Even though the temperature has us in the last grips of summer, the fall cultural season is already in full swing. There is a whirlwind of theatre openings over the next few weeks including the inauguration of Chesapeake Shakespeare Company's new home in downtown Baltimore.

Major events on the way include the Baltimore Book Festival and September 10 is the launch of the O Say Can You See! Star-Spangled Spectacular, a free festival that celebrates the 200th anniversary of the national anthem. Tall ships, Navy ships, and the Blues Angels will come to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor to celebrate along with living history demonstrations, music, food, beverages, and more. GBCA members Baltimore National Heritage Area and the Maryland Historical Society, along with The American Flag Foundation, have created the War of 1812 Bicentennial Passport, which visitors can populate with stamps from participating sites and programs throughout the area.

Also launching next week is the 2014 Baltimore Innovation Week. The Creative Track Day is Friday, September 19 and includes a session with Fab Lab Baltimore. Be sure to check out events throughout the week including Bridging the Gap: Connecting Cultural Institutions and Learners in the Digital Age.

Please join me in welcoming GBCA’s new Membership and Development Manager, Elena Kostakis. Elena was most recently the managing director at Strand Theater and for five years prior to that, was the executive director of the Baltimore Theatre Alliance. Members can expect to hear from Elena as she settles in here at GBCA.

Here’s hoping the final throes of summer are cooler,

Jeannie