Labor Day

From: Gran Altura, Valle Calchaqui, Salta, Argentina Price: $15 Serve with: Shellfish, or by itself This fresh, youthful white wine is dry but very fruity for a torrontes, a varietal in which mineral flavors often prevail. Savvy wine drinkers have realized by now that torrontes is a very appealing varietal, and clearly Argentina's best white grape. This version offers intense, electric flavors of lime, grapefruit, orange and tropical fruit — with bracing acidity and a long, clean finish.

Editor: I write in support of Mr. Bowie's opinion expressed in the Dec. 21 in The Aegis Open Forum concerning Christmas, political correctness and the "Winter Holiday. " Washington, D.C. events of recent memory highlight that political correctness and common sense are two very different things. For those needing to know, winter begins on or about December 21 each year. During my many decades, I do not recall ever celebrating the start of winter or any other season with a holiday.

Baltimore Grand Prix attendees spent as much as $25 million — far short of the $70 million projected by race organizers, according to an economic impact survey released this week. In their report , two Maryland professors also found about three-quarters of attendees came from Maryland and estimated that $10 million of the spending on restaurants and other entertainment over that Labor Day weekend would have happened even without the races as a draw. "Based on our survey information, the Baltimore Grand Prix was certainly not a game-changer," Dennis Coates, a professor of economics at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and Michael T. Friedman of the School of Public Health at University of Maryland College Park wrote in their report.

IndyCar officials confirmed Friday that the Baltimore Grand Prix will return Labor Day weekend, but they will hold off on releasing the series' complete schedule until after Sunday's season finale in Las Vegas. "Baltimore was a big win this season for a business like ours," said Terry Angstadt, president of the IndyCar Series commercial division. "The entire city was behind it, from the mayor's office to the fans. The grandstands were full with happy, engaged people. When that happens, we're winners.

The IZOD IndyCar Series will return to the city on Labor Day weekend 2012 for the second Baltimore Grand Prix, race president and promoter Jay Davidson confirmed Tuesday. IndyCar is expected to make the official announcement Friday in Las Vegas, where the season concludes Sunday. "We're absolutely excited," Davidson said of having the race return for the three-day weekend Aug. 31-Sept. 2, "just based on the crowd we had here for the inaugural event and the people hanging around on Sunday after the race, just enjoying the day. "And I think it has a nice symmetry with the Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day weekend kicking off the summer and our race on Labor Day weekend.

Maryland State Police said Sunday that they were investigating after a dead body with "signs of trauma" was found in a wooded area of Somerset County, on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The body — police did not specify whether male or female — was discovered by members of the Supreme Council of the House of Jacob Church in Princess Anne while they were in the woods behind the building Sunday afternoon. A Wicomico County woman went missing on Labor Day, but state police said they had no confirmation Sunday that the body is hers.

Laura Vozzella's valentine to the Baltimore Sun is in the form of a watermelon. There are still tons of them around, and they're still showing up on menus around town, and not just paired with feat neither. Woodberry Kitchen has a buttermilk-watermelon swirl sherbet, Pazo has a salad of yellow watermelon and nectarine with jalapeno-goat cheese sauce and wood-grilled pork belly and Gertrude's is still serving a watermelon cocktail called Summer Harvest. The National Watermelon Promotion Board has recipes here . Who else has watermelon on their menus?

St. Joseph Medical Center held a news conference - not coincidentally on Labor Day - to announce the hospital's support for vaginal births whenever possible, even if a previous delivery was a Cesarean birth. Doctors said that, sometimes, a Cesarean delivery has to be planned or becomes unavoidable. But a vaginal birth not only helps mothers avoid major surgery, it also offers them an easier recovery, helps bond with babies and avoids or decreases the possible side effects associated with Cesarean sections, such as infection and blood loss.

Two Sun colleagues have asked me for a crab house recommendation for today. One more time, and it'll be a trend. Here is our listing of area crab houses and my July story, in picture gallery form, on 5 Quintessential Maryland Crab Houses . Also, check out Maryland Crabs Delivered , a crab supplier that makes stops at pre-announced convenient locations. AT 1 p.m., they were waiting for the crab boat to come in and weren't sure of that it'd bring. But they know they'll have jumbos.