11

Take the Day Off

The time honored practice of taking a mental health day from work is best done in the Summer. And who are we to not follow our own advice? So that's it for today. We're off to the golf course. See you back here tomorrow.

12

Knock Down Some Ducks

Duckpins that is. Duckpin bowling is an East Coast phenomenon that is most popular in Baltimore. In fact it is getting harder and harder to find lanes with duckpin bowling available outside of Baltimore over the past 25 years. But duckpin bowling still thrives in the local area as a traditional Baltimore pastime.

Duckpin bowling uses smaller pins and smaller palm gripped bowling balls compared to regular ten pin bowling. Due to the smaller size of the pins it is much more difficult than standard bowling. Pro bowlers routinely score perfect games of 300 on a traditional lane, yet that score has never been achieved in a duckpin game. However, casual bowlers find duckpin bowling more enjoyable due to the lighter weight of the balls and the absence of topspin techniques. With duckpins you can just hurl the ball down the lane, cross your fingers and hope for the best!

Duckpin bowling is best enjoyed in the company of good friends and family. So bring the crew along and head out to one of the area lanes for a great time.

• Duckpin Bowling Alley Locations A thorough directory of duckpin bowling lane locations throughout the country. Other duckpin related info can be found as well.

• Patterson Bowling Center Is a traditional old time bowling center that's been in operation for over 80 years. They are located in between Canton and Fells Point on Eastern Avenue. Patterson has two floors of modern lanes with a snack bar and a BYOB policy.

• Wikipedia Duckpin Bowling Article Wikipedia has a great article about the history and the game play of duckpin bowling.

13

Celebrate Your Independence

July 4th marks the anniversary of the United States independence from the British Empire. As the most popular Summer holiday in the country it is a time for celebrating with friends and family at the beach, at a lake resort, or even in your own backyard. If you aren't in the mood for putting on a big party at home or battling traffic on the roads this year you're not alone. Fortunately there are plenty of local places that hold special events for Independence Day where all you need to do is show up and enjoy the show!

To help you with your 4th of July plans we've come up with this list of local information so you can have a fun and safe holiday in Baltimore.

• MD State Fire Marshal Fireworks Regulations Follow the link for the detailed laws concerning the use, display, and storage of fireworks in MD. The shortened version is no aerial or explosive devices. They must be ground based sparklers rated safe and sane. Local districts may also have their own laws concerning the use of fireworks. So tell Uncle Bob to leave the M-80's back home in North Carolina!

• Fireworks at the Inner Harbor The 4th of July celebration at the Inner Harbor includes street performers, live music, and the largest fireworks display in the area. The main show starts at 9:30pm with earlier events beginning at 11:00am.

• Catonsville Parade and Fireworks The Baltimore suburb of Catonsville holds an annual 4th of July Parade on Frederick Road and a later fireworks show at Catonsville High School.

• Enjoy Fireworks Anywhere and Anytime With this fun interactive fireworks applet. A nice distraction for a few minutes out of a busy day brought to you by a local South Baltimore community site.

14

Take a Stroll Through History

Since it is Independence Day we thought it would be a good time to mention Fort McHenry as a place to go in Baltimore for a great time. While the fort was built after the Revolutionary War, its role in the War of 1812 makes it an important part of our Nation's heritage. Fort McHenry is the location of the scene featured in our National Anthem, the Star Spangled Banner written by Francis Scott Key during the Battle of Baltimore. Due to its historical significance the fort was designated as a National Monument and Historic Shrine in 1939. It is the only place in the country to hold both titles.

Fort McHenry has been well maintained over the years since its deactivation as a functional military base. Not only is the fort itself in pristine condition, but the surrounding grounds are well maintained and it is a perfect place to stroll around. The fort's location on the tip of the Locust Point peninsula also adds to its charm with spectacular views of the water in three directions. The reasons above are why many locals often visit the fort to relax after work, eat lunch along the waterfront, or spend time with friends and family.

The Fort is open daily from 8 to 5 with extended hours during the Summer, exceptions include Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. First time visitors may want to stop in at the visitor center to learn about and view artifacts from the historic events which took place at the fort. You are free to tour through the star fort on your own or you may be able to arrange for a tour guide if you are part of a group. On certain days, the Fort McHenry Guard reenact the battles and elements of the daily soldier's life from the War of 1812. However the best day to visit Fort McHenry is on the anniversary of the Battle of Baltimore, September 12th, known as Defender's Day. Defender's Day includes battle reenactments, living history performances, live music, and large fireworks displays. To learn more about Fort McHenry, visit the National Park Service's website which has a section devoted to Fort McHenry.

15

Little Italy Open Air Film Festival

July marks the beginning of the Little Italy Open Air Italian Film festival. This film series started a few years ago and quickly became a hit with the locals. It didn't take long for the word to spread to other parts of Baltimore and the rest of the world that Little Italy was the place to be on Friday nights in the Summertime. The festival is comprised of a weekly feature and short film with an Italian flavored popular film for the feature. What sets this event apart from your average night out at the movies is the festival like atmosphere that surrounds the event. People come out early to stake out their spots with their lawn chairs and then they either eat their own snacks or they go out to one of the dozens of local Italian Restaurants before the movie starts.

The film itself is projected from a third floor bedroom window of a rowhouse across Stiles Street to the screen, which is a white painted side of a building on High Street. The films typically start at 8:30 with minor adjustments due to lighting conditions while the festival itself begins at 7:00. There is no charge for admission to the festival, it is sponsored by the Little Italy Restaurant Association and the MD State Department of Business & Economic Development. See the 2007 film schedule below:

• July 6

  Moonstruck

• July 20

  The Da Vinci Code

• August 3

  For Your Consideration

• August 17

  50 First Dates

• August 31

  Rocky Balboa

• July 13

  Only You

• July 27

  American Graffiti

• August 10

  Envy

• August 24

  Come September