72 HOURS Feb. 22, 2024 by Frederick News-Post

2024

FREE

February 22

VivIENNE Medrano

An animated conversation with the creator of ‘Hazbin Hotel’

SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN: The best times to visit the world’s most popular

destinations PAGE 10

 Top IBR bull riders battle for final standings  Food and Drink available for purchase  Little Wrangle Rodeo free for youth  Limited Bleacher seating, brings blankets  First come, First served Admission-Arrive Early!

SAVORING EL SALVADOR: Que

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN CUISINE AWARD-WINNING CRAB CAKES

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Chivo Pupuseria serves up pupusas and more PAGE 5

INSIDE THIS WEEK UnCapped................................................. 4 Signature Dish.......................................... 5 Music............................................................6 Family....................................................8 Comedy....................................................9

BEST CRAB CAKE and BEST OVERALL RESTAURANT Submit a calendar listing for your

Getaways.................................................10 Books....................................................11 Cover story..............................................12 Art ..............................................................14

MIDDLETOWN: 200 Middletown Pkwy Middletown, MD 21769 301-371-4000 HAMPSTEAD: 2315 A Hanover Pike Hampstead, MD 21074 410-374-0909

MAKE RESERVATIONS AT FRATELLISPASTA.COM 2 | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 72 HOURS

‘I ALWAYS GOTTA HUSTLE’:

Cocoa Brown headlines Make Me Laugh Comedy tour PAGE 9

Film.................................................16 Classifieds ............................................... 18 Calendar .................................................. 20

event 10 days prior to publication at newspost.com/calendar.

PUBLISHER Geordie Wilson EDITOR Lauren LaRocca llarocca@newspost.com REVENUE DIRECTOR Connie Hastings CALENDAR EDITOR Sue Guynn sguynn@newspost.com On the cover: Charlie Morningstar, from Vivienne Medrano’s “Hazbin Hotel.” Image courtesy of Prime Video

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH MILESTONES, ART ARE ON DISPLAY AT FCC

Frederick Community College alumnus Taurean Washington will talk at the school next week about the development of his art career. His art is on exhibit this month at FCC’s MOSAIC Center, along with a display looking at Black History Milestones at the college.

ENJOY THE BEACH-AND-BREWS VIBES CELEBRATING JIMMY BUFFETT

Relive the glory of Buffett’s music as 5 O’clock Somewhere, a tribute band, performs at New Spire Arts in Frederick on Feb. 24. A tribute to Buffett is the anchor of the show, but there will be other soft-rock and country favorites.

COCOA BROWN CAN’T BE CLAIR HUXTABLE, BUT SHE CAN TRY TO MAKE YOU LAUGH

Veteran of musical theater and sketch comedy has internalized some advice: “What’s real is funny, and the audience can tell when you’re faking it.” She will headline a comedy night on Feb. 23 in downtown Hagerstown.

KISKA WEAVES HIS LATEST MYSTERY TALE

Author Justin M. Kiska is continuing his Parker City Mysteries Series with the latest installment, “Black & White.” The series — based in a highly fictionalized version of Frederick — was supposed to end with three books, but his publisher has extended the contract, so Kiska could write three more.

DID HOLLWOOD MAKE A MISTAKE BY PHASING OUT EMOTIONAL TRAUMA IN FAMILY FILMS?

Michael Hunley says those were the good old days, movies would scare kids — just enough — and they would come back wanting more. Comedy mixed with horror and fantasy was a winning combination.

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You can browse 72 Hours and other special sections published by The News-Post at issuu.com/fredericknews-post. 72 HOURS | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 3

UNCAPPED UNCAPPED

Boochy Call Kombucha in Sharpsburg

In this episode of the UnCapped podcast, host Chris Sands talks with Eric Kelchlin, the founder of Sharpsburgbased Boochy Call Kombucha. Here is an excerpt of their talk: UnCapped: What brought you to wanting to start Boochy Call? Eric Kelchlin: I used to brew beer. I brewed it for 18 years — about 350 gallons a year — about 40 gallons at a pop. When I get into something, I really get into something. My girlfriend gave me a homebrewing kit. … My first two batches were absolutely horrible. You couldn’t even drink them. I just ended up researching everything about beer — all the malt, all the hops, all the styles, and just got fascinated in the history behind every single style. My favorite beer at the time was Chimay Grand Réserve. I always wanted to try to duplicate that flavor, and I never could. I got pretty close, but once you start getting into Belgian beers, they get pretty difficult to make. UnCapped: Unless you were really avid, you probably didn’t have jacketed fermenters. Or did you go that hard? Kelchlin: I had jacketed fermenters. I even had bourbon barrels that I stored imperial stout in. UnCapped: So, you basically ran a small brewery out of your house. Kelchlin: I had four beers on tap at any time. … I was going to go pro because I was so into this. This was in 2018, around there. I didn’t make the leap because alcoholism runs in my family. My grandfather died from it. My mother died from it. My brother died from it. … I was in complete denial ever since I started drinking when I was 14. … I stopped in 2018. At the time, my spouse brought home kombucha. I tasted it. I thought it was absolutely horrible. I didn’t drink it again for three years. I didn’t know what this is. I know it’s supposed to be good for you. You get it in the produce section or the health department, wellness center. I totally hated it for a long time. By the time I started getting sober, I started reaching for it because it tastes like an alcoholic beverage. It’s carbonated. It’s interesting. It’s like a mocktail in one jar. It fills you up. It satisfies that need to drink that alcohol. There is a minute amount in there, less than .5, but you’re never, ever going to get drunk out of it. It’s minuscule. UnCapped: That’s within the realm of being able to call something nonalcoholic.

4 | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 72 HOURS

BOOCHY CALL KOMBUCHA 304-283-0084 boochycall.com Where to find Boochy Call Kombucha: Boochy Call Kombuchery, Sharpsburg (call first) Boonsboro Farmers Market Deliteful Dairy, Williamsport Frederick City Farmers Market Frederick Social Hippy Chick Hummus, Frederick Old Town Market, Kensington Sunny Meadows, Boonsboro The Market Hub, Hagerstown do you make at a time? Kelchlin: I have a five-barrel system. I have tanks that are 170 gallons. So, generally, 150 gallons is a five-barrel system. It’s all I can fit in there. Then, I have a bigger tank, another open tank, and it’s a blending tank. So, I’ll add the kombucha, I’ll add the fresh tea, I’ll add sweeteners, which is either maple syrup or honey to sweeten it up. If I don’t sweeten it up, chances are you’re probably not gonna like it. It would be pretty tart and just bland. UnCapped: The acidity Photo by Chris Sands requirements are very much into the sour range. Eric Kelchlin, the founder of Boochy Call Kombucha Kelchlin: It would end up tasting Kelchlin: Once I quit brewing beer like a slightly fruity Sencha green tea, and I now started living this sober life, with no sweetener added. That’s what I lost my spouse, I lost all my friends, the kombucha would taste like. Which I lost everything. My career changed isn’t bad, but not a lot of people are completely. My brother died. My father gonna buy it. died. All this stuff happened within UnCapped: It’s not a mass-market a period of like three years. … The product. creative part of brewing, after a while, I Kelchlin: No, especially when really missed it. So, I ended up starting to get this license than to get my I’m trying to introduce kombucha picking up how to brew kombucha. I master’s. Because I had to educate to people that have never had it or needed to focus on something. … them on what kombucha is. … The certainly don’t like it. Because I have all that experience, book doesn’t have anything about UnCapped: You said for the vast I picked up on it real easy. … I don’t kombucha. … We worked together to majority of drinkers, it’s from a health know anything about business at all. I educate each other on what it is and standpoint. This doesn’t taste like a know how to make stuff. But selling it how you make it. health product. is a whole nother thing. … UnCapped: From a customer Kelchlin: It doesn’t have that When I quit drinking in 2018, standpoint, are most kombucha certain thonk or medicinal twang to it my life finally started. Everything drinkers drinking it as a supplement? at all. A lot of that has to do with my else beforehand was hiding from it, As a health regimen? Or also just for environment that I brew in, the tea avoiding it. flavor, as a drink to enjoy? I use and the cultures that I use. It’s UnCapped: What’s the governing Kelchlin: It’s all of that. The pretty specific to the water that I have. body for a kombuchery? majority, they drink it for the health. The whole nine yards. Kelchlin: We’re regulated by They know it’s going to help their This excerpt has been edited the Department of Health, like a gut and everything else that follows for space and clarity. Listen to the restaurant. … They can make or through with that. It’s really good for full podcast at fnppodcasts.com/ break you. I have a master’s degree your immune system. uncapped. Got UnCapped news? Email csands@newspost.com. UnCapped: How large of a batch in wildlife biology and it was harder

Que Chivo Pupuseria and Restaurant

any El Salvadoran families have their own unique pupusa recipes, including the family that runs Que Chivo Pupuseria and Restaurant in downtown Frederick. And the family promises that the food they’re offering is “que chivo,” or awesome, since it’s right there in the name of the eatery. Opening a restaurant to share their Salvadoran culture has always been the dream of couple Alex Martinez-Hercules and Nelly Corvera, as well as Corvera’s parents. Martinez-Hercules owns the restaurant, and Corvera is the manager. Corvera’s mother, Nely Martinez, is the main chef, and her husband, Manuel Corvera, helps out. A lot of their decor is a tribute to their homeland, with colorful baskets full of flowers on the wall and pictures that show the lush landscape of El Salvador. The pupuseria opened in October 2023. It has drawn people wanting to get a taste of authentic El Salvadoran food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The mainstay of the restaurant is the pupusa, the stuffed, savory grilled flatbread that has become the national dish of the country. The pupusa is filled with different combinations of beans, meat and cheese, and can be made with corn or rice flour. One pupusa, called queso con loroco, is filled with cheese and El Salvadoran herbs. Que Chivo offers other dishes, as well. There’s a soup of the day, tamales, tacos and more. “We wanted to show everybody and have everybody have a little taste of Salvador,” MartinezHercules said. — Clara Niel

Staff photo by Katina Zentz

The interior space of the Que Chivo Pupuseria & Restaurant

QUE CHIVO PUPUSERIA AND RESTAURANT 200 Amber Drive, Frederick 240-575-9583 quechivopupuseria.com Instagram: @quechivopupuseria Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday Staff photos by Katina Zentz through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to Que Chivo Pupuseria 8 p.m. Sunday & Restaurant’s pupusas Price: Menu items range in price from $2.50 for a corn flour pupusa to $19.99 for a platter of meats and rice. Desserts cost between $2.99 and $6.99. Owner Alex Martinez-Hercules recommends: The Que Chivo Churrasco, which comes with steak, chicken breast, jumbo shrimp and Salvadoran Chorizo and is served with salad, queso fresco, a grilled jalapeno, rice, beans and two tortillas. He also recommends getting pupusas revueltas — pork, beans and cheese — or pupusas frijol con queso — beans and cheese.

Que Chivo Pupuseria & Restaurant’s signature dish is the Que Chivo Churrasco. It comes with steak, chicken breast, jumbo shrimp and Salvadoran chorizo. It is served with salad, queso fresco, a grilled jalapeno, rice, beans and tortillas. 72 HOURS | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 5

MUSIC

‘5 O’clock Somewhere’ show celebrates Jimmy Buffett BY GARY BENNETT

Monday,” “It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Son of a Son of a Sailor,” “A Pirate Looks at 50,” What: 5 O’clock Somewhere, a band that 5 O’clock Somewhere, a tribute band “Volcano,” “Fins,” “Changes in Latitudes, plays the music of Jimmy Buffett that celebrates the music of Jimmy Changes in Attitudes” and a few surprisWhen: Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Buffett and others, is coming back to es. Where: New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick. The featured artists are Safe Harbor, Frederick The show will be at New Spire Arts based nearby in Jefferson. on Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Safe Harbor is made up of the Go to weinbergcenter.org/book-online/124203 Key West Productions has brought award-winning married duo of Sam and for tickets. the “5 O’clock” show to Frederick in Katherine Ott, along with backup artyears past, but with the death of Buffett ists from Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylothers — songs you want to hear when on Sept. 1, 2023, the producers have vania. They count themselves as Buffett it’s 5 o’clock on a Friday and it’s time infused the show with more Buffett fans, playing all over the eastern U.S. to let your hair down and have a good classics and a heartfelt tribute. They performed the show recently in time. “The show kind of morphed after Key West, Florida, Buffett’s hometown. The second half of the show is turned Jimmy died. There had always been a “I can guarantee folks in the over to the music and stories of Buffett, few of his songs in the set list, but now audience will come away with a better we have eight or nine with great stories the late troubadour of laid-back island understanding of Jimmy Buffett, and pictures to really enhance the expe- soul. why he wrote each of his greatest Kohlhepp promises the band will rience,” said Tom Kohlhepp of Key West hits and the great stories that are Productions. “You’ll imagine you have a play all of the songs that used to get behind them,” Kohlhepp said. “Some costumed crowds on their feet all over drink in your hand and a sea breeze in people consider Buffett a country the world, batting around beach balls your face.” singer, others a pop singer. I’ve always and swaying back and forth in packed The 90-minute show features softconsidered him just a folk singer in flip rock and country favorites in the first half arenas. flops. There’ll be good stories put to The band will play “Margaritaville” from artists like The Eagles, America, the song with a drink in your hand. What Doobie Bothers, Kenny Chesney and (with a rarely sung last verse), “Come could be better?” Special to the News-Post

IF YOU GO

Photo by Tom Corcoran; distributed by Front Line Management Company

Jimmy Buffett

When you listen to Buffett, you can’t help but smile

that he only survived due to some Navy immy Buffett lived a life most of us can only dream of. By all accounts it training. Later, he broke the same leg three was wacky, wild and wonderful. We all know about his hugely success- times in one year, did a lot of dope and ful music career. He recorded more than went into therapy. But there’s no reason to 30 albums, wrote and recorded focus on the negative stuff a career-defining and endlessly because Jimmy never did. entertaining song in “MargariHe spent his life looking taville” and built a string of sucoptimistically for the next cessful Margaritaville restauopportunity and he almost rants and resorts. always found it. He was signed But did you know he was a to a recording contract at ABC best-selling author and a seaRecords in 1973 to replace his plane pilot? recently deceased friend, Jim He wrote three best-selling Croce. books: “Tales from MargaritaBuffett died last year ville,” “Where is Joe Merchant,” on Sept. 1 at age 76, from and “A Pirate Looks at Fifty.” GARY BENNETT complications from Merkle cell Piloting a seaplane was his way of escaping reality and inviting fam- carcinoma, a rare type of skin cancer. Somehow, fittingly, he died on the ily and friends on his many adventures, fishing and otherwise, all around the Ca- last day of meteorological summer. If the “music died” when Buddy Holly died, ribbean. could it be that summer died with Jimmy His early life wasn’t always easy, Buffett? We’ll have to wait and see this though. He flunked out of college, flunked his summer. I was never a big Jimmy Buffett fan draft physical and started a band in his and certainly never a “parrothead”— the 20s, but it got no traction, so it broke up term reserved for his most loyal, diehard soon after. fans who could always be counted on to He was divorced, went broke and dress up in wild costumes at his concerts, survived not one, but two, devastating crashes: one by car and one by seaplane perhaps with a parrot on their shoulder. 6 | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 72 HOURS

But I can appreciate the niche he carved out for himself in the music business, much to everyone’s surprise. One can name no other artist (other than the Beach Boys) who so completely embodied a carefree, island-hopping, “strumming my six-string on my front porch swing,” summery persona. Buffett may have described himself best when he said: “I’ve got a Caribbean soul I can barely control.” He and his Coral Reefer band toured the world for nearly 50 years, bringing joy wherever they set down. My wife and I have been to a few of his concerts and always had a really good time. Near the end, he wasn’t much of a singer. He was more like an affable host or a barefoot ringleader of one giant outdoor party. Sometimes, you felt like he was phoning it in, not giving it much effort. But the more I thought about it, isn’t that the essence of Jimmy Buffett anyway, making it look easy and effortless? Surprisingly, he started out as more of a country singer. His 1974 heartfelt ballad “Come Monday” was a big hit on both the country and pop charts. It has an unmistakable country feel to it. But soon after, something changed.

He was no longer country. He embraced what might be called tropical island or Caribbean music, with a strong influence of steel drums and simple melodies and lyrics. By all accounts, he went back to his roots. When “Margaritaville” hit the airwaves in 1977, it was impossible not to like the song or the carefreelooking artist that penned and sang it. “Margaritaville” speaks not of a town, but of a state of mind when you use your favorite adult beverage to numb yourself to life and your inability to do much with it. With exasperation but acceptance, Buffett sang “Don’t know the reason / stayed here all season / Nothin’ to show but this brand new tattoo. But it’s a real beauty / a Mexican cutie / how it got here I haven’t a clue.” He then finished up plaintively “Wasted away again in Margaritaville, Searching for my lost shaker of salt. Some people say that there’s a woman to blame. But I know / it’s my own damn fault.” To this day when I hear it, I can’t help but smile and sing along. Putting smiles on strangers’ faces — not a bad legacy to leave.

Hip-hop artist Billy Lyve leads band iLL LuCK at Carroll Arts Center Hip-hop artist Billy Lyve, the front man of the multi genre band iLL LuCK, is playing with JayMoney Hackett and the SymphonySyngz at the Carroll Arts Center on Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. The event will be a release part of The Purpose EP, the band’s newest project. Ticket holders will be get a free copy of the EP. The band’s sound infuses hiphop, R&B, rock and electronic dance music. Its influences include Rage Against the Machine, Eminem, Linkin Park, 2Pac and Nas. As a solo artist, Billy Lyve has opened for MGK, Dizzy Wright, Onyx, Redman, Ghostface Killah, Slick Rick, Rakim, Hopsin, Talib Kweli, Skyzoo, Cappadonna, Project Pat, Ill Bill, and more. He is the owner of Wisdom Court Studios and founder of a local

JAMES COMEY

IF YOU GO What: Performance by Billy Lyve and iLL LuCK When: Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. Where: Carroll Arts Center, 91 W. Main St., Westminster Tickets are $25 for adults; $20 for ages 18 to 25 and ages 60 and up; $10 for ages 17 and younger. CCAC Members get an additional 10% off single tickets and subscription prices. Tickets can be purchased online at CarrollArtsCenter.org or by calling the box office at 410-848-7272. nonprofit, Find Your Purpose, which aspires to elevate and empower individuals of all ages through mentorship, experiential learning, and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation (2013–2017); #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author MAR. 21, 2024 | 7:30PM

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Hip-hop artist Billy Lyve, the front man of the multi genre band iLL LuCK, is playing with JayMoney Hackett and the SymphonySyngz at the Carroll Arts Center on Feb. 24 at 8 p.m.

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Tickets for meet-and-greet receptions following the discussions are also available for an additional $75. All meet-and-greet proceeds benefit children’s programming at Frederick County Public Libraries.

THIS SEASON IS POSSIBLE DUE TO THE GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP BY

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72 HOURS | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 7

FAMILY

Entries wanted for annual Peepshow fundraiser The Carroll County Arts Council is looking for innovative artists, engineers, designers and anyone with a “sweet” sense of humor to enter the 17th Annual Peepshow, running March 22 through April 1 at the TownMall of Westminster. Voting will take place at both the live event and online. The Peepshow is a display of art inspired by the vibrantly colored marshmallow critters and shapes that invade store shelves before almost every holiday. The Arts Council will accept dioramas, sculptures, photography, videos, computergenerated art, drawings, paintings, and more, as long as they include Peeps as the medium or primary subject matter. This year’s show returns to the former Sears store location in the TownMall of Westminster, across from Boscov’s in center court. Visitors can enter for free and buy votes for their favorite entries. This year’s video entries will be screened at the event with assistance from the Community Media Center. All entries will also be featured in an online photo contest format for voting from home.

The top 10 entries with the most in-person and online votes combined will receive Audience Favorite awards. The first-place entry will be named the Grand Prize winner. A separate award will be given to the video entry with the most votes. Artistic Excellence awards will be chosen by the Arts Council staff and Sponsor’s Choice awards will be selected by Peepshow’s sponsor organizations. Photos of previous years’ entries can be viewed on the Arts Council’s website. In the 2023 Peepshow, a total of 27,679 Peeps were used in the 123 entries. Last year’s Grand Prize winner was “Peepnocchio” by Kelly Soverns. Entry registration is now open on Marshmallowpeepshow.com through March 1. Decorators will be responsible for transporting their entry to the TownMall of Westminster. There is an entry fee of $10 and only one entry per person will be accepted. Registration is online only. Completed Peeps creations must be delivered to the TownMall on March 8 or 9. For more information, call 410-848-7272.

Last year’s Grand Prize winner was “Peepnocchio” by Kelly Soverns.

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MAY 25 TO SEPT. 27, 2024

To downtown Waynesboro... good things are happening in our community! JUNE 15, 2024

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COMEDY

Cocoa Brown headlines Make Me Laugh Comedy tour BY CRYSTAL SCHELLE

That can be the same for acting, as well, and Brown built upon her successful standup work to become an actress. Cocoa Brown never set out to be a About five years into doing standstandup comedian — or even an actress. up, Brown started getting calls to work She simply wanted to be Clair Huxtable. on student films. She eventually started No, not Phylicia Rashad, who played the nabbing small roles in “The Wire” and Clair in “The Cosby Show,” but a real-life ”The Corner.” version of the character. “Because I already had a theater “She was a real person to me. She background, it was like a natural prostill is,” Brown said during a telephone gression to go after the acting part,” she interview from her Atlanta home. “That’s said. my truth.” Acting gave her another total experiWell, Brown, 51, might not have the ence that standup didn’t. law degree that Clair had, but she has “Acting totally lets me just totally step epitomized what Clair was about as outside of myself and be someone coma strong Black woman. And if there’s pletely different,” she said. “It lets me exone career path that plore other people’s needs the no-nonpersonalities. other sense inner Clair Huxpeople’s auras. I get IF YOU GO table, it’s in the enterto step into someone What: Beadle’s Make Me Laugh tainment industry. else’s shoes and be a Comedy Tour Brown will headdifferent character. When: Feb. 23; doors open at line the Beadles Make “I always tell peoMe Laugh Comedy 6:30 p.m., show at 9 p.m. ple Coco Brown is a Tour on Feb. 23 at The personality. She’s an Where: The Ballroom at Schindel Ballroom at Schinextension of me. She’s Rohrer, 28 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown del-Rohrer in Hagerlike my alter ego. Like Cost: $20 or $50 VIP stown. The comedy Beyoncé has Sasha Contact: 240-367-5052 show is hosted by AnFierce, I have Coco gela Robinson, with Brown. guests Tori Nelson, Kaelin Clements, “There’s something about acting that Brenda Joy and Nicole Rivers. I’m initially comfortable with portrayBrown grew up in Newport News — ing, and then I have to dig deep and beas Farah Brown, back then — and was come this person. Because acting is not involved in musical theater, eventualacting. It’s being. I have to be this perly writing plays and sketch comedy for son. So, yeah, I think that’s what’s the difsome shows. When it came to doing ference between the two.” standup for the first time, she said she Her hard work paid off, and she landwasn’t afraid of the stage because of her ed bigger roles, such as 2008’s “Lakevbackground. iew Terrace” with Samuel L. Jackson and “I thought I knew what I was doing Kerry Washington. It was her first major because I had watched standup spemotion picture as “barely a supporting cials like Def Jam Comedy Special and character.” Eddie Murphy,” she said. “But the audi“I always credit Samuel L. Jackson for ence stared at me like I was completely saving the few lines I had in that movie,” crazy. I started panicking during my little she said. “They wanted to cut my lines five-minute set, and I said, ‘Look, I don’t and just have me serving him a drink. need this, OK? I work for the circus,’ and Samuel Jackson spoke up on set and the audience burst out laughing.” said, Look, it’s full of crazy. I’m talking to Funny thing, she was serious. her, and she’s not responding. She has “And that was my first major lesson to say something back to me.” to standup comedy — that the funniest In 2014, she also had her first lead [jokes] were real, because I really did at starring role in a major motion picture, the time work for Ringling Bros. and Bar- Tyler Perry’s “Single Moms Club.” She num & Bailey Circus as an advertising also worked with him for six seasons on associate,” she said. “Tyler Perry’s For Better Or Worse.” Her mentor was Darcel Blagmon, “I like to call (working with him as) aka The Fabulous Fat Doctor, who was boot camp because Tyler shoots very known as the godfather of comedy in fast,” she said. “You don’t get many opWashington, D.C. He died in 2020. portunities to get it right, so you betBrown credits him for helping her in ter get it right the first time. But it also standup. The best piece of advice she taught me a discipline that I still take said he ever gave her was, “What’s real over to other productions.” is funny, and the audience can tell when Since then, she’s been keeping busy you’re faking it.” with a variety of roles, including a recurSpecial to the News-Post

Courtesy photo

Cocoa Brown ring role of Carla Price on “9-1-1” that stars Angela Bassett and Peter Krause, and playing Principal Grubbs on Netflix’s “Never Have I Ever.” “Carla allowed me to break out and let people know that I’m really an actress. I’m not just a funny sidekick,” Brown said. “And Principal Grubbs was my ode to my mother because I literally played my mother, who was an educator for 33 years.” Last year, she appeared in “Blackskin” starring Duane Finley. She teased that she had more things come up that she couldn’t speak about yet. In addition to her acting and standup, Brown is a mom to an 11-year-old boy and an entrepreneur. She has the Cocoa Brown Collection featuring essential oils, candles, lotions, clothing and even cookies. She partnered with another woman who launched the line over the pandemic. While the entertainment industry was basically shut down because of the pandemic restrictions, it allowed her

to focus on something new and give her another income stream. “If I’m broke, I’m dead because I always gotta hustle,” she said. As for the show in Hagerstown, Brown is looking forward to returning after 20 years to the area to perform again. She said her friends are also excited to make the easier drive to Hagerstown than Washington, D.C., or Baltimore. She’s excited to meet up with other women in the show. Brown said audience members will think they’re catching up with old friends. “They’re going to think they’re sitting in the living room with their best girlfriend,” she said. “And she’s saying everything that they don’t have the gumption to say, and they’re going to be able to relate — and I’m talking about men, women, black, white, gay, straight. They’re gonna be able to relate because something I say is going to resonate with them because I’m a constant observer.” 72 HOURS | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 9

GETAWAYS

The best times to visit the world’s most

Istanbul: September Last year, Istanbul was ranked the most visited city in the world, The Seven Wonders of the World with 20 million international visitors, earned the title for being among the according to the annual index from most spectacular creations. They can Euromonitor International, a global take your breath away for their majesty research company. Most travelers — and be absolutely miserable for the head to Turkey between June and sheer number of crowds. Their fame is August, which is why local journalist most of the problem; too many people Jennifer Hattam — who wrote our want to see the most celebrated sites guide to Istanbul — recommends on the planet, resulting in crowds, waiting until September. congestion and eye-popping costs. “It’s really quite perfect,” she said. The same is true for the world’s “You can still have the lovely weather marquee travel destinations. The more when you’re on the ferry, or sitting famous and popular is, the worse the outside for dinner and drinks.” experience visiting — at least if you go Hattam said the city is still bustling during its high season. with activities, from art events to To avoid expensive outdoor concerts. It’s a warmer disappointment, you could forgo and livelier time to go than her such places entirely, heading off the second choice: spring. According to beaten path or to “second cities.” Or Skyscanner, March is the cheapest visit when the bulk of the crowds have time to fly to Istanbul from the United dispersed. States, but September averages Lower demand means lower aren’t much higher. prices, particularly when it comes Mexico City: June to September to airfare, said Laura Lindsay, trends Mexico City’s high season and destinations expert for the flight begins around the end of October booking site Skyscanner. — corresponding with Day of the That doesn’t mean the lowest Dead — through March, according to of the low season, either. February Anais Martinez, a food blogger and in Manhattan may be cheaper and culinary tour guide from the city. quieter, but it also means gray skies, But come June, the city starts icy sidewalks and frigid temperatures to empty out with visitors wary of — not ideal for exploring the city’s Mexico City’s rainy season, which parks or waiting for a Broadway runs through September. “Almost matinee. We talked to experts for the perfect no one’s here, so you’re not going combo of good weather, fewer people to bump into a bunch of tourists everywhere,” Martinez said. and affordable prices in some of the Given the scorching temperatures world’s busiest destinations. during recent summers in North Rome: February to March America, “they think that it’s It’s hard to appreciate a perfect too hot or that it will rain all day scoop of gelato when you’re long,” Martinez said. Use that standing elbow to elbow to eat it, misconception to your advantage, so skip Rome in the summer. “The and visit during the summer. While summer has gotten really hot and you can expect some rain, “it pours crowded,” said Simone Amorico, for 45 minutes, then it’s back to CEO of Access Italy, a private tour normal,” she said. operator. Olivia Villanti, founder of the Instead, he recommends visiting fashion label Chava Studio in Mexico the Eternal City in either the winter City, also recommends March, when — outside of the frenetic “festive the days are warm and the evenings season” just before Christmas to are cool. New Year — or spring. “Then it A bonus for art lovers: “A lot of the becomes quite busy after Easter,” shows that go up during Art Week Amorico said. are still up until the end of March or According to Skyscanner, you’ll the beginning of April,” Villanti said. find the lowest airfare in the heart of “You get to see some of the cool spring between March and April. stuff that’s happening, but you are Another solid option: also not dealing with the crowds, the Thanksgiving. “It’s not crowded at inflated prices, needing reservations all,” Amorico said. at all the restaurants.” BY NATALIE B. COMPTON The Washington Post

10 | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 72 HOURS

Paris: February to April You’ve mapped out a quintessential Parisian sidewalk cafe. You’ve grabbed a table with a view of the Seine. Your server brings you a café au lait and pain au chocolate. It’s about to be the best morning of your life until you realize everyone around you is American. Sacre bleu. To dodge the lion’s share of tourists who flock to Paris, avoid June through August, as well as late December. Instead, pack some layers and put February through April and November on your radar. It’s when hotel and flight prices are at their lowest. Tokyo: April to May When the trees of Japan are their most stunning, so is the price tag for a trip. Cherry blossom season, peak fall foliage, plus summer vacation are the most difficult time to get hotel rooms, train tickets and notable restaurant reservations. A better window to visit is February, said Yukari Sakamoto, author of Food Sake Tokyo. Just before the sakuras arrive, it’s warm enough to walk around, but not

as crowded, and the ume plum trees are starting to blossom, she said. Average flight prices in February are about $100 more than when they’re at their cheapest in April to May. New York: September When the summer rush is over, but before “When Harry Met Sally” season hits, you’ll find a quiet patch in New York City’s calendar in September (as long you avoid fall Fashion Week), said Dan Rubinstein, a New York native and host of The Grand Tourist podcast. “Museum exhibitions pick up again and you can still walk through Central Park all day long and not run into any weather related issues,” Rubinstein said. “You can wear fall clothing, you can wear spring-ish clothing, you can kind of get away with anything. It’s just a nice time to be in New York.” Marrakesh: September or March To find a happy medium between the lowest hotel and flight prices in Marrakesh, consider September for your trip. With summer’s intense heat abated, you can expect average temperatures to range from the 60s to the 90s.

popular destinations The central market of Jemaa el-Fnaa in central Marakkech, Morocco, on Sept, 12, 2023. An earthquake struck the area on Sept. 8. Photo by Sima Diab for The Washington Post

the cheapest month for hotels in Las Vegas. But watch out for the Consumer Electronic Show early in the month, which brought about 130,000 attendees this year. You’ll see the best airfare between February and April, with the exception of March Madness. However, Vegas local and author Tony Abou-Ganim adds that if you’re looking to lounge by the pool, late April to mid-May may be your sweet spot. Barcelona: June Summer may be the most popular time to visit Barcelona, but you don’t have avoid it altogether, said husband and wife photographers Majo Aguirre and Xavi Cano. Skip July and August when everyone’s on holiday and an influx of visitors descend from cruise ships, but June can still be enjoyable so long as you avoid staying near particular areas and sites (La Rambla, Sagrada Família). Plus, use the city’s rhythm to your For the cheapest airfare alone, advantage: “Barcelona is not a city however, look for a March trip just that will get up early,” Aguirre said. before spring high season begins. “So, if you get up when the sun Weather is still mild, with daily highs comes out, you can walk everywhere in the 70s — ideal for market browsing practically alone until 9.” and tea breaks. For a beach day, instead of heading to the best-known, Las Vegas: January to April Barceloneta, try Marbella or Botarell. There are a handful of event land mines to watch out for when planning Even better: Get on a train midweek to nearby Girona or Sitges, when most a trip to Las Vegas: big conventions, bigger sporting events, some holidays of the locals who frequent it are at work, Aguirre said. and summer heat. No surprise here: Flight prices are cheaper in June The city saw record rates for hotel than they are in July or August, but rooms for Super Bowl 58. you’ll find better deals if you travel in As long as there are no megaApril, May or October, when you can events in town the week you’re expect some rain. planning your trip, January is

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BOOKS

Kiska publishes fourth installment in mystery series “Black & White,” the latest installment of Justin M. Kiska’s Parker City Mysteries Series, was scheduled to be released this week. In “Black & White,” a picturesque spring morning in 1985 takes a disturbing turn when the frozen body of a young woman is discovered in a field on the outskirts of the city. As Detectives Ben Winters and Tommy Mason arrive, they have no idea of the type of investigation they are about to embark upon. With no identification, no bread crumbs to lead them to the girl’s origins, or a cause of death, they face a daunting task on their latest case. Parker City, the backdrop for all of Kiska’s mysteries, is a highly fictionalized version of Frederick (and the surrounding areas). Of the setting, he has said, “Parker City is as much of a character in the stories as Ben and Tommy (the lead detectives in the books). To make the setting as real as possible, like many writers, I looked around for inspiration and ended up not having to look very far. “Frederick has such a rich history from which to draw. From its buildings to its residents, Frederick is not only an incredible place to live and work, it has everything a mystery writer could dream of for inspiration.” Parker City Mysteries, which launched in 2021 with “Now & Then” — Kiska’s debut novel — was slated to be a three-book series from Level Best Books, an independent publishing house based in Silver Spring. With the success of the books, the contract has been extended between Kiska and Level

Courtesy photo

Justin Kiska Best for an additional three books. Kiska is a theater producer and mystery writer. He is one of the owners and producers of The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre in Frederick. The Parker City Mysteries Series includes “Now & Then” (a finalist for the 2022 Silver Falchion Award for Best Investigator), “Vice & Virtue,” and “Fact & Fiction” (currently a semifinalist for the Chanticleer Clue Award). He also has been writing and producing Marquee Mysteries, a series of interactive mystery events, for more than 15 years. His website is www.JustinKiska. com. He and his wife, Jessica, live along Lake Linganore.

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72 HOURS | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 11

Devilish talent

Vivienne Medrano is celebrating the launch of an R-rated animated show, ‘Hazbin Hotel,’ on Amazon Prime BY KYLE RUSSO

Special to The News-Post

hen I open my Google Meets call with Vivienne Medrano, the first thing I see is her cat, Pixel, hopping up onto her lap. Stuffed animals line her pastel-pink room in Los Angeles. Her other two cats, Nugget and Honeybee, are out of frame but around, she assures me. The cats and stuffed animals make sense — it was the 31-year-old’s love of animals, after all, that initially inspired her to become an animator. “I grew up kind of in a rural area. There were a lot of farms, and my friends had farms,” Medrano said. And when she saw movies like Disney’s “Bambi” and “The Lion King,” it all clicked. That kind-of rural area? Medrano’s hometown of Urbana. But her love for animation has brought her far from Frederick County’s rolling hills. On Jan. 19, Medrano’s new animated show, “Hazbin Hotel,” premiered on Amazon Prime. The series follows Charlie Morningstar, the princess of Hell, as she sets about her dream to open a hotel that will rehabilitate sinners and get them into heaven. It’s an eight-episode, R-rated, musical-comedy-horror show that features the likes of Broadway stars Alex Brightman (of “Beetlejuice” fame), Erika Henningsen (“Mean Girls”) and Kimiko Glenn (“Waitress”). Despite the big-name studio and stellar voice cast, the show couldn’t have more humble beginnings. On Oct. 28, 2019, Medrano (under the pseudonym “Vivziepop”) published a 30-minute pilot episode for Hazbin Hotel on YouTube. Independently animated and completely funded through donations on the fundraising service Patreon and merch sales, it took off almost immediately, with nearly 10 million views in two weeks, Medrano said.

12 | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 72 HOURS

“I knew my audience was gonna watch it, and I hoped it would do well enough that I could continue it in some way online,” Medrano said. “But I did not expect it to blow up the way it did.” The pilot boasts over 90 million views to date. So how did this independent animation gain so much traction? The world and concept for Hazbin has existed for years, floating around in Medrano’s sketchbooks and immortalized in some forms on her YouTube channel. In a way, the show always existed in her mind. “Alaster is a character that I’ve had since middle school,” Medrano said. “I’ve had these characters for a long time, and it wasn’t until college and after college that I started to actually put together the project that I wanted them to be in.” At School of Visual Arts New York City, where Medrano went to school, she created a five-minute animated film for her senior year thesis project. The animation’s characters bear a striking

resemblance to some of Hazbin’s soonto-be characters, and the video itself now has over 20 million views. Since then, Medrano has maintained a steady audience online. She draws viewers into her worlds with speed draws of original characters, self-made animations to songs like Kesha’s “TiK ToK,” and a Hazbin spin-off series called “Helluva Boss,” based in the same universe. “I’m a big advocate for getting your project out there,” Medrano said. “Even if it’s going to change and shift and evolve, it shows that you have that idea, and you never know when that’s gonna come in handy.” It was animating music videos like “TiK ToK” that inspired Medrano to make a full-on animated musical extravaganza. Medrano is quite familiar with Broadway as a fan, she said, and it lends itself perfectly to the medium. “Broadway shows are kind of the biggest escape for me,” she

Vivienne Medrano (center, in red dress) and the cast said. “Theater, by nature is very exaggerated, and if you listen to a Broadway soundtrack, you can see how easily you can animate those songs.” Medrano’s musical theater influences — like “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Beetlejuice” — are more than evident in the show’s first episode alone. Our main character, voiced by Henningsen, jazz-dances around

t of “Hazbin Hotel” from its New York City premiere the streets of Hell singing a bouncy Broadway tune as she passes rotting corpses, ever-burning house fires and a fair share of cannibalism. With such a star-studded cast, you can’t go wrong. It was a huge moment for Medrano to go from fan to coworker to friend of some of her favorite stars through the show, she said. “As a musical theater fan, I’m like,

oh my gosh, it’s such a stacked roster of people,” she said. There’s another thing the show champions — cohesive queer representation. Really, it’s just another aspect that fits perfectly within the musical-animation Venn diagram. “Animation and musicals and queer stories go incredibly hand-in-hand,” Medrano said. “They can lighten subject matter through their execution, which

characters have to be very sanitized, perfect and representational of an entire group of people,” Medrano said. Since the show is queer female-led in the writing, animation team and cast, it’s only natural that perspective would shine through. Medrano often jokes that it’s very catered to the “female gaze,” rather than the male gaze. As the show continues to air, Medrano is already thinking about her next big project. Hazbin is greenlit for a second season, but satirical, gory, expletive-filled animation isn’t all Medrano has up her sleeve. “I have a more family-friendly project Courtesy photo in mind that I really really love,” Medrano said. “I’d probably go the same route of making something first and seeing if the matters to me, because I want to tell industry would be interested in it.” mature, realistic stories.” As queer stories become more Medrano’s greatest dream is to be common in mainstream entertainment, a major creative force in a Broadway especially animation, there’s a hesitation show. With her connections and musical to give those characters flaws, Medrano influence, she may already be on track. said. Hazbin’s characters are full of Kyle Russo is a recent graduate from flaws, conceiving a more authentic the Philip Merrill College of Journalism representation of queer people and at the University of Maryland. He works their relationships to each other. “I don’t like the idea that queer for Insider as a social media fellow.

Images courtesy of Prime Video

72 HOURS | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 13

ART

Images by Taurean Washington

FCC art exhibit to show ‘the good, the bad and the ugly’ of college’s Black history

BY ERIK ANDERSON

those earlier years; however, I had always aspired to become a teacher and I knew that college had to be in the From the early days of its history, equation somehow,” Onley wrote. Frederick Community College FCC enabled her to complete an has been an important source of associate’s degree over many years, advancement for the county’s African leaving her room to work full-time, American population. marry and raise three children. A special Black history art exhibit at “Looking back, I consider FCC to be the college this month will show that one of the truly positive experiences of progress for Black students was not my life,” she wrote. always straightforward. But Rosenbarker said the students Starting Feb. 19, the FCC MOSAIC who helped research the information Center has on display “Black History for the Milestones timeline found Milestones at FCC,” which will include several disturbing records from the a timeline of the college’s complicated college’s past. relationship with Black students, as “There’s a time when the well as the art of alumnus Taurean Department of Education was Washington. His work will feature investigating FCC for a case of racial charcoal drawings of important figures discrimination and other things of that in Black history rendered against nature,” he said. “There was a time colorful backgrounds. when Black student numbers at the Cody Rosenbarker, the school’s college dropped really quickly.” program manager of student affairs On Feb. 27, Washington will talk initiatives, said visitors to the exhibit will about the development of his art encounter “the good, the bad and the ugly” of FCC’s African American history. career, explaining that his local college education was mostly uplifting, but Leading off the “good” will be a that there were times when he felt personal account of Joy Hall Onley, discrimination because of his race. a Black author and educator who He said he received excellent enrolled in FCC in 1961, just four years mentorship in the arts at FCC, after its founding and only three years especially from his illustration after Frederick County schools had instructor, Wendell Poindexter, who been integrated. In 2007, she wrote will introduce him as a speaker at the a reflection for the college’s 50th anniversary that recalls the support she upcoming event. But after completing his associate’s received from professors. “There were not many Africandegree in 2009, he enrolled at Hood American students attending during College, where he said he had several Special to the News-Post

14 | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 72 HOURS

exhibit his work as a visiting artist. “I had my artwork hanging in the IF YOU GO same gallery I had my senior thesis show,” he said. “Years later, I’m a What: Black History Milestones exhibit professional artist having my stuff at the When: Open exhibit, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Feb. college.” 19 to 27. Artist talk with Taurean Washington, Despite that vindication, even 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., Feb. 27. that moment was complicated for Where: Frederick Community College Washington because of the comments MOSAIC (Making Our Spaces An Inclusive he received about his work. Community) Center, Room H102 “I had a feedback book, and a lot of the students were saying this is something that is much needed,” he negative interactions. said. “They hadn’t seen somebody At Hood College, “I was really colored having that type of voice the only African-American student represented. Around the same in the Studio Major Department,” he time I was working with the student said. “I think a lot of the professors engagement person, they were saying weren’t willing to see a different there were a couple of instances where cultural perspective, so when they students put swastikas on campus.” gave me critique, it was almost like I Rosenbarker said the MOSAIC was automatically doing something Center was created in large part to incorrect or wrong.” help students talk about those types Washington plans to talk about of experiences. The center’s name is winning the Susan Goddard Prize for an acronym for Making Our Spaces an art, then having a professor downplay Inclusive Community. his accomplishment. He said the center is a space to “Art is not something [to do] with age,” he explained. “You have to put in accomplish two primary missions: the work to actually develop your skills. celebrate students for who they are and challenge them to see new The thing people didn’t realize … is I perspectives. was always working hard, and I had all “We really are trying to build of these additional barriers.” He said the criticism was strong and empathy on campus,” he said. “I have he considered dropping out of college, very little expectation that people will agree all the time, but we challenge but he received enough support from some professors to finish his bachelor’s people to be more able to have difficult conversations and be more true to degree at Hood in 2012. In 2019, themselves.” the college accepted his proposal to

King Street Gallery presents ‘Natural Blue,’ part of an exploration of the natural world King Street Gallery at Montgomery College has an exhibition called “Natural Blue” running through March 1. The exhibition shows the works of Jacqui Crocetta, Meredith Leich, Ruth Lozner, Sarah Kain Gutowski and Meredith Starr. Each artist is presenting work that addresses the gallery’s 2023-24 season theme of “Blue” and its connection to the natural world. Here is how the gallery described the work: • Crocetta’s detailed paintings and sculpture highlight the presence of plastic marine debris and the need for ocean conservation. • Leich has produced two hybrid animation and experimental video collages that highlight climate change throughout Iceland and Alaska. • Lozner has two sculptures that focus on the rising sea levels, as well as a series of vintage photos combined with paint chips intending to provoke questioning from the view of the various meanings of labeling and identity. • Kain Gutowski and Starr collaborated to create a series of cyanotypes and poems. When juxtaposed, the poems and images document how it is possible to endure the volatile and unpredictable world, particularly when it’s in crisis.

IF YOU GO What: “Natural Blue” exhibition When: Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; through March 1 Where: King Street Gallery, at 930 King St., on the ground floor of the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Arts Center on the west side of Montgomery College’s Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus A virtual artist talk will be held on Feb. 28 from 11 a.m. to noon. Free registration for the zoom link can be accessed at www. montgomerycollege.edu/special-programs/ arts-institute/index.html.

author of two books, “The Familiar” (forthcoming 2024) and “Fabulous Beast: Poems,” winner of the 14th annual National Indies Excellence Jacqui Crocetta’s “Mineral,” acrylic on polyester film, 2023 Award for Poetry. With interdisciplinary artist Meredith Starr, she is co-creator with glaciologist Andrew Malone was of Every Second Feels Like Theft, awarded an Arts, Science & Culture a conversation in cyanotypes and Initiative Grant from the University of poetry, and It’s All Too Much, a limited Chicago and received an Individual edition audio project. Her poems have Artist Grant from Chicago’s DCASE. appeared in The Gettysburg Review, She has completed residencies at the The Threepenny Review, Painted Bride University of Virginia’s Mountain Lake Quarterly, and The Southern Review, Biological Station, Tide Institute and and her criticism has been published Museum of Art, Nes Artist Residency, by Colorado Review, Calyx: A Journal of the Vermont Studio Center, and the Art and Literature by Women, and New Wrangell Mountain Center in McCarthy, York Journal of Books. ABOUT THE ARTISTS Alaska, among others. • Meredith Starr is an • Jacqui Crocetta works in painting, • Ruth Lozner has held faculty interdisciplinary artist living in New York. printmaking and sculpture. Her socially positions at the University of Maryland, She has three apps published to the engaged practice has aimed to bring College Park; Parsons School of Design, App Store — Plastic Swim AR, You Are attention to both the human condition New York; and the University of the Here VR and Balancing Act AR. She has and the environmental crisis, while shown nationally and internationally, celebrating resilience and the potential Arts, Philadelphia. She previously served on the National Education notably in Oslo, Seoul, Tokyo, and for healing. She was a fellow at the Committee at the Cooper-Hewitt New York. She recently exhibited Virginia Center for Creative Arts (‘21, Balancing Act AR as part of the Turning ‘22, ‘23). In 2019, she was recognized as Museum, NYC. She holds the titles of Professor Emerita from the University Cornerstone Montgomery’s Volunteer Courtesy of Meredith Starr Tides exhibit at the Target Gallery in Alexandria, Va. In the summer of 2023, Champion for her work with artists living of Maryland and Fellow of the Royal Meredith Starr’s “All My Pets are Houseplants Society of the Arts, UK. While her she completed a residency at Zero with mental health disorders. professional and academic career and I Already Killed One,” cyanotype, 2020 Foot Hills. Starr is a full-time professor • Meredith Leich is a Boston-based has encompassed painting, editorial of visual arts at SUNY Suffolk County artist who works across multiple forms illustration, film and print art direction, Community College on Long Island and of drawing, animation, video, and collage. Recently, she has embarked the vice president of membership for installation to approach climate change for the last several years, she has on new conceptual directions while the FATE (Foundations in Art: Theory collaborating with artist Kenzie Raulin. through scientific research and intuitive focused her passion, imagination and and Education) Organization. • Sarah Kain Gutowski is the energies on assemblage sculpture and visual exploration. Her collaboration Courtesy of Jacqui Crocetta

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5 WEEK SESSION | JUNE 24 - JULY 26 72 HOURS | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 15

FILM

Philippe Le Sourd

This image released by A24 shows Jacob Elordi as Elvis, right, and Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla, in a scene from “Priscilla.”

What to stream this weekend

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of Us Strangers” is a stunner that AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr called an “a Dolly Parton hosting a two-hour deeply felt journey of acceptance, love puppy-filled variety special on CBS and forgiveness” in her review. and the seventh and final season of — Another near-miss with the the hospital drama “The Good Doctor” Oscars, Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla,” hits are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a Max on Feb. 23. Coppola’s dreamy, textured tale device near you. of Priscilla Presley’s surreal romance Also among the streaming offerings with Elvis produced two of last year’s worth your time as selected by The most memorably breakthrough Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Andrew Lincoln and Danai performances in Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi. In my review, I praised Gurira return to “The Walking Dead” “Priscilla” as “a kind of fairy tale that universe in their own spin-off, “The turns claustrophobic and cautionary.” Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live,” — Two notable veterans of last year’s and “Avatar: The Last Airbender” gets Oscar race, both from A24, arrive this the live-action treatment by Netflix. week on Netflix. “Everything Everywhere All at NEW MOVIES TO STREAM Once,” Daniel Kwan and Daniel — It missed out on Oscar Scheinert’s multiverse romp, arrives nominations, but Andrew Haigh’s “All Feb. 23, almost exactly a year after the of Us Strangers” was one of the best anarchic sci-fi whatsit’s improbable films of 2023. Academy Awards sweep. The film, which debuts on Hulu — Also hitting Netflix, on Feb. 24, on Thursday, stars Andrew Scott as a writer working on an autobiographical is the 2023 best animated-nominee “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On.” script, work that transports him back to his childhood home, where he finds Jenny Slate and Dean Fleischer Camp’s whimsical stop-motion his long dead parents (Claire Foy, animated film is about a one-inch Jamie Bell) as they once were. At the same time, a romance with a neighbor tall seashell with a big heart and an (Paul Mescal) evolves. endearing fondness for Lesley Stahl. Metaphysical and melancholy, “All — AP Film Writer Jake Coyle

LIGHT IN A DARK BOX

Why isn’t Hollywood still making emotionally traumatic family films?

me, even though I felt myself being frightened of the viciousness of it. The 1970s and ‘80s were ver the Christmas holiday, a treasure trove of films like “Gremlins,” full of movies that were while staying over at my aimed toward us children of that mother’s house, I discovered some of my old children’s books she era, but were so dark and twisted that, even decades later, we still kept. talk about how emotionally scarred Among them was a picture we were watching it at such an storybook to, of all things, the film impressionable age. “Gremlins,” the horrorBut I’ve discovered comedy from the ’80s about that, just like me, a lot of little mischievous monsters other ‘70s and ‘80s babies that wreak havoc on a small also loved these films as town. kids. And what seems to I compared that to the be missing from current “Frozen” picture-book my Hollywood movie offerings young nieces had received are these children’s films from Santa on Christmas, that aren’t afraid not only which was essentially, “Oh, to let Olaf melt, but also no, Olaf is going to melt. have him drown right in Can Princess Elsa save him in time?” MICHAEL HUNLEY front of our eyes, like the horse in “The NeverEnding Whereas in my “Gremlins” Story.” book, it was, “And then Because as anyone who loves the Gremlins murdered poor Mrs. horror films knows, there’s a certain Deagle. Killed her dead. Mutilated adrenaline-pumping thrill about her, really.” being scared. Looking at them both, I couldn’t Even two of the most beloved help but wonder — are kids these figures in children’s entertainment, days getting the same amount of Jim Henson and Roald Dahl, emotionally traumatic family films believed that telling a story that’s a that I did as a child? bit dark and scary isn’t necessarily Back in 1984, when it was bad for kids. Dahl famously said, released, “Gremlins” was marketed “Fairy tales have always got to have as a PG-rated adventure that was fun for the whole family, with tons of something a bit scary for children — as long as you make them laugh, as merchandise marketed toward kids, well.” mainly revolving around the film’s And listen, don’t get it twisted adorable, snuggly creature Gizmo, who kind of looks like if a guinea pig — I’m not here telling everyone to go out and traumatize your kids. and a chihuahua mated. I’m a freelance columnist for a midOnce released, families flocked Atlantic newspaper. I don’t have the to see it, discovering that the titular money to pay for everyone’s therapy. gremlins were most certainly not These types of films certainly cute and cuddly like Gizmo, but aren’t for all kids (my nieces, scary, violent and homicidal. for example, got scared by the Parents were outraged, young kids were frightened, families walked movie “Trolls 3”). But there are a surprisingly large number who do out of the movie theater ... and yet, enjoy them, and it’s a pity Hollywood little Michael Hunley fell in love very rarely makes them anymore. with the film. Something about the The last offering of the same dark, fantastical approach to the film caliber of darkness as the ones — mixing comedy and horror and from the ‘70s and ‘80s was probably fantasy — was hugely appealing to BY MICHAEL HUNLEY

Special to the News-Post

2009’s “Coraline.” And I once heard a young mother on a bus tell her friend, “That movie ‘Coraline’ scared my little girl so bad, but she wanted to watch it over and over again all week.” So, until Hollywood gets its act together and starts churning these types of films out again, here are some vintage recommendations for the child of yours who enjoys their entertainment with a little bite to it. • Anything adapted from a Roald Dahl book from the ‘70s to the ‘90s British author Dahl was both celebrated and criticized for his often cruel children’s books, which never shied away from the nastier side of human nature. Throughout the years, dozens of film adaptations have been made of his work, though only a few directors have been able to capture Dahl’s ability to mix the fantastical with the revolting. Most famous of these is 1971’s “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” which features what was probably my first traumatic movie experience as a kid in the depiction of three rotten children’s (perhaps fatal?) downfalls. Other great adaptations include “Matilda” and “James and the Giant Peach,” both from 1996, but my favorite is without a doubt “The Witches” from 1990 (ignore the 2020 remake, please), about a worldwide society of witches planning on turning all young children into mice. It has grotesque prosthetic makeup, malevolent adults and a scene where a baby carriage is pushed toward a cliff — the perfect nightmare fuel for children of all ages. • “The Peanut Butter Solution” Probably the most obscure of the selections on this list, but no less damaging to the young psyche, this Canadian import from the ‘80s has a plot that defies easy explanation. At its core, it’s about a young boy who wanders into a burneddown house, where he discovers the bodies of two dead hobos (!) and

is so frightened by the experience that his hair falls out (!!), and he’s completely bald until the ghosts of aforementioned hobos come to him at night (!!!) and give him a recipe for a hair-growing formula that includes peanut butter (???), which then causes his hair to grow out of control. And that’s only the tip of the insanity iceberg. The rest of the film features child slavery, magical paintings and a Celine Dion song with the lyrics “A bing bang/ A ding dang/ And oops, your mind goes clang clang.” Its all-out weirdness is perhaps more emotionally damaging than any scary parts in the film, but, hey, weird can be traumatizing, too. • “Return to Oz” The granddaddy of all traumatic children’s movies. Disney made this sequel to the much-loved “Wizard of Oz” back in the ‘80s, but there’s no singing, dancing or yellow brick roads in this version, though it’s much more faithful to the dark nature of author L. Frank Baum’s “Oz” book series. If you were to go up to an adult of a certain age and bring up this movie, their face would become blank and their eyes turn black as they cried, “We agreed never to talk about that movie!” It traumatized legions of children, but there’s a strong, devoted cult of fans that loves its bleakness and twisted scenes (chief among them the opening, where young Dorothy is taken to a mental institution to have electroshock therapy, as well as a set piece in an evil princess’ castle, which has a hallway full of disembodied heads that she takes off and on). And with the film’s inclusion on Disney+, its fan base will only continue to grow. Michael Hunley is a copy editor at Politico’s E&E News in D.C. He previously worked as a copy editor for The Frederick News-Post. Contact him at mr85mt@gmail.com.

72 HOURS | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 17

Tickets at the Door: $45 Tickets incl: 20 Reg. Games - $100 prize, 4 Special Games - $150 prize and the Jackpot - $500 prize and more!! Dinner incl. in ticket price: Fried Chicken, Ham, Mashed Potatoes w/Gravy, Green Beans, Caesar Salad, Baked Apples Tickets Call: Kathy 240-446-5587 or visit: Ben Gue’s Antiques 4 S. Main St, Mt. Airy, MD 301-829-2112

Jefferson Ruritan Club

Friday March 8, 2024 2 Pieces Fish, French Fries, Cole Slaw, Applesauce Roll/$15 per platter Extra Fish $5 Dine in or Carry-out 5 – 7:30 pm 4603 Lander Rd, Jefferson, MD

SOUP & SUB SALE

CASH BINGO

Woodsboro American Legion Auxiliary Sunday, March 17, 2024 Doors open 12 pm; games @ 1:30 pm $40 for 25 games, includes 2 specials @ $150 2 jackpots @ $500 each Reserve early, receive free special-call 301-514-7164 Bring canned item for Food Bank, receive free special King tuts, bingo balls, holder jars and door BUFFET DINNER prizes; Mt. Airy VFC Auxiliary Food, drinks, Fri, March 2024 baked goods 1, available. 4-7p or until sold out Proceeds benefit veterans, Eat in or Carry-out and scholarship program. Fried Chicken, Fried Flounder, Scallop Potatoes, Green Beans, Stewed Tomatoes, Mac & Cheese, Baked Apples, Cole Slaw. Adults: $18; Children 6-12: $8.00 Under 5 is FREE; ($2 extra for carry-out) Mt. Airy VFC Reception Hall 1008 Twin Arch Rd, Mt Airy Credit or Debit Cards Accepted

Local Mentions

Thurmont Community Ambulance Service, Inc.

FRIDAY FISH FRY

Middletown Volunteer Fire Company Auxiliary Carry-Out Only Chicken Noodle Soup - $8/qrt Ham & Bean Soup - $8/qrt 8" Subs-ham, turkey & cold cut w/cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion & pickle: $8/ea. Country ham sandwiches: $5/ea. Cut off date: 2/23 Pick up date: 2/28 11AM-6PM at MVFC Activities Building FRESH PORKLane SALE 1 Fireman's Burkittsville Ruritan Club Beverly 301-293-2088 500 443-871-9075 E Main St, Karen Burkittsville MD Janie 301-471-9604 Link and Loose Sausage, Pork Chops, lv messages Sliced Bacon, Scrapple, and Soup of the Day. Preorder by March 2nd Pick up March 9 (8am-12pm) Call 301-371-7795 -----------------

Local Mentions

$$ CASH BINGO $$

Benefiting the Auxiliary to the Mt. Airy VFC Sat. March 16, 2024 Doors Open: 4pm Dinner: 5pm Bingo Starts: 6:30pm Located at The MAVFC Reception Hall 1008 Twin Arch Rd, Mt Airy Advance Tickets: $40 Tickets at the Door: $45 Tickets incl: 20 Reg. Games - $100 prize, 4 Special Games - $150 prize and the Jackpot - $500 prize and more!! Dinner incl. in ticket price: Fried Chicken, Ham, Mashed Potatoes w/Gravy, Green Beans, Caesar Salad, Baked Apples Tickets Call: Kathy 240-446-5587 or visit: Ben Gue’s Antiques 4 S. Main St, Mt. Airy, MD 301-829-2112

CASH BINGO

18 | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 72 HOURS

COUNTRY BREAKFAST Sat. March 9 (6am-10am) Adults - $10 Children - $5

INDOOR/OUTDOOR YARD SALE Lewistown Fire Dept. April 6, 2024 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. For reservations call Beth at 240-674-4688

Jefferson Ruritan Club

FRIDAY FISH FRY

Friday March 8, 2024 2 Pieces Fish, French Fries, Cole Slaw, Applesauce Roll/$15 per platter Extra Fish $5 Dine in or Carry-out 5 – 7:30 pm 4603 Lander Rd, Jefferson, MD

SOUP & SUB SALE

Wolfsville Ruritan SPRING BUTCHERING

Pick-up on Friday March 8th between 5-7 PM, Saturday March 9th 8-11 AM at Wolfsville Ruritan Community Park, 12708 Brandenburg Hollow Road, Myersville, MD. Place your order by Feb. 25th by emailing RuritanClubMD@aol.com (preferred) or calling (301) 293-2426. Please visit www.wolfsvilleruritan.org for order form and pricing.

Services LANDSCAPING Local Mentions Leave the hard work to us!

Spring Cleaning, Mulching, Mowing St John’s Lutheran Church 8619Hardscaping Blacks Mill Road Call JCreagerstown & R Cornerstone at 301-473-0449 will be featuring a Expecting calls any time!DINNER DRIVE-THRU FRIED CHICKEN ESTIMATE Feb.FREE 24th, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Dinner Includes: Green Beans, Pepper Slaw, Biscuit, and a Piece of Cake - $13 Buckets of Chicken: 8-pc - $10; 12-pc - $15; 16-pc - $20 Preorders due by 2/18 Please call Carmi Sayler at 301-401-0633 or call 301-898-5290 and LM w/full name, number, and order

Services POOL WATER

We fill any size pool Call Nolan Hubble 240-315-1762

Weekly BINGO

Every Friday Night Doors open @ 5 p.m., Bingo starts @ 7 p.m. Bonanza, Early Bird, Regular, Specials, Jackpot! Small Jackpot-$500 Big Jackpot-$1500 Great Food! Thurmont Event Complex 13716 Strafford Drive Thurmont, Maryland Thurmont Community Ambulance Service, Inc.

Wolfsville Ruritan SPRING BUTCHERING

Services LANDSCAPING

Leave the hard work to us! Spring Cleaning, Mulching, Mowing Hardscaping Call J & R Cornerstone at 301-473-0449 Expecting calls any time! FREE ESTIMATE

POOL WATER

We fill any size pool Call Nolan Hubble 240-315-1762

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72 HOURS | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 19

Thursday Feb. 22 CLASSES

Family History Lecture- Q & A Your Brick Wall Projects — 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.. Presented by Rebecca Koford, CG, CGL. This is a virtual Zoom presentation. Rebecca will take questions about U.S.-based research issues from the audience and offer tips on how to best tackle tricky tangles in our investigative efforts. Contact info below to receive Zoom link. 18 and older. 240-818-1938. WRSPARKS54@HOTMAIL. COM.

Civil War Meeting: “I Dread The Thought Of The Place, The Battle of Antietam and the End of the Maryland Campaign” — 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Hotel 620, 1718 Underpass Way, Hagerstown. The Hagerstown Civil War Round Table will feature a talk by Scott Hartwig. Hartwig was the supervisory park historian at Gettysburg National Military Park and retired in 2014 after a 34-year career in the National Park Service, nearly all of it spent at Gettysburg. $5 for non-members. Payable at the talk.. 240-625-4216. hagerstowncwrt1956@gmail. com. sites.google.com/view/hagerstowncwrt/ home.

ETCETERA

Duplicate Bridge Games — noon to 4 p.m. at Church of the Transfiguration, 6909 Maryland Ave., Frederick. Noon to 4 p.m. at Church of the Transfiguration, 6909 Maryland Ave, Frederick. Looking for a competitive mind sport? Frederick Bridge Club duplicate games allow you to hone your skills and make new, like-minded friends. All are welcome, no membership requirements. If you need a partner, call Leslie at 240-3444041 (or email lffutrell@yahoo.com). For general information, call Sophia at 301-6765656 (or email sdobran@comcast.net) or visit website: bridgewebs.com/frederick $7. 301-676-5656. sdobran@comcast.net. bridgewebs.com/frederick.

FILM

Teen Choice Movie Night: ‘90s Throwback! — 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Enjoy a movie from the 1990s that YOU picked by voting in our Teen Zone! This program is recommended for teens in grades 6 through 12. 301-600-7250. frederick.librarycalendar.com/event/teenchoice-movie-night-90s-throwback-113125.

MUSIC & ARTS

Live Jazz at the Cocktail Lab — 7 p.m. to 9

p.m. at Tenth Ward Distilling Co., 55 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Get swanky with us every Thursday night for live jazz and your favorite craft cocktails. 21 and older. 301-233-4817. monica@tenthwarddistilling. com. tenthwarddistilling.com/events.

Robin Bullock presents a Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot — 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Cellar Stage at Temple Isaiah, 12200 Scaggsville Road, Fulton. May 1, 2023, saw the passing of one of Canada’s greatest musical exports and one of the finest singer-songwriters of all time, Gordon Lightfoot. Now, as a way to keep Lightfoot’s incomparable body of work alive, Indie Award-winning guitarist Robin Bullock offers an evening of all the classic hits — “Sundown,” “Carefree Highway,” “If You Could Read My Mind,” “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” — as well as many exquisite deepcatalog finds for a celebration of Lightfoot’s songwriting legacy. $25 adults, $12 ages 12 and under.. 443-5400226. uptownconcerts@gmail.com. uptownconcerts.com. Mnozil Brass - Jubilee — 7:30 p.m. at Weinberg Center of Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Mnozil Brass has been entertaining fans around the globe for 30 years with their comedic brilliance, sensational programs, and impeccable playing. The Austrian band, known as the Monty Python of the music world, seamlessly combines slapstick comedy with extraordinary musical ability. An evening with Mnozil Brass is an over-the-top fun, virtuosic, and laugh-out loud experience. $30-$40. 301-600-2828. bhiller@ cityoffrederickmd.gov. weinbercenter.org.

Friday Feb. 23 CLASSES

Teen Connect: Heart Health Month: Stop the Bleed — 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Learn how to control bleeding in an emergency, by applying direct pressure, packing the wound with bleeding control gauze, and applying a tourniquet. These critical skills could save a life when seconds count. 301-600-8200. fcpl.org.

See What Sticks — 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. Performance artists, musicians, poets, actors — meet Frederick’s newest performance workshop and open stage. Artists are welcome to workshop emerging projects in the space and see what sticks. Stay after the performances for a brief

20 | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 72 HOURS

discussion and debrief as participating artists continue to fine-tune their work. Artists can set up at 7 p.m. Performances start at 8 p.m. 301-662-4190. artcenter@ frederickartscouncil.org. frederickartscouncil.org/news-events/ calendar-grid/#!calendar/r.

FAMILY

Friday Fun: Preschool Art — 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Join us for a fun art activity. For ages 3-5 with a caregiver. 301-600-7250. frederick.librarycalendar.com/event/fridayfun-preschool-art-115349.

Christmas at the Roundhouse Featuring the Trains of Christmas — noon to 4 p.m. at Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum, 296 S. Burhans Blvd., Hagerstown. See the trains of Christmas on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 25. New and revised this year is an N-scale train layout. Three-rail layout on the second floor where kids can conduct and control and trains in O-, N- and HO-scale. Special train displays include the Midwood Junction layout, Polar Express, and HO layout that features Western Maryland, including a replica of the original Western Maryland Hagerstown Roundhouse. $6 for adults, $1 for ages 4 to 15, free for ages 3 and younger. 301-739-4665. roundhouse.org.

Fish Fry Fridays at St. Peter’s Church Libertytown — 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church - Libertytown, Sullivan Hall, 9190 Church St., Union Bridge. Fridays through March 22. Fried haddock (glutenfree); choice of two sides: french fries, salad, mac & cheese, coleslaw, stewed tomatoes; cake and beverage. Kid’s menu: Fried haddock or slice of pizza, choice of one side, cake and beverage. $14 ages 12 and older, $6 ages 5 to 11, ages 4 and under free. Max family rate $45. Carryout available. Located in Libertytown, one block north of Md. 26 on Md. 75. Sullivan Hall is the large building on the left across from church. $14 per person. 301-898-5111. tdisipio@ stpeter-libertytown.org. www.stpeter-libertytown.org.

FILM

“Body and Soul” (1925) - Silent Film Series — 8 p.m. at Weinberg Center of Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. The silent film era returns to our screen accompanied by the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ! $5-$7. 301-600-2828. bhiller@ cityoffrederickmd.gov. weinbercenter.org.

MUSIC & ARTS Live Music at the Cocktail Lab — 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Tenth Ward Distilling Co., 55 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Every Friday in the Cocktail Lab we’ll be servin’ up our deliciously wild concoctions and some sweet tunes to get your weekend started off right. 21 and older. 301-233-4817. monica@tenthwarddistilling. com. tenthwarddistilling.com/events.

THEATER “A Murder Is Announced” — 6 p.m. at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick . An announcement in the local paper states the time and place when a murder is to occur in Miss Blacklock’s Victorian house. What follows is a classic Christie puzzle of mixed motives, concealed identities, a second death and a determined inspector grimly following the case’s twists and turns. Fortunately, Miss Marple is on hand to provide the solution in a dramatic final confrontation. Shows are on Friday and Saturday evenings from Jan. 19 to March 2, with Sunday matinees on Jan. 21 and Feb. 4 and 18. $56 Friday evening, $60 Saturday evening, $59 Sunday matinee. 301-662-6600. wayoffbroadway.com.

Murder Mystery Party — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Dutch’s Daughter Restaurant, 581 Himes Ave., Frederick. Whodunnit for Hire and Dutch’s Daughter team up to bring you “Wanted Dead or Alive,” the wild west themed murder mystery party. Multiple dates from which to choose. Price includes three course dinner with entree options, mystery, tax and gratuity. https://ddmysteries. eventbrite.com. 21 and older. $85. 410-549-2722. murdermysterycompany@gmail.cm. ddmysteries.eventbrite.com. Yes And Improv Crews at MET Comedy Night — 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Yes And is the best way to catch the MET’s newest improv teams perform. Each show features two up and coming groups. From hilarious late-night talk show comedy to mockumentary style improv to Bananas doing improv for the first time. $15. 301-694-4744. zcallis@ marylandensemble.org. marylandensemble.org/comedynight.

Saturday Feb. 24 CLASSES

Freedom BANG class — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road,

Walkersville. A pre-choreographed fusion of boxing, HIIT, hip hop, world dance, optional weighted gloves and just a touch of attitude. Offering a wide range of intensity options to help you customize your workout. 21 and older. 301-600-8200. fcpl.org.

Indoor Plants & Wellness — 10 a.m. to noon at University of Maryland Extension Office, 330 Montevue Lane, Frederick. Learn about the therapeutic benefits of houseplants. Identify plants that can make for a healthier indoor environment. 301-600-1596. strice@umd.edu. bit.ly/FCMG2024IndoorPlants.

Ancestry and Descendants of African Americans Buried at Catoctin Furnace — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Learn how DNA from cemetery bones of enslaved African Americans leads to living populations with Elizabeth Comers, archaeologist and president of Catoctin Furnace Historical Society. 301-600-8200. fcpl.org.

Preparing for Tax Season — 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung S., Frederick. Want to know the difference between credits and deductions, capital gains and ordinary income, standard and itemized deductions? Learn tips and tricks to help alleviate the stress of tax season from Tax Strategist Darrick Bowens of Colbert/Ball Tax Service in this information session. 18 and older.

301-600-7000. frederick.librarycalendar.com/event/ preparing-tax-season-119206.

Cryptology: Why is the Enigma still an enigma? — 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Middletown Branch Library, 101 Prospect St., Middletown. Join us for an intriguing journey into the world of secret messages with a hands-on demonstration of an Enigma cipher machine, presented by the National Cryptologic Museum. 301-600-7560. ebomgardner@ frederickcountymd.gov. fcpl.org.

ETCETERA Seed Swap — 9 a.m. at Mount Airy Community Garden , 714 Rising Ridge Road, Mount Airy. If you have extra seeds and are looking to get a bigger variety for the upcoming growing season, come to the seed swap. Co-hosted by the Town of Mount Airy and Frederick Plant and Seed, the swap will happen in the garden’s parking lot. No registration is required and the event is rain or shine. Burns Night Supper — 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Urbana Volunteer Fire Department, 3602 Urbana Pike, Frederick. An evening of fun to celebrate the birthday of Robert Burns, the Scottish Poet. The supper and program are both traditional and not-so-traditional. As always, BYOB. The Address to the Haggis shares the evening with a Car Boot Sale! A bagpipe performance by the renowned MacMillan United Pipe Band and Scottish

Highland dancing by the Davidson School of Highland Dance. Our President, Kaitlyn Likas, an award-winning fiddler and champion Irish/ Scottish dancer, will also entertain. After the supper, there is informal Scottish country dancing for those who wish to kick up their heels. Ticket deadline is Feb. 16. $30 members, $35 non-members, $10 ages 13 to 18, ages 12 and under free. 240-8188283. marianne@mmelliott.com. sasmm.com/burns2024/. Valentine’s Ballroom Dance — 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at The American Legion, 8 Park Lane, Thurmont. The New Thurmont Dance Club hosts aballroom dance featuring live music from Zupe. Black tie optional. Live music, ballroom dancing, cash bar. Two large dance floors, plenty of table seating. Guests are welcome at $20 a person, cash or check at the door. Free parking. $20. 3017882137. ThurmontDanceClub@ gmail.com. m.facebook.com/ThurmontDance.

FAMILY Read with a Dog — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Practice reading to a furry friend! For kids. 301-600-7250. frederick.librarycalendar.com/event/readdog-115377.

MNOZIL BRASS: JUBILEE

through Feb. 25. New and revised this year is an N-scale train layout. Three-rail layout on the second floor where kids can conduct and control and trains in O-, N- and HO-scale. Special train displays include the Midwood Junction layout, Polar Express, and HO layout that features Western Maryland, including a replica of the original Western Maryland Hagerstown Roundhouse. $6 for adults, $1 for ages 4 to 15, free for ages 3 and younger. 301-739-4665. roundhouse.org. Omnium Circus Presents “I’mPossible” — 2 p.m. at Capital One Hall, 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, Va. Featuring a diverse mosaic of brilliant performers including gravity-defying aerial acts, mind blowing contortion, unbelievable acrobatics, hysterical comedy, dazzling dancers and much more. Fun for the entire family! $39 to $99. (718) 875-0428. lisa@ omniumcircus.org. www.capitalonehall.com/events/detail/ omnium-circus-presents-impossible.

MUSIC & ARTS Mountain Music & Moonshine — 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at The Capitol Theatre, 159 S. Main St., Chambersburg, Pa. Bluegrass fans looking for their winter bluegrass fix will find it at the Capitol Theatre with annual footstompin’ good time! Two popular regional bluegrass bands take the main stage, plus moonshine and more all night long! Standard concessions & non-alcoholic drinks will also be available for purchase. Adults: $34 Seniors, 60+: $29, Military,

MNOZIL BRASS: JUBILEE

THURSDAY, FEB 22 • 7:30 PM These brilliant brass musicians double as slapstick comedians, guaranteeing laugh-out-loud fun.

TEELIN IRISH DANCE

TEELIN IRISH DANCE: CELTIC JOURNEY

COMING

SOON!

SATURDAY, MAR 16 • 7:00 PM Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, experience the brilliant energy of Irish dance with cutting edge choreography, thundering beats, and graceful beauty.

SONS OF THE PIONEERS SUNDAY, MAR 17 • 3:00 PM These five accomplished musicians bring fresh energy to this classic genre, taking audiences time-traveling into the great American West with them.

BUY TICKETS

TODAY!

...AND MANY MORE! VISIT WEINBERGCENTER.ORG FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF EVENTS.

SONS OF THE PIONEERS

PLUS UPCOMING FILMS...

SILENT FILM SERIES

WONDER BOOK CLASSIC FILM SERIES

FRIDAY, FEB 23 • 8:00 PM

THURSDAY, MAR 14 • 7:30 PM

BODY AND SOUL (1925)

GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)

WEINBERGCENTER.ORG • 301.600.2828 • 20 W PATRICK ST, FREDERICK, MD 21701 72 HOURS | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 21

Frontline Workers: $25, 18 & under: $24. 717263-0202. vperry@thecapitoltheatre.org. www.thecapitoltheatre.org/shows-moviesevents/live-shows-2024/. The “It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere” Show — 7:30 p.m. at New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Enjoy the songs you want to hear when the whistle blows at 5 o’clock. Hear the music of Jimmy Buffett, The Eagles, Kenny Chesney, Doobie Brothers and many more. Featuring Safe Harbor, an award-winning duo from Jefferson, Md., specializing in songs of sun and fun. $30. 301-600-2828. bhiller@ cityoffrederickmd.gov. weinbercenter.org.

THEATER

“A Murder Is Announced” — 6 p.m. at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick . An announcement in the local paper states the time and place when a murder is to occur in Miss Blacklock’s Victorian house. What follows is a classic Christie puzzle of mixed motives, concealed identities, a second death and a determined inspector grimly following the case’s twists and turns. Fortunately, Miss Marple is on hand to provide the solution in a dramatic final confrontation. Shows are on Friday and Saturday evenings from Jan. 19 to March 2, with Sunday matinees on Jan. 21 and Feb. 4 and 18. $56 Friday evening, $60 Saturday evening, $59 Sunday matinee. 301-662-6600. wayoffbroadway.com.

Sunday Feb. 25 ETCETERA

Black History Program: “We’ve Come This Far By Faith” — 3 p.m. at Jackson Chapel United Methodist Church, 5609 Ballenger Creek Pike, Frederick. Jackson Chapel UMC with AARCH Society will honor the legacy of Frederick’s African American churches and featuring a presentation by author Elayne Bond Hyman and her book “They Came Across South Mountain.” Selections from the Frederick County Gospel Choir and Voices of Unity 301-694-7315. jacksonchapel@comcast.net. www.jacksonchapelumc.org.

FAMILY

Library as they welcome John Patrick Green and Pat Lewis to Frederick to celebrate their new middle-grade graphic novel, “Agents of S.U.I.T.: From Badger to Worse.” Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event. 301-695-2500. cimarketingassistant@gmail. com. fb.me/e/3rYTwX7y9.

the Literacy Council of Frederick County. Students will practice their speaking and listening skills with conversations guided by an instructor. 301-600-8200. fcpl.org.

ETCETERA

Giraffes Can’t Dance — 2 p.m. at Weinberg Center of Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. All the animals in the jungle know their own special dance, but Gerald the Giraffe can’t seem to move without a clumsy step. But with the help of a wise cricket, he finds his own song, and dances to the beat of his own drum! In this stage adaptation of the beloved children’s book, with puppets, African rhythm, and lots of dancing, Gerald learns that his differences are what make him special. $15-20. 301-600-2828. bhiller@ cityoffrederickmd.gov. weinbercenter.org.

FILM

THEATER

Speaker Series: “Repairing the Breach: Confronting the Sin of Racism” — 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church, 106 W. Church St., Frederick. A screening of “Forged in Slavery,” a film produced by the Smithsonian Institution. This film documents the beginnings of the search for the story of the enslaved iron workers of Catoctin Furnace whose remains were found in a forgotten graveyard. The film shares the efforts of CFHS to share their accomplishments and locate their descendants. 609-781-4792. cabrogers624@gmail.com.

Monday Feb. 26 CLASSES

Beginner Stained-Glass Class — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Emmitsburg 50+ Community Center, 300 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. Learn to create a pattern, cut glass, and foil and solder to create your own unique glass project. Be guided with step-by-step instructions. This class is open to new and returning students. Bring your own lunch or reserve a plate lunch from the center. For seniors. This 3-week continues Mondays through March 11. For seniors. $50. 301-600-6350. VirtualSeniorCenter@ FrederickCountyMD.gov.

Heart Health Month: Sol Yoga — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Yoga class offered by Sol Yoga. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes. 301-600-8200. fcpl.org. Meditative Dance Movement — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. Transformative Arts Project. $10 donation. 301-662-4190. artcenter@ frederickartscouncil.org. frederickartscouncil.org/news-events/ calendar-grid/#!calendar/r.

ESL High Beginners Conversation Class — 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. We welcome adults who want to practice their English to a conversation class, hosted by

22 | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 72 HOURS

“Titanic: The Musical” (PG) — 7 p.m. at Majestic Theater, 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, Pa. Also at noon. Based on real people aboard the most legendary ship in the world, focusing on the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of her passengers who each boarded with stories and personal ambitions of their own. All innocently unaware of the fate awaiting them, the Third-Class immigrants dream of a better life in America, the Second Class imagine they too can join the lifestyles of the rich and famous, whilst the millionaire Barons of the First Class anticipate legacies lasting forever. $18. 717-337-8200. gettysburgmajestic.org.

Tuesday Feb. 27 CLASSES

Creative Writing Workshop — 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. The Writers’ Block are a local community of writers, committed to connecting, critiquing and producing writing in a workshop setting. This group is open to writers of any genre living in the Frederick area who are interested in growing as writers and engaging in meaningful discourse about their craft. Recommended for 18+. Every last Tuesday of the month. No reservation required. 301-662-4190. artcenter@ frederickartscouncil.org. frederickartscouncil.org/news-events/ calendar-grid/#!calendar/r.

ETCETERA ASD Social Night with Connect, Live, and Learn! — 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung St., Frederick. Join us for fun, creative monthly social activities specifically geared toward older teens and adults on the spectrum. Learn ways to express yourself through theater, dance, art, and more! 18 and older. 301-600-7000. frederick.librarycalendar.com/event/asdsocial-night-connect-live-and-learn-122304.

FAMILY Elementary Explorers — 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Join us for a variety of fun activities each week. Designed for children in grades K-5. 301-600-7250. frederick.librarycalendar.com/event/fridayfun-preschool-art-115349.

FILM The Right to Read: Why Are So Many Students Reading “Below Basic Level?” — 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at C. Burr Artz Library, 110 E. Patrick St, Frederick. Learn about the reading crisis in our schools, the importance of training teachers in evidence-based instruction, and what we can do about it. With introduction and Q&A by Dr. Reid Lyon, a long-time expert in the science of reading. 3016069235. ecacres@comcast.net. www.therightoreadfilm.org. Bijou Film Screening — 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. Second, third and fourth Tuesdays of the month. A streamlined curation of films presented by Falling Squares. 301-662-4190. artcenter@frederickartscouncil.org. frederickartscouncil.org/news-events/calendar-grid/#!calendar/r.

GALLERY Embroiderers’ Guild of America: Hagerstown Chapter Meeting — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Hagerstown Seventh-day Adventist Church, 11507 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown. Learn more about the exciting world of embroidery: cross-stitch, needlepoint, bead work, counted work and more. 301-401-1702. darlene.11590@gmail.com. facebook.com/groups/529826484341591.

HEALTH Heart Health Month: Senior Fitness Zumba Gold with Cardio Drumming — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Join us for a fun senior fitness class with a combination of Zumba Gold and drumming. 301-600-8200. www.fcpl.org.

MUSIC & ARTS Acoustic Java Jam — 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung St., Frederick. Join local musician Cristina Rivero and bring your acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle, violin, ... to jam with us! 301-600-7000. frederick.librarycalendar.com/event/acoustic-java-jam-114855.

Wednesday Feb. 28 CLASSES

Demystifying PFAS & Biosolids — 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Grange Hall , 14 South Alley, New Market. Are you a farmer confused about what you’ve been reading and hearing about PFAS and biosolids? Join Bloom for a candid and informative discussion to answer your questions and address your concerns. Space is limited. RSVP by Feb. 21.

Day with us. Leap Day-themed crafts, games, and activities to explore on this very special day. 18 and older. 301-600-7250. frederick.librarycalendar.com/event/ leap-day-party-adults-intellectual-disabilities-114531.

202-765-3303. april@bloomsoil.com. bloomsoil.com.

ETCETERA 3rd Annual Digging Deeper into Soil Health — 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Frederick Fairgrounds, Null Building No. 9, 797 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Frederick and neighboring county producers are invited to attend, presented by Dale Strickler of Regenerative Wisdom and hosted by the Catoctin and Frederick Soil Conservation Districts and Frederick County Farm Bureau. Topics include economics and soil health benefits of livestock integration on crop ground, grazing cover crops, carbon capture and more. Raffles and insights into state and federal programs will be offered throughout the day. Register by Feb. 14 at eventbrite. com or 301-695-2803, ext. 3.

Duplicate Bridge Games — noon to 4 p.m. at Church of the Transfiguration, 6909 Maryland Ave., Frederick. Noon to 4 p.m. at Church of the Transfiguration, 6909 Maryland Ave, Frederick. Looking for a competitive mind sport? Frederick Bridge Club duplicate games allow you to hone your skills and make new, like-minded friends. All are welcome, no membership requirements. If you need a partner, call Leslie at 240-344-4041 (or email lffutrell@yahoo. com). For general information, call Sophia at 301-676-5656 (or email sdobran@comcast.net) or visit website: bridgewebs.com/ frederick $7. 301-676-5656. sdobran@comcast.net. bridgewebs.com/frederick.

Sensory Program for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: Music — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Listen as Music and Arts demonstrates instruments and then try them yourself! This program is designed for adults with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers. 18 and older. 301-600-8200. www.fcpl.org.

200 Monroe Restaurant — 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The Monroe Center, 200 Monroe Ave., Frederick. Frederick Community College invites you to enjoy a gourmet dinner created by the students at 200 Monroe Restaurant. Reservations required. $40-$46. HCTI@frederick.edu. opentable.com/200-monroe.

Thursday Feb. 29

Joshua Johnson: One of America’s First African American Artists — 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Joshua Johnson (or Johnston) and his Baltimore Patrons. One of the most important portrait painters in the early Republic. One of America’s first African American artists, he broke barriers by painting portraits of the rising merchant class in Baltimore. In this talk Mark Letzer, former president and CEO of the Maryland Center for History and Culture, will explore Johnson’s Baltimore and his patrons. Pre-registration required. 301-663-1188. Tonya@FrederickHistory.org. www.frederickhistory.org.

CLASSES

Supporting Older Adults through Resources Networking — 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung St., Frederick. Join a panel of experts on topics such as Medicare, Financial Resources, Rehab, Ask a Pharmacist, FCCILR, Brain Health and more. Presented by S.O.A.R. (Supporting Older Adults through Resources) in partnership with Aging Network Alliance. For seniors. 301-600-7000. frederick.librarycalendar.com/event/supporting-older-adults-through-resources-networking-event-107597.

ETCETERA Leap Day Party for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities — noon to 2 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. For all adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Celebrate Leap

By Lane Riosley

Elephant & Piggie’s Based on the Elephant & Piggie Books by Mo Willems Published by Hyperion Books for Children Script and Lyrics by Mo Willems Music by Deboarh Wicks La Puma

We Are in a Play!

FEBRUARY 24 – MARCH 17

31 W PATRICK STREET • 301.694.4744 • MARYLANDENSEMBLE.ORG

“These Roots Run Deep” — 7 p.m. at Hodson Auditorium, Rosenstock Hall, Hood College, 401 Rosemont Ave., Frederick. In “These Roots Run Deep,” the Rev. Barbara Kershner Daniel seeks to discover the motivations for the founding and support of the Women’s College in Frederick by five men of the Reformed Church. marketingoffice@hood.edu.

The kings of queen

Saturday, March 9 7:30 pm Tickets: $50 / $40 / $35

“The Odd Couple” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

717-337-8200 or gettysburgmajestic.org · 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, PA 72 HOURS | Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 23

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