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Entries categorized as ‘Things To Do’

December 2008 Events in Frederick County

November 23, 2008 · 2 Comments

Even without looking at a calendar, it’s easy to tell that it’s almost December.  Is anyone else sick of being cold already?  Anyways, here’s a list of some events I’ve found going on this December.  As always, there are some I’ve probably missed so feel free to add to the list in the comments section.  And once again, here’s a more complete list from the Official Tourism website for the month of December.

Wednesday, December 3rd is the Scents and Sweets Competition presented by Celebrate Frederick.

The holidays bring out the creativity in all of us, so why not let the gingerbread structures and floral arrangements at this year’s Scents & Sweets competition inspire you? Celebrate Frederick and The Holiday Committee will present this year’s event on Wednesday, December 3rd from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center. There you’ll find holiday scenes you won’t believe are made out of gingerbread and incredible combinations of fragrant flowers you’ll want for your dining table.

Friday December 5th is the Kris Kringle Procession.

Kris Kringle is coming to town on Friday, December 5th, as the star of this year’s   Kris Kringle Procession. Presented by Celebrate Frederick and The Holiday Committee the event begins at 6:30 p.m. on East Street in Frederick and ends with the lighting of the City tree in Baker Park.

First Saturday, December 6th has the theme of A Holiday Recipe Tour.

This yummy First Saturda on Saturday, December 6th, 5 - 9pm will make you want to get the home fires bright as you collect FREE holiday recipes from participating Downtown Frederick merchants, enjoy FREE hot cocoa & carriage rides, holiday entertainment and more! Visitors will also enjoy free Uncle Ralph’s Cookies at several merchant locations and at the hot cocoa stations.  Stroll the luminary-lit streets of downtown while shopping for the holidays and eating at fabulous restaurants!

December 5, 6 and 7th head out to New Market for Christmas in New Market.

The weekend of December 13th and 14th is Children’s Weekend.  Click here for the schedule of events.

Ride with Santa on the Walkersville Southern Railroad the first two weekends of December.

An annual Holiday tradition is again at the Weinberg on December 12-14th.  To see the Nutcracker Ballet, click here for ticket info.

Friday December 19th is the Festival of Lights.

Don’t miss one of the holiday season’s most inspiring events. Each year the Festival of Lights brings the true spirit of the season to young and old alike. The event begins as groups of carolers sing their way through the streets of downtown Frederick. The carolers meet at City Hall for a short program, which includes additional carols, greetings from local dignitaries, and an inspirational message. The highlight of the evening comes at the program’s end, when the lights outside City Hall are dimmed, and candles are passed from neighbor to neighbor, filling the courtyard with light, as the audience sings “Silent Night”. This event truly captures the meaning of the holiday season.

Another holiday favorite, A Christmas Carol, will be performed at the Weinberg December 19th-21st.

And finally, also at the Weinberg on New Year’s Eve, is the Hooray for Hollywood New Year’s Eve Gala.

At this spectacular Black Tie benefit for the Weinberg Center you can:

  • dance the night away to the hit, 10-piece band “Round Midnight”
  • indulge your senses with fabulous hors d’oeuvres and desserts by Canapés
  • toast the New Year with an open bar
  • test your luck in the exciting Monte Carlo casino room
  • cozy up with classic films in a private movie screening area
  • countdown to midnight with a nostalgic multimedia show
  • take home elegant party favors and fun surprises
  • spoil yourself with an upgraded VIP hotel and limo package

Lizfrog

Categories: Things To Do
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Frederick Festival of Greens

November 8, 2008 · 1 Comment

The Frederick Arts Council has announced the first annual eight-day Festival of Greens.  Full of free events, the Festival of Greens is November 21-29 and is being planned to coincide with other downtown holiday festivities.

It is anticipated that over 200 decorated or themed wreaths/trees, ranging from the fancy to the funky, will adorn the Cultural Arts Center in downtown Frederick. The wreath/tree can be created from various materials and can be interpretive, artistic, and creative in nature. There is no fee to participate, however artists must provide their own supplies and materials.

In addition to the wreaths being on display, an array of holiday activities are planned during the eight-day event, truly making it a festival atmosphere. People will be able to enjoy holiday entertainment, movies, hands-on activities, and much more. All of the activities will be free and open to the public and enjoyable for the entire family.

The arts council is seeking sponsors, artists, entertainers, and other parties interested in being part of this new event. The festival is being coordinated with the Frosty Friday activities, which is sponsored by Downtown Frederick Partnership.

One of the organizations participating in the Festival of Greens is Cinemarts.   They will be showing movies at the Cultural Arts Center (location) and all showings are free.  Here is the complete schedule of movies being shown.

Does anyone have any info on any other participants for this festival?

Lizfrog

Categories: Things To Do
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Dog Park Open

November 7, 2008 · 5 Comments

Looks like the City’s Dog Park is now open …

The City of Frederick Parks & Recreation Department is excited to announce the opening of our first Dog Park. The Dog Park is located at 212 Carroll Parkway, at the corner of North Bentz Street and Carroll Parkway across from Baker Park.  We are extremely pleased to offer this park to all residents, particularly those in the downtown area.  The official ribbon cutting ceremony will be Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. at the Dog Park.

Please be advised that all dogs must be registered and receive a tag from the Department of Parks & Recreation prior to using the park.  You may visit the William R. Talley Recreation Center at 121 North Bentz Street during normal business hours to apply for and receive your tag prior to using the park.  The brochure and application are also on our website at:  http://www.cityoffrederick.com/departments/Recreation/docs/dog-park-registration.pdf.

I got to get Mr. Softy over there to make some new friends.

~Guy~

Categories: News · Things To Do
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Paws on the Path

November 6, 2008 · No Comments

This Saturday, November 8th at 3pm there will be a charity dog walk called Paws on the Path. All proceeds go to Advocate for Homeless Families. Here are the details …

  • Walk with your dog or walk alone. $10 registration fee goes directly to AFHF
  • Walk beginning at 100 Eli Court (which is the pool address, Google Map) Walking the path along the Monocacy River.
  • Local pet businesses donated items for raffle.
  • All dog behavior is the direct and sole responsibility of pet owner.
  • All pets must be under control and on leash. All droppings picked up by owner.

Contact Lynn at 301-668-5198 for more details.

~Guy~

Categories: Charity · Things To Do

November 2008 Events in Frederick County

October 25, 2008 · 5 Comments

I can’t believe it’s almost November already.  October has flown right by!  Here is a list of events that I’ve found for November, 2008.  As always, feel free to leave a comment on any event that I missed that you’d like us to know about.

November 1st is First Saturday.  This month’s theme is A Downtown Open House.

A Downtown Open House will make your spirits bright in Downtown Frederick on Saturday, November 1st, 5 - 9pm.  Enjoy FREE carriage rides leaving from Everedy Square, 4 - 8:30pm.  FREE hot cocoa, luminary lined streets, holiday enterianment and more!  The Alpha 4 Hand Bell Ringers and the Frederick Chorale will be performing holiday favorites and many of downtown’s merchants will serving refreshments throughout the evening.  Kick-off your holiday season in Downtown Frederick!

November 2nd is Howl n’ Fun at Crumland Farm.  All proceeds will benefit the Frederick County Humane Society’s spay/neuter program.

Also to benefit our four-legged family members, Toast of the Town is on November 7th.

November 7th,  the Weinberg Center will have Amy Sedaris.  The performance is at 8PM.

The younger sister of author David Sedaris is an off-the-wall entertainer whose role as Jerri Blank in Strangers with Candy attracted a loyal following. In between writing (I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence), acting (Shrek, Snow Angels), and appearing on Late Night with David Letterman, Amy operates a cupcake and cheeseball business from her Manhattan apartment, which she shares with her pet rabbit and imaginary boyfriend.

Also at the Weinberg on November 15, Jim Brickman performs.

Savor songs in the key of romance when Jim Brickman returns to the Weinberg stage. The award-winning pianist and singer/songwriter has revolutionized the world of adult contemporary music with six Gold and Platinum albums, consistent number-one debuts Billboard Magazine’s New Age chart, and collaborations with other gifted artists. In addition to sold-out concerts worldwide, Jim presents a popular weekly syndicated radio show and has written two best-selling books.

The Maryland Christmas Show will be at the Frederick Fairgrounds on November 21-23 and 28-30.

November 23rd is the Fall Champagne Tasting at Elk Run Vineyards.

If you read old English Novels there are always stories of the season, referring to social parties and gatherings with good food and wine.  Elk Run begins the holiday season each fall by inviting you to the wine makers’s home for our champagne Tasting. Oysters, champagne, escargot,champagne, foie gras, and all the other fine wines are served with appetizers.

The Way Station Turkey Trot is on Thanksgiving Day, November 27th.

November 28th from 9AM to 9PM is Frosty Friday.

Forget the mall…join Downtown Frederick as it celebrates the busiest shopping day of the year with special holiday activities!  The festivites begin at 9am with over 40 shops and restaurants opening early to make your spirits bright!  Join the fun with great holiday events throughout the day!

Also on the 28th, Santa arrives in Frederick at 6PM.

The Christmas experience begins this weekend at the festively decorated shops and eateries of Everedy Square and Shab Row in downtown Frederick. Santa Claus arrives Friday evening a 6 p.m. in a horse-drawn carriage to greet children among 40,000 twinkling white lights and brilliant sounds of the season. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras to capture the magic. Throughout the day and weekend, listen to the sounds of Christmas - live! - while strolling the two-dozen stores brimming with holiday merchandise. Free parking is available.

Then Santa makes his way over to Walkersville to ride the train on the 29th and 30th.

There’s a more complete list of events on the Frederick Tourism website.

Lizfrog

Categories: Things To Do

What are you doing for Halloween?

October 20, 2008 · 15 Comments

Syako asked in the comments about Halloween activities for adults.

I’m new to Frederick downtown and was wondering if there’s anything going on for Halloween night downtown — for a more adult crowd? ;)

I just noticed that Halloween is on a Friday this year so I’m sure there must be something going on.  I have to admit though that I’ve never been a huge Halloween fan.  When our kids were little, we used to decorate the house and take the kids trick-or-treating and all the rest involved with the kiddie side of Halloween.  Truthfully though, I was relieved when we moved out of a neighborhood into a rural part of the county and didn’t have to worry about how much candy to buy to hand out.

Anyway, this is a long-winded, round-about way to get to the real question.  What is there to do in town on Halloween?  I know all the neighborhoods have events for the kids, but what about the “big kids”?  We need your help!

Lizfrog

Categories: Things To Do
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Frederick’s very own beast

October 18, 2008 · 1 Comment

I was perusing the Frederick Gazette this morning when I ran across this very interesting article about the Snallygaster.

The Snallygaster!

The Snallygaster!

The Snallygaster is one of Maryland’s own cryptids, a creature that falls “outside of taxonomic records.” These are the animals of myth and legend, the creatures that are seen but whose existence is never proven. These are the beasts whose photographs are always out of focus, always fuzzy. What does the Snallygaster look like? How will you know it when it appears on your doorstep looking for candy? (Truthfully, the Snallygasters are more known for their fondness of blood than candy corn.)

Perhaps the Snallygaster’s most defining feature is its one eye and its very large wings.  Other characteristics are debated, but it probably has a beak. It is reported as having claws, but it is also reported as having hooves. At times it has tentacles. It is reptilian, it is bird-like. It resembles a flying octopus.

The word Snallygaster has its origins in the German phrase “schneller geist,” meaning quick spirit. There are early references to ghosties and ghoulies that could be the Snallygaster throughout Frederick’s history. The documented Snallygaster, however, is a twentieth century beast. The first newspaper article about the Snallygaster appeared in 1909 in the Middletown Valley Register. A smattering of articles appeared during that time. The Snallygaster then went dormant in this area until 1932, when a series of sightings were again reported in the Middletown paper.

The Snallygaster’s travels throughout Maryland are not limited to Frederick County.  It has been seen not only in neighboring Carroll and Washington Counties, but as far away as Baltimore and Cecil Counties.

If you want to learn more about the Sanllygaster, Patrick Boyton, local researcher and author, will be speaking at 7 p.m. Monday at the Middletown Branch of Frederick County Public Libraries about his recent book about the beast. For further information about this event please call the Middletown Branch at 301-371-7560.

You can also purchase Mr. Boyton’s book Snallygaster: the Lost Legend of Frederick County online.

~Guy~

Categories: Things To Do · Weird
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Toast of The Town

October 17, 2008 · 2 Comments

I got an email this morning from reader Gabe about an upcoming event being put on by Wags For Hope.  The event is called Toast of the Town,

All proceeds will benefit our new “Wagging P.A.L.S.” [Pets Adopt Loving Seniors] program. Wags for Hope is teaming up with the Frederick County Animal Shelter to place shelter animals with seniors living alone so both can enjoy their new found companionship. We will subsidize part of the care and feeding of the animal if necessary.

The event is on Friday, November 7th from 7PM-11PM at the Quality Inn at Route 40 and Baughman’s Lane.

Come out for a night of food, fun and dancing with a herd of animal lovers! Sample enticing fare provided by some of Frederick’s finest restaurants. Enjoy complimentary soft drinks and a cash bar while starting your Christmas shopping. Our silent auction boasts many unique gift ideas at an exceptional value.

Restaurants providing food for this event include Carraba’s, Outback, The Greene Turtle, The Clay Oven and many more.  For ticket info click here and then click on the Events button at the top of the page.  As Gabe says in his email,  “This will be a great event for all animal lovers and we know how dog friendly Frederick is.”

Lizfrog

Categories: Charity · Things To Do
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Black Ankle Vineyards Open

October 16, 2008 · No Comments

Remember back in August when I wrote about that fabulous evening in downtown Frederick and I mentioned how VOLT’s sommelier, Aaron talked about how much he enjoyed the wines from Black Ankle Vineyards?  At the time, the vineyard wasn’t open to the public and they were in the middle of building their tasting room.  Well, as of October 4th, they are open.  Regular hours are W-F, noon-5PM, Saturday, noon-6PM and Sundays, noon-5PM.  From the Gazette:

A new winery in Mount Airy recently opened their tasting room doors, a culmination of years of preparation and research.

“It’s exciting getting the doors open and finally seeing it all coming together,” said Sarah O’Herron, co-owner of Black Ankle Vineyards with husband Ed Boyce.

The Silver Spring couple chose Mount Airy for their vineyard because of the way the land lies, the soil type and altitude, said O’Herron.

The vineyard, located on Black Ankle Road, was a 145-acre farm in 2002 when the couple bought it. Grapes were planted in the next few years, with the first harvest occurring in 2005.

The doors to their eco-friendly tasting room officially opened Oct. 4.

“We got our permits Friday afternoon, and said ‘OK, we’re opening,’” she said. O’Herron added there would be a grand opening celebration on Nov. 1.

You may remember that the FNP did a story last month about Black Ankle winning the top honor, the Governor’s Cup, at a statewide competition.

A panel of experienced wine judges agreed that Black Ankle, in Mount Airy, produced the best wine in Maryland for 2008 and awarded owners Ed Boyce and Sarah O’Herron top honors in the 19th Annual Maryland Governor’s Cup Wine Competition.

Black Ankle Vineyards’ “2006 Crumbling Rock” — a Bordeaux-blend — took the govenor’s cup. The awards were announced at last weekend’s 25th Anniversary Maryland Wine Festival at the Carroll County Farm Museum.

I can’t wait to try it!

Lizfrog

Categories: Biz · Food & Drink · Things To Do
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Dinner Theater in Frederick

October 13, 2008 · 7 Comments

Although my friend left a goofy comment (he must have been bored at work) in an earlier post this morning, I think the question he asked about dinner theaters in Frederick is one that some people may want an answer to.

The only dinner theater that I know of in Frederick is the Way Off Broadway Dinner Theater off the Golden Mile at 5 Willowdale Drive.  Currently on stage now through November 8th is Thouroughly Modern Millie.  Their 2009 schedule is on the website as well.  I’ve been there a few times when my daughter was involved in musical theater but it’s been a few years.

Anyone know of any other dinner theaters in the vicinity?

I’ve also learned that the Inn at Buckeystown does monthly Murder Mysteries.

The Walkersville Southern Railroad also does the mystery train dinner about twice a month.

Feel free to leave a comment if you know of any other dinner theater options.

Lizfrog

Categories: Food & Drink · Things To Do
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