From today’s b the paper:

•••• Mad River Bar & Grille, 1110 S. Charles St., Federal Hill, hosts a happy hour 6-9 p.m. Thursday to benefit Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland. $10 admission covers one drink and $1 off subsequent drinks until 9 p.m. Contact Debbie Brown, 443.573.0929 or events@mowcm.org
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Fall is the best time to plan a getaway.

Crowds have dissipated. The sun is still warm, even though the air is crisp. The cultural-events season commences, and festivals flourish, celebrating flora, foliage, fall harvests and more.

Best of all, the Mid-Atlantic region produces some of the most spectacular fall foliage in the nation. We’ve found five fabulous fall destinations, all no more than five hours from Baltimore.

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Can we all just get along?

That question ran quietly through my mind as I prepared to lead a dozen workmates on a four-day bicycle ride along the C&O Canal from Cumberland in Western Maryland to Washington. Prickly personalities weren’t the concern. The big gap in biking experience was.

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Here are just a few options for volunteer opportunities in the coming weeks:

•••• Patapsco Valley State Park seeks volunteers to join its Trail Crew in improving and upgrading its trail system. Work days are Saturday (National Public Lands Day) and Oct. 25. Times are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sign up in advance for each particular date; e-mail lmartin(at)dnr.state.md.us

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I finally followed through on a summertime goal of mine over the weekend and went crabbing down at Point Lookout State Park, on the southern tip of St. Mary’s County. Not that I have any crab to show for it.

I caught a grand total of four crabs, none large enough to keep. Not even close, actually. (I might have even caught the same runt twice at one point.) I’m a fan of the “Deadliest Catch” show on the Discovery Channel, and the experience reminded me of a line I recently heard after the professionals pulled up a string of empty pots: “That’s why they call it fishing and not catching.” Amen. I did catch a farmer’s tan.
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