Frederick County Parks and Recreation is taking reservations for the Community Garden at Ballenger Creek Park, located at 5420 Ballenger Creek Pike, Frederick, MD 21703. Anyone who is interested in growing their own vegetables can rent a 15’ x 15’ garden plot, with access to water, a compost bin and parking. Garden plots can be rented from April 1st through November 15th for $67 per year. The garden will be accessible 7 days a week during park hours.

If you’re interested in the community garden you can learn more about it on the Frederick County website.

Sabor de Cuba, a restaurant that offers authentic Cuban food, opens today at 9 E. Patrick St., former location of the Ethiopian restaurant in downtown Frederick. The restaurant’s owners, Irieska Caetano and Angel Gattorno, gave us a rundown on the business.

You can check out the menu and get their hours on their website and follow them on Facebook.

Anyone try Sabor de Cuba out yet? If so let us know how it was in the comments.

It’s free to register, and voting is easy. Complete our online survey to receive the 2013 Washington DC/Baltimore Restaurants guide for free.

• You can now register for the 4th annual New Media & Technology Conference presented by the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce
• The interior of Brewer’s Alley was remodeled, photos and details from Frederick & Food.
• Thinking Out Loud took a trip to Lucky Corner and brought a camera. Looks good.
• The Frederick police have released data showing a drop in crime over the last year.
• Wee Man from Jackass was spotted in Frederick.

• Frederick County is launching a new emergency notification system. The alerts will ” … contain only vital information such as flash flood warnings, Amber Alerts, the status of county government, road closures and other notices.”
• You can have birthday parties at the Catoctin Creek Park. Related, the still popular post, Where to Have a Kid’s Birthday Party.
• Food and Frederick, a new blog covering ” … delicious photos & commentary on the social and culinary scenes that exist in the great little corner of the world that is Frederick, MD.” Give them a follow.
• Top 5 Events, Attractions and Commemorations for Visitors to Frederick County in 2012, some upcoming Frederick fun to keep in mind courtesy of Frederick Tourism.
• This shot of Sweet Angela’s Cupcakery makes me a bit hungry, anyone try them yet?
• Frederick Works is an initiative to encourage businesses in Frederick County to be a part of the unemployment solution, by creating and/or filling at least one new job in 2012. You can also follow them on Twitter.
• “The U.S. General Services Administration has awarded a $191,596,000 contract for the Social Security Administration’s new national data facility in Urbana … ” according to the FNP.

 Frederick Restaurant Week is a 7-day promotion that features the unique and fine dining options available in Downtown Frederick and the surrounding area. Participating restaurants will offer diners price-fixed meals at mouth-watering prices the week of March 5 – 11, 2012.

Featuring over a dozen restaurants, Frederick Restaurant Week is the perfect time to visit a favorite restaurant or try something new. Chefs will prepare delicious 2-course and 3-course special menus. During Frederick Restaurant Week, lunches are offered at $15.12 for a 2-course meal and $20.12 for a 3-course meal. Dinners are offered at $20.12 for a 2-course meal and $30.12 for a 3-course meal. All costs are exclusive of tax, beverages and gratuity.

Check the Frederick Restaurant Week site frequently for an updated list of participants and their menus (currently not up yet).

There is also an article in the FNP Art/Life section.

More information is available on Flying Dog’s website.

The new 90-seat restaurant will be a modern take on the classic American diner, Voltaggio said, with an industrial, stainless steel look and food to match. Favorites including meatloaf and french fries will be brought up-to-date with new spices and combinations.

“It won’t be hash on a plate. … I’m not going to serve you a $1.99 platter from Denny’s,” Voltaggio said. “It will be the same style as Volt, but with much simpler food.”

Food prices will not mimic those of Volt — the milkshakes will be kept reasonable — but the use of local agricultural products and high-quality ingredients will be reflected in the prices, he said.

The diner will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, he said, and aim to attract a wide variety of customers, from Fredericktonians to visitors passing through along I-70 and I-270.

The Washingtonian reports the current target date for the diner to open is April.

P.S. I tried the Lunchbox this week. I had the Cuban, a cup of soup, and a Mexican Coke for a total cost of about 10 bucks.  The line was long even though it was a rainy day, but it moved pretty quick.

Today brings news that the chef and co-owner of the destination restaurant Volt in Frederick is also preparing to open a soup-and-sandwich concept on the city’s Carroll Creek Promenade within a matter of weeks. Voltaggio is calling the casual 30-seat restaurant Lunchbox and promising “fast food done right.”

It will be located in the old La Dolce Vita spot on Carroll Creek.

But wait there’s more:

Voltaggio also has an idea for a diner, yet to be named, that he wants to open on E St. in Frederick in what used to be a car dealership. The restaurant’s due date: March or April.

And what of the North Market Kitchen?

Plans for the $2 million North Market Kitchen, once on hold , are going forward after Frederick’s mayor and Board of Aldermen recently changed the city’s code to allow businesses to break up hefty water and sewage fees into four equal installments. “The first project is becoming the last project” to launch, says Voltaggio, who now hopes to introduce North Market Kitchen in fall or winter of next year.