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Who Serves Easter Brunch in Frederick?

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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!

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Frederick Foodies – It’s Your Favorite Week

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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

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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):

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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

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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

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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.)
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  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.”
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    * 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.
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  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.
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    * 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.
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  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.
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  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.
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    * 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.
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  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.
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  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.
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    * 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.
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  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
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    Outside of Frederick:
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  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)
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    * 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.
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  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.
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    *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.
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  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.
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    * 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.
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  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!)
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    * 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.
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  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
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    * 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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Learn more about our laid back Frederick life:

Best Crabs in Frederick County Md

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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:

SEARCH FOR HOMES IN FREDERICK COUNTY MD

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.

Exploring Frederick Maryland

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Exploring Frederick Maryland

Exploring Frederick Maryland

Frederick is a great place to live, work, and play. Whether you are considering a move to Frederick, or are new to the area, or even a long-time resident, like us, there are new events and community celebrations happening, that you’ll want to check out. Here are some great resources for exploring Frederick Maryland:

1.  Frederick4Less from WFMD – The local radio station provides gift cards for local businesses for half price, usually a $50 gift certificate for $25, sometimes at even greater discounts.  Every month several different businesses are highlighted. This is a great way to check out a new business, service, restaurant or hair stylist for half the price.

Frederick County Museums
History Museum of Frederick County

2.  Our area has a wealth of Historical Sites, from Colonial and Revolutionary times, to Civil War times. Many events throughout the year are offered, often with free admission. Exploring Frederick Maryland includes taking advantage of the opportunities to revisit history. Here are several websites with information about the county’s historical treasures:

  • Frederick County Landmarks Foundation – With information about the Schifferstadt Architectural Museum, Frontier Days, Frederick Barnstormers Tour, and other events, as well as educational opportunities and preservation news.
  • Historical Society of Frederick County – Information about the Roger Brooke Taney House, Downtown Frederick tours, the Museum of Frederick County and Research Center, as well as activities throughout the year. There are children’s activities, book clubs and many other events.

Exploring Frederick MD Online

3. Frederick Websites

  • Visit Frederick Maryland is a good overall site with information about Parks and Recreation, Historic Places, and The Arts.
  • Downtown Frederick Partnership has a lot of information on happenings in the Historic District, downtown Frederick. First Saturdays are a monthly event perfect for exploring Frederick Maryland’s downtown area.
  • Frederick.com is a Community website with lots of great resources.
  • Frederick Visitor’s Information Center – 151 S. East Street. (301) 600-4047
  • The Great Frederick Fair is one of the largest event places in Frederick. Besides the yearly Fair in September, there are events all year long, like the Farmers Market, and many auctions and shows.
  • Frederick County Tourism has some great apps for both iPhone and Android, Frederick City walking tour, Frederick County visitor guide, and a Civil War Trails app. There is also a Maryland Civil War Trails app.
  • Frederick Wine Trail, there are several wineries in and around Frederick, with lots of activities and festivals throughout the year.
  • Maryland Brewers Association – supporting the brewing industry in Maryland. Frederick boasts several great microbreweries.

The Great Outdoors in Frederick County

4.  Exploring Frederick Maryland isn’t complete without exploring the Great Outdoors. The beauty of Mid-Maryland is a year-round treat.  There are several National, State and local parks that offer a host of activities.

The fee-free days for National Parks will be:

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day January
  • Presidents Day weekend February
  • National Park Week – opening weekend April
  • This year is the National Park Service’s 101sth Birthday August
  • National Public Lands Day September
  • Veterans Day November

Check out the National Park Service Passes.  Annual passes are available for $80, and Seniors (62 and over) can get lifetime passes for $10! For people with disabilities, passes are free, and there are volunteer opportunities with free passes.

You can purchase Maryland State Park Passports online for $75.

5. Frederick Restaurants – A Foodie’s Paradise. There are dozens of Zagat-rated restaurants in Frederick. Any one of the following sources will help you find them:

Or, enjoy exploring Frederick MD restaurants with Google Map:

Other Frederick Resources

Surrounding Towns in Frederick County

Middletown has several fun community events throughout the year, including July 4th fireworks and carnival, family movie night and a lot more. Middletown Historical Society website has news of historical events throughout the year.

Brunswick website has an updated calendar of fun events, like Railroad Days, area events like hiking, biking and boating, and Downtown events. Check out Brunswick Mainstreet.

This year is Walkersville‘s 125th year, with lots of celebrations, including July 3rd fireworks and a July 4th parade.

Mt. Airy Maryland is on the eastern corner of Frederick County; the city limits cover four counties. Mt. Airy has a large carnival ground where lots of fun events take place throughout the year, including July 4th Fireworks, Flea Markets and other community events.

For more resources for exploring Frederick Maryland, check out our blog, 365 Frederick . You’ll find a monthly list of Fun Things to Do in Frederick.

Enjoy Exploring Frederick Maryland!

A picture slide show of Frederick:

The Highland Group 301-401-5119 – We’d love to help you make Frederick home. If you are relocating to Frederick, let us know, we’ll be happy to take you on our “Four Corners Tour” of Frederick County, and show you all that our beautiful community has to offer.

Additional Reading:  Ten Things to Love about Frederick MD

Ten Things to Do with Family in Frederick This Summer

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Ten Things to Do with Family in Frederick This Summer

Welcome Summer!

Today is the first day of summer and there are lots of things to do with family in Frederick this summer. Let’s start with just 10:

The Great Outdoors

  1. Go Outdoors. Hike, walk, or stroll in any of Frederick County’s beautiful parks. Swim, sunbathe or fish in any of our parks or pools. You can find lots of activities in the Frederick County Recreater and the Frederick City Parks and Recreation Guide.- Baker Park Pool, 301-663-5666,
    – Diggs Memorial Pool, 301-600-6364,
    – Hood College Pool, 301-696-3484,
    – Brunswick Pool – 301-834-7567Frederick has several city parks, including Baker Park, which has several ball fields, tennis courts, a city pool, playgrounds and picnic areas.  An amphitheater is the location of summer concerts and outdoor theater.Frederick is close to several state parks:  Cunningham Falls State Park, South Mountain State Battlefield, and Gathland, Greenbrier (with its 42-acre man-made lake and beach), and Gambrill State Parks.National parks include Monocacy National Battlefield, Catoctin Mountain Park, Applalachian National Scenic Trail, the C & O Canal, (check out the C & O Canal Bicycling Guide) and Antietam National Battlefield.

    Around Frederick, you can enjoy several outdoor activities:
    – Frederick Bicycle Loop, a self-guided tour through the City of Frederick, download the brochure.

    – Rafting, Tubing and Kayaking: River & Trail Outfitters, River Riders Inc., Harpers Ferry Adventure Center.

     

    Eat and Shop


  2. Eating out and shopping are always a great combination. There are many unique restaurants and shopping venues in downtown Frederick, as well as all over town. If you like a little Frederick history mixed in, try Market Street Food Tours, running May through July.
  3. Go to a Keys game. The Keys are our own hometown Triple A Ball Team. They play several nights a week at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. Fireworks follow what is always a good time. The Keys game schedule can be found on their website.
  4. Enjoy Music of all genres. There are several concert series all summer long:
    – Wednesdays at Westview – Concerts on the Promenade
    – Sunday Night Concerts in the Baker Park Amphitheater
    – Alive @ Five – Thursday nights on Carroll Creek
  5. Visit the Farmers Market. There are several farmers markets around Frederick and in every town in Frederick County. Middletown Md Life
    – Frederick City Market in the Old Carmack Jay parking lot at 331 N. Market Street, open Sunday’s 9 am to 11 am.
    – Everedy Square & Shab Row Farmer’s Market, Thursday’s 3 to 6 pm.
    – Carroll Creek Farmer’s Market, Tuesdays, 4:30 – 7:30 pm starting June 21.
    – Thurmont Flea and Farmer’s Market open on Saturdays.
    – I found this Google Map of local Farmer’s Markets,  thanks to whoever created this, it’s great!

    History and Edutainment in Frederick County

  6. History buffs can learn at a museum. There are several museums in Frederick, where learning is fun. The Rose Hill Manor Park has several living history events for the entire family. The Civil War Medical Museum and the Frederick County History Museum have lots of events.
  7. Catoctin Mountain Wildlife Preserve and Zoo is always a fun and educational place. It’s a great place to have a party or book a group. They also love having volunteers.
  8. Family Movie Night on the Creek. On Carroll Creek in downtown Frederick, the 3rd Friday June through October. 9:00 PM – 11:30 PM. Starts June 16 with E.T., July 21 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, August 18, Shrek, September 15, 10 Things I Hate About You (starts at 8 PM) and October 20 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (starts at 7 PM)
  9. Summerfest Family Theater in Baker Park. One Thursday a month, 1o am, starting June 29th. See details on the Celebrate Frederick website.
  10. Visit the Earth & Space Science Lab at 210 Madison Street. Children and adults will enjoy planetarium shows and the arboretum.

Summer Activities in Baker Park

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Summer Activities in Baker Park

Looking for Some Summer Fun in Baker Park?

There are so many summer activities in Baker Park. There are fun things for all ages, and for the fur children too.

The Summer Concert

The summer concert series begins on June 11th in Baker Park. Enjoy free music on Sunday evenings at the band shell through August 27th. There is a wide variety of music, including country music, big band Baker Parkand swing, rock n roll, raggae and lots of jazz.

Bring a picnic, and enjoy a relaxing evening. Help support Celebrate Frederick by purchasing 50/50 raffle tickets, something they do at every summer concert.

There is room for dancing in the area in front of the stage. Bring your dancing shoes!

Summerfest Family Theatre

Every Thursday morning in the summer families enjoy high-quality entertainment starting at 10 AM. Starting on June 29th, through August 27th, kids can enjoy a variety of performances.

Frederick’s Fourth

The Fourth of July Independence Day Celebration in Baker Park is one of Frederick’s largest events. The fireworks are always spectacular. From noon to dusk, thousands of patriots enjoy local and regional entertainment on two stages, food vendors, local and national beers and wines, rides and activities, and you can dunk a Frederick celebrity or race a bath tub down Culler Lake.

Baker Park Pool

The pool in Baker Park and the Mullinix Park pool are open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Edward P. Thomas, Jr. Memorial Swimming Pool in Baker Park is open 12:30-8pm Daily, 4-8pm on public school days in May and June. Call 301-663-5666 for prices.

The William R. Diggs. Memorial Swimming Pool, by Carroll Creek park, is open 11am-8pm Mon-Sat, 12:30-8pm Sun, 4-8pm on public school days in May and June. Call 301-600-6364

Paws and Claws 5K and 1 Mile Walk

This dog friendly event will be start at 7am  on June 24, 2017 at Baker Park. Sponsored by The Animal Welfare League of Frederick. Fun events for dogs and their humans. Admission is $15 – $30. Get Tickets.

Right across the street from Baker Park you’ll find the dog park, where city pups come to socialize. It’s open from dawn til dusk.

The Joseph Dill Baker Memorial Carillon Bell Tower

Every Sunday you can enjoy the Carillon Concert in Baker Park at 12:30. The carillon can be heard from anywhere in Baker Park, and the City Carillonneur can be viewed playing in the tower, which is open each week at that time.

The bells are played automatically at intervals during the week, and manually on Sundays. It is the largest musical instrument in Maryland, and one of only about 140 of its kind in the United States.  It weighs about 6,000 pounds, made up of 49 bells atop a 70-foot granite tower.

Baker Park Recreation

Don’t miss the many opportunities for activity and sports at the ball fields, playgrounds, tennis courts and walking paths. You can enjoy picnics and cookouts throughout the park, as well as a full schedule of classes and activities by the City Recreation Department in the Armory. Consult the Recreator on the Frederick City website.

Or, just hangout and enjoy the view.

Baker Park Covered Bridge

See more about Baker Park real estate opportunities at Homes for Sale in Baker Park.

Search for homes for sale in Baker Park with our Advanced Home Search.

Baker Park Realtor

If you’re thinking of selling your Baker Park home we would love to help you make the sale a pleasant and memorable experience. Contact the Highland Group to get your home sold.

Find out What Your Baker Park Home is Worth.

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