Towson October 2017

Towson OCTOBER 2017

TowsonLifestyle.com

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STONELEIGH

A Historic Neighborhood’s Enduring Charm

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Lifestyle Letter

Fall into October

W

ith the arrival of October, the hot days of summer are behind us and the cool days of fall lay ahead. It’s time to give the AC a break, close the storm windows and move the coats to the front of the closet. Soon, if they haven’t already, the vibrant greens of July, August and September will fade from the trees and be replaced by a more autumnal palette of reds, oranges, golds and browns. By Halloween, the branches will be bare, and leaves will blanket all but the most meticulously maintained yards.

OCTOBER 2017 PUBLISHER

Glen Cox | Glen.Cox@LifestylePubs.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Victoria Perry | Tori.Perry@LifestylePubs.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Fall is a nice time of year in and around Towson because, while there’s a nip in the air, the weather is (usually) still conducive to getting out of the house and engaging in a variety of activities in the community, from music festivals to football games, beer gardens to pumpkin patches, costume parties to chilli cook offs—there’s no shortage of fun to be had.

Alex Bird, Jessica Lewis, Ashley Stimpson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Harrison Hart Photography

From all of us here at Towson Lifestyle, we hope you enjoy this wondrous season. And rest assured, we will continue to bring you articles of local interest that will keep you inspired, up to date and in the know.

CORPORATE TEAM | Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Glen Cox, Publisher

CHIEF SALES OFFICER

Glen.Cox@LifestylePubs.com

| Matthew Perry

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DIRECTOR OF MARKETING ART DIRECTOR OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

EDITORIAL

RETRACTIONS:

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COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY HARRISON HART Towson Lifestyle | October 2017

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AD MANAGER

In the August issue of “Towson Lifestyle”, an article titled “Towson’s Bosley Mansion Sold to Local Developers” referenced a restoration of the historic Washington Monument carried out by the Delbert Adams Construction Group in Baltimore’s Mt. Vernon neighborhood. This reference refers to monument restoration efforts carried out in the 1980’s under the supervision of Delbert Adams, not the more recent restoration completed in 2015. The most recent restoration of the monument was carried out by Maryland’s Lewis Contractors.

The Towson Area Realty Report in the October edition of Towson Lifestyle incorrectly referenced a property at 1401 Malvern Avenue, RUXTON. The correct address is 1410 Malvern Avenue.

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| Sara Minor | Janeane Thompson

EDITORIAL MANAGER

TALK TO US

| DeLand Shore | Brad Broockerd

| Randa Makeen

| Michael O’Connell

| Hanna Park, Scott Lavigne

P.O. Box 12608 Overland Park, KS 66282-3214 Proverbs 3:5-6 Towson Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of Towson’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

Information in Towson Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

October 2017

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Departments 8

Good Times

12

Around Town

16

Hot Spot

24

Realty Report

25 DIY 30

Lifestyle Calendar

34

Parting Thoughts

16 Cunningham's

Farm-to-fork Dining in the Heart of Towson

20 Stoneleigh

A Look into Towson’s Ever-Present PastÂ

34 From the Desk to the Stands

Clothing and Accessories that Look Great in the Boardroom and in the Bleachers

16

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Lifestyle Publications Arizona | California | Colorado | Florida | Georgia | Idaho | Illinois | Kansas | Maryland | Michigan | Minnesota Missouri | Montana | North Carolina | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | South Carolina | Tennessee | Texas | Utah

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Good Times

12th Annual ESB-GJMEF Golf Tournament

Over $45,000 was raised for the Garrett-Jacobs Mansion Endowment Fund at the 12th Annual ESB-GJMEF Golf Tournament held on Monday, July 24. A sold out field of 128 golfers comprised of Engineers Club Members, Friends of the Mansion, and their guests enjoyed a spectacular tournament at the Country Club of Maryland.

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Towson Lifestyle | October 2017

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Good Times

BarkHappy Puppy Pool Pawty to benefit Baltimore Humane Society

On August 17, BarkHappy, a mobile app for the canine set, hosted a late summer fundraiser for dogs and their owners at Union Craft Brewing in Woodberry. Pups cooled off in kiddie pools, while their owners quenched their thirsts on Union’s award-winning craft brews.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATALIE LANDRUM OF LANDRUM PHOTOGRAPHY.

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Towson Lifestyle | October 2017

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October 2017 | Towson Lifestyle

11

Around Town

AROUND TOWN

NORTH CAROLINA BASED RISE BISCUIT DONUTS PLANS LOCATION IN LUTHERVILLE-TIMONIUM

Rain Shinnick, Sydney Turk, Ryan Snyder, Ryan Clancy and Izzy Demetz. This year’s Freestate Swim League Championship was held at Towson University and featured teams from many of the Towson area’s local community swimming clubs including Pine Ridge, Woodcroft, Wiltondale, Valley and Eagles Nest.

BALTIMORE BLAST MOVING GAMES FROM DOWNTOWN TO TOWSON’S SECU ARENA After nearly four decades at the 11,300-seat Royal Farms Arena, the Baltimore Blast - the city’s popular indoor soccer team – announced

The popular Rise Biscuit Donuts of Durham, North Carolina, plans to

in September that it is downsizing venues. Starting in the upcoming

open its first Maryland location at the former location of the Watson’s

season, the team will play its home games at Towson University’s

Garden Center on York Road. Recently featured on the Food Network,

much smaller SECU Arena (capacity 4,000). Team owner Ed Hale

the Southern-inspired restaurant serves a varied menu of Southern

predicts the new venue will bring an “enhanced fan experience,” with

comfort foods layered atop biscuits, potato rolls and doughnuts. While

better sight lines, cheaper concessions and free parking with tickets.

of Southern origin, the new franchise will be run and managed by a

The Blast franchise has won eight championships since 1992,

group of native Marylanders. According to new owner Chris Kirley,

including back-to-back titles the past two seasons. The team begins

he and his father, Fran Kirley, will operate the new Lutherville location

its 2017 title defense in its new home with a night game against the

along with family friend David Brindza, all of whom are natives of the

Milwaukee Wave on November 11th.

greater Baltimore area. In addition to the initial franchise on York Road, Kirley and his partners plan to open four additional locations in suburban Maryland over the next three years. The first location is expected to open in November.

DOWNTOWN TOWSON OFFICE BUILDING RECEIVES MAKEOVER

BALTIMORE COUNTY LIBRARIES ADD IN-DEMAND VIDEO STREAMING TO THEIR OFFERINGS Baltimore County library patrons now have a new way to access their favorite stories. The Baltimore County Public Library system has added video streaming to its digital catalog, giving Baltimore County

A modest office building located at 210 Allegheny Ave. became the

library patrons the opportunity to stream video straight to their digital

most recent example of Towson’s redevelopment as it received a $1

device. The service, called Kanopy, features more than 26,000 titles

million renovation in order to attract new tenants. The building, which

and is, as of launch, available to all library cardholders. Users can

has been vacant since the Venable LLP law firm left the office space

stream up to 15 films each month from any digital device including

in 2008, was jointly purchased by Chesapeake Real Estate Group

iOS, Android and Roku for television.

LLC and Cicero Capital Partners in an effort to take advantage of the ongoing development in downtown Towson.

Library spokesperson Erica Palmisano says the new service offers an affordable alternative to some mainstream streaming services.

Christopher Murray, vice president of Chesapeake Real Estate

"Not everyone can afford monthly subscription fees for big-name

Group, sees the renovation as a wise investment in the fast-growing

streaming services, so we're excited to be able to provide our card-

downtown Towson business district.

holders free access to high-quality movies right from home," she says.

"We're optimistic, with all the development that's going on in Towson, that we should be able to lease this up pretty quickly," Murray says.

David Marks, a Republican representative of Towson agreed, calling the renovation one of many “signs of rebirth and development” in Towson.

HAMPTON HAMMERHEADS FINNISH SEASON AS CHAMPIONS AT FREESTATE SWIM MEET In a fitting end to the summer swim season, the Hampton Community Pool’s swim team, the Hampton Hammerheads, took

TOWSON OFFICE BUILDING PURCHASED

BY MERRITT PROPERTIES Merritt Properties recently announced that it concluded the purchase of a five-story Towson office building for $24.55 million. Located at 100 West Road, the 121,414-square-foot building is currently fully occupied by tenants, some of which include Robert W. Baird & Co., Regus and Liberty Mutual.

According to Merritt CEO Scott Dorsey, the acquisition is a welcome addition to the company’s local holdings.

home gold at the Freestate Swim League Championship. The

“Towson is a major employment center and a hub of a variety of

Hammerheads won the meet with 1,168.5 points, beating out second

businesses and corporate headquarters,” he says. “In addition to rep-

place York Manor with 1,126, third place Campus Cabana with 1,052.5,

resenting a stable market, the area is growing rapidly as evidenced

and Stoneleigh with 914.5. Among Hampton’s double winners were

by many recent developments.”

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Towson Lifestyle | October 2017

CONTINUED >

Around Town

(CON TI N UED)

The Towson property adds to Merritt Properties’ parent Merritt Companies nearly 16 million square feet of commercial and industrial space in the Baltimore/Washington region.

We stay late because you play late Walk-in hours 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Mon -Thurs Towson Sports Medicine and Towson Orthopaedic Associates understand that sports injuries happen at all hours. That’s why we are extending our practice hours Monday through Thursday at our Towson office to better treat injuries when they happen.

Towson Orthopaedic Associates has sports medicine specialists on site until 7:30 p.m. If you have an acute injury — adult or pediatric — that needs to be seen call 410-616-1400.

Towson Office Ruxton Professional Center, Suite 100 8322 Bellona Avenue, Towson, MD 21204

Trent Geritz, left, with runner-up Alan Collick

COUNTRY CLUB OF MARYLAND CROWNS YOUNGEST-EVER CLUB CHAMPION In a sport whose victories are normally reserved for seasoned pros, The Country Club of Maryland recently crowned its youngest-ever men’s golf club champion—16-yearold Trent Geritz, who made a 12-foot putt on the 34th hole of the Match Play Finals to win the match “4 & 2” over runner-up Alan Collick.

Geritz, who was a semifinalist in the 2016 Club Championship Tournament, credits Baltimore’s thriving junior golf community and programs for his success. Geritz is in his junior year at Loyola-Blakefield, where he is a member of the school’s golf team. He hopes to play golf in college but concedes that academics are his priority.

towsonortho.com/afterhours 14

Towson Lifestyle | October 2017

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Hot Spot

16

Towson Lifestyle | October 2017

ARTICLE JESSICA LEWIS

CUNNINGHAM'S FARM-TO-FORK DINING IN THE HEART OF TOWSON

P

eeking out over Towson Circle is a farm-to-table restaurant that offers more than just a delicious local meal in a warm, inviting setting. Cunningham’s is unique in the way it achieves a

seamless continuity not only in the craft of its food but also in the human connections at work behind the scenes. At its foundation is family. Cunningham’s is named for the owner’s family farm in Monkton where, by design, the restaurant sources much of its produce and meats.

With deep local roots in its food and family, Cunningham’s achieves an atmosphere that is both upscale and rustic, authentic and elegant. It’s all about inspired entrees, a rotating seasonal menu and, most importantly, an all-star team that is also local and, in its own way, like family. On the surface, general manager Phil von Eiff, farm manager Rich Cramblitt and executive chef Jay Rohlfing are notably passionate about the restaurant’s prestige, but at heart, they share a history that keeps them committed to each other and to their culinary craft.

After three years in business, Phil is proud of all the amenities Cunningham’s has to offer. As general manager, he oversees the day-to-day operations of the restaurant, including coordinating the goals of the farmer and the chef. Phil is adamant about ensuring the quality of the food, from the planting of the seeds to the installation of the rotating menus all the way to the smiles on the faces of their satisfied patrons.

There are three local farms Cunningham’s uses to source as much of its menu as possible, including its vegetables, micro greens and even lamb.

“Our farms are located in Cockeysville and Monkton, and we own them," Phil says. "That's the best thing about us. We are sourcing from our own. Farm-to-fork. Couldn't be more direct.”

Phil notes his farm favorites are the heirloom tomatoes as well as a unique fall item from this past season—“fantastic Cinderella pumpkins.” In fact, many of the staff members and their families were invited to come out and pick their own. Phil notes that small gestures like this are all a part of what makes Cunningham’s more than just a restaurant and a place to work. He loves how knowing directly where the food comes from “provides quality and consistency every time.”

Phil considers his best friend of 25 years, Rich Cramblitt, to be the “true backbone” of Cunningham’s. Rich's vision is to be a part of more than just a homestyle-feeling restaurant with a modern presentation; it is to provide sustainable standards from his farms. He’s the epitome of everything one would imagine a modern-day farmer would be—embracing the rugged, outdoor lifestyle in all he does. In his spare time, he loves to kayak.

He composts as much as possible, typically keeping with organic methods and taking pride in his pasture-raised lamb. His philosophy is that putting more pride into his work gives a better outcome.

Rich’s favorite items to grow are legumes and beans, but he has a special place in his heart for items that require more patience, like asparagus. One day he hopes to turn part of the farms into an orchard where guests can pick their own apples and have a retail location for vegetables.

CONTINUED >

October 2017 | Towson Lifestyle

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Hot Spot

18

(CON TI N U ED)

Towson Lifestyle | October 2017

Maryland’s constantly changing seasons give Rich challenges as to what he can provide for the growing seasons, so he works that can be locally sourced.

A graduate of the Pennsylvania Institute

WIND.

i

closely with Jay to help craft unique menus

M

of Culinary Arts, Jay truly believes the family-oriented mentality elevates the integrity of Cunningham’s. In fact, Jay is an old high school friend of Phil's wife, and they have known each other for over 15 years. Called “a true artist” by Phil, Jay notes what Rich grows drives his creativity. He aims to “create something from nothing,” and thinks of each day as a learning process.

Designing around eight menus a year following the early and late growing seasons Jay’s dish decisions go back-and-forth with Rich. The two collaborate on what can

BLOWN.

THE THRILL OF A LIFETIME, EVERY TIME

be grown and what Jay wants to prepare, and soon an entire menu of appetizers, entrees, sides and desserts is born. Jay knows hot spot restaurants can come and go but wants Cunningham’s to become an anchor in the Towson community.

In a college town featuring an abundance of pubs, fast food restaurants and diners, Cunningham’s has become an oasis, serving imaginative dishes prepared with the highest-quality fresh ingredients. Featuring an upscale bar with craft cocktails; a bakery and cafe below the main restaurant with homemade bread and pastries; an impressive wood-fired grill; and an 85-person private dining room, Cunningham’s can host anything from a casual family meal to rehearsal dinners to business meetings.

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Not just a restaurant, but truly a vision from a superior team of three gentlemen who each bring unique skills to the table, Cunningham’s offers a dining experience unique for the Towson area.

Opposite page, (group photo, l to r) General manager, Phil Von Eiff, executive chef, Jay Rohlfing, and farm manager, Rich Cramblitt.

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STONELEIGH

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Towson Lifestyle | October 2017

A Look into Towson’s Ever-Present Past ARTICLE ALEXANDER BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY HARRISON HART

L

ooking at old photographs of Towson, one could be forgiven for thinking they were looking at a completely different town.

The once sprawling farmland surrounding Towson Circle is now home to vast commer-

cial developments. Formerly sleepy intersections are presently jammed with traffic. Even the old county courthouse, the colossal stone edifice that once dominated the surrounding landscape, today looks quaint surrounded by the glass and steel behemoths that now define the Towson skyline.

The current character of the county seat is a far cry from the sleepy Baltimore whistle-stop it was a little more than a century ago. However, just south of the commercial sprawl that surrounds Towson University is a neighborhood that preserves both the quiet nature of the old town and gives some clues about how modern Towson came to be.

The bucolic streets and stately Tudor houses of the Stoneleigh neighborhood are some of the last remnants of Towson’s whistle-stop past and evidence of its current bustling character. Its origins stretch back to the mid-19th century when Towsontowne was more often noted for its tavern than for any surrounding community.

In the early 1850s, Robert Brown purchased 230 acres of county farmland along York Road, about 5 miles north of what was then the city line. Robert, whose father founded the Maryland Medical School, promptly began construction on what was to become known as Stoneleigh House: a 22-room country estate that would house the Brown family and entertain Baltimore’s socialites for the next 90 years. The original house was designed by a Viennese architect in a classical Victorian style and featured CONTINUED >

October 2017 | Towson Lifestyle

21

STONELEIGH

(CON TI N U ED)

imported brick, a tin roof, 13-foot ceilings, formal gardens, tenant houses and a man-made lake to provide ice in the winter.

The name of the estate is shrouded in some mystery. Local legend holds that the name is compounded from the stony quality of the area’s soil and the fact that a prominent member of the Brown family married into the local Leigh family around the same time as the estate’s purchase and construction. However, it’s also possible that the Browns bestowed the name of one of their favorite vacation destinations on their new property: the town of Stoneleigh in Warwickshire, England, whose bucolic nature may have served as inspiration for much of the design of the Brown estate and even the current neighborhood.

While the Browns happily spent the rest of the 19th century hosting gracious parties and taking in the natural beauty of the estate, hints of the changes to come started to appear soon after the manor’s completion. In the early 1860s, rail lines were laid along York Road for horse-drawn cars to ferry people from Towson into downtown Baltimore. As the region's transportation networks grew in size and efficiency, the gap between quiet country towns like Towson and the industrial hub of Baltimore slowly closed. By 1919, the city boundary crept north to Walker Avenue, almost buffeting the land surround Stoneleigh House. Buckling under the increasing costs of maintaining such a large, aging estate and the ever-louder demands of local developers to cede the property to the expectations of modernity, the heirs of Robert Brown sold 110 acres of their original plot to the newly founded Stoneleigh Corporation in 1922.

The Browns accepted a development proposal put forward by a group led by Irvin Butler, a developer who played a major role in planning the Guilford and Roland Park neighborhoods of Baltimore city. In a style similar to these successful developments, the developers of the Stoneleigh project deliberately took into account the natural contours of the land as well as the stately elm, poplar and gum trees that dotted the old estate. According to one contemporary account, the “landscape and building architects who planned the Guilford (neighborhood) have been put in charge...it has been necessary to divert in some instances roadways in order that some giant poplar, an old maple or gum tree might not be sacrificed.” This initial care paid to the local environment and 19th-century landscaping efforts preserved much of the original character of the estate and is evident today as many of these old trees, some planted by Robert Brown himself, still shade the houses and residents of Stoneleigh.

This mindfulness carried over into the construction of streets and original houses. Many of the new winding streets took on the names of other English towns similar to Stoneleigh such as Bristol, Sheffield and Oxford. A majority of the houses were constructed in the Tudor style, their pitched roofs and dark brick giving the new neighborhood an old world, medieval flavor. According to a real estate brochure from the period, the initial price for a house in this 22

Towson Lifestyle | October 2017

of Historical Photo courtesy ore County Society of Baltim

“ideal suburban development” was $9,950 with a $1,500 down payment and a $95 mortgage.

The construction of family homes and birth of the Stoneleigh community gave way to additional neighborhood developments, the most notable being the community pool. The pool, which sits on the Brown family’s old ice reserve pond, has been variously described as “the heart of the community” and “the community’s greatest asset.” After opening in 1925, the pool was quickly followed by the community school, which opened its doors for the first time in 1929.

By all measures, the Stoneleigh development was a shining example of modern urban growth and a clear symbol of the area’s future. Yet through all this, some of the area's traditional trappings remained. As the developers of the neighborhood envisioned, their preservation of the area’s Victorian landscape and continued cultivation of it through the hard times of the Great Depression preserved much of the quiet, bucolic atmosphere natural to the original estate. More interestingly, still sitting among the urban expansion was the original manor house that had bestowed its name on the young community now surrounding it. In the 1950s, the Stoneleigh House remained in the private hands of the Brown family and was home to Mary Leigh Brown, described as Stoneleigh’s “resident dowager.”

In 1952, Mary Leigh died at the age of 85, leaving the house in the hands of her surviving family who opened it to the public.

For a time, the house became a kind of cabinet of curiosities for the Victorian age as many of its rooms and furnishings had not been altered since the 1870s. While its collection of stuffed animal heads, painted glass windows and vintage upholstery caused quite a stir among both local and national enthusiasts, its fate was to be that of so many sister estates that once dotted the Baltimore Countryside. In 1955, the remainder of the original Stoneleigh estate was subdivided into 77 new housing plots and the old Victorian manor, representative of much of old Towson’s way of life, made way for the new.

Or so it would seem. Walking through Stoneleigh today, one gets the sense that much of old Towsontowne’s spirit is present in the now historic neighborhood. The shady poplars and oaks still loom over the residents of Towson’s first modern development, much as they would have over members of the Brown family and their dining party during the Victorian age. The assortment of quaint street names and cozy Tudor homes feels a world away from the steel high-rises of downtown Towson.

It’s a testament to both the area’s past and the enduring commitment of Stoneleigh’s residents to preserving the area’s traditional character. In 2003, after years of local petitioning, the federal government listed Stoneleigh on the National Register of Historic Places, ensuring that the neighborhood will remain a delightful reminder of Towson’s quiet past and the earliest example of its now urban character. As Towson continues to grow, the historic neighborhood remains a humble connection to a time when Towson was a quiet stop on the road to another destination, rather than the destination itself.

October 2017 | Towson Lifestyle

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Realty Report

Towson Area Realty Report

NEIGHBORHOOD

LIST PRICE

SOLD PRICE

%SOLD/LIST

*DOM

BDRMS

BATHS

12 Club Rd, ROLAND PARK

$1,690,000

$1,550,000

92%

51

6

4

8301 Tally Ho Rd, HEATHERFIELD

$1,390,000

$1,350,000

97%

3

5

3

919 Rolandvue Rd, RUXTON

$1,295,000

$1,230,000

95%

54

4

2

7115 Rich Hill Rd, STONELEIGH

$1,195,000

$1,195,000

100%

0

5

3

201 Paddington Rd, HOMELAND

$1,295,000

$1,180,000

91%

14

5

3

3205 Bridle Ridge Ln, BRIDLE RIDGE

$1,295,000

$1,175,000

91%

405

5

5

11615 Woodland Dr, GREENWOOD

$1,125,000

$1,125,000

100%

72

6

5

117 Beechdale Rd, ROLAND PARK

$999,999

$1,000,000

101%

64

5

5

102 Saint Albans Way, HOMELAND

$875,000

$885,000

101%

6

6

3

5003 Greenleaf Rd, ROLAND PARK

$870,000

$870,000

100%

0

5

4

413 Hawthorne Rd, ROLAND PARK

$915,000

$860,000

94%

7

5

4

8207 White Manor Dr, HEATHERFIELD

$895,000

$850,000

95%

160

4

2

508 Whithorn Ct, JENIFER RIDGE

$824,900

$830,000

101%

0

5

3

1009 Wagner Rd, RUXTON

$850,000

$815,000

96%

28

6

3

8528 Hill Spring Dr, HILLSIDE AT SIMINARY

$829,000

$815,000

98%

10

5

4

706 E Seminary Ave, HAMPTON

$825,000

$805,000

97%

138

5

3

5302 Purlington Way, HOMELAND

$829,000

$795,000

96%

14

5

2

1406 Maywood Ave, RUXTON

$819,500

$790,000

96%

37

3

2

110 Melancthon Ave, HISTORIC LUTHERVILLE

$699,990

$783,846

112%

35

4

3

8531 Westford Rd, MEADOWVALE

$739,000

$725,000

98%

0

5

4

Sampling of sold properties from Bright MLS, Inc. for July 2017 Properties may have been listed & sold by other companies *DOM=Days On Market

FEATURED LISTINGS

Valley Wood | $650,000

Meadowland | $560,000

Stoneleigh| $615,000

Listings Courtesy of Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

Ashley Richardson CRS, GRI, ABR

Cell 410-868-1474

Office 410-377-2270

Ashley.Richardson@LongandFoster.com Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

Lake Roland Office

www.AshleyRichardson.net

24

Towson Lifestyle | October 2017

6080 Falls Road

Baltimore, MD 21209

www.StoneleighHomes.net

DIY

The Ultimate

Fall is in the air and, come October, sports are in full swing.

Whether you prefer college football Saturdays—cheering on your favorite team, paying special attention to the various conference rivalries—or professional football Sundays—in front of the TV, keeping a close eye on your fantasy football team—everyone can use some tips to throw the perfect tailgate party, even if you can’t make it to the stadium.

Not-your-Mama's // GARLIC BUFFALO SAUCE: Buffalo sauce + Garlic cloves // SRIRACHA BUFFALO SAUCE: Buffalo sauce + cilantro + Sriracha sauce + lime zest // MAPLE-CHIPOTLE BUFFALO SAUCE: Buffalo sauce + maple syrup + canned

chipotle peppers in adobo sauce // JALAPENO-CHEDDAR BUFFALO SAUCE: Buffalo sauce + chopped pickled jala-

penos + grated cheddar cheese // FIVE ALARM BUFFALO SAUCE: Buffalo sauce (replace half the wing sauce with

habanero hot sauce) +cayenne // BOURBON BUFFALO SAUCE: Buffalo sauce + bourbon CONTINUED >

October 2017 | Towson Lifestyle

25

DIY

(CON TI N UED)

Build-it-Yourself

• 6 2x4x8 boards to make 54 10 1/2-inch pieces • Sandpaper (80 grit) • Miter or circular saw • Tape measure • Carpenter’s pencil • Eye + ear protection

1. Cut 54 pieces at 10 1/2-inches each using your miter or circular saw. Tip: Setting up a stop on your RAISING THE STAKES

saw will make the process go a lot faster.

Add a little more competition—the first player

2. Sand each side of the pieces and the tops and

or team to send the tower tumbling owes the

bottoms to create a smooth piece.

winner a better seat for the game.

3. Stack the pieces on a table or platform in rows of

Stuff-Your-Face

three, alternating the direction you stack each layer.

INGREDIENTS

1 bag tortilla chips 2 cups cheddar cheese 1 pound ground beef 1 jar preferred salsa 15 ounces nacho cheese 2 tomatoes, chopped 1 bunch cilantro, chopped

(Let’s face it—They probably won’t look this pretty when all your friends are digging in!)

1 red onion, chopped 2 1/4 ounces black olives Jalapenos, to taste DIRECTIONS

In a skillet, brown and drain ground beef. Add preferred salsa and simmer. On a large baking sheet, layer tortilla chips, nacho

cheese

sauce,

cooked ground beef and cheddar cheese in alternating layers. Bake for 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Once hot, add tomatoes, cilantro, red onion, black olives and jalapenos to taste.

26

Towson Lifestyle | October 2017

Show-your-Spirit with Buttercream Frosting PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES, COOK TIME: 5 MINUTES

Best-on-the-Block

FOR COOKIES

FOR ICING

1 cup butter

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup white sugar

1 pound confectioners’ sugar

2 eggs

5 tablespoons water

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon butter-flavored extract

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Food coloring (optional)

1/2 teaspoon salt When buying a new TV to handle all your sports-watching needs, consider these five things to choose the best fit for you: 1. THE BIGGER, THE BETTER—Keep in mind the size of the room

and how far away you will be sitting, though.

2. OPT FOR 4K ULTRA HD—4K Ultra HD TVs have more than 8 million

pixels while regular HD TVs have a little more than 2 million pixels.

3. CONSIDER REFRESH RATES—The higher the processing rate,

the more times per second the TV can refresh the images on the screen, increasing blur-free motion in fast-moving games. Look for a TV with at least a 120 hertz refresh rate.

4. IGNORE MANUFACTURER CONTRAST RATIOS—It’s easiest to

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a large bowl, mix together butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

2. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually stir flour mixture into butter mixture until well blended using a sturdy spoon. Chill dough for 2 hours.

3. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.

4. Bake for 4 to 6 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove cookies from pan and cool on wire racks.

5. Using an electric mixer, beat shortening, confectioners’ sugar, water, salt, vanilla extract, butter flavoring and food coloring until fluffy. Frost cookies after they have cooled completely.

judge the contrast ratio—a range of brightness levels TVs can display—with your own eyes.

Recipe from AllRecipes.com For cute cookie cutters, try Ann Clark

5. ADD A SOUNDBAR—It takes up less space than traditional speak-

ers and is easy to set up.

Football Cookie Cutter three-piece set, $9.49, available on Amazon.

October 2017 | Towson Lifestyle

27

live music - games - beer garden - fall produce - art - food

Saturday, October 14th 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Located on the streets surrounding the old courthouse www.towsonchamber.com/rocktoberfest | 410.825.1144 | info@towsonchamber.com 28

Towson Lifestyle | October 2017

The Road to Pebble Beach Starts Here

September 15, 2017 Greystone Golf Course

LOCAL ANNUAL SPONSORS

Visit www.kidneymd.org to register

LOCAL SPONSORS

LOCAL MEDIA SPONSORS

Towson L

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Lifestyle Calendar Locally Owned | Free Estimates

October OCTOBER 1 HARVEST DAY HAMPTON MANSION Enjoy the autumn season at Hampton with 19th-century family fun including living history educational activities, musical performances, corn-shucking contests and more!

NPS.gov/Hamp/PlanYourVisit

OCTOBER 2 16TH ANNUAL PATHFINDERS FOR AUTISM GOLF TOURNAMENT & AWARDS DINNER

Custom Cleaning at an Affordable Price Insured & Bonded | Experienced & Vetted Employees

HILLENDALE COUNTRY CLUB Tee it up at Pathfinders’ largest annual fundraiser, which helps support the many free resources and services the organization provides for families affected by autism.

Towson, Maryland 21204

410.616.1052 • LimelightCleaners.com

PathfindersForAutism.org

OCTOBER 5 CHESAPEAKE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY EXPLORES JULIUS CAESAR WALTERS ART MUSEUM Gain insight into the Walters Art Museum's Roman collection as curators and members of the Chesapeake Shakespeare company inter-

[ CLEAN WATER

CHANGES

ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.

[

When a community gets access to clean water, it can change just about everything. It can improve health, increase access to food, grow local economies, and help kids spend more time in school.

W W W. C H A R I T Y WAT E R . O R G

30

Towson Lifestyle | October 2017

pret scenes from their production.

TheWalters.org/Events

OCTOBER 7 CONCERT ARTISTS OF BALTIMORE: “THE MUSICAL LIFE OF THE GERSHWINS” FRIENDS SCHOOL, FORBUSH AUDITORIUM Immerse yourself in the music and legacy of George and Ira Gershwin.

WBJC’s Jonathan Palevsky will guide the audience through an evening of the music and songs that became the very definition of Broadway and the Jazz Age. Performed by an all-professional orchestra and chorus, this event features conductor Edward Polochick and performances by prize-winning American pianist John Nauman.

CabMusic.org

OCTOBER 9 SECOND ANNUAL AMY’S ARMY GOLF TOURNAMENT THE WOODLANDS GOLF COURSE A great excuse to extend your weekend in support of a great cause.

Proceeds to benefit the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Comprehensive Breast Care Center at Greater Baltimore Medical Center.

AllAboutMeDaySpa.com

CONTINUED >

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OUR NEW SEASON OF AWARD-WINNING FAMILY SHOWS! !

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SUMMER 2018 WINNER OF 2014 “BEST MUSICAL”

“Baltimore’s BEST Theatre Value”

ALL SEATS ONLY $15.00 SEASON PASS & GROUPS $12.50/SHOW

FREE Face Painting * FREE Parking FREE Crafts * Live Orchestra * Meet the Cast THEATRE-IN-RESIDENCE AT

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WHAT ’S ON OUR WEBSITE? • • • •

Past Issues Current Articles Business Directory Contest Registration VISIT US AT TowsonLifestyle.com October 2017 | Towson Lifestyle

31

Lifestyle Calendar

(CON TI N U ED)

OCTOBER 14

this event features cocktails and lite fare, silent auction, pop-up shopping, and a fashion show showcasing fabulous vintage cloth-

TOWSON’S ROCKTOBERFEST

ing and current collections from Baltimore retailers. Proceeds sup-

DOWNTOWN TOWSON

port patient care and scholarships. $125 per person.

Featuring local bands, unique food vendors, beer gardens, fall pro-

BestOfTheBestFashionShow.EventBrite.com

duce, art, crafted items, games and more. This event will be fun for the whole family. TowsonChamber.com/Rocktoberfest

OCTOBER 14

OCTOBER 21 BALTIMORE RUNNING FESTIVAL DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE

MOMMY & ME SPA DAY AT SPARTEA

Join Baltimore’s running community in the 16th annual Baltimore Run-

TOWSON

ning Festival! With five different distance races to choose from, this

Breast cancer patients and their daughters are invited for a day of pam-

event is perfect for all experience levels. TheBaltimoreMarathon.com

pering, conversation and support at Towson’s “pink door” salon.

19 W. Pennsylvania Ave. SpaTeaParty.com

OCTOBER 15

OCTOBER 28 FRUIT OF D’VINE ANNUAL WINE TASTING LOYOLA-BLAKEFIELD

25TH ANNUAL SUSAN G. KOMEN

Sample fine wines and craft beers, and enjoy food from some of Balti-

BALTIMORE RACE FOR THE CURE

more’s best restaurants. Sponsored by Mission Helpers of the Sacred

PORT COVINGTON

Heart. Tickets: $45 MissionHelpers.org

As one of Maryland’s largest fundraisers, this annual 5K—back downtown after 10 years in Hunt Valley—is expected to draw 8,000 regis-

OCTOBER 28 & 29

trants and spectators, and aims to raise $850,000. KomenMD.org

DOORS OPEN BALTIMORE

OCTOBER 19

CITYWIDE Lace up your walking shoes and explore the history and architec-

BEST OF THE BEST FASHION SHOW

tural treasures of the Monument City as they open their doors for a

BALTIMORE COUNTRY CLUB, ROLAND PARK

self-guided cityscape tour.

Presented by The Women’s Board of the Johns Hopkins Hospital,

DoorsOpenBaltimore.org

32

Towson Lifestyle | October 2017

ARE YOU Smiling?

Dr. K Michael Murphy & Associates, LLC

Drs. Welzel, Murphy & Levy

VOTED

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Call or Visit

OUR WEBSITE FOR NEW PATIENT SPECIALS

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WEDDINGS - SPECIAL EVENTS - PORTRAITS

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October 2017 | Towson Lifestyle

33

Parting Thoughts

Antiqua Bead Earrings in Yellow, $18, Lou Lou Boutique, 800 Kenilworth Drive #834, Towson, or LouLouBoutiques.com

ARTICLE ASHLEY STIMPSON

FROM THE DESK TO THE STANDS

Anthropologie Fringed Infinity Scarf in Black, $48, Anthropologie, 825 Dulaney Valley Road, or Anthropologie.com Free People Twiggy Clutch in Black, $40, Free People, 1001 Aliceanna St., Baltimore, or FreePeople.com

Banana Republic Solid Pique Polo in Yellow Ochre-, $39.50, Banana Republic, 825 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, or BananaRepublic.Gap.com

Towson University Tigers Embroidered Extra Long Fleece Scarf, $28.99, PrepSportswear.com

Brooks Brothers Paisley Pocket Square in Gold, $45, Nordstroms, 700 Fairmount Ave., Towson, or BrooksBrothers.com

CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES THAT LOOK GREAT IN THE BOARDROOM AND IN THE BLEACHERS

F

all means football. And with more college games scheduled for midweek kickoff times, it's convenient to be able to leave

work and head straight to the tailgate. This means dressing in team colors and accessorizing with fun but professional touches.

Towson University's official colors—black and gold—make it easy to go from classy to casual. Vibrant earrings, simple pocket squares or a sparkly phone case are great ways to add a pop of team spirit to your wardrobe without going overboard. Carrying a hands-free bag is vital for all the snacking, clapping and high-fiving the evening will bring. To show your support for the whole community, consider purchasing a piece from a Towson institution: the Towson Watch Company.

Jessica Simpson Levin Pump in Yellow Faux Leather, $59.99, DSW, 1238 Putty Hill Ave., Baltimore, or DSW.com

Fjallraven Kanken Big Backpack in Mustard, $110, Urban Outfitters, 424 York Road, Towson, or UrbanOutfitters.com Towson Tigers Gold Glitter iPhone Case, $24.99, Fanatics.com

Martin M-130 Watch with Smooth Black Leather Strap, $3,975, TowsonWatchCompany.com 34

Towson Lifestyle | October 2017

E N J OY A U T U M N W I T H WA R M

Stunning Illumination

in the front yard

or out back Complimentary Design Consultation 410-825-4448 TIM O’BRIEN - Owner

OutdoorLights.com