MD Company Solves The DIY Wedding Bar Problem

Chesapeake Bartenders and Events

If you're planning a wedding in Maryland you've probably had this conversation: "We love your bartending services, but we just can't afford $3,000." Courtney Smith, owner of Chesapeake Bartenders and Events, heard that line hundreds of times. After serving 150+ weddings across the DMV, she finally did something about it. She took everything her team does to plan seamless wedding bars and packaged it into a $99 digital guide couples can use themselves. "I got tired of watching couples stress over their wedding bar," Smith says. "They'd find some random calculator online, and I'm thinking, 'That's either way too much or not nearly enough depending on your crowd." The Real Problem: Most couples make the same mistakes: buying wrong quantities, forgetting ice melts faster in summer, not accounting for setup time, choosing glassware that breaks easily. "I've seen couples run out of alcohol at 9 PM because they used a generic calculator," Smith explains. "Or bought $500 worth of liquor they didn't need." What She Built: The DIY Wedding Bar Planning Guide includes interactive calculators that adjust for your actual wedding—time of day, season, guest demographics. It includes a 16-part audio guide and a real wedding case study showing what 155 guests consumed over five hours. The guide answers: - How much does ice melt in July vs November? - Should you buy champagne for toasts? - What's the cost difference between wine bottles and boxes? - How do you set up a bar so guests aren't waiting? Who It's For: Budget-conscious couples, couples whose venues require in-house bartending, or anyone wanting to understand what they're paying for. Smith, who has 20 years of bartending experience and runs three businesses including 1631 Event Venue, says: "Free calculators tell you what to buy. We tell you why, and how to avoid disasters." The guide is available at chesapeakebartenders.com/diy-wedding-bar-planning-guide

Montgomery County

Gaby Arancibia

Washington Metropolitan Area

Bethesda-Chevy Chase

Maryland

 If you're planning a wedding in Maryland you've probably had this conversation: "We love your bartending services, but we just can't afford $3,000...

Arlington Language School Marks 40th Anniversary

ICA Language Services

ICA Language Services (ICA), a family-owned, woman-led small business based in Arlington, is celebrating its 40th anniversary, marking decades of supporting the U.S. military and diplomatic community through language training and testing. Founded in April 1986 as Inlingua Foreign Language Center, a 6-classroom language school, ICA expanded under the leadership of Deidre Doyle, an entrepreneur with a background in organizational management who joined the company the same year. As a military spouse, she had developed a deep understanding of military organizations and culture, helping shape ICA into a trusted provider of language training and testing for military professionals. Doyle became a partner in 1993 and sole owner in 2009, when she changed the name to ICA Language Services. Today, ICA operates a 60+ classroom schoolhouse in Rosslyn and has delivered nearly five million hours of language instruction and more than 30,000 language assessments across 120+ languages. ICA also provides training on military bases throughout the US and abroad. The company is now led by President and CEO Lexie Casey, Doyle’s daughter, who joined ICA in 2009 after a decade in government contracting. Casey became a partner in 2014 and assumed day-to-day leadership in 2015, when Doyle transitioned to Chair of the Board. ICA has employed more than 1,300 individuals from 131 countries, often providing a first job in the United States for language professionals. Certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, ICA provides proficiency- and performance-based language training and testing services supporting diplomacy, security, and global engagement. For more information, visit www.icalanguages.com.

Arlington County

Clarendon-Courthouse-Rosslyn

Virginia

ICA Language Services (ICA), a family-owned, woman-led small business based in Arlington, is celebrating its 40th anniversary, marking decades of...

Afternoon Tea in Pike & Rose 🫖🥐🥯

Tea Room at Hello Betty

Delight in a curated selection of premium teas, delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and artful pastries—each crafted to be savored slowly and shared generously. Whether celebrating a special occasion or simply elevating your afternoon, our tea service is an invitation to pause, sip, and indulge in something beautifully refined.

Delight in a curated selection of premium teas, delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and artful pastries—each crafted to be savored...

New Baseball Training Facility at the Rockville Sportsplex 

Player Development Lab of Rockville

Designed for baseball players who want to train like pros, with coaches who’ve developed them. At the Player Development Lab, baseball training is a motivational journey. It’s where aspiration meets reality and progress can be quantified with modern metrics. Through time, effort, and access to well qualified trainers and equipment, members now have a private environment of their own and a staff of the best baseball minds in the area to consult with. Our philosophy is to make training fun, challenging, and rewarding, but equally as important - focused and accessible. Come see what we’re about at the Rockville Sportsplex.

Designed for baseball players who want to train like pros, with coaches who’ve developed them. At the Player Development Lab, baseball training is...

Your Kids Can Have An AWESOME FUN Summer!

Summer At Sandy Spring

Summer At Sandy Spring is a great Summer Day camp offering equal parts fun and uniqueness. For over thirty years, we have provided families with a safe, engaging, and active summer camp experience for children three years old to fourteen. With the sprawling Sandy Spring Friends School campus, we offer summer experiences for your children that will provide lifelong memories and friendships. Your children will have opportunities to explore Adventure Park, swim in our man-made pond, partake in our weekly theme weeks, enjoy daily hot lunches, and so much more! Some of our exciting activities: Adventure Challenge • Archery • Archery Tag • Art Bonanza • Bubble Soccer • Computer Programming • Dance/Poms • Fishing • Flight Science • Karate • Lego Robotics • Outdoor Living Skills • Painting • Paper Maché • Photography • Rock Climbing • STEAMers • Theater • Video Production and much more! Phone number: 301-774-7455 ext.167

Montgomery Village

Summer At Sandy Spring is a great Summer Day camp offering equal parts fun and uniqueness. For over thirty years, we have provided families with a...

Ni Hao! Come and join Language Stars at the Playseum for an interactive, fun story time in Chinese! Miss Xiaoxi will be reading and acting out your favorite stories in Chinese. Experience Chinese culture and language in action by also participating in some fun games! Xie Xie!

Mandarin Storytime with Language Stars at Be With Me Playseum!

Schools

Kensington

Potomac

Fairfax County

Michael O'Connell

McLean

Wheaton

Takoma Park

District of Columbia

Georgetown

District Of Columbia

Silver Spring

Arlington

Rosslyn

Clarendon

&nbsp;The free&nbsp;<a href="https://howardexpo.accessjca.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Howard County, MD, Virtual 50+ Employment Expo&nbsp;</a>is designed to connect all jobseekers aged 50 and over with age-friendly employers via Zoom.
<a href="https://virtualexpos.accessjca.org/schedule-of-expos/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Expo program</a>&nbsp;10 a.m. - 4 p.m*.
<ul>
 <li>Workshops (10:00 a.m.) 
 Start your day with two engaging workshops tailored to jobseekers 
aged 50 and above. These sessions provide valuable strategies, 
tools, and insights to support your career journey. </li>
 <li>Crafting a Resume That Gets You Noticed, Jerri L. Harris<a href="https://howardexpo.accessjca.org/workshop-presentations/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">,</a> Career Specialist, CSCC, SPHR, and Keyara Stevenson,&nbsp;Director of Career Services, <a href="https://www.howardcc.edu/services--support/career-services/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Howard Community College.</a> </li>
 <li>From Résumé to Relevance: Using AI to Translate Experience into Today’s Hiring Language,&nbsp;Mark D. Rasch, Lawyer and Computer Security and Privacy Expert.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>Employer Presentations (12:00 p.m.) 
 Employers
 share information about their current full and part-time job 
openings. Jobseekers can ask employers questions via the Zoom chat,
 making the expo a dynamic and interactive experience.</li>
</ul>
Jobseekers: Whether you are re-entering the workforce, 
changing careers, or seeking new opportunities, you are invited to join 
us for the expo on Thursday, May 7, 2026. Register today
at: <a href="https://howardexpo.accessjca.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">HowardExpo.AccessJCA.org</a>. 

* We will extend the expo to accommodate additional employers.
Registration is free and required. <a href="https://howardexpo.accessjca.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Register today!</a>
The&nbsp;free Howard County, MD, Virtual 50+ Employment Expo is sponsored by the&nbsp;Howard County, MD - Office on Aging and Independence and 
supported by&nbsp;the Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA) of Greater Washington.
If you need this information in an alternate format or need 
accommodations to participate, call Maryland Access Point at 
410-313-1234 (voice/relay) at least one week in advance.
JCA serves people of all faiths, races, ethnicities, and income levels.

Local Event: Age 50+ Jobseekers - Register today - Howard County, Virtual 50+ Employment Expo

Age 50+ Jobseekers - Register today - Howard...

 The free Howard County, MD, Virtual 50+ Employment Expo is designed to connect all jobseekers aged 50 and over with...

Age 50+ Jobseekers - Register today - Howard County, Virtual 50+ Employment Expo

McLean School-Falls Road Campus (Lower School)

If you are concerned about your child’s reading ability, McLean School is pleased to offer an upcoming complimentary Acadience Reading Screening.
Extensive evidence shows that struggling readers who do not receive early intervention fall behind academically and it is harder for them to catch up in later grades.
This complimentary 30-minute session will provide actionable data using the Acadience Reading Screening, one of three universal reading screeners in the United States proven to reliably identify students who need immediate reading intervention.
<a href="https://calendly.com/mclean-readingscreenings/complimentary-reading-screening-saturday-may9?month=2026-05&amp;date=2026-05-09" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Register Today To Reserve Your Spot</a>
<a href="https://www.mcleanschool.org/reading-screening/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Read More Information About McLean's Complimentary Reading Screening</a>

Local Event: Complimentary Reading Screening for Kindergarten to Grade 3 Students

Complimentary Reading Screening for...

If you are concerned about your child’s reading ability, McLean School is pleased to offer an upcoming complimentary Acadience...

Complimentary Reading Screening for Kindergarten to Grade 3 Students

Alden Theatre

Ever wonder how others perceive you? “Seinfeld” writer Pat Hazell goes in search of his own “Permanent Record” in a confessional night at The Alden Theatre filled with humor, heart and humanity. Hazell hired an actual opposition research company to investigate his past, and he is now forced to define himself. Pat opens the vault to his faults, foibles and foul play to turn a stroll down Memory Lane into a high-speed chase down Memory Highway. If you can’t laugh at yourself, why not laugh at him? Saturday, May 9, 7 p.m. (ASL interpreted) $30 Standard/$25 Seniors/$20 MCC district residents.

Local Event: Pat Hazell's "Permanent Record" at Alden Theatre

Pat Hazell's "Permanent Record" at Alden Theatre

Ever wonder how others perceive you? “Seinfeld” writer Pat Hazell goes in search of his own “Permanent Record” in a...

Härth

This Mother’s Day at Härth, discover a beautifully curated brunch set in a warm and elegant atmosphere.&nbsp; Seatings available from 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM.&nbsp; Delight in a seasonal spread featuring a chef-attended carving station, fresh brunch favorites, locally inspired accompaniments, and an array of decadent desserts. Thoughtfully designed to bring everyone together, it is a gracious way to honor the moms and mother figures who mean so much. A moment to savor, share, and remember. <a href="https://www.opentable.com/r/harth-mclean" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Reserve</a>&nbsp;via Open Table $79 per guest inclusive of tax, service fees, and gratuity.&nbsp;

Local Event: Mother's Day Brunch at Härth

Mother's Day Brunch at Härth

This Mother’s Day at Härth, discover a beautifully curated brunch set in a warm and elegant atmosphere.   Seatings available...

Montgomery County Fairgrounds, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877

Paws in the Park is festival of fun for you and your dog/s! Hosted by the Montgomery County Humane Society, this event includes a dog walk, agility competition, games, contests, prizes, music, food, entertainment and more!&nbsp; All proceeds support the life-saving work of MCHS.

Local Event: Paws in the Park

Paws in the Park

Paws in the Park is festival of fun for you and your dog/s! Hosted by the Montgomery County Humane Society, this event includes...

ON St. Elmo

We are on a roll! 13 shows. 13 sellouts. This show is sure to be number eight! Your headliner this month:
RAHMEIN MOSTAFAVI
Rahmein Mostafavi charms crowds with comic timing and charisma developed throughout two decades of live performance. He addresses social and political topics with a combination of satirical and observational comedy, leaving audiences with a greater sense of purpose, sex appeal and the occasional leg cramp.
Rahmein entered the stand-up world after working as a longtime cast member of “Shear Madness,” the acclaimed Kennedy Center improv/comedy whodunit. His natural joke writing ability, combined with his acting chops, has won him rave reviews in both the Washington area and around the country. He also produces events like a rockstar, bringing live comedy to venues in Maryland, DC and Virginia. He is also the creator and host of the national smash hit Couples Therapy: A Comedy Show.
Rahmein has shared the stage with some of the best comics in the nation, including Dave Attell, Jake Johannsen, Artie Lange, Bert Kreischer, Rich Vos, Jon Lovitz, Tim Meadows, Joe Matarese, Bob Marley, The Sklar Brothers, Jen Kirkman, Red Grant, Godfrey, Joe Torry, Kyle Kinane, Finesse Mitchell, Louis CK, and Maz Jobrani. He has been featured at the Laugh Your Asheville Off comedy festival, The Devil Cup, Red Clay, The Cleveland Comedy Festival, and the Cape May Comedy Festival. Rahmein has been seen on FOX, heard regularly on Sirius XM, was featured in “The Truth About Money” on PBS, is a regular at the DC Improv, Kennedy Center, and was honored to be a speaker at the world famous TEDx Talks.
FEATURING
AMBER HENDRIX
Amber Hendrix is a Richmond, Virginia-based comedian and producer with the bite force of a juvenile caiman. A writer for satire sites Reductress and The Hard Times, Amber has opened for Dave Attell, Emily Catalano, Rachel Scanlon, and Geoffrey Asmus, among others. She recently featured at the 2025 Raleigh Comedy Festival and performs regularly at the DC Improv.
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amberjack_hendrix?igsh=MWhpbjF4d2dsd2I3dw==" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">instagram.com/amberjack_hendrix?igsh=MWhpbjF4d2dsd2I3dw==</a> MATT CHRZANOWSKI
Matt Chrzanowski is a stand-up comedian based out of Washington, DC. He talks a lot about his southern upbringing and corporate life. There isn't much overlap between the two. Matt has performed at the DC Improv, Laughing Skull Lounge, 9:30 Club, and the Red Clay Comedy Festival. He's performed with acts such as Joey Avery, Dan Toomey, and Eddie Ifft. Instagram: @matt_chrzanowski
HOSTED BY:
PETE BERGEN
He may look and sound gruff but he is a big bear of a sweetheart. You’ll love his take on his own sordid history and observations in general. He has opened for and performed with some great folks like Patton Oswalt, Rory Scovel, Bobcat Goldthwait, Annie Lederman, David Koechner, Kelsey Cook, Annie Lederman, Alonso Bodden and more while featuring and headlining some great venues like the DC Improv (DC), Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse (VA), Magooby’s Joke House (MD), Nicks Comedy Stop (Boston), Governors (NY), Church Of Satire (PA) and The Drafthouse Comedy Theater (DC). He is also in recovery and is in demand for 12 step conventions all over. You may recognize Pete from his numerous appearances on Investigation Discovery shows or from his episode on the classic Americas Most Wanted. He always plays a cop because, well, look at him. Pete can also be seen as a contributor on local panel shows “Like It Or Not” and “The Final 5”, both on Fox 5 DC, offering up humorous takes on the days events.

Local Event: On St. Elmo Comedy Bunker 14: Rahmein Mostafavi

On St. Elmo Comedy Bunker 14: Rahmein Mostafavi

We are on a roll! 13 shows. 13 sellouts. This show is sure to be number eight! Your headliner this month:
RAHMEIN...

Clothing Brand Opens 1st MD Store

Clothing brand Johnnie-O has opened its first brick-and-mortar location in Maryland.

Business

Reston

Kayaker Who Died After Potomac River Rescue...

A 22-year-old Lynchburg man was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital after a rescue attempt and was pronounced dead.

Kayaker Who Died After Potomac River Rescue Identified As VA Man

Crime & Safety

Rockville

Rockville HS Gets 'Dedicated' Officer As SRO...

The Rockville City Police Department will be stationing a "dedicated" officer at Rockville High School.

Rockville HS Gets 'Dedicated' Officer As SRO Calls Grow

17 MD Hospitals Earn ‘A’ Grades In New Hospital...

The Leapfrog Group’s Spring 2026 Hospital Safety Grades are a biannual ranking that assigns letter grades to all general hospitals in MD. 

17 MD Hospitals Earn ‘A’ Grades In New Hospital Safety Ranking

Health & Fitness

6 Restaurants In Bethesda Taking Mother’s Day...

Treating mom to brunch or dinner is one of the top ways to celebrate Mother’s Day on May 10, but to do that, you’ll need to book a table.

6 Restaurants In Bethesda Taking Mother’s Day Reservations

Seasonal & Holidays

'Pharmageddon' Could Close Pharmacies: What To...

Pharmacists in several states are participating in a “Pharmageddon” protest of working conditions at CVS, Walgreens and other pharmacies.

Nearby Communities

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National Edition