Shop Local for the Holidays - 2021

Shop Local for the holidays

GIFTS FOR:

Bookworms Home chefs Theater fans n Art lovers n n n

PLUS: n

Keep your trees and wreaths fresh

The Frederick News-Post December 2021 Special Supplement

IGNITE THE SEASON Holiday Hours Open Mondays through December December 20 - 23 10am to 6pm • Christmas Eve 9am to 3pm • Christmas Day Closed December 27 Closed • New Year’s Eve 10am to 3pm • New Year’s Day Closed Holiday Open House: December 10th, 10am-6pm and December 11th, 10am-4pm

12814-G Shank Farm Way-Hagerstown, MD 21742 301-739-0830 • www.carsonjewelers.com 2 SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | DECEMBER 2021

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Keep it Local

the best holiday gifts for everyone in your life

We Have Ideas

Downtown Gift Card If you’re strapped for gift ideas and want to do something that supports small businesses, why not consider the Downtown Gift Card? Offered by the Downtown Frederick Partnership, the Downtown Gift Card is accepted by a large number of businesses in downtown Frederick, which means it might be an ideal way to shop for that person who already has everything. Pick it up from the Frederick Visitor Center at 151 S. East St. in Frederick.

Gift cards can be pre-loaded with any amount between $10 and $500.

Tickets to a show A wide variety of shows have tickets on sale currently at the Weinberg Center for the

Arts. Whether the person you’re shopping for loves classic films, shows for kids, talks from notable experts or performances from a number of musical acts, there is surely something to check out. Tickets range in prices and can be purchased from weinbergcenter. org. Or try a night of theater with a pair of tickets to one of Maryland Ensemble Theatre’s original productions. See ‌Dancing Bear recommends the Dovetail details and buy tickets online at Wooden Doll House, featuring a stylish marylandensemble.org. design for kids who like creativity.

A unique escape experience If your loved one is looking for something unique, perhaps a visit to one of the local escape rooms is in order. ClueIQ at 103 S. Carroll St., Surelocked In at 5 N. Market St. and Escape This

This photo, from the Frederick Basket Co.’s Facebook page, illustrates some of the baskets the company makes. They could be a perfect solution to your gift-giving needs this holiday.

Frederick at 924 N. East St., all in Frederick, offer a series of puzzle rooms, where participants have to solve a number of brainteasers in order to escape.

Each business offers a number of themed rooms, with ClueIQ and Surelocked In both offering a holiday-themed room. Pricing varies by facility.

Locally-made art Frederick and surrounding towns offer a variety of art galleries and, during the holiday season, a number of art and craft fairs, where you can find original art and unique handcrafted items — pottery, quilts, scarves, decorations — while supporting the local creative economy.

The Muse, at 19 N. Market St. in Frederick, is a one-stop shop for gift-buying for a range of tastes. One item the store will carry specifically for the holiday season is a holiday-themed print featuring some of Frederick’s ‌ most iconic structures set against a dark night sky as snow falls under a full moon, made by Yemi Fagbohun ($150).

4 SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | DECEMBER 2021

Unplugged toys Get the little ones in your life interested in creative, indoor play with a gift from Dancing Bear Toys. Shop staff recommend the sleek and stylish Dovetail Wooden Doll House made by Tender Leaf Toys as a favorite ($250). If buying for a child who would rather be outdoors, zooming around, Dancing Bear recommends the Maxi Deluxe ECO ($140), a scooter made for kids ages 5 to 12 — made from recycled plastic and fishing nets, of all things. Help your kid get around and help the environment at the same time.

Gifts for the gamers Perhaps the most desired gifts for gamers this winter will be the

Dancing Bear recommends this eco-friendly scooter, made of recycled plastics.

Staff file photo by Bill Green

This Frederick News-Post file photo shows Chris Sparks, owner of Surelocked In Escape Games on Market Street, right, as he greets a party at the start of their game.

Playing the game are Ella, Carrie and Claire Heritage and Tucker and Connie Wildemdan. Perhaps a ticket to an event like this would make for a great gift.

hardest to come by. Due to the ongoing computer chip shortage, Sony’s PlayStation 5 ($500), Microsoft’s Xbox Series X ($500) and Nintendo’s new Switch OLED Model ($350) are notoriously difficult to come by as manufacturers are forced to scale back production. You might get lucky, catching a restock by scouring retailers’ websites, but you might be better served buying a gift card to his or her favorite retailer.

mac rivers. With tickets starting between $60 and $80, River & Trail Outfitters offers a thrilling rafting experience that starts in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.

You can book the package online at rivertrail.com, but you’ll have to wait until at least mid-March to go on your adventure.

de-stress might be a yoga class.

Mountain Spirit Yoga, located at 14D W. Main St., Middletown, offers passes for four yoga classes at a rate of $70 or unlimited classes for $170. Both passes are sold on a monthly basis.

All in one If you’re looking for an easy The gift of relaxation way to get your shopping done, After the past 18 months, we perhaps a gift basket from the could all use an opportunity to Frederick Basket Co. will meet de-stress. And one of the surest your needs. Ranging in themes Outdoorsy types ways to get there fast is a spa from spa sets, wine gifts and dinpackage. City Magnolia Day River & Trail Outfitters has a ner kits, baskets range from $45 number of outdoors adventures, Spa, located at 8927 Fingerboard to $300 and can be a convenient Road, Frederick, offers a twoall based within a 30-minute way to check people off your drive of Frederick. Whether you hour long “Southern Comfort” shopping lists while giving them spa package featuring a Swedish an eclectic sampling of items. and your family are first-time This piece, designed byYemi Fagbohun, rafters or experienced on the riv- massage and a facial for only features some of Frederick’s most iconic — by Patrick Kernan buildings. You can pick up a framed copy ers, check out rafting packages to $180. Other spa packages are and Lauren LaRocca of the print from The Muse. tour the Shenandoah and Poto- also offered. Another way to DECEMBER 2021 | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS 5

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Prosaic Presents

for those who enjoy long, romantic walks through the bookstore

A Bonanza for Bookworms

H

ere are the top five books to gift this holiday season, as selected by staff at Curious Iguana, an independent bookstore in downtown Frederick.

Customers can purchase these books at the shop or online at bookshop. org, a great online book seller that donates a percentage of sales to the indie bookstore of the customer’s choice — while a writer moves into a also shipping the books cottage on the edge of the directly to the customer. woods that border the

normalcy has more than a few cracks in it. Cracks that are getting bigger same estate. Known locally all the time. This story “On Animals” by Susan plays out in a beautifully as the Dark Place, the recreated New York City dense forest is the writer’s Orlean ($28) of the early 1960s. It’s a favorite area for long “How we interact with family saga masquerading walks, and it’s on one such animals has preoccupied as a crime novel, a walk that she stumbles philosophers, poets, and hilarious morality play, a upon a mysterious note naturalists for ages,” writes social novel about race and that simply reads, “DIG Susan Orlean. Since the power, and ultimately a HERE.” Could this be a age of 6, when Orlean love letter to Harlem. clue towards what has wrote and illustrated a happened to the missing book called “Herbert the young couple? And what “The Sentence” by Louise Near-Sighted Pigeon,” exactly is buried in this she’s been drawn to Erdrich ($28.99) haunted ground? With stories about how we “The Sentence” asks what her signature dark and live with animals, and we owe to the living, intricately twisted prose, how they abide by us. the dead, to the reader Jewell has crafted a In “On Animals,” she and to the book. A small dazzling work of suspense. independent bookstore in examines animal-human relationships through the Minneapolis is haunted compelling tales she has “Harlem Shuffle” by Col- from November 2019 to written over the course of son Whitehead ($28.95) November 2020 by the her celebrated career. store’s most annoying “Ray Carney was only slightly bent when it came customer. Flora dies on “The Night She DisapAll Souls’ Day, but she to being crooked.” To his peared” by Lisa Jewell simply won’t leave the customers and neighbors store. Tookie, who has on 125th street, Carney is ($28) landed a job selling books an upstanding salesman On a beautiful summer after years of incarceration of reasonably priced night in a charming that she survived by furniture, making a decent English suburb, a young reading “with murderous life for himself and his woman and her boyfriend attention,” must solve the family.

Few people know disappear after partying mystery of this haunting he descends from a line of at the massive country uptown hoods and crooks, while at the same time estate of a new college trying to understand all and that his façade of friend. One year later,

8 SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | DECEMBER 2021

that occurs in Minneapolis during a year of grief, astonishment, isolation and furious reckoning. The mystery and proliferating ghost stories told over the span of one year propel a rich, emotional and profound narrative.

“Matrix” by Lauren Groff ($28) Cast out of the royal court

by Eleanor of Aquitaine, deemed too coarse and rough-hewn for marriage or courtly life, 17-yearold Marie de France is sent to England to be the new prioress of an impoverished abbey, its nuns on the brink of starvation and beset by disease. At first taken aback by the severity of her new life, Marie finds focus and love in collective life with her singular and mercurial sisters. In this crucible, Marie steadily supplants her desire for family, for her homeland, for the passions of her youth with something new to her: devotion to her sisters and a conviction in her own divine visions.

Marie, born the last in a long line of women warriors and crusaders, is determined to chart a bold new course for the women she now leads and protects.

But in a world that is shifting and corroding in frightening ways, one that can never reconcile itself with her existence, will the sheer force of Marie’s vision be bulwark enough?

“Matrix” gathers currents of violence, sensuality and religious ecstasy in a mesmerizing portrait of consuming passion, aberrant faith and a woman that history moves both through and around.

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Holidays at Home

‘tis the season for kitchen gifts and gadgets The Cuisinart Custom 14-cup food processor, left, and the Marcato Atlas 150 Wellness pasta machine.

Tom McCorkle

From pans to processors

A list of kitchen gifts for the cooking hobbyist

T

his year, many of us have found ourselves spending a lot more time at home and, in particular, in the kitchen.

Perhaps it has prompted you to experiment and try something new, or master a recipe or skill that you’ve always wanted to tackle but never had the time.

Sales and social media trends have shown a variety of hobbies surging in popularity — sourdough bread and canning, in particular. For folks interested in accessible food projects that allow for lots of fun and creativity, consider adding tools for pasta and ice cream.

The holiday season is an ideal time to treat someone you care about — including yourself! — to some of the tools that can be helpful to tackle one of these skills. Here is a list of kitchen gifts with a few ideas at different budget levels in each category for a ready-made collection. Throw in a favorite recipe, cookbook or online class voucher Tom McCorkle for an extra-special present.

The USA Pan 13-by-4-inch pullman loaf pan and cover, left, the Oxo Good Grips 11-pound food scale with pull-out When your gift recipient starts turning out all kinds of masterful fare from their kitchen, you’ll be display, the Cambro 6-quart square storage container and the Mercer Culinary Millennia 10-inch bread knife. thrilled to know you helped get them there. do it. with straight sides, sharp corners and a lid that Bread helps create gorgeous square slices. Look for a Pullman loaf pan lightweight pan that easily releases the bread. The Despite the you-saw-them-everywhere-online Sandwiches are one of the ultimate work-from- lid should slide on and off smoothly. loaves of sourdough this spring, there are plenty of The USA Pan 13-by-4-inch pullman loaf pan ways to make bread that do not involve cultivating home lunches. And baking a yeasted sandwich and cover make bread with a perfect tight crumb a starter. There are also many styles of bread, from bread is one of the easiest ways to upgrade it.

The good news is that it’s also one of the most and golden-brown crust. The lid slides on and off soft sandwich to crusty boulle. With precision, straightforward types of loaves to make. A pullman easily, and the nonstick coating releases perfectly, patience and some solid equipment, anyone can loaf pan does most of the shaping work for you, making the pan a snap to clean. Created with bring the bakery home. These tools will help you 10 SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | DECEMBER 2021

lightweight material, it’s also simple to maneuver in and out of the oven.

Dry storage containers A plastic container sounds pretty dull, but a good one can make all the difference. Bakers use them for a variety of tasks, from storing flour to proofing dough. The clear sides and markings make it easy to track how far dough has risen.

Portioning flour from a wide storage container is much neater than from a bag, and it will keep the flour fresher and drier longer, free of pantry pests.

Containers with flat tops are easy to stack, as well, for optimal organization. The best options are simple to open, a breeze to clean and hardy enough to stand up to repeated washings.

There’s a reason that food service professionals use Cambro 6-quart square storage containers.

They’re sturdy, spacious and dead simple to use and clean, with no pointless bells or whistles. While they come in a range of sizes, the 6-quart size fit a 5-pound bag of flour with room to spare. Note that the lid is sold separately.

Scale As almost any experienced baker will tell you, the best way to guarantee success is to weigh your ingredients. That’s especially crucial for bread, with which even small variations can add up to big problems. Portioning ingredients with a scale means you can tare, or reset the scale to zero, after each addition and measure consecutively into a single bowl. A typical capacity is 11 pounds, which is sufficient for baking. Keep in mind how easy a scale is to read, clean and use, and whether the buttons are accessible and clearly labeled. Slim models fit in tight storage.

The Oxo Good Grips 11-pound food scale with pullout display is accurate and has all the features that make it ATK’s longtime favorite: sturdy construction, responsive buttons, an easy-to-read screen, and a removable platform for easy cleaning.

It also has two display options for weight. Users can choose to view ounces only (24 oz), pounds and ounces (1 lb 8 oz), grams only (2500 g), or kilograms and grams (2 kg 500 g), which comes in handy when doubling a recipe. The scale also uses decimals rather than fractions, so it’s more precise and easier to read.

Tom McCorkle

The Ball Secure-Grip Jar Lifter, left, the Winco PF-8 plastic funnel and the All-Clad stainless 4-quart saucepan. don’t have to worry about forgetting to lock the machine that makes quick work of large and small volumes of food. The bent tines of its whisk fit the head in place or knocking it into the wall. Other bowl’s shape perfectly, its Y-shaped paddle creams things to look for: a machine that can stand up quickly without allowing butter to bunch up in the to thick doughs without overheating or jumping crevices, and the model easily handles batches of around the counter, and attachments that can stiff dough. reach deep enough into the bowl to sufficiently mix The KitchenAid Classic Plus Series 4.5-quart everything. tilt-head stand mixer, a basic, compact, heavy The KitchenAid Pro Line Series 7-quart bowlmachine, performs better than other bigger, more lift stand mixer is a powerful, smartly designed expensive mixers. It would be nice if its bowl had a handle, as would a bowl-lift (rather than a tilthead) design, but those are small concessions given its lower price.

Serrated knife

A good knife is so practical but so important, especially if you’re going to be slicing through a thick crust. It’s just as crucial if you plan to make thin, beautiful slices of sandwich bread, too.

Serrated knives, often referred to as bread knives, should glide smoothly through a loaf without the need to saw. They should create a smooth, not jagged, cut. ATK says knives with fewer teeth, Stand mixer or serrations, can prove more effective, because the force is not divided as many ways. Those tips You don’t have to have a stand mixer to make should be pointed, not rounded. Of course, the bread, as plenty of doughs can be kneaded by hand, handle should be comfortable to hold, with a but it sure can speed up the process and save your grippy material helping tremendously. arms. Stand mixers are particularly useful for stiff The Mercer Culinary Millenia 10-inch bread doughs, such as for bagels, or looser ones, such as knife is a stellar blade coupled with a grippy, some focaccias.

Tom McCorkle comfortable handle that earned the top spot in If you can swing it, a larger-capacity machine America’s Test Kitchen review of serrated knives.

The Zeroll Original Ice Cream Scoop, left, and the with a bowl lift, rather than tilt head, is worth (See KITCHEN, 12) Cuisinart frozen yogurt, ice cream and sorbet maker. the money. It’s much easier to operate, and you DECEMBER 2021 | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS 11

Holiday Ugly Sweater Market

Holidays at Home

From pans to processors moderate price. Its smooth, simple bowl and blade design are easy Its sharp points bite into everything to handle, monitor during use from the crustiest bread to the and clean. Its unusual feed-tube squishiest tomato, producing crisp, placement allows for increased bowl clean slices. visibility. It comes with just blades PastaDried commercial pasta is a for chopping, shredding and slicing, staple in many pantries, with good and they can all be stored inside the reason, thanks to its convenience bowl, with no accessories box to deal and reliability. Fresh pasta is almost with. an entirely different food. Springy, flavorful and silky, it may change Pasta machine your mind about what pasta can Given enough time, dedication be. It’s fun and even kid-friendly, so and counter space, you can roll think about giving a gift recipient and cut pasta dough by hand. any of these items to open up a Beginners, though, can especially world of pasta possibilities. benefit from an assist from a (KITCHEN, continued from 11)

Food processor

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Sure, you know food processors can be the ultimate sous-chef: ready to chop, grate, puree and crush a wide variety of ingredients.

But maybe you’re less familiar with their capacity for doughs. This powerful-yet-elegant appliance can give you a touch-free way to bring together a pie dough, knead pizza dough and, yes, mix pasta dough.

The pile of flour on the counter with a well of eggs in the middle is certainly a charming strategy for making pasta, but the food processor can do the same work with a lot less mess in a matter of seconds.

If you’re only going to buy one food processor, go big (11- to 14cup capacity). You will not have to empty the bowl as often, plus you’ll still get the shredding and slicing discs that are so useful for other tasks. Big machines, in addition to a higher capacity, have strong motors, which is key for food such as pizza dough. Responsive buttons that are easy to press and have little to no lag time between when you press or let go of the button and when it starts or stops are crucial so that you do not end up with overworked dough.

The Cuisinart Custom 14cup food processor excels with power, precision and a compact, streamlined design that takes up less space than most food processors, despite having one of the largest capacities, all at a

12 SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | DECEMBER 2021

manual pasta machine. You anchor it to the counter and feed the dough through the rollers as you crank the handle, creating increasingly thinner sheets of pasta as you go through a series of thickness settings. At that point, the dough can be fed through attachments on the machine to create a variety of noodle shapes (a few attachments come in the box, and more are available for purchase) or cut by hand. There are pasta attachments for stand mixers, but a manual machine does not assume that the recipient has a mixer and runs cheaper than the mixer attachments.

Seek out a pasta machine that clamps securely to your work surface and does not require two hands to adjust the knob that controls the thickness.

Attachments should produce clean cuts that go all the way through the dough when making noodles, so they do not stick together.

The Marcato Atlas 150 Wellness pasta machine is the Ferrari of the pasta machine world, a pleasure to handle. It has an impressive range of thickness settings. You will barely have to roll dough out to fit it through the machine, and it’s easy to dial the machine down to produce gossamer-thin sheets.

Its laser-sharp noodle attachment produces perfect fettuccine and angel hair every time.

— By Becky Krystal, The Washington Post

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DECEMBER 2021 | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS 13

Calendar

things to do, places to visit and people to see

Holiday H Dec. 1

A Chanticleer Christmas Known around the world for its seamless blend of 12 male voices and its original interpretations of Renaissance to jazz and everything in between. $28 and up.

Time: 8 p.m.

Location: Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick Contact: 301-600-2828 or weinbergcenter. org

Dec. 2

Homewood’s Holiday Vendor Sale Open to the public, and features handcrafted wooden items, jewelry, floral arrangements, beauty products, handcrafted purses, goat milk soaps, seasonal home décor and much, much more. Food trucks on-site during the event.

The Maryland Ensemble Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol”

Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Location: Homewood at Frederick, 7407 Willow Road, Frederick Contact: 301-644-5646 or homewoodfrederick.com Scents & Sweets Competition and Auction Gingerbread structures and floral arrangements. Free.

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Location: Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick Contact: celebratefrederick.com

Dec. 3

“That Christmas Spirit” Dinner 6 p.m., show 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. As college freshman Izzy is planning a fun-filled holiday vacation with her friends, plans become upended at the last minute. With no where to go, she heads to her favorite aunt’s to spend Christmas. Little does she know, her aunt always volunteers at St. Paul’s on Christmas Eve. Tagging along, very begrudgingly, Izzy meets all the colorful characters working at the food kitchen, helping to spread a little holiday cheer to the less fortunate in the neighborhood. Also 6 p.m. Saturdays and 12:30 p.m. buffet, show 2:15 p.m. first, third and fifth Sundays. See website for tickets and prices.

Time: 6 p.m. dinner, 8 p.m. show Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 17 Location: Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick Contact: 301-662-6600 or wayoffbroadway. com Eric Byrd Trio Performs “A Charlie Brown Christmas” The heartwarming animated cartoon, “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, is brilliantly paired with a live performance of the Vince Guaraldi jazz score by the incomparable Eric Byrd Trio. $20 and up.

Time: 8 p.m.

Location: Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20

14 SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | DECEMBER 2021

“The Nutcracker” at the Weinberg Center for the Arts

W. Patrick St., Frederick Contact: 301-600-2828 or weinbergcenter.org

Dec. 4

Annual Holiday Food Drive Sponsored by Moving Us Forward Inc. and Urbana Waffle House. All donations given

Happenings

Staff file photo by Bill Green

Scenes from the Kris Kringle parade.

to Frederick Food Bank. Continues Dec. 11 and 18. Monetary donations welcome and will be used to purchase food items.

Time: 7 to 10 a.m.

Location: Urbana Waffle House, 8906 Fingerboard Road, Frederick Contact: movingusforwardinc.com

Frederick County Society of Model Engineers Holiday Train Display One of the largest displays in the area. All scales. Open Saturdays through Dec. 18; Wednesdays, Dec. 8-22, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: 11 Water St., Thurmont

Contact: thurmontmainstreet.com December Saturdays Continues through Dec. 18. Shop local businesses, eat at local restaurants, support local artists.

Time: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Location: Downtown Frederick Contact: 301-698-8118 or downtownfrederick.org Walkersville Annual Christkindlmarket Showcases the town’s rich German history with carolers and musicians strolling the streets, artisans, crafters, refreshments.

Festive parade. Locations include Glade UCC, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Walkersville Public Library, Walkersville Historical Society and Walkersville Feed Co. Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location: Walkersville.

Contact: 240-626-5847 Traditional Village Christmas Outdoor, European-style Christmas Market complete with artisans, traditional holiday (See CALENDAR, 18)

DECEMBER 2021 | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS 15

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$5 off a $50 gift card expires 11/30/21 Brunswick Shopping Center 72 Souder Rd., Brunswick · 301-834-7688 In memory of Roberta Mae Coulter, Founder. 1978-2014 During the holiday season, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our progress possible. It is in this spirit we say thank you and best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year illed with peace, love, health and prosperity

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16 SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | DECEMBER 2021

Yourr headquarters for craft beer and fine wines this holiday season

Upcoming Holiday Events

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November 20th 3 pm – 6 pm

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Amish handcrafted furniture MADE IN THE USA Hundreds of Floor Models Available for Quick Delivery Come And Visit Us at the Hagerstown Premium Outlets 375 Premium Outlets Blvd. Hagerstown, MD 21740 301-582-4646 | www.legacyfurniture.net DECEMBER 2021 | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS 17

Calendar

Holiday Happenings Dec. 11. A Frederick holiday tradition, this full-length ballet features artists from the New York City Ballet and students from the Frederick School of Classical Ballet. $20 and up.

Time: 8 p.m.

Location: Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick Contact: 301-600-2828 or weinbergcenter. org

(CALENDAR, continued from 15)

baked table, children’s activities, wreath decorating, blacksmithing demonstrations, and a visit from Belsnickel! Unique holiday gifts suitable for the entire family.

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: Catoctin Furnace Village, 12610 Catoctin Furnace Road, Thurmont Contact: catoctinfurnace.org Shop the Pop-Up Shop Event 14 unique home-businesses offering a variety of merchandise, home-baked holiday items and breads. Continues Saturdays through Dec. 18.

Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location: 21 E. Main St., Thurmont Contact: thurmontmainstreet.com Christmas in New Market Parade at 3 p.m., outdoor vendors and food trucks, Santa at the Grange Hall, silent Christmas tree auction at Old Town Hall, caroling, live nativity.

Time: 3 to 7 p.m.

Location: 39 W. Main St., New Market Contact: townofnewmarket.org or 301-8655544 Tree Lighting and Santa Parade Tree lighting at 5:30 p.m., parade along Main Street at 6:30 p.m.

Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Location: Train Station, Cross Street and Park Avenue, Mount Airy Contact: 301-829-1424 or mountairymd.org Christmas in the Valley Festivities include caroling, the lighting of the Town Christmas tree, a visit from Santa Claus with treats for the kids and then Christmas music at Zion Lutheran Church.

After the show, punch and Christmas cookies in the church social hall. Free.

Time: 6 p.m.

Location: Zion Lutheran Church, Middletown Contact: 301-371-6171 or middletown. md.us Live Nativity Presented by Wesley Chapel. 12+ costumed characters, music, professional narration, live camel, sheep and donkey help tell the Christmas story. Free.

Time: 6, 7 and 8 p.m. shows

Dec. 11

Breakfast with Santa & The Grinch Meet Santa and his grinchy helper for breakfast. $23.95 per person, reservations required.

Time: 7:30 a.m.

Location: Adventure Park USA, 11113 W. Baldwin Road, Monrovia Contact: 301-865-6800 or adventureparkusa. com Staff file photo by Bill Green Christmas Market Santa Claus rides in a carriage along North Market A celebration of local businesses. Free Street. admission.

Location: Urbana Fire Hall, 3602 Urbana Time: Noon Pike, Frederick Location: Catoctin Breeze Vineyard, 15010 Contact: 301-662-5769 Roddy Road, Thurmont Contact: 240-578-3831 Emmitsburg Community Chorus Concert Light Up Frederick Holiday Decorations Tour and Contest Under the direction of Peggy Flickinger, the 18-voice group includes members from This socially distant tour allows participants Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. They to admire each participating home from the sidewalk or their vehicle. Homes will be are accompanied by pianist Lisa Mattia. decorated Dec. 5-12 from 5 to 9 p.m. each The concert features several classic holiday evening. Tickets by donation. favorites. Free.

Time: 5 to 9 p.m. through Jan. 1 Time: 3 p.m.

Location: Downtown Frederick Location: Lewistown United Methodist Contact: 301-600-2844 or cityoffrederick.com Church, 11032 Hessong Bridge Road, Thurmont Emmitsburg Community Chorus Concert Contact: 301-898-7888 Under the direction of Peggy Flickinger, the 18-voice group includes members from Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. They Kris Kringle Procession are accompanied by pianist Lisa Mattia.

Begins at the corner of South Carroll and The concert features several classic holiday East Patrick streets, Frederick, and ends in favorites. Free.

Baker Park with the lighting of the City Tree. Time: 7:30 p.m.

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: Creagerstown Union Chapel, Location: See above Blacks Mill Road, Thurmont Contact: 301-600-CITY or celebratefrederick.com “The Nutcracker” Emmitsburg Community Chorus Concert Also at 2 p.m. Dec. 11 and 12, and 7 p.m.

Under the direction of Peggy Flickinger,

Dec. 5

Dec. 10

18 SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | DECEMBER 2021

Dec. 12

Calendar the 18-voice group includes members from Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. They are accompanied by pianist Lisa Mattia.

The concert features several classic holiday favorites. Free.

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Homewood at Crumland Farms, 7407 Willow Road, Frederick

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Location: New Spire Arts Stages, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick Contact: 301-620-4458 or newspirearts.org

Dec. 17

Festival of Lights, sponsored by Friends Meeting School Holiday greetings, carols and inspirational message. Free.

Irish Christmas in America Time: 7 p.m.

Produced by Sligo fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada, the hugely popular Irish Christmas Location: City Hall courtyard, 101 N. Court in America show features top Irish music, song St., Frederick and dance in an engaging performance rich in Contact: 301-600-CITY or humor and boundless energy. $35. celebratefrederick.org

Dec. 16

“A Christmas Carol” A live theatrical play. Experience the beloved holiday story with a message that never grows old. Also 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18, 2 p.m. Dec. 18 and 19. $24, $20 for ages 62+, $12 students and kids.

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Location: Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick Contact: 301-600-2828 or weinbergcenter. org “A Civil War Christmas: An American Musical Celebration!”

Presents the personal stories and struggles

Happy Holidays to all.

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DECEMBER 2021 | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS 19

Calendar be used by Heartly House to help victims of of historical characters including Mary Todd domestic abuse.

Time: 6 p.m.

Lincoln, free Black Americans and Walt Location: Meet at the bandshell in Baker Park Whitman among them. Pay-what-you-can admission. Also Dec. 18, 20, 21, 22 and 23. Contact: 301-620-8868 MSO in Concert: “Home for the Time: 7:30 p.m.

Location: New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St., Holidays” Concert Also 3 p.m. Dec. 19. In-person tickets Frederick are available for both performances. The Contact: 301-305-1405 or esptheatre.org Sunday performance will also be streamed on MSO Live! For more information, visit Bike Doctor Holiday Lights Ride watch.marylandsymphony.org. $24 and up.

With Bike Doctor Frederick. Approximately Time: 7:30 p.m.

4-mile ride through Frederick. Prize for Best Location: Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown Dressed Bicycle. Riders are to donate a gift card to CVS, Walgreens, Target or Walmart to Contact: 301-790-2000 or (CALENDAR, continued from 19)

Dec. 18

marylandsymphony.org

Dec. 21

Frederick Children’s Chorus “Messiah” Sing-Along A Frederick community holiday tradition since 1994 with select choruses and arias of “Messiah” by G. F. Handel. The audience is invited to join the chorus for select numbers such as the “Hallelujah Chorus” and “For Unto Us a Child is Born.” Copies of the full vocal score will be for sale in the lobby. $30, $25 for ages 62+ and students.

Time: 8 p.m.

Location: Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick Contact: 301-600-2828 or weinbergcenter.org

Friday, Nov 26

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DECEMBER 2021 | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS 21

Family Traditions

bringing home the best tree

Keeping it Real

C

Metro

A guide to picking the perfect fresh Christmas tree

ome the holiday season, perhaps no tradition evokes the warm and fuzzy “feels” more than a family outing to pick a Christmas tree. Whether it’s a trek to a live Christmas tree farm or a short drive to the nearest pre-cut tree lot, the process of selecting a tree that will serve as the crown jewel of the entire season is a great way to make lasting memories.

Selecting a tree is a yearly ritual and each person has his or her set of criteria for what makes the ideal Christmas tree. These tips can help families find the right tree.

and Norway spruce. Balsams are known for having the most fragrant smell, but frasers tend to keep their needles the longest. For those who prefer a douglas fir, keep in mind that they sometimes drop their needles prematurely due to needlecast fungus.

Space for ornaments

In addition to aroma and needle longevity, look for trees that have a desirable shape and allow for adequate space between branches, advises the home and garden resource The Spruce. Trees groomed to be lush and full will look beautiful Choose your species Do some homework on the type of unadorned, but once ornaments are tree you want prior to buying the tree. added, full branches may cause those ornaments to hang low or even fall Balsam fir and fraser fir are popular off. Trees with sparse branches allow Christmas tree varieties, but there for ornaments to hang straight. are many others, such as noble fir

York says if 50 percent of the needles Trees in the field or in a lot may are lost when you swipe your hand down three to five different branches look much smaller than they do when brought into the living room. around the tree, the tree likely is not a Don’t make the mistake of selecting good choice. In addition, avoid a tree that has glaring defects in the trunk a tree that is too large for your home. The agricultural firm Ragan as it can impede water flow through & Masey says to measure the room the tree. from floor to ceiling and subtract Heavier is better the height of the tree stand and tree A heavy pre-cut tree means it topper. It’s equally important to is full of water and has been cut measure the width of the area where more recently. A healthy, fresh tree the tree will stand and allow for is going to require an effort to lift. ample space for foot traffic around Older, dried-out trees will not be the tree. heavy.

Perform a needle check Upon arriving home, make a Every tree will drop some needles, fresh cut off the tree trunk and get it in water as soon as possible — even and most evergreens hold their if that’s a bucket until the tree stand foliage. Modest needle loss is not an can be set up. indicator of a poor tree. However, Decker’s Nursery in Greenlawn, New — by Metro

Measure your space

22 SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | DECEMBER 2021

Holiday Decor

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The red foliage on poinsettias are actually modified leaves called bracts. The flowers are the small, yellow buds in the center of the plant.

Simple ways to prolong the life of poinsettias

P

oinsettias and their rich red, white or variegated color schemes are the ideal backdrop for Christmas celebrations. In fact, poinsettias are among the most popular decorative flowers during the holiday season.

According to the 2013 USDA Floriculture Statistics report, poinsettias accounted for about onequarter (23 percent) of all flowering potted plant sales that year. Roughly 34 million poinsettia plants are sold in a given season. Indigenous to Central America, the plant was introduced to North America in the 1820s when Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico, brought the red-and-green plant back with him from a trip abroad.

While millions of poinsettias will be purchased for the holiday season, many mistakenly think their utility ends once New Year’s Day has come and gone. But with proper care poinsettia plants can continue to thrive and bring warmth and beauty to a home long after the holiday decorations have been tucked away.

Choose a hearty plant. Experts with the University of Vermont Extension Department of Plant and Soil Science say that many people mistake the plant’s leaves for its flowers. The red, white or pink bracts are actually modified leaves. The flowers of the plant are the yellow clustered buds in the center called “cyathia.” Choose poinsettia plants

•

that have buds which are, ideally, not yet open.

Keep the temperature consistent.

Poinsettias prefer a room temperature between 60 and 68 F during the day and 10 degrees cooler at night.

Humidity levels between 20 and 50 percent are ideal. Group plants on water-filled trays full of pebbles to help increase humidity levels.

Place near sunlight. The United Kingdom-based Perrywood floral company advises placing poinsettia plants near a bright windowsill but not in direct sunlight.

Avoid drafts. The plants are sensitive to drafts and changes in temperature. So it’s best to keep poinsettias away from drafty doors, windows, radiators, or fireplaces.

Don’t drown the roots. Wait until the surface of the compost dries out before watering the plant anew.

Also, the decorative foil wrapper that covers pots can trap water and lead to root rot. Remove it or poke holes in the bottom to allow for drainage.

Cut back plants. Come midMarch, cut back the plant by half to encourage new shoots, suggests the University of Illinois Extension. The plants also can be placed outside in the spring after the risk of frost has passed. Bring poinsettias back in around mid-September to early October to force them to bloom again.

Find trains, radio control, toys, puzzles, models, rockets, games, STEAM, and more locally.

•

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— by Metro

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DECEMBER 2021 | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS 23

Door Decor

tips to extend the lives of your fresh decorations through the holidays

Ever Green

M

How to care for fresh holiday wreaths

ajestic Christmas trees garner the lion’s share of the decorative fanfare when the holidays arrive. Trees may be the focal points of holiday decor, but the humble wreath adorning the front door is the first decoration guests are likely to see when visiting a home.

Wreaths may need some care to maintain their beauty all month long. Here are some tips to help holiday wreaths last as long as possible.

Choose a wreath wisely When shopping for a wreath, choose freshly cut greenery that you assemble yourself; otherwise, look for wreaths made from freshly cut boughs with their foliage intact. Make sure not too many needles or leaves are falling off. Heavily decorated, preassembled wreaths may be convenient, but ornaments can make it challenging to give the wreath the moisture it needs to survive.

Moisture/water Access to moisture will help to keep the wreath fresh. While a Christmas tree trunk may sit inside of a stand filled with water, wreaths require a little ingenuity. According to the wreath and garland retailer Club Botanic, if you will not be hanging a freshly purchased wreath right away, keep it in a plastic liner in a cool, dark place to help it retain moisture. Just make sure you don’t seal that liner closed. Before hanging, lay the wreath in a couple of inches of water for about an hour or up to a day so that the cut stems can soak up water.

Once the wreath is hanging on a door or elsewhere, spritz it with water every few days to prevent it from drying out.

Metro

wreath. Using a humidifier indoors or Where you hang the wreath is key misting the wreath may help.

It’s probably best to hang fresh to its longevity. Wreaths and garlands hung indoors likely won’t last as long wreaths outdoors, but avoid direct sunlight, which can dry out the as those hung outside, advises the floral retailer Bouqs.com. Evergreen greenery. Slightly shaded spots are best. If your front door is bathed in boughs tend to require a colder climate to thrive, and indoor heat can full sun for hours, hang an artificial prematurely zap moisture from the wreath here instead of a fresh one.

Location, location, location

24 SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | DECEMBER 2021

Maintain airflow Another factor that can affect the wreath’s longevity is an ample flow of oxygen. Wreaths sandwiched between a front door and a storm door will probably perish faster due to lack of oxygen.

— by Metro

Crafty Creations

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Metro

Deck the halls with DIY decor

D

ecorating is one of the joys of the holiday season.

Families often decorate together, and such traditions may include dressing the Christmas tree and hanging holiday lights around the house.

Though families can let their imaginations run wild when making ornaments at home, the following are some great starting points that can serve as springboards for holiday crafting sessions.

• Snowmen: The holiday season simply wouldn’t be the same without snowmen. Homemade snowmen can be made out of ping pong balls, which are the ideal size when making ornaments for the Christmas tree. Those who want to go a little bigger can glue wiffle balls or large polystyrene balls together or create their own papier mâché snowmen to display on mantles or on console tables in a foyer or hallway.

• Santa Claus: Another staple of holiday decor, Santa Claus has inspired many a DIY holiday ornament over the years. A paper plate Santa Claus with a cotton ball beard glued on can make for a fun Christmas craft, especially for young children who can’t wait for the big guy to appear on Christmas Eve. • Penguins: Though they might not have a direct link to the holiday

season, penguins evoke feelings of cold weather, making them an ideal addition to holiday decor schemes.

Make your own penguin family using polystyrene craft balls in assorted sizes and then hang them on the tree or place them around the house.

• Reindeer: Santa would not be able to get the job done each Christmas Eve without his trustworthy team of reindeer.

Popsicle stick reindeer projects can be fun for kids of all ages and a great way for youngsters to recognize the efforts of Dasher, Dancer, Comet, Cupid, and Rudolph, among others.

• Cookie cutters: Family baking sessions are a holiday tradition for millions of people. Though that often leads to batches upon batches of tasty cookies, it also means families tend to have a surplus of holiday cookie cutters around the house. Surplus cookie cutters tend to be discarded or relegated to the miscellaneous items drawer in kitchens, but a more aweinspiring fate can await them. A coat of paint, some glitter and a little bit of string or twine is all families need to transform their extra cookie cutters into colorful tree ornaments.

Holiday decorating sessions can be made even more fun when families take time to craft some DIY decorations together.

— by Metro

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DECEMBER 2021 | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS 25

Never Too Late

Last-minute holiday shopping tips

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ome people thrive by doing all of their tasks early. Others seem to do their best work when faced with a time crunch. The methods individuals use to manage their time at work and play may extend to the ways they approach holiday shopping as well.

There’s no right or wrong way to handle holiday shopping tasks, though Christmas Eve crowds at malls and throughout shopping districts suggest that there’s more latecomers than there are early birds. The following tips can help those who typically wait until the last minute to check names off their lists.

• Utilize free shipping services.

Shoppers who shop for gifts online at the last minute run the risk of gifts not arriving on time. Many online retailers charge a premium for expedited shipping. Try to stick to shopping at online retailers that offer free shipping even in the 11th hour.

• Create a budget. When rushing around from store to store, it may be easy to spend more than you want to. Make a list of how much you want to spend on each person, and stick to that limit for each person. Move on to the next store if you didn’t find what you need in your price range.

• Establish a time limit. Stores have strategies in place to keep shoppers in their establishments longer, hoping you’ll make impulse buys. These tricks include scenting the air with inviting aromas, putting necessities at the rear of the store, failing to display the time, and putting discounted items by the registers or door to attract shoppers. Set an alarm on your watch or phone for each store so you get what you need and get out on time.

• Subdivide bulk gifts. Think about purchasing bulk gifts like

26 SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | DECEMBER 2021

Metro

gift baskets from wholesale clubs and then breaking them down into individual gifts. This way you can gift several people on one purchase and save time in the process.

• Choose one-size-fits-all gifts.

Think about a gift that can be purchased for multiple people so you can save time shopping for individualized gifts for everyone. For example, print a personalized photo calendar for several members of your family.

You also can purchase multiple subscriptions or memberships to zoos or magazines for people on your list. Streamlining gifting in this way may save money as well as time.

• Choose in-store pickup.

Rather than scouring various aisles, you can shop a retailer’s website and then pick up items in the store. You’ll save on potential shipping fees but still benefit by avoiding crowds.

— by Metro

Check our website for discounts!

10% state admission tax not included.

Regular Show: Gate opens at 6:00 PM with a full hour of activities Matinee: Gate opens at 11:45 AM, no outdoor activities

9745 Garis Shop Road | Hagerstown, MD | info@antietamentertainment.com

ANTIETAMENTERTAINMENT.COM | 877-AE SHOWS DECEMBER 2021 | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS 27

Wish & Win PRESENTS

$15,000 SWEEPSTAKES ENTER NOW THROUGH DEC. 13 FOR A CHANCE TO WIN FREE MORTGAGE OR RENT FOR A YEAR PLUS SOME GREAT LOCAL PRIZES.

ENTER AT FREDERICKNEWSPOST.COM/GOTO/WISH

SWC is a Frederick company.

WE ARE NOT A NATIONAL FRANCHISE. We live, work, support and invest locally to make our LOCAL communities better!

Your LOCAL Real Estate Company!

240-215-8590 • SWCREALTY.COM 28 SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS | A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post | DECEMBER 2021