Get out your pens and your calendars for a sneak peek for the upcoming weeks:
» Friday: Miss USA Pageant held at the 1st Mariner Arena at 9 p.m. Don?t want to stay up that late? Attend the next-best thing, the dress rehearsal, at 2 p.m. For tickets, call the arena at 410-547-2020.
» Friday and Saturday: 8 p.m. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, “Pop Rocks;” Elvis Costello, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, joins the BSO to perform his orchestral work, “Il Sogno,” along with a collection of his signature ballads. For ticket information, call 410-783-8000.
» Saturday: The Alzheimer?s Association Central Maryland Chapter will host The Memory Ball recognizing “Magnificent Minds” at The Marriott Waterfront, 700 Aliceanna St., 7 p.m. to midnight. Black Tie. The evening will include an auction with priceless prizes, dinner and dancing. For more information, including how to purchase tickets, call Beth Krasucki, 410-561-9099.
The Roland Park Country School is hosting A Red Hot Affair, where all will sport their?50s attire, keeping in theme with “Everybody Let?s Hop.”
It will feature an auction with a never-been-seen-in-Baltimore item, including Superbowl tickets and special entrance into the commissioner?s private party in Miami. Tickets are $60 at the door, or call Kerri Garrell Eng, 410-323-5500, ext. 3125; 5204 Roland Ave.
A Funky Formal Affair at Towson University to benefit The Center for the Arts will feature alumni and Tony Award-winning actor John Glover; 7 p.m. to midnight, music by the MoodSwings. Come celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Center for the Arts at the corner of Osler and Cross Campus drives. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased by contacting Louise Miller at 410-704-6037 or [email protected].
Grand National Steeplechase, Butler, Md. 410-771-1756.
» Sunday: Highlandtown Wine Festival. This year?s wine festival includes a homemade wine competition, wine tastings, bocce tournament, wine making, Italian food and entertainment. 1 to 6 p.m. Our Lady of Pompei Convent Garden, Father Petti Lane ? Conkling and Claremont streets, $20.
Bike Annapolis: Ride for Shelter. This biking course will take you through historic Annapolis with varying routes. All ages and biking abilities. Proceeds will benefit The Light House Shelter, Annapolis? only shelter. 7:30 a.m. For additional information, visit www. Ride-forshelter.com.
SPEAKING OF SNEAK PEEKS
For 30 years, volunteers at The Baltimore Symphony Decorators? Show House have dazzled Baltimore with the creative transformation of specially chosen locations. Once again, this year will not disappoint. Villa Vista in Stevenson is the site of the 2006 Show House, and no one is more excited than Chairwoman Barbara Booth. The talents of these designers and architects will have an added feature this year with a free audio tour available to visitors to enhance their enjoyment.
The “Mayty” will offer a personalized audio tour of the Show House, providing details of the transformation of each room direct from the designers themselves. The Show House will run from Saturday through May 21. Tickets are $15 off-site at the BSO ticket office, 410-783-8000, at www.baltimoresymphony.org, or at Graul?s Markets in Ruxton, Mays Chapel and Hereford. $20 at the door.
Anne Boone-Simanski is The Baltimore Examiner Society Columnist and a WNST AM 1570 Sports Radio correspondent.
