Baltimore and more …

JULY 1

Palaces to Pagodas, part of the Artward Bound program, parents and children take a self-directed tour of the museum and kids participate in a craft activity, 1-4pm, The Walters Art Gallery, 410-547-9000. $

Cool Kids Saturdays, children meet a noisy kookaburra, a snake and other animals from the Baltimore Zoo, hands-on activities at EdZoocation Stations, 10am, Harborplace’s Light Street Pavilion-2nd level, 410-332-4191.

JULY 1-3

Baltimore Orioles vs. Toronto Blue Jays, various times, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, 410-685-9800. $

JULY 2

Harborplace’s 20th Birthday Celebration, Harborplace celebrates 20 years as Baltimore’s premiere attraction by the water, with a cake-cutting ceremony, special musical entertainment an many surprises, noon-2pm, Harborplace Amphitheatre, 1-800-HARBOR-1.

Star-Spangled Sunday Matinee, Film: Benjamin Banneker: The Man Who Loved the Stars, sponsored in part by the Maryland Commission for Celebration 2000, recommended ages: 4th grade-adult, 3pm, Maryland Historical Society, 410-685-3750.

JULY 4

Baltimore’s July 4th Celebration, this daylong celebration, complete with concerts, an antique car show and strolling performers, is capped off by a giant fireworks display, choreographed music, guaranteed to light up the sky, 11am-10pm, Harborplace Amphitheatre, fireworks take place at 9:30 p.m. over the Inner Harbor, 1-800-HARBOR-1.

Minnie V. Twilight Lecture-Cruises, cruise aboard the skipjack to view the fireworks on the Inner Harbor, with speaker Alan Walden, 7-10pm, Maryland Historical Society, 410-685-3750 ext. 321. $

JULY 6

Making Sense, Christian Marclay deploys all kinds of music paraphernalia in making his work, part of the First Thursday Video Programs, 6pm, Contemporary Museum, 410-783-5720.

JULY 7

A Night in Old Vienna, let your imagination take you to a Viennese Masquerade Ball and be swept away by the waltzes of Johann Strauss, Jr., the love songs of Fritz Kreisler, and the passion of Ravel’s Bolero, part of the 2000 Summer Musicfest, 7:30pm, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 410-783-8000. $

JULY 8

2000 Summer Jazz Series, listen to the sounds of hot vocalist Jeffrey Smith with Talib Kibwe on sax, 7pm, Wurtzburger Sculpture Garden-Baltimore Museum of Art, 410-396-6001. $

Dragon Delights, part of the Artward Bound program, parents and children take a self-directed tour of the museum and kids participate in a craft activity, 1-4pm, The Walters Art Gallery, 410-547-9000. $

Beasts and Bones, the exhibit where art and science meet, view Nancy Graves’ wacky behemoth of a bronze sculpture, and hands-on fossil creation, ages 6 and up, 1-3pm, Baltimore Museum of Art, 410-396-6320. $

JULY 9

Freestate Daylily Society Exhibit and Sale, the annual event features society members, hundreds of blossoms, plant material and more, noon-4pm, Cylburn Arboretum, 410-367-2217.

Star-Spangled Sunday Matinee, Films: Frog Goes to Dinner, The Doughnuts, The Cat and the Fiddler, sponsored in part by the Maryland Commission for Celebration 2000, recommended ages: preschool-adult, 3pm, Maryland Historical Society, 410-685-3750.

Workin’, shows artists and other people on the job, paint and draw a portrait of yourself, ages 6 and up, 2-4pm, Baltimore Museum of Art, 410-396-6320. $

JULY 10

Creepy Crawlers Critters, explore the bottom of the ocean and discover animals such as sea stars, whelks and crabs, 8:15-9:30am, National Aquarium in Baltimore, 410-727-FISH. $

JULY 11

Minnie V. Twilight Lecture-Cruises, "An Evening with Francis Scott Key," learn the story behind the writing of "The Star-Spangled Banner," presented by living-history actor Alan Gephardt, 6-8pm, Maryland Historical Society 410-685-3750 ext. 321. $

JULY 12

Devilish Delights, listen to Paganini’s La Campanella along with Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz and Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks by Richard Strauss, part of 2000 Summer Musicfest, 7:30pm, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 410-783-8000. $

JULY 13

Minnie V. Twilight Lecture-Cruises, "An Evening with Francis Scott Key," learn the story behind the writing of "The Star-Spangled Banner," presented by living-history actor Alan Gephardt, 6-8pm, Maryland Historical Society, 410-685-3750 ext. 321. $

JULY 13-15

Baltimore Orioles vs. Atlanta Braves, various times, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, 410-685-9800. $

JULY 14

The Soaring Eagle Dance Troupe: Imagination Inspiration Performance Series, experience Native-American dancing, singing and drumming traditions with many opportunities for audience participation, featuring talents of young people from Baltimore’s Lumbee-Cheraw Indian community, 10am and 11:30am, Maryland Historical Society 410-685-3750. $

Symphonic Voyages, visit Prague with Mozart’s Symphony No. 38, travel to ancient Persia with Rossini’s Overture to Semiramide, and soak up the Amdalusian Sun in Ravel’s Rapsodie espagnole, part of the 2000 Summer Musicfest, 7:30pm, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 410-783-8000. $

2000 All Star Basketball Games, culminating activity for summer instructional basketball camp, 1pm & 2pm, Bentalou Recreation Center, 410-396-0105.

JULY 14-16

Harbor View Festival, experience various concerts, parades, food, crafts, jewelry, and boat rides, Fri. 6:30pm-10pm, Sat. and Sun. 1pm-10pm, Reedbird Park, Cherry Hill, 410-485-9536.

JULY 15

Easter Seals Great Duck Derby and Cruise for Kids, 10,000 little rubber ducks are launched into the water during the derby and the annual Cruise for Kids allows children with disabilities to be guest for a cruise, proceeds benefit Easter Seals, 10am, HarborView Marina and Yacht, 410-576-8343. $

The Write Stuff, part of the Artward Bound program, parents and children take a self-directed tour of the museum and kids participate in a craft activity, 1-4pm, The Walters Art Gallery, 410-547-9000. $

Behind the Scenes Tour, go behind the Aquarium’s spectacular exhibits and navigate around pipes, hoses, tanks and filters, from anemones to zooplankton, participants get an intimate look at life behind and inside the exhibits, ages 12-adult, 9:30-11:00am, National Aquarium in Baltimore, 410-727-FISH. $

JULY 16-18

Baltimore vs. Florida Marlins, 7:35pm, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, 410-685-9800. $

USTA Women’s Tennis Tournament, join some of the city’s best tennis players, 8am, Druid Hill Park Tennis Complex, 410-396-7020.

JULY 17

Funny Fish and Sharks, discover the most unusual fish at the Aquarium, see cow-nosed rays, bonnethead sharks and more, 8:15-9:30am, National Aquarium in Baltimore, 410-727-FISH. $

JULY 18

Minnie V. Twilight Lecture-Cruises, "Sea Songs, Shanties and Sailor Yarns," lecture-cruise aboard the historic skipjack with an evening of musical entertainment and storytelling, with speaker and shantyman Will Priest, 6-8pm, Maryland Historical Society, 410-685-3750 ext. 321. $

JULY 18-21

Senior’s Crab Feast, featuring a buffet luncheon, all-you-can-eat crabs and music by the Zim Zemeral Orchestra, 11:30am-3:30pm, Martins West, 410-396-2920. $

JULY 18-23

USTA Women’s Satellite Tour of Baltimore, come see some of the best local tennis players compete,

JULY 19-20

Baltimore Orioles vs. Boston Red Sox, 7:35pm, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, 410-685-9800. $

JULY 20

Minnie V. Twilight Lecture-Cruises, "Sea Songs, Shanties and Sailor Yarns," lecture-cruise aboard the historic skipjack with an evening of musical entertainment and storytelling, with speaker and shantyman Will Priest, 6-8pm, Maryland Historical Society, 410-685-3750 ext. 321. $

JULY 21

Baltimore Plays with the Kinderman: Imagination Inspiration Performance Series, explore games and play traditions enjoyed by children in the past and present, with John Kinderman Taylor, 10am and 11:30am, Maryland Historical Society, 410-685-3750. $

JULY 21-23

ARTSCAPE, the nation’s largest and premiere arts festival returns for its 19th year showcasing local and regional literary, visual and performing arts, Fri. 6-10pm, Sat. and Sun. noon-10pm, Mount Royal Cultural Court, 410-396-4575.

Family Fossil Finds, hike through Flag Ponds Nature Park and comb sandy beaches for fossils while learning the natural history of the Chesapeake Bay area, 10am-1:30pm, National Aquarium in Baltimore, 410-727-FISH. $

JULY 22

Ancient Wonders, part of the Artward Bound program, parents and children take a self-directed tour of the museum and kids participate in a craft activity, 1-4pm, The Walters Art Gallery, 410-547-9000. $

JULY 23

Lifeguard Games 2000, Baltimore’s finest lifeguards will compete in timed rescues, 500 yard swim and various life guarding technique demonstrations, 9am-12pm, Riverside Park Pool, 410-396-3838.

JULY 25

Minnie V. Twilight Lecture-Cruises, "Crimes of the Chesapeake: Fact and Fiction," cruise explores the mysterious crimes that some say have been committed on the Chesapeake Bay, with presenter Roy Surrett of the United States Custom Service, 6-8pm, Maryland Historical Society, 410-685-3750 ext. 321. $

JULY 25-26

Obstacle Course Race Group Competition, Summer camp, schools and community groups are encouraged to register, certificates, medals and t-shirts awarded to winners, 9am-5pm, Clarence "Du" Burns Arena, 410-396-4202. $

JULY 27

Minnie V. Twilight Lecture-Cruises, "Crimes of the Chesapeake: Fact and Fiction," cruise explores the mysterious crimes that some say have been committed on the Chesapeake Bay, with presenter Roy Surrett of the United States Custom Service, 6-8pm, Maryland Historical Society, 410-685-3750 ext. 321. $

Annual Metropolitan Obstacle Course Race, individual competition for participants 13 and under only, certificates, plaques and t-shirts awarded to winners, 6pm-8pm, Clarence "Du" Burns Arena, 410-396-4202. $

JULY 28

A Maryland Magic Show with the Amazing Clowns & Etc.: Imagination Inspiration Performance Series, action-packed performance with Ted White, featuring magic tricks, balloon creatures, audience participation and Maryland stories, 10am and 11:30am, Maryland Historical Society, 410-685-3750. $

JULY 28-30

Baltimore Orioles vs. Cleveland Indians, various times, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, 410-685-9800. $

JULY 29

Saturday Sunsets, enjoy the smooth sounds of jazz guitarist Rick Hannah, 8pm, Top of the World Observation Level, 410-837-VIEW. $ 2000 Summer Jazz Series, listen to live music in an informal garden setting, 7pm, Wurtzburger Sculpture Garden-Baltimore Museum of Art, 410-396-6001. $

Lively Landscapes, part of the Artward Bound program, parents and children take a self-directed tour of the museum and kids participate in a craft activity, 1-4pm, The Walters Art Gallery, 410-547-9000. $

JULY 31

Baltimore Orioles vs. Minnesota Twins, 7:35pm, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, 410-685-9800. $

The Oriole Bird meets Baltimore Orioles fans, representing Baltimore’s hometown heroes of baseball, the Oriole Bird meets fans of all ages to pose for pictures, 12:30-2pm, Harborplace Amphitheatre, 1-800-HARBOR-1

Frogs, search a pond for bullfrogs, explore the South American Rain Forest for poison-dart frogs and end the tour with a closer look at frogs in the classroom, 8:15am-9:30am, National Aquarium in Baltimore, 410-727-FISH. $