FIND IT FREDERICK - SUMMER 2020

HOW TO PARTY … AT HOME

NEW HOMESTEADING HABITS

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BACK TO BASICS

On the cover: “If Not Now, When,” by Brunswick fiber artist Karen Birch. Photo this page: Vignette from Flood, Fire, Pandemic, by Karin Birch

STUCK AT HOME? YOU CAN STILL HAVE A PARTY

14 POP SHOP FREDDYS 26 TSUNAMI 40 PAY IT FORWARD FREDERICK 62 CINNAMOMMY

SAID TO

FOUND iT

HAVE FUN STAYING CLOSE TO HOME PLEASE NOTE: As our community works together to get through the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the events listed in this publication will be rescheduled or canceled, and some of the shops and restaurants listed within may be closed or temporarily offering different services. Please check the specific events’ and shops’ websites or call them for updates.

Happy summer, Frederick!

I must admit, I am a homebody at heart. And so, when the stay-at-home order was issued this spring, I was not-so-secretly delighted. It was now not only totally acceptable, but totally encouraged to stay at home and embrace my inner introvert!

Like many of you, my family and I dove in to home projects, figured out how to bake loads of different loaves of bread, launched into some new hobbies, and reveled in the sounds of birds and other wildlife we never took the time to listen to in the past, when we were rushing from activity to activity. (See how some others have developed their “homesteading habits,” in our story on Page 30.)

While staying home we also rediscovered some old Frederick favorites and new businesses in a new way: We’ve always loved listening to tunes spun by The Dapper DJs, and now we could sing and dance along in our own living rooms with virtual dance party events! (Read all about those on Page 18.)

We’re addicted to coffee roasted by Dublin Roasters and gin from McClintock Distilling, and now we can enjoy home delivery of our favorite beans or “grains” whenever we want them.

Online shopping all of a sudden became a possibility for Dancing Bear Toys and Gifts and their sister store Curious Iguana bookshop, where we’ve loved to spend hours browsing and playing.

Curbside pickups from Attaboy Beer, Café 611, Café Bueno, La Paz or Pretzel and Pizza Creations (to name a few) became the new norm.

We even discovered some new businesses, ordering fresh homemade cinnamon rolls from Cinnamommy, a small business featured later in this issue (see Page 62).

We’d always supported local businesses, but now more than ever, that became so important and so much fun!

As the area begins to slowly open up, my family has begun to venture outdoors a bit more. Solo kayak trips and family hikes in and around Frederick’s state and local parklands are now the way we spend much of our time.

Even when the recommendation is to stay home, we’ve learned that the Frederick region has so much to offer all of us.

What things have you discovered in and around Frederick these last few months? Email me to tell me what you’ve found at molly@pulsepublishing.net!

10

Molly Fellin Spence, Executive Editor

PUBLISHER

SUMMER 2020 . Volume 14 . Issue 1

Donna Elbert publisher@pulsepublishing.net

PULSE PUBLISHING, LLC 12 S. MARKET STREET, SUITE 101 F R E D E R I C K , M A RY L A N D 2 1 7 0 1 O 301.662.6050 d 301.662.5102 wPULSEPUBLISHING.NET published by

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Molly Fellin Spence molly@pulsepublishing.net

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Ana Lazo Eastep FiND iT Frederick is a free quarterly publication of Pulse Publishing, LLC. Customer inquiries should be directed to Pulse Publishing, LLC, 12 S. Market Street, Suite 101, Frederick, MD 21701. All contents of this publication are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in whole or in part for any reason without prior consent of the publisher.

For information about advertising in an upcoming issue of FiND iT Frederick, please contact Donna Elbert at 301-662-6050, ext. 11, email donna@pulsepublishing.net or visit FindItFrederick.com.

If you have questions or comments regarding FiND iT Frederick, you may contact the editor, Molly Fellin Spence at molly@pulsepublishing.net.

Many thanks to the numerous individuals and businesses that provided information and their time for our articles­ and features. We wish to thank our advertisers for their continued support.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed here are the views of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of FiND iT Frederick or Pulse Publishing, LLC

COPY EDITOR Lauren LaRocca

ACCOUNTING Erica Murray bookkeeper@pulsepublishing.net

DISTRIBUTION distribution@pulsepublishing.net

CONTRIBUTORS

SHUAN BUTCHER An Army veteran, Shuan has spent most of his life working in the nonprofit sector on issues such as arts and culture, heritage tourism, civic engagement, and community development. He is a member of the National Press Club. He published “Inspiration to Serve: 101 Quotes about Kindness, Caring, and Giving,” co-authored “Making Change for the Better: The Importance of Youth Giving,” and contributes to a variety of local, regional, and national publications.

GINA GALLUCCI-WHITE is an award-winning writer based in Frederick. Her work has been featured in a number of local, regional and national publications including USA Today 10Best website, Baltimore STYLE, Frederick Magazine and the Maryland Daily Record.

LAUREN LAROCCA is an astrologer, herbalist, and an arts and culture journalist. She is a former staff editor at The Frederick News-Post and Baltimore magazine. Follow her on Instagram @karmarocca or visit her website Karmarocca.com.

Before starting her freelance writing career, she was the police/fire and rescue reporter for The Frederick News-Post.

Away from compiling stories, Gina can be found being the scorekeeper at her son’s baseball games, driving her daughter to dance classes and trying to understand the Game of Thrones series finale.

PHOTOGRAPHERS SPENCE PHOTOGRAPHICS

Bringing Your Dreams to LIfe! From Design & Concept to Full Completion, We Supply it ALL 5112 Pegasus Ct. Suite K&L Frederick, MD 301.668.4950 www.Mid-AtlanticTile.com

14

At the North Market Pop Shop “something for

cream plus chocolate syrup, Reese’s pieces

everyone” is not just a slogan — it’s a sweet and

candies and MeeMaws candied peanuts. The Grand

fizzy, everyday reality. But soda pop is not the

Slam Freddy involves coconut salted caramel and

only thing on the menu; the Frederick mainstay

chocolate ice cream, real maple syrup, bacon

offers hot dogs, ice cream, and a variety of

bits and coconut whipped cream. And the Mocha

snacks and treats.

Chip Freddy features coffee ice cream, chocolate

Their latest creation, a product of “pandemic idea hyperdrive,” according to owner Michelle Schaffer, is the Freddy – a doughnut sandwich that combines the best of Frederick’s own Glory Doughnuts & Diner’s vegan baked goods with

sauce, mini chocolate chips and whipped cream.

Want that one vegan? No problem. Just choose from among four vegan ice cream flavors (cold brew coffee, salted caramel, strawberry almond, or chocolate).

fresh ice cream from the North Market Pop Shop,

The Freddy is here to stay, Schaffer says, and new

as well as some inventive toppings.

flavors and themes are in the works.

The First Pop Shop Freddy was called the Birthday

“They are really, really tasty and fun,” she said.

Freddy, and combined South Mountain Creamery

“Keep an eye out.We are always trying something

Birthday Cake ice cream, Oreo cookie crumbles

new!”

and rainbow sprinkles between doughnuts. After posting about it on the Pop Shop’s and Glory Doughnuts’ social media channels, the first Freddy doughnut-ice cream sandwiches sold out within

Photographs courtesy of North Market Pop Shop

two days.

Schaffer and her Pop Shop crew have been coming up with new flavors and varieties ever since. All are available via online ordering or at the shop’s in-person outdoor window.

“People have been excited to try something brandnew during the pandemic with two Frederick small businesses involved,” Schaffer said.

North Market Pop Shop 241 N. Market St., Frederick 240-575-9070 northmarketpopshop.com F facebook.com/NorthMarketPopShop d @nmarketpopshop Glory Doughnuts & Diner 244 E. Church St., Frederick 240-651-3467 glorydoughnuts.com F facebook.com/GloryDoughnuts d @glory_doughnuts

Other flavors include the Peanut Butter Lovers Freddy, with South Mountain’s Snallygaster ice 15

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www.thelodgesatgettysburg.com

STUCK

AT HOME? 18

istockphoto.com/fizkes

You can still

By Gina Gallucci-White 19

PARTY

Music has been a part of Alex Sincevich’s life

be there in person. It is a fun thing to add to the

since he was a child. He recalls his mother playing

experience. We can clink glasses over the internet

old jazz records when he was younger, and as

and celebrate in that way. It is a neat experience.”

a student, he played the trumpet and began

The one-time high school gig has turned into a more than two-decade career for Sincevich, who formed his own vintage-inspired company, The Dapper DJs, in 2011. Things were swinging with hundreds of weddings and other event clients each year. Then the COVID-19 pandemic canceled every in-person event for the foreseeable future.

“Pretty much everyone was bummed they could not get out in groups and do the things that we used to do,” Sincevich says. With his clients moving events to later in the year or into 2021, his friends encouraged Sincevich to create online dance parties to help boost morale and encourage connections.

On Fridays throughout the stay-at-home order, Sincevich hosted weekly virtual family dance parties from 7 to 8 p.m., featuring modern singers’ hits from Imagine Dragons, Meghan Trainor and Bruno Mars. With school-aged children having to participate in distance learning, he knew this endof-week treat would be a way to get their energy out before bedtime. “They can celebrate the end of week and it’s a chance for kids and parents to shake their COVID blues away.”

He also joined forces with Kahla Moon, a bartender at White Rabbit Gastropub in Frederick, to host weekly virtual speakeasy events on Wednesdays from 9 to 10 p.m. Moon mixes up drinks with a focus on weekly themes, such as spicy cocktails or backyard garden, while Sincevich spins classic

“It is the next-best thing,” Sincevich says. “It’s the

tunes from multiple decades. “It’s part music and

best we can do right now. Ideally, we would love to

dancing and part how to’s and fun recipes,” he says.

20

Photos courtesy of The Dapper DJs

deejaying at parties in his teens.

PARTY

Kahla Moon, a bartender at White Rabbit Gastropub in Frederick, hosts a weekly virtual speakeasy event.

The events can be found on The Dapper DJs Facebook page. “We’ve gotten a lot of great feedback and it is gaining traction,” Sincevich says. “It is fun. It gives people a chance to see what we do. It helps us stay present.”

Sincevich has also hosted virtual birthday parities

THE DAPPER DJS’ VIRTUAL EVENTS: Fridays 7 to 8 p.m. - Get Your Sillies Out: A Family Dance Party - join the Dapper Family to close out the week and dance our sillies out before bedtime! twitch.tv/thedapperdj

for clients who want to celebrate but also meet

Wednesdays 9 to 10 p.m. - Hump Day Speakeasy:

social distancing guidelines. The events give

The Dapper DJs are joined remotely by some

Sincevich something to look forward to every week.

of our favorite local bartenders for a virtual

“I get jazzed off the exchange of energies,” he

the gramophones, favorite cocktail recipes, and

says. “It is still there. As a performer, that is

suggestions for drinks you can make with the

what keeps me going. It is what gives me life. It

ingredients you have in your home. facebook.com/

gives me energy. Being able to share the music

thedapperdjs

and experience of a good time with other people

Virtual Birthday Parties - Every child and child-

and connecting with these people is the best we

at-heart deserves to celebrate their special day

can do under these circumstances. It has helped

with friends and family. The Dapper DJs will provide

me get through what would otherwise be a more

music and entertainment via Zoom, Jitsi, or a similar

difficult time.”

platform for your special person’s special day.

speakeasy with prohibition-era music spinning on

The Dapper DJs thedapperdjs.com F facebook.com/TheDapperDJs d @thedapperdjs

21

PARTY

22

PARTY

Caity Byrne was first drawn to balloons after

graduations, with unforgettable displays through

watching a documentary on clowning. She decided

no-contact home deliveries.

she wanted to go into the unique profession and bought a balloon-twisting kit. “I was a clown for about 2 minutes and decided very quickly that I was not meant to be a clown at all, but I really liked the balloons, so I kept twisting balloons,” she says.

normally be an indoor celebration) outdoors where everybody in the community can enjoy it,” Byrne says. “It is one thing to have a balloon bouquet inside that a family can enjoy, but this

After a life-threatening illness, she decided to pull

way everybody gets to enjoy it. The whole block,

out the balloons again during her several-month

anybody driving by — I think it just really helps

recovery.

people connect because (you say), ‘Oh look that

“They pulled me back to life,” Byrne says. “The more that I got into decorating, the less that I was doing the twisting to the point where I just gave up the twisting entirely because the decoration was so great.”

She formed the Frederick-based All About B a l l o o n s , w h i c h f o c u s e s o n l a rg e - s c a l e Photographs courtesy of All About Balloons

“I think it is a great way to bring (what would

corporate events in the Washington, D.C., area.

When COVID-19 halted those events, she knew the business had to pivot. “We had to find a sink-

person is having a birthday.’ It brings joy beyond the celebration, beyond the yard and out into the world and I think that everybody that sees it recognizes that.”

Winnie the Pooh once observed, “Nobody can be uncheered by a balloon,” and Byrne believes that is true. “It is ubiquitously joyful,” Byrne says.

“They not only bring joy to the recipient and to the family but again to the entire block and anyone driving by.”

or-swim way to survive,” Byrne says.

She decided to form the Frederick Balloon Company in March as a way to help local people celebrate life events, such as birthdays and

All About Balloons allaboutballoons.com F facebook.com/allaboutballoonsus d @allaboutballoonsus

23

PARTY

As a result of restaurants being shut down for table service, the county liquor board decided to relax its restrictions on the sale of to-go cocktails.

Many area restaurants have jumped at the chance to sell lovely libations alongside their to-go food offerings.

JoJo’s Restaurant and Tap House in Downtown Frederick creates seasonal cocktail menus and and released its summer drink menu in May. Some of the most popular cocktails include Watermelon Crush, featuring a fresh watermelon purée they make in-house and frosés (frozen “It is a nice, light drink to have in the summer time,” says Dayton Young, manager.

Their drinks also come in eco-friendly pouches that may be reused and are biodegradable.

B e i n g a b l e t o b u y c o c k t a i l s t o - g o s ave s customers from having to stop at a separate store to get their drinks or buy all the ingredients and do all the prep work.

“We will just do it for you,” Young says.

24

JoJo’s Restaurant and Tap House 16-18 E. Patrick St., Frederick 301-732-5197 jojosrestauranttaphouse.com F facebook.com/JoJosRestaurantTapHouse d @jojosrestauranttaphouse

istockphoto.com/Nuture

istockphoto.com/AnaMOMarques

rosé wine) flavored with mango and strawberry.

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26

Photographs courtesy of Tsunami Ramen and Tapas

Tsunami Ramen and Tapas is one of Downtown Frederick’s most recent additions to its robust dining scene. The restaurant brings Japanese fusion to Frederick, with a focus on ramen noodle bowls with Western accents.

“I’ve been eating ramen since I was born,” says Moo Rung, a chef and part owner at Tsunami, who also co-owns Sumittra Thai Cuisine and Lazy Fish in Downtown Frederick. His family owns a noodle shop in Thailand, and he’s passionate about opening one in Frederick.

When he moved to the states more than 20 years ago, he struggled to find ramen restaurants and often could satiate his cravings only when he visited New York City.

Tsunami offers lunch and dinner menus featuring ramen bowls, rice bowls and Asian tacos, plus an array of appetizers and sides, including dumplings, Korean shrimp pancakes, spring rolls, kimchi and seaweed salad. Rung’s personal favorite ramen bowls are the spicy miso and red curry.

Mmmm!

Tsunami also makes a great central meeting place on North Market Street to stop in for a drink, be it a Thai iced tea or a specialty cocktail, such as the Pearicious, a blend of Absolut Pears, sake, lemon juice and simple syrup.

Tsunami Ramen and Tapas 20 N. Market St., Frederick 240-815-6744 tsunamifrederick@gmail.com tsunamiramen.com F facebook.com/tsunamiinfrederick d @tsunamiinfrederick

27

trust your

JOURNEY

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19 N. Market St., Frederick, MD | 301.663.3632 | ShopTheMuse.com

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CALL FOR ART

Lend a Hand: Together We Merge Into One World The Muse & artists Whitney Dahlberg & Courtney Prahl are launching the 9th annual Lend a Hand Art Auction! This year we chose Stream-Link Education as our beneficiary.

Stream-Link Education champions conservation through its educational tree-planting program, which teaches the community the importance of natural stewardship and preserves the health of our local rivers and streams. The money we raise will directly go to Stream-Link to help further their mission of conservation through community outreach.

• Lend a Hand by creating a piece of art inspired by this line from Norman Maclean’s “A River Runs Through It”: “Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.”

We are all connected, and we must work together to protect the world around us and preserve it for future generations.

• Everyone of all ages & types of media are encouraged to participate. Art will be auctioned off in the fall with all sales going to the charity. The closing date of the auction will be during First Saturday, Oct 3rd from 5-9pm.

• A $20 nonrefundable entry fee includes the canvas & goes directly to Stream-Link Education.

• All pieces must be delivered to The Muse, 19 N Market St, no later than Aug 31st at 9pm.

• By submitting your work to The Muse, you are agreeing to allow The Muse to take full ownership over the piece until the time of sale. That includes the allowance of use for marketing purposes.

If Not Now, When

by Karin Birch

30

BACK TO

BAS CS When the pace of life slowed down, many discovered creative outlets — baking, gardening, knitting — from a time when life was simpler.

by Lauren LaRocca

31

MAKE

For many Frederick residents, the stay-at-home order that came in March set a totally new pace of life. Some people described it as “stepping outside of time” or “time standing still,” as they holed up in their homes, many out of work or with reduced hours.

For some artists, life didn’t change much.

“So many artists were saying, ‘We’ve been training for this,’” said Brunswick fiber artist Karin Birch.

“But the little things — going out once a week to visit the granddaughter, going out once a week to visit a friend — those are really small things, but when they’re gone, it matters.”

Prior to the stay-at-home order, she’d been working for months on a solo show slated for May at NOMA Gallery in Downtown Frederick. In the midst of the lockdown, the exhibit got postponed until February 2021.

“I kept working, but the pieces look a little muddled — I think because I was listening to the news all the time in March and April,” she said. “One [abstract fiber art] piece just looks like floods and fires and pandemics.”

Early in the lockdown, she also made a bunch of masks to give to friends and neighbors. But eventually the artwork came to a standstill, as did her handmade potholders, which she sells through local businesses, because all the shops were closed, in addition to the art galleries.

Birch also runs a gardening business, so while her artwork slowed down, she spent all of May diving into gardening full-time. Somewhere in between working in her studio and starting the Flood, Fire & Pandemic

by Karin Birch

32

MAKE

gardening season, Birch noticed herself starting to go downhill, she admitted.

“There was the grief of the loss of the show … and time just thinking, what’s this mean? What’s happening? At some point, I thought, I gotta get off the couch. I just started making myself go out, get in nature, take walks. Now it’s just gardening and being at home, I just do those two things.

“I have a different sense of time now,” she went on. “I got out of that crazy time that we’re always in — the ‘gotta do this and this and this and this’ and keep doing and doing and doing. I got out of that, and that was kind of good. At the time, I thought it was terrible, but in retrospect, I think that was a really good thing, and I’m trying to hold onto that, going forward.”

AU NATURALE Anyone who farms or gardens knows that while time seemed to have come to a screeching halt in society, time went on right on schedule in the natural world. And many people found solace there.

“Regardless of the pandemic, our gardens still require tending,” said Alecks Moss, marketing and events manager at Fox Haven Farm in Jefferson.

“Especially now, when it can be strenuous to be around people, the plant world is available to support us, whether it’s taking a walk in nature, listening to the birds chirp, or digging into your personal garden.

Nature has a way of reminding us to slow down, breathe and come back to our senses.”

Meanwhile, because the Learning Center at Fox Haven primarily offers in-person educational Bird nest surprises at Fox Haven Farm.

Photo courtesy of JoAnn Coates-Hunter

opportunities, staff quickly pivoted to host classes

33

MAKE

and events online, which were so successful, they plan to continue hosting them throughout the rest of the year. Their audience expanded beyond the local community, bringing in new students based as far away as England and Australia.

JoAnn Coates-Hunter, director of Fox Haven, noticed a lot of Fox Haven’s social media followers becoming more interested in bird watching during the quarantine.

“I usually don't have time to monitor our bluebird boxes [there are nearly 80 of them on the farm], but since the cancellation of field trips and retreats, I found myself walking the fields all over the farm, checking the boxes … seeing the process of nest building, observing and learning about the different ways that various birds build their nests.”

The highlights of the walks were discovering eggs.

As she posted pictures of her findings online, she received emails and phone calls from folks asking all sorts of questions about birds.

“I did research and asked my bird-watching friends to help me out,” she said. “A virtual community formed.”

QUARANTINE BAKERS While people at home were tending to their gardens — perhaps with a zest unlike previous years — they were also experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. Recipes and techniques began popping up all over social media nearly overnight to inspire people, some of whom had little to no prior cooking knowledge.

Personal chef Chris Spear, who founded Chefs Without Restaurants and owns Perfect Little Bites Bird nest surprises at Fox Haven Farm.

Photo courtesy of JoAnn Coates-Hunter

34

MAKE

in Frederick, lost all his work nearly overnight when the stay-at-home order was implemented. He could no longer host dinner parties at people’s homes — and even if he could, trips to the grocery store took much longer, and he noticed a lot of items were out of stock, such as flours and, later, meat.

For the next six to seven weeks, Spear’s creative outlet was unleashed in his own kitchen at home.

Friends, also out of work, gave him 40 pounds of flour and quite a bit of yeast that they couldn’t use up themselves, and he was off to the races.

“I became one of those quarantine bakers,” he joked. “I had all this flour, so I really leaned into focaccia, pizza, flour tortillas.”

He’d blogged and posted recipes online for years on his Perfect Little Bites website but, with more time on his hands, he delved into it even more.

Everything Beer Focaccia became his most popular recipe.

“People weren’t able to get bagels — or everything bagels — but you can find the ‘everything’ spice at most stores. It’s also easier to make than bagels.

And you can use any kind of beer.”

It was exciting to watch people learn how to cook, he said.

“I think so many people get psyched out about baking, and it’s not that hard. I think with people not being able to get supplies, they understood that they could be a little more flexible. Most chefs can wing it, but a lot of people who aren’t used to cooking are more rigid. If a recipe calls for something they don’t have, they don’t make it. I was seeing more confidence in freestyling a little bit. I saw a lot of people on Facebook asking about ingredient Pre-pandemic dinner parties. Personal chef Chris Spear, founder of Chefs Without Restaurants, now dons a mask at such gatherings. Photo by Tina Leu Fotos.

replacements. I felt really good about that.”

35

EVERYTHING BEER FOCACCIA 550g bread flour (or all-purpose) 5.5 g (1 ½ tsp) kosher salt 6 g (2 tsp) instant yeast (or 12 g fresh yeast) 5 g (1 tsp) granulated sugar 410 g (420 ml) lukewarm liquid (1 bottle pale ale plus 52 g filtered water) 4 Tbsp olive oil, divided ½ Tbsp each “everything spice,” dried onion flakes and caraway seeds smoked paprika Fleur de Sel salt pan spray

Heat the water and beer to 110 degrees F. Place the flour, salt, yeast, and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. Slowly add the warm liquid (if using fresh yeast, I like to crumble the yeast into the warm liquid). Knead for 5 minutes on medium. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour on the counter, then move to the refrigerator and let it sit overnight.

Remove the dough from the fridge. Spray a 9×12inch baking sheet (1/4 sheet pan) with pan spray, then rub 2 T olive oil on the pan, making sure to get the sides coated too. Add the dough to the pan, and stretch it gently with your fingers. Allow it to come to room temp, rest and rise for an hour. Then stretch it again and let it rest for another hour.

Preheat the oven to 425 F. Pour 1 T olive oil on top of the dough and spread it all over the top. Sprinkle smoked paprika on top (maybe ¼ tsp). Top the dough evenly with the 3 spices (everything, onion and caraway) Using your thumb, press about 20 indentations evenly into the dough. Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoons of olive oil. Top with fleur de sel or Maldon salt.

Bake until golden brown, around 30 minutes.

Let cool just slightly before transferring the focaccia to a wire rack to cool.

Notes: I used one standard bottle of beer. It should give you 358 grams, which is why I added the very specific 52 grams of water, to bring it up to a total of 410. For this bread, I used Flying Dog’s new Ain’t Nothing But a G Thing hazy pale ale which is 5.4% abv.

I like caraway in my everything blend. If yours already has it, obviously you can omit the additional.

Photo courtesy of Chris Spear

I have some fresh yeast that was given to me by a friend. I have never used it before this. It worked out great. On average, you should use double by weight if using fresh yeast.

For more of Chris Spear’s recipes, go to https://perfectlittlebites.com.

36

MAKE

NEW ARTISTIC OUTLETS While chefs all over the world began vlogging on ingredient substitutes and doing more with less, Instagram accounts, such as @isolationartschool, cropped up solely to provide artistic ideas and inspiration to people who were stuck at home for weeks on end.

Locally, several artists found themselves experimenting with new mediums. Fiber artist Margaret Hluch, for instance, has become known for her large-scale weavings, but knowing that she wouldn’t be able to show them anywhere anytime soon, she took up a new creative outlet: knitting.

“I’m obsessed with it,” she said. “All I want to do is knit.”

Knitted sweater by Margaret Hluch

She’d learned to knit some 35 years ago while living in Kenya, but went back to it about a year ago when she started taking the train into Washington, D.C., to visit her daughter and baby granddaughter. The long commutes were a perfect opportunity to work a needle and yarn.

But when public transport stopped, the knitting didn’t. She even joined an online knitting group to participate in Knit-Alongs and meets with friends on Zoom every week to compare notes and projects.

She also made masks until she ran out of elastic — another commodity that was quickly out of stock everywhere in the COVID era.

Ashley Hoffman, an herbalist and artist, began experimenting with a new medium, too. “During quarantine, I spent time learning about natural dyeing,” she said. “As an artist and herbalist, I see utilizing plant pigment as a connection between these two worlds.”

The graphic designer and outreach specialist at Fox Haven Farm, she explored the farm to find plants and trees that could be used, such as nettle and black walnut, giving her even more reasons to interact with the land.

“I’ve seen an increase of backyard gardens amongst friends and talks of consuming less,” she said of

Face masks by Margaret Hluch

these new times. “I see herbalists and farmers getting more support and appreciation as we look at the weaknesses in our food and health industries. I think people are really considering how we spend our energy, time and income as well.”

Background photo: Artist and herbalist Ashley Hoffman experimented with natural dyes during the lockdown. Here, she dyed fibers with nettle, hibiscus and black bean.

Next up: hawthorn and black walnut.

37

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As the COVID-19 pandemic caused many Frederick-area businesses to temporarily close their doors and left them with uncertain futures, a group of concerned patrons decided to take matters into their own hands to help their favorite restaurants and shops weather the storm.

Enter: Pay it Forward Frederick, a group based on Facebook that as of mid-June had more than 2,800 members. It was created by a Frederick resident of 35 years who goes by Hlj Hlj, and wishes to remain anonymous.

Each day, five gift cards for various Frederickbased small brick-and-mortar businesses are available to win by anyone who wants to participate.

The gift cards can be in any amount, and in order to win a gift card, a person must comment on the original post in the Facebook group. After about a day, a winner is chosen at random by the person who purchased the gift card.

Here’s the catch – the winner must then purchase a new gift card for another Frederick business and offer that one up for raffle within the group.

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istockphoto.com/Yakobchuk istockphoto.com / joingate

The idea was fairly simple, and originated with a Pay it Forward group in Annapolis.

On the day the group was created, two gift cards were up for grabs and 21 people had commented for a chance to win. By mid-June, the group had paid forward 553 gift cards and raised $20,089 for local businesses.

The group’s creator says Pay it Forward Frederick is a “good way to have fun and help the community,” and added that “the group has far exceeded anything I could have ever dreamed.”

Growth happened organically, as social media posts often do, and once the message caught on, membership grew from a few hundred to a few thousand within weeks.

“The group is all about helping our community’s small businesses and services,” the group moderator said. “Each gift card sold is revenue flowing. When gift cards are redeemed, more cash can be generated in sales over the value of the gift card. Gift cards get people shopping and eating.”

Members of the group have been enthusiastic with their support, some offering high-value gift cards even if they haven’t won any themselves.

Sometimes, when a participant purchases a gift card from a local business, that business owner

will match the gift card value because they are so happy to be part of the process.

“I have had a lot of love from the members. They have offered words of kindness and offers of assistance,” the Pay it Forward moderator says.

“I have heard from a few (business owners), some have joined the group and some have done their own giveaways on the page.”

Pay it Forward has spread from Annapolis to Frederick, and now to Louisiana and beyond.

As the community begins to open up further, Pay it Forward Frederick may evolve, but its purpose will always be to support small businesses in Frederick.

“My goal is for the group to help as much as it can, to give people a little escape from the tough times we face and to pay it forward,” the moderator says.

Pay it Forward Frederick payitforwardfrederick@gmail.com

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Photograph by Shuan Butcher

Have Fun Staying Close to Home

By Shuan Butcher

For my family, the annual summer vacation is a rite of passage, but given the many uncertainties of living in pandemic times, “travel� will likely look a lot different this year for many.

So, we’re focusing our attention on staycationing in Frederick this summer. The good news is that Frederick County is full of adventures and exciting opportunities for folks with various interests. Here are some great staycation ideas that also allow you to be safe, practice social distancing and observe appropriate health guidelines, while still having fun.

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FOR RECREATIONAL ENTHUSIASTS

Another favorite is the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal

Like to get out and get active? Frederick has lots

own your own bike, you can rent one from River

of parks to enjoy. Catoctin Mountain Park (nps.

& Trail Outfitters (rivertrail.com) of Brunswick.

gov/cato) trails have remained open for hiking

Speaking of River & Trail, you can plan a half-day

and other day uses and the park’s Owens Creek

kayak trip down the Potomac River (or they have

campground and Misty Mount historic cabin camp

canoes and innertubes if you prefer other floating

should be open by early summer.

methods). My wife and I started our journey at the

National Historical Park (nps.gov/choh). The tow

Photograph by Shuan Butcher

path is a popular walking or biking path. If you don’t

44

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Brunswick Family Campground and floated down to Point of Rocks, which typically takes about two or three hours depending on your pace and what else you get into along the way.

Keep your eyes up and be on the lookout for bald eagles in the treetops or flying above. During our leisurely paddle, we spotted bald eagles, heron, ducks and turtles. There’s plenty of other things to do, including checking out the Catoctin Creek Aqueduct or Heater Island or even getting out of your boat and going for a swim. Disembark at the Route 15 bridge and get shuttled back to Brunswick. While in town, be sure to stop at Beans in the Belfry (beansinthebelfry.com) or Boxcar Burgers for lunch and Towpath Creamery (towpathcreamery. com) for some locally made ice cream.

For another awesome experience, I highly recommend spending some time at Tree Trekkers (treetrekkersmd.com), an aerial adventure and zipline park that opened last year. Here, you have the opportunity to experience 14 different courses. Depending on the course, you will be anywhere from 10 feet off the ground to 65 feet up in the air. Each course provides varying challenges for participants to complete to get from platform to platform. You feel like you are walking along the treeline, because you are. The elements are a lot of fun, but don’t forget to take some time to enjoy the view.

The courses are color-coded based on the level Photographs by Shuan Butcher

of difficulty, ranging from purple (easy), yellow (beginner), and green (moderate) to blue (difficult) and even a black-diamond (expert). In addition, there is a zipline course which includes nine different zipline trips on the outer edge of the park.

Don’t worry, the whole time you are completely secured for your safety.

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Natural beauty is bountiful here. One just has to hit the road along one of the area’s scenic byways to discover a landscape dotted with some fantastic farms, such as Catoctin Mountain Orchard (catoctinmountainorchard.com) or Rocky Point Creamery (rockypointcreamery. com), an array of wineries and distilleries, or the Catoctin Mountain range. Of course, just outside the Town of Thurmont sits Cunningham Falls, the highest cascading waterfall in the state.

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Frederick County has three of the eight covered bridges remaining in the state of Maryland. Roddy Road Covered Bridge is Maryland’s smallest, just a 40-foot single span structure situated over Owens Creek. Reportedly, it dates back to 1856 although it has been repaired multiple times due to oversized vehicles damaging it. Just up the road sits Loy’s Station Covered Bridge, which also sits on Owens Creek. The Utica bridge once spanned the Monocacy River. But after an 1889 flood, the surviving half was relocated and rebuilt at its current location over Fishing Creek.

Photograph by Shuan Butcher

FOR SCENERY SEEKERS

TOUR

These wood-truss structures were often covered for protection from the elements and remain fine examples of 19th-century bridge engineering techniques. Once the steel-truss bridge was developed, their days were numbered which is why they are wonderful objects to behold.

There is limited access to Utica Bridge, with a small pull-over for vehicles on one side of the bridge. However, Roddy Road and Loy’s Station have parks adjacent to them which provide ample parking and other amenities for those who want to stop for a visit.

FOR ARTS & CULTURE FANS Downtown Frederick is a cultural mecca, known for its theater district, restaurants and boutique shops. As the arts begin to reopen and recover from the recent public health crisis, there is still something everyone can enjoy: Frederick’s public art installations. Not too long ago, Visit Frederick (visitfrederick.org/things-to-do/ tours/self-guided-tour/public-art-trail) created a public art trail and map to guide art lovers to the various artistic creations. Whether you walk it or bike it – you can rent an electric bike from Pedego Frederick (pedegoelectricbikes.com/ dealers/frederick) – spend some time taking in the diverse compilation of murals, sculptures and other mixed-media pieces.

Some of my favorites among the 19 art pieces Photographs by Shuan Butcher

are William Cochran’s iconic Community Bridge, Scott Cawood’s “The Spire,” and the John Hanson Statue by Toby Mendez. Another one that stands out among them is Goodloe Byron’s tribute to Maryland’s State Dinosaur (yes, Maryland has an officially designated dinosaur) painted on the parking deck behind Brewer’s Alley.

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FOR HISTORY BUFFS There’s no shortage of history here. Whether y o u a re i n t e re s t e d i n N a t i v e A m e r i c a n , Revolutionary War, African-American history, women’s history, or other stories that tell our shared American journey, there is something for you. Of course, this area is rich in Civil War history. Frederick County, along with portions of Carroll and Washington counties, make up the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area (heartofthecivilwar.org). One of the best-kept secrets locally is Monocacy National Battlefield (nps.gov/mono).

Another great activity during this timeframe is the Civil War Trails program (civilwartrails. org/mapguides). We’ve all probably driven by these markers and taken them for granted.

C o n s i d e re d t h e wo r l d ’s l a rg e st o p e n - a i r museum with 1,200 sites across six states, the trails program has 40 sites located in our backyard (a site may have more than one interpretative sign). In addition to being a great educational resource, there is the benefit of just getting out and going on an excursion. For families with young children, you can treat it like a treasure hunt and encourage kids to see who can locate the next marker.

Drew Gruber, executive director of Civil War Trails, offers some advice: First, request a brochure because you don’t always have Photograph by Shuan Butcher

reliable mobile phone service in some places.

You can follow in the footsteps of three historic narratives that highlight the impact of the war in our region. Second, plan to spend twice as much time as you anticipate, because you will uncover other hidden treasures along your way.

49

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FREDERICK (TJ) OFFICE 87 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 101, Frederick, MD 21702 HOURS: Monday–Friday, 8am–7pm (6pm in summer); Walk-Ins 8–9am Saturday, 9am–noon (by appointment only, no walk-ins) PHONE: 301-694-0606 BALLENGER CREEK OFFICE 6550 Mercantile Drive, Suite 106, Frederick, MD 21703 HOURS: Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm; Walk-ins 8–9am PHONE: 301-668-6347 MOUNT AIRY OFFICE 1311 South Main Street, Suite 304, Mount Airy, MD 21771 HOURS: Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm; Walk-ins 8–9am PHONE: 301-829-6146 URBANA OFFICE 3500 Campus Drive, Suite D, Urbana, MD 21704 HOURS: Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm; Walk-ins 8–9am PHONE: 301-874-6107

www.FrederickPediatrics.com We accept most insurances. Practice limited to newborns to age 21 years.

Whether you choose to dine in our quiet casual restaurant side or our more bustling tap house side you’re sure to experience great food and great service.

With 26 taps rotating an almost endless supply of craft beers, a large selection of wines, liquors and bottled beer and a modern american cuisine menu, we feel JoJo’s Restaurant & Tap House has something for everyone.

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This program will change your life, but expect to work hard. All levels are wanted, we just ask that you try your best and finish the 6 weeks.

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Courtesy Russell C. Poole

FreeVirtual Events and Self-Guided Activities

Catoctin Furnace

Maryland Iron Festival 2020—Digital Edition:

Saturday and Sunday, August 22 and 23, 10 am to 4 pm. Join us online for blacksmithing, traditional food preparation, and artist demonstrations as well as virtual versions of our Feats of Strength anvil lifting and cannonball toss! Enjoy music from Slim Harrison and Jubilee Voices! Tune in for live, interactive talks with archaeologists to learn about our treasure trove of historic clothing, the African American cemetery, and get updates on our exciting historic preservation and restoration work. We’ll have lots of interactive activities—including handkerchief doll making; punched tin ornament making; COVID-19 mask making with fabric inspired by historic clothing found in the Forgeman’s House; and basket weaving. Supplies for crafts can be sent to you at home! Registration for the interactive Maryland Iron Festival will be hosted through Zoom, and registration details are available on catoctinfurnace.org.

The event will also stream on our Facebook page and The Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Inc. YouTube channel. Please check our website www.catoctinfurnace.org for event details.

Catoctin Furnace African American Cemetery Interpretative Trail: Open daily during park hours. Enjoy a

socially distanced self-guided tour on our new trail. The trail begins in Cunningham Falls State Park at the ruins of the historic Isabella stack and casting shed (12698 Catoctin Furnace Road) and leads to an overlook near the African American cemetery. Newly installed wayside panels explain the ironmaking process, explore Catoctin

Furnace’s historic buildings, and tell the story of the workers— both African American and European American—who lived and worked in the furnace and village. A printed, self-guided companion tour designed to engage children and families is available online catoctinfurnace.org. The trail is an unpaved, smooth, ADA-style path that is approximately half a mile long with two viewing platforms and three wooden benches. Audio recording of the interpretive trail panels is available at catoctinfurnace.org.

Collier’s Log House Historic Kitchen Garden: Open

daily till sunset. Delight in our beautiful historic kitchen and pollinator gardens, which were created in partnership with the Green-walled Garden Club. The gardens are tucked away behind the Collier’s Log House in the historic village. A self-guided garden tour and informational brochure are available online at catoctinfurnace.org. Collier’s Log House, 12607 Catoctin Furnace Road.

The Catoctin Furnace Little Library: Open daily till sunset.

Spend an hour or two reading specially chosen history books for all ages and take home a free copy of our children’s activity book when you visit the new Catoctin Furnace Little Library, located behind the Collier’s Log House.

Find more online! Visit our website to enjoy newly released

podcasts, peruse our oral histories, and explore our collection of historic documents, including upper mine bank and company store ledgers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram,Twitter, and our YouTube Channel to keep up-to-date on all our activities.

We kindly ask you to practice social distancing and wear a mask during your visit to Catoctin Furnace. Thank you! *some activities may have a nominal supply fee

Save the date for the 2021 Maryland Iron Festival: May 22-23, 2021!

Help us help them.

When the bond between a person and their beloved pet is jeopardized, the anxiety and pain for both can be almost unbearable. The Frederick County Humane Society (FCHS) understands this pain and works hard to assist with the cost of veterinary care or food.

Please help us help animals in need by contributing food or financial assistance to our programs. No matter the size, your donation to Frederick County Humane Society will go a long way to assist Frederick County residents at their most vulnerable.

Donations may be dropped off or mailed to 550 Highland Street, Suite 200, Frederick, MD 21701. Or you may make a donation by phone 301-694-8300, or on our website, www.fchs.org.

More than a Venue...

We are open!

Private venue • Open space Many outdoor ceremony sites to choose from Personal attention • Pop-Up Weddings Please get in touch to schedule a tour: info@thorpewood.org Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/MountainMemoriesAtThorpeWood/

12805A Mink Farm Rd.,Thurmont, MD

301-271-2823

www.mountainmemoriestw.com PHOTO BY DAVID SPENCE, SPENCE PHOTOGRAPHICS

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Photographs by Molly Fellin Spence

Behind every dollop of sweet and gooey cream cheese frosting and between each layer of cinnamon, sugar and dough, Nikevia Lebron bakes a healthy serving of love and family tradition into her Cinnamommy creations.

Lebron is the brains and baking talent behind Cinnamommy, a Frederick-based business selling frosty cinnamon rolls by special order and at area farmer’s markets.

Cinnamommy’s signature Frosty Roll is a traditional fluffy and soft cinnamon roll with cream cheese frosting. Depending on the time of year, monthly specialty flavors include Strawberry Shortcake, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Crisp and Lemon Blueberry.

Want something a little bigger? Try the Cinnadaddy – a giant cinnamon roll baked in a 9-inch cake pan! For smaller appetites, bite-size Cinnabubbies may be easier to handle.

Photographs courtesy of Cinnamommy

Lebron accepts orders each week through Wednesday for weekend pickup in Downtown Frederick or Hagerstown.

Cinnamommy is a truly a family affair, with Lebron’s husband staying up late many nights to help frost rolls, offer support and good conversation. Lebron’s four children, all under the age of 5, love to help, too, with deliveries and pick-ups. They’re good tastetesters, too, of course.

When Lebron was a child, she dreamed of growing up to be a great cook and baker, to follow in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother, who have owned a catering business and restaurant in Frederick County. She has many good memories of baking and cooking alongside them.

“Really this is my heritage,” she says. “My family loves to share love and community through food. It is a part of who we are.”

Lebron started baking cinnamon rolls years ago, after finally receiving a long sought-after professionalstyle stand mixer as a gift. She spent Christmas on a quest to bake the ultimate cinnamon roll, tweaking and perfecting her recipe. Family and friends approved of the results.

“I’ve actually had arguments break out in my family over (my) cinnamon rolls and people hide them because they don’t want to share,” Lebron says.

An Urbana native, Lebron graduated from Frederick High School, but moved away and lived with her husband in Houston, Texas, enjoying the diverse food scene and big city life. In 2017, her family came back to Maryland, this time with infant twins and an 18-month-old in tow. Lebron says she was shocked to see how much the Frederick area had changed in the time she was gone, and loved especially the area’s exciting and burgeoning food scene.

Back in Maryland, Lebron took a leap of faith and left her decade-long career in college admissions to stay home and care for her children. Wanting to contribute to the family in other ways, she decided to give baking as a business a try, and Cinnamommy was born. “(Cinnamommy) gives me an opportunity to share my love for family, my passion for baking, and the excitement …. when I have an opportunity to share my food with others and bring joy to them through a treat,” she says.

Cinnamommy 240-315-7294 www.cinnamommy.com F facebook.com/cinnamommy

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