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Well, isn’t this cool!

From Emily Bahhar, Director of Multimedia Communications at HCPSS:

Congrats @InARTrust on landing the cover of this month’s  @washingtonian. #hocomd is the place to be!  #merriweatherpark #visithoco



Seeing this photo reminded me that I have two events at the Chrysalis coming up this week. Well, Facebook helpfully reminded me, too.


On Wednesday, I’ll be trying out my first ever Yappy Hour in the park. No, I don’t have a dog, but I’m a great admirer of dogs and an even greater Happy Hour in the Park enthusiast. I went to several last summer when outdoor events were my primary social events and they were a lot of fun. Added bonus: I bumped into people I knew every single time.

You know I love those picnic tables.


Saturday marks the return of Cultura Plenera to the Chrysalis stage. If you haven’t seen them yet, you absolutely want to put this on your calendar. If you have, you’ve probably already registered for your free tickets. For more about Cultura Plenera, take a look at my impressions in “Community Building” from August, 2021.

If you can afford to make a small donation to the Inner Arbor Trust when you register for tickets, you’ll be helping to underwrite free arts performances for those in our community who don’t have the means to pay, but, for whom these arts experiences are every bit as important as they are to you. Maybe moreso.

Accessibility to the arts isn’t simply about growing more artists and arts audiences. The arts promote a strong sense of community. They foster a sense of belonging and empowerment. The arts connect with many, many other disciplines by so many tiny threads that a free ticket to a concert may also open a door to many other amazing dreams. (“Open the Door”, September 19, 2019)

The Inner Arbor Trust has placed a high priority on making Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods the local home of high-quality, culturally diverse programming which is open to all. This kind of a mission is about removing barriers. Doing that takes a combination of “small change and major funding.” Small donations truly make a difference. 

President and CEO of the Trust, Nina Basu welcomes visitors to the park before each performance. She asks for a show of hands,

“How many people have been to an event at the Chrysalis before?”

“Wonderful! That’s awesome! Welcome back!”

“How many are here for the first time?”

“Excellent! It’s so good to have you here today! I promise you it will be easier to find the next time you come.”

Although it’s a bit of a light-hearted reference to finding a park which is actually smack-dab in the middle of town, there’s a greater truth there. Once you come to the park, you’ll want to keep coming back.

Meet me at the Chrysalis?




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