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Appreciate Some Music, the Army Way

Make plans to be at the Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole on Friday night for the Army Band concert.

Patch is coming to the rescue. We’ve got the best bets for your done-with-work-outta-here time. Check our picks for the activities to hit and new bars/restaurants/shops to explore. 1. FREE Army Band Concert 2. Friday Night Date Night on the Potomac 3. Annapolis Irish Festival 4. Back Pages Band Live, Quiet Waters Concert Series 5. Beer Class: Hops and IPAs

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Cut Loose This Holiday Weekend With a Variety of Live Music

Break out of the rut and try a new happy hour with Singles & Mingles at Cadillac Ranch in Annapolis Towne Centre.

Patch is coming to the rescue. We’ve got the best bets for your done-with-work-outta-here time. Check our picks for the activities to hit and new bars/restaurants/shops to explore. 1. "The Swingin' Swamis" 2. Singles & Mingles Night 3. One Incredible Party Why: Grab a cue stick and play a game of 8 ball before DJ Big Al kicks it into high gear on Friday with some country rock. If you need plans for Saturday night, DJ Dance Party will get you moving on the dance floor.  4. Rock of All Ages: Naptown Summer Concert Series 5. Independence Day Parade and 4th of July Fireworks

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Discover a New Talent This Weekend

Stop buying sushi and start making some of your own with a great class from an expert.

Patch is coming to the rescue. We’ve got the best bets for your done-with-work-outta-here time. Check our picks for the activities to hit and new bars/restaurants/shops to explore. 1. 2011 Jam for the Animals 2. Wine 103: Get to Know France 3. Bands in the Sand Why: For the sixth year, Bands in the Sand presented by Boatyard Bar and Grill will be rocking music from Misspent Youth, The Rovers and more. Enjoy an evening of great music, refreshing drinks, divine food and fun with friends. Bands in the Sand has raised more than half a million dollars for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, supporting field-education programs, on-the-ground restoration activities, and initiatives to urge the state and federal governments to allocate more money to …

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Philly Flash Focuses on Towne Centre, Looks to Grow

The popular Cheesesteak restaurant closes 1901 West location and moves ahead with plans to open Dunkirk restaurant.

The intention was to keep both Philly Flash locations in Parole and Annapolis. But Donna DeCesaris, one of the owners of the Philly cheesesteak shop in the Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole, said, for now, the family owned business is focused only on the Parole restaurant. The drag-racing themed restaurant opened in the 1901 West St. development at the corner of Chinquapin Round Road and West Street a few years ago. The DeCesaris family, including Donna’s husband Joe, and their children Jenna Butler, Geaton DeCesaris III, Elisa DeCesaris and Juliana DeCesaris, then opened a second location at the towne centre Sept. 29, 2010. “We tried to make it work,” Donna DeCesaris said at a recent interview at the towne centre restaurant. “I’ve noticed …

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Scenes from Greater Annapolis

In case you missed it, Patch didn't. Take a look at what was happening around Greater Annapolis in the past week.

Every day there is so much going on in Greater Annapolis and Patch is out there with cameras at the ready to help share just a slice of our local life. Check back each week for a photo gallery of local events, people and places. This past week, we happened on to Chesapeake Cats and Dogs who was visiting the Annapolis Towne Centre hoping to find homes for their four-legged friends. You can find out more about them at www.ccadcatanddogrescue.org. We also took an early morning drive through the Annapolis Roads community and found a few picturesque scenes. We also discovered the Annapolis Golf Club Seniors—a great group of guys who enjoy shooting the breeze, as much as they do golfing, but they do both at the same time. Then came something you…

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Fresh Focus for Metro Diner Cafe

Local, healthy eating trends fuel changes at Annapolis Towne Centre eatery.

Change sometimes requires drastic action. Metro Diner Cafe took such action recently by closing the doors for a 24-hour period to re-tool the menu and redecorate the interior, turning away potential diners strolling around the Annapolis Towne Centre on a sunny day.   “I wasn’t sure the corporate office was going to let me do it,” said General Manager Simon Wu. “But we got great support from them and our staff. In the long run it was worth it.” Wu shut the doors to re-train staff on new menu items and procedures and allow decorators to update the interior. Gone are the self-order kiosks and the juke box screen. “We’re closing the order kiosks for a month on a trial basis,” Wu said. “We wanted to try a more personal touch by having a staff …

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Lea Hurt

9:16 pm on Thursday, June 2, 2011

Jennifer- Glad you and your office mates posted a review. General Manager Simon Wu has taken the self-order kiosks out on a trial basis. If you're back in, let the cashier know your thoughts. If enough folks agree maybe they will bring them back.   more ›

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Enjoy Some Variety This Weekend

Expand on an old hobby or try a something out of your comfort zone.

Patch is coming to the rescue. We’ve got the best bets for your done-with-work-outta-here time. Check our picks for the activities to hit and new bars/restaurants/shops to explore. Why: Wounded Warrior Project’s (WWP) Soldier Ride is a cycling event to help wounded warriors restore their physical and emotional well-being. Soldier Ride raises awareness for our nation’s wounded warriors who battle the physical and psychological damages of war and gives the public a chance to ride alongside and honor these men and women. Price: Registration fee $50, fundraising committment to raise $125 by June 7. Cheering on and encouraging the riders: Free. Why: Eastern Mountain Sports is hosting this 13th annual Annapolis Kayak Sale and Demo with staff and…

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Grab & Go Kids Planner

Great Activities for Mom and the Kids

Send the kids to create a cute Mother's Day gift or opt for some special together time.

We've assembled a weekly calendar of kid-friendly activities and new places to try out with children. Each week, we'll give you the info on the five best family activities or events for the week. We know you're busy, so we're happy to do the research and find the best things to do and places to go, both locally and within reasonable driving distance. Look for the kids’ planner each week, and help us build the planner with your own suggestions and tips—just add them to the comment box. Even if you disagree with our picks, let us know. We want to hear from you.

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Patch Picks

Patch Picks: Cinco De Mayo

It's the most American holiday Mexico has to offer and Patch has your best bets where to celebrate locally.

Cinco de Mayo is observed in the U.S. to celebrate Mexican heritage and pride. The holiday commemorates the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla, in 1862. The win put a kink in the plans of Napolean III who wanted to supply American confederate rebels. That in turn gave the U.S. a year to build up its Army. So grab those sombreros and get ready for the national fiesta commemorating our Mexican neighbors. 1. Paladar Latin Kitchen and Rum Bar—Located in the Annapolis Towne Centre, Paladar will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the bar open until 11 p.m. Specials include $3 Latin soft tacos, $3 Latin beers, $5 traditional margaritas and Mexican-inspired lunch and dinner specials. …

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