Happy New Year!

May everyone who happens across this page have a wonderful and rich 2009!



It's been two years and the RP Muse is closing up shop (content will be up for another month and then the entire blog will be deleted).

Riverdale Park Festival of Lights & Holiday Market ~ December 13 & 14, 2008

Music Schedule:

Saturday, Dec. 13
2pm Act 1 Miles Spicer
245 Breakdown & Setup
3pm Act 2 Rick Franklin & Mike Baytop
345 Breakdown & Setup
4pm Act 3 Previti Brass Quartet
445 Breakdown & Setup
5pm Act 4 Terrence McArdle and Liz Lohr
545 Breakdown & Setup
6pm Act 5 Joe Uline, Mindy McWilliams, Avril Smith
645 Breakdown & Setup
7pm Act 6 BanjerDan singalong

Sunday, Dec. 14
12pm Act 1 Rick Franklin
1245 Breakdown & Setup
1pm Act 2 David La Fleur
145 Breakdown & Setup
2pm Act 3 Eleanor Ellis
245 Breakdown & Setup
3pm Act 4 Mike Baytop
345 Breakdown & Setup
4pm Act 5 Janine Wilson and Max Evans
445 Breakdown & Setup
5pm Act 6 BanjerDan singalong

For more info, visit the RP Holiday Market site.

Help Save Vertigo Books

Like many independent bookstores, Vertigo Books (College Park) is struggling, but particularly so this year. I encourage you to drop in and buy some books, gift certificates, or CDs (you can always do some gift shopping if these aren't items you usually buy for yourself). The Washington Post just did an article here. If we don't support them right now, they may not be around much longer. My wife and I have shopped there over the past 7 years we've lived here in Riverdale Park and found some great selections (in all genres--history, fiction, children's lit, religion, graphic novels, etc.). And they always have some fantastic books on sale, too. The owners are happy to make recommendations and can order anything they don't already have in stock.

For more history and detail about their situation see their blog post "Vertigo Books is at Risk."

Vertigo Books
301-779-9300
7346 BALTIMORE AVE.
COLLEGE PARK MD 20740
M-F 10-8
SAT 10-7
SUN 12-5

Red Dirt Studios Open House Today (11/16, 1-5pm)

Red Dirt Studios in Mount Rainier will be having their Fall Open Studio and Sale this Sunday, November 16th, from 1pm - 5pm.

The Address is: 3706 Otis Street, Mount Rainier, MD, 20712
Other studios in the area can be visited.

Science Experiments at Home (#1)

All you need for this little experiment is vinegar, baking soda, a small bottle, and a balloon. We first saw this on Bill Nye the Science Guy, but we've been big fans of making fake volcanoes with this same reaction (minus the balloon; add food coloring to the vinegar for extra aesthetics and overall messiness). Remember to hold tight to the balloon or it will shoot off the bottle. For a complete explanation of the chemical reaction at work see here.

Stream-of-conscious writing on parenting

Go Vote Today!

Polls are open 7am to 8pm.

If you're registered in Riverdale Park, MD, your polling station is here:
Riverdale Elementary School
5006 Riverdale Rd.
Riverdale, MD 20737

Riverdale Park in the News

The last few issues of The Gazette have featured a lot of frontpage coverage of Riverdale Park. In case you missed it, here are the articles in reverse chronological order:

Garden acts as a community gathering spot (10/23/08)
http://www.gazette.net/stories/10232008/hyatnew171411_32470.shtml

Informal club teaches business skills at a young age (10/16/08)
http://www.gazette.net/stories/10162008/hyatnew175350_32470.shtml

Plans for eco-village put on hold (10/9/08)
http://www.gazette.net/stories/10092008/hyatnew200142_32480.shtml

Riverdale Park's 11th Annual Howl-o-ween Pet Costume Party (10/26/08)

11th Annual Howl-o-ween Pet Costume Party
Sunday, October 26, 2008, 3 PM
rain or shine
(If it rains, the party will be moved under the E-W highway overpass.)

Riverdale Park Town Center
4650 Queensbury Road at the MARC Train Center
Here is a map: http://tinyurl.com/2cx5eg

Activities Include:
Halloween Pet Costume Show
Prizes for all Costumed Pets & Kids

Live Music by the Paint Branch Ramblers

“Trick or Treat” contest: Show off your dog's special tricks and win a treat
See a skateboarding dog and who knows what else!


Flyball Demo
(a dog relay race with hurdles and balls)
see a fun short video example below.

There is no charge for this event. Yup, its free

The RP Muse is Closing Down at the End of 2008

Yes, it's been a fun 2 years, but it's time to close up shop. I know my 4 loyal readers will be crushed by this news, but life will go on. I'll be posting through the end of this year and then calling it quits; hopefully, to spend my time in ever more fun and creative ways.