September 13, 2010

Homewood Museum opens exhibit on drink in early Md.

Homewood Museum toasts the new academic year with the exhibition Cheers! The Culture of Drink in Early Maryland and three Friday evenings of traditional tastings. The opening reception is from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 16.

Presenting more than 50 objects drawn from local private and public collections and the museum’s own holdings, the exhibition explores the visual and material culture of wine, spirits, beer and “cyder” in early Maryland’s finest homes, with an emphasis on Baltimore and Homewood’s Carroll family.

Wine bottles, decanters, coasters, glassware, corkscrews, cellarettes and other related equipage, all created between 1790 and 1840, have been gathered to illustrate the vast array of tools used to heighten the delight of imbibing. The exhibition, open through Nov. 28, is on view as part of the museum’s regular guided tours.

The tastings, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., are titled “Mad About Madeira” (Sept. 24), “The Wines of Maryland’s First Families” (Oct. 1) and “Historic Home Brews” (Oct. 8). For ticket information, go to http://museums.jhu.edu/calendar.php?type=special.