Real Estate Marketing Specialists

Home » Blog » Frederick Living

Category Archives: Frederick Living

About life and community in Frederick MD. Frederick is a friendly small city, with great amenities and events.

Fun Things to Do in Frederick Md This Summer

Posted on by • 0 Comments
Fun Things to Do in Frederick Md This Summer

👩‍💻Karen’s Epic Guide: Things to Do in Frederick Md – Summer 2018

Once school is out, vacations and relaxation are in! It’s is a beautiful time of year, with literally hundreds of fun things to do in Frederick Md this summer.

Whatever your interest, you’ll find plenty of activities in and around Frederick. History buff, sports fan, bookworm, beer and wine lover, art connoisseur (or enthusiastic appreciator, like me 💝 )… there are plenty of events.

If you’re planning a “Staycation”, looking for fun things to do to keep the kids occupied, or looking for new adventures, check out some summer fun in Frederick County for 2018:

Things to Do in Frederick Md This Summer
…

🏞The Great Outdoors

things to do in frederick summer
Cunningham Falls

Central Maryland is a beautiful area of the Mid-Atlantic region. There are a number of local, State and National parks in and around Frederick County. You can enjoy nature hikes, wildlife, swimming, canoes and kayaks, white-water rafting, biking and discovery classes.

Town & City Parks:

City of Frederick Parks & Recreation, there are always events coordinated by the city parks and recreation department. You can pick up a copy of the brochure, have one mailed to you, or view the online brochure.

County Parks: Frederick County Parks & Recreation, the county parks and recreation department has a long list of activities for all ages. The same goes for the brochure, The Recreator.

State Parks – All Within 20 minutes of Frederick:

  • Cunningham Falls State Park & Hunting Creek Lake, in the Catoctin Mountains, with swimming and non-motored boating, fishing, hiking and canoeing. Campsites and camper cabins for rent. Hunting and horseback riding are both permitted within certain areas. There are nine hiking trails, including the trail to the beautiful Cunningham Falls.
  • Gambrill State Park is well known for High Knob, three stone overlooks that offer stunning views of the Frederick and Middletown Valleys, and the mountains beyond. The High Knob area also offers wooded picnic areas, picnic shelters, campgrounds, fishing and a lodge, called the Tea Room which can be rented for events. 1-888-432-2267.
  • Gathland State Park, once the mountain home of George Alfred Townsend, a Civil War journalist. There is a Civil War museum on site, camping and picnic pavilion for rent, 1-888-432-CAMP. The Appalachian Trail passes through the state park.
  • Greenbrier State Park has a 42-acre man-made lake, with swimming, canoeing, boating (electric trolling motors) hiking, picnicking, fishing and playground. Four pavilions for rent, 165 Campsites. There is a connector trail to The Appalachian Trail.
  • South Mountain State Park, for avid hikers, South Mountain features several scenic vistas, including High Rock, Black Rock, Annapolis Rock, White Rock and Weaverton Cliffs. It includes two hunting areas.
  • Washington Monument State Park, at the top of South Mountain, the site of the first monument dedicated to George Washington, with a museum. Most of the hiking trails are part of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Camping, picnic sites, pavilions for rent, South Mountain State Battlefield.

National Parks:

  • The Appalachian National Scenic Trail,  a 2,180+ mile long public footpath, with several miles running through the state parks above.
  • Monocacy National Battlefield, commemorating the battle that saved Washington D.C. There are six trails, twilight hikes, and lots of educational events throughout the year.
  • Catoctin Mountain Park, hiking, camping, lodging, special programs and events. Educational opportunities for children.
  • C&O Canal National Park, public boat rides, visitor center, camping, hiking and biking trails and special events. 184.5 miles of trail that preserves America’s transportation history.
  • C&O Bicycle Guide has a map and suggested sites. C&O Canal Towpath is a great resource for news and interesting stops along the way, and places to stay.

In and Around Frederick:

 

Back to the Top

🎨The Arts in Frederick

  • Delaplaine Visual Arts Center: Classes & Exhibits frederick md events
  • June is for Art Lovers! From First Saturday, the Frederick Art Festival and many activities throughout the month.
  • Barnstormers Tour, June 9, 10 am to 4 pm. A tour of several barns of Frederick and surrounding area, observe painters at tour locations, followed by an art show and sale, with food and entertainment, afterward at a host farm. Details at Frederick County Landmarks website.
  • Many local galleries have fresh new exhibits throughout the summer.
  • There are a number of classes and events at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center this summer. Also, drop in art activities for all ages. First Saturdays.

Back to the Top

👨‍🎓Continuing Education for Adults

Continuing education and personal enrichment classes @ Frederick Community College

Delaplaine Visual Arts Center Adult Classes & Workshops

Mt. Saint Mary’s Center for Professional and Continuing Studies

Frederick County Recreation Classes, Sports, fitness and nutrition, cooking classes, and more for adults. You can see all events, locations and fees and information…and get discount tickets to area amusement parks through the Recreator.

City of Frederick Recreation Classes, classes, hobbies, sports and more for adults.

🚸Continuing Learning for Children

Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center, art classes and camps for children.

City of Frederick Recreation, information on pools, swimming lessons, day camps, sports, classes and more.

Earth & Space Science Lab, 210 Madison St.

  • Planetarium Shows
  • Summer Camps
  • Arboretum

Back to the Top

⛹🏽‍♂️Summer Camps in Frederick County

Back to the Top

⚽Frederick Sports

🏊🏾Community Swimming Pools:

open from Memorial Day through Labor Day

  • Baker Park Pool, 301-663-5666,
  • Diggs Memorial Pool, 301-600-6364,
  • Hood College Pool, 301-696-3484,
  • Brunswick Pool – 301-834-7567,
  • Emmitsburg Pool – 301-447-9820 – Grand Opening – June 2nd.

Back to the Top

👔Summer Jobs

🛍Summer Flea Markets in and Around Frederick

  • Thurmont Flea and Farmer’s Market open on Saturdays.
  • Feagaville Indoor Flea Market (301) 473-7603, every Friday and Saturday, Rt. 180
  • Harpers Ferry Gypsy Market, 154 Wolfcraft Way, Charles Town, WV 25414
  • Yard Sale & Garage Sale Search This is a nice site to find out about local yard sales and to post your own yard sale or garage sale.

Back to the Top

🔔Frederick County History Buff

covered bridges frederick county

Back to the Top

🎭Theatre in Frederick

Playing at the MET

Playing at the Weinberg

Way Off Broadway Children’s Theatre Saturday and 2nd and 4th Sunday performances.

Fredericktowne Players

Summerfest Family Theater in Baker Park, 10 am on Thursdays

Annual Frederick Film Festival, at the Weinberg

Starlight Family Film Festival, from FCPL, at the Natelli Community Center in Urbana,

🎶Frederick Music Lovers

Summer Concert Series in Baker Park, 7 pm on Sundays

Spring Catoctin Mountain Music & Dance Weekend, June 15 – 17.

Alive @ Five @ Carroll Creek Amphitheater, Thursdays, 5 – 8 pm.

Wednesday Night Concert Series at Westview Promenade, May through August.

Sky Stage Live Music Series, Recurring Monthly on the First Saturday until Sept. 1st. See the Sky Stage website for all the activities.

Dueling Pianos Under the Stars, Downtown Frederick, The Faux School, Frederick, MD 21701, Saturday, June 16, 2018 • 7:00 – 10:00 PM, Carroll Creek Amphitheater. Tickets.

Frederick Jazz Festival. Saturday, June 30, 12:00 PM – 7 PM. non-stop Jazz at Carroll Creek Amphitheater downtown. Online Tickets ($30) tickets will be $35 each at the door.

Back to the Top

🌮For Frederick Foodies

Catoctin Mountain Orchard

South Mountain Creamery, if you need an excuse to go get some ice cream, June is National Dairy Month. It’s a patriotic thing to do!

Farmer’s Market at the Frederick Fairgrounds on Saturdays; City Market at the old Carmack Jay Parking lot downtown, between 4th and 5th Streets; Everedy and Shab Row Farmer’s Market on Thursday afternoons; Carroll Creek Farmer’s Market, Tuesdays, 4:30 – 7:30.

Pryor’s Orchard

West Frederick Farmer’s Markets

Thurmont Flea Market & Farmer’s Market

Minolea Organic Farm Market – Adamstown

England Acres Farm – Mt. Airy

The Kitchen Studio Cooking School has cooking lessons for both children AND Adults!

🍷The Frederick Wine Trail

Maryland Wine Trail, local wineries have music, festivals, tastings, and many other events during the summer.

Related Reading: A Frederick County Wine Country Day Trip

Back to the Top

Things to Do in Frederick Md This Summer…

👪For Kids of All Ages

  • Walkersville Southern Railroad, Jesse James Day, Civil War Reenactors, Fathers Day Special, Star-Spangled Fireworks Special, Super Hero Picnic, Teddy Bear Picnic, and more.
  • Children’s History Hour, for preschoolers, 1st and 3d Tuesday each month. Frederick County History things to do in frederickMuseum, 24 E. Church St.
  • The EventPlex @ Frederick Fairgrounds, lots of fun things to do in Frederick Md this summer, Mexican Rodeo, Cirque Italia, Peruvian and Latin Festival, Western Maryland Reptile Show and more.
  • Adventure Park USA, Family Fun Fridays,  Super Saturdays
  • Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo, host an event, book a group
  • Deer Crossing Rec Center 301-865-1769
  • Fountain Rock Rec Center 301-898-1460
  • Frederick City Rec Dept. 301-600-1492
  • Middletown Rec Center 240-566-0222
  • Oakdale Rec Center 301-600-1359
  • Tuscarora Rec Center 240-566-0025
  • Rose Hill Manor Children’s Museum 301-600-1646

Community Swimming Pools:

  • Baker Park Pool, 301-663-5666,
  • Diggs Memorial Pool, 301-600-6364,
  • Hood College Pool, 301-696-3484,
  • Brunswick Pool – 301-834-7567,
  • Emmitsburg Pool, 301-447-9820 – Grand Re-Opening!

Back to the Top

📚Frederick Public Library

      Frederick Public Library Events

  • FCPL Summer Featured Programs
  • Storyland Storytime
  • Babies with Books
  • Summer Challenge
  • Discover Space
  • Music and Movies
  • STEM program
  • Visits from Children’s Book Characters
  • Music on the Deck
  • Demonstrations and Learning events
  • and hundreds of more activities

Back to the Top

🏙Downtown Frederick Events

See the Downtown Frederick Partnership Website: things to do in frederick md

  • Alive @ Five – Happy Hour with live music, local food and drink, adults only. Carroll Creek Park Amphitheater, Thursdays, from 5 to 8 pm.
  • Candlelight Ghost Tours – Frederick Walking Tour
  • Guided Walking Tours –  Art & Architecture of Frederick, African American History, Civil War Walking Tours, Historic Frederick Walking
  • Free Movie Night on the Creek:  Starts June 15 with Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, July 20 Jaws, August 17, The Lego Movie, September 21, School of Rock (starts at 8 PM) and October 19 Nightmare Before Christmas (starts at 7 PM)

First Saturdays in Historic District Frederick:

  • June – I Art Frederick
  • July – Stars & Stripes
  • August – Art Attack!
  • September — Get it Downtown

Back to the Top

🇺🇸Independence Day Celebrations in Frederick County

  • Frederick’s 4th in Baker Park – Fireworks, Food, Children’s Activities, two stages of entertainment, from noon to dusk.
  • Independence Day Celebration, Middletown Community Park, June 30, 12 pm until 9:30 pm fireworks.
  • Mt. Airy Fireworks, July 3rd. 1008 Twin Arch Rd
  • Walkersville Carnival, July 2nd – 7th. Fireworks Display on July 3rd, 10 pm.
  • Emmitsburg Community Heritage Day June 30th
  • Preservation Maryland has a list of Independence Day Celebrations throughout the state of Maryland.

In the Street, Sept. 8, a Festival held in the streets of downtown Frederick every year.

 

Comments Welcome! If I’ve missed any Things to Do in Frederick Md This Summer you know about… please share!

Cunningham Falls original photo credit:  Melanie K Re Creative Commons License

Back to the Top

🏡Search for Homes for Sale in Frederick County

📖Related Reading:

 

Top Ranking High Schools in Frederick County – from Several Top Sources

Posted on by • 0 Comments
Top Ranking High Schools in Frederick County – from Several Top Sources

🏫Good News – Frederick County Has Great Schools!

Are you looking for a home in a top ranking school district? Not only is it important for your child’s development, it’s becoming clear that school rankings have an increasingly significant affect on home values. Lucky for us, Frederick County has top ranking schools in the state and in the country, for several markers. Here’s the run down from various sources:
…

💯Top High Schools in Frederick County

Top Schools According to U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News put out a recent report of the top 2000 high schools in the country. They reported data on more than 20,500 schools in the country, using metrics that answered these two questions: A) Does the school serve all of its students well, not just those who are college bound, and B) is the school able to produce measurable academic outcomes to show it is successfully educating its student body across a range of performance indicators.

Urbana High School is ranked # 10 in Maryland for 2018, # 488 in the National Rankings, and earned a gold medal. Schools are ranked based on their performance on state-required tests and how well they prepare students for college. Urbana High also ranks #224 for STEM High Schools. (STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.)

Urbana High School was also named # 12 on Niche.com, a school grading site that combines analysis and user generated reviews. Frederick County has top ranking schools according to Niche. com.

Middletown High School is ranked # 22 in Maryland, #921 in the National Rankings.

Oakdale High School follows closely with a rank of #23 in Maryland, and # 1051 Nationally.

Walkersville High School ranks # 26 in Maryland, #1,547 in National rankings, earning a silver medal.

 

🎒Top Middle Schools in Frederick County

There are 16 middle schools in Frederick County. According to Great Schools.org**, a well-cited school grading site, the top middle schools in Frederick County are as follows:

Oakdale Middle School scores a 10 out of 10. Oakdale High feeder school***.

Urbana Middle School scores a 10, a feeder school for Urbana High School.

Windsor Knolls Middle School scores a 9, a feeder school to Urbana High School and Linganore High School.

Middletown High School scores 8, a feeder school to Middletown High.

New Market Middle School scores 8, a feeder school to Linganore High, and Oakdale High.

Walkersville Middle School scores 7, a feeder school to Walkersville High School

Glade Valley Middle School scores 7. Walkersville High feeder school.

Ballenger Creek Middle School scores a 7. Ballenger Creek is a feeder school for Tuscarora High School

Monocacy Middle School scores a 6. It is a feeder school for Governor Thomas Johnson High School.

Governor Thomas Johnson Middle School scored a 6, a feeder school for T.J. High School.

Crestwood Middle School scored 6, a feeder school for T.J. High School and Frederick High.

 

🚌Top Elementary Schools in Frederick County

There are 36 elementary schools in Frederick County.

Oakdale Elementary School scores 9, a feeder school for Oakdale High.

Parkway Elementary School scores 8, feeder school for Frederick High.

Orchard Grove Elementary scores 8, feeder for T.J. High and Frederick High.

North Frederick Elementary scores 7, feeder school for T.J. High and Frederick High.

Whittier Elementary scores 7, feeder school for T.J. High and Frederick High.

Tuscarora Elementary scores 7, feeder school for Tuscarora High.

Ballenger Creek scores 7, feeder school for Tuscarora High.

Yellow Springs Elementary scores 6, feeder school to T.J. High.

Spring Ridge Elementary scores 6, a feeder school for Oakdale High School and T.J. High.

 

Back to the Top

** Great Schools is a non-profit organization that ranks schools on 6 points of data. For more about how this rating is calculated, see their Summary of Ratings.

*** Feeder school information is not guaranteed as school boundaries change from year to year. Please consult the FCPS website for up-to-date information on Frederick County Public Schools.

Frederick County is home to 66 schools, including 36 elementary schools, 13 middle schools, 10 high schools, 3 public charter schools, an alternative school, a special education school, Flexible Evening High and a Career and Technology Center. Plans are underway to add 2 more elementary schools in the next 2 years. Frederick County has top ranking schools.

 

🚸Looking for a Home in a Top Rated School District?

Search for Homes in Urbana High School District

Search for Homes in Middletown High School District

Search for Homes in Oakdale High School District

Search for Homes in Walkersville High School District

Search for Homes in Frederick County

 

🏫U.S. News Rates Maryland High Schools

According to many metrics over the years, Frederick County has top ranking schools. Maryland has always ranked high and several scoring metrics. On the U.S. News rating, Maryland had 10 high schools with gold medals, 38 with silver medals and seven with bronze medals, meaning:

Gold
Top 500 Schools based on highest college readiness.

Silver
High-performing schools based on lower college readiness.

Bronze

High-performing schools based on state exam performance.

📚Related Reading

Back to the Top

Who Serves Mother’s Day Brunch in Frederick Md?

Posted on by • 0 Comments
Who Serves Mother’s Day Brunch in Frederick Md?

🥞Mother’s Day Brunch in Frederick Maryland:

Mother’s Day is just around the corner! There are lots of great ways to treat mom on her special day. To start off with, there are several restaurants that serve a fantastic Mother’s Day Brunch in Frederick Maryland: …

Back to the Top

🍷A Mother’s Day Wine Country Day Trip

The Maryland Wine Trail has great representation in Frederick County. There are four wineries within a few miles of M. Airy, and five other wineries around the County.

Elk Run Vinyards and Winery – 15113 Liberty Road, Mt. Airy. 10% off all bottles of wine in honor of mom.

Linganore Winecellars – 13601 Glissans Mill Road, Mt. Airy. Open 10 am to 6 pm. Music form 1 pm to 4 pm. Food truch, or bring your own picnic.

Black Ankle Vineyards – 14463 Black Ankle Rd, Mt. Airy. Atlantic Smokers Food Truck and Kupcakes & Co. from 12-4 pm, and a selection of local cheeses and picnic foods. You can also bring your own food.

Loew Vineyards – 14001 Liberty Rd, Mt. Airy. Bring your own picnic, or get a cheese plate. They have a gift shop with local artisans, and Zoe’s chocolate.

Catoctin Breeze Vineyard – 15010 Roddy Road, Thurmont. They’re having a Brick N’ Fire Pizza Truck, with live music from 12 noon until 5 pm. Wine and pizza made to order. Paul Brosseau will also be here performing some blues, jazz, and some originals of his own from 1-4 pm.

Links Bridge Vineyards – 8830 Old Links Bridge Rd, Thurmont. 11 am – 6 pm. Taste seven local wines.

New Market Plains – 11111 W. Baldwin Rd, New Market. 12 pm to 5 pm. New winery since 2015.  Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Muscat Blanc, Petit Verdot and Syrah.

Springfield Manor Winery and Distillery – 11836 Auburn Road, Thurmont. 2:30 to 6 pm. 130 acre farm, lavender fields, wine, beer and distillery, and event center and Inn. Mother’s Day Macaron Pairing, with Live Music. Tickets.

Orchid Cellar Meadery and Winery – 8546 Pete Wiles Road, Middletown. Third Annual Mother’s Day Mead, Wine and Sweets. 12 pm – 6 pm.
Back to the Top

Bonus!

👠Ten Mother’s Day Gifts from Downtown Frederick

With Mother’s day only days away, if you haven’t decided what to get dear Mom, I’ve got some mother-approved suggestions.

1.   Of course, I have to recommend buying Mom a house, if she doesn’t have one.   The combination of historically low rates and rising home values makes this is a great time to buy! Just Sayin’. If you aren’t in the market for a house, I’ve got some house-related gift ideas Mom will love.

2.   Mom would love some brand new energy-star appliances. Did you know that May is appliance month at most major department and home improvement stores?

3.   Mom would love new furniture…somewhere, something needs to be replaced! Ashleys, Macy’s and Ethan Allen are having a huge furniture sale. Memorial Day is usually a great time for furniture sales and small kitchen appliance sales.  If you’re interested in shopping local, Wolf furniture is having a sale on the Tricia Yearwood Collection.

4.   How about a shopping day in downtown Frederick? Mom is bound to love something from one of the 80 or more specialty shops.

5.   Moms always love flowers. How about some landscaping flowers. Here are some local nurseries who are always having sales this time of year.

6.   Ok, I don’t know about other moms, but I love wearable art and downtown Frederick is the place to find whatever mom loves.

7.   If Mom has always wanted a water garden, you’ve got to take a trip to Lilypons in Adamstown.   If you can’t make the trip, you can order online.

8.   Maid service.   I don’t need to convince you, do I?   This will make her cry, no kidding.

If Mom has the perfect house, then here are two suggestions I guarantee she’ll love, and you’ll be supporting the local economy:

9.   Give Mom a gift certificate for anything she wants to do in the Historic District, downtown Frederick.  Whether a spa treatment, one-of-a-kind jewelry, a chic new outfit, or a great meal at one of our fabulous restaurants, a gift certificate from Frederick Downtown Development will do the trick.

10.   If you get down to the wire and still don’t have a gift, there’s always chocolate.   You know what…now that I think about it…just skip the first 9 suggestions and go to Zoe’s Chocolate, The Perfect Truffle, or the Candy Kitchen.  She’ll love it!

Whatever you find for Mom, just let her know how much you cherish her.   

Back to the Top

Happy Mother’s Day!!

📚Related Reading:

Ten Things to Do in Historic Downtown Frederick

Downtown Frederick Living

Historic District Homes Retain their Value

Homes for Sale in Historic District Downtown Frederick Md

Who Serves Easter Brunch in Frederick?

Posted on by • 0 Comments
Who Serves Easter Brunch in Frederick?

Easter Brunch Anyone?

Frederick Maryland is a Foodie Paradise. There are so many great restaurants to choose from, many non-chain establishments for a variety of tastes. With Easter coming up in a few days, I went in search of a good place for Easter Brunch. Several of these restaurants regularly serve Sunday brunch so some of these are not particularly “Easter Brunch”.

Note: MAKE RESERVATIONS!

Here is what I discovered:

  1. Dutch’s Daughter Restaurant. High on many lists, including the brunch. Dutch’s is know for their crab cakes and their seafood in general, including Maryland cream of crab soup, crab dip and a crab omelet. Other buffet options are carved prime rib, baked ham, blackened honey glazed salmon, Dutch’s chicken, vegetarian pasta, creamed chipped beef and biscuits, bacon and sausage. Brunch gets lots of stars on every count.
  2. Volt has a three-course brunch for $35, a five course tasting menu for $55, with an additional beverage pairing for $35. That’s pretty amazing if you’ve ever eaten there for dinner.
  3. Isabella’s. The Saturday and Sunday brunch has several creative types of “Benedicts” and all of the other brunch eggs too.
  4. Cafe Nola . Great reviews for their brunch.
  5. The Wine Kitchen. Our favorite restaurant. Karen: “Say yes to the Maryland Benedict.” Chris: the Pastrami Benedict.
  6. JoJo’s Restaurant & Tap House has a great brunch. The bar has happy hour prices all day Sunday.
  7. Brewer’s Alley. They have a Grand Easter Buffet, it’s appropriately named.
  8. Ayse Meze Lounge. Their Sunday brunch is spun with their unique Greek and Mediterranean flair.
  9. The Red Horse Restaurant. They have a special Easter menu. Crab Stuffed Flounder, Rack of Lamb. Wow.
  10. Silver Diner serves a wonderful brunch every day.
  11. Vintage in New Market. High reviews for their shrimp and grits.
  12. Maryland National Golf Club. They have a carving station with glazed ham and brined Turkey breast, a buffet with 14 delicious brunchy items, a dessert station, and a salad station, for those who like to assuage their conscience.
  13. The Braddock Inn.  Here’s the menu from their Facebook Page:  *Reservations Required* Prime Rib Au Jus / Roasted Leg of Lamb, Smoked Salmon with dill beurre blanc, Fresh glazed Ham / Cocktail Shrimp, Green beans / Asparagus, Wild rice pilaf / Shells and cheese, Scrambled eggs / Home fries, Bacon / Breakfast sausage, Buttermilk biscuits / Sausage gravy, French toast with strawberry sauce
    Fresh fruit salad / Garden salad, Assorted sweet breads and desserts. OMG!
  14. Wilcom’s Inn has a “bottomless brunch” menu that’s extensive, and mimosas, bloody marys, and sangria. (One of my brother’s favorites)
  15. Monocacy Crossing. Well known for their Sunday Brunch. It’s not particularly an Easter brunch, but a good one, nevertheless.
  16. The Comus Inn at Sugarloaf Mountain. An old favorite of many. I recommend the Chesapeake Eggs Benedict. yum!

Here’s something fun: A Jazz Brunch at Beans in the Belfry in Brunswick, with “Jazz Connection”. From 11 am to 2 pm. Read about it in the Frederick NewsPost.

So, no one should have to cook on Easter if they don’t want to!

If I missed one of your favorites, let me know, I’ll add it.

Have a Blessed and Happy Easter!

Related Articles:

Frederick Foodies – It’s Your Favorite Week

Posted on by • 0 Comments
Frederick Foodies – It’s Your Favorite Week

Frederick Restaurant Week is Coming Up!

Attention Frederick foodies, it’s your favorite week: Monday, March 5, through Sunday, the 11th is Frederick Restaurant Week. We have so many great restaurants in Frederick, so of course, any week is a great week to eat out. Restaurant week is a good time to try something new, or visit an old favorite. Either way, it’s a week of specials everywhere.

During the week participating restaurants offer two-, three- and four-course menus at special prices. Most include lunch and dinner. There are 16 participating restaurants this year, 13 of them are downtown. See the list of restaurants and menus on the Visit Frederick website.

An Exciting New Dining Experience in Frederick

The latest addition to the list is a notable one…200 Monroe is a restaurant from the Frederick Community College. Hospitality, Culinary and Tourism Institute (HCTI) students are using the skills they have learned in class, finishing their training in a real life environment.

200 Monroe is opening for the 2018 spring semester on Thursday March 1st. They will be open only on Thursday evenings from March 1st through May 10th, so if you aren’t able to make it during Frederick Restaurant Week, you will still be able to enjoy the same exclusive three-course dinner for $30 until May 10th. (with the exception of March 29th, closed for spring break.)

Eating should be an adventure, right? What better adventure than trying a new restaurant which helps students perfect their skills. I’ve noticed that sometimes those who are learning their craft are also learning the latest in trends and practices. Not only will you have a good dining experience at 200 Monroe, you will also be helping Frederick Community College students prepare for their careers. Students work under the guidance of their culinary and hospitality instructors. Located at, you guessed it, 200 Monroe Avenue in Frederick, Maryland. (Behind the Fairgrounds) Make reservations online only.

Maryland Restaurant Weeks

Frederick Foodies, it’s your favorite week, but just in case you miss this week, or you live or work in other cities, did you know there are several events throughout Maryland? Generally from January through April you can find a Restaurant Week event in over two dozen locations around Maryland. Find details at Maryland Restaurant Weeks. It might be a great reason to plan an overnight or a weekend get-away.

Related Articles to Discover Frederick

13 Awesome Craft and Microbreweries in Frederick County

First Saturday in Frederick – A Favorite Event

Things to Do and See in Historic Frederick

First Saturday in the Historic District – Frederick’s Favorite Event

Posted on by • 0 Comments
First Saturday in the Historic District – Frederick’s Favorite Event

Fire In Ice Draws Tens of Thousands to Downtown Frederick

Downtown Frederick is “hip and historic” and full of charm. The Downtown Frederick Partnership manages several events throughout the year to draw visitors and residents alike to our beautiful and walkable Historic District. The events are always fun, the restaurants amazing, and the many shops and boutiques are unique. Frederick’s First Saturdays are Frederick’s favorite events. They are themed events that are always well attended, but none so much as February’s “Fire In Ice”.

Fire In Ice brings 30,000 people into downtown Frederick, which is quite a swell for our 50-square block historic area. This year there were over 100 ice sculptures downtown, with a live ice carving demonstration on the Brewer’s Alley patio. We saw the fire dancing performance on the Carroll Creek Amphitheater, and we sampled some hot cocoa and s’mores. There were several musicians braving the cold weather to entertain us with live performances. As with most First Saturday’s there were gallery openings throughout downtown.

Fire In Ice 2018 Photos

If you weren’t able to attend this year, you’ll definitely want to put it on your calendar for next year. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy my photo album of the event (full disclosure…I’m not a photographer, just a boomer with a decent camera):

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

First Saturday in Frederick MD

First Saturdays are great opportunities to get to know downtown Frederick Maryland. There is always live music, art gallery openings, fun events for the kids and the downtown shops are open late. There are usually demonstrations, tastings, and specials, as well as promotions and sales. You can take advantage of free trolley rides, and during the holidays you can enjoy carriage rides through downtown for a small fee. First Saturday in the Historic District Frederick’s favorite event… Check out the upcoming calendar for the remainder of 2018:

March – Explore the hidden corners of Downtown Frederick – “Downtown Revealed”

April – As the end of April is usually Earth Day, First Saturday’s often have a “Going Green” theme.

May – Enjoy the beautiful springtime and collect a bouquet during downtown “Mayfest”. You’ll see floral art by local garden clubs, and the hanging baskets are usually up and blooming.

June – June is “I Art Frederick”, with a month-long celebration of the arts. The first weekend is the Frederick Arts Festival and there is a barnstorming tour, plein air artists stationed all over downtown, and a plethora of activities.

Summer Events in throughout Frederick County

Things to do in a Frederick Summer – A special blog post I put out every year, with hundreds of summer activities.

July – First Saturday is a patriotic theme and July 4th is usually close-by, with a flurry of activity. The fireworks in downtown Frederick’s Baker Park are a draw for 10’s of thousands of people.

August – The August theme varies, but it’s always a warm night to enjoy downtown Frederick.

September – Foodies are always happy for a tasty themed First Saturday. We have so many amazing non-chain restaurants downtown.

October – Kids of all ages enjoy a Halloween themed First Saturday. Frederick County has lots of great fall festivals, corn mazes and pumpkin patches that open during October.

November – First Saturday’s theme is “Holiday Open House” which is a great excuse to get a jump on holiday gift shopping.

December – Every Saturday is First Saturday during December. The holiday lights and decorations are magical!

January – “Wine Down” is a much more relaxed theme after the hubbub of the holidays.

Live in downtown Frederick

Are you looking to make downtown Frederick home? We’d love to help. Chris and I live in downtown Frederick and enjoy the walkability, the amazing restaurants, and the friendliness of the neighborhood. Our fur child likes it too, as Frederick is a dog-friendly city.

Compared to most Maryland cities, Frederick is small and quaint, yet large enough to have a thriving social community. The Historic District is a well-cared for centerpiece of downtown Frederick, with over 50 square blocks of mixed use architecturally rich homes and commercial buildings. The population within the city limits is around 65,000 people, with about 250,000 million residents in the county. It’s a great place to call home.

Use our property search to look for homes for sale:

Homes For Sale in The Historic District Frederick Maryland

Homes for Sale in the Downtown Frederick

Homes for Sale in the City of Frederick

First Saturday in the Historic District – Frederick’s Favorite Event was written by Karen Highland. Chris and Karen Highland are Frederick Maryland Real Estate Agents with eXp Realty. Chris is the broker of eXp Realty in Maryland with over 25 years of experience with home buyers and sellers in Central Maryland. Contact Chris Highland for buyer agency services, 301-401-5119. If you are looking for an agent in your area, we’d be happy to recommend a top agent.

Great Places to Watch the Superbowl in Frederick Maryland

Posted on by • 0 Comments
Great Places to Watch the Superbowl in Frederick Maryland

The 52nd Superbowl is coming up in a few days. (I refuse to decipher Roman Numerals…ain’t nobody got time for that!) The Philadelphia Eagles vs. the New England Patriots will be held at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota, (Brrrr) Sunday, January 4th at 6:30 pm. Where will you be watching the game? Here are some great places to watch the Superbowl in Frederick Maryland, if you’re not hosting a superbowl party or attending someone else’s. If you are nesting, I’ve got some great places to order up some great game-day food.

Top 10 Superbowl Party Foods

First, what are Football lover’s favorite party foods? Today and Mashable teamed up to their top 50 picks for the ultimate game day foods. Here are the top game day foods according to ABC News with recipes. I just asked Google what the top 10 favorite Super Bowl party foods are for American’s:

  1. Chicken Wings. Whether it’s hot wings, bbq, or Thai, chicken wings are America’s favorite game day food. Record amounts will be consumed on Sunday.
  2. Buffalo Chicken Dip
  3. Chips & Dips, and veggies
  4. Pizza
  5. 7-Layer Salad
  6. Guacamole
  7. Potato Skins
  8. Pigs in Blankets
  9. Nachos
  10. Sliders

We’re not even going to talk about desserts. Anything sweet will be a hit, but I’ll put my bet on brownies.

Great Places to Watch the Superbowl in Frederick Maryland

So where can you go in Frederick to watch the game on a big screen with great sound and great food? Maybe you want to avoid all the food prep and cleanup. You’ll be happy to know there are several places around Frederick to enjoy the game with friends and food. It looks like it’s going to be a good game!

 

Beef O Brady’s – 6956 Crestwood Blvd.  Frederick, MD 21703
Phone:(301) 682-9464.

Bennigan’s has several t.v.’s and a full bar. 221 Shorebird St B, Frederick, 301-644-0406.

Bentz Street Sports Bar – 6 South Bentz Street, (near the corner of Bentz and Patrick) Frederick, Maryland 21704   301.620.2222

Buffalo Wild Wings – 3335 Worthington Blvd. Ijamsville, MD 21754  240-699-0313, and in Frederick at 210 Shorebird Street, (on the corner of route 26 and Liberty Road), has a Tailgate menu.

Buckeystown Pub, 6803 Michaels Mill Rd, Buckeystown, has a fun Super Bowl party and it’s usually packed. 301-662-9465

Canal Bar & Grill – 49 South Market Street, Frederick, Md  21701   301-620-9898

Ceresville Mansion – 8529 Liberty Rd, Frederick, MD 21701,  301- 694-5111

Champions Billiards – 5205 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick, Md  21704  301-846-0089

Family Meal, 882 N. East Street, Frederick 301-378-2895

Glory Days Grill – 1305 W. 7th St.  Frederick, MD  21702  301-696-1112

Hard Times Cafe – 1003 W Patrick St.  Frederick MD 21702  301-695-0099

WOW Cafe & Wingery – 5100 Buckeystown Pike Suite 174, Frederick, Md  301.695.9464   (They have Old Bay Wings! My Son’s favorite!  Nice Staff:)

Valley Grill Sports Bar in Middletown, 50 Gleanbrook Dr. 301-371-0400

Most of the bars and restaurants with bars have large t.v.’s where you can watch the game. Space is often limited, though, so you’ll want to show up early and grab your seat.

Ordering Food for Your Superbowl Party

If You’re Staying In…Order your chicken wings:

  • Barley and Hops, 5473 Urbana Pike, Frederick, 301-668-5555.
  • Bill Watson’s Original Carry Out – 1306 W Patrick St. Frederick, MD 21703  (301) 663-6996  (Best Fried Chicken!)
  • Doc Geiser’s Carry Out and Catering, 50 McCain Dr #106, Frederick, 301-578-4384.

Craft Beer and Microbreweries in Frederick MDAre you looking for great craft beer to go with those chicken wings? Did you know there are 13 craft beer breweries in Frederick County? Check out our mashup of reviews of Craft Beer and Microbreweries in Frederick County.

 

We hope you enjoyed Great Places to Watch the Superbowl in Frederick Maryland, and we hope you enjoy the game. Maybe next year Redskins!

 

Craft Beer and Microbreweries in Frederick MD

Posted on by • 0 Comments
Craft Beer and Microbreweries in Frederick MD

🍻The Craft Beer Explosion has Come to Frederick – And it’s Awesome!

Have you noticed the explosion of craft beer and microbreweries in Frederick MD over the last five years? Frederick has hit the map when it comes to satisfying your taste for suds. What are the best craft beer and microbreweries in Frederick? (We think they’re all awesome!) At last count, we found 13 microbreweries proving that Frederick is a beer lover’s haven.

I thought I’d take a break from the real estate posts and talk about some of the fun things people get to enjoy living in Frederick. If you’ve seen my post about the best blue crabs in Frederick County, then you’ll definitely want to know where to get the best craft beer for a fantastic paring! Here’s my mashup of ratings ** (really, all of them are great, to be honest) of these craft beer establishments in Frederick County (in no particular order) …

🍻13 Craft Beer and Microbreweries in Frederick MD

  1.  Flying Dog, est. 1983, Maryland’s largest craft brewery, located at 4607 Wedgewood Blvd. (for now) is available in 25 states and Washington D.C. Flying Dog offers tours and has 20 or so beers on tap, with a food truck on site. They’re always doing something creative, supporting the local fundraisers and sponsoring events. (We recently ate at their BWI Taphouse and it was great! located in Terminal A)  “Good people drink good beer.”
    .
    * Flying Dog Brewery has a 4 star rating on Yelp with 153 reviews, earns a 91% Excellent and Very Good on TripAdvisor, and Facebook reviews equal 4.6 out of 5 stars. (Beer Advocate is too sophisticated for me, but you can check their ratings here.)
    .
  2. Monocacy Brewing Company, est. 2012, located at 1781 North Market St., has four scheduled tours on Saturdays. “Quality beer. It’s in our nature.”
    .
    * Monocacy Brewing has a 4 star rating on Yelp with 31 reviews, 11 out of 14 reviews were Excellent and Very Good on TripAdvisor, and has 4.7 Facebook stars.
    .
  3. Brewer’s Alley, est. 1996, Frederick’s first brew pub, located at 124 N. Market Street. Happy hours are from 4 to 7, and some days they have extended and late happy hours. Live entertainment and great food add to the mix. The recent upstairs patio expansion added more space.
    .
    * Brewer’s Alley has 3.5 stars on Yelp with 403 reviews, 25 out of 29 ratings (just on craft beer) on TripAdvisor are Excellent or Very Good, and 843 Facebook reviews net them a 4.3 star rating.
    .
  4. Attaboy Beer, 400 Sagner Ave. Attaboy opened in 2016, they have a nice location on Carroll Creek in downtown Frederick. You’ll find a food truck on the premises often, you can find the lineup on their website.  Tours on Saturdays and Sundays. Chris and I had a great summer shandy in their beer garden (dogs are allowed ♥) this summer.
    >
    * Attaboy gets four stars out of 30 reviews on Yelp, 7 out of 10 reviews on TripAdvisor were Excellent or Very Good, and they scored a 4.9 on Facebook with 178 reviews.
    .
  5. Olde Mother Brewing Company, est. 2015, 911 E Patrick St. (until Spring 2018 when they will move downtown to the 500 block of N. Market Street.) Olde Mother has special events like trivia night and beer and cheese tasting, and you’ll often find a food truck nearby.
    .
    * Olde Mother gets 4.5 stars with 28 reviews on Yelp, 9 out of 10 reviews on TripAdvisor are Excellent and Very Good, and on Facebook, they score an amazing 4.9 stars with 174 reviews.
    .
  6. Barley and Hops, est. 2016 (changed ownership), located at 5473 Urbana Pike, “Best Beer in Maryland 2016”. Maryland’s first and only female owned brewery, the pub menu is great and you’ll experience live music several nights a week.
    .
    * Barley and Hops has a 3.5 rating on Yelp (most of the beer comments are high) and 33 out of 43 beer reviews on TripAdvisor are Excellent or Very Good, and their Facebook page has a 4.2 rating with 442 reviews.
    .
  7. Rockwell Brewery, Just opened in 2017. 880 N. East Street, est. has an outdoor pet-friendly beer garden and you can get a selection of beer-friendly food from Family Meal. Wednesday Nights are Music Open Mic Nights.  BEER WELL.
    .
    * Rockwell Breweries gets 4.5 stars on Yelp with 14 reviews, 4 out of 5 reviews on TripAdvisor are Excellent and Very Good. Their Facebook page has 4.7 stars with 95 reviews.
    .
  8. Midnight Run Brewery, Just opened Nov. 2017. 912 N. East St. They currently have limited hours, Thurs., Fri., and Sat. evenings and they only accept credit or debit cards. You’re welcome to bring your own food and dogs are welcome. They have a beer club called the Midnight Riders. “brewers of non-conformist ales”
    .
    * Midnight Run Brewery has two reviews on Yelp, both 5 stars.  5 stars with 27 reviews on Facebook.historic downtown Frederick
    .
    🍻Outside of Frederick:
    .
  9. Milkhouse Brewery at Still Point Farm 8253 Dollyhyde Rd in Mt. Airy. est. 2013. This brewery and farm grows their own ingredients on the farm. The have locally sources craft salamis and cheeses and McCutcheon’s products, and you can bring your own and have a picnic. They have fun events like “Learn to Knit” and “Stargazing at the Farm”. You can find them at Farmer’s Markets around central Maryland. Enjoy the tasting room or the porch and live music on Saturday evenings. (you might even get to pet the goats, idk)
    .
    * Milkhouse Brewery has 4 stars with 25 reviews on Yelp, 15 out of 21 reviews on TripAdvisor were Excellent or Very Good. Their Facebook page has 4.8 stars with 176 reviews.
    .
  10. Red Shedman Farm Brewery & Hop Yard, est. 2014, 13601 Glissans Mill Road in Mt. Airy. (Behind Linganore Winery) They have live music on Saturdays. Lite fare and big screen TV’s.
    .
    *Red Shedman has 3.5 stars with 34 reviews on Yelp, 6 out of 10 reviews on TripAdvisor, 4.7 stars with 98 reviews on their Facebook.
    .
  11. Smoketown Brewing Station,  223 W Potomac St. Brunswick, Located in the old fire station, they serve pub appetizers and you’ll often find a food truck, and 12 beers on tap, more on occasions. They have trivia nights, special events and fundraisers.
    .
    * Smoketown Brewing has 5.4 stars with 33 reviews on Yelp, 24 out of 26 reviews on TripAdvisor are Excellent or Very good, and a 4.9 star rating with 157 reviews on Facebook.
    .
  12. Mad Science Brewing Company at Thanksgiving Farm , 1619 Buckeystown Pike in Adamstown, closed for winter, reopening in March. This is a special place! A veteran-run farm established in April 2015, producing ales and lagers with the hops, fruits and vegetables grown on the farm. There will be a grand re-opening on March 31, 2018, from 11 am – 4 pm. (It’s already on my calendar!)
    .
    * Mad Science Brewing has a 4.5 star rating with 8 reviews on Yelp, Not on TripAdviser (yet) and they have 5 stars with 29 reviews on Facebook.
    .
  13. Springfield Manor, 11836 Auburn Rd. Thurmont. est. Springfield Manor is a little different than all the others on this list, as it is an event center (a beautiful one), wedding venue, Bed and Breakfast, 130 acre farm/park, lavender field (as well as grapes, corn and hay), and winery-spirits-beer tasting venue…a little bit of everything, even fainting goats. The food is provided by Country Inn. Voted Frederick’s Best Distillery & Best Event Venue
    .
    * Springfield Manor has 3.5 stars with 50 reviews on Yelp (the reviews on the beer seem to be 4 and 5 stars) TripAdvisor has 58 out of 74 reviews as Excellent and Very good, overall, but not much mention of beer. They don’t allow reviews on their Facebook Page.

**Disclosure: I am not a beer connoisseur. As a lightweight, I am not qualified to even render an opinion. Thus my mashup of online reviews.

Back to the Top

🍻Frederick is a Beer Lover’s Haven

As you can see, the reviews are great at all these beer venues, so you can’t go wrong. Beer is all the buzz in downtown Frederick. Microbreweries have become a part of the foodie scene in downtown, so much that you can catch a http://beerbaconmusic.com/beer bus and hop on and off for all day for one fare. You can book online at Frederick Brew Bus, get the Real Time Tracker app,  and park at the Rockwell for free. Visit local breweries including, Olde Mother, Flying Dog, Monocacy, Attaboy, Rockwell and  Roasthouse Pub Taphouse.

Get on at any stop above. You can also call from several hotels for pickup. Frederick, MD PH: 240-621-BREW. Like the Frederick Brew Bus Facebook page for all the latest news. It’s a great idea to let Charlie do the driving! And if you need another option, Uber takes great care of Frederick residents.

Back to the Top

🎓Beer Education

That’s right, the Philistines among us have a wonderful opportunity to learn more about craft beer. Flying Dog University was established recently for Higher Beer Education. It starts on January 20th.

“Craft beer is a movement of equal parts tradition and innovation. And the movement isn’t slowing down, making a commitment to ongoing education paramount for anyone with a true respect and appreciation for the craft.”

Some of the interesting classes: Paring Beer with Cheese, Cooking with Beer, Cooking for Beer Brunch, and Beer and Truffles for Two! ⇐  yes!

Back to the Top

🍻Beer Festivals in Frederick

Beer lovers have several events to celebrate their favorite libation throughout the year in Frederick.

  • The Maryland Craft Beer Festival – on Carroll Creek in Downtown Frederick, usually the second weekend in May. Live music, local food and art, with beer from more than 40 all-Maryland breweries.Craft Beer and Microbreweries in Frederick MD
  • Beer Bacon Music Festival – May 19 in Frederick. over 75 beers on tap, 2 tons of bacon, and several live bands and outdoor games, like knockerball. It sounds like a blast! They had me at bacon. Tickets go on sale Feb. 1st. Like the Facebook page for updates.
  • Frederick’s Oktoberfest – at the Frederick Fairgrounds, usually the last weekend in September or first weekend in October. Food, music, German heritage…it’s always fun. NOTE: If you wear an authentic Dirndl or Lederhosen to Frederick’s Oktoberfest, your admission FREE on Saturday.

Back to the Top

🏆Honorable Mention

Roasthouse Pub Taphouse, Craft Beer Dispensary and Eatery, opened in 2011. They have 20 taps and there is always something interesting, and the food is fantastic! It’s rare that you get both in one place. They have 4 stars out of 150 reviews on Yelp, 78 out of 94 reviews on TripAdvisor are Excellent or Very good, and their Facebook page has 4.5 stars with 281 reviews.

🤭Just for Fun!

I consulted Urban Dictionary to help increase my Beer Slang, in case I run into any of my friends at one of these breweries or events. Enjoy!

  • Beer – n. proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. ~ Homer Simpson
  • Beer Me – v. 1.) Generally used to ask for another beer.  2.) Can be substituted for the term “give me”. “Hey Jim, beer me that water.”
  • Shower Beer – n. Beer you drink when in the shower for pre-gaming purposes.
  • Beer Muscles – n. False bravado; the powers one imagines after drinking too much beer.
  • Beer Goggles – n. When you’ve had too much and everything starts to look good.
  • Beer Buds – n. 1.) The group of besties that you drink with. 2.) When you listen to something that sounds awful while sober but sounds great while drunk. Like beer goggles except for your ears.

Back to the Top

😊Learn more about our laid back Frederick life:

Find Out What Your Home is Worth (takes 15 seconds)

Search for Homes in Maryland

Need A Real Estate Agent in Your City? We Can Refer a Great Agent!

Chris Highland, Broker eXp Realty Maryland
Cell:  301-401-5119  Broker:  888-860-7369
Chris@ChrisHighland.com

Best Crabs in Frederick County Md

Posted on by • 0 Comments
Best Crabs in Frederick County Md

We Love our Blue Crabs in Maryland

One of the best things about Maryland living is having access to those yummy blue crabs! Callinectes sapidus—translated from Latin means ‘beautiful savory swimmer.’  A summer in Frederick isn’t complete without a crab feast…or four or five. So I’m happy to show you where to get the best crabs in Frederick County Maryland. Good news – according to the Chesapeake Bay office of NOAA, “The Chesapeake Bay blue crab stock is not depleted, and overfishing is not occurring.”

A Proper Crab Feast

best crabs frederick county md
May’s Seafood

If you aren’t convinced yet about the coveted delicacy, let me explain: A crab feast is about more than just the sweet, delicate meat of the Chesapeake blue crab. The crab feast is equally about the people. It’s really about love and it’s about taking time for people.

A proper crab feast is about the experience of sitting, picking, eating, drinking and having great conversation with a table full of your favorite people. It’s about lots of time to enjoy the food and the company, because picking takes time. And if you’re at home, just so you don’t get hungry, you throw in a cookout for good measure… burgers, ribs, sausages, and a plethora of sides and summer salads.

The right beverage is essential…but there are varying opinions on just what that is…and that’s ok. But the star of the feast is the yummy crab. And don’t forget the Old Bay Seasoning. (It’s sad to me that people from around this great country have no idea what Old Bay is.)

A proper crab feast requires the entire day…time for prep, enjoyment and cleanup.  Cleanup is easy when you lay out the newspapers or rolls of butcher paper ahead of time. Roll it all up and in the trash it goes, paper, plastic and all. Even better if you have your feast at one of our local restaurants, no cleanup at all.

The good news is, you don’t have to drive far to get good crabs. There are plenty of good crab houses in Frederick County. So, enough of this pre-game warm-up…here’s my pick for best crabs in Frederick:

Best Crabs in Frederick County Md

First of all, let me explain my methodology. I’ve done a mashup of ratings from several websites:  Yelp and Trip Adviser, because user generated reviews are real and trustworthy, imo. And then I added a mashup of Google and Facebook Reviews, because …all those people who don’t use Yelp and Trip Adviser. Best Crabs Frederick county MD

The three important things to get right about steaming blue crabs are: NOT overcooking them, getting them as fresh as possible, and having a good supplier. The only way to ensure that all those important items are in place is trial and error…and getting reviews from others who have put in the time through trial and error. So here we go, in three categories…

All-You-Can-Eat Crab Restaurants

Sometimes you just want to dig in to some crabs and leave the steaming and cleanup to someone else. The top two restaurants in Frederick County for all-you-can-eat blue crabs:

  • Avery’s Maryland Grille, 9009 Baltimore Rd, Frederick. 301-228-2722. Trip Adviser:  54% Excellent, Yelp: 4.5 Stars, Facebook:  83% Excellent with 191 5-Star Reviews, and 4.5 Stars from 68 Google Reviews. 
  • Mays Seafood, 5640 Urbana Pike, Frederick.  301-662-4233.  Trip Adviser:  44% Excellent, Yelp: 3.5 Stars (5 Stars for AYCE Crabs, not for other items on the menu) Facebook:  65% Excellent with 4.3 Stars of 550 Reviews, and 3.7 Stars from 154 Google Reviews.
  • There is another AYCA Crab restaurant that used to be one of the local favorites, but since new ownership has recently gotten bad reviews, I won’t mention it. Hopefully, they will see better days.

Bring-em Home

It’s great to order a bushel, pick them up and get dirty hands in your own backyard. Here are the top four (in no particular order) in Frederick County: best crabs frederick county md

  • Westpoint Crab House, 1440 W Patrick St, Frederick. 301-682-6800. Trip Adviser: 100% Excellent, Yelp: 4 Stars, Facebook: 88% Excellent with 4.8 Stars of 24 Reviews, and 4.6 Stars of 15 Google Reviews.
  • Lighthouse Seafood & Deli, 12051 Old National Pike, New Market. 301-865-8925. Trip Adviser: 77% Excellent out of 44 Reviews, Yelp: 4 Stars, Facebook: 82% Excellent with 4.7 and 76 Reviews, 4.7 Stars of 54 Google Reviews
  • Trouts Market, 3 N Main St #1, Woodsboro. 301-845-8674. Not on Trip Adviser, Yelp: 5 Stars, Facebook: 73% Excellent with 4.6 Stars of 107 Reviews, 4.4 Stars of 40 Google Reviews.
  • J.B. Seafood, 308 Main St, Myersville. 301-293-2722. Trip Adviser:  61% Excellent with 23 Reviews, Yelp: 4 Stars, Facebook: 86% Excellent with 98 Reviews, 4.8 Stars of 17 Google Reviews.

Steam them Yourself

best crabs frederick county md
Large Male from Fruitland

Honestly, this is the best! Yes, it’s a little more labor intensive…but the rewards are that much greater. You drive to Baltimore, get a big, full-to-overflowing bushel of crabs, bring them home and start steaming them on your deck at about noon. They stay just fine in the air-conditioned kitchen. As you steam them (in water and one can of beer, with tons of Old Bay Seasoning, 12 minutes) a batch at a time in the turkey fryer, you have the freshest, sweetest, hottest crabs you can ever want. All afternoon. Cold beer. Burgers and sides. This is Maryland living!

We love Fruitland Farmer’s Market, 106 Eastern Blvd. Essex Md. 410-574-9866. Facebook: 4.7 Stars, 8 out of 9 Reviews are Excellent. 4.5 Stars of 13 Google Reviews. The crabs get there in the morning right off the docks, and you can pick them up at 10 am. It’s best to call the day before to see how they run. We have NEVER been disappointed!

Bonus: Best Crab Cakes

Crab cakes have to be just right, don’t they Marylanders? Lots of lump, very little filler. Whether you like drawn butter or Old Bay Seasoning is a minor point. But don’t even mention tartar sauce…srsly!

  1. Dutch’s Daughter Restaurant, has won Best Crab Cake in Frederick (Best of Frederick) at least four years in a row, and has appeared on several top 10 lists for the state of Maryland.
  2. May’s Seafood Restaurant has been named second best for four years by Best of Frederick for Crab Cakes.
  3. Avery’s Grill comes in third place on Best of Frederick.
  4. Madrones, Tasting Room, Hootch & Banter, Callahans, Brewer’s Alley, Jo Jo’s Taphouse, and Alexander’s at Buckeystown usually take up space in the top ten on several websites.

The last best crab cake I had was at Jo Jo’s Taphouse. All lump, no filler. A.Ma.Zing.

I hope you enjoyed my roundup of best blue crabs in Frederick County Md. Please feel free to leave any tips and best restaurants for crabs you’ve found in Frederick in the comments…I’m only one blue crab lover, I can’t possibly have found all the best places! #passtheoldbay

Learn more about Frederick Maryland:

Find Out What Your Home is Worth (takes 15 seconds)

Search for Homes in Maryland

Need A Real Estate Agent in Your City? We Can Refer a Great Agent!

Chris Highland, Broker eXp Realty Maryland
Cell:  301-401-5119  Broker:  888-860-7369
Chris@ChrisHighland.com

To all of our real estate agent friends across the country, hit us up if you come to the Maryland area! We’ll show you what the blue crab feast is all about.

Google Analytics Alternative