UP to SPEED
Your ticket to:
☐ 5,000 bonus points
after first purchase
Amtrak Guest Rewards®
presents the new Amtrak
Guest Rewards MasterCard®
from Chase®.
Receive 5,000 bonus points
after your first purchase
and there’s no annual fee!
Cardmembers also earn
2 points per $1 spent on
Amtrak purchases, 1 point
per $1 spent on purchases
everywhere else.
Points can be redeemed
for free Amtrak travel, gift
certificates and more. Apply at
Amtrakguestrewards.com or
call 888-58-AMTRAK.
Subject to credit approval.
Restrictions and limitations apply. For
pricing and rewards details please
visit Amtrakguestrewards.com. Amtrak
Guest Rewards credit cards are issued
by Chase Bank USA, N.A. and may be
serviced by its affiliates.
one companion traveling in coach
with a paid regular (full) adult rail
fare ticket on Amtrak travel to
Philadelphia. This offer is valid for
sale through March 10, 2009, and
valid for travel between Feb. 23
and March 13, 2009. Book online
at Amtrak.com. Restrictions and
blackout dates may apply. Request
discount code V553 for Narnia
when you book by calling 800-USA-
RAIL. See page 83 for blackout
dates and other restrictions.
Bella Italia: The landscapes and culture of Italy
serve as inspiration for the
“2009 Philadelphia Flower
Show—Bella Italia.” A stair-
case stage features operatic
performances and other
musical presentations. The
central feature of the 2009
show captures the majesty
of Rome and its formal style
and gardens. Exhibitors also
pay tribute to other areas of
Italia, including Milan, Flor-
ence, Tuscany, Venice and
others. Pennsylvania Con-
vention Center. March 1–
8. theflowershow.com.
Save 20 percent on the
best available regular (full)
adult rail fare ticket on Amtrak
travel to Philadelphia. This offer is
valid for sale from Jan. 5 through
March 10, 2009, and valid for travel
between Feb. 23 and March 13,
2009. Book online at Amtrak.com.
Restrictions and blackout dates
may apply. Request discount code
V782 for the flower show when
you book by calling 800-USA-RAIL.
See page 83 for blackout dates
and other restrictions.
MARYLAND
B&O Railroad Museum
in Baltimore: Celebrate
the contributions of African
Americans to the railroad
industry during Black
History Month at the B&O
Railroad Museum. Learn
about the men and women
who filled vital jobs all along
the B&O Railroad’s line and
understand how significant
social issues, such as segregation, affected railroading. Proudly presented by
Amtrak. Feb. 1-28. borail.org.
Happy Birthday:
Celebrate both the B&O’s 182nd
birthday as well as the 125th
birthday of the historic
1884 Baldwin Roundhouse.
The B&O runs programs
on both the birth of the
oldest railroad in America
and the 1884 Roundhouse.
Feb. 27–March 1. borail.org.
B&O Railroad Museum—
Ellicott City Station:
“Civil War: The Maryland
Story.” Learn about life
in and around Ellicott’s
mills during the Civil War,
a defining moment in our
nation’s history. See how
divided loyalties and the
burden of war affected
daily life. The grand open-
ing weekend is Feb. 14–15,
continuing Wednesdays
through Sundays through
June 21. ecborail.org.
Celebrate Poe: The Poe
House and the City of Baltimore present “The Edgar
Allan Poe 2009 Bicentennial Birthday Celebration.”
Actor John Astin presents
a tribute to Poe, featuring
readings of his works and
discussions of his life, concluding with a presentation
of Poe’s most famous poem,
The Raven. Also, theatrical
performances of Poe’s tale
of revenge, Hop Frog, and
his story of a mummy
brought back to life through
electricity (shades of
Frankenstein) will be presented.
After the Sunday performance, a birthday cake (a
scale model of the Poe Monument, designed by Duff
Goldman of Food Network’s
Ace of Cakes fame), will be
given away to a member of
the audience. This will occur
on the first weekend only. A
cake in the shape of a coffin
will be given away during the
second weekend only. $30
per person. Westminster
Hall—the burial place of
Edgar Allan Poe—Fayette
and Greene Streets in
downtown Baltimore.
Jan. 17 at 7 p.m., Jan. 18 at
4: 30 p.m., Jan. 31 at 7 p.m.
and Feb. 1 at 4: 30 p.m.
nevermore2009.com;
poecelebration.tripod.com.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang:
You’ll believe a car can fly
when Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
soars onto the Hippodrome
Theatre stage. Sensational
sets, an irresistible story and
an unforgettable Sherman
Brothers score, including memorable classics
like “Truly Scrumptious,”
“Hushabye Mountain”
and, of course, the Oscar-nominated title song, all
add up to a Broadway blockbuster the whole family will
love. “Chitty has fun written
all over it!” says The Wall
Street Journal. Based on the
MGM/United Artists motion
picture, with music and lyrics
by Richard M. Sherman and
Robert B. Sherman. France-Merrick PAC, 12 N. Eutaw St.,
Baltimore. Tickets $20–$65
(plus $2 restoration fee). Jan.
6-18. France-merrickpac.com.
Grease is the word: The
one that you want is back!
Time magazine’s 2007 pick
for “#1 musical of the year”
is rockin’ across the country
in this new production direct
from Broadway. Take a trip
to a simpler time of poodle
skirts, drive-ins and T-birds.
“Bad boy” Danny and “the
girl next door” Sandy fall
in love to all your favorite
songs: “Summer Nights,”
“Greased Lightnin’ ” and
“We Go Together.” So
Hand Jive the night away
with the show that’ll make
