focus, the Castleton Festival features tomorrow’s stars being mentored by today’s leading artists. www.castletonfestival.org

Rappahannock County celebrates the 4th of July in a big way… with an afternoon and evening family event, culminating in fireworks set against the majesty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and countryside. www.sperryvillefire.com

Sustainable farming and artisanal winemaking…Want to know where your salad ingredients come from and how they are grown? Talk with a winemaker to learn what climate conditions affect a great Viognier? The Rappahannock County Farm Tour, September 29-30, offers the rare opportunity not only to visit local farms, orchards and wineries, but to learn through demonstrations and presentations the secrets to a healthy harvest and livestock. Farmtour.VisitRappahannockVA.com

Experience the glorious fall colors of the countryside and the private studios of Rappahannock County’s artists…during The Artists of Rappahannock Studio & Gallery Tour, November 3 & 4. More than 50 local artists whose works are in private and public collections around the country and the world show and sell their art during this weekend. The tour is sponsored by the Rappahannock Association for the Arts & the Community. www.RAAC.org

Welcome the holiday season on December 2, in a setting reminiscent of Currier & Ives, when the historic town of Washington hosts its annual Christmas in “Little” Washington Festival & Holiday Parade. The event features an artisan’s market, with local artists and craftsmen, specialty food and wine vendors, displaying their ware.

www.VisitRappahannockVA.com