Mount Vernon moment (Catonsville: theater, professionals, food)

[barante]

Regulars on this forum know that my wife and I take full advantage of summertime outdoor concerts. Tonight we added a new experience, the WTMD-sponsored First Thursday concert in a small park just west of the Washington Monument in Mount Vernon.
Each of our favorite outdoor venues is strikingly different. The best, in terms of variety and the setting, in our view is the Lurman Theater in Catonsville (google). It's a natural amphitheater. The crowd tends to be middle-aged and seniors. Concerts each Saturday and Sunday (except for this Fourth of July weekend when the venue is dark).
We often go to the Belvedere Square and enjoy it. Well-heeled Homeland and Rodgers Forge types, with surprising many toddlers. Each Friday. A variety of eats sold.
Patterson Park is very pleasant. A varied crowd that shows how extensively the area has gentrified. Google WYPR for events to see who is playing and when. One food vendor with a good selection.
Tonight was different. More than a thousand people crowded the small grassy area, with little kids wading in a fountain. A very interesting mix of young and old, straight and gay. Mostly white. Blacks were outnumbered by foreign-born medical professionals and students.
Everyone seemed to have a splendid time. It was interesting to watch tattoos and mating rituals. The band was a folk rock band. Food was sold and craft beers by Brewers Art.
The city Parks Department also sponsors a number of summer concerts. In years past I have been able to find a schedule, which also was distributed at concerts. This year, I cannot find it on the Web. By accident, we went to a r&b concerts near the Lafayette/Pennsylvania Avenue market. Ghetto chic (or weird). Several food vendors. However, each concerts is at a different venue.

[mrboltonman]

The first thursday concert in the park sounds really cool. I've been wanting to go to it for awhile but always seem to miss it. Well, this is the first one this year I think. Next first thursday I'll have to go.

[janetvj]

Originally Posted by mrboltonman

The first thursday concert in the park sounds really cool. I've been wanting to go to it for awhile but always seem to miss it. Well, this is the first one this year I think. Next first thursday I'll have to go.

They usually start on the first Thursday in May, but this year there was some type of controversy about using the park, and one of the concerts (May or June - can't remember which) was canceled. As for the concerts themselves, I've been to them in the past and found the experience very enjoyable.

[rudy_d]

Originally Posted by janetvj

They usually start on the first Thursday in May, but this year there was some type of controversy about using the park, and one of the concerts (May or June - can't remember which) was canceled. As for the concerts themselves, I've been to them in the past and found the experience very enjoyable.

I think the city had just resodded the lawn prior to the May concert and it was raining incessantly in June. It's a nice scene--they get a good mix of local bands and national/international up-and-comers.