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Spring 2005:
Ghost Writer & The Alchemist's Parchment
What's New!
Welcome to the Spring 2005 edition of the Ghosts of Annapolis newsletter, "The Ghost Writer" and the new Alchemy Tea & Trading Co. newsletter, The Alchemist's Parchment. We have lots of exciting news to share with you. Our biggest news is that weve expanded our operations and have opened a great addition to historic Annapolis' haunted streets. Alchemy Tea & Trading Company opened for business on March 2nd. Along with amazingly delicious organic loose leaf teas for sale by the cup or in larger take-home quantities, we also have a great selection of tea-related gifts, yummy snacks, and a large selection of used books. Visit our new shop at 92 Maryland Avenue on the corner of State Circle and Maryland Avenue (where the ghost tours start) or online at http://www.alchemyteas.com.
Ok, now to answer the obvious question tea and ghosts?? What were we thinking? Well, as you may know, Annapolis was Maryland's major port city for nearly 200 years. During that time, one of the items that was widely imported and traded in this part of the world was tea! So, you might say that the history of tea trading in Annapolis is as old as the history of some of our ghosts. Did you know that Annapolis even had its own tea party? Well, more on that in future issues . . .
Now on to ghosts! As many of you know, we continued to operate both walking tours and haunted pub crawls throughout the winter months. We had some interesting occurrences in the quieter, darker, and colder nights of the winter season, and weve added some recent sightings and happenings to our popular walking ghost tours and haunted pub crawls.
Ongoing Walks & Crawls:
Our spring season is in full swing with walking tours returning to Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00 pm. Our Haunted Pub Crawls also returning with Friday and Saturday crawls departing at 8:30 pm. Reservations are required as tours fill up quickly as tourist season begins. Call 410-263-9686 for a reservation.
Alchemy Tea Special Events:
April 24th, 2005 4:30-6:00PM
Space Clearing with Sacred Sound Workshop:
Please dont miss this interactive, fun event. You will explore Energy Clearing for space and body with the heavenly sounds of bells and singing bowls with Pat Stone, CP, and the originator of Integrated Feng Shui. For more info, please visit her website at www.patstonefengshui.com
Astrology Update 1st Friday of every month
(April 1st, May 6th, June 3rd)
This new monthly program will give you a glimpse of the planetary energies that will be upcoming for the month ahead. No previous astrological knowledge needed. Drop-ins welcome. Donation of $3.00 to cover materials costs appreciated but not required.
Beginning Astrology
Four weeks: Tuesdays April 20th- May 11th
Time: 7:00 8:30
Price: $70 for all four weeks
$20 per class for drop-in
Minimum: 4 participants
In this course, you will learn the basics of astrology and the beginnings of interpreting an astrological chart. Each participant will receive his or her birth chart and will learn the symbolism behind each planet in the zodiac.
Week 1: Introduction to astrology, how to read a chart
Week 2: Introduction to the planets
Week 3: Introduction to the houses
Week 4: How to put it all together!
Book (Optional but a great read)
Astrology for the Light Side of the Brain Kim Rogers-Gallagher
Explore Pluto!
This new monthly program will allow you to explore the energies and wisdom of one planet in your chart. In honor of the arrival of fall, we will kick off the series with Pluto, the planet of death, transformation and rebirth. This program will include a introduction to Pluto and its astrological symbolism, a guided meditation and time for discussion. No previous astrological knowledge necessary. Birth charts will be provided free of charge to all participants.
Minimum: 3 participants
Fee: $20
Friday, April 22nd 7:00 8:30
Full Moon Tea & Book Club:
We are interested in forming a book club that will meet on or around the Full Moon each month for tea and discussion. If you are interested in joining, please email Cerise@ghostsofannapolis.com.
The Alchemist's Society: Sci-fi, Fantasy & Paranormal Club
Carter is interested in forming a book/multimedia club for his fellow Sci-fi & Fantasy. We will meet once a month to discuss our monthly book club selection, as well as to geek out over new movies, TV Shows, etc. Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith is coming in May! Damn this day job, or I could be camping out for tickets. Okay, I'm kidding, I'm not that much of a geek. And if you are, well you deserve the ribbing. For more info or to sign-up, please email me at: geek@ghostsofannapolis.com
Sightings:
While it was a relatively quiet winter season, Mary, the ghost of the Reynolds Tavern was quite active, moving coasters, and opening doors. To hear this story, please come on our haunted pub crawl OR come visit us at Alchemy Tea & Trading and hear the story while enjoying a cup of tea.
Jobs:
Ghosts of Annapolis currently has part-time jobs available for both walking tour guides and pub crawl guides. Great part-time job for energetic, flexible person. Previous theatre and/or bartending/waiter experience helpful. Will train. Please send resume to Cerise@ghostsofannapolis.com.
Links:
Our featured links are to various local artists, practitioners, restaurants, and friends who we recommend for your earthly and otherworldly needs
Pat Stone, The Feng Shui Lady, http://www.patstonefengshui.com
Tina Lanzoni, RYT, http://www.tinayoga.com
Ryan Moschell, Meditation Instructor & Massage Therapist http://www.ridgelyretreat.com
Winter 2004-05
What's New!
Welcome to the first edition of "Ghost Writer," the Ghosts of Annapolis newsletter. We'd like to thank you for your support throughout our first seasons of operation, and want to make sure that you know that even though its cold outside, the spirits are still out walking the downtown streets. And so are we!
If you are a prior guest on our tours, its not too early to come again. And if you've never been before, now's a good a time to "meet our ghosts" as any. We've had many ghost sightings over the summer months, and as such, we're constantly updating and changing the tour.
Our tours are a great idea for out of town guests and for locals alike! All of us at Ghosts of Annapolis tours wish you and your family a very Happy Holiday and New Year!
Ongoing Walks, Crawls and Special Events:
It may be cold outside, but the ghosts are still walking the streets and haunting the bars of downtown Annapolis. We are running Friday and Saturday evening walking tours at 7:00 pm and haunted pub-crawls at 8:30 pm. But, listen up!! Reservations are REQUIRED for the winter season so please call us at 410-263-9686 to ensure that a tour is going out.
Special Events:
We are pleased to add the following special events to our Winter schedule!
Singles Night: 2nd Thursday of every month (Dec 9th & Jan 13th)
Bring your friends and experience Annapolis after dark. The only stiffs on this tour are the dead ones. Drink in the history. Crawl out the door. http://www.annapolispubcrawl.com. 8:45 pm. 92 Maryland Avenue. Reservations required. Subject to availability. 410-263-9686.
Ladies Night: 3rd Thursday of every month (Dec 16th & Jan 20th)
A good man is hard to find but at least the dead ones don't talk back. Bring your friends and experience Annapolis after dark. Drink in the history. Crawl out the door. http://www.annapolispubcrawl.com. 8:45 pm. 92 Maryland Avenue. Reservations required. Subject to availability. 410-263-9686.
SPECIAL Christmas Crawl! Date TBD (Check back here by Dec 13th!)
Join us on a special haunted Christmas crawl with extra stories, opportunities to do last minute shopping and special prizes.
Sightings:
Many guests who inquire about our tour assume that we just made all these ghost stories up. As you know, if you've attended our tour, we do not make these stories up. The only stories that you hear are those that we can verify via historical documents (such as diaries, newspaper clippings, photographs, etc.). A recent addition to our walking tour serves as a good example as to how we add stories to the tour.
On our walking tour, we pass through Church Circle and the St. Anne's cemetery in downtown Annapolis. On a late tour in May, one of our guides was telling the story of the ghost that haunts the cemetery to a group of guests. When she finished the story, one of the young women on the tour walked up to her and asked if anyone had ever seen anything strange in the fountain across the street next to the governors mansion. Our guide replied, "No, but what did you see?" The young woman replied that she had seen a "man sitting in the fountain wearing a black suit and a black hat with his back toward us." Our guide noted the story and passed it along to our other guides upon her return that evening. The following week, she was again in the cemetery telling the story of the ghost that inhabits that locale when three guests on the tour gasped and said, "Did you see that?" Turning to seee what the commotion was about, the guide was surprised to find that they were facing the fountain at the Governor's mansion, and had seen a man in a black suit and hat sitting in the fountain. Our dark ghost had shown up again!!!
Upon hearing the same story two weeks in a row, we went back to look through our research and found that a man named Reverdy Johnson had, in fact, died in a tragic fall off a balcony at a party at the Governor's mansion. Reverdy was an attorney for the state of Maryland during the pre-Civil War period and had been involved at some point in the Dred Scott case, one of the cases that led to the beginning of the Civil War. Although we knew that Reverdy had died at the mansion, we didnt know where the balcony was because the mansion has been significantly renovated since its original construction. The front of the house looks Georgian, an 18th century architectural style, but was actually added in the 1930s. There are currently no balconies on the mansion. So, we shelved the story, but Reverdy (or whomever was in the fountain) continued to be seen throughout the summer months.
In September, we had the honor of hosting the First Lady of Maryland, Kendel Ehrlich, on our walking tour. Our guide told her the story of Reverdy. After the tour, Mrs. Ehrlich invited our guide to see a painting of the Governor's mansion from the 1800s. Our guide was very happy to see a balcony on either side of the mansion. As it turns out, the right side of the mansion has always been the governors private residence so only the balcony on the left side would have been used for a party. The balcony, destroyed in the 1930s renovation, was directly above where the fountain sits today! So, it is very likely that it was old Reverdy that has been sighted sitting near the Governor's mansion.
Jobs:
Ghosts of Annapolis currently has part-time jobs available for pub crawl guides. Great part-time job for energetic, flexible person. Previous theatre and/or bartending/waiter experience helpful. Will train. Please send resume to Cerise@ghostsofannapolis.com.
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