Ice

Beginning at 10:30 Saturday night, ice will be distributed to city residents at the following locations: 4501 Reisterstown Road 601 Cherry Hill Road 1700 N. Gay St. 1601 Baker St.

Monday is National Iced Tea Day. You can celebrate by starting an argument about whether Maryland is a Southern state, which means that iced tea should be served sweet, or a Northern state, where it should not. Or you can celebrate at Teavana , where they're offering guests a free serving of iced tea in their stores, including the ones at the Mall in Columbia, Annapolis Mall and Towson Town Center. #sigshell { padding: 10px; float: left; width: 320px; height: 52px; margin: 20px 0px; display: block; }

After earning a split in New York to start their Eastern Conference semifinal series, it would appear that things are setting up nicely for the Washington Capitals. They return home to Verizon Center as the series against the New York Rangers shifts venues for games 3 and 4. But if there's one thing this spring's Stanley Cup playoffs have shown, it's that home ice is an advantage in name only. Road squads are 34-21 this postseason through Monday's games. The Capitals are 4-2 on the road and 1-2 at home.

STX, which built its business through innovation on the lacrosse field, aims to play in a larger but more slippery arena - the ice rink. The Baltimore-based sports equipment maker plans to introduce a line of ice hockey sticks and protective equipment by late 2014. The company, based in Pigtown, has begun building new office space and posting job openings to prepare for the launch. It's a rare foray into a new business for STX, which developed the first plastic lacrosse head in 1970.

THIS IS A CRY of caution on another morning when Maryland is waking up to deep-freeze temperatures that have formed a crisp coat of ice on ponds, coves and rivulets. Watch out! Someone is likely to get hurt. Because ice, and the icy water it hides, can kill. Recent news items provide chilling warnings: On Sunday, near Ocean City, 8-year-old Sam Wilkinson was chasing a ball across the ice on a partially frozen man-made lake when he fell in. By the time his body was found an hour later, it was too late.

The storm left us without power for 44 hours and we all are blessed to be restored so quickly. During that time we searched for ice. After searching about six establishments, we found the liquor store in Linwood shopping center recommending going to another vendor in the same shopping center — aisle 14 they told us. Sure enough aisle 14 had someone loading a reach-in freezer with more ice. The merchant stated take as much as you need....

The thing about "The Thing" is that even an unnecessary remake can claim your attention. Amonster from outer space attacking scientists at an Antarctic outpost has a way of doing that. Following in the alien footprints of the 1951 and 1982 versions, this remake emphasizes the bleak isolation that turns human beings into an endangered species. Of course, these particular humans often behave in such foolish ways that an argument could be made on behalf of the alien determined to eliminate this inferior life form.

Baltimore Development Corp.'s president, M.J. "Jay" Brodie, said Thursday that he is on the mend after an ice skating injury that has kept him sidelined for much of the past two months. Brodie, 73, told directors of the economic development agency that he has been under doctor's orders to rest his right leg after it became inflamed in early April. Brodie, an avid skater, said he noticed pain and swelling in his leg after skating twice in late March. He said that he did not fall or break his leg, and that tests uncovered no fractures or torn muscles.

Kimmie Meissner will return to the ice for the first time since her August knee injury and 1984 Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton will go head over heels on a pair of skates - his signature trick - in a live music ice show Dec. 29. For Hamilton, the Holiday Concert on Ice presented an opportunity to get back into skating shape since his retirement five years ago and return to the spotlight. For Meissner, the former national and world champion from Bel Air, the show was a way to work with one of her heroes.

Pitango Gelato Address --802 S. Broadway Phone --410-702-5828 Hours --noon-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon-midnight Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday Rita's Italian Ice Address --2033 Eastern Ave. (other locations around Maryland) Phone --410-732-0214 Hours --11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily Served in a 10-ounce cup for $1.97, this concoction was surprisingly tart, but too slushy. When it rains, you get two for the price of one. Know of a good carryout? Let us hear about it. Write to rob.kasper@baltsun.

Imagine a trail, a trail made of ice cream! Well, that's not what this is. But the Maryland's Best Ice Cream Trail is pretty cool all the same. Launched in 2012 by the department of agriculture to promote Maryland's dairy industry, the ice cream trail leads visitors to eight ice-cream-producing Maryland farms, stretching from Worcester to Washington County. The eighth and newest farm on the trail is Keyes Creamery in Aberdeen, which is currently producing ice cream for the wholesale market and expects to begin retail sales sometime in June.

Anne Arundel County, including Annapolis, led the state in tourism dollars in 2011, according to a report by the travel research company Tourism Economics, the local visitors bureau said this week. The Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau said that according to the report, nearly 5.6 million visitors to Annapolis and the county spent nearly $3.2 billion, a 7.2 percent increase over the $3 billion generated in 2010. The sum represents transportation, food, hotel and other spending.

The Kentucky Derby, arriving seasonally as the mint is springing up, provides an excellent occasion for preparing and savoring a mint julep. So I offer you my recipe again this year. Do keep in mind that the julep is not some genteel lady's drink but a serious beverage that commands respect.  First, make sure to have decent bourbon in the house. Cheap stuff is too raw, and you probably don't want to use Booker's for this. Maker's Mark answers nicely, or Woodford Reserve if you're feeling particularly flush.  On no account use any ersatz bourbon from Tennessee.

Enjoy a day of competition and entertainment at Ice World in Abingdon, the site of a Basic Skills and Beyond skating competition on Saturday, April 20. The competition will run from 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. and is free and open to the public. A total of 125 skaters ages 4 to adult will be participating. Competitors hail from multiple area rinks as well as from the Chesapeake Figure Skating Club at Ice World, Baltimore Figure Skating Club, Bay Country Figure Skating Club, Bowie Figure Skating Club, Capital Clubhouse Skating Academy, Frederick Figure Skating Club, Gardens Figure Skating Club, Reisterstown Figure Skating Club, Washington Figure Skating Club and University of Delaware Figure Skating Club.

Cameron Naasz was introduced to ice cross downhill less than two years ago, but already he has become the face - and the future - of the sport in the United States. The 23-year-old finished third in this season's world championship standings. Naasz won the race in Lausanne, Switzerland, this month, finished second in the Niagara Falls, Ontario, event in December and third in St. Paul, Minn., in January. In just his second season of competition, Naasz became the most successful American in the recorded history of ice cross downhill.

Over a tall cup of coffee in Southeast Baltimore, Reed Whiting explains why and how he zips down frozen racetracks in the middle of cities, navigating jumps and turns while jostling with three other racers from around the world. He says he goes as fast as 40 miles per hour in front of more than 100,000 fans and a national television audience. He once canceled a week of appointments at work and booked an $880 overnight flight to Switzerland for the opportunity to compete. "It was a fun little ordeal," Whiting, 33, says.

Over a tall cup of coffee in Southeast Baltimore, Reed Whiting explains why and how he zips down frozen racetracks in the middle of cities, navigating jumps and turns while jostling with three other racers from around the world. He says he goes as fast as 40 miles per hour in front of more than 100,000 fans and a national television audience. He once canceled a week of appointments at work and booked an $880 overnight flight to Switzerland for the opportunity to compete. "It was a fun little ordeal," Whiting, 33, says.

Varsity Sandusky retires from Boys' Latin ice hockey Jim Sandusky has formally announced his retirement as Boys' Latin ice hockey coach effective Feb. 28 after a decade of leading the program, according to a news release from the school. Sandusky will continue with the Lakers football program as the associative head coach and offensive coordinator. During the past two seasons, he led the Lakers varsity ice hockey team to runner-up status in 2013 and to a Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association BConference championship in 2012.

Don't be fooled by forecasts of scattered snow showers; it really is spring and therefore the true start of Italian ice season. To mark the occasion, Rita's is giving a free Italian ice to each customer today. It's an annual tradition going back two decades for the ice and custard stand, now at more than 600 locations in 20 states. Last year, Rita's customers consumed more than 1.2 million cups of Italian ice in ten hours. This year, Rita's is promoting its new loyalty club, Rita's Rewards, by offering free ice in a limited-edition cup. The giveaway runs today through 9 p.m. at all open Rita's.