72 HOURS March 7, 2024

“THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT” TURNS 25

Because “The Blair Witch Project” just hit its 25-year milestone, we wanted to celebrate the classic ’90s film shot in our own backyard by sitting down with creator Eduardo Sánchez and asking … probably many of the same questions he’s been asked many times before. But might we add, we learned a few things — about the filming locations, the mysterious ending, and how Sánchez, back in ’99, used his newfound fame to get a loan for a car. Here’s your invitation to re-watch the movie in all its chilling glory, and here’s hoping another local screening hits Frederick sometime this year. In the meantime, read our interview, or listen to the full podcast at fnppodcasts.com/uncapped.

ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET

The Oscars air on March 10, and it’s not the kind of thing you watch alone. Come together for a screening hosted by Falling Squares at the FAC Art Center in downtown Frederick, and wear your best red-carpet attire (not required, of course, but why not). Admission is free, and doors open at 7 p.m. Otherwise, we’ll see you on Twitter — er, X. Still binge-watching Oscar-nominated films? Film Lovers of Carroll County will present Oscar Nominated Short Films at the Carroll Arts Center at 1 p.m. March 10, and at home, you can stream several Oscar-nominated films on Netflix by searching “oscarnominee” on the site.

LAST CHANCE TO SEE FAC’S POP-UP INSTALLATION

You have a few more days to stop by the FAC Art Center to view “Synthesis,” a pop-up art installation curated by the Frederick Arts Council that explores community, cohesion and the promotion of unity through the arts. The installation will be on view through March 9 and concludes with a musical performance that same day featuring Ponythomstevedrone (PTSD), Zootu and the Swamp Whompers.

“THE BACKWARDS HAND” PENNED BY FREDERICK NATIVE

Frederick native Matt Lee unpacks the history of disability in his new memoir, “The Backwards Hand,” slated for release in May from Curbstone Books. Told in fragments, the book examines Lee’s experience living with a rare congenital defect but through the lens of horror films and monsters fictitious and real. Lee is also the author of “Crisis Actor,” has written and produced work for the stage, and is a cofounder and editor of the magazine Ligeia.

FRYO WILL (FINALLY) TAKE THE WEINBERG STAGE

The Frederick Regional Youth Orchestra was all geared up to play the big Frederick stage back in 2020, when the world shut down due to the pandemic. All shows at the Weinberg Center were immediately canceled. The talented group will finally get its chance in the spotlight this weekend when it performs there on March 10.

Frederick’s Gran Azteca latest in restaurant group’s offerings

Frederick’s Gran Azteca is part of a family of restaurants, run by owner Jaime Hernandez and members of his family, including his wife, mother and brothers-in-law.

The group of restaurants includes J&V El Eden Restaurant on West Patrick Street in Frederick, Habanero Tacos Bar & Grill on South Jefferson Street and North Market Street’s River Bar & Grill.

Gran Azteca, which opened in August on Crestwood Boulevard, has more of a purely Mexican style than the others, Hernandez said.

Their tacos are very popular, especially the carnitas (pork) and the asada (steak) varieties, he said.

They cook their own tortillas, the element Hernandez said “makes” the taco.

“You need to have something fresh,” he said.

The Parradillas at Gran Azteca Mexican Food Bar and Grill.

GRAN AZTECA MEXICAN FOOD BAR & GRILL

6956 Crestwood Blvd., Frederick 301-378-2785

Facebook : facebook.com/GranAzteca.

Frederick

Hours : 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

THE MARYLAND THEATRE presents

Price : Lunch entrees range from $9 to 13, with $10 lunch specials each day. Dinner entrees range from $15 to $25. Cocktails range from $8 to $16

Owner Jaime Hernandez recommends : Parrilladas, which offer “a little bit of everything”: steak, grilled chicken, sausage, shrimp, pork rib, served with rice and beans, lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole and tortillas, with sautéed onions, green peppers and tomatoes.

THE IRISH COMEDY TOUR

Friday, March 15, 2024 at 8:00 PM

The Irish Comedy Tour takes the party atmosphere of a Dublin pub and combines it with a boisterous, belly-laugh band of hooligans. Don’t miss these hilarious Irish American comedians as they tear apart as well as validate all of the Irish myths and stereotypes.

— Ryan Marshall

Staff photos by Ric Dugan

Jaime Hernandez, left, owner of Gran Azteca Mexican Food Bar and Grill, and executive chef Jeronimo del Cid.

BOOKS

Frederick native Matt Lee unpacks the history of disability in new memoir ‘The Backwards Hand’

BY KYLE RUSSO

Special to The News-Post

“I came out wrong.”

Frederick native Matt Lee opens his new memoir with a statement oft repeated in the cultural canon of disability; that the “wrongness” of one’s own body is intrinsically tied to their identity from birth. In “The Backwards Hand,” Lee explores the concepts behind what makes a disability and how those who “come out wrong” or otherwise experience disability wave through the muck of ableism in society.

Lee was born with bilateral radioulnar synostosis, a rare congenital birth defect wherein the bones of his forearms are fused. Thus, he is unable to turn his palms to face upward.

The memoir’s cover features a gruesome drawing of a monster’s clawed hand colored in gnarly reds and blues and greens. Sharp black nails jut from the fingers and ooze drips from the palm. The title font looks like either a ‘90s issue of “Goosebumps” or a slasher movie poster from the ‘50s.

The artwork evokes the very emotions, Lee writes, that those with disabilities have faced throughout history — abjection, disgust and pity.

Throughout the book, Lee intertwines anecdotes from his life with vignettes about historical events like the Nazi’s T4 Program during the Holocaust, the eugenics movement in the United States, and the lives of disabled artists like Frida Kahlo.

The effect is such that Lee’s story becomes one with the whole history of disabled persons — all such experiences contain the multitudes of each other, embodying the idea of abjection, each one building on the next throughout history.

“The Backwards Hand” will hit bookstores around the country on May 15. 72 Hours spoke with Lee recently about the release of the book, his creative process and the impact he hopes it will have.

What initially inspired you to write your memoir? Basically, why now?

I was struck by wanting to write about my disability with my hands. I felt that I had an opportunity to give this unique perspective on this disability that’s really not very often seen or heard of or

ferent voices creates some interesting tension on the page.

How has your relationship with labels such as “disabled” and “cripple” changed throughout your lifetime?

When I started writing the book, I had never once, up until that point, said I was disabled. I had always referred to it either as having a “birth defect” or my “condition.” In writing the book, I was confronting that. For me personally, it was a feeling of imposter syndrome. I didn’t feel like I was impaired enough to earn that label. I think this is something that’s actually fairly common in the world of disability — you minimize your own experiences. I was guilty of that. Writing the book gave me the opportunity to embrace it and find a way to not be ashamed.

You write about mental health struggles in addition to struggles with disability. What do you find most salient in the relation between mental and physical disability?

talked about. At the same time, it was something that I had become a bit apprehensive talking about. I had become a little caged about discussing my disability. So I thought OK, I’m gonna interrogate why it is that I’m uncomfortable. It’s such an intractable part of my identity and always has been.

How did you approach writing in such an unconventional narrative style for this book?

It’s just kind of how my brain works.

If you peered into my mind, it would just be a whirlwind, all this stuff swirling around like a kaleidoscope. And that just kind of naturally comes out on the page. More specifically, what attracts me to working in this method is it leads to interesting juxtapositions — putting all these disparate voices together, trying to connect the dots and find a thread that connects all these different people and places and events that on the surface seemingly have nothing to do with each other, but finding the commonalities and how it all ties together.

The cover art evokes the imagery of the “monster” that pops up a lot throughout the novel. What does the “monster” represent to you?

This concept of the monster is so universal and so timeless. We’ve been talking about monsters since we’ve been telling stories. It’s sort of this blank

slate that we can project onto. I’m posing the question throughout the book: What makes a monster? How do we define a monster? What is the relationship between the monster and the disabled body? How has our society conflated the two? This idea of the cripple coming to represent something corrupt or evil or demonic is something that, the more you look, you start to see it all throughout history, and unfortunately it’s still happening today. I think the book is filled with a lot of different kinds of monsters, both real and imaginary, both disabled and able-bodied.

Can you talk about how you view your own experience with disability intertwining with the experiences of other artists, creatives and historical figures? What purpose do you hope it serves for the book?

It’s a way for me to contextualize it and take it from the micro level to the macro level. I’m part of all these people’s stories, because we’re all part of the same story, right? In doing a lot of the research for the book, I came to find certain similarities with the figures I was looking at, and a lot of times the complete opposite — finding experiences that I would have a really hard time wrapping my head around. Trying to find some of that common ground and empathize with these people, and mixing all of these dif-

They feed into one another — two sides of the same coin. Both mental and physical disability are something that we all will be forced to encounter at some point in our lives. We’ve all felt physical pain and debilitation. We’ve all felt mental anguish. And despite the fact that both are these universal experiences, we are still hesitant to talk about them. And on top of that, at least in the United States, we lack very basic social safety nets. I hope to keep these issues in the forefront of people’s minds and in the national conversation.

What do you hope readers without disabilities will take away from your book?

I hope that when able-bodied people encounter this book, it takes them out of their comfort zone. I hope that it forces them to look in the mirror and to ask themselves how they’ve been complicit in ableism and how, perhaps, they have even contributed to ableism being such a pervasive force in our society. And I hope it wakes them up to knowing that there’s really nothing that separates us, whether you’re disabled or able-bodied. We are all the same. We’re all human, and we all deserve love, safety and a good life. And I hope they use some of that to be a better ally to disabled people.

This interview has been edited for space and clarity.

Kyle Russo is a recent graduate from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. He works for Insider as a social media fellow.

Courtesy photo

Matt Lee

‘The Voice’ finalist Joshua Davis will play New Spire Arts in Frederick

BY COLIN MCGUIRE

Special to The News-Post

Joshua Davis not only figured out how to land a car by competing on “The Voice,” but he’s also seemingly mastered what life can be after the bright lights of the NBC singing competition go dark.

Currently teaching songwriting in Michigan, the singer has committed himself to bringing people together through song and art, and he’ll have the ability to do just that when he takes the stage at New Spire Arts on March 9.

We caught up with him recently to talk about his growth as a musician, being in a Motown band during his high school years, how fulfilling teaching has become for him and, of course, what stacks up to performing alongside Adam Levine on national TV.

You were on “The Voice” almost 10 years ago, but I wanted to go back before that and get into the genesis of you getting into music to begin with. Is it something you took to from an early age?

Yeah. I kind of grew up going to music festivals with my parents. My folks had a massive record collection, so I’d get home from school every day and just kind of go down into the basement and there was everything from avant-garde jazz to the Delta blues to rock-and-roll and R&B. I’d pick out a record at random, put it on and experience it. I kind of fell in love with music that way.

Did you always want to play guitar and sing, or was there ever a period where maybe you wanted to be a drummer or bass player or something?

I played the flute — but just for a very short period of time. I was into people who would gather around campfires and sing songs. For me, it was the community vibe of it, the collaborative thing. Music being a gathering point was the thing that really brought me in. It was like, “Wow, this is something I can do that brings people together.” Those were my early interests.

Do you remember the first song you wrote?

Yeah, I do [laughs]. I was a sophomore in high school, or maybe a junior. It was for a sculpture class. I really sucked at sculpture and any kind of visual art. It was the final assignment,

and I asked my teacher if I could do a musical sculpture. So I wrote this song and it was terrible.

Why was it terrible?

I just think I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. I work with teenagers now. I teach songwriting at Interlochen Arts Academy, and these kids are just monsters — amazing, amazing talent. When I think about what I was doing in high school and what they can do, it’s unbelievable.

There has been a growing popularity of music or rock schools in recent years. Would that have been something you would have wanted to do in your teenage years, go to a school like that?

Yeah, absolutely. If I had known about this school, it probably would have been on my mind. I had a great experience in high school. I had this mentor who was a father of one of my friends. He was an old ‘60s rock-androller, and he was also a band direc-

tor in Detroit. He helped get a bunch of us together, and we formed a ninepiece Motown band when I was in high school. We did shows and all that. I was really lucky to have some early mentors, and I’m really grateful for that.

Looking at your tour dates, the stop in Frederick is the second one. The first is in West Virginia. Then you have some other dates spread out between March and April. Have you cut back on going out to play? Do you wish you could play more? Or does the teaching keep you close to home?

Yeah, that’s a great question. I was touring a ton pre-pandemic. I was doing a little teaching — at festivals I played, and one-offs and those kinds of things. When the pandemic hit, all that went away. I got a call from my booking agency one day and they were like, “It’s all gone. Look for other work.” It just so happened, the arts academy was looking for someone to do some adjunct

work, and I kind of fell into that role. Then, a couple years later, they took me on full-time. It’s really the best gig. I can’t even explain to you how amazing the gig is. It’s an amazing place. The quality of human beings and artists is beyond comparison. Anyway, I still play when I want to play, and it’s really a beautiful choice to have. When this gig in Maryland came up, I said, “Sure, I’ll pair it with this other gig in West Virginia, get out of town a little bit and have a good time.” Then, I’m going around the lake in April and I’m going to take some of my students with me. So it’s become something I really appreciate doing a lot more than I used to.

When you started out as a musician, did you think you’d try to take it as far as you could and then one day be a rockstar? Or did you always want to eventually teach? Could you ever imagine being in the position you’re in?

I kind of grew up in the folk tradi-

Courtesy photo

Joshua Davis

tion, where passing the torch is a big deal, so you want to keep the music alive and make sure it doesn’t fade out. Part of that is passing it along to the next generation. I was raised with a lot of mentors, and I was always really grateful for them. So part of my career has been wanting to pass some of that down to them. I never expected to be a full-time teacher or have a full-time gig, but it makes a lot of sense and it’s something that is incredibly fulfilling.

What’s more thrilling: the work you do as a teacher or sharing the stage with Adam Levine.

[Laughs] It’s definitely working with kids over working with Adam Levine any day. But no, I love both things. I get to do this, and then when I want to play, I go play and it’s a special occasion and feels very sacred to me. Every gig now, I’m just really grateful to be doing it. It’s made going out and playing way more enjoyable.

I have to ask about “The Voice” at least a little bit because we’re coming up on 10 years since you did it. You made it really far in the competition. What do you think that did for your career as a musician coming out of it? Was it a net positive for you? Can you just talk a little about how it affected your music life?

Yeah, I won a car [laughs]. I don’t know. I think it’s a mixed bag. All of my students ask me about “The Voice”

‘THE VOICE’ FINALIST JOSHUA DAVIS

When: 7:30 p.m. March 9

Where: New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick

Tickets: $15

Info: 301-600-2828, weinbergcenter.org

and these reality shows and singing competitions, and I never expected to do anything like that in my life. It was totally impulsive. They called me and I was like, “OK, I’ll try it out.” So I think that it was a positive. I met a lot of great people. I learned a lot about the industry. I had an incredible vocal coach, and she really changed a lot of what I do musically. She was amazing.

I had already had a career going into it. I was already paying a mortgage and playing gigs and doing studio work. I think it just kind of gave me a boost. I think there are a lot of other people where it’s their first experience with being onstage and that, to me, is really difficult for them, because it comes in a wave. Three months later, a lot of that celebrity dies away and what you’re left with is what you had before — a little boost. A lot of people have a really hard time with that. It can mess with your mind a little bit.

That’s so interesting. I’ve interviewed some former contestants who were maybe in their late teenage years or early 20s when they did it. I would catch them coming off the show pretty quickly and they were pumped. It was thrilling and exhilarating and a lot of what you said, but the expectations beyond that, I’ve always thought, was kind of cruel in a way. I don’t think it changes your life, but like you said, it can give you a boost. Did you have any fellow contestants who were a little younger and you said, “Man, I’m going to try to give these people some advice?”

Yeah, I was like Uncle Josh on the show. I was 37 at the time. Some of the other contestants were 15 or 16, and the advice I gave them was make sure you trust anybody you’re going to work with. As far as management, booking and all the business stuff. But I don’t know — I don’t think there’s anything that can prepare you for it. You’re walking through LAX and everybody knows your name. You can’t get that publicity anywhere else. It’s a crazy thing. It’s hard to know how it’s going to affect you until you’re actually in it.

You’ve achieved a lot and now with this teaching gig, it sounds like you’re in a really good place. But is there a hill left for you to climb? Something you really want to ac-

complish in the music world?

I think that for me, music has always been a way to bring people together. The things I’m focusing on now are projects I can be involved in that can resonate with people in a really deep way. I’m releasing a single on Friday that is written for my dad, who passed away about six years ago. It’s really digging into grief, and I’m releasing an EP in late spring that’s based around grief. I want to lend my efforts to some different movements that align with my values. That’s the aim right now — if I can be helpful to people and lend some art to their thoughts and fears and hopes, then I’m doing the right thing.

Do you think you’ll ever want to stop?

No [laughs]. You don’t stop. There is no stopping.

This interview has been edited for space and clarity.

Colin McGuire has been in and out of bands for more than 20 years and also helps produce concerts in and around Frederick. His work has appeared in Alternative Press magazine, PopMatters and 72 Hours, among other outlets. He is convinced that the difference between being in a band and being in a romantic relationship is less than minimal. Contact him at mcguire. colin@gmail.com.

Bites

MUSIC

Piano virtuoso

Mia Vassilev in Hagerstown

Internationally acclaimed piano virtuoso Mia Vassilev will bring her high-energy concert to The Maryland Theatre at 7:30 p.m. March 14.

The event is part Vegas, part Pops with Vassilev. Having won worldwide acclaim for her musical diversity, artistry and charismatic stage presence, Vassilev gathers together a dynamic and enthralling ensemble, traversing musical genres from boogie-woogie to Latin to rock ’n’ roll.

This presentation will showcase the virtuosity of Vassilev’s piano performance augmented with strings, which include two violinists and a cellist. This concert will feature classical favorites and familiar hits like “Great Balls of Fire,” “Clair de Lune” and “Boogie in F.”

Tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for students age 4 to 17. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Maryland Theatre box office or at mdtheatre.org. For additional ticket information, visit communityconcertshagerstown. org.

The Kings of Queen will bring classic rock to the Majestic

The Kings of Queen, one of the newest live Queen tributes in the country, recreates the experience of seeing Freddie Mercury live in concert. They will perform live at 7:30 p.m. March 9 at Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater.

Launched in 2021, The Kings of Queen is fronted by Emo Alaeddin, who bears a striking resemblance to the late Mercury in both look and

sound and has been known to don recreations of Mercury’s well-known stage costumes during performances.

There are no pre-recordings or overdubs used by The Kings of Queen, just live recreations of hits by glam rock royalty.

Tickets for The Kings of Queen start at $35 and are available at the Majestic Theater Box Office, 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, by

calling 717-337-8200 or online at gettysburgmajestic.org. Free parking and roundtrip shuttle service for the performance is available from Gettysburg College’s Constitution Parking Lot. Shuttle starts one hour before the performance and is ADA accessible.

Tickets are on sale now at the Majestic Theater Box Office, 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg.

Jazz pianist Lisa Hilton will bring her band to New Spire Arts

Jazz pianist Lisa Hilton is touring with her band in support of her latest release, “Coincidental Moment,” and in recognition of Women’s History Month. She will perform at New Spire Arts in Frederick at 7:30 p.m. March 13.

The Lisa Hilton Quartet features trumpeter Igmar Thomas, bassist Luques Curtis and drummer/percussionist Rudy Royston.

Hilton’s music draws on classic American jazz greats, such as Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver and Count Basie, as well as blues heroes Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson. She is a prolific composer who records and performs with many of today’s jazz luminaries.

Her 27 albums have sat regularly at

Hall, The Smithsonian Institution, UCLA’s Royce Theatre, San Francisco Jazz and Chicago’s historic Green Mill.

Hilton is also the creator and co-author of the popular children’s book “If Dinosaurs Were Alive Today” (Price Stern Sloan), which she co-wrote with her sister, Sandra L. Kirkpatrick. The book was recently updated and published as a digital version by the same name.

Learn more about the artist at lisahiltonmusic.com.

the top of the Jazz Week and other radio/streaming charts for the past two decades, drawing millions of plays on streaming services.

Hilton has performed at Carnegie

Tickets start at $20 and are available at weinbergcenter.org, by calling the box office at 301-600-2828, or in person at 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. New Spire Arts is at 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick.

Robert Smith

Lisa Hilton

Roberto M. Badillo

Mia Vassilev

Jon C. Haverstick

The Kings of Queen

Frederick’s young musicians are ready for their close-up

BY JOSEPH PETERSON

Special to The News-Post

When it comes to performing arts groups, Frederick’s scene is an embarrassment of riches. Even orchestral ensembles, typically the privilege of larger cities, find purchase here. It’s not every town that gets to boast of having a local orchestra, yet here in Frederick there are two. And while the Frederick Symphony Orchestra enjoys a certain level of local renown, fewer folks may realize or know about the Frederick Regional Youth Orchestra, composed of student musicians from across the region.

While FRYO’s various ensembles have performed regular concerts at local schools, its top orchestra has had its eye on a second chance to perform on Frederick’s biggest stage, an opportunity for which they’ve spent years patiently waiting.

Four years ago, the student musicians and their team of conductors and coaches were busy polishing their set in the final rehearsals ahead of a scheduled concert at the Weinberg Center, only to have the rug pulled out from under them by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We were only days away from taking the stage at the Weinberg when the world came to a standstill,” recalled Sharon Zearfoss, the FRYO Wind Ensemble conductor.

Stephen Czarkowski, the nonprofit organization’s music director, also remembers the feeling.

“We had our final rehearsal and couldn’t imagine what would happen after,” he said. “The students and I were very sad to lose that concert. I consider the Weinberg Center the Carnegie Hall of Frederick.”

Zearfoss remembers how many of the FRYO musicians shared their heartbreak of the big performance they prepared so diligently for and didn’t get to perform.

“Performing is part of the soul of a musician,” she said. “I think of how many students may have walked away from making music as a result.”

While some may have scattered, not all was lost. The orchestra and its committed young musicians proved their mettle by continuing to meet weekly over Zoom throughout the worst of the pandemic. They produced recordings and even held sessions with special guests from big-name institutions like the New York Philharmonic and the Library of Congress.

ACT II, MAESTRO, IF YOU PLEASE

Now, FRYO is through waiting and ready for its grand entrance to the stage again, as it prepares once more for a late-winter concert at the Weinberg Center, this time featuring special guest musician Staff Sergeant Nathan Clark of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band.

Clark, a Maryland native himself, plays the trumpet and cornet and counts the National Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic and Washington National Opera among some of the esteemed orchestral organizations he’s performed with. This will be his fourth appearance as a distinguished musical guest with FRYO’s Philharmonic Ensemble, one of five ensembles under the organization’s umbrella.

“One of my missions is to have the students able to perform with the best talent in the DMV,” Czarkowski said and explained that part of Sergeant Clark’s participation with the orchestra will also be to hold a masterclass rehearsal. “Nathan inspires them to play at a high level without saying much. He communicates through his trumpet and music.”

Part of the stated mission of FRYO

FREDERICK REGIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA

When: 6:30 p.m. March 10

Where: Weinberg Center, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick

Tickets: $15, free for children 18 and under. Info: 301-600-2828, weinbergcenter.org Learn more about FRYO at fryo.org.

is to “promote, encourage, and facilitate the appreciation and performance of music,” and as an organization, it may surprise even longtime residents that it’s been doing just that for youth in the wider Frederick area since 1978.

With the aim to provide both an educational component as well as performance, the young musicians of FRYO get to experience and play a wide variety of musical genres from diverse composers and eras ranging from classical to Broadway to the Silver Screen. But as it draws from the county and beyond, there’s a bit more than music theory going on that gives the experience real lasting power for many of the participants.

“One of my favorite things about working with FRYO is that student musicians from all across the area get the

chance to make music and friendships with students from outside their home community,” Zearfoss says. “Our musicians bring their knowledge and enthusiasm from their school programs or private studios into our ensembles, and it creates a unique tapestry. Many of our members start with FRYO toward the beginning of their musical journey, and they stay with FRYO all the way through graduation.”

YOU CAN’T PLAY A SYMPHONY ALONE

The leadership team at FRYO knows that providing performance opportunities are a big part of the positive development of young musicians, including the ways in which they experience their art as the collective expression of their hard work and as a contribution to the community. This is in line with FRYO’s “higher intention,” as outlined on its website, which is “the cultivation of citizenship through musicianship” for its young musicians.

“There’s something really special about being in a space where everyone is working together for a common goal instead of racing against each other to the finish line,” Zearfoss said.

As she tells it, in a very cutthroat and competitive world, music ensembles can be a place for everyone to find success in a way that contributes to the overall success of the orchestra, relying on excellence from all the individual parts to make the music complete.

“The strings sounding beautiful only makes the woodwinds sound better and the percussion section having a great performance helps the brass have a great performance,” she said. “There are so many lessons to be learned from getting a piece of music polished and perfect, including responsibility, listening, time management and being reliable. Making music together teaches us so much about how to be a good person.”

Joseph Peterson can usually be found reading the weathered plaques of obscure monuments he sees while wandering the city. He counts public libraries, public lands and places where local community is fostered among his favorite kinds of places. Peterson is a fellow CASF choir member with Sharon Zearfoss, who is quoted in the article, but has no affiliation with FRYO.

Courtesy photos

Music director Stephen Czarkowski leads the Frederick Regional Youth Orchestra.

Winners announced for the annual Black History Month Art Contest

UScellular revealed the winners of its third annual Black History Month Art Contest with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Eastern Panhandle during a ceremony Feb. 27.

Public voting for the finalists’ art was available online, and the winning artists from each Club were awarded gift cards. Winners from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Eastern Panhandle received gift cards.

Boys & Girls Club members were encouraged to create original pieces of artwork representing influential Black STEM icons. These included historical figures, world leaders, scientists and educators who have made vital contributions to the world of science,

technology, engineering and math.

Ten finalists were chosen by representatives from the Boys & Girls Club and local UScellular leaders based on creativity, quality, interpretation, clarity of theme and overall impression. Public voting for the finalists was made available online throughout the month of February and the finalists’ artwork was digitally displayed in select stores.

First Place went to Sophia Thomas for a drawing of Michelle Obama. Second Place went to Sebastian Thomas for a drawing of Duke Ellington. Third Place went to Nalani McGill for a drawing of Dorothy Vaughn.

Where Charm And History Meet Midd

Courtesy photos

First Place went to Sophia Thomas for a drawing of Michelle Obama.

Second Place went to Sebastian Thomas for a drawing of Duke Ellington.

Third Place went to Nalani McGill for a drawing of Dorothy Vaughn.

When did road trip food get so fancy?

BY NATALIE B. COMPTON

The Washington Post

SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. — The old Wendy’s is just off Interstate 495, about 30 miles west of Boston. It still has the squat exterior of a ’90s-era fast-food restaurant, with curved eaves above big windows overlooking a wraparound drive-through. But you won’t find square burgers and Frostys inside.

At Nan’s Kitchen & Market, customers eat Nashville hot chicken sandwiches on pillowy rolls dressed with smoky mayonnaise and shaved cabbage slaw. People waiting for their orders browse aisles of craft beer and locally made soaps. Takeout boxes contain medium-rare flank steak or pesto grilled broccoli from a nearby farm. Commodity coffee is out. Brown butter hazelnut lattes are in.

Anyone who has traveled America’s highways has learned to lower their expectations for pit-stop meals. The most common options are gas stations stocked with shelf-stable snacks and hot dogs rolling under a heat lamp, or chain restaurants serving ultraprocessed food. To discover Nan’s — described on its website as a place for “fresh and wholesome food, sourced as close to home as possible” — on a long slog from Washington, D.C., to Portland, Maine, felt like a shock to the status quo.

My fiancé and I perused the market full of “shoppy shop” items, the type of impulse buys that lure urbane consumers with jazzy packaging and marketing copy describing independent, gourmet purveyors. We combed through the selection of natural wines and CBD dog treats, the chocolate-covered pretzels and nonalcoholic aperitifs. Per the glowing reviews online, we ordered the Nan’s original fried chicken sammie ($10.95) plus a grain bowl with lemon-brined salmon ($15.95). It was all fantastic.

It all felt designed for travelers like me, someone who will subsist on Cheez-Its and pistachios in a pinch but would rather seek out a meal from a

good scratch-made food and put real nectarines in our lemonade — that kind of thing.” There’d also be a country store element where they could sell local eggs and dairy as well as artisanal goods.

The plan sat on the shelf as a distant dream until the coronavirus pandemic hit, decimating the middle class of dine-in restaurants in favor of extreme luxury and more fast-casual choices.

About 10 months after opening a 275-seat Mediterranean restaurant in Sudbury, Mass., they had to shut down for a lockdown. By May 2020, seeing no relief in sight, they decided to bet their remaining savings on the fried chicken concept. They found a farmhouse turned bed-and-breakfast in Stow, Mass. After negotiating a lease and finishing some construction, they got the first Nan’s open that November. “It took off like a rocket ship within 90 days,” Mackey said. “We were exceeding our pre-covid revenues at our full-service restaurant.”

Wendy’s.

“I’ve been in the fine dining industry for a very long time,” said Jordan Mackey, Nan’s chef and owner. “I spent most of my career in four- and fivediamond hotels, Michelin restaurants, that kind of thing.”

local place with a story behind it. As we drove away with a few bottles of Sicilian red in the trunk and zero food coma, the experience made me wonder: Was Nan’s a unicorn? Or is road trip food getting better?

Pandemic pivot strikes a chord

To understand the state of road trip food, look at how Nan’s wound up in a

He and his wife, Reanna, bounced around a lot for hospitality jobs — his in kitchens, hers in the front of the house. When they came back to New England after years working around the country, they noticed a hole in the regional market for a great fried chicken spot. There are no Publix supermarkets — renowned for their fried chicken — in the area, and the sides at places like KFC left him wanting.

Between 2015 and 2017, the couple wrote a business plan for an “upscaled” restaurant that served thoughtfully sourced vegetable side dishes, “almost like a high-end Cracker Barrel,” Mackey said, “where we could take really

Following the success of their first store, which catered to local customers, the Mackeys searched for a second location. They found a shuttered Wendy’s a short detour from the highway, just beyond a gas station and a Red Roof Inn. It was almost like bringing the Wendy’s back to its roots; in 1979, it became the first nationwide fast-food chain to introduce a salad bar. The company phased out the offering by the late ’90s.

“We were like, ‘How cool would it be to convert a Wendy’s into a healthy restaurant?’” Mackey said.

The fast-food chain builds “really good kitchens,” Mackey found, so no renovations were needed there. The outside got a paint job reminiscent of the Chip and Joanna Gaines treatment: cream brick, black and tan accents, a few rusty shovels hanging on a wall near the entrance. It opened in August 2022.

The sequel was a hit, too. Now they

(See

Photos by Sophie Park

Tyler Connelly, 37, left, of Holden, shares a bite of his fried chicken “sammie” with Kade Connelly, 2, at Nan’s Kitchen & Market in Southborough on Feb. 10. The restaurant, opened by Jordan and Reanna “Nan” Mackey in an old Wendy’s building off Route 9, is a popular destination for residents and people passing through the Metro West area.

Fried chicken sits in baskets at Nan’s Kitchen & Market in Southborough on Feb. 10.

ROAD TRIP

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hope to open two more locations this year.

“It shows we’ve got something here that’s repeatable,” Mackey said. Truck stop sushi and samosas Americans’ spending habits suggest they’re hungry for more than massproduced hamburgers. Regional brands like Buc-ee’s and Wawa have used their kitchens to convert drivers into regulars with Texas barbecue and hoagies.

Some people may say they don’t want to eat sushi from a gas station. But according to Darren Schulte, vice president of membership for the National Association of Truck Stop Owners, sushi is among the best-selling items at the truck stops, travel centers and fuel retailers that make up the trade group.

Before the pandemic, Schulte would spend 50 weeks of the year traveling to visit member operations located off exit interchanges across the country. They range from national and regional chains to mom-andpop outfits that cater to both truckers and civilian drivers, serving a much broader selection of cuisine than you’d expect (unless you live in the South and already know the drill).

“We are kind of like these hidden gems,” Schulte said. “People [don’t] really know what trucks and travel centers offered.”

He rattles off examples like the memorable butter chicken at Refresh Travel Plaza in Madera, Calif.; the catfish and shrimp po’ boys at Port Fuel Center in Savannah, Ga. (they also have a salad bar); Slovacek’s West in the town of West, Tex., which has Czech kolaches, sausages and other Eastern European baked goods.

“I was at a truck stop not too long ago that had some of the best Thai spring rolls,” Schulte said. “They were phenomenal tasting, made fresh right there every morning … so I think what you’re seeing as the United States itself is changing, you’re seeing that same change in [travel] food offerings.”

A chain trying to do better

The Biden Welcome Center off Interstate 95 in northern Delaware has the usual suspects: Dunkin’, Burger King, Cinnabon, Panda Express and Hudson News, a market with packaged foods you usually find at an airport.

But when I stopped there over the summer, I also found a few surprises: There was a cake vending machine selling refrigerated slices from Carlos Bakery, of “Cake Boss” fame; a freezer stocked with “premium” Mexican ice cream bars; and, most exciting to me, a Pret A Manger.

flavors. There’s no dyes. And then on top of that, they’re all young and emerging brands.”

That means tins of smoked Atlantic salmon from Fishwife and prebioticfilled Olipop instead of Pepsi. In the past six years, Krupa has opened three stores in New York City and closed the original L.A. branch. Now she is looking to consult with traditional convenience stores to help them stock their shelves for the next generation of shoppers that are willing to pay a little more for high-quality ingredients.

The issue isn’t just figuring out what customers want, but also how to get it to them. The biggest challenge for new specialty brands, Krupa said, is that they’re not available from the classic distributors that serve convenience stores across the United States.

“On the backside, it’s very complicated,” Krupa said.

For businesses like Pret, Bruffett said the main challenge is sourcing fresh ingredients.

“Our current shops at rest stops are all within our existing East Coast distribution footprint making food deliveries as efficient as possible,” he said. “As we expand our footprint, we establish new distribution points that enable us to get the same high-quality ingredients into every Pret shop.”

And for Nan’s, finding qualified labor is the biggest obstacle.

If you’re not familiar with the brand, Pret is a U.K.-based chain that has expanded across the pond since its founding in the ’80s. It’s not a little guy like Nan’s, but the chain feels light-years more inspired and wholesome compared with other rest stop giants. The company serves a range of premade sandwiches, salads, soup and juices. It touts its organic coffee, donates unsold food and has committed to following Global Animal Partnership standards for 100 percent of its chicken products by 2026.

“We like to say that we sell fresh food, fast, but we’re not ‘fast food,’” Pret’s North America president, Jorrie Bruffett, said in an email.

At the Biden Welcome Center, the Pret was selling key lime cheese cake ($6.30); tomato and feta soup ($7.69 for the small size, $8.79 for the large); ginger shots ($4.79); and a “Little Cup of Goodness,” a.k.a. Greek yogurt with granola, julienne apples, brown sugar and cinnamon ($7.69). I got a turmeric falafel wrap with hummus, pickles, pickled cabbage and carrots with romaine lettuce, plus a banana, all for $17.27.

Pret has a few other travelerfriendly locations, including on the

New Jersey Turnpike, in the Los Angeles International Airport’s Tom Bradley International Terminal and in D.C.’s Union Station. Bruffett said the company is “always successful” in “travel locations” like rest stops, train stations and airports — but he did not share specifics about plans to add similar locations in the near future.

Why aren’t there more good options?

Pret is not the only chain promising healthier options for traveling Americans. Mackey points to the Farmer’s Fridge vending machines that dispense salads and grain bowls at more than 20 airports. Alltown Fresh, described on its website as “a farm stand meets a restaurant meets roadside convenience,” has more than 16 locations selling a range of sandwiches, salads and smoothies in New England, mostly at gas stations.

There are other independent businesses trying, too — like Rachel Krupa, a publicist who in 2018 opened the Goods Mart in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, with a mission of re-creating a classic convenience store with betterfor-you products.

“Everything in the store is nonGMO,” she said. “There’s no artificial

“It’s a scratch concept, and we need chefs to run this,” Mackey said. “We focus on applying really good skill and labor to inexpensive vegetables.”

With the right talent, Mackey says he can transform cheap ingredients like potatoes, cucumbers and broccoli into side dishes that help the restaurant’s bottom line. That’s a critical step because “it’s not really the chicken that makes money,” he said. “You’re making money when [customers] buy biscuits, mashed potatoes and vegetables.”

If the new wave of better-for-you businesses can work out the math, there is a market of travelers out there ready to support them.

“There’s definitely demand for fresh, high-quality food options at rest stops, just as we see in our non-travel locations,” Bruffett said.

Mackey said about the same. Krupa said the best way to encourage the industry in this direction is to support the brands making the effort. On the corporate level, decision-makers will only call for change if they see a shift in how customers spend their money.

“Consumers are the ones that are driving the trends,” Krupa said. “Each individual person’s dollar is power.”

Photos by Sophie Park

Nick Hills, 26, prepares an order at Nan’s Kitchen & Market in Southborough on Feb. 10.

“Winter Wonder” — through March 9 at Gribs Gallery, 208 Main St., New Windsor. The show includes work by more than 10 local artists and features a variety of mediums: oil, pastel, watercolor, acrylic and photography. Hours are 4 to 6 p.m. Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, or make an appointment by calling 443-536-9198.

”Synthesis” — through March 9, FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. Pop-up art installation artists include Shane Acuff, Dylan Zingg, Julia Schrechongost, Judith Kornett, GabyNobody, Andy Salfi, Blue, Sean Patten, and Nonestica. Artist installations are on both the first and second floors, performances occur on the second floor. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. frederickartscouncil.org.

”Town and Country, Maryland” — through March 10, Wine & Art Series at Links Bridge Vineyards, 8830 Old Links Bridge Road, Thurmont. Plein air oil paintings by Ann Schaefer, of Bethesda, works primarily in Maryland. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, or by appointment. 301-602-5733 or linksbridgevineyards.com.

“Reflections on the Human Condition” — through March 23 at FAC’s Al and Helen Hurwitz Gallery, 1 N. Market St., Frederick. Mixedmedia sculpture “Lamentation” and other works by Esperanza Alzona. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. 301-662-4190, frederickartscouncil.org.

FCPS Youth Art Month Exhibition — through March 24, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Works in a variety of media. This annual exhibition features hundreds of 2–D and 3–D artworks created by students from each public school within Frederick County. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

FCPS Faculty Exhibition — through March 24, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Works in a variety of media. A salute to those who make Youth Art Month possible, this exhibition showcases the creative talents of FCPS educators. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine. org.

“Celebrate the Feminine” — through March 30 at Gallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. Work

Saturdays and Sundays noon to 5 p.m. or by appointment. 240-8157777 or gallery322@gmail.com.

”Scratched” — through April 7, Artist in the House Gallery at Locals Farm Market, 19929 Fisher Ave., Poolesville. The trees in Sarah Hood Salomon’s black-andwhite photography impress the viewer with their stark beauty, but underlying each image is an unnerving tone of foreboding: When she photographed them, all of these trees were on the verge of being cleared for development. Now most of them are. Gallery hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Bettie Awards Exhibition — through April 28, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Works in a variety of media. View artworks created by local youth selected as 2024’s Bettie Award winners. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

by Deborah CC LaCroix featuring drawings, paintings and sculptural pieces. LaCroix lives and works in Washington, D.C. While an avid viewer of all things art since her late teens, she only picked up a pencil in her early 40s, progressing on to the brush and the tool. She works almost exclusively from direct observation, favoring vivid hues and strong compositional elements. She seeks the emotive and confrontational, the up-close and intimate, in her images. An opening reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. March 8. An artist talk will be held at 2 p.m. March 23. 240-543-6942, bethesda.org/ bethesda/gallery-b-exhibitions.

“Sacred Mundane” — through March 31, NOMA Gallery, 437 N. Market St., Frederick. Mixed media objects, which artist Lisa Aerianna Tayerle calls shrines, altars and reliquaries. The pieces use recycled materials and objects from nature. They explore our relationship with nature, animal extinction, and the effects of global warming. Artist talk 3 to 4 p.m. March 16, closing event 2 to 4 p.m. March 31. “Small But Mighty” workshop to create a pocket shrine 2

to 5 p.m. March 23, $50 per person, pre-registration required at 240-2747985. Hours noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. 240-367-9770, nomagalleryfrederick. com.

“Artistry Unleashed” — through March 31 at Eastside Artists’ Gallery, 313 E. Patrick St., Frederick. All 13 members of Eastside Gallery will show artwork. Mediums include colored pencil drawings, photography, fused glass, forged steel, acrylic paintings and watercolor paintings. Open on weekends from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. eastsidearts313@gmail. com, eastsideartistsgallery.com.

”Light of Day” — through March 31, Gallery 322, 322 N. Market St., Frederick. With the anticipation of spring, four women artists are brought together in this exhibition: painters Carol Cowie, Jane Knighton, Karen Winston-Levin and Deborah Lovelace Richardson showing their latest works. All of the landscapes, still life and figure paintings embrace the style of contemporary realism by capturing the play of light on the natural world. Fridays 4 to 7 p.m.,

“Photographs by Ray Conrad” — through April 30 at the Lobby Gallery at the Expanding Heart Center, 208 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Ray Conrad solo exhibition featuring photography in regional landscapes, architecture, nature, waterfalls and more. Opening reception from 2 to 5 p.m. March 9. Additional artist receptions from 2 to 4 p.m. on March 10, 17 and 24 and April 7. View by appointment at other times by calling 240-575-5132. rayconradphotography.smugmug. com.

“Winter to Spring” — through May 3 at Crestwood Gallery, Frederick Health Crestwood Building, 7211 Bank Court, Frederick. Original artwork including oil, acrylic, photography, mixed media and wood carvings by Frederick artists. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. 240-215-1460, frederickhealth.org/crestwoodart, frederickhealth.org/crestwoodart.

Countryside Artisans Spring Studio Tour — April 19-21, studios in Frederick, Montgomery and Howard counties. Meet the artists and enjoy their work at 17 galleries and studios representing 50+ fine, visual, sculptural, textile and libation artists. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Brochure, map and other info at countrysideartisans.com.

Courtesy photo

“Light of Day” runs through March 31 at Gallery 322 in Frederick, featuring four women artists. Shown here, “Old Tractor with Chickens,” by Deborah Lovelace Richardson.

BY LAUREN LAROCCA and CHRIS SANDS

Urbana-based Eduardo Sánchez has a laundry list of titles — among them, producer and director — but he is best known for being the creator of “The Blair Witch Project,” the small-budget indie film that took the world by storm in 1999, shot in Frederick and Montgomery counties.

After it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 1999, it opened in New York City in July and quickly expanded to a nationwide release.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the film’s release, a fine excuse to catch up with the filmmaker, who reflects on where “Blair Witch” all began — and where it took him.

I absolutely loved “The Blair Witch Project” when I saw it in theaters. It has always been one of my absolute favorite movies. How did you get into the world of filmmaking?

I grew up in Takoma Park, about as far away from the film business as possible. I always loved movies. We immigrated from Cuba when I was very young, and my dad doesn’t speak English, but he loved movies, so he would take me to the movies all the time. That and baseball were the main things we shared. “Star Wars” came out when I was 9 or 10, and that just blew my mind. I began to learn about filmmaking, [pickng up] any book I could get. This was the late ’70s. But [becoming a filmmaker] was just a pipe dream, really. Then I took a television production class in high school.

“Blair Witch” was your first film, right?

That’s the thing — everybody’s like, “Oh, overnight success.” No. I made two features before “Blair Witch.” I made one right out of high school on VHS, and it was just an exercise. This was before independent film started happening. In film school, I made a film

at 25

called “Gabriel’s Dream” that didn’t sell, and that one really crushed me. I thought I was gonna be the next Spike Lee, and all of a sudden, I’m in a dead-end job. That’s when I called my partner Dan Myrick and was like, “We gotta do the woods movie.” That’s what we were calling “The Blair Witch Project” at the time. We came up with the idea in the early ‘90s and then produced it in ’96, ’97.

Was it fully fleshed out at that time?

We had the basic idea of the filmmakers going into the woods and uncover something mysterious, supernatural, some folklore of the area, and then they disappear and their footage is found ... and there’s a documentary about the footage being examined by experts and interviews with family members and cops and detectives.

It wasn’t the first found-footage film, but it was the first successful one.

It popularized it. Before “Blair Witch,” it wasn’t called “found footage,” and we never called it found footage. We called it “POV cinema.” Even “Spinal Tap” is not found footage; it’s a fake documentary. And that’s exactly what we were doing. We didn’t have access to Christopher Guest or all these stars, but we were doing a fake documentary, just supernatural instead of comedic. We fought the found footage thing, but then after a while, it’s like, we gave in. “Blair Witch” was the first movie that was labeled “found footage.”

We ended up taking all the documentary stuff out and leaving only the found footage. We’d shot an old 1940s newsreel about this serial killer in Burkittsville who had killed some kids. We did a fake ‘70s show called “Mystic Occurrences,” and he talked about the Blair Witch. But we found that when we

Eduardo Sánchez reflects on 25 years

were editing the film, every time we cut away from the footage, it lost all its tension. Right before Sundance, we decided to take all the documentary stuff out and just show the stuff we shot in the woods.

Does that happen often?

Yeah.

That seems like a huge pivot.

The movie always changes in the edit. I did a movie years ago called “Lovely Molly,” and it was called “The Possession” but the title got taken as we were editing the movie. So we were like, “What are we gonna call this?” There happened to be a song called “Lovely Molly,” which was this creepy, old Irish song. The sound guy played it for me, and it was a great title. That movie changed a lot in the edits.

Basically you come up with a movie, you write it, you shoot it, and the shoot changes because you never really get what you want. Sometimes you come up with new things. Sometimes you can’t afford the crowd scene with 1,000 people. And then it changes in the edit. “Blair Witch” was by far the biggest change — the fact that we went from a fake documentary to just, like, this footage.

Good thing that you had so much extra.

Yeah. We had a ton of footage.

And another blessing — like the planets aligning for “Blair Witch” — all the stuff we shot for the fake documentary, we used for a thing called “Curse of the Blair

Eduardo Sánchez scouts the woods when on location shooting “The Blair Witch Project.”

Eduardo Sánchez outside the Egyptian Theatre in Utah at the Sundance Film Festival.

of his groundbreaking horror classic

of, like, “Jesus, what the hell am I watching?”

When you watched the final edit, did you have any inkling that it was gonna be huge, or was the response a shock?

The level of response was a shock. We never expected the movie to make so much money. We never expected to be on the covers of Time magazine and Newsweek and the actors to go on Jay Leno and David Letterman.

It was a cultural phenomenon at the time.

It’s pretty worldwide, too. I did a film years ago in Hong Kong, and most of the people didn’t speak English, but through the translator or through broken English, at least half the crew came to me during the shoot to tell me their “Blair Witch” story.

It was one of a kind, and we knew we had something special, we knew we had something cool, but we didn’t know how crazy things were gonna get. Not even for a second while we were making the movie did we think it was going to go to theaters. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have made it so shaky.

Witch,” which was

The distributor came to us and was like, “We got an hour on the Sci-Fi Channel. Can you produce something about Blair Witch?” And we were like, “Yeah! We got all this stuff! We could do a documentary.”

We made a one-hour documentary, and they released it a week before the movie came out, and that was really part of what made people think it was real.

Yeah, that’s one of the things I see pointed at as being one of the smartest marketing aspects of “The Blair Witch Project.”

People were like, “The campaign was revolutionary, with the website and comic books and the special on TV,” and we were kind of like, well, that’s the only options we had — especially because we made the website before the film was released, when we had no money. People were asking about this movie, and we thought, what else can we do?

If I’m remembering correctly, it was almost like a GeoCities-style site.

A friend of ours who ran an IT company gave us a free server, and I built the site. I had a little bit of website experience. We had a discussion board and a timeline, and people really loved that site. It gave us a lot of energy.

I definitely looked at the site many times before I went to see the movie.

Yeah, and it was really the smart thing to do, but for us, it was the only thing we could do. If we had money, we would’ve done commercials and all kinds of stuff — newspaper ads, the conventional stuff — but we had no money, and the internet was the perfect size to spread this

information. It still is, but now you can check it pretty easily and say, “No, that’s bull.” But back then, you share all this information, and there was no way to confirm it.

Like, we had Heather, Mike and Josh had gone to Montgomery College in Rockville. They had never gone there. Now, you could probably find out pretty quickly that they hadn’t been there. Back then, we had a detective call us before the movie was released, and he was like, “I’ve been on the website, and I’ve spent the past couple days trying to look up these kids, and Montgomery College has no record of them.” My partner was on the phone and was like, “Well, they never went to Montgomery College. It’s all fake.”

Now, everyone has a Facebook page and you’d be like, “These are all actors out of New York. This is crap.” But that was all part of our plan. We were all unknown, the actors had to be unknown. It was a different kind of exercise for filmmaking for us.

We’re writing a movie right now that is our attempt at trying to capture some of that “Blair Witch” magic, with the crazy marketing techniques. We’re kind of back into it, figuring out how to do that now.

I remember walking out of the theater and everyone debating back and forth — not the people I was with but the entire audience — if it was real.

And that was our goal. Again, the big thing for us was “Spinal Tap.” You know the actors, you’ve seen them already, so it’s obviously fake, but for us with “Blair Witch,” we wanted nothing in the movie that showed it was fake. Like, the cameras they used were exactly the cameras you would have used in 1994. And the movie had no score, no soundtrack, until the credits. We wanted it to

feel like a home movie, and I think that’s the reason people came out of it like that, even filmmakers. As a filmmaker, you see something and think, “That’s obviously lit,” or, “There’s some production value to that,” but for this, that’s exactly the way it would look [if it were a home movie]. That authenticity is what pushed people to wonder if it was real or not.

I watched it again last night — also the third format I purchased it on, so you’re welcome — and even being well aware that it’s not real, it still causes that suspense because of all the things you just listed. Because it looks so genuine.

The thing about “Blair Witch” and documentaries in general is the speech pattern is different. There’s a movie speech pattern and there’s a normal, conversational speech pattern. It’s one of the first things you learn in screenwriting class. They ask you to audio tape a conversation without anybody knowing and then transcribe it and see the difference. People don’t speak in complete sentences — they interrupt each other, sometimes they wander off. There are so many interruptions in conversation that don’t exist in film. I think “Blair Witch” is one of the few movies that is not written dialogue. It is totally improvised. It’s more like reality TV.

I’m glad you mentioned that, because re-watching it last night, the thought went through my head that it was bad acting — but it was also perfect. The dialogue made it seem more real. And I guess that’s the difference between the polished conversations you’re used to seeing in movies.

We auditioned a ton of people for those three roles … and these actors knew the difference between normal, dramatic acting and this off-the-cuff improv, where you’re using almost a different part of your brain.

Now found footage has moved beyond that, because everyone knows it’s fake, so you can light it, put music in it, hire actors that are known. It’s a whole different thing now. Back then, it was all about fooling people so you’d have this experience, this dread

There’s a certain amount of delusion that comes with being a filmmaker, but you can’t think, “This is gonna be the biggest independent movie of all time … 2,000 screens!” That wasn’t even an option. That wasn’t even a dream.

Especially the way you just described it, that you were just coming off of a huge failure.

Oh, yeah. All of us had. It was kind of a last-ditch effort for all of us. I was in my late 20s, the other guys in their early 30s, and we were like, if this doesn’t work, I don’t know what we’re gonna do, because this is the best idea we have.

I would assume “Blair Witch” completely changed your life?

Yes.

When did that take place, and was it like flipping a switch? Did it happen when the film was released?

Your life starts changing little by little, but financially, it didn’t happen until May or June 1999, five or six months after Sundance. When the movie came out, then you start getting big checks.

Before “Blair Witch,” my credit was terrible. I hadn’t declared bankruptcy, but I couldn’t buy a car without my dad co-signing. I started getting some money, and I’m 6’7” and always squeezing into small cars because that’s all I could afford, so I was like, I’m gonna buy not a huge car but a car where I fit. I went to the dealer and there’s this Grand Cherokee I fell in love with, and when it came down to getting the loan, even with a big down payment, the guy was like, “We can’t give you a loan — or we could, but with a huge interest rate.” So I started telling them about what was happening in my life, and they were like, “Really?” They grabbed the copy of the Time magazine cover and faxed it over to the credit company. So that’s how I got the loan for my first car after “Blair Witch.”

It was things like that and a lot of little things. I remember going to the store and seeing the MAD Magazine parody and opening it up and seeing Dan and me, drawn, be-

“The Blair Witch Project” creators Dan Myrick, left, and Eduardo Sánchez.

Photos courtesy of Eduardo Sánchez

(See SÁNCHEZ 16)

SÁNCHEZ

(Continued from 15)

cause we were kind of the poster children of the movie. We were characters in the spoof. MAD Magazine really blew my mind … for my film to be parodied in Mad Magazine. I still have that drawing.

I was living in Orlando at the time. Once I moved back here a few years later, I’ve made some good films here and made it my base, just really proud to still be in this area. It’s a great area. I’ve been executive producing these small horror movies these last couple years.

“Last Night at Terrace Lanes.” I downloaded that one last night, too. Available on Apple TV+ right now.

Yeah, it’s a fun little movie that takes place at the Terrace Lanes in Frederick. There are so many talented people in this area — actors and writers and directors.

We’ll have a premiere in another couple months of “Ghost Game” that we’re finishing up right now.

Was it filmed here also?

It was filmed in Hagerstown at this creepy old manor that we found, which was crazy. We were looking for a place in Frederick because we’re based here. “Terrace Lanes” was shot in Frederick, and we had another movie come out called “The Jester,” half of which was shot in downtown Frederick. Frederick photographs so well.

Well, it’s got that old town charm.

It’s got that old town charm, like Mayberry. It’s kind of a modern old town. It just looks good in the movies. We hope to continue to shoot stuff here.

How did you land on filming “Blair Witch” in Burkittsville? Did it just have the aesthetic you were looking for?

Yeah. And there’s only one scene shot in Burkittsville, the cemetery. Other than that, it’s shot all over Frederick and Montgomery counties. Ninety percent of it is shot at Seneca Creek State Park. The last part, the house, was in Patapsco State Park.

We went to all the parks. We were originally gonna try to do it on private land, but we couldn’t find anything big enough. You can’t show the same tree and rock over and over again.

Three days before we started shooting, Seneca Creek Park reached out and said, “You can’t shoot at night.” We were like, “Dude. More than half our movie takes place at night.” We wanted to camp there. They didn’t allow overnight camping, fire, you can’t do any of that stuff. One of our producers knew someone higher up in Maryland government, so they made a special exception. The rangers visited us a couple times, just to make sure we weren’t doing satanical worship or sacrificing somebody [laughs].

So what was supposed to be happening with Mike at the end of the film?

I don’t know. I mean, how do you end “The Blair Witch Project”? We had no idea. We actually started shooting the movie without an ending. We knew it was gonna be in the cellar of this house, and we had set up this house — painted symbols and the hand prints — but we didn’t know what was going to happen.

Is Mike hanging? Is Heather thrown across the room? Is there a light emanating? Are there graves? Josh is there all bloody? I mean, what happens? And we came up with that ending close to the end, so there was this crazy pressure to come up with an ending.

For us, there’s something supernatural going on, obviously, because Mike is just standing there. Why wouldn’t he turn around to Heather? And how is he standing? For us, it was this chilling moment. And we were like, if it doesn’t work, we’ll just come back and re-shoot it. But it worked for us, and it worked for audiences.

This interview was conducted by Chris Sands and has been edited for print for space and clarity. Listen to the full audio interview at fnppodcasts.com/uncapped.

Chris Sands

Eduardo Sánchez at The News-Post in late February for an interview during the 25th anniversary of his film “The Blair Witch Project.”

Local Mentions

Local Mentions Local Mentions

ANTIQUES

Paying cash for military items, bottles, crocks & jugs, gold, silver, toys, older paintings, etc

WE BUY ESTATES AND DO CLEAN OUTS 240-527-7694 or 301-514-4234

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 prizes; Food, drinks, baked goods available

Proceeds benefit veterans, and scholarship program

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

MT. PLEASANT RURITAN CLUB TO HOST CHILDREN’S EASTER EGG HUNT

The Mt Pleasant Ruritan Club is hosting a Children’s Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30, 2024 Starting at 1:00pm

For children ages infant to 10 years with a parent

Bring a basket for your eggs, take pictures with the Easter bunny, and there will be treats and gifts for all children! In case of rain, event will be indoors Please bring a non-perishable food item for the local food banks The hall is located at 8101 Crum Road, Walkersville, MD, 21793

MT. PLEASANT RURITAN CLUB TO HOST QUARTERMANIA

The Mt Pleasant Ruritan Club is hosting a Quartermania fundraiser on Sunday, March 17, 2024 Tickets are $5 00 in advance, $8 00 at the door

Extra paddles available for $3 00 Doors open at 12:00 p m and bidding begins at 1:30 p m Food will be sold

The hall is located at 8101 Crum Road, Walkersville, MD 21793 For more information or to purchase tickets please contact Alden at 301-845-4387

Opening March 11, 2024!

Potting soil for your plants!

Seed potatoes, onion sets

Early garden veggie plants Pansies, Primroses, Gerbera Daisies, Osteos 11434 Keymar Rd Woodsboro, MD 21798

Live Info: 240-439-9401

SPRING BAZAAR

Sat. March 16,2024

8:00 am - 2:00 pm Libertytown Fire Hall 12027 South Street Libertytown, MD 21762

Crafts, Homemade Goodies, sandwiches, soup, bake table, raffles and much more

For more info: Mary 301-401-2824

Sponsored by Libertytown Vol Fire Department Auxiliary

SPRING BIG $ BINGO

Sat. 4/13, Dinner 4:30

Games 6:30 14 Reg Games & Specials/ JP pay $500/$1000/$1200

$60 PP Advance;$65 Door Call 301-829-2510

LVFD reserves the right to reduce payouts if less than150 pp No Refunds

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

LOST FEMALE EGGSHELL TORTOISE CAT

missing since Oct. 31, 2023 at Westwinds Apt Complex area on Hillcrest Dr. She is microchipped & her name is Callie If you’ve seen her, pls call 240-578-0039

CORGI-POO PUPPIES

blue merle color, shots, dewormed, 2 males and 4 females Was $250 Now $150 call 301-491-8760

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

HONEY DO SERVICES

Home Repairs and Handyman Work

Framing • Drywall • Decks

• Doors • Paint • Power Wash & More!

240-852-3585

MHIC #157234

TEACHER (CTE)

FT, 24-005899-0002

$62,928- $145,135/yr

Prince George’s County

TEACHER (CTE)

FT, 24-005899-0002

$62,928- $145,135/yr

Prince George’s County

TEACHER (Central Region)

FT, 24-005895-0001

$62,928.00 - $145,135.00/yr

Montgomery County

TEACHER (Eastern Region)

FT, 24-005895-0003

$62,928.00 - $145,135.00/yr

Baltimore City

TEACHER (School Guidance)

FT, 24-005897-0004

$62,928.00 - $145,135.00/yr

Montgomery County

SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST

FT, 23-004391-0001

$84,047.00 - $135,450.00/yr

TBD

TEACHER (Science)

FT, 24-005899-0001, Wicomico Cty. $62,928-$145,135/yr

TEACHER (School Counselor)

FT, 24-005895-0004

$62,928.00 - $145,135.00/yr

Frederick County

TEACHER (School Counselor)

FT, 24-005897-0003

$62,928.00 - $145,135.00/yr

Baltimore County

SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER

(Social Worker I, Criminal Justice)

FT, 24-002003-0001

$68,753.00 - $91,742.00/yr

Baltimore/Frederick counties

The inaugural Maryland Black Film Festival slated for this weekend in PG County

BY DAWN MORGAN NEARY Special to The News-Post

Entrepreneur and filmmaker Ka Zarr Coleman has been plugging away at film and video production for almost two decades. He has a fullservice media production company in Prince George’s County and hosts the bimonthly show KA ZARR’s Spotlight of the Month on Fairfax Public Access.

But when it came to the film festival circuit, where aspiring and seasoned filmmakers alike submit their films to gain a following, garner awards, and especially to network, Coleman said, “What was being presented did not meet my needs.”

He had a hunch that might be the case for other Black filmmakers, too.

“It’s about education and opportunity,” said Coleman. “I wanted to make it a little easier to get your vision out there.”

With his background in events organizing, he started planning the Maryland Black Film Festival, and he’ll soon see his vision realized. The inaugural fest will hit Prince George’s County on March 9 and 10.

As he was organizing the event and more people learned about it, more and more people wanted to get involved, he said. Earlier this year, his team of 10 reviewed more than 40 films (including one submission from Nigeria) that had been submitted by the January 2024 deadline on FilmFreeway, one of the major websites used by film festivals.

Coleman explained that the film festival isn’t just about showcasing Black cultural films. Topics range from horror films to comedy and drama. He was “surprised by so many documentary submissions,” such as one about the first AfricanAmerican medical personnel in the Army. There is even a video production of a few stage plays.

“The festival is broader than I thought it would be,” he said. “It’s an awesome thing.”

Films went through a rigorous judging process. Selected films were evaluated by a panel of jury judges and rated on originality, creativity, writing, cinematography, performances, production value, pacing, structure and sound quality.

“Some were further along

than others, but you gotta start somewhere,” Coleman said.

Some films were not included due to strong language. Coleman wanted to set a high bar and didn’t want overly raunchy or violent films included.

Of the films submitted, only 13

came from Maryland. One of those filmmakers is Salisbury-based Marlon Wallace, nominated in the Best Short Film category for his submission

“The Runaway Groom,” which he wrote, directed and edited. It is his second film.

Wallace had been getting

daily emails from FilmFreeway, recommending film festivals for him to submit to. He had also been seeking out festivals in the tri-state area, when he happened upon the page for the Maryland Black Film Festival.

Courtesy photos

A scene from “The Runaway Groom.”

Filmmaker Ka Zarr Coleman organized the Maryland Black Film Festival.

A scene from “The Runaway Groom.”

Thursday March 7

CLASSES

Brushes with History: Inspiring the Personality of Frederick — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Museum of Frederick County History/Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. Features the works of a few of the most notable artists who have worked in Frederick County. With beautiful paintings of the county’s landmarks and natural splendor, our story explores the ways in which the visual arts provided economic opportunity to individuals and communities. As we admire their talents captured on canvas, porcelain, metalware, and other media, we celebrate the role these artists have played in shaping our communities both past and present. $12, $10, $8. 301-663-1188.

Tonya@FrederickHistory.org. frederickhistory.org.

Hood College Graduate School Fall Open House - Virtual — noon and 5:30 p.m. Prospective students can learn how to maximize their career options with nearly 30 master’s programs and certificates (including convenient online graduate degrees), plus three doctoral programs, including Hood’s first-ever Ph.D. program in Counselor Education and Supervision. Meet with program faculty. 301-696-3603. fowlercorsi@hood.edu. hood.edu/graduate/admission/visit-andevents.

ETCETERA

Bites & Bevs: Frederick Restaurant Week + so much more — Expanded two-week experience, showcasing downtown’s robust culinary and craft beverage scene with the classic Frederick Restaurant Week and a new Collab Week. Features special prix fixe menus the first week; March 10-16, Collab Week, featuring local food and beverage establishments. List of participating restaurants at downtownfrederick.org/bitesandbevs. 301-698-8118.

downtownfrederick.org.

Duplicate Bridge Games — 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 bridgewebs.com/frederick. $7. 301-676-5656. sdobran@comcast.net. bridgewebs.com/frederick.

Happy Hour at RAK Brewing for Theatre Apprenticeship & Youth Ensemble Pro-

grams — 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at RAK Brewing, 400 Sagner Ave., Unit #100, Frederick. Support Maryland Ensemble Theatre’s Apprenticeship and Youth Ensemble Programs through the Unity Campaign for Frederick County. Do you have questions about programs or want to know more about the MET? Team members will be at happy hour to chat with you. While there, consider trying the RAK Brewing’s Unity Campaign Beer, Kindness Kills NEIPA.

301-694-4744.

abaker@marylandensemble.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.

Totally Teen Time: Mario Perler Beads — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. It’s almost Mario Day! Get ready by making a pixel art creation with Perler Beads! This program is recommended for teens in grades 6 through 12.

301-600-7250.

frederick.librarycalendar.com.

Tween Art Lab: Create a Character with a Comic Artist — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E. Patrick St. , Frederick. Learn skills and techniques from comic artist Orlando Caicedo. He’ll give a short talk and follow it with a character-building workshop. He has worked on such comics as Dryfoot and Colin Kaepernick’s Change the Game.

301-600-1630.

frederick.librarycalendar.com.

HEALTH

Frederick Health Career Fair for RNs, MAs, CNAs, & Surgical Techs — 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Frederick Health Hospital, Classrooms 1 & 2, 400 W. Seventh St., Frederick. This hiring event is tailored for Registered Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, Medical Assistants, and Surgical Technicians. 18 and older. lweddle@frederick.health.

MUSIC

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.

Multiple Country Grammy Award Winner Dwight Yoakam In Concert — 8 p.m. at

Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Dwight Yoakam has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, and he is a 21time nominated, multiple GRAMMY Award winner. His hits include “Guitars, Cadillacs,” “Streets of Bakersfield,” “A Thousand Miles From Nowhere,” “Fast As You,” “Honky Tonk Man,” “Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose” and “Little Ways” just to name a few. $73, $83, $93, $103 and $113. 301-7902000. publicist2024@gmail.com. mdtheatre.org.

THEATER

“Intimate Apparel” — 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. In 1905, Esther, a proud but shy Black seamstress, sews intimates for her clientele. She’s saved quite a bit making beautiful undergarments for both posh Fifth Avenue boudoirs and  upscale bordellos, all while daydreaming of romance and new beginnings. Continues through March 10. Ages 18 and older. 6.50-37.50. +1(301)694-4744. zcallis@marylandensemble.org. marylandensemble.org/intimate-apparel.

Friday March 8

ETCETERA

Circle of Friends Memory Café — 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Frederick Senior Center, 1440 Taney Ave., Frederick. Frederick County Division of Aging & Independence and the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Café is a safe and relaxed place where people with early-stage memory loss, their families, and friends can come together for a unique blend of education and social interaction. Anyone affected by early-stage memory loss is welcome to attend. 301-600-1234.

caregiversupport@frederickcountymd.gov. frederickcountymd.gov.

Friday Fish Fry — 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Jefferson Ruritan Club, 4603B Lander Road, Jefferson. Meal includes two pieces of fish, french fries, coleslaw, applesauce, roll, dine in or carry-out. $15 per platter. 301-662-3643. rdhigdon@comcast.net. jeffersonruritan.org.

FAMILY

Knights of Columbus, Friday Lenten Fish Dinners — 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church, Parish Center Hall, 114 E. Second St., Frederick. Fridays through March 22. The St. John’s Knights of Columbus Council 1622 sponsors with eat-in and “quick curbside to-go. Menu includes a baked or fried fish entrée with complementary drink, roll and your choice of 2 sides:

fries, homemade mac & cheese, baked potato, steamed vegetables or coleslaw. Fried fish is freshly breaded by us on-site. Eat-in menu includes homemade vegetable soup or salad. Dessert is sold separately. Stations of the Cross will follow in the church at 7 p.m.

$14, child’s plate $6. 301-305-2127. satterf@ comcast.net.

kofc1622.org/fishfry.html.

Fish Fry Fridays at St. Peter’s ChurchLibertytown — 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 (gluten-free); 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. 301-8985111.

tdisipio@stpeter-libertytown.org. stpeter-libertytown.org.

FESTIVALS

Maryland Spring Home & Garden + Craft Show — 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium. Inspiration for spring cleaning, long-awaited renovations, relaxing outdoor living and easy entertaining begin at the annual show! Over 400 exhibitors and home professionals. Ten professionally designed gardens, 125+ crafters, Maryland Orchid Society, petting zoo.  $12. mdfallhomeandgarden.com.

MUSIC

Irish Happy Hour — 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Capitol Theatre, 159 S. Main St., Chambersburg, Pa. Lively, authentic Irish music from returning Celtic band, Across the Pond! Plus adult Irish-themed beverages, beer, wine, non-alcoholic drinks, Irish food, Irish dancers, and an Irish-themed raffle! This annual party for ages 21+ is always a lot of fun and will sell out! Advance table reservations are required prior to day of event. $150 per table, advance sales only. 717-2630202. vperry@thecapitoltheatre.org. thecapitoltheatre.org.

Bluegrass Jam — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Mount Pleasant Ruritan Club, 8101 Crum Road, Walkersville. Open to all levels of acoustic musicians and vocalists. Spectators, families welcome. Sandwiches, snacks and sodas available for purchase. No smoking or swearing.

$5 donation at the door requested. 301788-5570.

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.

PERFORMER

Comedy Night — 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. A night of stand-up and/or improv comedy. All-ages welcome, may be PG-13 content. $10. 304-707-2240. vaira.evangeline@gmail.com. frederickartscouncil.org.

THEATER

“Intimate Apparel” — 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. In 1905, Esther, a proud but shy Black seamstress, sews intimates for her clientele. She’s saved quite a bit making beautiful undergarments for both posh Fifth Avenue boudoirs and  upscale bordellos, all while daydreaming of romance and new beginnings. Continues through March 10. Ages 18 and older.

6.50-37.50. +1(301)694-4744. zcallis@marylandensemble.org. marylandensemble.org/intimate-apparel.

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 March 9

Forest of Needwood Race — 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St Mary’s Catholic Church, 4231 Catholic Church Road, Knoxville. In-person race starts at 1 p.m. A Frederick Steeplechasers Grand Prix event to honor Jennifer Shafer Odom, who gave her life in the service of our country while serving in the U.S. Army in 1999. She was a Brunswick High School and West Point graduate. Course: 5-mile loop, rolling hills on paved road through the historic property called Forest of Needwood. Race day registration starts at 11:30 a.m. $35 for 19 & up, $15 for 18 and younger. 301-834-8045. zum50@hotmail.com. barcmd.com.

CLASSES

Introduction to Metalsmithing — 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at FCC Monroe Center, Room MC147, 200 Monroe Ave., Frederick. Master the basics of metalsmithing in this 1-day workshop. Learn how to use a torch, sawing, hammering plus other texture techniques to apply and finish copper jewelry (to take home) Workshop includes lecture, demonstration, hands on practice and one on one instruction in the creation of your own

• DUTCH APPLE DINNER THEATRE

Show: “THE ADDAMS FAMILY” Lancaster,PA. • Thur. Mar. 14 • $124.

• SIGHT & SOUND THEATRE

Show: “DANIEL” • Strasburg, PA Mar. 26 or 27 • $178.

• *ODYSSEY CRUISE @ CHERRY BLOSSOM TIME Washington, DC. • Thur. Mar. 28 •$130

• AMERICAN MUSIC THEATRE

Show: “CELTIC WOMEN” Lancaster, PA • Mar. 29 • $185.

• * SOUTHERN SPRING

Savannah, Charleston & Myrtle Beach April 1-7 • Call for details

• * DUTCH APPLE DINNER THEATRE

Show: “PIANO MEN: GENERATIONS”

Celebrating the Piano Music of Billy Joel & Elton John • Mon. Apr. 15 • $137.

• OUTER BANKS & VA. BEACH

Includes International Tattoo April 16-20 • Call for details

• SPRING AT THE BEACH WITH SPRINGFEST Ocean City, MD • May 1-3 • Call for details

• NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA May 21-24 • Call for details

• AMERICAN MUSIC THEATRE

Show: DANIEL O’DONELL Lancaster, PA. • Wed. Jun. 12 • $166.

• KENNEDY CENTER

Show: “FUNNY GIRL” Washington, DC • Sat. July 13 • $149.

• NORTHERN INDIANA AMISH Middlebury & Shipshewanna, IN Jul. 29-Aug. 1 • Call for details

• WE HAVE GIFT CERTIFICATES

unique designs. All tools and materials are provided. No experience necessary. Class will take a short lunch break so be sure to bring a packed lunch. Pre-register. $99. 301-624-2727.

lifelonglearning@frederick.edu.

Kegs & Eggs with The Curley Brothers — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rockwell Brewery, 8411 Broadband Drive, Frederick. Join us for a wild St. Patty’s Fest with The Curley Brothers. Get ready for a day filled with good vibes, great music and of course, kegs & eggs. Old Firemans BBQ Food Truck will be serving up the grub. Special-Tees will be printing custom T-shirts on site. $5 cover at Riverside or Pre-order a Pint and a Breakfast Sandwich for $15. $5 cover. 301-372-4880. matt@rockwellbrewery.com.

Bee Habitats — 10 a.m. to noon at University of Maryland Extension Office, 330 Montevue Lane, Frederick. A successful pollinator garden consists of more than pretty flowers. Shelter is a necessary element in supporting our critical insects. Join us in learning about native bee habitats, and learn how to make a bee hotel you can hang in your garden.  301-600-1596. strice@umd.edu.

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. 18 and older. 301-600-8200. fcpl.org.

Brushes with History: Inspiring the Personality of Frederick — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Museum of Frederick County History/Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. Features the works of a few of the most notable artists who have worked in Frederick County. With beautiful paintings of the county’s landmarks and natural splendor, our story explores the ways in which the visual arts provided economic opportunity to individuals and communities. As we admire their talents captured on canvas, porcelain, metalware, and other media, we celebrate the role these artists have played in shaping our communities both past and present. $12, $10, $8. 301-663-1188. Tonya@FrederickHistory.org. frederickhistory.org.

Adult Crafternoon: Sew a Reusable Tote Bag — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Frederick County

Public Libraries (C. Burr Artz), 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Learn how to sew a reusable tote bag with help from local crafters. Supplies and spots are limited. 18 and older. eschenkelberg@frederickcountymd.org. frederick.librarycalendar.com.

Sip & Shop at Studio 24E — noon to 4 p.m. at Studio 24E, 21 E. Main St., Thurmont. Permanent Jewelry, Moments with MIKU presented by Nancy Mikulas. Shop new spring merchandise. Gift with purchase of any Sak or Sakroots bag. (While supplies last.) 443-679-7916. studio24e@aol.com. studio24e.com/events.

Fox Haven Foragers: Level 1 — 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Fox Haven Farm, Retreat & Learning Center, 3630 Poffenberger Road, Jefferson. Natural dyeing with fresh florals, hunting for edible mushrooms, cooking up cattails, propagating and stewarding wild species and so much more will be explored this year. Includes plant ID, foraging and processing the season’s bounty with local guides from diverse backgrounds and skill sets.Class runs from 1:30-4:30 PM on the second Saturday of each month from February through November. The first 2 hours of class will be held in the field, gathering plants and learning botany skills. The last hour is spent processing and preparing the harvest into a tasty meal or a product to take home. $50. 240-490-5484. alecks@foxhavenfarm.org. foxhavenfarm.org.

ETCETERA

Burall Brothers Memorial Scholarship

Pancake Breakfast — 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at New Market Grange Hall, 14 South Alley, New Market. Menu includes pancakes, biscuits, bacon, sausage patty, scrambled eggs, chip beef gravy, milk, juice and coffee. Proceeds will be used to benefit the Frederick County Pomona Grange Burall Brothers Memorial Scholarship Fund. Snow date is March 16. $10 adults, $5 ages 6 to 12, ages 5 and under free, cash or check.

Spring Recycling Event — 9 a.m. to noon at Municipal parking lot, Middletown. Instead of putting metals objects out for the bulk trash, consider bringing them to the municipal center parking lot for recycling. Items that will be collected in the parking lot behind the Middletown Municipal Building include used clothing and textiles, metals, paint cans ($5 each), lithium-ion batteries and electronics.

Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics

— 9 a.m. at Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Co., 702 N Main St., Mount Airy. Cheer for our firefighters, public works staff, and police officers as they take a plunge to support Special Olympics in Maryland. Pick a team from the three groups participating and drop off a check or cash to Town Hall, 110 S. Main St., or the Police station, 205 Center St., or the fire station, 702 N. Main Street. Then come watch the fun as the teams brave cold tanks!

301-829-1424.

BUMC Praise Band & Friends Concert — 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Buckeystown United Methodist Church, 3440 Buckeystown Pike, Buckeystown. The BUMC Praise Band and Friends will present a concert of praise and gospel songs in the framework of a walk with Christ.

buckeystownumc.org.

Brunswick’s African-American History —

2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Dr. Wayne Allgaier, chairman of the Brunswick History Commission, will share what he has learned about the history of Brunswick’s African-American community. Community members are invited to contribute their knowledge and stories to this conversation. 301-600-7250.

frederick.librarycalendar.com.

Riverworks Storytellers Series: The Indigenous Peoples of the Agricultural Reserve — 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Poolesville Old Town Hall , 19933 Fisher Ave., Poolesville. Professor and Writer Christine Rai shares her

experience diving into the history of indigenous groups native to Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve. 2406444345. ian@riverworksart.org. www.riverworksart.org/event-details/riverworks-storytellers-series-indigenous-peoples-of-the-potomac-piedmont.

Clutch the Future Purse Auction — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Hood College - Coblentz Hall, 650 Blazer Trail, Frederick. The signature event for Woman to Woman Mentoring aimed to grow and sustain a mentoring culture in Frederick County and beyond. This lively event brings together 300+ women who lift each other up, along with 150+ purses and other exciting packages available for bidding. VIP Tickets include early admission and special gift. Single and multi-ticket packages available at clutchthefuture.com. 21 and older, RSVP required. tickets start at $70. 301-846-2556. amanda@womantowomanmentoring.org. clutchthefuture.com.

FAMILY

Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play! — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. In this vaudevillian romp, Elephant and Piggie sing and dance their way through plenty of pachydermal peril and swiney suspense. An elephant named Gerald and a pig named Piggie are best, best, “bestus” friends, but Gerald worries that something could go wrong that would end their friendship. $6.50 to $25. 301-694-4744.

zcallis@marylandensemble.org. marylandensemble.org/ elephant-piggies-were-in-a-play.

FESTIVALS

Maryland Spring Home & Garden + Craft Show — 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium. Inspiration for spring cleaning, long-awaited renovations, relaxing outdoor living and easy entertaining begin at the annual show! Over 400 exhibitors and home professionals. Ten professionally designed gardens, 125+ crafters, Md. Orchid Society, petting zoo. $12. mdfallhomeandgarden.com. Leprechaun Luau — 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Frederick Fairgrounds, 797 E. Patrick St., Frederick. The signature fundraising event of The Rotary Club of Frederick. All food, beer, margaritas and entertainment included in ticket price, and a chance to win the grand prize: a trip for two, compliments of Cruise Holidays of Frederick — Experts at land and sea. No outside food or alcohol is permitted. 21 and older. $70. 240-394-5828. theleprechaunluau.com.

HEALTH

Optimizing Gut Health — 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at The Common Market, 927 W. Seventh St., Frederick. Having a thriving metabolism is KEY for having healthy and happy digestive functioning. Learn how to empower yourself with several root-cause strategies to support your digestive system & metabolism and their proper functioning.

$20 - $40. 301-663-3416. aharmon@commonmarket.coop. commonmarket.coop.

MUSIC

College Choir Concert — 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Baker Memorial Chapel, 2 College Hill, Westminster. The McDaniel College Choir performs, under the direction of Kyle Engler, senior lecturer, with Peggy Brengle serving as accompanist. The program features music from diverse locales and historical eras.    410-857-2595. cknauer@mcdaniel.edu.

Student African Drum Ensembles — 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Naganna Forum, Roj Student Center, McDaniel College, 2 College Hill, Westminster. Students in McDaniel College’s Student African Drum Ensembles perform, under the direction of senior adjunct lecturer Pape Demba “Paco” Samb, a Senegalese griot.

410-857-2595. cknauer@mcdaniel.edu.

PTSD, Zootu, The Swamp Whompers — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. Live music featuring PTSD (ponythomstevedrone) a drone noise experimental band based in D.C., Zootu, a project led by local musician Tad Achey, and The Swamp Whompers, a local bluegrass, folk group whose music centers on cryptids creatures and strange happening. $10. 304-707-2240.

vaira.evangeline@gmail.com. frederickartscouncil.org.

“Drum Roll, Please!” — 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Elizabeth Schulze, conduc-

tor. An unforgettable evening of classical music as the MSO presents a program featuring some of the most celebrated works of the classical era.  $34. 240-382-2623.

nlushbaugh@marylandsymphony.org.

Joshua Davis — 7:30 p.m. at New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick. As a finalist on NBC’s “The Voice,” Davis finally had the chance to showcase his bright talent on an international stage. He now brings his award-winning vocal and songwriting skills to Frederick for a one-time only appearance. $30. 301-600-2828.

bhiller@cityoffrederickmd.gov. weinbercenter.org.

Common Ground Downtown with The Kruger Brothers — 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Patterson Hall , 2 College Hill, Westminster . Common Ground on the Hill, in residence at McDaniel College, presents a performance by The Kruger Brothers, who blend bluegrass with Americana and classical music.  $28 adults, $25 seniors and students with valid ID.. 410-857-2595.

cknauer@mcdaniel.edu. commongoundonthehill.org.

The Kings of Queens — 7:30 p.m. at Majestic Theater, 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, Pa. Although The Kings Of Queen was only established in 2021, they have received a ton of attention as it is clear to all who have seen them perform live that they are one of the very few elite Queen tributes. $35, $40, $50. 717-337-8200. gettysburgmajestic.org.

Joyride — 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at Cactus Flats, 10026 Hansonville Road, Frederick. Rock ‘n’ roll.

Spires Brass Band Concert: “Today’s Children — Tomorrow’s Leaders” — 8 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. at Frederick Community College, Jack B. Kussmaul Theater, 7932 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick. Features talented fifth-graders from across the county playing with the Spires on several selections. Tickets available (cash or check only) at the box office on performance night. $5 students; $20 adults. Info@SpiresBrassBand.org. SpiresBrassBand.org.

Sunday March 10 CLASSES

Emancipation and Education — 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church, 106 W. Church St., Frederick. The fourth in the Lenten Rice Bowl Speaker Series, Dean Herrin, PhD, former Chief Historian of the National Capital Region, National Park Service (retired), and former NPS Coordinator of the Catoctin Center for Regional Studies at Frederick Community College, will speak about the education of African Americans in Frederick County after emancipation. 609-781-4792. cabrogers624@gmail.com.

Whole Plant Fermenting: Beets from Kvass to Borscht with Olive Todd — 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Fox Haven Farm, Retreat & Learning Center, 3630 Poffenberger Road, Jefferson. Lean into the magic of fermenting and get the most use out of your produce! Learn how to make a probiotic drink, fermented soup, and a nutrient rich

pesto, all from one bunch of beets. Meet new yeasts, become familiar with the basics of lacto fermentation, and extend your food’s life cycle.

$42. 240-490-5484. alecks@foxhavenfarm.org. foxhavenfarm.org.

Intergenerational Fire Building with Jason Drevenak — 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Fox Haven Farm, Retreat & Learning Center, 3630 Poffenberger Road, Jefferson. No matches, no lighter, no road flares, no problem! This class will introduce students to the process and skills necessary to make fire using the hand drill and bow and drill methods.

$42. 240-490-5484.

alecks@foxhavenfarm.org.

foxhavenfarm.org.

ETCETERA

Plant Swap Party — noon to 5 p.m. at Rockwell Brewery at Riverside, 8411 Broadband Drive, Frederick. Every second Sunday of the month through December. All welcome. Bring your plants to swap. 301-372-4880. matt@rockwellbrewery.com.

Second Sunday Tree Walk with the Frederick County Forestry Board — 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at City of Frederick, Rec Center or Pergola, City of Frederick. Guided tour with the Frederick County Forestry Board. Learn how to identify common local trees and hear fun facts about each on a tour with the board’s expert guides. Registration required. Free. 301-473-8417.

sonia@demirayink.com.

frederick.forestryboard.org/tree-walk.

Survivor Series: A Discussion with Heartly House — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung St., Frederick. On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the U.S. Meet Stephanie, Janet and Joe, three unique individuals who survived various forms of abuse and desire to provide others with the inspiration to reclaim their self-worthy and dignity. 18 and older. 301-600-7000.

frederick.librarycalendar.com.

Author Event: Michelle Brafman and Mary Kay Zuravleff — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at The C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Join Curious Iguana at C. Burr Artz Library as they welcome these authors who will discuss their latest novels, answer questions and sign books.  301-695-2500.

cimarketingassistant@gmail.com.

FAMILY

Grandparent and Me Lunch — noon to 3 p.m. at Brook Hill United Methodist Church, 8946 Indian Springs Road, Frederick. Old-fashioned games and toys. Lunch provided. RSVP required. 301-758-0356. nursery@bhumc.org. brookhill.ccbchurch.com.

Spring Market at Dancing Bear — noon to 4 p.m. at Dancing Bear Toys and Games, 15 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Every Sunday in March (excluding Easter). An opportunity for eight kid creators to sell their creations and give the community a chance to support young entrepreneurs. 301-606-0934. cimarketingassistant@gmail.com. dbeartoys.com.

Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play! — 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. In this vaudevillian romp, Elephant and Piggie sing and dance their way through plenty of pachydermal peril and swiney suspense. An elephant named Gerald and a pig named Piggie are best, best, “bestus” friends, but Gerald worries that something could go wrong that would end their friendship. $6.50 to $25. 301-694-4744. zcallis@marylandensemble.org. marylandensemble.org.

FESTIVALS

Maryland Spring Home & Garden + Craft Show — 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium. $12. mdfallhomeandgarden.com.

MUSIC

“Drum Roll, Please!” — 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Elizabeth Schulze, conductor. An unforgettable evening of classical music as the MSO presents a program featuring some of the most celebrated works of the classical era. $34. 240-382-2623. nlushbaugh@marylandsymphony.org.

Lilt, Duo In Concert Performing Traditional Irish Music — 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at St .Anne’s Episcopal Church, 25100 Ridge Road, Damascus. Be transported to the Emerald Isle by Lilt, the traditional Irish music duo of Tina Eck on flute and tin whistle and Keith Carr on bouzouki and tenor banjo. They will be joined by a traditional Irish dancer. 301-253-2130.

office@stannesdamascus.org. stannesdamascus.org.

THEATER

“Intimate Apparel” — 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. In 1905, Esther, a proud but shy Black seamstress, sews intimates for her clientele. She’s saved quite a bit making beautiful undergarments for both posh Fifth Avenue boudoirs and  upscale bordellos, all while daydreaming of romance and new beginnings. Continues through March 10. Ages 18 and older.

6.50-37.50. +1(301)694-4744. zcallis@marylandensemble.org. marylandensemble.org/intimate-apparel.

Monday March 11

CLASSES

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.

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 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

Duplicate Bridge Games — noon to 4 p.m. at Church of the Transfiguration, 6909 Maryland Ave., Frederick. $7. 301-676-5656. sdobran@comcast.net. bridgewebs.com/frederick.

HEALTH

Sol Yoga — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Join us for this free yoga class offered by Sol Yoga.  Be sure to wear comfortable clothes. 18 and older. 301-600-8200. fcpl.org.

POLITICS

Senatorial Debate for Primary Candidates

— 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Frederick Elk Lodge #684, 289 Willowdale Drive, Frederick. Democrat and Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate will be in attendance for a meet-andgreet at 6 p.m., with the debate starting at 7 p.m. All Senate candidates were invited. $10. 240-675-0749.

pworsley@frederickcountyconservativeclub. com.

FrederickCountyConservativeClub.com.

Tuesday March 12

CLASSES

NARFE Meeting — 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Golden Corral Buffet & Grill, 5621 Spectrum Drive, Frederick. The Local Chapter 409 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) monthly meeting will include a presentation by Moss Rudley, superintendent of the Historic Preservation Training Center of the National Park Service.

240-422-9115. jf@saliantinc.com. narfechapter409.org.

Know Your Beer — 4 p.m. to 6 a.m. at Steinhardt Brewing, 340 E. Patrick St., Suite 102, Frederick. Learn the beer basics as you taste your way through this course. Afterall, the best beer to drink is the one that you’ll enjoy the most. 21 and older, pre-registration required. $34. 301-624-2727.

lifelonglearning@frederick.edu. tinyurl.com/24ukhvuh.

FAMILY

Elementary Explorers: Aviation with Mia Anderson — 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Learn about aviation with 17-year-old pilot and Air Ambition founder and CEO, Mia Anderson. This program is designed for children in grades K-5. 301-600-7250.

frederick.librarycalendar.com.

KnitWits — 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Beans In The Belfry, 122 W. Potomac St., Brunswick. Bring current projects to share.

FILM

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.

Wednesday March 13 CLASSES

Sensory Program for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: Karaoke — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Bring your singing voice and dancing shoes and sing/dance along to the music! 18 and older 301-600-8200. fcpl.org.

MD SBDC: Five Key Elements to Your Marketing Plan — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. online. Understanding the five primary questions any business should ask as it develops its marketing and advertising plan can help drive it towards its goals for success. The questions are simple and they may help a business owner establish focus for the future. Presenter is Dave Barnhart. Registration required. cityoffrederickmd.gov.

Brushes with History: Inspiring the Personality of Frederick — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Museum of Frederick County History/Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. Features the works of a few of the most notable artists who have worked in Frederick County. With beautiful paintings of the county’s landmarks and natural splendor, our story explores the ways in which the visual arts provided economic opportunity to individuals and communities. As we admire their talents captured on canvas, porcelain, metalware, and other media, we celebrate the role these artists have played in shaping our communities both past and present. $12, $10, $8. 301-663-1188. Tonya@FrederickHistory.org. frederickhistory.org.

ETCETERA

Bites & Bevs: Frederick Restaurant Week + so much more — 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.. Expanded two-week experience, showcasing downtown’s robust culinary and craft beverage scene with the classic Frederick Restaurant Week and a new Collab Week. Features special prix fixe menus the first week; March 10-16, Collab Week, featuring local food and beverage establishments. List of participating restaurants at downtownfrederick.org/bitesandbevs. 301-698-8118.

downtownfrederick.org.

Walkersville High School’s Multicultural Night — 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Walkersville High School, 81 W. Frederick St., Walkersville. Share the variety of cultures in our community and to celebrate the diversity of our school. There will be food, music, dancing, and tables with crafts for elementary and middle school aged students.  jonathan.newman@fcps.org. edu.fcps.org/whs/home.

Civil War Tour of Harpers Cemetery — 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Harpers Cemetery, Fillmore and York streets, Harpers Ferry, W.Va. Join Harpers Ferry Civil War Round Table and the Harpers Ferry Park Association for a guided tour of Civil War graves at Harper

Cemetery. Meet at the cemetery gate. RSVP required by email at ccraig@laurellodge. com or phone at 304-433-1260. We will carry on in light rain (bring an umbrella), but you will receive email notification if there is a severe weather cancellation.  304-433-1260. ccraig@laurellodge.com.

FAMILY

Story Time at The Co-op — 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at The Common Market, 927 W. Seventh St., Frederick. Local Frederick author Kypriana Daniels invites you to a story time and book signing. There will also be healthy snacks and interactive activities that encourage kids and families to reconnect with nature.

301-663-3416.

aharmon@commonmarket.coop. commonmarket.coop.

HEALTH

Medigap/Supplemental vs Advantage Plans — 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Virtual Senior Center , . Learn more about these different types of Medicare programs to help determine which type of program may be the best for you. These are 90-minute workshops held on Zoom, led by our knowledgeable SHIP (State Health Insurance Program) staff.  301-788-1075.

virtualseniorcenter@frederickcountymd.gov. frederickcountymd.gov.

MUSIC

Lisa Hilton Quartet — 7:30 p.m. at New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick. The award-winning composer and critically acclaimed West Coast pianist Lisa Hilton, and her engaging quartet, will perform uplifting new music from their latest release, “Coincidental Moment.” Hilton’s impressionistic compositions, swinging piano and expressive touch explore the soundscape of jazz and blues inspired by great American musicians Count Basie, Horace Silver, George Gershwin, and bluesman Robert Johnson alongside influences from Chopin, Satie, and Antonio Carlos Jobim. $20-$25. 301-600-2828. bhiller@cityoffrederickmd.gov. weinbercenter.org.

Thursday March 14

CLASSES

Brushes with History: Inspiring the Personality of Frederick — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Museum of Frederick County History/Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. Features the works of a few of the most notable artists who have worked in Frederick County. With beautiful paintings of the county’s landmarks and natural splendor, our story explores the ways in which the visual arts provided economic opportunity to individuals and communities. As we admire their talents captured on canvas, porcelain, metalware, and other media, we celebrate the role these artists have played in shaping our communities both past and present.

$12, $10, $8. 301-663-1188. Tonya@ FrederickHistory.org. www.frederickhistory.org.

FESTIVAL

(Continued from 20)

Wallace has worked for WBOC in various roles since he graduated college in 2003, currently editing the station’s evening news programs. He said the inspiration for “The Runaway Groom” came from working in the Salisbury area for over 20 years and hearing countless stories about the 1999 Julia Roberts’ film “Runaway Bride,” which was shot in Berlin, Maryland.

He’s also a sucker for rom-coms.

is running, jumping and diving.” It includes plenty of appearances by various Ocean City staples and landmarks.

MARYLAND BLACK FILM FESTIVAL

The film festival runs March 9 at the Old Greenbelt Theater in Greenbelt and March 10 at the Center for Performing Arts in Bowie. Select films play on day one of the festival. Day two includes panel discussions, an awards ceremony and more. Tickets are available through Eventbrite.

“When I was coming up with ideas for this film, I thought, why don’t I do kind of a gender swap? We can film it in Ocean City, not far from where ‘Runaway Bride’ was shot.”

In “Runaway Bride,” Roberts’ character abandons her romantic partners, literally fleeing from them as they stood at the alter. Wallace’s short film is “basically one long chase scene,” after a beautiful opening at a beachside wedding. “Our actor

Wallace’s childhood love for film grew in college over 20 years ago, when he pursued a media arts degree at Wesley College in Dover, Delaware. Because he had an interest in documentaries, his media professor, Mike Nielsen, advised him to give TV news a try. Wallace took his beloved professor’s advice, took the job at WBOC, and recently celebrated his 20th anniversary there — outstanding longevity in an industry known for its frequent movement and turnover.

Wallace appreciates being among the first crop of filmmakers participating in the Maryland Black Film Festival.

“I am a little proud to be on the ground floor of this new festival that will hopefully open up filmmaking

TEELIN IRISH DANCE: CELTIC JOURNEY

SATURDAY, MAR 16 • 7:00 PM

to young Black filmmakers,” Wallace said.

As Coleman put it, “The industry is big enough for all of us.”

Dawn Morgan Neary is a freelance journalist from Tampa, Florida, and

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 timetraveling into the great American West with them.

THE YOUNG DUBLINERS

FRIDAY, MAR 22 • 8:00 PM

A Celtic rock fusion of raucous electric rock with traditional folk music, fiddles, and more.

ANIMANIACS IN CONCERT

STARRING ROB PAULSEN, MAURICE LAMARCHE, AND RANDY ROGEL

SATURDAY, MAR 23 • 8:00 PM

The original voice-cast brings back unforgettable songs and antics from the beloved 90’s cartoon series.

currently resides in Mount Airy with her large blended family. She holds an MFA in film and electronic media from American University and teaches in the GED/ESL programs at Frederick Community College.

Courtesy photo

A scene from “The Runaway Groom.”

Wine,

How to choose a day camp for a child with special needs

Do you have a child with special needs and want to find a camp that’ll cater to them? Here’s some information to help guide your search.

TRADITIONAL DAY CAMP

Are you considering enrolling your kid in a traditional day camp where they can participate in “regular” activities? If so, contact the camp organizers beforehand to find out if they can make specific accommodations. They may be able to make physical adjustments tailored to the needs of your child. Additionally, they may be able to arrange smaller groups or hire additional helpers for increased supervision.

SPECIALIZED DAY CAMP

If you choose a specialized day camp, you can rest assured knowing your child has adequate supervision in an environment adapted to their needs. The camp will already have measures to ensure your child’s experience is pleasant and enriching. It’s best to meet with the camp organizers ahead of time. You can inform the staff of your child’s needs so they can prepare for their arrival.

Before registering your child for day camp, contact the organizers and confirm they can accommodate your child’s specific needs. This’ll ensure your kid has a fantastic summer – and give you peace of mind.

3 ADVANTAGES OF WORKING AT A DAY CAMP

You form a close bond with your colleagues. Leading and participating in activities requires working together as a team, enabling you to foster close-knit friendships with the children and leaders. You can make the most of your summer. Unlike sleepaway camps that require you to stay on-site for the duration of the camp, day camps need you to work only during the day. This means you can enjoy your evenings and weekends with friends and family.

You can have fun while you work. Diverse activities and games are on the agenda every day at day camp. Choosing this job ensures you have a stimulating and entertaining summer.

SUMMER TENNIS CAMPS 2024

Kids on Campus has welcomed more than 30,000 kids since 1995. In 2024, FCC is still the place to be! Discover, engage, and explore with adventures in cooking, fine arts, science, technology, and academic prep. Choose from hundreds of classes, with full and half day options available all summer long.