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TOURISM NEWS&NOTES 
          JUNE 2018
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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 Tourism News&Notes (which is in browser), simply CLICK the tab atop the newsletter. Thank you!
Theme Park & Hurricane Harbor Waterpark
NOW OPEN DAILY
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WE ARE "ONE" MARYLAND!
And our friends/neighbors in Ellicott City & Howard County need our help. Numerous dedicated funds have been established to directly benefit those affected by the devastating flood experienced in Ellicott City on May 27.

Donations and Support for Residents & Businesses

The Community Foundation of Howard County is currently providing assistance through their relief fund, established to address the needs in the aftermath of a disaster or tragedy within Howard County.  Click here to donate or find more information.
    
The Ellicott City Partnership is accepting monetary donations to support Old Ellicott City relief and recovery efforts. Click here to donate or find more information.
  
Preservation Maryland has reactivated their emergency flood recovery fund to support property owners with technical preservation assistance, grants to organizations and other charitable recovery efforts as they arise. Click here to donate or find more information.

Non-perishable and ready to eat foods can be donated to the Community Action Council of Howard County Food Bank at 9385 Gerwig Lane, Suite J, Columbia, MD 20146. Please direct questions to 410-313-6185 or find more information here.  
 
Riversdale House Museum, Riverdale Park

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VINTAGE LAUREL: NEW B&B OPENS IN NORTHERN PGC
Mansion built in 1888 is now the Lane Manor House Bed & Breakfast...
Photo courtesy ChisBrenSchmidt Photography
Laurel get its first B&B. The historic 130-year old Phelps Mansion, which had long stood in disrepair, has been reborn as the LANE MANOR HOUSE BED & BREAKFAST (LMH)

LMH is located about three minutes from Laurel's Main Street, at 1110 Montgomery Street. It is owned by Dave and Lisa Everett of Laurel who purchased prop seven years ago. After years of steadfast repairs, renovations, and restoration (a chunk of it done by the Everett family themselves), LMH officially opened to the public on June 3.

Considered one of Laurel's landmarks, the house was originally built in 1888 by Edward Phelps. A successful area businessman, Edwards also served as Laurel's mayor for seven terms.  To read a recent article about LMH that appeared in both the Laurel Leader and Howard County Times, CLICK>>

THERE'S MORE ON THE PGC HORIZON: Laurel Manor House isn't the only B&B in the PGC mix. As noted in our last issue, the much-anticipated Wellspring Manor & Spa in Upper Marlboro is schedule to debut later this summer.  Stay tuned! 
 
Laurel Mill Playhouse, Laurel

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NOI Festival - The Clarice, UMD - thru June 30
 
Hard Bargain Farm Amphitheater, Accokeek
  
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ART FIND: "VAN GOGH" SHOWCASE PLAYS TWO DAYS AT OGT
Iconic works and rare finds from the Van Gogh Museum presented in a unique, entertaining, and immersive film...
This is Van Gogh like you've never seen before - and its only at the Old Greenbelt Theatre (OGT)

The area's best "picture house" hosts a special two-day screening of VINCENT VAN GOGH: A New Way of Seeing, June 17 & 18. The film marks the 125th anniversary of the artist's death and presents the world's largest collection of Van Gogn artworks, from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. 

It showcases Van Gogh's multitude of works, drawings & writings and features exclusive interviews with the curatorial team at the Museum.

Perhaps more than any other artist, Van Gogh's life has long captured the imagination of storytellers. Delving deep into his fascinating and sometimes deeply troubled world comes this definitive, award-winning documentary directed by David Bickerstaff.

OGT is located in Greenbelt's historic downtown at 129 Centerway. Showtimes are June 17/8 pm and June 18/1 pm. 
 
Riversdale Park Station, Riverdale Park

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Beltway BBQ Showdown - Show Place Arena - June 10
 
Montpelier Arts Center, Laurel

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TEDx: DYNAMIC PROGRAM OF ENGAGEMENT COMING TO COLLEGE PARK 
The program presents a full day of entertainment, ideas and stories that push you to "GET OUTside" your norms...
The power of live speakers and a multitude of streaming TED Talks video combine to give you TEDx. And, its coming to Prince George's County this month.

TEDx COLLEGE PARK will be held at The Clarice (Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center) on the campus of the University of Maryland, June 21, 8-4 pm.

Created under free licensed from TED, TEDx is a forum event organized by local community volunteers. Its goal is to spark conversation, deep discussion, connection, and community engagement.

The day will be filled with over 13 different speakers from around the world discussing ideas worth sharing. Some of the topics presented include the not-so-positive impact of AUTONOMOUS CARS on local jurisdictions; the AFRICAN PRISON PROJECT that uses respect as a tool for rehabilitation and societal productivity & reentry; ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, which is changing the world and local communities in ways you may not like; and SMART PARKS and what that means for your recreational future.  

The theme of TEDx College Park is GET OUTside, with a day full of entertainment, ideas and stories that push you to "GET OUTside" physically, and to appreciate the benefits of being connected. It also looks to metaphorically to get you out of your current mindsets, comfort zones, us-versus-them mentality and stereotypes.
 
Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex, Landover

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Bowie Center for the Performing Arts - June 15
 
Brentwood Arts Exchange, Brentwood
  
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RESERVATION PLEASE: SEVERAL PGC SPOTS AWARDED DINERS' CHOICE
Diners find several Prince George's restaurants to be among the very best in Maryland and DC area...
Maryland and the DMV proper are flush with some truly outstanding dines - many critically-acclaimed. So, when diners speak, we listen - and so does popular dining app OpenTable Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews, and sorts the results by category. 

For the DINERS'S CHOICE AWARDS 2018, Prince George's is represented in a host of categories. And, for the second year, National Harbor's dine scene continues to be a juggernaut.  Here are the Prince George's County restaurants that are DINERS'CHOICE:

DINERS' CHOICE AWARD, BEST OF THE WASHINGTON DC AREA/TOP TEN
-Best Asian Restaurants - Grace's Mandarin (National Harbor)
-Best Greek Restaurants - Kapnos Taverna (College Park)
-Most Scenic View Restaurants - McLoone's Pier House; Redstone American Grill (both at National Harbor)
-Most Booked 1,000 Point Tables - Sobe Restaurant & Lounge (Lanham)
-Best Hot Spots - Sobe Restaurant & Lounge (Lanham)

DINERS' CHOICE AWARD, BEST OF MARYLAND DC SUBURBS/TOP TEN
-Best Ambiance Restaurants - Grace's Mandarin; Succotash (both at National Harbor)
-Best Contemporary American Restaurants - Copper Canyon Grill (Glenarden)
-Fit for Foodies - Kapnos Taverna (College Park)
-Best Kid Friendly Restaurants - Fiorella Italian Kitchen (National Harbor)
-Restaurants with the Most Notable Wine List - FISH by Jose Andres (MGM National Harbor)
-Most Booked Restaurants - Succotash (National Harbor)
-Restaurants Great for Lunch - Cadillac Ranch All American Bar & Grill (National Harbor)
-Best Hot Spots - Sobe Restaurant & Lounge (Lanham); Copper Canyon Grill (Glenarden); Ginger (MGM National Harbor)
-Restaurants Great for Outdoor Dining - McLoone's Pier House (National Harbor)
-Most Scenic View Restaurants - McLoone's Pier House; Restone American Grill; McCormick & Schmick's Seafood; Sauciety @ Westin; Grace's Mandarin; Rosa Mexicano (all at National Harbor)
-Most Vibrant Bar Scene - Sobe Restaurant & Lounge (Lanham)

Visit ExperiencePrinceGeorges for these and other dining favorites.
 
Brentwood Arts Exchange, Brentwood

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June 15-16 
Fort Washington Park, Fort Washington, MD
 
Watkins Regional Park, Upper Marlboro

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BOOK IT: GNAT CONTINUES TREND AS A USA TOP 50 MEETING PROP
Gaylord National #31 on Cvent's annual list, two GNat sibs take top two spots...
The GAYLORD NATIONAL RESORT & CONVENTION CENTER has consistently been among the Top 50 Meeting Hotels in the country, year after year. Cvent recently released their TOP 100 UNITED STATES MEETING HOTELS 2018 with GNat landing this year at #31.

Cvent evaluated hotel properties that generated business through the Cvent Supplier Network from January 2017 through December 2017. The properties were ranked according to various criteria, including total requests for proposals (RFPs), awarded RFPs, total room nights, awarded room nights, major metropolitan area (MMA) market share, conversion rate and the hotel's unique profile visits in the Cvent Supplier Network.

SIBLING ACHIEVEMENT: Gaylord National wasn't the only "G" prop to make the illustrious list. The Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center led the way as the #1 meeting hotel, with Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center at #2. The Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center came in at #57.
 
Marietta House Museum, Glenn Dale

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Beer,  Bourbon  & BBQ Festival -  National Harbor - June 15-16
 
The Publick Playhouse, Cheverly

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BOMB-BASTIC: PGC DINING LEGEND STILL GETTING IT DONE
Jerry's Seafood still plates one of the biggest and best crabcakes you'll find in the region
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In dining circles, doing crabcakes right can make you Maryland royalty. Doing crabcakes wrong can get you shut down. 

So, when the editors of the online community pub PATCH asked readers across the state to name the best crabcakes in Maryland, we knew there'd be some serious contenders. 

Making Patch's "People's List" of the  TOP 7 MARYLAND CRABCAKES i s a local dining mainstay, JERRY'S SEAFOOD in Bowie. Home of the signature (and trademarked) "Crab Bomb", Jerry's has been pushing out this delectable mound of goodness for more than 30 years. It features ten ounces of absolutely no filler, jumbo lump crab, lightly seasoned with Old Bay, and baked to golden brown perfection. Yum is the word!...especially with a side of melted butter.
 
The Publick Playhouse, Cheverly
  
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LSD TOUR: Lucinda Williams, Steve Earl, Dwight Yoakum
MGM National Harbor - June 17
 
Milkboy Arthouse, College Park

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WORD UP: POETRY POSTER PROJECT APPEARS AT HARMONY HALL & ROMANO WINERY
Works of six celebrated Prince George's County poets will be on display at Harmony Hall with a special showing at Romano...
Spoken word immortalized and posted. THE POETRY POSTER PROJECT is a display of works by six noted Prince George's County poets. It can currently be seen through June 28 at the Harmony Hall Arts Center in Fort Washington. 

This unique exhibition features the poems of Sister Joy Alford, Forestine Bynum, Edgar Gabriel Silex, Diane Wilbon Parks, Ladi Di Beverly, and Prince George's County 2017 Youth Poet Laureate Samantha Jackson.  A Celebrity Reading/Reception is scheduled to be held at Harmony Hall on June 26 at 7 pm. 

THAT'S POETRY ON THE VINE: The Poetry Poster Project gets a special date among the grapes, as it goes on display in the Tasting Room, June 29 & 30 at Romano Vineyard & Winery in Brandywine. Romano is Prince George's County's first operating winery (we now have four) and is part of the Legacy Wine Trail. So, come out for a day of great wine and poetry.    
 
Milkboy Arthouse, College Park

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Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth - MGM National Harbor - June 21
 
The Publick Playhouse, Cheverly
  

 
SUD LOVE: PARADISO PICKED AS ONE OF STATE'S BEST CRAFT BEER PROGRAMS
As part of county's growing craft beer scene, Paradiso makes a statement statewide...
It all starts with a great pedigree. Well known for award-winning pizza and entrees, PIZZERIA PARADISO is also home to one of the DMV's very best craft beer programs. Simply stated, the kind of place beer lovers love. 

Such acclaim has made its way to Prince George's County by way of Paradiso's Hyattsville location at 4800 Rhode Island Ave.

At the Restaurant Association of Maryland's annual State of the Industry Awards, Paradiso was a Top Five honoree in the category of "Best Craft Brew Program of the Year". Among a strong contingent, the award went to The Ale House in Columbia (a wonderful craft beer outpost). So, to be in such company is a remarkable achievement.  
 
Show Place Arena/Prince George's Equestrian Center, Upper Marlboro
  
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Joe's Movement Emporium, Mt. Rainier

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BALLIN' BABY: "NBA FINALS" HAS A PGC VIBE TO IT
Prince George's County has a number of players in the NBA, three are in the Finals...
If you don't know, now you know! Prince George's County is a long-standing hotbed for youth, collegiate and professional athletic talent. 

Repped across the country and across the globe, PGC has produced a bevy of ballers in every sport. In basketball, active notables include Victor Oladipo (Indiana Pacers), Ty Lawson (Washington Wizards), Jarrett Jack (NJ Nets), and Sam Young (Memphis Grizzlies), to name a few. 

AND, on the biggest stage, vying for the 2018 NBA Championship are three PGC natives. For the Golden State Warriors, Kevin Durant (Seat Pleasant) and Quinn Cook (Hyattsville). For the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jeff Green (Cheverly). Durant, by the way, is a 2017 NBA Champion and Finals MVP.

No matter the outcome of this year's Finals, PGC is definitely in the house.  Check our FASCINATING FACTS page for interesting tidbits and a listing of prominent people from Prince George's.   
 
Riversdale House Museum, Riverdale Park

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Milkboy Arthouse, College Park


JUNE - EXCITING HAPPENINGS ALL THIS MONTH IN PGC!
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.
JUNE Events>>    
 
Laurel Mill Playhouse, Laurel

 
 
Fine & Performing Arts Center, Bowie State University, Bowie
  
 
David Blaine - MGM National Harbor - June 24
 
Bowie Center for the Performing Arts, Bowie

 
Steve Miller & Peter Frampton - MGM National Harbor - June 26
 
Montpelier Mansion, Laurel
  
 
9200 Basil Court, Suite 101,  Largo, MD 20774
301.925.8300 |  visitorinfo@co.pg.md.us

 

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