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INSIDE STORY
PGCTourism Newsletter
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Prince George's County Tourism News & Notes is presented by the Prince George's County Conference & Visitors Bureau (CVB), the official Destination Marketing Organization of Prince George's County, Maryland.
VIEW THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED. For optimal experience reading PGC News&Notes (which is in browser), simply CLICK the
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Laurel Mill Playhouse, Laurel
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The Publick Playhouse, Cheverly
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College Park Aviation Museum, College Park
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Darnall's Chance House Museum, Upper Marlboro
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Six Flags America
- Now thru Jan 1
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Greenbelt Community Center, Greenbelt
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RAISE A GLASS: PGC WINE TRAIL ADDS SEASONAL SIP FOR THE HOLIDAYS
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The county's four wineries join forces for special holiday wine tasting and more...
SIP & STUFF, held December 16, noon-5 pm, is a special wine tasting event with a twist. You start you adventure at one of the four wineries to pick up you special stocking (with festive stuffers) and your first taste. Then, you proceed along the wine trail to the other three wineries for more tastings and additional stocking stuffers. A perfect way to experience the wines of Prince George's this holiday season.
Tickets ($30 person/$55 couples) are limited and reservations are required. For additional info, visit any of our four wineries thru the links above.
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Montpelier Arts Center, Laurel
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The Clarice, UMD, College Park
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ICE! & Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer -
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The Clarice, UMD, College Park
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The Publick Playhouse, Cheverly
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AT THE HELM: NEW PREZ/COO APPOINTED FOR MGM NATIONAL HARBOR
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On the heels of first anniversary, and a fantastic year, MGM National Harbor names new head...
As we near the anniversary (Dec 8) of the opening of MGM National Harbor, change is afoot. In December, industry vet Melonie Johnson will take the helm as the new President/Chief Operating Officer at the region's leading gaming & entertainment destination - MGM National Harbor.
Johnson takes over from Bill Boasberg, who served in the same capacity, and carried the mega prop thru its opening and first year of operation.
In a coincidental "Mississippi" twist, Bill is off to Biloxi as the new President/COO for the MGM-affiliated Beau Rivage Resort. Conversely,
Johnson comes to us after serving as Prez/COO of MGM's Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Miss.
Johnson has
served in leadership roles with Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia, Penn National Gaming and Caesars Entertainment, among others. She has a B.S. degree in Accounting from University of New Orleans and is a Certified Public Accountant. Fittingly, she
began her career in finance with Jazz Casino Co. in New Orleans.
Welcome aboard Melonie...and welcome to Prince George's County!
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The Clarice, UMD, College Park
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Riverdale Baptist Church, Upper Marlboro
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Festival of Lights -
Watkins Regional Park -
thru Jan 1
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Arts/Harmony Hall Regional Center, Fort Washington
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NOTE-A-FIED: CVB AWARDED A MARYLAND "TOURISM BEST" FOR ITS E-NEWS
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PGC Tourism News&Notes recognized at the recent Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit...
And the winner is...EXPERIENCE PRINCE GEORGE'S! When
we
slipped the judges those six growlers of flavorful PGC craft brew (complimented by a fancy tin of hot & spicy sardines), we had no idea THIS would be the outcome. We were honored to just be mentioned among the slue of amazing marketing and promotional efforts from the Maryland World of Tourism.
It was presented for the CVB's Prince George's County Tourism News&Notes, the organization's monthly e-pub.
Pictured accepting the award is the CVB's Carl Smith with MTC 2017 Awards Banquet hosts Nora Campbell and Chris Riehl.
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Montpelier Arts Center, Laurel
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Marietta House Museum, Glenn Dale
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Broadway-Style Musical Extravaganza - Evangel Cathedral - Dec 2, 9, 16
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Brentwood Arts Exchange @ Gateway Arts Center, Brentwood
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Montpelier Mansion, Laurel
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NEW DINE: RITCHIE STATION'S "OG" OPENS THIS MONTH, B-DUBS ON THE WAY
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The new Olive Garden at Richie Station Marketplace will officially will open December 5th...
Quick update along the Capitol Heights dine scene, just off the Capital Beltway. On December 5th, Darden Restaurants Inc. will open the
Olive Garden Italian Kitchen
(OG) at Ritchie Station Marketplace in Capitol Heights.
Darden Restaurants is the world's largest full-service restaurant company. It owns and operates more than 1,900 restaurants with brands including Red Lobster, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52.
AND SPEAKING OF RITCHIE STATION...a new
Buffalo Wild Wings is under construction at the shopping destination. Anticipated opening is within the first quarter of 2018.
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Surratt House Museum, Clinton
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Montpelier Arts Center, Laurel
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Cirque Dreams Holidaze -
MGM National Harbor - Dec 6-9
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Milkboy Arthouse, College Park
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Brentwood Arts Exchange @ Gateway Arts Center, Brentwood
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BITE, BREW & YOU: BJ'S RESTAURANT & BREWHOUSE NOW OPEN IN BOWIE
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New BJ's Brewhouse, second in the PGC dine space, adds a lift to Bowie Town Center...
It is located on the "Sears" end of the center at 15701 Emerald Way. The site was once a vacant Sears Tire & Auto Center. The company puchased and razed the building, making way for a new 7,595 sqft dine with seating for 233 guest, and patio area.
Due to the success of their first site in PGC (at Towne Centre Laurel), BJ's was eager to bring a second location here. They now have five locations in Maryland - Laurel, Frederick, Columbia, Towson...and now Bowie.
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Bowie Center for the Performing Arts, Bowie
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Darnall's Chance House Museum, Upper Marlboro
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M
GM National Harbor - Dec 15
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The Publick Playhouse, Cheverly
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Montpelier Mansion, Laurel
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IT TAKES TWO: HORACE & DICKIES LOOKING TO ADD SECOND LOCATION IN PGC
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Tiny dine once featured on TravelChannel "Man vs. Food" will add another location in Prince George's...
Horace & Dickies Seafood Carryout Restaurant (H&D), the self-proclaimed "king of the fried fish sandwich", is looking to spread the tartar sauce with another location in PGC.
This little dine dive started as a "hole-in-the-wall" in Northeast DC in '90s. Then, in 2012, it gravitated to Takoma Park's Takoma Station. In 2016, they open a site in Suitland on Allentown Road.
Now, H&D is proposing a second Prince George's outpost at 7907 MLK Highway in Glenarden. It will be built as a 1,030 sqft extension to an existing commercial building. In the site plan stage, so no timeline as yet on when build may begin or projected opening.
If you're a longtime fan of "foodie" programs, you may recall H&D featured in a 2009 episode of TravelChannel's "Man Vs. Food". Then-host Adam Richman took on the signature "Jumbo Fish Sandwich" filled with what appeared to be an entire school of fried whitefish fillets (six to be exact on eight slices of bread). In outrageously gluttonous fashion, Richman conquered the behemoth and said afterwards "just perfection. Every element works together. The fish by itself is incredible. You add in the crunch of the coleslaw, the sweetness of the cabbage, the tartness of the tartar sauce, and that creaminess. It is absolutely out of this world."
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College Park Aviation Museum, College Park
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GM National Harbor - Dec 20-21
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The Clarice, UMD, College Park
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Montpelier Arts Center, Laurel
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CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE: B'BURG'S WWI MEMORIAL TAKES ONCOMING HIT
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As the legitimacy of memorials take center stage around the country, "Peace Cross" gets caught in the mix...
Statues and memorials of the Confederacy (most of which were actually constructed generations after the Civil War) aren't the only monuments under siege. We have a Prince George's County memorial - that has nothing to do with the Civil War or the Confederacy - but is embattled nonetheless.
Historic Bladensburg World War I Veterans Memorial (known as PEACE CROSS) has been deemed unconstitutional by a US Appeals Court. It ruled that the statue "excessively entangles the government in religion."
Located in Bladensburg at the intersection of Route 450 & US Route 1, the 40-foot tall statue was constructed in honor of 49 fallen Prince George's County serviceman in WWI.
The controversy stems from an ongoing suit filed by the
American Humanist Association. Their opinion is the cross violates the separation between church and state, endorsing Christianity. What is at issue is not what the cross actually stands for (or says thru inscription), but rather the fact that it is - a cross.
A bronze tablet at the base of the monument contains the words of Woodrow Wilson: "The right is more precious than the peace; we shall fight for the things we have always carried nearest our hearts; to such a task we dedicate ourselves."
At the base of the monument are the words, "Valor, Endurance, Courage, Devotion." At its heart, the cross bears an American Legion gold star.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW? Area citizens overwhelming support that it not be moved. Separately, both the M-NCPPC and the American Legion have submitted petitions with the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals for a re-hearing before all 15 judges of the court. The initial ruling was 2-1 among a three judge panel. This may take a minute to resolve. But, for now, the historic PEACE CROSS stands tall.
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MAZE feat. Frankie Beverly -
MGM National Harbor - Dec 29
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Riversdale House Museum, Riverdale
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Martin's Crosswinds, Greenbelt
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Big Night DC! - Gaylord National - Dec 31-Jan 1
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DECEMBER - EXCITING HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS ALL THIS MONTH IN PGC!
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Experience.Expand.Explore! Extraordinary things are HAPPENING this month and every month in Prince George's. The colored banners throughout "News&Notes" are just some of the many events on tap. Click them for more information and VISIT US ONLINE - ExperiencePrinceGeorges.com (or on the ExplorePrinceGeorges mobile app) for extended listings of events, exhibitions, and performances for the entire family.
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BY THE NUMBERS: TOURISM'S IMPACT IN PGC
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Prince George's County Tourism's impact - thru visitation and taxes generated - runs across every aspect of development including lodging, food & beverage, retail, recreation, major events, transportation, and transportation-related services.
- Visitors - 6.922 million
- Visits by Type - 52% Day; 48% Overnight
- Visitor Growth Rate - 6.2%
- Total Tourism Employment - 32,726
- Tourism Industry Sales - $2.612 billion
- Room Taxes Collected - $28.8 million
- Admission/Amusement Taxes Collected - $16.7 million
- Total Tourism Tax Receipts (combined Federal, State/Local, Hotel) - $638 million
Source: Tourism Economics, December 2016
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9200 Basil Court, Suite 101,
Largo, MD 20774
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