Things To Do With Kids in Bel Air, MD

Looking for live theater magic in Baltimore? Center Stage in Baltimore is hosting a special performance on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, that's perfect for family entertainment. Check their website for age recommendations and showtimes to find the perfect theatrical experience for your crew.

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Despite epidemic levels of overdoses in the United States, by 2020, only twenty percent of Americans suffering from opioid use disorder (OUD) received medication-assisted treatment (MAT), the gold standard of addiction treatment, which uses methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone to reduce illicit drug use and curb the symptoms of withdrawal. While MAT is the most effective treatment available for OUD, it’s also the most controversial, the most expensive, and the most difficult to access. And yet, the medications at the center of this treatment—and the private industries that distribute them—generate roughly sixteen billion dollars each year, on par with national sales of coffee and pet food. In Addiction, Inc., historian Emily Dufton explains how this promising avenue of treatment emerged during President Richard Nixon’s war on drugs in 1971 as a radical experiment in public health, when hundreds of federally-funded treatment clinics opened nationwide. Dufton then explores how these nationalized clinics gave way to an immensely profitable private industry that offers poor care at high costs to an insufficient number of people. Drawing on original research and over a hundred interviews with policymakers, medical experts, pharmaceutical lobbyists, and patients and their families, she tells a gripping story of squandered potential and missed opportunities, as MAT transformed from a revolutionary political project launched from the White House itself into a commercial success—and a public health disaster. Urgent, eye-opening, and deeply human, Addiction, Inc. reveals how, over the past fifty years, the United States built an addiction treatment system that made recovery harder instead of easier, and what it will take to change its course. Emily Dufton will be joined in conversation by Dr. Megan Buresh, Johns Hopkins professor of Medicine and Epidemiology. About the Author: Emily Dufton is the author of Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana

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The mysterious true story of Connie Converse—a mid-century New York City songwriter, singer, and composer whose haunting music never found broad recognition—and one writer’s quest to understand her life This is the mesmerizing story of an enigmatic life. When musician and New Yorker contributor Howard Fishman first heard Connie Converse’s voice on a recording, he was convinced she could not be real. Her recordings were too good not to know, and too out of place for the 1950s to make sense—a singer who seemed to bridge the gap between traditional Americana (country, blues, folk, jazz, and gospel), the Great American Songbook, and the singer-songwriter movement that exploded a decade later with Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. And then there was the bizarre legend about Connie Converse that had become the prevailing narrative of her life: that in 1974, at the age of fifty, she simply drove off one day and was never heard from again. Could this have been true? Who was Connie Converse, really? Supported by a dozen years of research, travel to everywhere she lived, and hundreds of extensive interviews, Fishman approaches Converse’s story as both a fan and a journalist, and expertly weaves a narrative of her life and music, and of how it has come to speak to him as both an artist and a person. Ultimately, he places her in the canon as a significant outsider artist, a missing link between a now old-fashioned kind of American music and the reflective, complex, arresting music that transformed the 1960s and music forever. But this is also a story of deeply secretive New England traditions, of a woman who fiercely strove for independence and success when the odds were against her; a story that includes suicide, mental illness, statistics, siblings, oil paintings, acoustic guitars, cross-country road trips, 1950s Greenwich Village, an America marching into the Cold War, questions about sexuality, and visionary, forward thinking about race, class, and conflict. It

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How did a young lady from a wealthy family in Maryland end up as the Gestapo’s most wanted spy? This YA biography of Virginia Hall, World War II’s most successful female spy, will inspire reluctant readers and budding history buffs alike. Virginia Hall, known to her family as “Dindy,” was an athletic, outdoorsy girl who dreamed of joining the foreign service and becoming an ambassador. Despite numerous setbacks, including losing her leg to gangrene after an accident, Virginia never wavered in her determination to serve her country. After the outbreak of World War II, a chance meeting on a train changed her life—George Bellows, an agent of the British Special Operations Executive, recruited her as one of its first women agents. Working for Allied intelligence services in France, Virginia Hall organized French resistance fighters, performed daring rescues, and provided the Allies with intelligence that was key for ousting the Nazis and earned her numerous medals, including the US Army’s Distinguished Service Cross. Presented in partnership with Friends of the Govans Library in honor of retired children’s librarian Gloria Bartas. About the Author: Claudia Friddell is the author of several children’s books, including Cool off and Ride: A Trolley Trip to Beat the Heat; Road Trip: Camping with the Four Vagabonds: Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and John Burroughs; To the Front!: Clara Barton Braves the Battle of Antietam; and Grace Banker and Her Hello Girls Answer the Call: The Heroic Story of WWI Telephone Operators. She has been a therapist, a school counselor, and an elementary school teacher. About the Program: To attend in person please register here. Doors will open to registered attendees at 3pm. All registered in person attendees will receive a free copy of the book while supplies last. Free street parking is available along the side of the building.

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Looking for a free family activity at THE AVENUE at White Marsh? Children's Storytime happens every first and third Saturday at 1:00 PM in the Kid's Department (8125 Honeygo Blvd, Baltimore, MD). It's a convenient, mall-based story program perfect for families who want to combine storytelling with shopping and dining in one outing.

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Ready to explore locally-made treasures and unique finds? The Belle Aire Market in Downtown Bel Air, MD opens on Friday, May 1, 2026, and runs through October, featuring artisan crafts, antiques, and handcrafted items you won't find in big-box stores. It's a wonderful weekend family outing where you can support local makers and find one-of-a-kind gifts.

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**THIS PROGRAM IS SOLD OUT** Marking the 10th anniversary of Prince’s death, Prince by Steve Parke reveals a stunning collection of exclusive photographs by the singer’s own award-winning photographer and art director, Steve Parke. Prince. Visionary, multi-instrumentalist and extraordinary showman. One of the most influential and inspiring pop superstars of the 20th century. Now, Prince: Black, White, Color reveals the artist as he’s never been seen before thanks to a unique and exclusive set of photographs, many published here for the first time, all captured by Prince’s own trusted art director – award-winning photographer Steve Parke. These intimate photos allow readers an extremely rare glimpse of Prince at Paisley Park, at his sun-drenched house in Marbella, and at work in the studio, posing for portraits as well as moments of quiet tenderness with his first wife Mayte Garcia and their beloved dog Mia. With over 250 images, this stunning volume marks the 10th anniversary of Prince’s passing by showing a side of him that was seldom if ever publicised during his lifetime. Steven Parke will be joined in conversation by Mayte Garcia. About the Author: Steven Parke is an award winning photographer. His clients have included fortune 1000 firms such as Warner Brothers, HBO, Discovery Channel, Arista Records, DC/Vertigo Comics, Houghton Mifflin, NBC and a-list entertainers such as Prince (13 years), David Bowie, Bon Jovi, Bob Dylan and AC/DC. He currently works as in house photographer and photo editor for Enchanted Living Magazine. In addition, Mr. Parke was the digital artist for first of its kind graphic novel I, Paparazzi published by DC/Vertigo Comics. He followed with In the Shadow of Edgar Allan Poe the first ever all digitally photographed graphic novel which was nominated for YALSA’s best horror novel in 2005. His photo work has been shown at the Baltimore Museum of Art and galleries in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Porto and L

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From a preeminent King scholar, the origin story of the man, minister, and civil rights hero who would lead the nation and change the world. We know who Martin Luther King, Jr. became, but who was he at the beginning of his life? How did his youth inform his outlook and his approach to activism and service? Before Martin Luther King, Jr. was a civil rights leader, the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, and a global hero, he was an emotional boy, and a middling high school student devoted to fashion, dancing, and dating. As he headed to college, he left the Jim Crow South for a summer job that would test his oratory skills preaching in the tobacco fields of Connecticut and ultimately give him a sense of hope for a life of racial peace and harmony. Lerone A. Martin, Centennial Professor at Stanford University and the Faculty Director of the Martin Luther King Institute, traces the youthful roots of this legendary American to reveal the makings of a mighty force. Filled with revelations and written with compassion, Young King offers a new understanding of the influential preacher and activist’s emotional life, his youthful confusion about his future and career direction, his inspiration to fight for justice, his teenage missteps, and his first revelations of courage. As America undergoes another era of turmoil and change, this powerful biography offers encouragement for readers at a similar moment of life and provides an understanding of how greatness comes to light. Martin illuminates both King’s weaknesses and the social failures that shaped him, including the brutal racism he endured growing up. This vital and essential work is a testament to how history shapes a leader. Young King includes rarely seen black-and-white photographs of an adolescent MLK from his high school days and college years. Lerone Martin will be joined in conversation by Karsonya Wise Whitehead, host of Today with Dr. Kaye on WEAA 88.9 FM. About the Author: Lerone

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Want to inspire your child's creative side while surrounded by natural beauty? Family Nature Explorers: Poems in The Portico at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Bel Air, MD combines poetry and nature on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Kids will learn the art of haiku, create their own poems inspired by the gardens' beauty, and decorate them with artistic flair,a perfect blend of nature and creativity.

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A fun and accessible guide to birding one of the world’s most vital bodies of water, supporting remarkable biodiversity and more than 18 million people. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States, and the different habitats found on the North, South, East, and West Bay make for year-round birding. Without trying hard, you’ll likely see some of the Bay’s spectacular birds—diving Ospreys in summer, geese flocking in fall and winter, and Great Blue Herons stalking the shallows in any month. This easy-to-use book will help you identify more than 100 commonly occurring birds that help make the region the natural wonders that it is. An emphasis on best practices and habitat sustainability help empower conservation and ensure that birding around our most precious resources will be possible for years to come. Perfect for budding and experienced birders alike, this sleek and compact guide is the ideal travel companion for every trip to the region. About the Authors: Howard Youth has been birding the Chesapeake Bay region since the age of twelve. A freelance writer and editor, he previously held editorial positions at conservation organizations including American Bird Conservancy, Friends of the National Zoo, and Worldwatch Institute. Howard also wrote for a variety of publications while living abroad in India, Spain, Ecuador, and Nicaragua. He is the author of Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C. Gemma Radko has been an avid Maryland birder for over 30 years. She is a member of both the Montgomery and Frederick chapters of the Maryland Ornithological Society, and often leads bird walks. As a licensed bird bander, Gemma ran a MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) banding station for nine years, and she now teaches introductory ornithology and other birding classes at Nature Forward in Chevy Chase, MD. About the Program: To attend in person please register here. Doors will open to registered attendees at 6

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Looking for a way to get your little ones outdoors rain or shine? Little Explorers: Whatever the Weather at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Bel Air, MD teaches kids to embrace nature in all conditions. Choose between a morning session (10:30-11:30 am) or early afternoon slot (12:30-1:30 pm) on Thursday, May 14, 2026, and watch your child discover the garden's magic regardless of the forecast.

via Ladew Topiary Gardens

Looking for a night of compelling theater in Baltimore? Center Stage in Baltimore, MD continues its tradition of bringing world-class performances to the community. Whether you're seeking drama, comedy, or contemporary work, this venue offers quality entertainment for families looking to experience live theater together.

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Fresh to the throne, the cunning new pharaoh schemes to bring unprecedented power to the Kingdom of Khetara. He commands absolute allegiance, leaving bloodshed in his wake as he searches for the missing Princess Sitamun, and at his side, the young priestess Nefermaat serves as divine counsel. Having witnessed the king's merciless acts, Neff furtively plots to free the kingdom from his grip, though she knows the heavy price of treason. Meanwhile, the rebellion in Low Khetara grows, and Raetawy, a courageous farm girl, leads the resistance. Her quest is clear: infiltrate the capital and free the imprisoned rebels—including her beloved father. Yet in her desperation, Rae agrees to a plan that could destroy all she is fighting for…. In the Red Lands, the thief Karim grapples with the new life he's been given. Is it a blessing or a curse? He fears what lurks within him, yet he and his unlikely companion, Princess Sita, grow ever closer as they search for a lost city believed to harbor the secret to saving Khetara from destruction. The ancient oracle that once whispered to these four strangers now speaks with an urgency as powerful as the mighty Iteru. The current of destiny is strengthening, but will it bring redemption…or annihilation? About the Author: Michelle Jabès Corpora is a writer, editor, and martial artist. In addition to working in the publishing industry for more than seventeen years as an editor and concept developer, she is the author of two historical novels for middle grade readers, two horror novels for young adult readers, and author of the Throne of Khetara fantasy series for Young Adults. She has also ghostwritten five novels in a long-running middle grade mystery series. Michelle lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, a guinea pig, and a dog named Charlie. About the Program: To attend in person please register here. Doors will open to registered attendees at 3 pm. All registered in person attendees will receive a f

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Pulitzer Prize–winning former Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson tells our nation’s torturous racial history through his own family’s story, starting with his great-grandfather’s freedom from slavery and threading his way to his own narrative and reaching today’s Black Lives Matter movement, asking whether this time will be different. On March 27, 1829, a wealthy white planter and entrepreneur named Richard Fordham purchased four enslaved African Americans from a woman named Isabella Perman. One of them was journalist Eugene Robinson’s great-great-grandfather, a boy called Harry. Starting from this transaction, which took place in Charleston, South Carolina, Freedom Lost, Freedom Won brings to life 200 years of our nation’s history through the eyes of the remarkable family that Harry founded. Assigned a formal name—Henry Fordham—and put to work as a blacksmith, he achieved his own freedom a decade before the Civil War. He was there when victorious Union troops marched into Charleston in 1865, ending slavery and guaranteeing liberty for Black people—only on paper, though, and only for a time. Robinson traces the arc of his familial lineage through the repeated cycles in which African Americans have fought their way upward toward freedom and opportunity, been forced back down again, and renewed their determined climb. From his great-great-grandfather’s achievement in becoming a “free person of color” before emancipation to his great-grandfather’s Reconstruction-era success, from his father’s odyssey of the Great Migration to his own coming-of-age during the civil rights movement, Robinson delves into a rich archive of Black narratives, arguing that we still have a long way to go before it is possible to speak of a “post-racial America.” Setting his extensive research within the larger historical context, Robinson provides both an indictment of structural racism and an illustration of how it has been fought and, at times, courageously overcom

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James is taking a trip, and he will be flying in an airplane for the first time. He is super excited about his trip and the chance to fly. James is amazed at the liveliness in the airport: the people, the merchants, the movement. This energizes him, but the airplane ride is his goal. Once the ride begins, he is not prepared for the emotions that he experiences or the lesson that he learns. About the Author: Phaedra Stewart is the owner and operator of Seriously Positive, LLC. Under the Seriously Positive umbrella, Phaedra has developed seminars and training programs about the responsibilities associated with owning/occupying a property and being part of a community.Phaedra is a graduate of Western High School in Baltimore, and attended Syracuse University and the University of Baltimore . She serves as the Board President for the Unity Center in Baltimore; serves on the Foundation Board for the University of Baltimore and is a member of the DC Regional Council for Syracuse University, the Homeowner Services Committee for Habitat for Humanity Chesapeake, and the Baltimore Rotary Club. About the Program: To attend in person please register here. Doors will open to registered attendees at 3 pm. All registered in person attendees will receive a free copy of the book while supplies last. Street parking is available.

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This sweet and colorful story about a father-daughter birding adventure is heartwarming, gorgeously illustrated, and quietly revolutionary, as it centers a Black family enjoying nature in peace. Can you spot two early birds EARbirding on a father-daughter nature walk? With each chirp and cheep, Honeybird ticks off a color on her birding adventure list: Yellow. Tick! Green. Tick! But where’s Blue? Honeybird has never seen Blue. Not ever! With her budding outdoor skills, a bit of patience, and encouragement from Pop, today could finally be the day. About the Author: Taunya English is a naturalist in Maryland, where she leads outings that celebrate connections between the land and culture. Like Honeybird, Taunya loves birding by ear. The sounds from her nature adventures show up in her stories, and every story is an invitation to come out and play. Follow Taunya’s writing at taunyaenglish.substack.com. About the Program: All registered in-person attendees will recieve a free copy of the book while supplies last. To attend in person please register here. Doors will open to registered attendees at 3pm. Free street parking is available.

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Introduce your young angler to the joys of fishing at Little Explorers: Fishing Fun, held at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Bel Air, MD on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. This hands-on outdoor program offers two convenient time slots (10:30-11:30 am or 12:30-1:30 pm) where kids learn casting techniques, pond safety, and the thrill of their first catch in a beautiful garden setting.

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Celebrated public intellectual Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. presents a groundbreaking analysis of the vicious cycles of American history and the country’s enduring refusal to face its true nature—especially at the moments when national anniversaries steer us back toward the mythology meant to disguise the truth. America, U.S.A., deliberately formulated and beautifully written, details a heart-wrenching exploration of America’s legacy. It is a magnificently complex combination of lessons and voices—from W.E.B. DuBois and John Dos Passos to Herman Melville and Martin Luther King, Jr.—that, together, paint a sprawling and honest tableau of the United States, its complicated past, and ever more tenuous future. Glaude’s is a powerful voice of conscience in our tumultuous world. He pulls no punches, calling on us to interrogate our conceptions of innocence and freedom and the stories we tell ourselves about our past and present. Centered around the major celebrations of America’s milestone birthdays across 250 years of history, the book offers a riveting look at the battles over who has a stake in writing the American story. Devastatingly candid, profoundly moving, and deeply reflective, America, U.S.A. is a shining meditation on how we must reckon with a grim past in order to strive for the better angels of our future. Eddie Glaude will be joined in conversation by The Atlantic's senior editor Vann Newkirk. About the Author: Eddie Glaude is the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor at Princeton University and author of New York Times bestselling Begin Again and Democracy in Black. About the Moderator: Vann Newkirk is a senior editor at The Atlantic and the host of the podcasts Floodlines and Holy Week. About the Program: Doors will open to registered attendees at 6 pm. Seating for registered attendees in Central Hall is first come, first served. All registered in-person attendees will receive a free copy of the book while supplies l

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Looking for a FREE family-friendly evening in Bel Air? Summer Movie Nights at Shamrock Park hosted by the Bel Air Downtown Alliance is the perfect way to enjoy outdoor entertainment with your kids on Monday, June 1, 2026. Bring a blanket, grab some snacks, and settle in for a fun movie night under the stars that won't strain your family budget.

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In this new collection of poems by E. Doyle Gillespie, Gillespie once again demonstrates how he is truly a master of his craft. Each poem in The Slow Lament of Dying Ice will transport the reader to smoke filled cafes, shadowy conversations whispered over glasses of crimson wine, and cobbled stones leading the reader to stories they'll never forget. About the Author: E. Doyle-Gillespie is a Baltimore City poet and writer. He holds a BA in History from George Washington University, and a Master of Liberal Arts from Johns Hopkins University. His poems are drawn from his world travel, and his work in education, and law enforcement. He served as a Baltimore City police officer for 19 years, working in patrol, operations, intelligence, and instruction. He currently teaches English at the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women. The poems in The Slow Lament of Dying Ice represent his fascination with history and culture, and how those forces play roles in the most intimate parts of our lives. He gathers the raw material of the human condition as he travels the globe, reads, teaches, and learns. His books of poetry include Masala Tea and Oranges, On the Later Addition of Sancho Panza, Socorro Prophecy, Gentrifying the Plague House, Aerial Act, and Father of the Red Grotto Used Bookstore. He lives in Baltimore, with his wife, a wee bairn, and one rather rotund guinea pig. In his free time he enjoys reading, martial arts, a hearty primal workout, and a proper cup of green tea. About the Program: To attend in person please register here. Doors will open to registered attendees at 1 pm. Books will be available for purchase before and after the event.Free street parking available along Falls Road and 37th Street. Bike parking available at the building. This free event will be presented in-person and virtually.

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Over the course of his life, Earl Arnett has been a newspaperman, an arts critic, a cabaret owner, a cultural ambassador, and a professor. But the role he has loved most is that of husband to the late Ethel Ennis, Baltimore’s First Lady of Jazz. From the time of their marriage in 1967—just months after the Supreme Court ruled laws banning interracial marriage unconstitutional—until her death in 2019, Arnett and Ennis were personally and professionally inseparable, devoting their lives to each other and to showcasing Ennis’s exceptional talent in forums from West Baltimore to China, Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. Along the way, they encountered—and in many cases befriended—fascinating figures from the realms of politics, show business, business, and the streets of their beloved Baltimore. Now, in A Jazz Romance, Arnett recounts episodes from that life with wit, incisive clarity, and the wounded wisdom of a widower still besotted with his late wife and the quietly epic life they lived. Earl Arnett will be joined in conversation by jazz historian Scott Brown. About the Author: During his 60-year residency in Baltimore, Earl Arnett has been a newspaper reporter and feature writer, magazine columnist, TV critic, music entrepreneur, college professor, novelist and essayist, community activist and cultural ambassador. During most of these years, he was also married to Ethel Ennis, Baltimore’s most famous, living jazz singer. Prior to Baltimore, Arnett was a military brat in Indiana, Washington DC, California, Austria and Japan. He graduated from high school in Tokyo, matriculated with honors from Wabash College in 1962 and spent three years as an Army intelligence agent in California and Germany. When he married Ethel in 1967—such marriages were still illegal in 18 states— Arnett moved into her small row house in West Baltimore, which they used as a home base for musical and personal travels around the US, Europe and Asia. Over the course of this vari

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Looking for an evening of compelling live performance? Center Stage in Baltimore, MD presents world-class theater that brings stories to life on stage. From intimate dramas to bold contemporary pieces, this Baltimore cultural institution offers experiences that spark conversation and connection for theater-loving families.

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Bring wellness and nature together with Family Yoga at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Bel Air, MD on Saturday, June 13, 2026. Led by instructor Marcy Kelly, this Wellness in the Gardens session offers a peaceful way for families to stretch, breathe, and reconnect while surrounded by beautiful topiary landscapes.

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Lealie Bevard, a determined Tuskegee Institute student, attends the Shiloh Baptist Church convention in Birmingham on September 19, 1902, to request a scholarship for continued education at Harvard. But a beautiful gathering turns tragic when a stampede breaks out and Lealie is injured. While convalescing at the home of fellow Tuskegee student Milton Rafferty, Lealie’s concerns for her future are set aside to help Milton uncover a mystery revolving around missing church funds and a possible murder. Perhaps a pause in Lealie’s well-laid plans can be used for good. . .and lead to love. Maryland author, Terri J. Haynes, visits the Edmondson Avenue Branch Library, to share stories about the writing life and read excerpts from her new book, The Daughter of Shiloh. The author will be available for Q & A and a book signing after her presentation.

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Ready for a slimy, hoppy adventure? Family Nature Explorers: Reptile Rendezvous at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Bel Air, MD on Saturday, June 13, 2026 invites families to explore the garden ponds in search of tadpoles, dragonfly nymphs, and other springtime pond life. Your kids will love scooping and observing these fascinating creatures up close in their natural habitat.

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Charles Holden will discuss his book, Republican Populist, as part of the Pratt Maryland Department’s Let’s Talk About Maryland author series. Typically a maligned figure in American political history, former vice president Spiro T. Agnew is often overlooked. Although he is largely remembered for his alliterative speeches, attacks on the media and East Coast intellectuals, and his resignation from office in 1973 in the wake of tax evasion charges, Agnew had a significant impact on the modern Republican Party that is underappreciated. It is impossible, in fact, to understand the current internal struggles of the Republican Party without understanding this populist "everyman" and prototypical middle-class striver who was one of the first proponents of what would become the ideology of Donald Trump’s GOP. Republican Populist examines Agnew’s efforts to make the Republican Party representative of the "silent majority." Under the tutelage of a group of talented speechwriters assigned to Agnew by President Richard Nixon including Pat Buchanan and William Safire, Agnew crafted the populist-tinged, anti-establishment rhetoric that helped turn the Republican Party into a powerful national electoral force that has come to define American politics into the current era. A fascinating political portrait of Agnew from his pre–vice presidential career through his scandal-driven fall from office and beyond, this book is a revelatory examination of Agnew’s role as one of the founding fathers of the modern Republican Party and of the link between Agnew’s "people’s party" and the fraught party of populists and businessmen today. About the Author: Charles Holden, professor of History at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, is the author of The New Southern University: Academic Freedom and Liberalism at UNC. About the Program: To attend in person please register here. Doors will open to registered attendees at 6 pm. A local bookseller will be on-site and have book

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Create lasting memories with your little one through CAREGIVER & ME NATURE CAMP at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Bel Air, MD, June 15-19, 2026. This unique summer camp keeps parents and caregivers actively involved in hands-on nature activities, games, and garden exploration, making it perfect for bonding while discovering the natural world together.

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Discover the joy of nature exploration with NATURE PALS - Little Fledglings, a full-week summer camp at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Bel Air, MD running June 15-19, 2026. Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, this engaging program combines outdoor discovery, imaginative play, and hands-on nature activities in a nurturing garden environment.

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Jason G. Green was raised on fellowship—literally. Fellowship Lane served as a spiritual metaphor throughout his coming of age. A precocious preacher’s kid, Green felt a call to the ministry but ultimately devoted himself to public service. After working on Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, the young attorney spent four and a half years serving in the White House as special assistant to President Obama. However, Green’s government career was cut short by a devastating call. It seemed his beloved ninety-five-year-old grandmother was on her deathbed. At her side, he listened in disbelief while she detailed her life story dating back to her 1918 birth in Quince Orchard, a town that once stood where they now sat, erased by the vestiges of time. How could he have never known the legacy of this robust community that he’d descended from? How could its entire existence have vanished from history but for the memory of a few elders? Green’s historical research uncovered a surprising trove of tales about his newly freed ancestors who built an African American house of worship, and whose progeny, on the eve of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, made the brave decision to create an integrated church. Quince Orchard’s lost story is part of what Green calls the texture in the American fabric: the moral leadership of the Black church, the longstanding resilience of the Black community, and the transformative love of the Black family. Fueled by a new understanding of his own roots, Green traces his paternal family through a century of life in a single place. Seeking answers to deeply personal, contemporary questions about belonging, he finds that and more truths from the compassionate, communal-led lives of his forebearers. Jason Green will be joined in conversation by Karsonya Wise Whitehead, host of Today with Dr. Kaye on WEAA 88.9 FM. About the Author: Jason G. Green is a Maryland-born community organizer, attorney, storyteller and entrepreneur. Gr

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When the colonial era began, Europeans did not consider themselves as “Whites,” and Native Americans did not think of themselves as “Indians.” Yet as a genocidal struggle for America unfolded over the course of generations, all that changed. Euro-Americans developed a sense of racial identity, superiority, and national mission-of being chosen. They contended that Indians were damned to disappear so Whites could spread Christian civilization. Native people countered that the Great Spirit had created Indians and Whites separately and intended America to belong to Indians alone. In The Chosen and the Damned, acclaimed historian David J. Silverman traces Indian-White racial arguments across four centuries, from the bloody colonial wars for territory to the national wars of extermination justified as “Manifest Destiny"; from the creation of reservations and boarding schools to the rise of the Red Power movement and beyond. In this transformative retelling, Silverman shows how White identity, defined against Indians, became central to American nationhood. He also reveals how Indian identity contributed to Native Americans' resistance and resilience as modern tribal people, even as it has sometimes pit them against one another on the basis of race. The epochal story of race in America is typically understood as a Black and White issue. The Chosen and the Damned restores the defining role Native people have played, and continue to play, in our national history. About the Author: David J. Silverman is a professor of history at George Washington University. He is the author of the award-winning This Land is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving (Bloomsbury, 2019), as well as Thundersticks, Ninigret, Red Brethren, and Faith and Boundaries. His essays have appeared in the New York Times, the Atlantic, the Washington Post, National Geographic, and the Daily Beast. He lives in Washington, D.C. About the Prog

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In a groundbreaking global exploration of the ideas that drove the American Revolution, a prize-winning historian shines a light on the defiance of marginalized peoples all over the world. In her powerful new history of the American Revolution, Sarah M. S. Pearsall argues that the American Founding Fathers did not have a unique claim on the revolutionary spirit. The thirteen colonies that became the United States, she reminds us, were not even half of the British colonies that existed in the eighteenth century. In her sparkling and original Freedom Round the Globe, Pearsall uncovers the insurgents, freedom lovers, and dreamers in India, West Africa, North America, Europe, China, and West Indian islands who shaped the nature of American rebellion and nationhood. In each fresh and compelling chapter of Freedom Round the Globe, Pearsall plucks a keyword from the Declaration of Independence—security, happiness, respect– finding its spark in a far-flung place. In an Edinburgh club where women were first invited into philosophical conversations, she explores what the pursuit of happiness meant to women and men of all sorts. She traces how novel forms of slavery provoked a new use of the word liberty in Connecticut petitions as well as in cries of “liberty or death.” On a Kolkata street where Indians protested relentless taxes, Pearsall finds a critique of oppressive imperial government that galvanized Americans in their protests and parties against the tea of the English East India Company. In rural Germany, boy soldiers sent abroad to die for Britain complicate who can lay claim to being civilized in a brutal war. In telling the extraordinary tales of Friends of Liberty protesting tyranny around the world, Pearsall restores these individuals and movements to their rightful place in the vital story of the American Revolution and the nation it created. The result is a stirring and surprising revisioning of our history. About the Author: Sarah M. S. Pearsa

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Since the nation’s founding, Black Americans have had a unique perspective on the U.S. experience—a “second sight”—that reveals the truth about the nation to itself. As renowned media scholar Sarah J. Jackson charts in this bold and daring masterwork, at the center of this effort has been an extraordinary cast of Black journalists, photographers, filmmakers, radio hosts, podcasters and other mediamakers who have drawn on the visionary tradition of second sight to advance democracy and broaden our most fundamental American values. When Black mediamakers raise their voices and speak uncomfortable truths about America, they shape memories of the nation and push us toward a future more closely aligned with our espoused values. For two centuries, this “second sight” has been an overlooked engine of American democracy. Drawing from W.E.B. Du Bois’s philosophical work, along with deep historical analysis and dozens of interviews with today’s most active Black mediamakers, A Second Sight shows these visionaries positioned at the margins of their industries and navigating fraught relationships to power. They’ve warned of the greatest dangers to democracy—from slavery to Nazism, and mass incarceration to misinformation. Their work is central to our culture and politics. Yet it is devalued, met with violent censure, or achieved only via ingenious work-arounds. This tension has sharpened their commitments to truth. Now one of our nation’s foremost scholars of American media, Sarah J. Jackson, presents an appraisal that situates Black mediamakers at the vanguard of telling the American story. Brilliant, urgent and illuminating, A Second Sight is an authentic and candid grappling with a discordant thread in the American fabric and, in tracing a bolder vision for the nation, presents a way forward. About the Author: Sarah J. Jackson is an Associate Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication and co-director of the Media, Inequality and Change Center at th

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A modern retelling of The Philadelphia Story, Wasp’s Nest is a witty, gripping love triangle unfolding over the course of seven chaotic days at a Cape Cod wedding Tess wants nothing more than for her upcoming society wedding to overshadow the failure of her first marriage. Her fiancé Warren, a steady soon-to-be state senator, is nothing like her first husband. Tess’s relationship with working-class artist Peter was a passionate crash-and-burn, and a chapter of her life that she's ready to forget. Peter hasn’t seen Tess in five years, so he’s shocked to receive an invitation to her wedding. But he’s moved on too, and it wouldn’t hurt to prove it by showing up with a handsome younger man as his plus-one. Mitch, an aspiring writer, is intrigued by Peter and jumps at the chance to pry into the lives of his Waspy ex-in-laws. What he’s not bargained for is developing serious feelings for both Peter and Peter’s ex—Tess, the bride. But Peter and Tess have complex desires of their own, and Mitch is dangerously close to uncovering them. Wasp's Nest is a fast-paced, humorous, and heartfelt exploration of the shape of our affections that proves real love triangles connect on all sides. Kat Stoddard will be joined in conversation by novelist Lacey Dunham. About the Author: Kat Stoddard lives with her daughter in Baltimore. Wasp’s Nest is her debut novel. About the Moderator: Lacey Dunham is the author of the novels The Belles, named a Best Book of 2025 by Library Journal and Crime Reads, and Fall of the House of Graystone. She lives in Washington, DC with too many books, but only two cats. Find her at laceyndunham.com. About the Program: To attend in person please register here. Doors will open to registered attendees at 2 pm. A local bookseller will be on-site and have books available for purchase.ADA accessible parking spot, free street parking, and bike parking available. The EV charging station is temporarily out of service.

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Turn your budding paleontologist into an ornithologist with NATURE DETECTIVES CAMP - Living Dinosaurs: Our Feathered Friends at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Bel Air, MD, July 13-17, 2026. Kids explore the connection between ancient dinosaurs and modern birds through hands-on investigation, observation, and nature detective work in this exciting week-long summer camp.

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Join us to celebrate the finalists of the 2026 Poetry Contest, judged by Poet Lore. Christina Daub, Nnenna Aduaka, Christina Borgoyn, and Carol Buell will read, and the Executive Editor of Poet Lore, Emily Holland, will emcee. About the Poets: Christina Daub, winner of the 2026 Poetry Contest, is a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net–nominated poet who has taught poetry at George Washington University and at several schools in the Maryland and Virginia poets-in-the-schools programs. She co-founded and co-edited The Plum Review, a national poetry magazine, and curated The Plum Reading Series and Plum Writers Retreats. Her work has been translated into German, Greek, Italian, and Russian. She is also a translator of poetry from Spanish and German. Currently she is the co-editor of the hunger poems anthology (due out later this year) titled Turning Poetry into Food: A Collection Of Poetry X Hunger Poems, the proceeds of which will go to anti-hunger causes. You can find her at christinadaub.com. Nnenna Aduaka, who received an honorable mention in the contest, is a Maryland based poet currently studying Technology and Information Design at the University of Maryland, College Park. When writing, she enjoys exploring themes such as memory, migration, color, and inheritance. While completing her undergraduate degree, she is also working on her own poetry collection. Christina Borgoyn, who received an honorable mention in the contest, is a nonbinary poet living in the Baltimore area. They are a collector of ink and piercings. When not working for the Maryland Department of the Environment, they can be found relaxing at home with a good book. Carol Buell, who received an honorable mention in the contest, decided in seventh grade, while working on the requirements for her Girl Scout poetry badge, that she was a poet, and was influenced even earlier by her grandfather's encouragement to memorize poems for a reward of 50 cents each. She revels in her love of language i

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Celebrate Christmas in July with your family in Downtown Bel Air, MD on Wednesday, July 15, 2026! This festive community event invites families to embrace holiday spirit during summer with special promotions from local businesses, themed activities, and opportunities to support nearby shops. Don't forget to dress in your favorite (or funniest) ugly Christmas sweater!

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Combine science and nature in one amazing week with SCIENCE CAMP - Avian Adventures at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Bel Air, MD, July 20-24, 2026. Young scientists will investigate bird behavior, anatomy, and habitat through hands-on experiments, observation projects, and outdoor exploration in this engaging STEM-focused summer camp.

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Bring Christmas cheer to summer! Christmas in July in Downtown Bel Air (Saturday, July 25) is a unique seasonal celebration where families can shop, celebrate, and create unforgettable summer memories. Dress in your most festive (or hilariously ugly) Christmas attire and explore the amazing local businesses downtown,it's a fun way to support Bel Air merchants while enjoying holiday spirit in the warmth of July.

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Looking for a creative way to spark your child's imagination this summer? Art in Nature Camp, Wings & Wonder at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Bel Air, MD combines hands-on art projects with outdoor exploration for kids ages 9-11. During this week-long session (July 27-31, 2026), your child will create nature-inspired artwork while discovering the beauty of the gardens.

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Ready to experience one of Harford County's most celebrated summer events? The MD State BBQ Bash takes over Downtown Bel Air on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with mouth-watering barbecue, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities. This street festival features a championship BBQ competition, so your family can enjoy award-winning flavors while soaking in the community atmosphere.

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Strengthen your family bond while finding inner peace at Family Yoga with instructor Marcy Kelly at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Bel Air, MD. On Saturday, August 22, 2026, you and your children can practice wellness together in the serene garden setting, perfect for families looking to slow down and reconnect. This calming experience combines movement with nature in a picturesque outdoor space.

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Curious about the tiny creatures living right in your backyard? Family Nature Explorers: Magical Meadows invites you and your kids to discover the buzzing insect life at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Bel Air, MD on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Using sweep nets, you'll identify and observe the fascinating insects that call the meadows home,a hands-on adventure that turns nature observation into pure wonder.

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Halloween magic comes to life when you head to Trick or Treating in Downtown Bel Air on Saturday, October 31, 2026,and the best part? It's completely FREE! Local businesses throughout Downtown Bel Air open their doors to costumed trick-or-treaters, creating a safe, community-focused Halloween experience where families can celebrate together. Your kids will love collecting treats while exploring the heart of Bel Air, MD.

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Get your holiday shopping done while supporting local artists at The Belle Aire Holiday Market in Downtown Bel Air, MD! This open-air, holiday-themed artisan market runs for four Saturdays starting November 28, 2026, offering handcrafted gifts, unique decorations, and festive treats perfect for families. It's the ideal place to find one-of-a-kind presents while soaking in the seasonal spirit.

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Join a cherished tradition that's been bringing holiday joy to Bel Air families for over 30 years! The Bel Air Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, December 5, 2026, transforms Downtown Bel Air and Shamrock Park into a winter wonderland. Watch festive floats, meet Santa, and gather as a community to light the official town tree,a magical experience your family will remember for years.

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