November 28, 2011

Historic house museums ready to celebrate the holiday season

The Johns Hopkins University’s historic house museums, Homewood Museum and Evergreen Museum & Library, will showcase the sights and sounds of the season with lavishly decorated period rooms, artfully trimmed trees, music by candlelight and other holiday activities during their annual Season of Celebration, which begins Saturday, Dec. 3, and runs through New Year’s Eve. Here is a list of this week’s events; for a complete list, museum hours and membership information, go to www.museums.jhu.edu.

Season of Celebration Museum Tours

Homewood Museum and Evergreen Museum & Library. Saturday, Dec. 3, through Saturday, Dec. 31, museum hours.

See two of Baltimore’s most beautiful historic houses decked out in their annual holiday best. Groups of 15 or more may schedule tours with options for tea or box lunches. For information, contact Nancy Powers, 410-516-0341 or museums@jhu.edu. $8 adults; $7 seniors (65+) and AAA members; $5 students (with ID), youth (6–18) and Johns Hopkins alumni and retirees; free for members, Johns Hopkins faculty, staff and students (with valid ID) and children (5 and under).

Silhouettes for the Holidays

Homewood Museum will host cut-paper artisan Lauren Muney from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3.

This form of art, around since the last part of the 18th century, has shown a recent renewed popularity and will no doubt hold true for more to come. Muney’s custom paper profile keepsakes of you or your loved ones will make the perfect holiday gift (and elevate Facebook profiles to an art form). Each silhouette portrait is $26 for two copies, and the price includes admission to the museum. Framing is available for an additional cost. Reservations are recommended for sittings, which take less than five minutes. Call 410-516-5589 or email homewoodmuseum@jhu
.edu to register or for more information.

Discount Shopping Days

The museums will offer discount holiday shopping days for JHU faculty, staff and students from Saturday, Dec. 3, through Sunday, Dec. 11.

Unique holiday items are in stock, along with jewelry, decorative arts, textiles, educational items, paper goods and publications. Everyone with a valid JHU ID will receive 10 percent off all merchandise, excluding consignment items. Museum members will receive 20 percent off, double their normal discount.

Homewood by Candlelight

Homewood Museum, Monday, Dec. 5, 5 to 7 p.m.

Glittering candlelight makes this Palladian-inspired, Federal-era house—decorated for the holidays by the Homeland Garden Club with garlands and boxwoods—appear as it might have in the early 19th century. The reception hall will be filled with the sounds of classical and jazz music performed by JHU student musicians, and the gift shop will offer a wide variety of holiday gifts. Eggnog and cookies will be served in the wine cellar. $6; free for members and JHU students.