Merriweather gussies up a bit
Early this morning, I checked my work e-mail and saw the subject line "NEWS CONF: Merriweather Post Pavilion."
I thought it would be a juicy announcement about this year's Virgin Mobile Festival. False.
Instead, the e-mail was about some updates at the popular Columbia amphitheater. Looks like the rumors were true.
They range from practical renovations -- such as tripling the size of the restrooms and drastically expanding the food service area -- to green initiatives -- such as planting hundreds of trees and shrubs and adding a biodeisel fueling station.
Oh, and then there's the new pinball lounge and the 7,500-pound chicken statue ...
No, this is not a joke. Merriweather will now have its own pinball lounge. The proceeds from it will benefit the National Pinball Museum. Uhh ... OK.
On second thought, this could actually be cool -- if the pinball machines are old school. I'm not interested in playing Lord of the Rings on a pinball machine. A Capt. Fantastic pinball machine, on the other hand, would be a winner.
I'm not kidding about the chicken statue, either. According to the press release, a 7,500-pound chicken now exists on the Merriweather grounds. Hee hee. I admire the sense of humor it takes to erect a big chicken statue.
They're going to officially announce all of this at a news conference on Monday. I'll keep you posted.
(Sun photo by Kenneth K. Lam)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
sounds like a pretty big cock.
Posted by: Allan | May 28, 2009 9:23 AM
Well, I'm not sure if it's a male or female chicken. It could be a cock. I just don't know.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | May 28, 2009 9:31 AM
Could you pass the word to Chris Kaltenbach that Kix is from Hagerstown, not Frederick.
Posted by: Local Boy | May 28, 2009 10:00 AM
Easy Local Boy....Don't "Blow your Fuse".
Sam, any updates on the V-Fest? I see the Artscape line-up gets announced next week.
Posted by: Sturmy | May 28, 2009 12:13 PM
Good news on the restrooms.
I'll be there on Saturday for the M3 Rock Fest (whole day of 80s METAAALLLLL!!!). I'll report back on Monday.
Posted by: Ryan Graham | May 28, 2009 1:15 PM
I know the guy who runs the National Pinball Museum. He's a really cool guy and has a ton of pinball machines. He has lots of old ones and a huge pinball in his yard.
Posted by: pippen | May 28, 2009 1:28 PM
David Silverman, who owns the National Pinball Museum, is married to my old boss. He is quite possibly the most hilarious person I have ever met. The museum is in the backyard of his house in Silver Spring and he has been collecting vintage pinball machines for a looong time. He used to harass me for my pocket change to benefit his museum which, until now, I never thought existed. Interesting fact #462: He is also an expert in Japanese landscaping and ceramics.
Posted by: Kate Diehn | May 28, 2009 1:51 PM
It appears that Parkinson's Law is applicable to bathrooms as well.
I went to a show there last week. If the restrooms have tripled, you can't tell by the lines.
Posted by: Abject Disaster | May 29, 2009 12:09 PM
Wait....7,500 lb cock and huge balls? Midnight Sun is working blue today.
Posted by: Abject Disaster | May 29, 2009 12:46 PM
In this summer's heat and rain showers that is gonna be one big, hard, hot, dripping cock.
Posted by: Johnnycat | June 1, 2009 4:11 PM