Berlin

Go here: Berlin, only seven miles west of Ocean City, is an antidote to a vacation overdose of sun, saltwater and mindless fun. The quiet, tree-lined streets of the town's historic district have a multitude of shops, art galleries and antique stores. The town is so picturesque it was chosen as the location for the filming of Runaway Bride and Tuck Everlasting. Berlin's historic district is lovely but small; it can easily be covered on foot in an afternoon, although you could linger there much longer if you have more time.

This week's Race takes us to Berlin to learn that 1) historical quotes are hard, yo, and 2) hipsters in Berlin win at hipstering. It's the Final Five teams, because we lost Chuck and Wynona in Switzerland after some improperly transported cheese. But they'll always have ... The Mullet. In the middle of the night, teams leave Switzerland and take a train to Dresden, Germany. In some interviews, we learn that Max and Katie are surprised to not be winning every leg. Joey and Meghan are embarrassed to be in last place.

'Reindeer Run' in Berlin What: The 3rd Annual Reindeer 5K includes a run for some and carriage rides for others through the quaint Eastern Shore town of Berlin. Where: Beginning at the Atlantic Hotel on Main Street, the course runs south along Main Street through local neighborhoods and then back to Main Street for a festive holiday finish. When: 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. Santa and carriage rides begin shortly after post-race award ceremony. How much: $20 to register for the 5K race.

The new green at Maryland's state parks is cash, and lots of it. This has been a banner year for the 66 parks, which logged nearly 11 million visitors by early December, 1.1 million more than at the same point last year. Long the destination of day trippers and tent dwellers, state parks have become a go-to spot for thousands of staycationers, who not only pay entry and campsite fees but also leave a trail of money through the communities just beyond their borders. "Parks are destinations that create opportunity for people to enjoy the outdoors and each other," said Matt Baker, owner of Terrapin Adventures, a zip line and outdoor center in Howard County, just minutes from Patapsco Valley State Park.

On Monday, January 24, 2005, HELEN BERLIN (nee Gach); beloved wife of the late Alex Berlin; devoted mother of Dr. Steven Berlin, of Reisterstown, MD, and Judith Krufky, of Scottsdale, AZ; dear mother-in-law of Eileen Berlin and Dr. Edward Krufky; devoted sister of Evelyn Spector, of Silver Spring, MD, and the late Arthur Gach, Pearl Antonelli, Ruth Rosen, and Sylvia Peters; loving grandmother of Barri and Jason Spitzer, Andrea and David Schwartz, Leslie...

On Sunday, September 14, 2003, SIDNEY D. BERLIN; beloved husband of the late Pauline Ritt Berlin. Beloved father of Dr. Fred S. (MaryAnn) Berlin of Baltimore, MD and Steven R. Berlin of Tulsa, OK. Brother of Larry Berlin of Pittsburgh and Irma Jones of Hawaii. Grandfather of Leslie, Debra, Jessica, Alison, Loren, Samantha and Ryan. Also three great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Friends may meet at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., 5509 Centre Avenue, Shadyside on Thursday at 10 A.M. and then proceed to B'nai Israel Cemetery for 11 A.M. Graveside Services.

Berlin is already the official, ceremonial and historic capital of united Germany. The question now is whether it will become the actual seat of government, with the chancellor's office and most federal ministries moving from Bonn, or whether Bonn will remain the seat of real political power.As the Germans debate this problem with their usual angst, one calumny against Berlin should be put to rest: The idea that Hitler's brief association with the grand old city on the Spree somehow makes it a distasteful symbol and an unseemly capital.

JEANNE LUTZ BERLIN; 87, of Charlestown in Catonsville, died Wednesday, January 7, 2004 in Orlando. She was a member of the Mates Baltimore Yacht Club. Surviving are her husband Lester L. Berlin; one daughter; two sisters; two grandchildren and a great-grandson. Viewing will be held 10 AM and Services at 11 AM Friday at Zimmerman Auer Funeral Home, 4100 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg, PA. Contributions may be made to the Capt. Callahan Memorial Scholarship c/o Aerospace Education Foundation, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209.

JAMES GRAHAM BARRETT, 64, of Berlin, passed away on Tuesday, May 25, 2004, at his home. Born in Brooklyn, NY, he spent his early childhood in Richmond, Ranoke and Baltimore. He came with his family to Berlin in 1951 when his father purchased the Chevrolet dealership in town, now Barrett, Chevrolet. He is survived by his wife, the former Nancy White; four children, Russell Barrett and his wife Karen, Ellen Barrett Abbott and her husband Riley, John Barrett and his wife Barbie and Stephen Barrett and his wife Dawn; as well as seven grandchildren; brother and his wife, Jack and Virginia Barrett; sisters and their husbands, Eileen and Leo Vilkas, Betsy and Dick Ludlam, and Jeanne and Clark Hamilton.

Anyone interested in time travel need not settle for an episode of “Dr. Who.” You can be whisked back to the 1950s in a flash just by catching the production of “Irving Berlin's White Christmas” at the Kennedy Center. You have to check a lot of baggage first, though. For a start, you can't take aboard any prejudices against mid-century musicals with snowflake-thin, surprise-free story lines and songs that do nothing to advance the plot or provide character insights. You also can't carry on your usual cynical antipathy to cornball humor, tap-dancing routines or precocious kids onstage.

Don't call the Ivy Bookshop's new owners New Yorkers. Sure, Ed Berlin and his wife Ann have lived in the orbit of Manhattan for more than three decades, working in corporate careers. But they insist they love Baltimore — Ed was raised in Forest Park and the couple often visit friends and family here — and they started making plans to move here this year. Along the way, opportunity knocked. The Ivy in north Baltimore, a haven for literature lovers, was put up for sale in the summer by owner Darielle Linehan, who was ready to retire to spend more time with family.

Toby's Dinner Theatre of Columbia is offering what has become a seasonal favorite — Irving Berlin's "White Christmas, The Musical" in evening and matinee performances through Jan. 8. Not just another holiday show, "White Christmas, The Musical" is also a celebration of the American popular song as defined by its prolific composer Irving Berlin. The show gives us with such favorites as "Blue Skies," "I Love a Piano," and "How Deep is the Ocean," along with introducing lesser-known Berlin tunes.

Four Indochinese tiger cubs sit in a basket at the Tierpark zoo in Berlin. The four tigers were born at the zoo on August 10.

'Reindeer Run' in Berlin What: The 3rd Annual Reindeer 5K includes a run for some and carriage rides for others through the quaint Eastern Shore town of Berlin. Where: Beginning at the Atlantic Hotel on Main Street, the course runs south along Main Street through local neighborhoods and then back to Main Street for a festive holiday finish. When: 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. Santa and carriage rides begin shortly after post-race award ceremony. How much: $20 to register for the 5K race.

Democratic capitalism is in eclipse. From Berlin to Tokyo, governments struggle to instigate enough growth to pay their bills and gainfully employ workers. Meanwhile, anti-democratic but increasingly capitalistic China enjoys breakneck progress. Democratic capitalism is not flawed. Rather, government policymakers, through deceptions, delusions and abuse, are destroying a system that brought mankind from dark, feudal superstitions to cracking the secrets of life. Politicians from Athens to Sacramento — and yes, most certainly in Baltimore too — have deceived voters by telling them that pension systems can be constructed allowing retirement at ages 55 or 60. Whether funded by savings and investments or taxes, no solvent pension system is possible that permits educated professionals, unionized workers and government employees, who get most of the income and benefits, to work only 30 or 35 years and retire for another 20 or 25 years.

On January 31, 2010, MARGARET ROUSE BERLINER, in Annapolis, Maryland, only 50 years of age. Loving mother of Meghan M. Berliner, now working in Sacramento, California, and Michael H. Berliner, attending the University of Miami, and widow of the late Henry A. Berliner. She is also survived by her five brothers and two sisters, her father, and other family members. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 6 at 11:00 A.M., at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, 333 Dubois Road, Annapolis, MD 21401.

It would be impossible, not to mention foolhardy, to choose one contender for the title of America's greatest songwriter. But if such a designation absolutely had to be made, a lot of money would be riding on Irving Berlin. There is such a startling amount of quality in the quantity of Berlin's songs (more than 1,200), and a remarkable consistency in terms of communicative power.