Hello Music Lovers and Happy 2011! Dale and I rang in the new year last night in high style at the Atlantic Hotel in Berlin. A shout out to Hal and his crew, as well as the Brodskys! With Berlin’s first ever “New Year’s Ball Drop” happening right outside the front doors it was quite the busy scene for a few hours. They had hot chocolate, cider and horse-drawn buggy rides around the downtown area to complete the festive mood. It was all very nice. Less than two weeks away from today is our first ever performance at the famed Avalon Theatre in Easton, Maryland. www.avalontheatre.com We’re playing in the intimate Stoltz Listening Room upstairs, which houses a mere 60 guests and offers beer and wine. Thursday, January 13, 2011, is the date, and 8pm is the start time. We’ll be playing 2 sets of 45 minutes each. I encourage you to visit their website and purchase tickets for you and yours, which are $20 each. They also have a box office open Tuesday thru Saturday from 9am to 2pm: 410-822-7299; using credit cards. I want to make this evening very special. Dale and I will be carefully choosing our tunes to make up a set list of tasty Old Standards, Jazz and some Showtunes in this intimate setting on the second floor of the Avalon Theatre in picturesque downtown Easton. There are several nice restaurants in the immediate area in which one could have a delicious dinner before the show. We would love to see you there, especially since this is our first time to appear in this venue. January 15th is the third Saturday of the month. Normally we would be appearing at the Harbor Court in Baltimore. However, we had not yet booked that far in advance when we received an offer to play for a private party on that date. Unfortunately, we were informed that the Harbor Court would not be able to accommodate us on any other Saturday in January, so we will have to wait until February to play there again. In the past 18 months we have done this gig we have enjoyed it, and have made some new friends as well as kept in touch with some old friends that live nearby. As always, keep checking this website for updates on the Appearances tab to learn when we’ll be playing there exactly. January 22, 2011 will find us sitting in with John Ewart at the season closer for his regular Saturday night gig at Beseme. www.beseme.biz Shore Jazz is the moniker his band plays under. Beseme is located in beautiful, historic Lewes, Delaware in the Hotel Rodney (which is very fashionable!) at 142 Second & Market Streets Lewes, DE 19958 302-645-8108. I visited this place last month when Dale was playing with John and Mike McShane. The Hotel Rodney looks like a chic "boutique hotel" in New York City. I LOOOOVE it! Their website tells all about the restaurant. Check it out and then come hear us play 7 to 10pm. February is always popular for us because we can cater to the lovebirds. We have three gigs lined up in a row: February 12th at the private country club in Bethany, Cripple Creek. February 13th at the Atlantic Hotel, and February 14th at Maho’s Kitchen in Crisfield. We played Valentine’s Day last year at the Atlantic Hotel and loved it. The hours are 6 to 10pm and the menu is probably somewhat set. 6 to 10pm. Dinner and romantic dancing in an elegant dining room will tell her how much you care. Make it extra special by requesting a tune that will touch her heart. Seating is limited, so call the Atlantic Hotel to reserve your spot in this intimate affair. 2 N Main Street, Berlin, MD 21811. (410) 641-3589. www.atlantichotel.com The actual Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14th, this year we will be performing at a new venue for us, Crisfield’s Maho’s Kitchen: 821 W. Main street, Crisfield, MD 21817. (410) 968-2835. They're having a prime rib and lasagna buffet and are advertising it as a Dinner Dance. This is not just for the locals! Everyone is invited to bring your Valentine out for dinner and some romantic music to swoon and swing to. Again, reservations are suggested. They do not have a website, but do have a Facebook page: Maho’s Kitchen Crisfield, MD. We expect to be booked February 19th, March 19th and April 16th at the Harbor Court in Baltimore. However, the dates are not “in stone” yet. Hopefully they will be soon, along with other third Saturdays. We are on Facebook as “Apple & Britt”. Look us up and “add” us as a friend, please. I’d love to connect with you on there. Well, I am going to bed early tonight. Not enough sleep last night due to all that New Year’s Eve partying going on in Berlin, don’t you know. Yeah, right! I wish you blue skies and warm sunshine for long walks in God’s creation. Thank you for your continued support! You are gracious and we are blessed! Rhonda