Flock

With more than 50 local bands performing all around Station North and Mount Vernon this weekend, Scapescape is one of Baltimore's premier events to better understand the hype surrounding its diverse arts and music scenes. (It's also a bit intimidating. A friend of Midnight Sun, Seth, created a handy Google document to keep track of all the sets scheduled for Labor Day weekend.) I don't mean to single out a particular artist or band when there are so many worthy acts performing, so just know that Scapescape is an awesome event and we're lucky to have it. With that said, tonight could be particularly special because Jenn Wasner, the singer/guitarist of Wye Oak and her solo project Flock of Dimes, will perform two sets at the Charles Street Parking Lot (1712 N. Charles St.)

When Rep. Chris Van Hollen struck up a conversation recently with a U.S. Capitol Police officer he sees every day on his way to work, he immediately learned two things about the man: He's from Baltimore and he's a huge Ravens fan. And so the Montgomery County Democrat took a break Wednesday from the budget battles playing out in Congress to take Officer Aaron Smith to the White House, where President Barack Obama honored the Super Bowl ...

Here's our round-up of the week's most notable concerts. For more shows, check out FindLocal . Ticket prices do not reflect any additional surcharges and taxes. On Monday, the avant-country act Lambchop plays Rams Head on Stage for the first time ( $20 ). On Tuesday, Detroit's the Black Dahlia Murder plays Rams Head Live ( $18 ). !!! and Shabazz Palaces will bring eclectic sounds to Sonar ( $13/$15 ). Promising pop-punk act the Wonder Years plays the Ottobar ( $13 )

Hundreds of pro-gun activists again swarmed Annapolis on Tuesday in hopes of turning the tide against gun control. Polls show that banning assault weapons and requiring a license to buy a handgun have broad support among Marylanders, but gun rights supporters such as Jerry Carey have three times flocked to the state capital to urge defeat of those proposals and others. "My wife tells me I should quit this and go back to work," said Carey, a self-employed 68-year-old from Frederick who attended the latest gun rights rally Tuesday.

Walk around Baltimore today and you could see Jenn Wasner's big eyes staring up at you. Wasner, who plays guitar and sings in Wye Oak and now by herself as Flock of Dimes, is the cover star for b's latest "10 to Watch Under 30" issue . In 2011, Wasner, an Owings Mills native, lived on the road, playing more than 200 shows alongside Wye Oak drummer Andy Stack. When she returned home to Baltimore, she was burned out, and even considered moving away from the city. But don't ever underestimate the power of rest.

Six whoooping cranes born and raised at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center near Laurel are to be shipped to Canada next week as part of an international effort to save the endangered species.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which operates the Patuxent research center, is shipping the birds to the Calgary Zoological Society in Alberta, Canada, to establish a third captive flock and guard against the chance that an epidemic or disaster might erase the cranes' 26-year recovery.Whooping cranes, the tallest birds in North America at about 5 feet, have been deemed endangered since 1967.

Sometimes, she was so strung out on drugs and alcohol come Sunday mornings that the mother of four would pack her brood off on a church bus so she could "lay back down and be hung over."Now, Pam, who asked to be identified by her first name only, is joining her children at the Brooklyn Church of the Nazarene, led through the doors by the youngsters when they had roles in a Christmas pageant.She is among a growing number of drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes, and poor, hungry or homeless people who are finding sanctuary at the church, once a place of worship for middle-class families from Brooklyn and surrounding areas.

Suppose you found in your mail a postcard picturing four happy-go-lucky children, beach-blond hair tousled, romping in a shady park. Above the fair foursome, the card reads "Radical Good Times for Kids. Like, Intensely Cool. Even for a Church."Yes, of course you'd read the fine print on the back of the card.The question, of course, is whether the pitch would intrigue you enough to pay the sender a visit. Or would you think the pitch a turn-off, its approach a tad too New Age?The sender of the card, and others featuring smiling, young adults sipping cool drinks and handsome young couples relaxing in a park, is the non-denominational Valley Brook Community Church.

Over the past four years, Barry Glassman has become a pro at balancing his job as a state delegate with the responsibilities of tending to his 20 Suffolk sheep. By now, Glassman can feed his flock without getting his suit dirty. "The other delegates enjoy ribbing me about my sheep, they get a kick out of it," said Glassman, laughing. He says he has grown accustomed to hearing baaaaaaa! echo across the House floor. His colleagues were especially amused when, during Glassman's first year in office, a frantic call about a sheep emergency interrupted a debate over the budget.

About 3,000 people flocked to the National Guard Armory in Bel Air yesterday to sample chocolate delights and help raise money for downtown revitalization work. The Downtown Bel Air Chocolate Festival began for the second year at 10 a.m. and featured a host of desserts and confections, including truffles, chocolate-covered coffee beans, mousse, candies, pretzels, bagels and even chocolate-scented soap. One of downtown's newer shops, Moore's Candies - voted one of America's best chocolate makers by the Food Network - was hand-dipping strawberries in chocolate all day for visitors.

Maryland's gun control debate drew more than 2,000 people to Annapolis on Friday as the House of Delegates took up the governor's bill to ban the sale of assault weapons and impose some of the nation's strictest licensing requirements. People arrived as early as 7 a.m., and some stayed into the night as testimony went past 3 a.m. More than 1,300 people signed up to testify at the House hearing on Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposal, overwhelmingly against it. A mid morning rally to support the plan drew a crowd that State House officals estimated at 1,000 people.

Junior attackman Mikey Wynne , who who transferred to St. Paul's from Glenelg over the summer after helping the Gladiators win a state championship in 2011, has orally committed to Cornell, according to Inside Lacrosse. Wynne also has played for Breakers Lacrosse and is a member of the Rock Elite 2014 teams. He also played on the Maryland team at the Brine National Classic. Wynne scored 84 points as a freshman and earned All-Howard County honors. Playing last spring alongside older brother Nick (a first-team All-Metro selection)

The two highest profile pitchmen for Question 6, Rev. Donte Hickman Sr. and Rev. Delman Coates, who in my opinion are not worthy of the title "Reverend," gave this reason for their support: "Let the church be the church, the state be the state, and God be the judge" ("Voices for marriage freedom," Nov. 11). This is nothing more than the blind leading the blind with both falling into the ditch. We have a very important warning about ministers who come in sheep's clothing. Inwardly, they are ferocious wolves who can be identified by their fruit.

During recent election cycles, the turnout of early voters at Carroll County's only early-voting polling place, the Westminster Senior Activities Center on Stoner Avenue, was at times so light that the campaign volunteers and poll workers easily outnumbered voters. Not so this time around. At around 11 a.m., on Oct. 31, the parking lot at the center was nearly full, and spaces were at such a premium that motorists entering often had to wait for someone else to leave to get a space.

When the Bridge, the biggest band on Baltimore's jam scene, split up last Thanksgiving, live-music fans wondered who would fill the void. A year later, they may have an answer: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. The quartet of singer/guitarist Greg Ormont, guitarist/singer Jeremy Schon, bassist/singer Ben Carrey and drummer/singer Dan Schwartz has slowly built a large following through three monthlong residencies at the 8x10. Live, the band stretches out songs well past the 10-minute mark, and its members nimble musicianship and stage presence make for an entertaining show.

On Sunday, we told you about The Horsebox , a bar in New York's East Village that Orioles fans have adopted. Josh Adams was among the displaced Marylanders who found their way to Avenue A to watch the Orioles take on the Yankees in ALDS Game 3. Here's Josh's report: The Horsebox was packed with Orioles fans, making it feel like a little slice of Fells Point in the East Village. The familiar Oriole Bird hat was in full display among the patrons and when Ryan Flaherty went deep in the third inning, an ear-splitting "Let's go O's!"

Last year, he wanted Orioles fans to "Believe." Now, he wants them to bleed. Orange, that is. After watching his favorite team suffer through one of its worst seasons ever, 22-year-old Towson University student James Baker has decided diehard O's fans like him need to wear their hearts on their sleeves. Or at least on their chests. So, along with organizing what he hopes will be a new hardcore fan group -- The Flock -- he's created two Orioles-themed T-shirts that he's offering over the Internet.

Hundreds of Baltimore-area shoppers packed into the newly reopened Boscov's on Friday morning, welcoming back the department store as if they were greeting an old friend. "We're so glad you're back," customer after customer told store employees and Boscov family members on hand for the retailer's reopening at White Marsh Mall. The nearly 200,000-square-foot store opened in the same anchor spot the chain vacated four years ago amid the recession. The newly remodeled and restocked Boscov's drew hordes of shoppers Friday, all of whom had bought $5 tickets for the preview day. Proceeds went to local causes.

With more than 50 local bands performing all around Station North and Mount Vernon this weekend, Scapescape is one of Baltimore's premier events to better understand the hype surrounding its diverse arts and music scenes. (It's also a bit intimidating. A friend of Midnight Sun, Seth, created a handy Google document to keep track of all the sets scheduled for Labor Day weekend.) I don't mean to single out a particular artist or band when there are so many worthy acts performing, so just know that Scapescape is an awesome event and we're lucky to have it. With that said, tonight could be particularly special because Jenn Wasner, the singer/guitarist of Wye Oak and her solo project Flock of Dimes, will perform two sets at the Charles Street Parking Lot (1712 N. Charles St.)