Swing Dancing at the Green Beer Races
by Suzanne Sparks
Starting in January, swing dancing in Annapolis has had a weekly venue at Naptown Swing. Every Wednesday, I teach a beginner swing dancing lesson that is followed by open dancing. As the instructor, I do my part to prepare, but let's be honest sometimes that preparation takes place right before I arrive as I run through moves in my head and link them together. I'm really fortunate to have a great partnership with the Eastport Democratic Club. I never have to worry about the space not being ready or dealing with a surly manager. Before I ever arrive, Jimmy turns up the heat just enough to ward off the chill but not too much so we don't swelter once dancing commences. Jay pops his head in to make sure I've got everything I need. And Jenny always brings my dinner up from the kitchen.
This Saturday, March 13, the Eastport Democratic Club turns that giving spirit to the community with their annual charity event, the Green Beer Races Benefit. This annual fundraiser dates back to the 1970s and involves every sort of tasty Irish food, teams of local servers participating in relay races while carrying beer on a tray, a keg toss, and a Kool-Aid race for the kids. The SPCA of Anne Arundel County is the beneficiary of all funds raised this year.
My friends at the Eastport Democratic Club invited Gottaswing to add swing dancing to their Green Beer Races Benefit. And what could be better than swing dancing, green beer, and Irish food to celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Starting at 1 p.m. the Annex at the Eastport Democratic Club will be filled with classic Big Band standards, goovin' boogie woogie, and jazzy contemporary pop. The swing dance will continue until the start of Greenbeerfest. Beginner swing dance lessons will be offered intermittently throughout the afternoon. We'll be accepting donations to the SPCA at the dance.
Of course, the Green Beer Races will be going on starting at 2 p.m. and there will be lots of good food for sale. (For the record, the cooks at the Club know how to do it right.) Refreshments will be available for purchase including green beer, corned beef & cabbage, hamburgers, hot dogs, Irish coffee, steamed shrimp, and fresh shucked oysters.
Swing Dancing at the Green Beer Races
Eastport Democratic Club, 525 State Street, Annapolis, MD
1-4pm, FREE event, but donations to the SPCA encouraged
Come hungry! I'll be the one in green. With red hair.
An American mutt--maybe Irish? maybe Scottish?--the Susanne Sparks is a lindy hop aficionado. She teaches swing dancing Sundays in Severna Park with her talented husband Craig.
Jumping into Social Media
by Cyndi Paxton Johnson
Every five to ten years the rules change - and we eventually change to accommodate them. Remember when we first discovered the internet? It started out as a way to chat with all kinds of people - and now it's THE primary mode of communication for most businesses. If you're in business - you need a website! It's also the FIRST source for information - about anything! (it's even faster to look up a word on dictionary.com than it is to dig out the actual dictionary!)
The last couple years have seen a HUGE influx into social networking - applications such as Digg, Facebook and Twitter. They also started out as a way to connect with friends (remember MySpace?) and are now being used by more and more businesses and non-profit groups!
It's all about connections.
On a purely personal level - social media helps me stay in touch with a wider range of friends, colleagues and community members. I've reconnected with childhood friends, old neighbors and fellow grad students through the wide net social media casts. I've also made new friends - many of whom I've never met in person - but we now share a relationship that includes mutual support and advice.
I primarily use Facebook and Twitter - and heartily recommend both! Many folks tell me they don't have time to add yet another item on their to-do list - but it doesn't have to take a lot of your time! (note - it can be addicting, especially at first. You have to be careful about the pure time-wasters [games, quizzes, etc], unless you have time to waste!)
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