These open threads provide a chance for us to chat with our neighbors. Ask questions, share news, or whatever you want. As long as it’s central to Frederick County and civil, anything goes.
Have at it in the comments!
The Family Meal (Facebook & Twitter) will be hosting movie nights throughout the summer:
Join us at Family Meal for our first annual Summer Drive-In Movie Series beginning on May 22, 2013 with cult classic “The Goonies.” Nine family-friendly movies will be shown on a 40-foot screen on our spacious parking lot. Not your average drive-in, no car radios are necessary as guests are encouraged to bring chairs and get cozy in front of the big screen.
Guests may also enjoy pre-screening live sets by local bands including Silent Old Mtns., Jon Jeffries & Keith Corl Acoustic Jam Rock, The Merrylanders, Fieldhands, Old Receiver Band, and more.
Family Meal’s specialty concessions will include Smuttynose beer, generous platters of beef brisket, BBQ pork and fried chicken, sandwiches, and various sides of baked beans, collard greens, coleslaw, cornbread, biscuits, popcorn and more.
Parking lot opens at 6pm, with live bands at 7pm. Movies begin at 8:30pm.
The Maryland Craft Beer Festival takes place Saturday, May 18th, 2013 from Noon to 6pm.
Directly support the Brewers Association of Maryland’s (BAM) mission to promote and protect Maryland Craft Beer by attending this family friendly festival on Carroll Creek Park, in Downtown Frederick. Featuring over 25 Maryland brewing companies pouring over 125 unique, fresh, and local craft beers. Admission ticket includes tasting tokens and a commemorative glass. Additional tokens as well a variety of foods will be available for purchase.
Festa Italiana Frederick sounds like fun:
Habitat for Humanity is excited to announce event plans for the 1st Annual ‘Festa Italna Frederick’ to be held on May 25, 2013 at Crumland Farms in Frederick, Maryland. The festival will feature a variety of delicious homemade Italian food, desserts and beverages, a wine and beer garden, musical entertainment, a Spaghetti Sauce Cook-Off, kid’s activities, fun contests for all ages and much, much more!
Festa Italiana Frederick is a rain or shine event to be held from the hours of 11am to 6pm. Admission is $5, and children ages 5 and under are free. Proceeds from the event serve to benefit the charitable, non-profit organization, Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County.
Learn more and purchase tickets on the Festa Italiana Frederick website.
Saints Peter and Paul’s Annual Greek Festival takes place from Thursday, May 16, 2013 11am through Sunday, May 19, 2013 8pm.
The Sts. Peter & Paul Greek Festival celebrates Greek customs, food, and culture. Come and experience authentic Greek cuisine, live music, and traditional dance performances.
Each year, we feature vendors of beautiful Greek art, jewelry, books, religious icons, and more. Browse our Greek Agora Marketplace. Sample a variety of Greek pastries as well as imported wine and beer.
Our kids’ corner features a moon bounce as well as various games and activities.
We offer free admission, free parking, and we’re open rain or shine – our large overhead tents will keep you dry even if it rains.
Can’t wait to dig into a chicken slovakia platter!

The 3rd Annual Frederick Beer Week takes place from Saturday, May 11, 2013 through Saturday, May 18, 2013.
Events include festivals, scavenger hunts, judgings, and tastings.
Check out all the events and learn more about Beer Week on on Frederick Beer Week’s Website.
This was mentioned in the comments, but I wanted to make sure it was broadcasted wider:
Just a reminder to anyone who is interested- tonight 5/9 at 7pm the Fredericktowne Mall developers will again present their plans for the Mall which is to include a Walmart SuperCenter. the meeting will be held at the old BonTon space at the mall. Remember the issue is about zoning, currently the property is zoned mixed use, the owners want it to be general commercial and this presentation is what they will build if it gets zoned GC. The Planning Commission has recommended that zoning stay MU. It will ultimately go to the Alderman for a vote.
Thanks for the heads up mdchmd!

ArachnidWorks is holding an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday May 3, 2013 from 3pm – 6pm:
We’ve been in business for years, and we’re just now getting around to our Open House and Ribbon-Cutting! We don’t really have a great excuse, except that we’ve been pretty busy. But, we figure that’s a good thing, right?
We’ve recently moved into this great office in Frederick, and we’d like to take the time to properly greet our neighbors and other area businesses.
So, please join us on May 3rd for a chance to meet & greet, and enjoy some free food and drinks. That last part got your attention, didn’t it?
Oh, and our name… it comes from the ‘web’ design and marketing we do.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Monica and her team and they are really great. Check them out on Twitter, Facebook, and read this FNP article about them.
Lots going on in Frederick this weekend:
- Frederick Running Festival - Half & Relay marathon races set for Sunday, May 5, 2013. 5K & Kids Fun Run will be held on Saturday, May 4. You can still register for all races at the Sports Authority bib pick up locations or at the expo. For those not running here is a list of road closings (pdf).
- Mayfest 2013 - Saturday, May 4, 2013 10am – 9pm. Celebrate spring in Historic Downtown Frederick. Wander from shop to shop, listening to live music along the sidewalks as you build-a-bouquet of spring flowers. Participating merchants will offer a free flower to each person entering their stores while supplies last. Also enjoy a beer garden: 1pm-5pm on 52 S Market St (Carroll Creek at S Market St), a sidewalk chalk drawing contest, arts & crafts, and facepainting (12pm-2pm @ Philly Rabe’s, 240 N Market St).
- Cinco De Mayo - area restaurant specials from the FNP and an event in Brunswick.
- Fireside Fridays at Black Ankle Vineyards [Friday, May 3, food & drink, music]
- First Friday in Frederick [Friday, May 3, charity, food & drink]
- My Monster and Me [Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5, kids, theater]
- First Saturday Artist: Beth Mende Conny [Saturday, May 4, art]
For more events check out the Frederick Tourism site or the Frederick Community Calendar. Please feel free to share any events in the comments as well.
First Friday in Frederick is a charitable event presented most months by the 501(c)(3) Tree-Land Foundation, Inc. Proceeds are shared with local non-profit organizations. Representatives from charitable organizations will attend.
At Each First Friday you will enjoy a different selection of at least a half-dozen premium top-Shelf spirit brands. Visiting expert connoisseurs will provide fascinating insights into the craft and science of the Distiller’s art and guide generous product tastings. In addition, each event will feature imaginative, paired light hors d’oeuvres.
The first First Friday is this Friday (May 3, 2013) from 7:30pm to 10pm:
Featuring small-batch, single barrel and straight Bourgons from Kentucky distilleries owned by the Jim Beam organization including: Booker Noe, Knob Creek, Basil Hayden, Devil’s Cut, Maker’s 46 from Maker’ Mark … plus a custom-created Kentucky Derby “seasonal” surprise!
Everyone attending can sign-up to become a “Maker’s Mark Ambassador.” You’ll get your name on a barrel at the beautiful Loretto, Kentucky distillery, surprise gifts from Maker’s Mark and the chance to visit and dip the bottles from YOUR own barrel (after it’s aged!) into the red sealing wax in a few years!
Representatives from the Distilleries in Kentucky will attend to speak and guide generous product samplings/tastings of at least 6 premium brands. You won’t believe the variety of flavors!
Beef and chicken hors d’oeuvres en baguette will be served with an accompanying variety of Uncle Dirty’s Barbeque Sauces created by Frederick County’s own “Uncle Dirty,” Josh Bollinger, chef at Bollinger’s Restaurant in Thurmont, Maryland. Attendees also will receive special, discount coupons from Ye Old
Spirit Shop to purchase (at the store) any of their evening’s favorites! for their favorites … AND there will be other souvenirs!This event will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Frederick County. They will provide the evening’s beverage pourers … our “Spirit Guides!”
The event takes place at The Faux School at 35 South Carroll Street alongside Carroll Creek and tickets can be purchased online.
The Chamber’s Golf Scramble sounds fun:
The shotgun start is at 1:00 p.m.with a grab-and-go lunch from 11:30 until 12:45. At the turn will be cervesa, cigars, and margaritas! The 19th Hole Cantina will welcome you with a cold beverage and appetizers, followed by a player’s dinner.
Of course we’ve got hole contests, team awards, fantastic door prizes, player bags, and lots of opportunities for social and business networking with your padres. At many holes there will be muy loco contests including testing your machismo at the One Hot Tamale hole and playing flip cup on the Cinco de Drinko hole. NEW THIS YEAR…prizes will be awarded for best cart decor, best costume, and best golf head cover.
This year’s tournament features Mexican Scramble Rules. Each player tees off, then you pick the best drive. The next shot is played by all except the person whose drive was picked. And so on for each subsequent shot. (So, you get four shots to choose from, one from the tee, but then only three for subsequent shots.)
You can register for scramble on the Chamber’s site.






