Ladies and Gentlemen...I give you wine...

This is shaping up as a busy weekend. A hop, skip and a jump east in Cockeysville, Maryland Wine is holding it's fifth annual Great Grapes festival. It runs from Noon until Six on both Saturday and Sunday and there's a lineup of musicians performing each day. I've heard good things about the festival.

On Sunday at Harry Grove is hosting the third annual Taste of Frederick. Went last year and had a blast.

Speaking of Harry Grove - The Counting Crows will be headlining a show there in August with an undercard of Live and Collective Soul for $51.50 per person. Not a terrible price to see three decent bands.

And, of course, this weekend is the annual Potomac River Family Festival and Great Brunswick River Race. It looks like there's a lot to choose from.

On Saturday I will be in Poolesville for a game against the North Carolina Tigers. From the Baltimore Washington Eagles home office...

Tigers will be at Eagles in Round 1 of the EAFL competition. As an added bonus, the Tigers will also take on the Philly Hawks in game two of the day.

Add to that a children's clinic that will be run between games and you have a full day of footy to take in. Please contact Chris Adams (christopher_ p_adams@hotmail. com) if you or your little one would like to participate. For more information on Chris' efforts with the USFooty Kids program, please see www.dcfootykids.blogspot.com.

We will be in picturesque Poolesville, MD for the day. The field is adjacent to the Capitol Polo Ground (where the Metro Grand Final was played last year). The map to the ground is below.

http://maps. live.com/ ?v=2&sp=Point. qhgztk8jgg71_ Poolesville% 2C%20Maryland% 2C%20United% 20States_ __~Polygon. qhh40d8jgm8p_ qhgs6p8jgjbr_ qhgvxp8jg6h9_ qhh9q98jg81m_ qhh4xd8jgmp8_ qhh40d8jgm8p_ Footy%20Ground_ ___%230000FF_ %23008000_ 2pt_Single_ Solid_qhh1yz8jgg bw&encType= 1

The entrance to the ground, on the map is at the intersection of Hughes Road and Sugarland Road. We will have signs pointing your way as you come up along River Road from the Beltway.

The first game will start at noon. Kids clinic will begin between 1:30 and 2:00 and the Tigers/Hawks game will take place shortly there after or roughly 2:45pm.

Come on down and cheer us on if you're in the neighborhood.

Everybody's working for the weekend...

Okay, I know that's a pretty lame 1980's song reference, and I usually like to make film references, but here's what's on tap this weekend...

In Frederick County -
The Keys begin a homestand on Thursday night, celebrating St. Pats (I know it's not the right day and all, but it's their promotion). Friday is fireworks night at the stadium. Click on the link for more about what the Keys are up to this weekend.

Break out the ouzo, St. Peter's and St. Paul's Greek Orthodox Church across from the Safeway on 7th Street in Frederick will be holding its annual Greek Festival this weekend. For more information, click here.

The MET starts a run of Something Brilliant Will Come to Us on the main stage this weekend. The original piece is billed as a comedy.

Down the road -
The Tarara Winery over in Lucketts, VA will be holding their 7th annual Winds and Wine festival. There will be vendors and kite flying demonstrations. Also be prepared for the $15 admission fee.

The Shepherdstown Opera House continues its run of Miss Potter, and will start showing Hot Fuzz this weekend. A great little town for dinner and a movie for those of you who haven't been.

Hagerstown is hosting its weekly farmers market, but the Western Maryland Blues Festival will be there at the beginning of June, starting with a prelude on Thursday the 31st. Consider this first notice. Blues legend James Cotton will be playing, and I intend to be there.

Also, DCSmashed is sponsoring the following over the next couple of weeks -

May 18- Monto Carlo Night benefiting the RPJ Housing Development
Corporation. http://www.rpjhousi ng.org/monte. html

May 19- Tamika & Friend's Beat the Clock Walk to raise money and
awareness for cervical cancer
http://www.tamikaan dfriends. org/aboutthewalk .html

May 24- Happy Hour at Capitol Lounge to benefit Capital Queen for Day.
http://www.capitalq fad.org/index. html

June 9- Lawyers Have Heart 10K Run & Walk benefiting the American
Heart Association. To register or volunteer: http://www.runlhh. org

Local Club Sports -
Frederick Rugby men's club currently sports a winning record, but doesn't play again until June 3. For more information, click here. The women's club will be playing in Harrisburg this weekend.

The Baltimore/Washington Eagles started their Metro season last weekend, which featured a DC win over NoVa. This weekend will feature DC v. Baltimore at West Potomac Park in Washington DC.

Current standings -

METRO 2007 LADDER

TEAM GP W L PF PA % DC 1 1 0 97 69 141 NVA 1 0 1 69 97 71 BAL - - - - - -

Three quick items...

This Saturday is also free comic book day, which coincides, incidentally, with this weekend marking the wide release of Spiderman 3. Be sure to hit your favorite comic book shop on Saturday...mine is Beyond Comics down on the Buckeystown Pike. If you're north of the city, Brainstorm is by the Weis just off the Opposumtown Pike.

Also, if you have a chance, check out photographer David Raimist's work at the Weinberg.

As for me, unfortunately I will once again be missing this weekend's festivities due to a road trip on Saturday. As a member of the Baltimore/DC Eagles Australian Football Club I will be on the road kicking off the season/pre-season in a friendly match (it won't count against the standings) against North Carolina in the Raleigh/Durham area. If you have a chance check out our schedule - we're always looking for players of all skill levels and if enough people join in this area, it would be easy to schedule practices in Frederick.

Have fun this weekend everybody.