Monday, December 20, 2010

Friends Old & New at Historic Sotterley's Holiday Party!


Every year, during this most festive season, Historic Sotterley's Emeritus Trustee and devoted supporter, Michael Whitson hosts a wonderful holiday celebration on Sotterley's behalf. And every year, special guest Majority Leader Congressman Steny Hoyer attends, along with many generous sponsors, Sotterley Board of Trustees members, staff and volunteers.

In the best of cheer, invited guests gathered at the J.T. Daugherty Conference Center for the 6:00 p.m. reception, thanks to the gracious hospitality of Tom Waring and Brian Norris. As the dinner hour approached, all received a votive candle and a hush came over the crowd ... the holiday music began, the screens were parted, and the oohs and aahs could be heard as guests were invited to dine in a wintry wonderland. Tables were elegantly set amid arrangements of sparkling icicles and red roses, with the mammoth winter scene backdrop. And it just kept getting better and better! Lisa and Michael Kelly of the Brome-Howard Inn (and introducing Canard's Catering) not only wow-ed the crowd with the most delightful ambiance, but also created a meal to remember: five delectable hors d'oeuvres, butternut squash bisque, baby greens with baked brie encrusted in almonds, rockfish bites and jumbo lump crab, braised short ribs with chimichurri, potato duchess, haricot verte and red pepper bundle, topped off with a winter wonderland of chocolate for the sweet!

We would also like to thank all of the evening's friends and sponsors, whose generosity is incredibly humbling - we would not be able to carry on our mission without you:

Butch Long & Cindy Salyard, MIL Corporation
John & Cheryl Blazer, Blazer's Custom Construction
Beverly Perry & Tom Graham, PEPCO
Dr. V.K. Shah & Dr. Na Shah, Shah Associates
Larry & Martha Wise
Michael Colina & Linda Cannon, RMC Corporation
John & Julie McAllister
Michael & Sara Middleton, Community Bank of Tri-County
Joe & Carmen Slater, SMECO
John & Julie Norris
Jim Cornelson, Old Line Bank
Charles McPherson, The Facchina Group
Charles & Rosine Downs, Downs Plumbing
John & Mary Bohanan
Lynn Erwin & Michael Whitson, Tri-County Abstract
Gregory "Steve" & Diane Proctor, G.S. Proctor & Associates
Tom Waring & Brian Norris
Lisa & Michael Kelly

Monday, December 13, 2010

Holiday Candlelight Tours - Thank You ALL!




Sotterley Plantation is grateful to The Sotterley Players (an all volunteer acting troupe) for sharing their talents, for dedicating their time and efforts, and for making this a wonderful and memorable event! Those involved with The Sotterley Players strive to entertain, educate, uplift, challenge, enlighten, and enrich their audiences. There have been nothing but rave reviews on your performance - THANK YOU!

Playwright
Bettylou Ryan

Cast (in order of appearance):
Derek Vanoss
Bettylou Ryan
Catherine McKnight
Geno Rothback
Hannah Rothback
Thomas Patrick Welton
Pat Greenwell
Frank Greenwell
Amanda Stroup
Kim Bessler
Erin Rothback
Maggie Campbell
Lillian Turner
Mallory Turner
Neal Rothback
John Houser
Susan Ramsey
Jeri Cropper
Marshall Aleks Vanoss
Steve Claggett
Adam Cropper
Adam Groff

And a big round of applause to the volunteers and contibutors who made this event extra special:
Phyllis Abell
S. Arjunan
Bailey's Party Rentals (Official Sponsor)
The BayNet
Barbara Bell
Blue Wind Gourmet
Patrick Bogan
Miriam Bonk
Glenn Brown
Mickey Brown
Pat Brown
Burch Oil
Cafe' des Artistes
Chopticon High School Choral Group
Jan Christopherson
Civil Air Patrol
Isabel Cochran
Compass Pointe, LLC
The County Times
Debbie Cox
Jenny Culpepper
Jeanne Davis
Joseph Dickerson
Dream Weaver Events & Catering
Expressions Catering
Lynn Fitrell
Billy Fitzgerald
Heriberto Flores
John Gaylord
The Gazette Newspapers
Grand Rental Station - Solomons
Great Mills High School Choral Group
Lori Hamilton
Linda Ireland
Marshall Jones
Phyllis Krasnokutsky
Lenny's Restaurant
Leonardtown High School
Leonardtown High School Choral Group
James LePore & BayNet Radio
Eve Love
Sharon Mattingly
Penny McCoy
Daphne McGuire
Francis Obeya
Beverly Putnam
Raley, Watts & O'Neill Insurance & Financial Services (Official Sponsor)
Judy Raynor
Genise Rondina
Barbara Rottman
Jack Rottman
Janet Rowland
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Sotterley Garden Guild
Sotterley Staff
Annie Skaggs
Star 98.3 - T-Bone & Heather
Ginni Stein
Sunshines Catering
The Patuxent Partnership
Bob Trible
Carole Tucker
Linda Tucker-Jones - Sotterley Event Manager & HCTours Production Manager
Charles Wallace
Nancy Warren
Wentworth Nursery
Lori Werrell
Rebecca Werrell
Karol Wolgemuth

Monday, December 6, 2010

BIG Thanks to the Family Plantation Christmas HELPERS!


Much thanks to ALL involved with Family Plantation Christmas 2010!
This was our most successful year yet
and we are grateful to so many for helping us out!

Bailey’s Party Rentals (Sponsor)
BayNet Radio
Compass Pointe, LLC
J&J Builders General Contractors, LLC (Sponsor)
Liberty Office Supply
Naval Air Museum
Patuxent Voices
Donna Reeves
Sotterley Garden Guild
Sotterley Staff
Southern Maryland Girl Scouts
Star 98.3 FM - T-Bone & Heather
Suttler Post Farm
Frank Trossbach
Carole Tucker
Wentworth Nursery

Sotterley Volunteers:

Bob Aldridge
Marie Alfiere
Angelic Allen
Alyson Bahel
Donald Barber
Mary Bauer
Brittany Benthall
Mary Bonk
Miriam Bonk
Kathy Brigham
Dave Brown
Mickey Brown
Pat Brown
Leslie Burgess
Timothy Burke
Steve Carroll
Brianna Church
Miriam Bonk
Laura Dean
Katerina Dudley
Louise Evans
Sara Fisher
Gary Frick
Carol Fugate
Lyndsay Fournier
Susannah Fowler
Shelby Frank
Michelle Gafford
Steven Gafford
Adrienne Gordon
Debbie Gray
Lori Hamilton
Alonzo Hatton
Veronica Henry
Melissa Hislop
Chasen Hughes
Linda Ireland
Trina Jacobs
Kristen Johnson
Roy Johnson
Marshall Jones
Tina Keeler
Cheri Kidd
Nico Kidd
Steve Lee
Daphne McGuire
Lauren Miller
Mary Miller
Judy Moe
Mary Monk
Paula Moroz
Steven Morris
Margot O’Meara
Pam Parker
Marie Rau
Judy Raynor
Debbie Reetz
Paul Rehder
Sue Rehder
Rich Richardson
Mary Roderick
Rod Rodman
Genise Rondina
Janet Rowland
Lauren Schaefer
Erika Schmitt
Jessy Schroeder
Annie Skaggs
Michael Skidmore
Alicia Smith
Jackie Smith
Lauren Smith
Louise Snell
Jesse Stottlemyer
Melanie Sweezy
Meredith Taylor
Bob Trible
Carol Tucker
Nancy Warren
Emily Wavering
Molly Whitacre
Kristen Woods
Mary Wrabley

THIS WEEKEND: Holiday Candlelight Tours!


Holiday Candlelight Tours 2010 - "Spies and Other Guests!"
THIS Friday and Saturday nights!
December 10 & 11th
Tours begin at 6 pm and run every 10 minutes
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED! (Sorry, we cannot accommodate walk-ins)

New Script! "Spies & Other Guests" - set during The Civil War Era!

The Sotterley Players are ready to perform the new script this weekend! Not only is this a wonderful script by playwright Bettylou Ryan and tremendous acting by the entire cast, but this is the tour held within our 1703 Plantation House (a.k.a. The Mansion)!

Setting the stage: The Civil War rages on throughout the Southeast, but the holiday spirit is alive and well at Sotterley. Upon entering the historic Plantation House, tour guests will have the opportunity to witness the annual holiday celebration of Dr. Walter Hanson Stone Briscoe and Mrs. Emaline Briscoe. Along with their family and closest friends, this year’s guest list also includes “Spies and Other Guests”! The mood is one of joyous merriment as enchanting stories are shared.

Live musical performances from local premiere high school choral groups and complimentary cookies and punch will be available in the historic Barn, prior to the reserved tour time.

NEW THIS YEAR: Save Time! Buy Online: www.sotterley.org. The cost is $15 per person.
Phone orders 301-373-2280: $16 per person

For Members Only: Members' Night of the Holiday Candlelight Tours will be held this Thursday. Please call the office to schedule your tour. Another advantage of becoming a Sotterley Plantation Member: Opening Night of the Tour in an atmosphere of total merriment - delicious food & the wine flows freely! 301-373-2280

Friday, December 3, 2010

FPC: FUN for All!


Family Plantation Christmas
at Sotterley Plantation
Saturday, December 4th, 2010
10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Family Plantation Christmas will be held on Saturday, December 4th, 2010 from 10 am – 4 pm at Sotterley Plantation, offering a full day of wonderment and Christmas spirit!

Turkey Shed: 300 Years of Christmas Display!

Old Fashioned Horse-drawn Carriage!

Carol Sing with the Girl Scouts! 10:00 am - 12:30 pm & 2:00 - 4:00 pm

Swag Making Demos ~ Sotterley Garden Guild! 12 :00 pm & 2:00 pm

Patuxent Voices Acapella Group! 1:00 - 2:00 pm

Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen! purchase baked goods, hot chocolate & bottled water

Sotterley Garden Guild’s Seasonal Greens & Gifts Sale!

NEW! Crafters & Vendors! a wonderful variety of specialty items, so shop on!

Letters to Santa!

North Gatehouse: Decorated one-room schoolhouse!

Sotterley Museum Shop/Knott Farm House:

Visit Santa & Mrs. Claus!

Santa’s Secret Shop! Kids, come shop for your family and friends!

Sotterley Museum Shop! Purchase Unique Christmas Gifts for all on your list!

Food Vendors: On A Roll! Bear Creek BBQ!

NEW! Petting Zoo! Visit the sweet creatures!

Help Decorate A Tree for Sotterley’s furry and feathered friends with the Garden Guild!

Make Unique Seasonal Crafts!

Face Painting!

John Deere Toy Trains, Trucks & Tractors Display!

Twelve Days of Christmas Holiday Hunt!

The cost is $5 per person at the gate.