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October 18, 2025

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

6 Arts Notes

Waterfowl Festival Announces Sculptor Pati Stajcar as 2023 Featured Artist

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Pati Stajcar

The Waterfowl Festival’s 2023 Featured Artist has been announced, naming the talented Pati Stajcar. A favorite at the Festival for 17 years, Pati is excited about her selection as Featured Artist. However, the only hint she provides about her featured art piece is that “it comes from one of Aesop’s Fables, all stories about nature translating into morals for humans to follow.”

While the bronze sculpture won’t be revealed until later in the year, it promises to be heartfelt and stunning. Waterfowl Festival’s Featured Artist Program was created in 2010 to generate excitement about a chosen artist and their visual interpretation of the bounty of our natural habitat. It encourages visitors to meet the artist and see the featured piece “up close.”

In fact, Pati encourages the public to run their hands over her work to understand the feeling she has when she creates a piece. Pati hopes “you share in the experience from my heart to yours.”

“We are excited to announce that Pati Stajcar is the Waterfowl Festival’s 2023 Featured Artist,” said Charles Wrightson, Waterfowl Festival President. “She is an amazing artist and a valued member of the arts community in Easton. Pati is someone who understands the value of the organization and its mission to support conservation efforts on the Shore. We couldn’t be more pleased to have Pati as this year’s Featured Artist. It’s exciting for us to both celebrate our history of waterfowl in art and also evolve each year to showcase new and different artistic interpretations of nature.”

Working in wood, bronze and marble, life’s experiences reflect themselves in Pati’s sculptures. Energy, flowing from and around each piece, guides the gift she presents to you. Each design begins and ends in abstract but blends with the representation. Flow and balance are her subject matter expressed through nature. Her pieces excite the viewer and fit comfortably in any setting.

Misty by Pati Stajcar

Pati was born in Southeastern Pennsylvania but has been a Colorado resident for many decades.“I have my choice of living anywhere in the world and Golden, Colorado is that place,” she says. “The abundance of wildlife, sun, snow and art make this the place I call home.”

After more than 10 years in the airline industry, she left in 1985 to pursue sculpting as a professional career. Her inspiration is nature, which she finds near her home in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. She allows nature to be her guide.

Pati is an elected member of Academic Artists Association, Allied Artists of America, National Sculpture Society, The Bennington Collective and Society of Animal Artists and regularly participates in exhibitions nationwide. She volunteers as a docent with Natures Educators and as a firefighter with Foothills Fire and Rescue.

Look for the release of Stajcar’s 2023 Featured Art piece this summer.

About the Waterfowl Festival

Waterfowl Festival Inc. is dedicated to wildlife conservation, the promotion of wildlife art, and the celebration of the life and culture of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The 52nd Festival will be held November 10-12, 2023 in historic Easton, Md. VIP and corporate sponsorship packages are also available. For more information, to volunteer, or donate, visit www.waterfowlfestival.org or call 410-822-4567.

To learn more about Pati and view some of her stunning sculptures, visit https://stajcar.com.

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Mid-Atlantic Symphony Season Finale Concerts

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The Mid-Atlantic Symphony is proud to present world-renowned French cellist Dominique de Williencourt as the featured soloist in their upcoming season finale concerts. De Williencourt will be performing Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1, a stunning work of emotional depth and technical brilliance.

This performance promises to be an unforgettable experience, as de Williencourt brings his virtuosic skill and dynamic interpretation to this powerful piece. Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 is a deeply personal work, reflecting the composer’s struggles with the Soviet regime and his own mortality. De Williencourt’s performance promises to capture the raw emotion and intensity of this masterpiece.

Dominique de Williencourt

The concert program will also feature Rishab Jain, who most recently won the Dove Marimba Concerto Competition at the Kennedy Center, in the fourth movement of Brazilian composer Ney Rosauro’s Marimba Concerto No. 1. The concert will conclude with Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World,” a beloved work that has become a cornerstone of the classical repertoire. This symphony is a musical tribute to America, with its soaring melodies and colorful orchestration capturing the spirit and energy of the New World.

Under the baton of Grammy award-winning music director Michael Repper, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony will bring these masterpieces to life with passion and precision. The April concerts are not to be missed, offering a rare opportunity to hear a world-class cellist along with the Mid-Atlantic Symphony in an unforgettable performance.

…CONCERT DETAILS FOLLOW…

WHEN and WHERE: This concert will be performed at three venues on three days on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Thursday, April 27, 2023 – 7:00 PM – Todd Performing Arts Center, Chesapeake College, 1000 College Cir, Wye Mills, MD 21679

Saturday, April 29, 7:00 PM – Cape Henlopen High School, 1250 Kings Hwy, Lewes, DE 19958

Sunday, April 30, 3:00 PM – Performing Arts Center at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City, MD 21842

TICKETS

Individual tickets for this concert are $55 per person at each venue.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony offers a group discount for the purchase of 10 or more tickets to a single concert.

The Orchestra also makes a limited number of free tickets available for students 18 years and under; tickets for accompanying parents are $10 each. Reservations are required for the free tickets and may be made by calling 888-846-8600.

PODCASTS                              

Podcasts for the season preview, for each concert, and for special MSO events are available on the MSO Web site at midatlanticsymphony.org/podcast. Podcasts are posted on the site approximately 7 to 10 days before a concert or event.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the 2022-2023 season, or to order tickets, please visit www.midatlanticsymphony.org. Tickets may be ordered by telephone at 888-846-8600.

ABOUT THE MID-ATLANTIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra is the only professional symphony orchestra serving southern Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore with a full season of programs. The MSO is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council; the Talbot County Arts Council; the Worcester County Arts Council; the Sussex County, DE Council; and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.

A complete schedule of the 2022-2023 season’s Masterworks and Ensembles programs, venues, times, and other information is available at www.midatlanticsymphony.org.

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Talbot Arts is Accepting Applications for Community Arts Development Grants

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Talbot Arts, the arts council in Talbot County, is accepting applications until May 15, 2023, for Community Arts Development grants. These grants are awarded annually to arts organizations and programs to support and create equitable access to artistic and cultural experiences throughout the county.

New this year, organizations and programs applying for funds no longer need to match dollar for dollar any funds received from the Arts Council. Grants are awarded based on the artistic merit of the proposed arts activities, the perceived ability of the applying organization to carry them out, and how well the program will serve the residents and guests of Talbot County. Because the Arts Council receives more grant requests than can be accommodated by available resources, it retains the right to accept or reject applications, suggest changes, and support grant requests in full, in part, or not at all.

Applicants must be organized as Maryland non-profit corporations with IRS tax-exempt status or be government-related entities such as libraries or parks and recreation departments. Organizations that would like additional information about CAD Grants or assistance with the application procedure are welcome to contact the Arts Council by phone or email.

The Arts Council is offering a workshop on CAD Grant preparation at 5:30 pm on Thursday, April 20 at the Eastern Shore Conservation Center, 114 South Washington Street. Space is limited. Anyone interested in attending should mail [email protected] in advance.

CAD Grant information is sent directly to organizations that received grants during the past two years and organizations that expressed previous interest in securing support for arts programs. Criteria, guidelines, and applications requesting support for a single program or support for multiple programs are available on the website https://www.talbotarts.org/cad-grants. For further information, contact Talbot Arts by phone at 410-245-5195.

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Oxford Picket Fences Benefit Local Nonprofits

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Golden Twilight Hour – Diane Evans

The Oxford Business Association has been supporting local nonprofits since 2007 with an auction of one-of-a-kind painted Picket Fences. Local artists from Oxford, St. Michaels, Easton, Centerville and Hurlock volunteered their time and talents to create these 4-picket sections of the iconic Oxford Picket fence, depicting life on the Eastern Shore. The fences will be on display throughout the town of Oxford for the entire summer, late April through early September. This year there are 14 fences, and each was created in support of a Talbot County nonprofit. On September 9th, the fences will be sold at auction at the Oxford Community Center. All proceeds from each fence will go to their respective nonprofit.

This project is meant to invite everyone to explore Oxford and its unique shops and restaurants, while allowing OBA to give back. This year the 14 partner organizations and artists are: Brookletts Senior Center (Diana Evans), CASA of the Mid-Shore(Sally Fronk), For All Seasons Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center (Stephen Walker), John Wesley Preservation Society and Museum (Louisa Zendt), Oxford Community Center (Pasquale DiLulio), Oxford Fire Dept (Diane Araps), Oxford FD Auxiliary (Martha Cole), Oxford Museum (John Tochko), Shore Rivers (Maggii Sarfaty), Sts. Peter and Paul School (2 fences, Erin Zimmerman, Jacqui Gosselin & student Ashley Reinoehl), Talbot Humane Society (Mark Montoya), Talbot Interfaith Shelter (Jen Schmidt), and Waters Methodist Church(Diana Evans

Visitors and locals alike are encouraged to come stroll the shady streets of Oxford and discover these little gems on display On September 9, all the fences will be on display at the Oxford Community Center for a reception and live auction. The OCC auditorium will be full of people vying for a chance to take one of these one-of-a-kind pieces of art home, for display in their gardens, on their porch or in their home. Many of the fences have artwork on both sides, so the successful bidder will get two original works of beautiful art!

In addition to being on display in Oxford for the summer, the Picket Fences will be promoted on the OBA website, https://portofoxford.com/ and on social media.  Anyone unable to attend will also be able to leave a proxy ‘left-bid’ on the website.

The Oxford Business Association works to promote the town of Oxford and to provide a positive business environment for its members to achieve cultural, civic, economic, and business goals and contribute to the prosperity and vitality of the Oxford community. Additional sponsors include the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry, Brinsfield Fence Co., Oxford Inn & Pope’s Tavern and the Oxford Community Center. Visit www.portofoxford.com for more information.

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Main Street Gallery’s Spring Show

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Main Street Gallery is excited to present “SPRING SHOW 2023 –including New Artists, New Media”. The gallery has recently welcomed four new members who bring with them a wealth of talent, experience and exciting new work in a variety of media. They will be showing alongside the gallery’s other 9 members.

Sheryl Southwick is a well- known, award winning artist and arts educator from Easton. Sheryl makes collages,  paintings and prints and says “Color and texture have been the main focus of my work since I began painting”.  She says that a year spent in Paris and the French artist Pierre Bonnard were great influences on her art.

Painting by Sheryl Southwick

Bill Pavan is a woodworker from Cambridge. He is showing his graceful wooden bowls, vases and pepper mills which are often accented with metal and inlays of natural materials such as oyster shells. His work, he says, “specializes in accentuating the natural beauty of wood, metal and other renewable resources”. Besides his art, Bill has a career as a geneticist at NIH.

Rick Klepfer who lives and maintains his studio in Cambridge is showing a suite of black and white pen and ink drawings of Dorchester County scenes and flora and fauna from the Blackwater wildlife refuge. Rick has divided his working life among his art, architecture and writing and has contributed articles and illustrations to many national publications.

And finally, David Stevens returns to the gallery after a long absence. David, who has spent his career devoted to his art, was one of the original members of the coop and at that time showed his photos of maritime scenes. The multi-talented artist will now be showing his abstract, wall hung wooden sculptures, some of which incorporate stained glass.

“Spring Show 2023” opens on Wednesday May 3 and runs through Sunday July 2. Come meet the artists at two receptions on second Saturdays, May 13 and June 10 from 5-8 pm. All are invited and light refreshments will be served.

Main Street Gallery is located at 518 Poplar St. in Cambridge’s lively arts and entertainment district. The gallery is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11-5 and Saturdays from 11-7.

For more information call the gallery at 410-330-4659 or visit their website at mainstgallery.net

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April at The Trippe: Stephen Haynes Modern Impressionist Returns

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The Trippe Gallery is pleased to feature artist Stephen Haynes: Modern Impressionist for the month of April. There will be an opening reception on Friday April 14 from 5-7 with the artist as well as a demonstration of his painting techniques on Saturday April 15 art 11am at the gallery.
Stephen Haynes is a self-taught painter currently living in the greater Pittsburgh area. A lifelong artist, Stephen spent his formative school years among the beaches of southern California, and summers in the mountains of West Virginia. This divided time gave him a diverse outlook and an immense love of the outdoors. Showing his work publicly for over 20 years, Haynes has tried his hand at most art forms at one time or another. In his current work, the artist uses vibrant oil colors, mixed on the canvas, to convey light, shadow and form through thick impasto brushwork, evoking movement and abstract qualities. His painting influences are as plentiful as they are diverse. From well known impressionist masters like Van Gogh, Monet and Cassatt, to landscape painters Edgar Payne, Isaac Levitan and Tom Thompson along with many others, too numerous to count.
Haynes has participated in Plein Air Easton in 2021 and 2022. He received an Honorable Mention for “Morning Joe” in The Quick Draw competition in 2022. His paintings reside in numerous private collections.
The Trippe Gallery is located at 23 N Harrison Street in Easton, Md. For more information please call 410-310-8727 or visit the website thetrippegallery.com

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Announcing a “Taste of Oxford” at the Oxford Fine Arts Gala

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The Oxford Community Center is pleased to announce the Oxford restaurants will showcase their culinary talents for the 39th Annual Oxford Fine Arts Gala Preview Party Friday, May 19th 6-8 PM. The Robert Morris Inn, Oxford Inn/ Pope’s Tavern, Doc’s Sunset Grille and Capsize are designing elegant appetizers for this evening of art and culture. The Oxford Garden Club is creating centerpieces to reflect the beautiful featured image by artist Susan Shauer Johns as well.  The Steinway comes alive with the musical stylings of the Julie Parsons Project to add that final touch of entertainment for the evening.

Oxford Fine Arts Gala preview party has become the talk of the art community.  Each year a new juror curates an exhibition and sales show that can only be seen in its entirety on that first night. Collectors travel from all over the region to meet the artists and bring home a unique, original masterpiece. The juror for the 2023 show is Bernard Dellario.  Bernard is the current President of the Washington Society of Landscape Painters, the First-Place winner at Winslow Art Center’s 2021 Winter Exhibition and Best in Show winner from the Academy Art Museum 2019 Annual Member Exhibit. His selections include multiple mediums and many of the thirty-six juried artists have never shown in the show before. This year the featured artists’ medium is fabric art which is truly fascinating to see. No tickets to the Gala can be sold at the door.

The Friday night gala is especially exciting with the award ceremony. The judge this year is John Brandon Sills. John Brandon Sills received his BA In Fine Art at Towson State University in 1984, while a student at Towson State John studied Renaissance Art in Florence, Italy. John then attended the Schuler School of Fine Art in Baltimore, Maryland, graduating in 1988. His paintings are in numerous collections in the United States as well as collections in Canada, England, France, Jamaica, Grand Cayman B.W.I. and Australia.

On Saturday and Sunday, the exhibit is open to the public from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The raffle of beautiful artwork donated by the artists happens at the end of the show Sunday afternoon. Lunch items are available onsite for purchase on both days. The famous strawberry shortcake is not to be missed!

The juried exhibition and sale have supported the work of Oxford Community Center (a non-profit 501(C-3), since the early 1980’s to provide the region with a year-round schedule of free or reduced educational, cultural and recreational programs and events.  This event supported in part by Talbot Arts (talbotarts.org) with revenues provided by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org). For more information and to buy your ticket, please visit the Oxford Community Center’s website at www.oxfordcc.org or contact the center at 410-226-5904.

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Roald Dahl’s Matilda, the Musical, Coming to Church Hill Theatre

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After months of anticipation, Church Hill Theatre proudly confirms that Roald Dahl’s Matilda, the Musical, the beloved story of triumph over adversity, will amuse and amaze Delmarva audiences from June 9 to 25. First a novel then a fan-favorite movie, and international stage success, Roald Dahl’s Matilda, the Musical empowers both children and nurturing adults as obstacles are met—and overcome. With memorable music and astonishing special effects, this CHT show promises to be the highlight of the year.

Sylvia Maloney, directing her 18th CHT musical, has brought together an especially large and talented cast of newcomers and veteran performers. Kevin Thomas directs the live orchestra and Cavin Moore is responsible for choreography.  The set and telekinetic miracles are provided by Michael Whitehill and Tom Rhodes.

Matilda Wormwood, an exceptionally intelligent child, is played by Carly Mourlas and Sydney Hill. Kathy Jones, portrays her arch nemesis, CrunchemHall’s headmistress, Miss Trunchbull. Matilda’s neglectful and abusive parents are portrayed by Matt Folker and Heather Joyce-Byers. The local librarian, Mrs. Phelps is played by Becca Van Aken and a compassionate teacher, Miss Honey, is being played by Hannah Yoder.  They do their best to support the children. Other adults include Noah Thompson as the Escapologist while Cavin Moore portrays the Acrobat.

Photo: From L to R First Row: Rooney Rosati, Charlie Thomas, Liam Kruhm, Schuyler Hemsley, Carly Mourlas, Sydney Hill, Camden Hubbert, Cecilia Bagshow, Isla Clemens, Russell Laing. Second Row: Olivia Coppage, Addyson Crooks, Helen Willard, Hannah Yoder, Becca Van Aken, Emme Dumont, Sam Haldgreve. Top Row: Dalton Knotts, Jocelyn Matero, Heather Joyce-Byers, Matt Folker, Cavin Moore, choreographer, Kathy Jones. Not pictured: Maria Boone, Travis Stotts, Noah Thompson, Herb Ziegler. Photo by Steven Atkinson.

Crunchem Hall young students, Little Kids, are played by Russell Laing, Schuyler Hemsley, Rooney Rosati, Charlie Thomas, Liam Kruhm, Isla Clemens, Cecelia Bagshaw, Camden Hubbert, while Maria Boone, Olivia Coppage, Addyson Crooks, Emmalyne Dumont, Sam Holgreve, Dalton Knotts, Jocelyn Matera, Travis Stotts and Helen Willard portray the older students, or Big Kids.

The Church Hill Theatre spring musical almost always fills the house, so advance reservations are strongly advised.  Roald Dahl’s Matilda, the Musical will run for three weekends starting June 9, with performances at 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 pm on Sundays. Tickets are available on the website: www.churchhilltheare.org or by calling the Church Hill Theatre office at 410-556-6003.

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SMAL Announces Winners of 2023 Original “Celebrate St. Michaels” Banner Art

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”On Locust Street” by Mary Ellen Mabe

The St. Michaels Art League is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 Banner Artwork Show. This is the artwork used to create the banners displayed on the town’s utility poles beginning each year in April, through November.

This year’s banner art was judged by award winning local artist Bradford Ross. Brad studied visual communications and illustration at Montgomery College in Rockville, MD and then studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore where he was awarded a BFA. He continued further study at the Schuler School of Fine Art in Baltimore where he received classical training. Brad is currently an instructor at the Academy Art Museum in Easton.

Brad selected recipients for awards in three categories: Fine Art, Graphic Design, and a new category this year, Best Representation of St. Michaels.

First place in the category of Fine Art went to Mary Ellen Mabe for her oil painting titled “On Locust Street,” Second Place went to Kathleen Rosengerger for her watercolor titled “Windward,” and an Honorable Mention went to Walter Urbanekfor his oil painting “Blue Heron.” For the category of Graphic Design, First Place went to Scott Sullivan for his digital piece titled  “Hooper Strait Light,” Second Place to Stephen Walker for his painting “Harvest to Catch,” and an Honorable Mention went to Stacey Sass for her watercolor titled “Flying Free.”The new award for banner representing best depiction of St. Michaels went to Naomi Clark-Turner for her painting titled “Another Good Catch.”

“Celebrate St. Michaels” posters featuring banner art, framed and unframed can be purchased at Creative XPressions, 204 S. Talbot St. in St. Michaels.

This program is funded in part by a grant from the Talbot County Arts Council with revenue provided by the Maryland State Arts Council.

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Karen Somerville & Sombarkin in Concert Mother’s Day Weekend

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Karen Somerville, iconic Eastern Shore vocalist, songwriter, recording artist and producer, will appear for the first time at Church Hill Theatre in two exceptional concerts on Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14. This event dovetails with the Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage in Queen Anne’s County on Saturday, offering a truly memorable Mother’s Day experience.

Karen Somerville is a Kent County native, proud of her rural heritage and close-knit family. Her musical education began at home with musician parents and was nurtured in church, where she learned the fine points of close group harmony. Karen is a graceful and expressive soloist, bringing new insights to jazz classics and familiar tunes from the American Songbook, but she also loves collaboration. Together with long-time friends Lester Barrett, Jr. and Jerome McKinney, her award-winning trio Sombarkin has been performing since 2002, singing a wide selection of gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, and folk music. Sombarkin is supported by Gerry Werner on piano, Jeff Davis on bass, Anthony Warren on guitar, and Ray Anthony on drums. The Church Hill Theatre show will include both group and solo arrangements across their repertoire.

L to R: Ray Anthony on drums, Jeff Davis on bass, Gerry Werner on piano, vocalist Karen Somerville, and vocalist Lester Barrett, Jr.. Not pictured are Anthony Warren on guitar and vocalist Jerome McKinney.

Karen was a background vocalist on the Stevie Wonder “Songs in the Key of Life” tour in 2014. Her one-woman show, “Just Call Me Billlie,” is a moving tribute to the legendary Billie Holiday. Sombarkin’s most recent album, Up & Over, was released in 2022.

Karen Somerville & Sombarkin are in concert at Church Hill Theatre at 7 pm on Saturday, May 13 and at 4 pm on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 14.  Early bird tickets are available until April 30 for $40 on our website, churchhilltheatre.org or by phoning the box office at 4410-556-6003. Later or at-the-door tickets will be $50. This special opportunity fundraising event is sponsored by ShoreToBeFun Photography.

The Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage is a decades-old tradition, with several cities or counties sharing gardens and historic homes at their springtime best on a rotating basis.  The event returns to Queen Anne’s County on Saturday, May 13, when eleven properties, including Church Hill Theatre, will welcome guests from 10 am to 5 pm.  Ticket information is available at mhgp.org.  If you are making this a weekend excursion, take in the concert after the Saturday tour or brunch on Sunday.

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