JMM Insights: What We’re Looking Forward to this Summer
Following the Fourth of July holiday, the JMM team found ourselves thinking about summer traditions. This year especially, we are looking forward to the return of some of our treasured traditions and discovering new ones.
Below are some of the team’s favorites, many of which represent all that is great about the summer in Maryland. Perhaps you will find one of your favorites in the list below or get inspiration to try something totally new.
We want to hear from you about your favorite summer traditions! Share your ideas by replying to this email, and we will include your submission in the comments section for this newsletter once it is posted on our website.
This summer, I’m looking forward to spending more time at the Maryland Zoo! I live a short distance from the zoo and find it comforting to have cheetahs, lemurs, and polar bears as neighbors. I’m always particularly excited to see Maisie, the zoo’s 10-month-old chimpanzee, and Piper and Hudson, the zoo’s river otters. I may even treat myself to one of the Zoo Experiences, which include feeding giraffes or tortoises, or even tossing fish to the penguins!
~Maggie Hoffman, Archivist
This summer I am most looking forward to the following:
- Sitting in the shade at the pool reading books
- Going to the beach
- Eating Rita’s lemonade ice
- Not wearing shoes (aka: foot prisons)
~Allene Gutin, Museum Educator
This summer I plan to study the upright bass, make a third attempt at reading Infinite Jest (David Foster Wallace), and reconnect with family and friends I have been separated from through the pandemic.
~Sol Davis, Executive Director
One thing I enjoy every summer is getting to eat fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables.This summer, I’m looking forward to visiting local pick-your-own places like Weber’s Cider Mill Farm and Larriland Farm and enjoying the fresh fruit I pick there afterwards.
~Laura Grant, Program Assistant
This summer I am looking forward to going to several free concerts at Lurman Woodland Theatre in Catonsville. The concerts are outdoors where you bring your chair and get to enjoy two hours of good live bands. We enjoy rock ‘n’roll the most, but there is a variety of music on the schedule. My husband, some of his family, and I will be listening, singing and maybe even dancing to the music.
~Sue Foard, Membership & Volunteer Coordinator
This summer, I’m looking forward to spending some time outdoors fishing. I grew up fishing and enjoy the calm tranquility of the water and the surprise and fight against the fish’s strike. I don’t often get out with the rod and reel anymore, but here are several spots around Baltimore I would like to check out: North Point State Park, Fort Smallwood Park, Patapsco State Park, Gunpowder Falls, Loch Raven Reservoir, Prettyboy Reservoir, and Deer Creek.
Check out the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website to explore these sites and more. Most of these sites are also great for hiking.
~Chris Sniezek, Manager, Esther’s Place
This summer I’m looking forward to family gatherings at the beach, and hanging out with aunts, uncles, and cousins I haven’t seen since early 2020.
~Joanna Church, Director of Collections and Exhibits
We moved to the Catonsville area in the Fall of 2019, so we are excited to get a chance to explore our neighborhood during the summer. We already had a chance to enjoy a July 4th parade, plus the outside dining areas of a few local restaurants. The thing my kids seem to most enjoy is sampling the local ice cream, so far we have tried Opies and the Greenery Creamery, both of which were delicious.
~Trillion Attwood, Director of Programs & Visitor Experience
Upcoming Program:
40 Days of Teshuvah Film Screening
Sunday, July 18th at 7PM Eastern
Join JOC Mishpacha Project, Hinenu JOC, and Hinenu: The Baltimore Justice Shtiebl for a community screening and discussion of 40 Days of Teshuvah, a film by The Inside Out Wisdom and Action (IOWA) Project and filmmaker Hannah Roodman that weaves together a story of bringing Jewish spiritual practice into the fight for racial justice.
Save the Date. Link for registration coming soon.
Esther’s Place Online:
July 4th Bundle
Check out the latest bundle available exclusively through the online shop.
This collection features books and memorabilia perfect for keeping the July 4th festivities going throughout the month.