Arts And Crafts

'Midnight' in concertThe nonfiction book "Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil" spent two years on the New York Times Book Review's best-seller list. And now it's spending this fall touring as a jazz concert.Tomorrow night at the Kennedy Center in Washington, the book which captures the personalities of Savannah, Ga., through the lens of a true-crime tale, will be transformed into a concert by its real-life characters and author John Berendt to the music of Johnny Mercer.The show is at the Kennedy Center, 2700 F St., off West Virginia and New Hampshire avenues.

Every Wednesday, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., sisters Shytira and Shyrell Everett arrive at the Weinberg Family Center Y for two hours of charades, rock climbing, homework help, arts and crafts, picnics and other activities with mentors Sara Milstein and Kim Strassner. "My favorite activity is when we go to the art room to make arts and crafts," said Shytira, a third-grader at Harford Heights Elementary School in Baltimore, who is 9 and talkative and ties her hair in ponytails decorated with pink and blue beads.

Ocean City Springfest Ocean City 's Springfest sets summer in motion. The four-day event, in its 22nd year, begins May 3 and features live entertainment headlined by The Fabulous Hubcaps, Loretta Lynn, Eddie Money and Survivor. (Loretta Lynn concert is sold out.) The festival takes place in the inlet parking lot at the south end of the boardwalk and includes more than 30 vendors for food and nearly 200 artisans showcasing arts and crafts. Admission is free.

Ocean City The Ocean City Convention Center will be the site of the Labor Day Weekend Arts and Crafts Festival, tomorrow through Sunday. Visitors can browse crafts, housewares, decorative items and more. The Labor Day Weekend Concerts at North Division Street present the Vogues on Saturday and Still Surfin' on Sunday. Bring a chair or blanket. The arts and crafts festival runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m. tomorrow-Sunday at the Convention Center, 40th Street and the Bay. The concerts take place at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday on the beach at North Division Street.

TODAY SUGARLOAF CRAFTS FESTIVAL Today, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., is the last day of the festival, which features works by more than 350 craft designers and fine artists, as well as craft demonstrations, children's events, food and more, at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium. $7; children younger than 12 free. 800-210-9900 or sugarloafcrafts.com. SATURDAY DAHLIA SALE Shop for dahlia plants and tubers of all sizes and colors, and learn about growing the plants, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or until sold out)

ON THE WATER: Capt. Ralph Elliott's boat, Maryland Lady, will cruise the Wicomico River in Salisbury daily during December. A New Year's Eve dinner will be served from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Dec. 31. For reservations, call 543-2466.COUNTRY CHRISTMAS: Take a step back in time at Mariner's Country Down, Sinepuxent Road, Berlin. The village, in a country setting six miles west of Ocean City, is open three weekends before Christmas each year -- today, Dec. 7-8, 14-15 from 10 a.m. until dusk. Demonstrations are given, such as weaving, pottery and stained-glass making.

More castles in the sandIf you missed the Castle in the Sand's annual sand sculpture contest in June, take heart. Another contest will be held Thursday on the beach at 92nd Street.Registration is slated for 10 a.m., and contestants will be given a pail, shovel and hat. Trophies will be awarded in a variety of categories, including most creative and most elaborate, and competition is divided into four age groups: age 7 and under, ages 8 to 11, ages 12 to 15 and age 16 and older. Awards will be presented at 1 p.m.Sand sculptor Randy Hofman, who creates a religious tableau every night on the beach at First Street, will be on hand to zTC demonstrate sculpting techniques and to create a giant castle as a centerpiece for the event.

MARYLAND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL Celebrate the bounty of the Chesapeake Bay at the 35th annual Maryland Seafood Festival tomorrow through Sunday at Sandy Point State Park, off U.S. 50 near Annapolis. Sample such delicacies as seafood Alfredo, seafood gumbo, oyster sandwiches, seafood salad, crab cakes, steamed crabs, mussels and more. Landlubbers won't go hungry, either; they can indulge in pit-beef sandwiches, buffalo wings, pizza and hamburgers. The festival also includes "Save the Bay Day" on Sunday, arts and crafts, a crab-soup cook-off, beach activities and plenty of entertainment.

No matter how many articles are printed about the problems faced by the youth of Baltimore, they always seem to get pushed to the back burner ("Occupy right to question youth jail plan," Jan. 23). Gov.Martin O'Malley's plans to build a juvenile jail need to be pushed out the window. Instead of using millions of dollars to design jails for youth, take a couple hundred thousand and open recreation centers. Why? Because they work! Growing up in West Baltimore, Liberty Recreation on Maine Avenue was a second home to me. I played on basketball teams, played ping pong, shot pool, and did arts and crafts.