Lakefront

About 20 years ago, Bryant Woods Elementary media specialist Tom Brzezinski came up with a way to help school kids and their parents pass the lazy summer evenings. He rented movies and showed them on a projector at a local park.The success of this one-man film fest caught the attention of Columbia Association officials, who invited Mr. Brzezinski to screen the flicks at Lake Kittamaqundi.The rest, as they say in the movies, is history. This summertime community gathering has evolved into the CA's popular Lakefront Summer Festival, the outdoor series of free films and concerts that began last week.

The Columbia Association's 1994 Lakefront Summer Festival has returned to Lake Kittamaqundi with programs from reggae and blues to Abbot and Costello.For almost 25 years, the festival has brought free, outdoor evening concerts and movies to Columbia. The 10-week event, which began Monday, will run through the first week in September.Attracting 200 to 400 visitors per performance, the festival is "very, very popular," said Ann Sherr, assistant director of CA's Community Services Division.Because of its popularity, the festival has added Sunday to its schedule.

Summer's almost over, your money's almost gone, and yet it feels like there's still so much left undone. What's a person to do? We can't help you with the money part. And much as we'd like to, there's no way to expand the calendar. But we can point out what you may not realize: There's plenty to do in and around Charm City in the waning days of summer, even with nary a penny in your pocket. Herewith, an itinerary for the thrifty, offering 50 no-cost activities to keep body and soul engaged over the next month or so. There's a lot to do, so get busy.

Hoping to turn around the struggling resort, Maryland's slots location committee awarded a license Thursday for a casino at Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort in Allegany County. The Video Lottery Facility Location Commission voted unanimously to issue the license to Evitts Resort LLC, the sole remaining applicant after the panel eliminated a group led by former Democratic Party Chairman Nathan Landow in January. The license is contingent on Evitts getting construction financing, but company officials do not expect that to be a problem.

Access to the Columbia pedestrian bridge over Route 29 has been sharply compromised for pedestrians, wheelchair-bound handicapped and especially cyclists for over a year now due to lake dredging and sewer replacement. A mulch path constructed for continued access has not been maintained and is frequently obstructed by fallen branches and poison ivy. Now comes a plan to widen Route 29, but with no news on how this will impact the future of this bridge. The bridge is essential for commuting and active lifestyles, activities Columbia and Howard County claim to value.

The Columbia Waterfowl and Habitat Advisory Committee and Town Center Community Association will clean up Lake Kittamaqundi and the lakefront from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 13. Individuals, Scout troops and civic groups are welcome. Participants should take rakes and gloves. The group will meet at the People Tree. The rain date is April 20. Registration is requested, but not necessary. Information: 410-730-4744. Popcorn Theater to show `October Sky' on April 5 Popcorn Theater, a new program of the Wilde Lake Community Association for elementary and middle school children on early-dismissal days, will show the movie October Sky at 2:30 p.m. April 5 at Slayton House in Wilde Lake Village Center.

A California-based chain will open a restaurant Friday in the Columbia lakefront building once used to showcase the new town's model home plans and amenities.Fresh Choice, which bills itself as an "upscale, self-service-style restaurant" with soup, salad and pasta bars, is expected to hire at least 60 employees, said Stephen Robinson, general manager of the restaurant.The opening is part of the Rouse Co.'s plans to enliven downtown Columbia by bringing restaurants to the area around Lake Kittamaqundi, officials said.

The Columbia Association's Teen Advisory Committee will sponsor a Teen Showcase from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Columbia lakefront. The concert will feature a break dance club, Anti-Lock Brakes, and four teen bands: Parking Lot Nights, American Diary, Hence Reverie and The Drop Out Year. Information: Carol Wasser, 410-715-5523. Registration is on for tot play groups The Town Center Community Association is accepting registration for its fall session of Parents & Tots Play Groups, which begin the week of Sept.

No one knows how it got started, but a rumor sprang up a few years ago that Columbia's first movie theater -- the small, 25-year-old, three-screen General Cinema Columbia City 3 on Lake Kittamaqundi -- would soon be turned into a cinema house showing art films.Instead of delivering the latest Hollywood blockbusters, the aging movie house would present independent and foreign films, more intimate artistic fare that would appeal to an older, more refined crowd that hungered for an alternative cinematic experience.

For people-watching, there is no better spot than Joe Caliguro's Columbia townhouse. He and his wife can walk out to the porch and find a stream of people walking by on the path below. Caliguro, a retired television producer, owns one of about 130 houses that border the nearly 2-mile public trail next to Lake Elkhorn. For the residents who live nearby, the man-made lake is also an extension of their backyards, providing picturesque views and lots of foot traffic just beyond their porches.