Blackberry Smoke: Rattle, Ramble, and Roll Tour 2025
Saturday, October 11
Xzibit: The Kingmaker Tour
Saturday, November 15
Bush
Friday, December 12
Must be 21. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
VOYAGE: The Ultimate Journey Tribute Band
Saturday, November 1
Zakk Sabbath: American Winter Tour ‘25
Friday, November 28
Aaron Lewis & The Stateliners: American As It Gets Tour
Saturday, December 13
SEEK& FIND
DANCING BEAR CELEBRATES 25 YEARS 18
MUSINGS
A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Sometimes life happens. When it does, we are fortunate when those around us have each other's backs and we can step in with an assist. This issue it's my turn to return many, many favors!
While Molly did aaaaaalllll the heavy lifting, I stepped back in at FiND iT FREDERiCK for just a moment to pull all the strings together...the fluffy bow on a bouquet of engaging and informative articles, if you will.
This issue is a celebration of Frederick County. We're celebrating Autumn and the holiday season, newly opened shops and bakeries as well as the 25th anniversary of one of Downtown Frederick's favorite places to go explore all things fun and games.
We hope this issue piques your interest as we encourage you all to get out there and enjoy this bustling county and the vibrant colors of peak leaf season!
Shuan Butcher, Chris Slattery, Melissa Howes-Vitek, Ellyn Wexler. Shea Winpigler
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Brad Barnwell Photography, Shuan Butcher, Alan Kayanan, Susan O'Connor, Amanda Phelan, Chris Slattery, Spence Photographics, Shea Winpigler
ACCOUNTING/BILLING bookkeeper@pulsepublishing.net
DISTRIBUTION distribution@pulsepublishing.net
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 301-6626050, 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.
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
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.
For three decades, Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) has brought countless professional live theater events to Frederick. And now MET has opened a new stage to bring even more live events downtown.
MET’s Key Stage , a new comedy and cabaret space in the historic FSK Hotel Building, opened in early September. The renovated, street-level space aims to bring the community together to laugh, connect and heal.
MET has taken over the historic Wedgewood Room in the FSK Hotel, most recently occupied by the boutique Frederick Made. The new space will bring a street-level presence to MET, expanding capacity, increasing visibility, and revitalizing the space that hasn’t hosted public gatherings since 1975.
The venue will be home to MET Comedy and its five resident troupes – the Comedy Pigs, Oh Crit!, That’s What She Said, Key City Improv and
Photos by Alan Kayanan
Off-Key: Musical Improv. The 2,700 square-foot space will also offer much-needed classroom and performance space for MET’s growing Ensemble School and Fun Camp programs.
MET has launched a capital campaign to fully equip Key Stage and make it a flexible venue and launch programming there. To find out how to be a part of this exciting new theater space, visit marylandensemble.org/2025-capital-campaign/.
Maryland Ensemble Theatre’s Key Stage 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick marylandensemble.org F facebook.com/MarylandEnsemble d @marylandensemble
Photos by Alan Kayanan
AR DANCE MUSIC T
115 E Church St, Frederick, Maryland
Monday - Friday 11 am - 9 pm
Saturday 9 am - 4 pm
Sunday 12 pm - 4 pm
Peace, LoVE , and Toys: Dancing Bear’s 25th Anniversary
By Shea Winpigler
Photo by Shea Winpigler
Top, left, and bottom
left photos courtesty of Dancing Bear Toys and Gifts
Background and bottom right photos by Shea Winpigler
On September 20th, 2000, Tom and Marlene England set out to “put some play in everyone's day.” This simple philosophy has successfully guided Dancing Bear Toys and Games to an incredible milestone: their 25th anniversary.
“We’re still here. 25 years later!” Marlene cheered over the speaker phone. “Our boys were four and eight years old at the time,” she recalled. “I had one foot in small business retail and one foot in parenting.”
Tom added, beaming, “Sometimes I feel like we have not only just our two kids, but a thousand other children we've raised over the years.”
Through the rise and fall of big box stores, the explosion of online shopping, a pandemic, and the rapid evolution of technology, Tom and Marlene never doubted the power of play.
“We never had that moment of ‘will this work?’
From the very, very beginning to this morning, we've always loved what we do,” said Tom. “We wanted to be part of a community, and to help people have fun.There was no metric that we wanted to hit, and we far surpassed anything we could have ever imagined.”
Opening the store wasn't so much a risk as it was a natural next step in their shared vision.
“I worked for the government for a very long time, and I got more out of the first week of running this store than I ever did being a scientist with the government,” Tom professed. “A toy store came up, because I started making toys as a means of relaxation after working down in DC, so we did. It was that simple.”
Tom’s voice trailed off a little as he spoke, clearly turning towards Marlene a few feet away in the same room, chuckling, “Marlene just walked by and shook her head. No more thought than that.”
Downtown Frederick felt quite different back then. It was quieter, slower, with earlier closing hours and fewer events, but the Englands kept their doors open a little longer giving working parents an opportunity to make it to the shop and soon realized that residents wanted more from downtown, too. Together with fellow business owners and the Downtown Frederick Partnership, they helped spark what is now a beloved tradition: First Saturdays!
“The partnership has done a tremendous job in making Frederick the place to be,” said Tom, “and none of this would be possible at all if it weren't for the staff we have. I mean, the folks that work with us are absolutely incredible. A lot of them grew up playing in the store as young kids, so they remember it and they want to keep it alive for the next generation.”
Tom recalls one of the very first moments he felt the generational impact of the store in an interaction between a father who remembered being in the store in the original location, playing with the same toys he was enjoying with his son. “All of a sudden it hit me…I was like, ‘my golly, that's like the coolest thing ever.’ And in the very next breath, I said, ‘Oh my golly, I'm very old,’” he laughed. “You know, this is the next generation of my customers, the children of the kids in my store. Wow.”
That’s the heart of the Bear, the store’s nickname. Timeless toys and real connection. Even as years have passed, through new logos, new locations, and new business, they’ve always anchored themselves in their love of community.
“What an honor and a privilege to have had people in the community make us part of their family, to share family stories and family joys. I remember a customer came in and she was not too far from giving birth one day,” Marlene recollected. Tom piped up, “she was like ‘I’m just walking around. I’m getting ready to go to the
hospital,’ and I said ‘go to the hospital.’ Maybe an hour later she gave birth!” Marlene continued, “We have teenagers on their first dates. I mean, it’s been really neat to share little bits and pieces of people's lives over the years.”
And you feel it. From the second you step through the doors on 15 E Patrick St, in-between the thoughtfully crafted window displays, confetticircled sign, and wooden bear mascot, equipped with a colorful Dancing Bears tie, you’re home. The shelves are covered in stuffed animals, puzzles, and dress-up clothes. There are tinker toys, crafts, musical instruments, and puppets. Large playing cards hang from the ceiling, twinkle lights invite you over to play with the building blocks, and the sound of children and adults having fun fills the space in every corner of the shop.
That world of imagination is waiting for whoever chooses to walk in, because open-ended play and
battery-free toys are the cornerstone of Tom and Marlene’s business. They remember growing up in a time where play was all there was. It was how you learned how to exist in society, communicate with others, and create your own path in the world without screens or AI.
“Play is how people learn… Outside the world of the Bear, it’s changed from when I was growing up, but I feel like it’s actually coming back. It's kind of cool to not have your technology with you all the time, not to be so plugged in, which is great to hear. It makes me think that we made the right decision when we started a store where the focus was not on technology,” Tom reflects. “Companies were telling you that the only way your child would succeed in life is to have the latest electronic gadget. Those toys could hold tons and tons of data, but to me, they were still limited. I always thought that the human brain was far
Photos by Shea Winpigler
more powerful and could hold much, much more information than the largest computer chip. The child always needs to direct what a toy can do. Not the other way around.”
Even today, Tom and Marlene believe the true essence of play hasn’t changed, and neither have the toys. There are new labels, like STEM, and new names for older designs, but they are all variations on the classics.
“People always ask me, ‘Hey, Tom, what's the hot new toy?’ But we don't have a hot new toy. We have the toys that have been hot for, you know, 200 years.”
And just like your favorite stuffed animal, it's not about trends. It’s about timelessness. Comfort. Creativity. About knowing that deep down, we all really want the same thing out of life: to have fun. Now, after 25 years, the Englands have started to think about their next chapter. They got the answer to their “what if.” They opened their toy store, their subsequent shops Curious Iguana and WordPlay,
have inspired un-plugged fun for generations and made a positive impact on Downtown Frederick. So what’s next?
“Retirement is definitely on our soon-to-do list, but my hope is that the toy store will never go away, whether we're involved in it or not. You know at 63, I've got to start thinking about retirement.”
“I would like to clarify that I am much younger than him at 61,” Marlene chimed in.
“Wait, I'm not 63, I'm 62. How have we stayed in business and I can't even get my age right?” he asked, and they both laughed.
As adults, we all know the feeling: the unrelenting, heart pulling, yearning for something you don’t know if you can or should do. Maybe it’s sharing your talent, learning a new skill, moving somewhere new, trying a different career path, or for Tom and Marlene England: opening up Dancing Bear Toys and Games.
“We talk to folks about this all the time,” Tom explains. “My initial statement is, if it’s in your mind, if you can truly see it, and you really feel good about it. Go for it. You don't want to be older and say, what if? what if I would have done that?”
Use your imagination, Frederick! And next time you’re in the store, don’t forget to look around for three of the Bear’s most cherished mementos: the Barnum and Bailey poster, the first wooden bear, and the peace lily, a trio of gifts from the store’s very first day, two from Marlene’s parents and one from Thurmont artist John Wyville.
Dancing Bear Toys and Games
15 E. Patrick St., Frederick www.dbeartoys.com F facebook.com/dbeartoys d @dbeartoys
“We told our team at the Bear that if the peace lily dies, it's a bad sign,” Marlene laughed, “so we all work really hard to keep the peace lily alive and well, and it is thriving. I can’t believe it. I don't know that we have any other plant that has lasted 25 years.”
My guess: they're not done yet.
Here’s to another 25 for the peace lily and the store. Take a stroll down Patrick Street to Dancing Bear Toys and Games and get to playing, kids.
Happy 25th anniversary to the Bear!
Photos by Shea Winpigler
PARKS AND RECREATION
The City of Frederick Parks and Recreation Department has provided citizens in the area with quality and affordable programs for over 80 years. Year-round activities include sports, fitness, and leisure for all ages, challenging and educational children’s activities, the William Talley Fitness Center, and an abundance of unique programming .
FA L L into new support
Back-to-school season can bring excitement— and challenges. At Advanced Behavioral Health, we help children, teens, and families build resilience, manage stress, and thrive both in and out of the classroom.
2nd row: Jenna Thompson, Jose Cruz, Kevin Hoover; 1st row: Megan Sedon, Lauren Keegan, Frederick County Chamber of Commerce Member Benefits Manager Maddy Wilson and Jenni Hoover at Serenity Swimming’s ribbon cutting.
At Serenity Swimming’s ribbon cutting event (from left): Kevin Hoover, Jenni Hoover and Frederick County Council President Brad Young.
Building Confidence, One Stroke at a Time
“They were struggling to find quality swim lessons for their children,” Hoover recalls. “I had a background in swim instruction, so I stepped in to help. Word spread quickly, and before I knew it, I had a waitlist.”
At first, Hoover offered lessons at clients’ pools and sometimes rented community facilities, but the logistics were challenging.
“Every summer, pool policies changed, and in the off-season, I had no control over water temperature, noise or scheduling,” she says.
After one too many breakdowns at a rented pool, Hoover began to imagine something bigger: her own year-round facility in Frederick. With encouragement from a mentor at the Maryland Women’s Business Center, she built Serenity Swimming, a place designed to make learning to swim both safe and enjoyable.
The name itself reflects her philosophy: “Swimming should feel calm and empowering, not stressful. Serenity Swimming is about confidence, safety and joy in the water.”
Unlike many programs that rely on large group lessons, Serenity specializes in private one-onone instruction for babies, children, and adults of all abilities.
The facility was designed with families in mind: a 25-yard pool with warm water, a deep area for treading and diving, private changing rooms and whimsical sea animals overhead to help kids relax.
Serenity also stands out for its inclusivity; its instructors are trained to work with children who have special needs, a part of the mission Hoover finds especially rewarding.
Beyond lessons, Serenity offers family swims, camps and community events, and partners with groups such as City Youth Matrix.
Looking ahead, Hoover hopes to expand adaptive aquatics, add aqua therapy and deepen community partnerships while keeping Serenity’s personal, small-business feel.
“Ultimately,” Hoover says, “it’s about more than strokes and technique. It’s about peace of mind and lifelong confidence in the water.”
– Ellyn Wexler
Serenity Swimming 331 Aviation Way Suite 1, Frederick www.serenityswimming.com 240-370-1519 F facebook.com/SerenitySwimming d @serenity_swimming
Jenny Hoover works with Declan Phelan on his swimming skills.
FREDERICK (TJ) OFFICE
87 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 101, Frederick, MD 21702
6550 Mercantile Drive, Suite 106, Frederick, MD 21703
HOURS: Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm PHONE: 301-668-6347
MOUNT AIRY OFFICE
1311 South Main Street, Suite 304, Mount Airy, MD 21771
HOURS: Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm PHONE: 301-829-6146
URBANA OFFICE
3500 Campus Drive, Suite 101, Urbana, MD 21704
HOURS: Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm PHONE: 301-874-6107
Tis' the Season:
A Guide to Fall Fun (and a Little Holiday Magic)
By Melissa Howes-Vitek
Ready to live your best sweater-weather life? Now that the back-to-school chaos has finally chilled out (literally and figuratively), it’s the perfect time to sneak in some fun day trips before the holiday madness hits full force. Think less deadlines and more pumpkin spice and twinkly lights.
Photo by Susan O'COnnor
Cozy sweater from Alicia L.
Find a Farm… and Main Character Energy 1
Who says you have to pick a lane? Fall is your time to double-dip. Go full autumn with a trip to a pumpkin patch— think hayrides, hot cider, and that just right pumpkin for your porch. Or get a jump on the holidays with a visit to a Christmas tree farm. Many offer fresh local goodies perfect for your next dinner party or Friendsgiving. Need a centerpiece? Try a local farm with a “pick your own” flower option, throw on your coziest oversized sweater, and pretend you're the lead in a Hallmark movie. Bonus points if there's a charming stranger in flannel offering you cider. At the very least, you’ll leave with an armful of dahlias, smell like pine and cinnamon and feel that festive spirit!
Holiday trees and market pumpkins from Gaver Farm
2
Craft Shows & Holiday Shopping (Yes, Already)
If you're the type who loves a good handmade candle or can’t resist a quirky ornament, craft show season has arrived. Many local shops have extended holiday hours and special events, so you can shop stress-free and maybe even knock out your gift list a little early.
Photo courtesy of Chapelle Candle Co. and FrederickMakers.com
"David Bust" candle from Chapelle Candle Co. and hoop earrings from Frederick Makers
3
Taste the Season
Now's the time when farms, restaurants and food trucks lean into the holiday flavor traditions making it the perfect time to taste the season with mulled cider, wine tastings, maple and/or apple everything, and enough baked goods to consider hibernation a lifestyle.
Seasonal cider donuts from Gaver Farm and mini pumpkin bakes from Corazoncitos
4
The Last Scene
Whether you’re sipping cider at a winery, shopping local under string lights, strolling along Carroll Creek, or bumping into your long-lost crush at a holiday craft show (you never know), this is your season to shine.
The season is short, but the memories? Delightfully cheesy and worth every crunchy leaf. Taste it, feel it, live it— preferably in a chunky knit and cute boots (purchased locally, of course!)
Now go get that cider! Cheers
Get in the mood at Orchid Cellar Meadery & Winery
Photo courtesy of Orchid Cellar Meadery and Winery
Regional Premiere
Open November 22-December 23, 2025 9 am–5 pm. Wander 60+ acres to “cut your own” tree or choose from fresh-cut options, while we provide free shaking, baling, sawing, and pin-stand drilling. Warm up with hot drinks, cider donuts, and festive treats in our Christmas Café. Shop fresh wreaths, boughs, swags and pine roping to complete your holiday decor.
MARYLAND GOLF at its finest
With a county population of 300,000 and 13 golf courses, Clustered Spires has earned “Best of Frederick Golf Course”! Golf Digest awards Clustered Spires a HHHH rating. Clustered Spires reputation is a great conditioned golf course with wonderful greens and considered the best value golf course in central Maryland.
Explore the hiking trails at Catoctin Mountain Park, enjoy Cunningham Falls State Park where you will find the largest cascading waterfall in Maryland, experience Covered Bridge History, take a stroll down Main Street, take a walk down the Trolley Trail, unwind at one of our scenic wineries/breweries, savor the freshness of our farmers markets, and orchards; enjoy local flavors at our restaurants.
WINERIES | ARTS | LOCAL DINING | HIKING
Fall Colors of Thurmont
Catoctin Wildlife Preserve
Catoctin Mountain Park
Photos by Molly Fellin Spence
A hidden ‘gem’ in Downtown Frederick
Many customers refer to Jessica Jordan’s boutique on Frederick’s East Patrick Street as a “hidden gem.” It’s an apt description, considering much of the shop’s offerings include literal gemstones.
Located among the city’s vibrant downtown shopping district, Jessica Jordan Jewelry & Gifts is stocked full of custom-made earrings, bracelets and necklaces, handcrafted to make customers shine.
And its location, in an underground boutique steps below street level, makes it feel even more special – a vibrant space that seemingly few folks know about, filled with treasures.
Jordan has a dedicated fan base who know her handiwork from when she first started selling online and at special events around Frederick years ago. Her downtown shop has grown to include not just her own work, but a curated collection of jewelry and gifts that she loves herself and knows her customers do as well.
Seeking a special pair of earrings for HoCo or prom? Looking for cheeky Taylor Swift stickers, jewelry and other gear? This is the place to find all of it.
Perhaps one of the most fun offerings at Jessica Jordan is the create-your-own charm necklace and bracelet bars. She has curated a vast collection of gold and silver necklaces and bracelets as well as hundreds of different kinds of charms to attach to them. Her team will help you find the perfect charms to add to your creation and attach them once you’re done.
You could spend hours sorting through the many velvet-lined trays, creating your custom charm bracelet with bits and bobs that speak to your personality. From beaded and glitzy initials, birthstones, and astrological signs, to tiny shells and other beachy items to hearts, cowboy boots, guitars, and more.
Once you’ve selected the charms that speak to you, staff will attach them to your bracelet or necklace and even help you add to your creation on subsequent visits.
No matter what you choose when you visit Jessica Jordan, you’ll walk out with a special new way to show the world a little more about you.
CRUISE NIGHT
Join us for a special in-person event hosted by Antietam WorldTravelService, Princess Cruises, and Dani Gurrie from Everything Frederick!
This exciting evening is your opportunity to dive into the breathtaking experiences of cruising Alaska with one of the world’s leading cruise lines. Thursday, Nov 13, 2025 5:00 - 7:00 PM
and
and
and
You’ll
Resale Clothing for Young Adults
Fall &Love
By Chris Slattery
Autumn is now the most popular season for couples to say, “I do.” Some of Frederick’s top wedding experts took a time out from their busy schedules to talk about why.
Photo courtesy of The Frederick Floral Bar
Frederick is fabulous in fall, and if you’re part of the county’s everexpanding wedding industry you know all about it.
“It’s a beautiful time of year and great weather, but also a very busy time for wedding pros, even through November,” says Stacey Rayburn, who was a wedding planner, wedding florist designer and wedding venue director before opening The Frederick Floral Bar. “Be prepared for your vendors to be very, very busy — and expect longer communication times.”
Rayburn suggests that fall couples book their florists 9-12 months before their desired wedding date. “Six months is doable,” she adds. “Less than that, for any vendor, is not recommended.”
Especially during the months of September and October, which are, according to the online platform for all things matrimonial, Wedding Wire, the most popular time to get married.
Once the coveted fall date is secured, the fun stuff can begin: choosing a venue and a theme.
“I like to joke that themes are for birthday parties, vibes are for weddings,” says Sarah Rosier, another wedding expert who started Sleeping Bee Designs five years ago. You can call her a wedding planner if you like, but Sleeping Bee, or SBD, focuses primarily on wedding coordination.
“‘Planning’ is all the pretty stuff prior to your wedding day,” Rosier explains. “Like picking your vendors, making your guest list, choosing your décor and details.
“‘Coordination’ is the logistics, the black and white, the special events and things that happen on your wedding day.
“I’m not going to pick your napkin,” she adds, “but I’ll make sure the napkin is on the table before your guests come in for the reception.”
The Menu, the Venue, the Seating
If you marry in Frederick County, chances are good that that reception will take place in autumn. Visit Frederick doesn’t have a specific way of quantifying the number of couples getting married in the county in the fall, but they did confirm that “this is our busiest season with events and weddings accounting for a massive amount of our visitor traffic.”
Niko Negas, who runs Union Mills Public House in downtown Frederick with his wife Mary, has a few ideas about why this is so.
“Living in Maryland, we certainly can have four seasons in two days in terms of weather,” he admits. “When you’re thinking about people getting dressed up, wearing suits and dresses and gowns, obviously being comfortable is important. The fall definitely does lend itself to beautiful weather, and with our location on the creek the water fountains are still going, the plants are still in bloom, and that sets a nice backdrop.”
Photos by Brad Barnwell Photography, courtesy of Sleeping Bee Designs
And while Negas singles out the beauty of fall color schemes, mood boards, and table settings, he adds that the diversity of the autumnal vibe works not just in a rural setting but amid the “chic industrial” backdrop for which Union Mills is renowned.
“The most obvious thing to point to would be décor and color scheme,” he says. “But because of our extensive background in catering, and the way we enjoy creating and customizing menus for our couples, we love to reinforce that fall ‘rustic’ feeling not only with the aesthetics in the room but with the food and the drinks.”
That means utilizing ingredients that bring up memories for the couple, and adding the flavors of fall in dishes like butternut squash bisque.
At the very first catering consultation, he adds, “We sort of dig down and ask questions: ‘Do you have fond memories of a particular dish? Did you have family reunions every year where people brought certain memorable dishes?’
“Depending on the answers we get, we’re able to embellish using flavor profiles.
“Our sense of taste and smell are extremely tied to memory, so we leverage that, and in the fall we’re looking at spices that are a little warmer, like cinnamon and clove, and maybe some smoked ingredients.”
Blankets, Burlap and Burgundy
Rosier confirms this, saying that at SBD the flavors of Fall take pride of place at autumn weddings.
“Firepits, s’mores — I’ve even had couples base their signature drinks around seasonality,” she says. “Spiked cider, fall-themed sangrias: having an apple cider mule in spring might be a little weird, but in the fall that’s so on brand.”
The Ball jar glasses and burlap table accents that were trendy a few years ago have mellowed into more individualized vibes and themes. Like Halloween, which some autumn wedding couples are eager to incorporate, especially when the holiday falls over a weekend.
“Dark, black, maybe a little bit spooky,” says Rosier. “Halloween fanatics are engaged!”
But whatever the level of interest in all things fall, she notes that “the warmth and coziness people feel in the fall translates really well to being with your family, being with your friends. It all kind of connects on a very deep level.”
And what Rosier calls “that pumpkin patch feeling” gives a sense of closeness, belonging, and family ties, capturing what weddings are all about.
“Incorporating pumpkins and blankets, getting married at barns or rustic venues with bales of hay, it’s really embracing the seasonality of that time of year.”
Photos by Brad Barnwell Photography, courtesy of Sleeping Bee Designs
Floral Bar’s Rayburn is quick to point out that a fall wedding doesn’t always need to be rustic.
“You could also do a rustic elegance or garden romance theme at a winery or mansion estate,” the florist notes. “Colors like mauve, burgundy and sage, with light touches of blush, lend a romantic feel.”
Just as fall food hits a little bit differently, fall flowers can be counted on to release memory and inspire romance. Rayburn recommends that couples use what’s in season when they get married, and autumn offers a profusion of blooms.
“Cosmos, dahlias, chrysanthemum, celosia, Japanese anemones, hydrangeas, Amaranthus, Astrantia, agonis, and sunflowers,” she suggests, adding, “I always love roses!”
While she obviously adores a traditional fall palette, Rayburn encourages couples to think beyond the yellow-and-orange.
“Black and white is trending again in venues like sophisticated ballrooms or historical buildings,” she says. “And a moody and dramatic palette looks beautiful in both an industrial environment or historical estate — colors like deep purples, magenta, burgundy and emerald green lend a captivating and dramatic vibe to the space and keep in the fall color scheme.”
Golden Hour
But here’s the thing about the fall wedding color scheme: it’s everywhere. Literally.
David Spence segued from a career as a photojournalist into being a wedding photographer about 20 years ago, and there’s not a flaming maple tree or golden gingko in the county that can escape his all-seeing camera lens.
“One of my favorite venues in the North County is Thorpewood,” says Spence, founder and chief photographer at Spence Photographics in downtown Frederick. “There are a couple of ceremony locations there, and they all have a unique look in the fall just because of the varying trees.”
And while he’s frank about the way the (usually) brisk fall weather keeps people cooler, fresher, less ruddy and sweaty than the summer heat, which makes for more comfortable couples, happier wedding parties, and better pictures, Spence says that fall wedding photo shoots are all about the light.
“The biggest thing for the fall is that you have the leaves starting to come off the trees, the leaves changing color, from the deep greens to the reds, the yellows, the oranges,” says Spence. “That enhances the sun, because it’s not trying to bounce off the green. Personally, I just really like those warmer, darker tones. They’re more pleasing to the skin.”
The foliage, he adds, helps brighten up wedding photos, especially when weddings take place in scenic mountain and wooded areas.
“You can get some really cool effects with the sun coming through the trees.”
Ah, the sun.
“I certainly do like fall because the sun is lower in the sky later in the day,” he explains. “There are fewer shadows, it’s less harsh, and I’m not a big fan
of photographing people when the sun is directly overhead.”
Still, he adds, “The ‘Golden Hour’ is just a term: it’s not always an hour, and the weather is fickle here.” So he relies on a phone app to track the sun, and uses his extensive knowledge of Frederick to place wedding parties right where they need to be for the best photographic results.
And unlike the couples who clamor to get married in the autumn, Spence, himself an October groom, thinks any month is a great month to tie the knot.
“I’m game for any time of year,” he enthuses. “We’re gonna find the really good spots, and make the most of what the day gives us.”
Sounds like a pretty solemn vow.
The Frederick Floral Bar
27 S Market Street, Frederick (240) 285-9443 frederickfloralbar.com F facebook.com/theFrederickFloralbar d @thefrederickfloralbar
Sleeping Bee Designs www.sleepingbeedesigns.com F facebook.com/sleepingbeedesigns d @sleepingbeedesigns
Union Mills Public House
340 E Patrick Street, Frederick 240-406-9994 info@unionmillspublichouse.com F facebook.com/ UnionMillsPublicHouse# d @unionmillspublichouse
Spence Photographics 103 S Carroll Street, Frederick (240) 529-3738 www,spencephoto.com F facebook.com/spencephoto d @spencephoto
ThorpeWood
12805 Mink Farm Rd, Thurmont (301) 271-2823 thorpewood.org F facebook.com/thorpewoodmaryland d @thorpewoodmaryland
Photos by Spence Photographics
Frederick’s French Confection
In the mood to amuse your bouche with a freshly baked pain au chocolat and a steamy café latte?
No need to travel to the Quartier Latin — just head up Monocacy Boulevard to Snowshill Street and visit Paris Baguette, Frederick’s new go-to spot for everything from macarons to mochi doughnuts.
“Everybody loves our pastries,” says Josh Rickey, 24, who’s lived in Frederick for nearly five years and heads up the baking team at the chain with fellow baker Ed Im. Rickey loves the pastries, too. “I walked into Paris Baguette and fell in love with it,” he admits. “I found my passion at that moment, I think.”
He’s been passionate about baking since he was a child baking holiday treats with his mom. But now Rickey — along with Im and cake team chiefs Lucie Shelton and Ariana Pulido — is part of the squad that the franchise partners who own Paris Baguette Frederick (the Seoul, Korea-based chain’s 250th
location in North America) rely on to churn out the cookies, croissants, and specialty slices that make it a hub of the neighborhood where you’ll find its unassuming storefront.
“Our bakers and cakers are the ones that make the magic happen each day,” a spokesperson for the Frederick franchise explained, pointing out that everything is baked fresh daily on site and that the franchisees “have hired 42 local employees to add to the job market here in Frederick, and we look to amp up for the holiday season.
“As owners we fell in love with the brand and quality of pastries and cakes and wanted to share that with the community in Frederick.”
What the community in Frederick wants, apparently, is pastel de nota, tiramisu tarts, pain aux raisins, and mochi donuts.
Photos by Chris Slattery
Bakers Josh Rickey (right) and Ed Im pose in front of some of their bakes.
“Our customers from the Asian community really love our milk breads,” Im enthuses, pointing out the sticky milk buns, whole red bean bread, and sweet rice donuts.
“People buy full cakes or slices, specialty cakes for birthdays, pastries, sandwiches, coffee and tea,” adds Rickey. “We have breakfast and lunch sandwiches, pepperoni pizza, prosciutto-and-fig pizza, and pastry franks. Our sourdough, baguettes, and all our loaf breads are made in store.”
The bakers and cakers at Paris Baguette use local ingredients whenever possible to supplement the brand’s Korean staples, and they whip up the creams and shape the dough on site for all the pastries, many of which pack a trendy punch. Dubai chocolate tarts, croissant-donuts (and muffins), even donuts
and muffins filled with Biscoff® cookie butter line the Paris Baguette shelves, ready for customers to grab them with a pair of tongs and box them up or enjoy them at a little table amid the café’s Francoindustrial bistro vibe.
Which was pretty much what the hometown crowd was up to on a recent visit: a dad-and-daughter duo, a group of lunching ladies, pairs of friends relaxing over pastries and tea. Pick the right pastry, though, and you won’t even notice who’s there. Bon appetit!
– Chris Slattery
Paris Baguette
520 Snowshill Street Suite I & J, Frederick F facebook.com/parisbaguetteus d @parisbaguette_usa
OVER THE
Surprise and Delight
Await You in Pennsylvania's
Susquehanna River Valley THE EDGE
Words and Photos By Shuan Butcher
If you have driven a few hours north on Route 15 into Pennsylvania , you’ve likely passed a large sign with a cobra on it that reads Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland. Just 2.5 hours north of Frederick, this place might easily be overlooked or even shrugged off as just a cheeky roadside attraction. But this place is the real deal.
First off, less than ten percent of the roughly 2800 animal exhibitors are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland is one of them. For anyone concerned about animal welfare, treatment, and ethics, this is important. This world-class zoo specializes in reptiles and amphibians from around the world, including alligators, lizards, tortoises, frogs, and snakes. In fact, there are snakes you don’t always get to see, including cobras, mambas, vipers, pythons, and other rare breeds.
birds and lizards and snakes
But the two likely highlights for most visitors are the komodo dragons and the parakeet landing. The latter gives you the opportunity to walk through an enclosure where these colorful social birds fly all around you. They may even land on you, particularly if you purchase a seed stick to feed them. Lots of other interactive options are available as well, including the opportunity to meet a giant tortoise or getting a photo op with an alligator. There are both indoor and outdoor exhibits and for the kids, or kids at heart, they also have animatronic dinosaurs too. This is a wholesome family-run operation that will delight the whole family. Clyde Peeling is also the real deal, as he and others have also built exhibitions for other institutions, including Thurmont's Catoctin Zoo, around the world. He is the Jack Hannah of central Pennsylvania.
OH M Y ! lions and tigers and
If one animal experience is not enough for you, not far from Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland is T&D’s Cats of the World . Here, you will find nearly 300 rescued wild mammals at T & D's, including bears, wolves, monkeys and more in spacious natural enclosures. These animals are truly in need and were rescued from private individuals, government agencies, zoos, and other refuge organizations. Some have been unwanted while others have been abused or mistreated.
As its namesake suggests, there are 30 felines that call this place home including lions, tigers, cougars, bobcats, and servals. But also bear, deer, coyote, wolves, raccoons, lemurs, and otters. The large enclosures look like a natural environment versus many traditional habitats you see at a zoo. During a
visit, you may catch a glimpse of a tiger roaming its two acres, hear a lion roaring from a distance, or see a bear lounging along the fence line.
Celebrating its 35th season this year, T&D’s is not a traditional zoo, as they intentionally limit the number of visitors. As you walk the property, another surprise awaits you at every turn. You don’t know what critter you will come upon next and what you’ll see. It’s essentially your very own natural scavenger hunt. It’s also delightful to realize the different personalities each of them have.
beer and burge rs and buggies
After checking all the creatures, you might be hungry for lunch. Drive to the nearby quaint town of Mifflinburg to eat at Rusty Rail Brewing Company. You’ll find everything that makes a dining destination great right here, including fabulous food, excellent service, amazing environment, and fine craft beers. The building and atmosphere is worth the trip alone, as they have painstakingly restored a historic structure and pay homage to the workers of the past.
The food, though, is also definitely worth mentioning. You must start with the chilled pineapple soup, which is fresh pineapple blended with coconut milk, bell pepper, jalapeno, and citrus juices then garnished with fresh basil and greek yogurt. For your main course, there are so many
options including a BLGT wrap, veggie burrito, quiche, open-faced meatloaf and even a burger with pimento cheese, just to name a few. The same holds true for the craft beers made onsite. You have your standards like lagers and such, but also unique offerings such as Fool’s Gold, which is a Peanut Butter Hefeweizen. Be sure to check out their game room upstairs too!
While you are in Mifflinburg, stop by the Mifflinburg Buggy Museum . Mifflinburg is considered Buggytown USA and this museum is America’s only intact 19th century carriage factory. At first, this may not sound exciting to everyone but a visit here will not leave you disappointed. After all, this is a prime example of early American manufacturing and craftsmanship.
OH YES! spinning and grinning
Inside the carriage factory, you can see the original tools and machinery that was once part of William Heiss’ buggy factory. But the complex also includes the family home, furnished as it would have been during the late 19th and early 20th century as well as a repository that showcases a number of buggies made by Heiss and others in town.
To continue your day of fun, a visit to this part of the commonwealth would not be complete without stopping at Knoebel’s Amusement Resort. Knoebel’s is America’s largest free-admission amusement park. Not only is admission free, but parking is free, there is free entertainment, and free picnic facilities. This allows you to splurge on the rides and games. Buy an all-day ride pass or
purchase a ticket book, so you can literally pick and choose what you want to ride.
Knoebels is a family-owned treasure with over 60 rides. The Phoenix, their classic wooden roller coaster, is considered one of the best and favorites among coaster enthusiasts. For a truly unique experience you won’t find anywhere else, however, take a ride on Flying Turns. The world’s only wooden bobsled roller coast, each car leaves the rails for a ride controlled only by the forces of gravity and momentum.
Another favorite is their carousel where you can actually try to grab the rings, something you can’t do just anywhere. In addition to the rides and
games, they have some award-winning food items and unique amusement park menu items such as potato cakes. Nightly entertainment is offered and they have seasonal activities such as HalloFun on weekends in October and Joy Through the Grove, which runs essentially daily from November 28 to December 31st.
For a place to stay, you can’t go wrong with Sleepy Hollow Inn B&B , located just a few miles from Knoebel’s. Set on six acres in the beautiful PA woodlands, this is a serene place to relax after a fun but exhausting trip. You can relax on the porch and possibly catch a glimpse of wildlife passing by, check out the koi pond, or enjoy the gardens near the gazebo. The bed and breakfast has seven spacious guest rooms with queen size beds, with some of them also offering sofa beds or futons to accommodate children. Be sure to visit their speakeasy, which also honors our nation’s military and veterans. Before you depart in the morning, Faron and Victoria Krisanits, the inn’s proprietors, will also provide an amazing breakfast that will fill you up for most of the day. You may even get some of the best French toast you will ever have.
All of these attractions are located just a short drive away in central Pennsylvania and the Susquehanna River Valley. You can do all this in a weekend getaway not far from home, but yet
have the feeling that you are a world away. And if you want to see what else there is to see and do, check out visitcentralpa.org.
Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland 18628 US Rt. 15, Allenwood, PA 17810
Reptiland.com F facebook.com/CPReptiland d @reptiland_zoo
Rusty Rail Brewing Company 5 N. Eighth St., Suite 1, Mifflinburg, PA 17844
F facebook.com/rustyrailbrewco d @rustyrailbrewing
Mifflinburg Buggy Museum 598 Green St., Mifflinburg, PA 17844 info@unionmillspublichouse.com F facebook.com/ mifflinburgbuggy d @mifflinburgbuggy/#
T&D’s Cats of the World 363 Mountain Rd., Penns Creek, PA 17862 TDsCATs.com
Knoebels Amusement Resort 391 Knoebels Blvd., Elysburg, PA 17824
Knoebels.com F facebook.com/ KnoebelsAmusementResort d @knoebels
Sleepy Hollow Inn B&B 172 Sleepy Hollow Rd., Elysburg, PA 17824
Sleepyhollowinnbnb.com F facebook.com/sleepy.hollow.inn d @sleepy.hollow.inn/#
What began as a modest youth gathering in 2012 has blossomed into one of Frederick County’s most vital nonprofits. The Frederick Center , founded by Austin Beach, Cindie Fair, Brian Walker and Diane Iñiguez, was created to provide LGBTQ+ residents with a safe and affirming space at a time when resources were scarce.
By 2013, it was officially a nonprofit organization, with its first program — a weekly youth group — giving young people a place to belong.
Thirteen years later, the center serves more than 700 clients annually and has become a hub for support, education and connection.
At the helm is Executive Director Kris Fair, a longtime advocate for equality and also now a Maryland State Delegate. His determination to create change began in 1998, when, as a closeted freshman at Linganore High School, he was horrified by the murder of Matthew Shepard, a student at the University of Wyoming who was
beaten, tortured and left to die near Laramie in an anti-gay hate crime.
The tragedy spurred Fair to organize petitions and distribute educational materials in Frederick, challenging homophobic bullying. He carried that momentum as a student at Frederick Community College and later Hood College, where he stepped into leadership roles and organized for LGBTQ+ rights.
“I was determined to help build a society that understood our issues — and didn’t murder us,” he recalls.
That conviction eventually brought him to The Frederick Center. Fair joined the Frederick Pride celebration planning committee in 2012, became a board member in 2015, and was named the center’s first full-time executive director in 2021, the same year it opened its first permanent building. Within days, the new space welcomed seven asylum seekers from Venezuela who had
noticed the rainbow flag and recognized it as a sign of safety. “That moment showed us the power of being visible,” Fair says.
Under his leadership, the center has expanded far beyond its original youth group.
Today, in response to the community’s expressed needs, programs include: Worth the Wait , for those who came out later in life; Aging with Pride, which combats senior isolation; and annual youth and adult proms.
Frederick Pride itself has grown from a gathering of 300 to an event that now draws tens of thousands to Carroll Creek Linear Park each June.
For Fair, the most meaningful moment of Pride comes at 5 p.m. during the festival, when he stops to take in the crowd.
“You see kids hugging, friends embracing, people with tears in their eyes,” he says. “That’s when I know this is what our community can be.”
Looking ahead, Fair’s vision centers on stability and growth. By working with governments, nonprofits, and businesses, he hopes to institutionalize inclusive policies and fill systemic gaps.
“The Frederick Center exists to help create the healthier, more joyful society we all deserve,” he emphasized.
