Photo by Jessica Hibbard Outside the Saarinen exhibit. Unfortunately, photos weren't allowed inside ... Otherwise, no one would buy the pricy exhibit book from the NBM gift shop!

Through August 23, the National Building Museum is featuring an exhibit on Eero Saarinen, the pivitol mid-century modern architect and designer.

What's that? You think you don't know Eero Saarinen? Sure you do. The Jefferson Expansion Memorial (also known as the Gateway Arch in St. Louis), Dulles International Airport, and the super-chic Tulip Chair are all Saarinen icons.

Mid-century modern is amazingly hot right now, and to understand Saarinen and his contemporaries helps to understand the entire aesthetic.

So what I'm saying is, you should go. Go now, before the exhibit closes. As the National Building Museum's exhibit brochure says, "Nearly a half-century after his death, Eero Saarinen is perhaps more influential than ever."

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	Photo by sunset.com An inspiring makeover from Sunset magazine: This dresser was purchased on Craigslist for just $25 and transformed with some fresh paint and hardware.

Doing some spring cleaning? I'm sure you already know that any clothing or household items that are in decent shape can be Craigslisted, Freecycled, or donated to Goodwill.

But what about all that other stuff?

If you have electronics that have kicked the bucket, don't add them to your household trash. This weekend, take it to St. John's Regional Catholic School for the first annual community computer & electronics recycling event. eEndUSA will be on hand Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to properly dispose of your computers, cell phones, VCRs, printers, and more ... For just $15 per carload. For more info, call 301-662-6722 or download the PDF flyer.

A few weeks later, you can take your household chemicals to the County's residential hazardous waste drop-off on Saturday, May 31, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Public Safety Training Facility (8349 Reich's Ford Road). Here's more info, from the press release:

Frederick County residents may bring fuels, thinners, solvents, insecticides, pesticides, fungicides, household cleaners, pool chemicals, stains, sealants, household batteries, fluorescent bulbs, pharmaceuticals, mothballs, and photogrpahic chemicals for free disposal. Pharmaceeuticals will be accepted in original containers only. Paint, radioactive chemicals, biomedical waste, firearms, ammunitions, explosives, recyclables, freon tanks, tires, vehicle batteries, and hazardous waste from businesses will not be accepted at this event. For more information, call the Department of Solid Waste Management at 301-600-1848.

Of course, getting rid of all that junk always feels good. But it's even more satisfying to repurpose something you already own instead of throwing it out and buying something new. If you're looking for inspiration, check out these stylish new creations made from old clothes and the spruced-up Craigslist finds featured in the latest issue of Sunset magazine.

Celebrate Frederick just announced the lineup for their 2008 garden tour. Here's the info from their press release:

Celebrate Frederick's 2008 Beyond the Garden Gates Garden Tour features seven private gardens and three public gardens, all in Frederick. The tour will be held in Frederick, Maryland on Saturday, May 17th and Sunday, May 18th, from 1 to 5 p.m., rain or shine.

• 18th Century Heritage Garden -- Schifferstadt Architectural Museum at 1110 Rosemont Ave.
• Heritage Garden -- Historical Society of Frederick County at 24 E. Church St.
• The Garden of Doug Bailey, ASID & Dick Williams at 220 E. Church St.
• The Garden of George & Diane Ruszat at 240 E.Church St.
• The Garden of Michael McCrossin at 117 E. Patrick St.
• The Garden of Eugene E. Perreault at 109 E. Patrick St.
• The Market Street Garden & The Director's Rose Garden --  The Federated Charities of Frederick at 22 S. Market St.
• The Garden of John & Ethel Frye at 121 W. Church St.
• Old C. Burr Artz Library at 120 Record St.
• Governor Lowe Condominium -- The Garden of Pete & Eleanor Bowers, Greg Feeser, Warren & Carole Larkin and Tom & Carol Patterson at 100-102 E. Second St.

Tickets for the tour cost $15 per person and are available starting May 1, 2008 at locations throughout downtown.

For more information, please call The City of Frederick Office of Special Events at 301-600-CITY (2489) or visit the Celebrate Frederick web site. 

	Photo by Downtown Frederick Partnership
	Come say hello! I'll be working at the free gift wrapping station at the Artists Market (15 N. Market St.) from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Come in to the Cultural Arts Center and introduce yourself! I'll also be at NoMa Lounge from 7 p.m.-Midnight, another ArtNext event. If you stop by to enjoy some music, coffee, wine, and/or beer, please say hello.

Before I take a 4-day weekend from work and blogging, I wanted to post a reminder about Frosty Friday, the Downtown Frederick Partnership's annual event that features shopping, dining, and entertainment on the day after Thanksgiving.

This description, from a promotional email, pretty much sums it up:

The festivities begin at 8 a.m., with more than 40 shops and restaurants open early for breakfast-time customers in Downtown Frederick. Shoppers can enjoy carolers, holiday entertainment, free hot cocoa, gift wrapping and morning carriage rides along Market, Patrick, East and Carroll Streets, including Everedy Square and Shab Row.

Of course, most people will be shopping for Christmas gifts. But if you're in the market for art or housewares, you're also in luck. Here are some highlights:

• From 10 a.m.-5 p.m., ArtNext hosts a Holiday Artists Market at the Cultural Arts Center (15 N. Market St.), featuring various local artists displaying their paintings, photography, pottery, and more. Volunteers (including yours truly) will wrap any of your Frosty Friday purchases for free at the complimentary gift wrapping station.
• From 8-10 a.m., Ec'clectibles (13 E. Patrick St.) offers a free $10 gift card with every purchase of $30 or more.
• From 8-10 a.m., Flights of Fancy (20 N. East St.) offers a 20% discount on most merchandise.

For a full list of discounts, breakfast locations, and entertainment, as well as parking information, visit the Frosty Friday web site.

	IF YOU GO Candlelight House Tour 5:30-9:30 p.m., Saturday, December 1 12-4 p.m., Sunday, December 2 Tickets are $20.00, and are available at several area businesses. Click here for a list of ticket locations and other event information, or call the City of Frederick Office of Special Events at 301-600-2841.

Tickets are now on sale for Frederick’s annual Candlelight House Tour, scheduled for the first weekend in December. If you’re anything like me, you won’t be able to pass up the opportunity to sneak a peek inside some of Frederick’s most beautiful homes.

This year’s tour is in the historic Schley Park area and features the following nine homes (decorated by area interior and floral design gurus):

302 Dill Avenue (Jutta Terrell, Etiquette)

The event also features horse-drawn carriage, holiday carolers, and light refreshments.

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	IF YOU GO NoMa Lounge 7 p.m., Friday, November 23 15 N. Market St., Frederick $5, 18 and older For more information, call 301-662-4190 or email info@frederickartscouncil.org.

ArtNext, a Frederick Arts Council initiative, is hosting NoMa Lounge, on Frosty Friday at the Cultural Arts Center. Rock bands will play in the CAC theater, and the Market Street studio space will be converted into a lounge, complete with a DJ and a wine and coffee bar by Cafe Nola.

ArtNext is in need of seating for the lounge portion of the event. If you have a comfy chair or sofa that you can donate for the evening, that would be swell. Keep in mind that this is a public event, so there’s no guarantee that your furniture will come back in perfect condition. It’s probably best to lend donation-quality pieces. As long as it isn’t filthy, fragile, or flea-infested, we’ll take it!

Full disclosure: My band is actually playing in the rock show, but amazingly enough, self-promotion is not the sole intention of this announcement.

	IF YOU GO Ten Thousand Villages International Gift Festival 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Thursday & Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 201 W. Main St., Fairfield, PA (map) More Info: 717-642-8936 Pottery Show & Sale 5-8 p.m., Friday (opening reception) 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick More Info: 301-662-3160

Last year, I went to the National Folk Festival in Richmond, and took a break from all the music to walk through the Ten Thousand Villages marketplace tent. There were tons of unique, handcrafted items, including a wide selection of fair trade housewares from around the world. I’d imagine that’s what it will be like this weekend, when the Fairfield Mennonite Church opens its doors to the Ten Thousand Villages International Gift Festival.

Also this weekend, the Cultural Arts Center will play host to a pottery show and sale by the Potter’s Guild of Frederick. I’m a big-time sucker for pottery and ceramics, and this is such a convenient location … I don’t think I can possibly resist.