72 HOURS June 19, 2025 by Frederick News-Post

JUNE 19

TRICKS and GIGGLES

Frederick Magic Theater & Lounge opens for evenings of illusion, laughs

NEW MAGIC THEATER DOWNTOWN

Jeff Madsen has conjured something extraordinary in downtown Frederick: Frederick Magic Theater & Lounge, an intimate, 22-seat venue. Madsen has created Frederick’s only dedicated comedy magic venue, with weekend performances that blend mind-reading, daring escapes and comedy in a setting that echoes Chicago’s famed magic lounges but scaled for Frederick’s character. The theater’s vintage bar, stocked with local beer and wine, opens at 7 p.m. on show nights. Madsen’s vision, inspired by witnessing Doug Henning’s groundbreaking 1975 TV performance, has evolved into a space where audiences simultaneously hold their sides from laughter and scratch their heads in bewilderment.

JUNETEENTH COMMEMORATION

The Catoctin Furnace Historical Society orchestrates a Juneteenth commemoration on June 19 to highlight often-overlooked narratives of slavery and emancipation in our region. Beginning at 2:45 p.m. with a guided hike through Catoctin Mountain Park, visitors can explore the complex history of enslaved ironworkers who played pivotal roles in America’s industrial development. The evening’s most poignant moment occurs at 6 p.m. at the Museum of the Ironworker, when representatives from Scouts BSA Troop 270 will read the names of enslaved skilled ironworkers during a cemetery overlook ceremony. The evening culminates with a 3D virtual reality tour of reconstructed slave quarters and a vespers service at Harriet Chapel.

NEW CLAIRE MCCARDELL BIOGRAPHY

Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson’s new biography, “Claire McCardell: The Designer Who Set Women Free,” explores the remarkable legacy of the Frederick fashion icon whose innovations quietly revolutionized American style. McCardell essentially invented American sportswear — the casual, comfortable clothing we now take for granted. Dickinson’s research reveals how Frederick’s pragmatic culture and vibrant intellectual atmosphere shaped McCardell’s revolutionary approach to fashion. Unlike contemporaries Chanel or Dior, who designed women as decorative objects, McCardell designed for women’s lived experiences and their need for comfort, movement and psychological confidence. Her legacy resonates particularly strongly today.

SUMMERFEST FAMILY THEATRE RETURNS

Celebrate as Frederick’s annual Summerfest Family Theatre season transforms the Baker Park Band Shell into a weekly celebration of creativity and community connection with shows each Thursday from 10 to 10:45 a.m. through Aug. 7. From Unique Devotions’ hip-hop and majorette performances commemorating Juneteenth on June 19 to Grammy-nominated Groovy Nate’s funkadelic educational shows on July 10, the programming aims to delight all ages. The season’s finale on Aug. 7 features Mark Lohr’s physical comedy (think circus skills and slapstick humor that bridges generations).

NATIONAL ROAD MUSEUM OPENS

The National Road Heritage Foundation will unveil its latest preservation triumph with the grand opening of the National Road Museum in Boonsboro, featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. June 21 to honor “the road that built the nation.” This museum chronicles the extraordinary story of America’s first federallyfunded highway project, approved by Congress in 1806 and signed by Thomas Jefferson, which literally paved the way for westward expansion. Jennie Avila will provide musical accompaniment to the ceremony, while special vehicle displays throughout the day will showcase different historical periods of this transformative infrastructure.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Share your community stories and events with us! Email llarocca@newspost.com.

& DRINK

Are chain restaurants really so bad?

Why do we seem to hate chain restaurants? Well, hate may be too strong a word, but you must admit that when making dinner plans, you’re usually not angling for Chili’s, Olive Garden or Golden Corral.

I believe it has something to do with them being the same old, same old. Sure, they’ll do in a pinch, and some are even guilty pleasures (KFC for me), but around Frederick, there is a whole host of delicious, standalone, homegrown eateries we’d rather try. But really, chain restaurants aren’t so bad, are they? I don’t think so. There is a good reason they became a chain in the first place. They usually provide a consistently good (if not exciting) meal at an affordable price.

Chains have economies of scale going for them, too. That means they are large enough to keep prices relatively low, have staff committed to quality control, and can survive occasional downturns because of corporate support.

According to Restaurant Business Magazine, a chain restaurant is a group of restaurants that operate under the same brand name, offering a standardized menu and customer experience. They are typically either owned by a parent company or operated by franchisees.

Ever since A&W became the first restaurant chain in 1925, these stalwarts have trained us to look for their distinctive architecture, colors and decor. We expect consistency, familiarity and comfort in their food. Other early comers like McDonald’s and Howard Johnson’s focused on speed and affordability.

Many of us feel a certain connection to chain restaurants because it was our first restaurant experience. This was especially true for a rural kid like me. I still fondly recall our family’s first forays to a new place called McDonald’s or the now defunct Burger Chef and then seeing the same restaurants when visiting relatives a state or so away.

It seemed like magic. But more than that, it seemed like we all had something in common, some shared experiences. My parents could count on the same unsurprising food and the same

relatively modest prices, and that was important with a fussy, growing family.

Also, many of us grew up working in one of these chains during our teen years and sometimes beyond. One of my best memories from my formative years was being a dishwasher at Howard Johnson’s and getting a free lunch every day, usually a grilled hot dog.

Over the years, chains have had an outsized influence on American culture. When folks speak of the “golden arches,” we know exactly what they mean. Chain restaurants made foods like pizza and Chinese cuisine accessible to everyday Americans, and that wasn’t always the case.

Popular food items at many chains became well-known by their brand names. Good or bad, everyone can conjure up images of the Big Mac, Whopper, Quarter Pounder, Bloomin’ Onion, the Frosty, the Blizzard and so on.

And who can forget the lexicon and jingles? Chances are, you can match these catchphases easily with

the chain restaurant it belongs to: “Where’s the beef?” (Wendy’s), “We have the meats!” (Arby’s), “Eating Good in the Neighborhood” (Applebee’s), “Pizza, pizza!” (Little Caesars), “When you’re here, you’re family” (Olive Garden), and “In here, it’s always Friday” (TGI Fridays).

Frederick has its fair share of chain restaurants. Let’s take a look by category.

Casual dining: Applebee’s, BJ’s Restaurant, Bob Evans, Bojangles, Bonefish Grill, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cava, Café Rio, Chili’s, Chipotle, Cracker Barrel, Denny’s, Dunkin’, TGI Fridays, Golden Corral, IHOP, KFC, Krispy Kreme, Longhorn Steakhouse, Noodles & Company, Olive Garden, Outback Steakhouse, Panda Express, Panera Bread, Red Lobster, Red Robin, Rosati’s Pizza, Ruby Tuesday, Texas Roadhouse and Waffle House.

Fast Food and Sandwiches: Arby’s, Auntie Anne’s, Burger King, Checkers, Chick-fil-A, Firehouse Subs, Five Guys, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Jimmy John’s, Mc-

Donald’s, Popeyes, Potbelly, Roy Rogers, Starbucks, Subway, Sonic Drive-In, Taco Bell and Wendy’s.

Frozen Desserts and Sweets: Baskin-Robbins, Bruster’s Ice Cream, Cold Stone Creamery, Crumbl Cookies, Dairy Queen, Rita’s Italian Ice and Sweet Frog.

Pizza: CiCis Pizza, Domino’s, Ledo Pizza, Little Caesars, Marco’s Pizza, MOD Pizza, Papa John’s Pizza and Pizza Hut.

The top 10 chains that originated in the U.S. by worldwide sales are McDonald’s, Starbucks, Subway, KFC, Burger King, Wendy’s, Dunkin’, Chickfil-A, Domino’s and Taco Bell.

As far as my guilty pleasures, I try to not eat too much food that is bad for me, but, doggone it, some of these chain staples are go good, I can’t help myself. Consider these all-stars: the cheesecake case at Cheesecake Factory (like Cookie Monster in the supermarket bakery, all I can say is “What is this wonderful place?”); Cheddar Bay Biscuits at Red Lobster (top bread item

Staff file photo by Katina Zentz

A Bojangles restaurant opened in Frederick in 2024.

GARY BENNETT

in the world for me); Bloomin’ Onion at Outback Steakhouse (“What do you mean they’re shareable?”); unlimited salad and breadsticks at Olive Garden (you can make a meal out of these); free peanuts at Texas Roadhouse (peanut shells everywhere brings a smile to my face); guacamole and chips at Chili’s (I used to love it when they made the guac at your table); and, of course, KFC’s original recipe (God help me).

While we’re at it, let’s pay our respects to the dearly departed. These restaurants are no longer with us: Beefsteak Charlie’s, Bikinis Sports Bar & Grill, Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse, Burger Chef, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Chi-Chi’s, ESPN Zone, Furr’s, Good Earth, Hamburger Hamlet, Henry’s Hamburgers, Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Morrison’s Cafeteria, Royal Castle, Red Barn, Sambo’s, Showbiz Pizza Place and York Steak House.

The following chain restaurants are gone specifically from Frederick but not forgotten (I ate at all these at least once during my 40 years here): Baja Fresh, Beef O’Brady’s, Boston Market, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Chicago Pizza, Famous Dave’s, Ground Round, Hardee’s, Hard Times Cafe, Long John Silver’s, Mimi’s Cafe, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, Shoney’s, Smashburger and TCBY.

I got my wish recently when Potbelly came to town. But I want more! Not because I’m hung up on any of these chains, but (like most Americans) I want unlimited options.

And just to prove that we’re not all snobs in Frederick (or maybe we’re not as sophisticated as we think), I present to you some humble chain restaurants that are Best of the Best winners in Frederick. (I’ll bet you didn’t know some of these are chains!)

Best Barbecue Restaurant: Black Hog BBQ and Mission BBQ

Best Diner: Silver Diner

Best Hibachi Restaurant: Miyako

Best Mexican Restaurant: Plaza Mexico

Best Place to Eat with Kids: Cugino Forno

Best Chicken Wings: Anchor Bar

Best Cookies: Crumbl Cookies

Best Donuts: Fractured Prune

Best French Fries: McDonald’s

Best Fried Chicken: Giant Eagle

Best Pizza: Cugino Forno

Best Bagels: Zipani and Panera

Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.

RAISE A GLASS!

Spirits of Maryland returns to Frederick with tastings, live music and a whiskey workshop

The Spirits of Maryland event series will return to Frederick this summer for a weekend of tastings, education, showcases and entertainment. Presented by Visit Frederick, the Spirits of Maryland: Frederick tasting event will take place on June 21 at the new Visitation Hotel in downtown Frederick.

This signature tasting event features handcrafted spirits from nearly 20 Maryland distilleries, all available for sampling and bottle sales. Guests can expect an afternoon full of local flavor, live music, food trucks and unique artisan vendors.

“This event is special because it connects curious consumers directly with the people making their spirits,” said Eli Breitburg-Smith, cofounder of Baltimore Spirits Company and president of the Maryland Distillers Guild. “There’s no better way to discover new favorites and support Maryland businesses.”

The event begins at noon with a spirits education workshop hosted by Whiskey University. This workshop is included in the Connoisseur Package or

can be purchased as an add-on to VIP and general admission tasting tickets.

Guests arriving for the VIP tasting receive early entry at 1 p.m., a signature cocktail and access to exclusive pours. General admission begins at 2 p.m., with access to all distillery tastings and event activities.

Box Car Burgers, Old Line Tailgate BBQ and Traditional Authentic Mexican Food will be onsite throughout the event.

For a special experience, don’t miss the paired cocktail dinner Friday evening at Wye Oak Tavern on the Visitation Hotel property.

Spirits of Maryland: Frederick is a celebration of the creativity, craftsmanship and community behind Maryland’s growing distilling industry. The event offers the opportunity to explore a wide range of spirits and meet the makers behind them.

General admission is $35. VIP admission is $50. To purchase tickets, visit marylandspirits.org/spirits-ofmaryland-events.

Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images

Enjoy a weekend of spirit tastings, live music and more when Spirits of Maryland returns to Frederick.

3-day Red Wing Roots Music Festival features Joy Oladokun, Hurray for the Riff Raff, the Del McCoury Band other artists

The annual Red Wing Roots Music Festival is this weekend, June 20 to 22, at Natural Chimneys Park in Mount Solon, Virginia. The festival features headliners Joy Oladokun, Hurray for the Riff Raff, The Del McCoury Band, Raymond Baxter, Kathleen Edwards, Tim Baker & All Hands, Donna The Buffalo, Bella White, Town Mountain and Tophouse.

Festival hosts The Steel Wheels will also perform daily. Along with a full set on Saturday, they’ll share the stage with Red Wing Academy on Friday and other festival artists during the “gospel” and “tribute” sets on Sunday.

Nearly 50 artists are scheduled to appear across five stages during the three-day event. View the full lineup at

redwingroots.com/2025-line-up.

Red Wing provides live music as well as opportunities to engage with the great outdoors of Augusta County.

Each year, the festival partners with local organizations to offer biking, hiking, group runs and yoga beneath the rock towers at Natural Chimneys Park.

Guests can expect regional food

Country star Ty Herndon will bring chart-topping hits to Frederick

Ty Herndon will appear at the Weinberg Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. June 20. As a LGBTQ advocate and with hits “What Mattered Most,” “Living in a Moment” and “It Must be Love,” Herndon offers a journey through resilience with his heartfelt songs. Herndon’s career in country music began in 1995 when his debut single “What Mattered Most” soared to No. 1 and earned him a Song of the Year award. It was also the title track to his first

album, which debuted on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. With 17 charted singles and a history of top 10 hits, Herndon has seen enduring success and a celebrated music career with songs reflecting his personal growth and inclusivity.

Tickets start at $32 and are available at the Majestic Theater Box Office, 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, by calling 717-337-8200 and online at gettysburgmajestic.org.

and beer vendors, craft vendors, and healing arts activities.

A shaded activity zone will feature a climbing wall, organized and informal games, slack lines, juggling performances and a mist pavilion for attendees.

For tickets and more information, visit redwingroots.com.

Courtesy photos

LEFT: Joy Oladokun will be one of the headliners at this year’s Red Wing Roots Music Festival, held in June at Natural Chimneys Park in Mount Solon, Va. RIGHT: Hurray for the Riff Raff will also perform.

Ty Herndon will perform in Frederick

Courtesy photo

Summerfest Family Theatre returns to Baker Park for free weekly shows for kids

Celebrate Frederick’s annual Summerfest Family Theatre season kicked off on June 12 and continues through Aug. 7, with performances from 10 to 10:45 a.m. every Thursday at the Baker Park Band Shell in Frederick.

While each performance is free to the public, Celebrate Frederick encourages guests to bring a canned food item in lieu of admission to support the Foodbank Program operated by the City of Frederick Housing and Human Services. Nonperishable items such as canned meats and vegetables, soups, peanut butter, cereal, rice and pastas are preferred and appreciated.

For more information, call 301-6002841 or visit celebratefrederick.com.

June 19

Unique Devotions & The Rhythm Mamas

Commemorate Juneteenth with performances from two local performing arts groups. Each will perform a 20-minute set. Unique Devotions is a dance studio based in Frederick that specializes in hiphop, contemporary, majorette and jazz. Rhythm Mamas, Ayanna Gallant (Mama G) and Kristen Arant (Drumlady

K), are moms with a passion for West African culture, social justice and music education. Their lively performances of songs and rhythms of the Manding, Ghana, Nigeria and beyond, invite people of all ages to sing, move and respond to the world of music around us.

June 26

Mr. Jon & Friends

Frederick’s own Mr. Jon & Friends is multiple Parents’ Choice Award winning music for kids and their families. Mr. Jon plays over 250 shows a year for kids, sharing the stage with bands like The Pop Ups and The Imagination Movers. Mr. Jon & Friends makes music for kids and their families that inspire fun, laughter and dancing.

July 10

Groovy Nate

Groovy Nate is a children’s entertainer and teaching artist, who creates fun and educational shows using funky grooves, exotic musical instruments and comedy, a la Sesame Street meets Parliament/Funkadelic. He is also a Grammy-nominated artist with The 1 Tribe Collective. Groovy Nate’s shows encourage children and adults to move, sing and play creatively with one another.

July 17

Eric Byrd Trio Summer Camp Students

For over 20 years, The Eric Byrd Trio have traveled the world as enthusiastic ambassadors of jazz. Rooted in swing and bebop, the trio also embraces gospel and the blues as core elements of their expansive performance style. Their body of work spans seven unique studio and live recordings on which they shine as a Trio and as collaborators with an expanded eightpiece ensemble they call The Eric Byrd Trio: Brother Ray Band, in tribute to The Genius of Soul icon Ray Charles. This performance will feature members of the Eric Byrd Trio Summer Camp.

July 24

Rainbow Rock Band

Winners of a Parents’ Choice Fun Stuff Award for their debut album, “Meet the Rainbow,” in addition to a Family Choice Award, a Mom’s Choice Award and a National Parent Product Award for their newest release, “Total Eclipse of the Rainbow,” Rainbow Rock Band presents a mix of musical genres from folk and pop rock to rockabilly, all while being educational and fun. Children learn about shapes, colors, movement, nature and more.

July 31

Ms. Niki

Nicole, Ms. Niki, Addison is a classically trained singer-songwriter from Washington, D.C. One of family music’s most compelling and talented emerging artists, Ms. Niki is a member of the Grammy-nominated 1 Tribute Collective’s All One Tribe album featuring “Rainbow.” Described as “a new age cross between Mary Poppins and Ms. Frizzle,” Ms. Niki is sure to please audiences of all ages. Join music edu-tainer Ms. Niki on a colorful adventure through upbeat original songs and classics with a twist you’ve never heard before.

Aug. 7

Mark Lohr Classic Comedy Show

Mark Lohr is a physical comic extraordinaire. He uses the circus skills of juggling, plate spinning, hat tricks and more to hilariously entertain the young and the young at heart. A smorgasbord of family fun guaranteed to leave the entire family rolling in the aisles. Mark has toured extensively with his unique blend of circus and slapstick comedy, including The Kennedy Center, Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, The George Carden International Circus and The Kim-Tom Clown Festival.

Celebrate Frederick

Bring the kids out to Baker Park every Thursday morning through Aug. 7 for fun performances at the bandshell.

Juneteenth commemoration to be held at Catoctin Mountain Park and the village of Catoctin Furnace

Scouts from Troops 270 B&G and Cub Scout Pack 270 listen as Emersen Mcqueen, center, reads names of Catoctin Furnace enslaved skilled ironworkers during a wreath laying ceremony at the cemetery overlook during a 2024 Juneteenth commemoration.

On June 19, the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society will commemorate Juneteenth in conjunction with Catoctin Mountain Park, the Thurmont Lions Club, AARCH Society, the historic Harriet Chapel and Scouts BSA Troop 270. Events will begin at 3 p.m. with a guided hike led by NPS rangers exploring the history of slavery and emancipation on this 160th anniversary of Juneteenth.

Guests should meet the park ranger guides at the Hog Rock Trail parking lot in Catoctin Mountain Park at 2:45 p.m.

Following the hike, events will continue at the Museum of the Ironworker, located at 12610 Catoctin Furnace Road in the historic village of Catoctin Furnace, beginning at 6 p.m. The commemorative programming will include a procession to the African American Cemetery overlook with wreath laying, bell ringing and reading of the names of the Catoctin Furnace enslaved skilled ironworkers by representatives of Scouts BSA Troop 270. A wreath will

(See JUNETEENTH 19)

Staff file photo by Katina Zentz

THE FREDERICK MOM

The Frederick Mom’s recommendations for the weekend of June 20

Activities to do with the kids this weekend, courtesy of The Frederick Mom.

Story Time at the Farm

10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 20

The Birthday Barn, 14074 Hoovers Mill Road, Rocky Ridge

$15/child

Sign up to visit Lazy Daze Farm for their Friday morning children’s story time then enjoy fun craftivities and visit their furry animals! Kona Ice dessert truck will be on-site to purchase treats! Children under age one are free. Sign up online.

•••

Cinderella Broadway Musical

6 to 9 p.m. June 20 and 21 Way Off Broadway, 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick Cost varies

Take the family to Frederick’s very own dinner theater! Starting this Friday, adults and kids can have dinner and see the timeless princess tale Rogers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella: The Broadway Musical.” Performances start June 20 and run until August 16. Find show information at wayoffbroadway.com. To purchase tickets, call the box office at 301662-6600. •••

Creative Summer Kickoff

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 21

Dream Free Art, 1341 Hughes Ford Road, Frederick

$25/child

Kick off your summer with an open studio event packed with fun, hands-on crafting stations for kids and families! Whether you make a rainbow scratch ocean mask or DIY pinwheels, the activities get you in the creative spirit for summertime. Register at dreamfreeart.com/ creative-summer.

•••

Faeries House Building

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 21

Fountain Rock Nature Center, 8511 Fountain Rock Ct., Walkersville

$18/person

Get creative and build your own faerie house for your home or backyard garden. All materials will be provided; kids just bring their imagination! Price is per house built to take home. Register at recreater.com and search #34642.

•••

Summer STEM Program

Attend New Market’s annual South Alley Block Party on Saturday for games, live music, a car show and fun for all ages.

11:30 a.m. to June 21

Urbana Library, 9020 Amelung St., Frederick Free

If your Pre-K child would like to learn the basics of STEM, then head to the Urbana Library for this fun series. The nonprofit Aavanee is offering a Summer STEM program for little ones (think creating electricity from fruit and other interesting hands-on science experiments). Registration is recommended at aavanee.org. Save the date for additional STEM Programs at the same location at 12:30 p.m. on June 28, July 5 and July 12 and at 11:30 a.m. July 19.

Family & Youth Pride Day

11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. June 21

The Station Market & Cafe, 629 N. Bentz St., Frederick

Free

All ages are welcome to attend and get creative! Enjoy free crafts provided by PFLAG, listen to live music by you, shop great local vendors, and indulge in Pride-themed food that will be for sale at the cafe where a portion of profits will go to The Frederick Center. from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. free yoga is available for all ages. Wear your pride colors and bring your own mat.

South Alley Block Party

4 to 8 p.m. June 21

South Alley, New Market

Free

New Market Physical Therapy is shutting down the streets for their annual Block Party for the community. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy live music, shop some local vendors, and play some games and activities with the whole fam-

ily. Linganore’s Robotics team is going to set up an interactive tent! There will be a car show, glitter face-painting and more.

•••

Battle of the Beast Rodeo

5:30 to 9:30 p.m. June 21

J Bar W Ranch, 10530 Green Valley Road, Union Bridge

$25/adult, $10/child ages 6-12, kids 5 and under free Rodeo season has begun! Battle of the Beast is professional bull riding, horseback barrel racing, breakaway roping, and even mutton bustin’ where kids in the audience can hold on to a running sheep and try not to fall off! Before the show at 5:30 p.m., families can head into the arena for the free Little Wrangler Rodeo to learn and play around like a cowboy/girl. Food and vendors on-site and require cash. Entrance tickets are sold at the door. No pre-registration needed. If you miss this Saturday’s rodeo, more shows are scheduled for July 5 and 19, Aug. 2 and 16 and Sept. 6 and 20.

•••

How-To Fest

1 to 4 p.m. June 22

C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick

Free

This Sunday, head downtown and enjoy a really cool, fun-filled day of discovery at the annual How-To Fest! Meet community members as they show off their unique businesses, hobbies, skills, and passions. With interactive demonstrations and exciting resources spread throughout the library, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Join FCPL, spark your curiosity, and maybe even pick up a new hobby or skill along the way!

Dancing on the Deck: Kids Dance Party

2 to 3 p.m.

June 22

Thurmont Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont Free

On Sunday, Carissa Barth with FIBE Dance will lead a fun and interactive line dance class just for kids. This event is ideal for kids under age 12. Be ready to Cupid Shuffle your way around the library deck for an hour of active fun!

Tiffany Mahaney is at least a fifth-generation native to Frederick County, and she now proudly raises her own family here. She is the owner of The Frederick Mom on Instagram. Follow her @thefrederickmom.

Ashly Wright

TIFFANY MAHANEY

”Duality” — through June 28 at Frederick Book Arts Center, 127 S. Carroll St., Frederick, and July 5-26 at NOMA Gallery, 437 N. Market St., Frederick. For “Duality, two become one. Each show will feature new work in all media from local artists and a fresh take on what it means to be a part of a thriving arts community here in Frederick. 301-228-9816 or frederickbookarts.org, or 240-367-9770 or nomagalleryfrederick.com.

”Old Gods” — through June 29, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Sumner Crenshaw’s paintings pull from mythological and folkloric imagery to explore the inner psyche. The artist brings to life figures from many pantheons, including Greek, Irish, Welsh, Norse and Persian traditions. Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

”Summer Fun” — through June 29, GALLERY 322, 322 N. Market St., Frederick. Celebrate the warmth and joy of summer through vibrant artwork, featuring partner artists Lissa Abrams, Michael Douglas Jones, Jan Kaufman, Linda Kirvan, Ann Schaefer, Anne Gibson Snyder, Russell Schofield, Tom Ritchie and Homer Yost, along with associate artists Carol Cowie, Deborah Lovelace Richardson, Jane Knighton and Karen Winston-Levin. Gallery hours 4-7 p.m. Fridays, noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 301-509-8212 or gallery322.com.

”SILVER: A Journey Through Space and Time” — through June 29, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Multidimensional digital art and animation photography by Dan Silver. Fusing colorful animated loops and photography in collaboration with technology, Silver finds the process forms the journey of his art, continually inventing a new creative communication between mediums. Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. 301698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

”Hinterland” — through June 29, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. This series of paintings reflect upon DeAnna Boyer’s relationship with and understanding of nature, inspired by time spent sketching and observing various biodiverse ecosystems from the Appalachian Mountains to the Burren National Park in Ireland. Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. 301698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

“SHROUDED: CYANOTYPES” — through June 29 at Blanche Ames Gallery, 4880 Elmer Derr Road, Frederick. Work by Jillian Abir MacMaster. For gallery hours, call 301473-7680 or visit frederickuu.org.

Art Exhibit — through June 29 at TAG/

the age of 6. Their boundless energy and chaotic joy are captured in pieces like “TUSSLE 1,” a handbuilt brown clay sculpture with inlaid blue clays, evoking the spontaneous wrestling matches of small children. Artist talk 3-4 p.m. June 21. Hours are noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. 240367-9770 or nomagalleryfrederick.com. ”Life Expressions” — through June 29, Links Bridge Vineyards, 8830 Old Links Bridge Road, Thurmont. As a part of our continued “Wine and Art Series”, Links Bridge Vineyards hosts an exhibit of artwork by The Tuesday Painters of Frederick County. Weekends 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; other days by appointment. 301466-2413, linksbridgevineyards@gmail. com.

“My Secret Garden” — through June 29 at Eastside Artists’ Gallery, 313 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Beth MacNeil Stinson invites viewers into a deeply personal and contemplative botanical world. Using a process she calls echo printing, Stinson works directly with plants to imprint their forms and essences onto paper through an organic dyeing process. Artist talk at 1 p.m. June 22. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. eastsideartistsgallery.com.

”Tea and Tranquility: Savoring the Beauty of Small Moments” — through June 30, Frederick 50+ (Senior) Center, 1440 Taney Ave., Frederick. Jamie Moore is a food, lifestyle and fine art photographer based in Frederick County. Her work will be on display at the Rosemary & Thyme Gallery in the Frederick 50+ Community Center. Hours are 8:30 am. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. 301-600-3525. essentialquince. com.

”Faces and Whatever” — through July 1, Washington County Arts Council, 34 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Penny Knobel-Besa exhibits her unique photographic style. Virtual exhibit online. Use the A&E parking deck at 25 Renaissance Way. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. 301-791-3132, washingtoncountyarts.com.

Karen Peacock and Judith Kornett bring a maximalist aesthetic to the Mary Condon Hodgson Art Gallery at Frederick Community College’s Visual and Performing Arts Center. Their exhibition, “Cross Pollination,” reflects an interest in texture, layering and vibrant colors across a variety of media and processes. In addition to their individual pieces, Peacock and Kornett collaborated on a group project at the entrance of the exhibition, shown here. It consists of 24 small canvases. Meet the artists from 1 to 3 p.m. June 21. The show will remain on view until July 9. (See

National Juried Exhibition — through July 13, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Features works in a variety of media by artists from around the region and the nation. Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. 301698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

The Artists Gallery, 501 N. Market St., Frederick. Featured artists are Colleen Clapp and Rhonda J. Smith exhibiting large-scale cold wax and oil paintings and linoleum prints. The artists focus on the natural world as seen through the lens of Japanese aesthetics. 301-2289860.

”Five Grandsons” — through June 29, NOMA Gallery, 437 N. Market St., Frederick. A solo exhibition by Gary Schlappal — his first one-person show at NOMA and his first in Frederick since 2009. This vibrant mixed media collection is inspired by Schlappal’s life as a grandfather to five boys, all under

Cumberland Valley Photographers Exhibit — through July 27, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown. Juried, annual exhibition showcasing artists of the Cumberland Valley region. 301-7395727 or wcmfa.org.

Courtesy photo

‘Little Beasts’ at the National Gallery is a melding of natural history, art and collecting

BY MICHAEL KEATING

Special to The News-Post

Due to its extensive trade routes and colonial holdings, Antwerp in the 1500s was inundated with goods — illgotten and otherwise — from across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. The Dutch were startled, amazed and delighted by the rich variety of plants and animals. They embraced the energetic study of this bounty, seeing in it the glory of God. And they developed through enthusiastic acquisitiveness a renewed interest in natural history, melding art, science and faith.

A recently opened exhibition at the National Gallery of Art, “Little Beasts: Art, Wonder, and the Natural World,” which is on view through Nov. 2, displays the explosive interest in depicting nature that flowered in the Netherlands between the 16th and 18th centuries. Some of the artists, basing their work entirely on hearsay, were simply clumsy and wrongheaded. Others, painting from cadavers, were forced to guess how the groundhog stood or how the hoopoe flew. But many painted clearly and accurately.

Among the best was Joris Hoefnagel. Having earned a reputation as a manuscript illustrator, Hoefnagel embraced the study of natural history. He painted mammals, reptiles and birds with an uncanny realism. But it was his attention to insects (he was among the first to do so) that earned him the highest praise. All his skills as a miniaturist and a naturalist came together to create shockingly realistic depictions of butterflies, moths, caterpillars and even the common fly.

He had a few tricks up his sleeve, too. Sometimes he would place a butterfly on the parchment and trace the outside of the wings. Then he would burnish the wing, transferring the wing’s colors to the paper. Places that didn’t transfer properly

Jan van Kessel the Elder, “Insects with a Sprig of Rosemary,” 1653.

were detailed in watercolor. And he often added flecks of gold to simulate the sparkle of sunlight.

When painting insects, sometimes he first put down gold foil. Then he would paint over it in translucent layers of watercolor. The end result mimicked the insect’s iridescence.

While Hoefnagel’s work was highly valued, it brought him fame but not fortune. It was his 17-year-old son who remedied that. Jacob Hoefnagel copied his father’s watercolors and engraved them onto copper plates. The resulting monotone intaglio prints could be reproduced repeatedly. The Hoefnagels became renowned and modestly wealthy. The images of fauna and flora were distributed — and copied — throughout Europe. The prints were more accessible

and affordable than original paintings and helped fuel interest in the natural world. They were used in part to illustrate the curiosity cabinets of the wealthy. The Walters Museum in Baltimore includes rooms arranged with this mindset, rooms that dazzle with flamboyant collections of preserved animals, including birds, reptiles and fossils, as well as paintings and butterfly collections.

This melding of natural history, art and collecting — all for the glory of God — blossomed throughout the 17th century. But the exquisite attention to detail that Jan van Kessel brought to his paintings of insects and other “little beasts” brought him acclaim. A descendant of Pieter Bruegel the Elder and Jan Bruegel the Elder, van Kessel was apprenticed to the painting

guild at the age of 8. Although he painted oil on canvas, for his nature studies he used oil on copper, which gave him an amazing amount of control, and by applying thin layers of paint over the metal, he could suggest the luminescence of some of his subjects. He produced more than 400 nature paintings (half have been lost), each of them about the size of a postcard, each depicting plants and flowers as well as little beasts: butterflies, snails, lizards and insects.

“Monstrous creatures and diverse strange things our van Kessel knows how to bring forth as if from life,” wrote biographer Cornelis de Bie in 1662. “There where being small it hardly can be known, if only through his art alone it resembles life entirely.”

The National Gallery exhibition is arranged in

IF YOU GO

“Little Beasts: Art, Wonder, and the Natural World” runs through Nov. 2. It features nearly 75 prints, drawings and paintings alongside some 60 objects from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, together with a film by artist Dario Robleto. Bring a magnifying glass; the precision of the tiny brush strokes is amazing. Admission is free. For more information, go to nga.gov.

three rooms. The first features Joris Hoefnagel, along with work by other master watercolorists, including Hans Hofmann’s famous painting of a red squirrel. The second room focuses on the transition to intaglio prints. A fascinating collection of skeletons includes a rabbit holding a nosegay, a frog, a heron, a bat, a camel and an unidentified quadruped. The third room presents the oil paintings of van Kessel and others, including companion paintings by van Kessel and his grandfather, Jan Bruegel. A delicate springtime bouquet by Clara Peters is surrounded by a snail, damselflies, a ladybug and other insects — all in startling detail.

In a fourth room, visitors can view a 45-minute film that explores the intersection of art, science and the natural world.

This show may be the very first collaboration between the National Gallery and the National Museum of Natural History. The museum donated birds, mammals and insects from its collection that appear in the paintings, so viewers can see for themselves the accuracy of the depictions. In fact, van Kessel’s “Insects with a Sprig of Rosemary” was recreated with the actual species of butterflies, bumblebee and other insects, as well as rosemary.

Michael Keatring is a freelance writer and the former editor of The VVA Veteran, the national magazine of Vietnam Veterans of America.

National Gallery of Art

TRICKS GIGGLES

Frederick Magic Theater evenings of wonder and

BY JENNIFER LEE

Special to The News-Post

Jeff Madsen, owner of the new Frederick Magic Theater & Lounge, spent years crafting his destiny, turning a dream into reality.

He blends comedy, mind-reading and daring escapes in his performances in downtown Frederick.

Frederick’s Magic Theater & Lounge is Frederick’s only venue that is dedicated to comedy magic.

Madsen’s love for magic began when he was just 11 years old. He performed his first trick, the “Floating Bottle,” for his family, and it sparked something inside of him.

“I was always intrigued by magic,” Madsen said. “I love the sense of wonder you feel when you see a trick … that moment when your mind is bouncing between reality and deceit. I think it started when I saw Doug Henning’s first TV performance in 1975. I thought it was really cool, and I wanted to be a part of that world.”

Madsen spent more than a decade studying, practicing and perfecting his magician skills. Even after years in the tech field, the little fire stayed ignited and magic remained in his heart.

Magic as a side hobby was nice for Madsen, performing for friends and family because it brought them joy, but eventually he wanted more. Madsen wanted to open his world of illusion to the public and share his joy for the art form.

Born in Chicago but now residing in Frederick, Madsen had never conceived of opening a magic theater, until he and his wife moved to downtown Frederick in 2022, after previously relocating to Urbana in 2002.

The move to downtown Frederick, he said, made magic more than a hobby for him.

“Just walking around and being part of downtown is when I had the vision of bringing something unique to Frederick, and it was magic,” he said.

Madsen was confident. He knew a magic theater would be successful. He found a location and dove right into creative mode, while his wife, Judy, designed the venue.

They opened Frederick Magic Theater & Lounge about six months ago, and Madsen admits it’s a little terrifying, but he also loves it.

Mary Kate McKenna photos

Jeff Madsen is the resident magician and proud proprietor of the Frederick Magic Theater & Lounge in downtown Frederick, where he offers performances that blend comedy, mind-reading and daring escapes.

TRICKS and GIGGLES

Theater & Lounge opens for and illusion — and laughs

Bringing delight to audiences and offering surprises that go beyond pulling a rabbit out of his hat, Madsen has built a venue where he can share magic on his own terms, ultimately offering a unique experience.

Madsen was inspired by venues such as Chicago Magic Lounge, Illusions Bar in Baltimore and The Magic Hideaway in St. Augustine, Florida, as well as his visit to Las Vegas to see top magicians in the field, and he wanted to create something just as magical. He took inspiration from those venues and scaled it down to be a good fit for Frederick.

His venue is intimate and inviting, adding to the atmosphere Madsen wanted to achieve. He performs in the cozy, 22-seat theater each Saturday night.

His current show rotates effects and has changed slightly since the opening in November 2024. He is currently working on a new show with a different theme that he expects to be ready sometime in the fall.

Madsen also offers performances for special events, such as birthday and anniversary parties, and tailors the show to the audience.

“Frederick has such a cool vibe,” he said. “The art and artists, shops and restaurants are one of a kind, something you can only find in Frederick. … The history and historical aspect bring a sort of mystery to downtown. I think that is part of the inspiration that brings the Magic Theater to life.”

Support from existing business owners, the Downtown Frederick Partnership and the Visitor Center was pivotal in Madsen’s own success, he said.

“We are not on Patrick Street but just around the corner from the Weinberg Center, on North Court Street. Just like Off Broadway in New York City, we consider ourselves ‘just off Patrick,’” he said.

His shows are not just about magic tricks but laughter.

Adding a comedy twist “makes it a fun and special event and evening out,” Madsen said. “I want the audience thinking, ‘Wait — what just happened?’ while simultaneously holding their side. The best compliment I have received after a show is a woman came up to me and said, ‘My face hurts from laughing.’ That is what makes it all worth it.”

IF YOU GO

Frederick Magic Theater & Lounge is for guests 21 and over, however teenage patrons are welcome if accompanied by an adult. The lounge offers a vintage walk-up bar stocked with beer and wine from Frederick breweries and wineries, as well as light snacks available at the bar. Guest are invited to enjoy the lounge space before and after his show. The lounge is open on show nights beginning at 7 p.m. The bar closes at 10 p.m. and is closed during the show. About 30 minutes before the show begins, the theater opens, and the pre-show magic ensues. The pre-show is a casual performance designed to get the audience involved and warmed up for the one-hour Mystery and Mayhem show, which starts at 8 p.m. There is no dress code, but it is suggested to attend in semi-formal attire.

Tickets are required, and seats are assigned based on the order reservations are received. Frederick Magic Theater & Lounge is at 19 N. Court St., #100, in Frederick. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit frederickmagic.com.

THE LONG BOX

Decoding the secret language of comics symbols

Do you know what “maladicta” is? How about a “blurgit” … or “emenata”?

I didn’t either. I do now. We’ll get to that in a moment.

Mort Walker — or his work product, at least — will be well-known to American readers. His cartoon strips “Beetle Bailey” and “Hi and Lois” ran in papers nationwide, and are still going. (Without Walker’s involvement; he died in 2018.) Walker’s lifelong advocacy was that comics deserved serious appreciation and study.

I recently unearthed Walker’s 1980 booklet, “The Lexicon of Comicana,” on the Internet Archive. I had no idea that much of the lexicon of comics language and symbols had names.

Truth be told, I don’t know if these were the actual words for any of these things or if any of these things had definitions before Walker. I don’t think it matters. I personally don’t care. Language sometimes only needs one pioneer to give us the words we never realized we needed until they were coined.

So, “maladicta.” What is that? It’s the typographical symbols that replace profanity in speech balloons — handily avoiding potential censorship. They’re made up of jarns, quimps, nittles and grawlixes.

“Emenata” are the lines that radiate around a character’s head and denote stress. Sometimes these are made up of “plewds,” or sweat droplets.

A “blurgit” — comprised of reverbatrons, agitrons, briffits and the like — shows movement and speed.

(You can look up those others yourselves.)

Fun fact about Walker and his lifelong advocacy of his craft: He began preserving original art in the ‘40s after encountering Kings Feature Syndicate employees using “Krazy Kat” pages to sop up a water leak.

Frankly, I’m here for the return of these terms to “comicana,” another word I think Walker may have coined.

TANGIBLE MENTIONS ...

The fifth edition of my little art/zine/letter project, “Tangible,” hit letterboxes over the past few weeks, and recipients have been remarkably kind about it. Technically, I’ve only sent out two mailings, as the first had four issues in one envelope.

“It really did make me think, it made me smile and ponder and take in what was in front of me, what was real and what was meaningful,” Dave Cranna wrote May 27 in his Substack, “The Glass City Courant.” “There should be more of that.”

Friend and creator Zach Cahill said, “It’s like a whole little magazine in a lovely unique format. Just perfect stuff. Great idea, brilliantly executed.”

I’m not sure how my head will fit through the front door after all that. I feel I am dangerously close to producing actual capital “A” “Art” art, a claim that would have my art school teachers rolling in their

EXHIBITS

(Continued from 10)

Crestwood Gallery Summer Exhibit — through Sept. 5, Frederick Health Crestwood Building, 7211 Bank Court, Frederick. See original works of art, including oil, watercolor, mixed media and photography from some of Frederick County’s most talented artists. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. 240-215-1460 or frederickhealth. org/crestwoodart.

”Marine Scenes” — July 3 through Aug. 5, Washington County Arts Council, Main and Michael G. Callas Galleries, 34 S. Potomac St., Suite 100, Hagerstown. Works by Denny Clarke. Opening reception 5-7 p.m. July 3. Artist talk 2-4 p.m. July 5. Virtual exhibit available July 5. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Use the A&E parking deck at 25 Renaissance Way. 301-7913132, washingtoncountyarts.com.

”Two Painters, Separate Paths” — July 4-27, Links Bridge Vineyards, 8830 Old Links Bridge Road, Thurmont. Artwork by artists Tom Ritchie and Lissa Abrams. These two successful and increasingly well-known plein air artists each have their own unique styles which visitors will enjoy contrasting. Where Ritchie uses a lavish “thick and juicy” brushwork, Abrams is more delicate and sensitive. Weekends 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; open July 4, other days by appointment. 301-466-2413, linksbridgevineyards@gmail.com.

graves. Let them roll, I say. This isn’t about them.

If you’re wondering about the project, I wrote about it in the April 14 issue of 72 Hours, “Loneliness of the long-distance letter writer.”

I’m working on No. 6 right now, so shoot me your address if you’re interested in being on the mailing list. •••

RECOMMENDATIONS: I haven’t read a proper book with just words and such in an embarrassingly long time, and here I am having finished up Dan Nadel’s excellent biography on the legendary underground cartoonist Robert Crumb and moving onto a history of British comics by James Chapman. Two in one year? They’ll be calling me an intellectual.

Nadel’s “Crumb: A Cartoonist’s Life” is excellent, shining light on the currents that shaped the sometimes controversial yet legendary underground artist’s life. I’m most definitely a fan of Crumb’s work, even as I’m 100% certain I’d firmly dislike him if I knew him.

(You can read more of my thoughts about the bio — and SPX turning down Nadel for an appearance at the con because the subject matter is “too controversial” — over on the Substack, thelongbox. substack.com.)

Keep on truckin’... (#IYKYK.)

Shoot me a note at cgcumber@gmail.com. Follow along with me not posting that often to the socials at @cgcumber.

”Inspiration and Influence: Artist-Educator Mentors and Motivators” — July 5 through Aug. 31, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Woodcut prints by Pamela Lawton, focus is on the intricate part that mentors and teachers play for artists. Each piece in the exhibition aims to highlight and honor those who have led the way — in some capacity — for her work. Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

”Floral and Fantasy” — July 5 through Aug. 31, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. With vibrant colors and dynamic compositions, Linda Robinson’s paintings focus on themes of expressionistic portraiture, abstracted still life, and magical realism as a way to consider the interconnectedness between humanity and the natural world. Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

”Over 70 Show” — July 19 through Aug. 31, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. A signature of the Delaplaine’s Creative Aging Month, this annual exhibition celebrates local artists over age 70 and showcases a wide range of styles, techniques and interests. Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

”The Art of Overcoming: Healing Through Creativity” — Sept. 4-30, Washington County Arts Council, 34 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Opening reception 5-7 p.m. Sept. 4. In conjunction with Washington Goes Purple. Hours 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. 301-791-3132, www. washingtoncountyarts.com

Courtesy photo

“The Lexicon of Comicana,” by Mort Walker.

CLIFF CUMBER

Kick off summer with theater and concerts at the Washington County Playhouse

File photo by Scott A Garfitt/Associated Press

Taylor Swift performs at Wembley Stadium as part of her Eras Tour on June 21, 2024, in London. Catch a tribute show in Hagerstown when singers and dancers evoke the persona and energy of the world’s top-selling entertainer.

The Washington County Playhouse Dinner Theater will kick off the summer with its Playhouse+ series: Elvis in Concert Tribute, American Country, First Ladies of Country and Shake It Off: A Tribute to the Music of Taylor Swift. Performances are scheduled throughout the summer.

ELVIS IN CONCERT TRIBUTE — This show is on one day only, June 22. Jeff Krick Jr. is one of America’s most successful and endearing Elvis tribute artists. Krick has performed at numerous Elvis and music festivals and has also performed as “The King” in Hawaii and Las Vegas. Limited seating.

AMERICAN COUNTRY — This show plays one day only on July 13. Celebrate American independence with a dynamic concert featuring the great songbook of American Country Music performed by singers and live musicians.

FIRST LADIES OF COUNTRY — This show plays one day only on July 27. A group of singers will perform a show featuring some of the greatest women’s hits in the country music songbook.

SHAKE IT OFF — This show plays Aug. 29, 30

‘Cinderella: The Broadway Musical’ at Way Off Broadway

As The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre continues its season this summer, the theater will present Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella: The Broadway Musical.” The revised version of the classic musical opens June 20 and runs through Aug. 16.

This musical is the 2013 Broadway adaptation of the classic musical that tells the timeless story of a kind and mistreated young woman who, with the help of her Fairy Godmother, is able to attend the royal ball where she captivates the heart of the prince, while opening his eyes to injustices throughout his kingdom. With a revised book by Douglas Carter Beane, this is a fresh telling of a favorite tale.

In 2013, Cinderella finally made it to Broadway when Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella: The Broadway Musical” began previews in January. Playwright Douglas Carter Beane revised the story for the Broadway production, adding new characters and scenes to give the show a slightly more contemporary storyline.

Leading the Frederick cast in the title role will be Emily Flack, who made her

WOB debut last season as the Grand Duchess Anastasia in “Anastasia.” She will be joined onstage by Randy Stull as Prince Topher, Jessica Billones as the Fairy Godmother, Sarah Melinda as Madame, Kaley Harman as Gabrielle, Melissa Ann Martin as Charlotte, Kyle Donovan as Jean-Michel, Steve Steele as Sebastian and Dominic Massimino as Lord Pinkleton. Rounding out the cast will be MacKenzie Brannen, Chris DeOcampo, Grace Guzman, Piper Guzman, Nathan Pitzer and Tristan Vail.

This version of Cinderella has music by Richard Rodgers and an original book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, with revisions by Douglas Carter Beane. Way Off Broadway’s production is under the direction of Bill Kiska, the theater’s executive producer, with music direction by Tina M. Bruley and choreography by Dee Buchanan.

Performances will be held every Friday and Saturday evening and matinees on the first, third and fifth Sundays of month. Tickets on a Friday or Sunday are $60 per person and $65 on Saturdays. WOB is at 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick. Learn more at wayoffbroadway.com.

and 31. Celebrate the conclusion of Taylor’s Eras Tour with this tribute to her music. Featuring the singer’s greatest hits, Shake It Off singers and dancers evoke the persona and energy of the world’s top-selling entertainer. Note: This show contains mature themes and lyrics.

The Washington County Playhouse will also present Neil Simon’s “California Suite” from June 13 to 29, a humorous confection divided into four parts.

These shows are preceded by dinner featuring dinner rolls, plated salad, dinner, dessert, and coffee, tea and iced tea. A full service cash bar is available. Bar tab and gratuity not included. Children under age 5 are not admitted.

The Washington County Playhouse is located at 44 N. Potomac St. (rear) in Hagerstown.

Tickets (includes dinner and show) cost $67 for adults, $61 for active military and first responders, and $57 for children ages 5 to 12. Tickets can be purchased at washingtoncountyplayhouse.com or by calling 301-739-7469.

New biography explores how Frederick native Claire McCardell revolutionized fashion

BY SCOTT HARRIS

Special to The News-Post

The humble, ubiquitous hoodie is just as much a part of America’s sartorial identity as jeans and Yankee caps. And there would likely be no hoodie — not to mention a plethora of other casual classics — if it weren’t for Claire McCardell.

Making her career in the 1920s to 1940s, McCardell doesn’t have the global notoriety of contemporaries Coco Chanel or Christian Dior, but her innovations are arguably just as substantial. None other than fashion icon Calvin Klein once said McCardell “really invented sportswear, which is this country’s major contribution to fashion.”

McCardell was also a deep-rooted Frederick native whose grandfather cofounded Hood College. (She attended herself for a time before the pull of New York became too great.) McCardell, who died of colon cancer in 1958 at age 52, is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

“Claire McCardell: The Designer Who Set Women Free” is a new biography by Baltimore author Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson that examines McCardell’s life and brilliance.

Dickinson recently spoke with 72 Hours about McCardell and her new biography, with a June 17 release date from Simon & Schuster.

The book references McCardell’s influence on “the American look.” What is the American look, in your own words?

The American look is what we all take for granted today. It’s leggings, it’s ballet flats, it’s wrap dresses and mix-and-match separates — a capsule wardrobe, as people call it today.

Really, it is the casual sportswear that we wear every day. It really referred to the kinds of clothes, whether they were dresses or pants or sweaters with hoods, that you could wear and be casual, be confident, and wear to work or to play sports. And that didn’t really exist in the ‘20s and ‘30s when Claire started out.

How did Frederick shape her early life and her approach to fashion?

I think Frederick actually was pivotal in shaping who she went on to be for a couple of reasons. One is that Frederick, while rural, was not remote. As I write in the book, it was a very cultural city. There were a lot of people and performers and speakers. Suffragists were coming through and giving lectures.

There were a lot of opportunities to see business and design in practice, because you had these mill industries and you had these glassblowers and you had these artisans. Claire’s own grandfather was a candy maker, and he designed and patented his own candy molds.

I also think the pragmatism of Frederick really stayed with her. As she said, fashion can be fickle, and she

which ironically we’re still trying to get in our clothes today. She thought of them not just as a place to put stuff. She recognized that pockets also have this psychological effect: You put your hand in your pocket and you’re sort of calm and cool looking. It’s something to do with your hands. And so she was one of the first to really design to a woman’s experience and to a woman’s body. How did you conduct your research for the book?

McCardell was wellknown but not in the same way as some of the bigger names of her era.

Someone like Chanel or Dior, they have a big body of work and a lot of people who were sort of archiving them at the time. But with Claire, she was a woman working in an industry that didn’t really take notes on women in the beginning. So what I needed to do was go to her archives. There’s one in Baltimore and there’s an archive at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.

There’s also a great repository of things right in Frederick at the historical society and the libraries. I did really rigorous research to understand where Claire fit into the arc not only of fashion history but of women’s history. What was her experience like as a woman creating unconventional fashion compared with what she might experience today?

Claire always thought about a woman’s experience in the world. She didn’t think of a woman as an object that needed to be dressed, which is the way maybe some designers thought.

had a very pragmatic family. She didn’t waste. She believed in clothes lasting. I think a lot of that ethos came from her upbringing in Frederick, and she returned to Frederick throughout her life. What made her fashion stand out so much when she created it? She believed in a woman’s autonomy. She believed in freedom and comfort. As one example, it’s why she fought to put pockets in all of her clothes,

Unfortunately, it hasn’t changed much in the fashion industry. Women still rarely make it to the upper echelons of fashion. I think Claire would be shocked to see how few women had their own design firms today. So that bias still exists.

I think women are given a lot more opportunity now because of women like Claire who sort of built the industry. But part of why I thought this book was timely now is because I think what she went through is very much what young people, and women in particular, are still going through.

Stefani Foster LaBrecque

Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson is the author of “Claire McCardell: The Designer Who Set Women Free.”

Child Care/Home Care

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Thursday June 19

ETCETERA

2025 Exhibits at the Museum of Frederick History — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Museum of Frederick County History, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. See our all new and renovated exhibits, now through Dec. 13. Free admission on Wednesdays.

$5, $10 adults, $5 seniors and students. Outreach@FrederickHistory.org. frederickhistory.org.

Volunteer Information Session — 11 a.m. at Virtual event, Frederick. Learn about the Literacy Council, and get information on the ways to volunteer and what volunteering involves. You will learn about our programs, who we serve and how you can help. 18 and older.

301-600-2066. info@frederickliteracy.org. frederickliteracy.org.

Thirsty Thursday — 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Frederick Eagles, 207 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Domestic beers are just $3.15, non-domestics are $4.35, and wings are a steal at 94 cents each. And if you’re a member, you get an extra 20% off! Can’t beat that! 301-663-6281. FrederickAerie1067@gmail. com.

“Up From the Meadows”/Black History Walking Tour of Mount Olivet Cemetery — 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 515 S. Market St., Frederick. Participants will discover unique links to local, state and national Black (African American) history through visiting the grave sites of a collection of men and women buried in Frederick’s historic Mount Olivet Cemetery — at one time a segregated cemetery before 1954. You will be pleasantly surprised with what you will learn. Scheduled for 2 hours, the route will be about 1.3 miles in length, mostly on macadam roadways with occasional walking on grass to access gravesites. (NOTE: Meet at the World War I Gazebo in Areas T,U, S in middle of cemetery near Fritchie monument. Park on radiating lanes from memorial).

$20. 240-285-8519. calicojac@comcast.net. www.HistorySharkProductions.com.

FAMILY

Camp Invention at St. Mary Catholic School — 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St Mary SchoolHagerstown, 218 W. Washington St., Hagerstown. Ignite your K-6 grader’s curiosity and confidence at Camp Invention®! The 2025 program, Discover, is coming to St. Mary Catholic School for the very first time! From June 16th to June 19th, campers will collaborate with friends in hands-on, open-ended STEM adventures designed to inspire creativity, stretch imaginations and provide an awesome summer experience. Visit invent. org/local and use promo code MYCAMP25 to save $25! Payment plans available. $285.00. 800-968-4332. campinvention@ invent.org. www.invent.org/program-search/camp-invention/md20/11691.

Summerfest Family Theatre: Unique Devotions & The Rhythm Mamas — 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at Baker Park Bandshell, Bentz and Second streets, Frederick. Commemorate Juneteenth with performances from two local performing arts groups! Each will perform a 20-minute set. Unique Devotions is a dance studio based in Frederick specializing in hip-hop, contemporary, majorette and jazz. Rhythm Mamas, Ayanna Gallant (Mama G), and Kristen Arant (Drumlady K), are moms with a passion for West African culture, social justice, and music education. Their lively performances of songs and rhythms of the Manding, Ghana, Nigeria and beyond, invite people of all ages to sing, move and respond to the world of music around us. In lieu of admission, bring a nonperishable canned food item for the Foodbank Program. 301-600-2841. celebratefrederick.com.

GALLERY

National Juried Exhibition — 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. at Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Work in a variety of media. The Delaplaine’s annual juried show features works by artists from around the region and the nation. 301-698-0656. jclark@delaplaine.org.

delaplaine.org/exhibitions/.

Sumner Crenshaw: “Old Gods” — 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. at Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Crenshaw’s paintings pull from mythological and folkloric imagery to explore the inner psyche. The artist brings to life figures from many pantheons, including Greek, Irish, Welsh, Norse and Persian traditions. 301-698-0656. jclark@delaplaine.org. delaplaine.org/exhibitions/.

“SILVER: A Journey Through Space and Time” — 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. at Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. “SILVER A Journey Through Space and Time: Explorations of Multidimensional Digital Art and Animation Photography” Multidimensional digital art and animation photography by Dan Silver.

301-698-0656. jclark@delaplaine.org. delaplaine.org/exhibitions/.

DeAnna Boyer: “Hinterland” — 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. at Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. This series of paintings reflect upon Boyer’s relationship with and understanding of nature, inspired by time spent sketching and observing various biodiverse ecosystems from the Appalachian Mountains to the Burren National Park in Ireland.

301-698-0656. jclark@delaplaine.org. delaplaine.org/exhibitions/.

“Spiritus Harmoniae” — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Ibiza Cafe, 8 W. Fourth St., Frederick. An exhibit of photography by local artist Jeff Compton that wishes to reflect the subtle yet divine spirit in everyday moments. Cafe is closed Mondays.

410-370-9172. jeff@curiousperspectives. com.

www.iamjeffcompton.com.

Exhibit: “Tea and Tranquility: Savoring the Beauty of Small Moments” — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Frederick 50+ (Senior) Center, 1440 Taney Ave., Frederick. Jamie Moore is a food, lifestyle, and fine art photographer based in Frederick County. Her work will be on display at the Rosemary & Thyme Gallery in the Frederick 50+ Community Center from May-June.

301-600-3525. virtualseniorcenter@frederickcountymd.gov.

www.essentialquince.com.

“Shrouded: Syanotypes” — 10 a.m. to noon at Blanche Ames Gallery, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick, 4880 Elmer Derr Road, Frederick. Jillian Abir MacMaster is a Palestinian-American photographic artist from Frederick. “Shrouded” explores themes of paranoia, anxiety, self-consciousness and self-defense. A shroud, as an object, is a protective cloth. In this series, a variety of fabrics and vintage cloths are used as the surface. Paranoia is present through the eyeballs, a prominent motif — unwanted sight searing through this protection. “Shrouded” employs traditional and mixed media cyanotype techniques to discuss these themes in relation to current societal stressors. 240-409-6329. caroltopchik2@gmail.com. frederickuu.org/arts/blanche_ames_gallery.

Penny Knobel-Besa: Hands, Faces, and Whatever Photographic Exhibition — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Washington County Arts Council, 34 S .Potomac St., Hagerstown. Penny Knobel-Besa exhibits her unique photographic style.

+1(301)791-3132. gallerymanager@washingtoncountyarts.com. www.washingtoncountyarts.com/june-2025. “Life Expressions” — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Links Bridge Vineyards, 8830 Old Links Bridge Road, Thurmont. As a part of our continued “Wine and Art Series”, Links Bridge Vineyards hosts an exhibit of artwork by The Tuesday Painters of Frederick County. 301-602-5733. LinksBridgeVineyards@ gmail.com. www.linksbridgevineyards@gmail.com.

21st Annual Bethesda Painting Awards — noon to 4 p.m. at Gallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. Eight painters have been selected as finalists for the Bethesda Painting Awards, a juried competition and exhibition produced by the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District. Almost 300 artists from Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., submitted work to the annual competition created to exclusively honor regional painters. The top prize winners will be announced June 7 in a private reception. The Best in

Show winner will be awarded $10,000; second place will be honored with $2,000 and third place will be awarded $1,000. 301-672-0008. jliu@bethesda.org. www.bethesda.org/bethesda-painting-awards/.

MUSIC & ARTS

Alive@Five: Ahzay & The Squad — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Carroll Creek Amphitheater, Frederick. Craft beverages and food available by local breweries, distilleries and food trucks. 21 and older, with ID. $6. 301-698-8118. downtownfrederick.org.

Live Jazz at the Cocktail Lab — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Tenth Ward Distilling Co., 55 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Get swanky with us every Thursday night for live jazz and your favorite craft cocktails. 21 and older. 301-360-5888. monica@tenthwarddistilling. com. tenthwarddistilling.com.

RECREATION

Bicycling — Senior Recreation Council — 9 a.m. at Locations vary, . Requires $10 annual dues — see website. Meeting locations vary, depending on ride location — contact coordinator. 301-606-0064. myjamis1@gmail.com. srcfrederick.org.

Open Duckpin Bowling — 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Walkersville Lanes, 44 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Walkersville. Hosted by Senior Recreation Council. Not league bowling. Requires $10 annual dues. Cost is weekly cost of bowling. See website and contact coordinator. 240-651-1865. g.blessing@ieee.org. srcfrederick.org/.

Duplicate Bridge — noon to 4 p.m. at The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, 6909 Maryland Ave., Braddock Heights. Looking for a competitive mind sport? Frederick Bridge Club duplicate games allow you to hone your skills and meet other bridge enthusiasts. All are welcome; partner required. $8.00. 301-639-1009. brogan.liz@gmail. com. bridgewebs.com/frederick.

Friday June 20

CLASSES

Let’s Dance: An Adaptive Adult Program — 11 a.m. to noon at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Learn some new dance moves with the Dee Buchanan Studio of Dance to present their Rhythm Works Integrative Dance class. Open to all adults with developmental disabilities and their caregivers for this fun, sensory program. Ages 18 and older. 301-600-7250.

Brain Boost: Paying the ADHD Tax — Managing Money with ADHD — noon to 1 p.m. at Cowork Frederick , 122 E. Patrick St., Frederick . Struggling to balance ADHD and/or money management? This is a hot topic for those with ADHD or those who are neurotypical! With this free lunch and learn, gain perspective on what ADHD is; how it

affects money, careers, and self-worth; and how people can build confidence managing their money. (whether or not they have ADHD!). Pre-registration required. 301-732-5165. heycowork@coworkfrederick.com.

coworkfrederick.com/events/brain-boostpaying-the-adhd-tax-managing-moneywith-adhd/.

Goat for the Soul, Goat Yoga: Unwind Time at the Farm — 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Goat for the Soul, 10209 Fountain School Road, Union Bridge. Kick-off your weekend with goat yoga! All ages welcome! If you are so inclined, please feel free to bring your favorite adult beverage. Purchase tickets at https://goatforthesoul. com/schedule-%26-registration. $27. 240-405-2208. christy@gvalleye.com. www.goatforthesoul.com.

ETCETERA

Disabled American Veteran Service Officer at Fort Detrick — 9:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. at VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic, Porter Street, Fort Detrick. The third Friday of each month by appointment only. The DAV Service Officer will be available to provide information and prepare VA claims to obtain VA benefits for service members, veterans, their spouse and dependents. Appointments can be made by calling DAV Service Officer, Ernie Unger 301-842-2562, or (cell) 301-331-0091 or email michelobqt@yahoo.com. 301-842-2562. michelobqt@yahoo.com. www.dav.org.

Guided Exhibit Tours — 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. Experience the Museum of Frederick County History through a guided tour. Join either archivist Jody Brumage or curator Amy Hunt as they explore the exhibits. Each tour is a unique experience based on the interests of the group and what special things staff wants to highlight that week. Descriptions of each week’s tour can be found on the Heritage Frederick website, which includes accessibility notes. Tours are included with admission. $5, $10. Outreach@FrederickHistory.org. frederickhistory.org/event-calendar.

Ghost Tours of Historic Frederick — 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Brewer’s Alley Restaurant and Brewery, 124 N. Market St., Frederick. Take a remarkable journey through Frederick’s gruesome and bloody past. Nearly 300 years of war, executions and revenge. True documented stories of the “paranormal” with “Maryland’s Oldest Operating Ghost Tour!” Reservations recommended. $17 for adults. 301-668-8922. info@MarylandGhostTours.com. marylandghosttours.com.

Bad Influence — 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. at JoJo’s Restaurant & Tap House, 16-18 E. Patrick

St., Frederick. Get ready, Frederick! Bad Influence is bringing their high-energy blues back to JoJo’s for a night of electrifying music! This award-winning band delivers soulful vocals, scorching guitar and a groove that will have you dancing all night. Come for the music, stay for the amazing food and drinks! No cover – just good times! 21 and older. 301-910-8551. jr@badinflueceband.com. badinfluenceband.com.