The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, MilkBoy Open Performance Venue and Restaurant Near University of Maryland

COLLEGE PARK, Md., April 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- MilkBoy ArtHouse, a new dining, art and performance venue, will open its doors in College Park on May 2. A partnership between the University of Maryland Foundation Board of Trustees, The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center and MilkBoy, a Philadelphia restaurant group and entertainment company, MilkBoy ArtHouse is part of the Greater College Park initiative, a $2 billion public-private investment to revitalize Baltimore Avenue, enhance the academic campus, and further strengthen university-city partnerships.

"On behalf of the entire University of Maryland Foundation Board of Trustees, I am so pleased to see the opening of MilkBoy ArtHouse. This project is a terrific example of the strategic investments made by the foundation to support the mission and priorities of the University. This amazing venue will bring arts and culture to the thriving and growing Greater College Park area," said V. Raymond Ferrara, Chair of the Board of Trustees, University of Maryland College Park Foundation.

MilkBoy ArtHouse's offerings range from classical, contemporary, cabaret, global pop, indie rock and jazz music to film, performance and spoken word, with the intent to feature UMD students, as well as local, national and international artists. The venue will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., with a full performance line-up to begin in fall 2017.

"We're proud to team up with The Clarice to enhance the arts and entertainment offerings currently available to the University of Maryland campus and surrounding community, and bring a unique dining experience to the area," said Jamie Lokoff, partner at MilkBoy. "We're glad to be part of Greater College Park."

UMD students played a key role in the development and design of MilkBoy ArtHouse. Undergraduate students in the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation helped identify design proposals for the space, and two graduate design students in the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies worked with The Clarice and MilkBoy to determine the interior design, including furniture, lighting, seating layout and permanent wall art. MilkBoy ArtHouse also plans to employ more than 50 students for a variety of jobs.

"At the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, we are building the future of the arts. Partnering with MilkBoy gives our campus and community a new option for both dining and participating in the arts," said Martin Wollesen, Executive Director of The Clarice. "By bringing adventurous, dynamic performances to College Park, coupled with terrific food and beverage, MilkBoy ArtHouse will nourish imaginations."

MilkBoy ArtHouse's first floor includes a restaurant serving elevated American comfort food, as well as an intimate lounge for performances that seats up to 100 guests, while offering food and beverage service. The second-floor performance venue, at nearly 3,200 square feet, can accommodate up to 400 guests for both standing and seated performances.

A gallery space on the second floor includes a rotating display of curated visual art from regional artists, and a seating area for guests to look out over Baltimore Avenue. Up to four bars are positioned throughout the space, and a set of large garage doors on the front of the building can be opened to bring the outside in.

MilkBoy ArtHouse is located at 7416 Baltimore Avenue in College Park. The university and MilkBoy plan to celebrate the opening of the venue at an afternoon event on May 17, 2017.

About University of Maryland
The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 37,000 students, 9,000 faculty and staff, and 250 academic programs. Its faculty includes three Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners, 56 members of the national academies and scores of Fulbright scholars. The institution has a $1.9 billion operating budget, and secures $560 million annually in external research funding. For more information about the University of Maryland, College Park, visit www.umd.edu.

About The University of Maryland College Park Foundation
The University of Maryland College Park Foundation was established in support of the university's goal to become one of the top research universities in the nation. Dedicated specifically to the University of Maryland, College Park, the foundation provides opportunities for alumni, friends, corporations and charitable foundations to support directly the mission and strategic priorities of the university. The Board of Trustees of the foundation is composed of dedicated and influential volunteers who govern the investment and distribution of private funds, serve as advocates, assist and advise and advise the university's president, and help increase the level of philanthropic support for the university.

About The Clarice
Located on the University of Maryland campus and a part of the College of Arts and Humanities, The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center is a premier presenting arts venue and collaborative laboratory shared by the School of Music (SOM), the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies (TDPS), Artist Partner Program, Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. The Clarice made its debut in 2001 and has grown into a national model for campus performing arts centers, presenting performances and programs by visiting artists as well as by students, faculty and alumni of SOM and TDPS. The Clarice is building the future of the arts now.

About MilkBoy
MilkBoy is a Philadelphia-born brand that encompasses varied yet complementary entities and endeavors. MilkBoy Philly— the original bar/venue/restaurant location at 11th & Chestnut Streets is open from early morning through late-night. MilkBoy South Street, opened in 2016 at the bustling corner of 4th and South streets gives new life to a legendary corner and also brings live music back to South Street proper. MilkBoy ArtHouse is the latest incarnation of the MilkBoy brand — opening in May 2017 in partnership with the The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland. Additionally —  MilkBoy the Studio— the entity that started and dates back to 1994 — is the place to find the hottest names in the recording industry working on their latest project; MilkBoy Entertainment— is an incubator for the production of film, TV and video, co-produced the recent feature-length film Slow Learners; while Shake Audio Post at MilkBoy is the place to sweeten and polish a film, video, broadcast commercial, or digital campaign with the latest in audio production facilities.

SOURCE University of Maryland