72 HOURS March 9, 2023

RENT IS DUE: Peeking behind the curtain of Fredericktowne Players’ latest production PAGE 18

LOCAL HISTORY THROUGH CLOTHING

We’re excited about the new ‘Stitches Through Time’ exhibition at the Museum of Frederick County History. Women’s hand-sewn garments dating back 100 years are on display, as well as quilts and sewing tools, throughout three galleries. The show tells the story of women in Frederick County through the clothing they created and wore for all occasions and gives a fascinating look back in time. Heritage Frederick pulled many of the items on display from its collection and also reached out to long-time Frederick County families, who donated clothing for the show, which will remain on view through the end of 2023. Several events, including speakers and sewing and quilting demonstrations, will coincide with the show. Check the Heritage Frederick website at frederickhistory.org, or call 301-663-1188 for details.

ABSOLUTE BEGINNER ON THE AT

In this issue, Gary Bennett shares his adventures hiking the Maryland portion of the Appalachian Trail through four moderately easy day hikes. He breaks down his travels in such a way as to provide a blueprint for those of you who want to give it a go yourself. He highly recommends hiking it this time of year, as everything is beginning to bud and blossom. And the rewards will likely be much greater than your daily exercise routine.

THE RITUALS BEHIND COFFEE AND TEA

Anyone who starts their morning with a cup of joe knows it might just be the most crucial ritual of the day. Go without it, and your whole days gets off track. In a new group exhibition hosted by the Frederick Arts Council, artists explore and celebrate those rituals surrounding coffee and tea, personally and in various cultures. “Comfort” runs March 10 through July 1 at the FAC Art Center in downtown Frederick, and a tea ceremony school will give a demonstration of a Japanese tea ceremony during the opening reception, from 6 to 8 p.m. March 10.

GET A HEAD START ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY

St. Patrick’s Day is next Friday, but the festivities are creeping in now. On March 11, Teelin Irish Dance Company, a favorite in the area, will bring their show Celtic Journey to the Weinberg Center. Earlier that day, Gaithersburg will host its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, beginning at 10 a.m., followed by live music and family-friendly activities. In Westminster on March 10, Celtic rock band Gaelic Mishap will perform live at the Carroll Arts Center.

IT’S TIME TO THINK ABOUT SUMMER

The trees are just beginning to bud, and Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend. You know what that means: It’s time to look ahead to your summer plans, whether it’s hitting the music festival circuit, hiking the Appalachian Trail or registering your kids for one (or more) of the many summer camp options in the area. Red Wing Roots Music Festival (June 23 to 25) is one we suggest checking out. A nice drive south a couple of hours from Frederick, the annual fest is in the heart of Shenandoah Valley, providing a stunning backdrop to a long list of performers. Others worth noting: M3 Rock Festival in Columbia (May 6 and 7), Delfest in Cumberland (May 25 to 28), Maryland Doom Fest in Frederick (June 22 to 25) and Moonrise Festival in Baltimore (Aug. 12 and 13).

BINGE OSCAR-NOMINATED FILMS

It’s also time to catch up on films ahead of the Academy Awards on March 12. Check the list of film categories at oscars.org, many of which are available for streaming. While the Weinberg Center will not be screening Oscar shorts like it has in years past, you can take a short drive up to Westminster to watch films nominated for Best Animated Short and Best Live Action Short on the big screen at the Carroll Arts Center on March 12, an annual event hosted by the Film Lovers of Carroll County. Fun fact: Why the Academy Awards are nicknamed the Oscars is still debated. A 2015 article in The Hollywood Reporter states three people claimed to have coined the name Oscars in the 1930s.

Cofounder of Full Tilt Brewing Co. in Baltimore talks about its closing

In this episode of the UnCapped podcast, host Chris Sands talks with Dan Baumiller, cofounder of Full Tilt Brewing Co., who recently announced the brewery will be closing on March 12. Baumiller filled us in and spent some time reminiscing about the great times the brewery has brought people. Here is an excerpt of their talk.

UnCapped: Today we have a somewhat somber episode of UnCapped, where we bid farewell to Full Tilt Brewing. We have with us our good friend Dan Baumiller — who I’m not even gonna make fun of, I don’t think, today.

Dan Baumiller: Don’t make promises you can’t keep.

So, anyway, Full Tilt Brewing is closing its doors for good, or seemingly for good, on March 12. It sucks, but I’m here to talk about it. Maybe it will help to inspire people on what to do right. Maybe it will inspire people not to do what we did.

UnCapped: Have you ever heard the podcast How to Not Start a Damn Brewery?

Baumiller: Is that what this is?

UnCapped: No, that’s the name of a podcast.

Baumiller: No, I haven’t.

UnCapped: It’s a guy who, I think, opened a brewery and then went under, so it’s all about trying to convince people not to open a brewery.

Baumiller: It seems like something I would do. For the record, I’ve told lots of people not to open a brewery.

UnCapped: I believe almost every brewery owner I know has said at least once, “You should not open a brewery.”

Baumiller: It also depends on who you’re talking to. If you meet somebody who has less money than me, and they’re trying to explain to me, “I think I, too, should contract brew out of Peabody Heights [Brewery in

Baltimore].” Then I’m like, “Well, no you shouldn’t. I don’t even know where to begin.”

But at the same time, if that’s your dream, I want you to follow it, and I’ll help you.

When you list the reasons as to what can go wrong … there are people who have said, “I almost did that, [until] the conversation that you had with me.” But lots of other people talked to me and did open their brewery.

I just think you should tell people the truth.

UnCapped: When did you come to the realization that it wasn’t worth continuing?

Baumiller: I don’t want to get into too depressing of statistics, but a lot of bills hitting us recently were just huge, and we were like, we’re not gonna be able to manage this much longer and make payroll. It’s all pretty new.

We tried to throw last-ditch efforts to stay open, talked to our lead investor, but we just couldn’t come up with the right answers to make it feasible.

We pursued everything. We just couldn’t do it.

We met with our [general manager] the other day and said, “This is what we’re facing. Tell us it can work.” Our GM is awesome. He’s been in the beer business a long time. But the numbers aren’t there.

UnCapped: Full Tilt is more than a brewery. You’re a sports bar that happens to brew your own beer. So even if you were just making craft beer, which you weren’t, there are breweries who have gone under and that’s why. But you’re a full-fledged bar with a full restaurant — with amazing pretzel bites, which may be what I’m gonna miss the most.

Baumiller: I don’t wanna make you jealous, but I ate a couple of them yesterday.

We could continue on as a contract brand.

UnCapped: Is it worth it though?

Baumiller: If you ask me right now, no. But you never know. We could mess around with some collabs.

UnCapped: Like, keep it as a brand that’s still alive?

Baumiller: If the right opportunity shows up.

This excerpt has been edited for space and clarity. Listen to the full podcast at fnppodcasts.com/ uncapped. Got UnCapped news? Email csands@newspost.com.

Courtesy photo

From left, Full Tilt cofounder Nick Fertig, UnCapped host Chris Sands and Full Tilt cofounder Dan Baumiller.

Fifty Fifty Food Truck puts an innovative spin on classic burgers

At Olde Mother Brewing on North Market Street, the brewery provides the drinks while Jon Thompson, chef and owner of Fifty Fifty Food Truck, provides the food. Fifty Fifty started as a food truck but moved into Olde Mother’s brick and mortar building in January. They specialize in burgers made of 50% beef and 50% bacon, both of which are locally sourced. The combination of the two meats creates a seasoned and crispy patty, Thompson said. As for the toppings, customers can order the classic lettuce and tomato combo, but Thompson also likes to experiment and be innovative with toppings. You wouldn’t expect to see a burger with spicy peanut butter and sweet pickles on a menu, but that’s the type of burger experience Thompson aims to give.

The microbrewery, which won the 2022 Best in Show award at the Baltimore Craft Beer Festival for its Callisto Oatmeal Stout, provides its small-batch craft beer to pair with your burger.

FIFTY FIFTY FOOD TRUCK AT OLDE MOTHER

BREWING

526 N. Market St., or look for the Fifty Fifty Food Truck

240-877-7392

Hours: Noon to 10 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, closed on Mondays

Price: Entrees range

$12 to $24

Website: fiftyfiftyfoodtruck.com

Instagram: @fiftyfiftyfoodtruck

Facebook: facebook. com/frederickfiftyfifty

Owner of the Fifty Fifty Food Truck Jonathan Thompson poses for a portrait with the ogre burger at their space in Olde Mother Brewing on Feb.16. The burger includes tiger sauce, caramelized onion, raw sweet onion, and beer battered onion rings with a side of Old Bay fries.

Staff photos by Katina Zentz

Owner John Thompson recommends: The Ogre, which Thompson describes as a perfect blend of a traditional and innovative burger. The classic fifty-fifty patty is topped with caramelized onion, raw sweet onion, beer-battered onions and spicy Tiger sauce. It allows for an exploration of all the flavor profiles an onion can have on a burger.

Oklahoma comedian Chelcie Lynn brings alter-ego along for standup routine

BY CRYSTAL SCHELLE Special to The News-Post

When Chelcie Lynn was a girl, she had dreams of being in the movies or on “Saturday Night Live.”

The girl from Southern Oklahoma thought that’s all it would ever be: dreams.

But thanks to her alter-ego and YouTube sensation “Trailer Trash Tammy,” Lynn has been living the dream of performing across the country and appearing in a few movies. She’s just waiting on that call from “SNL” producer Lorne Michaels.

In the meantime, fans can see her perform standup at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town (W.Va.) Races. She’ll perform for a sold-out show on March 11, as well as an added show at 8 p.m. March 12.

“Trailer Trash Tammy” is a combination of a lot of people Lynn knows.

“Everyone knows a Tammy,” the 34-year-old said during a telephone interview from her home in Nashville, Tennessee. “And if you don’t know a Tammy, you are a Tammy.”

Her Tammy just so happens to have a Southern accent, and look like Charlize Theron in “Monster” where she plays serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Lynn said she’s not imitating Wuormos but rather Theron playing Wuornos.

“I have the hair and the mannerisms of Tammy in terms of personality, but that’s all I take from that movie,” she said with a laugh.

Ever since seventh grade, Lynn knew she was funny.

“I moved a lot in elementary school because my parents were always getting evicted and stuff, so I was always in a different elementary school,” she said, until she moved to Thackerville, Oklahoma. “I was always pretty shy as a kid, but for some reason, I think that’s the year that my personality started to come out. I was in gym class, and I had just moved there and been there a few weeks. I don’t know what I said or did, but everyone in the locker room was laughing, and one of the girls goes, ‘Hey, the new girl’s funny.’ And I kind of made note of that.”

Although she could make people laugh, Lynn didn’t pursue comedy. Instead, she lived a fairly normal life, mainly because her way of thinking then was comedy and fame were

things that “don’t happen to people like me,” she said.

But about 10 years ago, she decided to record some videos on the thennew video streaming system Vine. She started with just three followers.

“Back then, people weren’t getting careers out of that. There were no influencers or such,” she said. “The fact that this could be a career never even crossed my mind.”

As her fanbase grew on Vine, she started posting videos on Facebook and YouTube and anywhere she could.

By the time Vine officially announced it was shutting down in 2016, Lynn had already firmly established herself on other platforms, especially YouTube, where she had launched her own channel in 2015.

The early Lynn’s “Trailer Trash Tammy” started with mukbang storylines. Mukbanging, made popular in Korea, is a type of vlogging where people film themselves eating and talking with the audience. Lynn as

TRAILER TRASH TAMMY AKA CHELCIE LYNN

When: 8 p.m. March 12

Where: Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, 750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, W.Va.

Tickets: $25 to $175

Info: hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com/ entertainment/event-center

“Tammy” shoots the videos in her car with occasional guests, such as her fictional cousin “Crystal” (played by Libbie Higgins) and her fictional cousin “Gem” (played by Justin Armistead).

The videos started to get Lynn seen on a larger platform, and she began to see how it could become a career.

Her work on YouTube started to land her work in films, such as 2015’s “Tangerine” and 2016’s “Dog Eat Dog.”

Then in 2019, Lynn stepped from

behind the camera to front and center on a live stage to perform standup.

“Standup was never on my list of goals,” she said. “I kind of felt pressured from my fans who, for years, were like, ‘Please do some standup shows.’”

Lynn kept ignoring it, mainly because she didn’t think she knew how to translate the skits to standup.

“I just kept thinking, I don’t do standup. It’s easier for me to write skits. I don’t know how to write standup material.”

Eventually, though, the shouts from her fans got loud enough for her to hear, and she tried it to see how it would go.

“I may hate it, I may be bad at it, but I thought that if I didn’t try, I’d regret it,” she said.

She put together 30 minutes of material, booked a show in Dallas, and it immediately sold out. Then she put together another show — and then another. She ended up performing six sold-out shows in one weekend.

Through them, she had found a new way of connecting with an audience.

In 2021, Variety named her Top 10 Comics to Watch.

“I had a blast, and I was pretty good at it,” she said. “People were laughing, so that’s a good sign. I thought, OK, let’s try this, and I really haven’t stopped doing standup since.”

Her material is true to herself, but fans will see it performed through the voice and look of “Tammy,” who was like a safety blanket, Lynn said, a character she created because she was initially nervous about trying standup.

Lynn has also found success as a calendar model. Her calendars, which feature the full-figure comedian posing topless, sell out almost as quickly as her shows.

Her first calendar was “sexy,” she said, but PG-13. The following year, she was encouraged to go a little bit more raunchy. “It is topless, but I keep it classy and it’s a lot of fun,” she said. “It’s meant to be funny, but it’s also meant to be very uplifting, because you don’t see women that look like me in sexy calendars at all, so it’s almost my way of saying we can do anything.”

For more on Chelcie Lynn, go to chelcielynn.com.

Crystal Schelle is a journalist whose work has been published locally, regionally and nationally. She enjoys trivia, cats and streaming movies.

Courtesy photo

Chelcie Lynn

MUSIC

Red Wing Roots Music Festival announces artist lineup

The Red Wing Roots Music Festival will take place June 23 to 25 in the heart of Shenandoah Valley at Natural Chimneys Park in Mount Solon, Virginia. Along with festival hosts The Steel Wheels, headliners include Old Crow Medicine Show, Robert Randolph Band, Watchhouse, Sierra Ferrell and 2023 Grammy performer and award-winner of the Best Folk Album, Madison Cunningham.

More than 50 artists are scheduled to appear across five stages for Red Wing X, including The Suffers, Marc Broussard, The Lil Smokies and John Craigie. See the full lineup at redwingroots.com/2023-line-up.

Since beginning in 2013, Red Wing has embodied great music in the great outdoors. Annually, the musical lineup offers festival patrons an opportunity to explore new music through a variety of experiences.

“Red Wing fosters music exploration. From our youth academy to the diversity we seek in our lineup — promot-

ing both award-winning artists, as well as new and emerging musicians — Red Wing hopes to cultivate new musical exploration for our patrons each year,” says managing partner and festival cofounder Jeremiah Jenkins.

Red Wing will host regional food vendors, including options for craft beer, cider and wine in the Blue Mountain Beer Gardens.

Outdoor activities include organized bike rides and group runs, as well as morning yoga sessions beneath the rock towers at Natural Chimneys Park. Shady Grove, the festival’s kid zone, features a climbing wall, organized and informal games, slack lines and a mist tent for cooling down during the hot summer days.

While several camping passes are sold out, options remain for tent camping, small RV/car camping and Red Wing Glamping, a luxury tenting option.

For tickets and more information, visit redwingroots.com.

This is not your mother’s Irish band. Blending fiddle, guitar, bass, harmonica, bodhran and drums with unsurpassed vocals, the Baltimorearea Celtic rock band Gaelic Mishap will put on a rollicking concert of old favorites and modern hits to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at 8 p.m. March 10 at the Carroll Arts Center in Westminster.

Formed in 2010, Gaelic Mishap features seven musicians who span generations, each bringing a

unique musical influence to popular traditional and contemporary Irish music. The band takes pride in their ability to entertain a diverse fanbase, from family-friendly festivals to the rowdy pubs of Baltimore, where Irish music thrives.

Tickets are $26 for adults and $22 for ages 25 and under and ages 60 and up.

The arts center is at 91 West Main St., Westminster.

Gaelic Mishap are stopping by to wish you a happy St. Patrick’s Day

Gaelic Mishap

Gaelic Mishap

Teelin Irish Dance Company returns to the Weinberg stage with Celtic Journey

Experience the beauty and thundering beats of percussive Irish dance when the Teelin Irish Dance Company bring their show Celtic Journey to the Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick at 7 p.m. March 11.

Based in Columbia, the Teelin Irish Dance Company has graced stages locally, nationally and internationally since 2001, enthralling audiences with their award-winning choreography and world-class Irish step dancers.

Teelin Irish Dance Company is well known for its original productions of feature-length stage shows and innovative style that fuses traditional Irish step dance with contemporary dance.

Tickets start at $25 and are available at weinbergcenter.org, by calling the box office at 301-6002828, or in person at 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Discounts are available for students, children, military and seniors.

Teelin Irish Dance Company Celtic Journey

SATURDAY, MARCH 11 | 7:00 PM

Classic Albums Live Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon

SUNDAY, MARCH 12 | 7:30 PM

Loudon Wainwright III & Tom Rush with Matt Nakoa

FRIDAY, MARCH 17 | 8:00 PM

An Evening with David Sedaris

THURSDAY, MARCH 30 | 7:30 PM

WONDER BOOK CLASSIC FILM SERIES

Catch 22 (1970)

THURSDAY, MARCH 9 | 7:30 PM

Frederick County Spelling Bee announced

Frederick County Public Libraries will hold the 2023 Frederick County Spelling Bee at 1 p.m. March 11 in the Hodson Auditorium at Hood College. Thirty-three spellers from public and private schools in Frederick County will compete. The winner of the 2023 Frederick County Spelling Bee will go on to compete in the televised 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee that begins May 31.

The public is invited to attend the Spelling Bee and cheer on the spellers as they compete to become the 2023 Frederick County Champion Speller.

This year’s spellers include Cheyenne Hansley, Nabeeha Waqas, Isabella Reig, Lucas Talkington, Sylvia Purvis, Stella Chen, Jehziel Rodriguez Perez, Braxley Parrelli, Khawlah Hanidu, Calebhau Khai, Alyssa Draffin, Anna Bowman, James Bowman, Kh’nae Hill, Malik Foster, Ava Fout, Eli Bittle, Matthew Ochoa, Charles Bracken, Madison Richards,

Mahidha Achanta, Helena Awad, Keith Canada, Jaylin Woodward, Jessica Stevens, Devki Hill, Valentina Garcia, Samuel Smith, Zoe Culver, Aanandi Sunkavalli, Elfreda Nutakor, Abena Agyekum Ntiamoah and Sruthi Madhusoothanan.

Learn more at fcpl.org/spellingbee.

The Steel Wheels

SATURDAY, APRIL 1 | 8:00 PM

Neil Berg’s The 60’s: Peace, Love & Rock N’ Roll

FRIDAY, APRIL 21 | 8:00 PM

Classic Albums Live

The Steel Wheels

`

THURSDAY, APRIL 13 | 7:30 PM

AP Photo/Alex Brandon/File

Aisha Haque, 11, from Frederick, competes during the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Oxon Hill in 2022.

Teelin Irish perform “Knock Knock.”

Scott Ortel

It’s time to plan for summer camp

BY JOSEPH PETERSON Special to The News-Post

New parents to Frederick County learn quickly that the early bird gets the worm when it comes to planning which summer camps their kids will attend during the months when school is not in session.

I waited until late April last year, when we were still new to Frederick, and discovered, to my dismay, that several day camp programs were already full by then.

This year, I wondered if March was still too late.

“Our registration numbers look good so far this year,” said Lela McWilliams, director of operations at The Banner School, which offers summer school programming. She said most of the Banner School camps still have room for kids.

“We have the option to add additional sections of certain camps if one fills, so we always encourage families to add their name to our waitlists so they are the first to know if additional sections open,” she added.

Dozens upon dozens of summer camp programs are available for every interest, age and ability in Frederick County. Consider this your helpful guide to learn about more camp opportunities you may not have had in mind, and a reminder that there is no time like the present to research and register for summer camp — before it’s too late.

A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING

Many organizations offer a whole menu of camps featuring every known theme or skill or character development under the sun, ranging from an emphasis on sports and gymnastics to performing arts and dance. Here are seven organizations with multi-category camp options.

The City of Frederick offers

many camp options via its parks and recreation department that include a wide array of activities, as well as a visit to the swimming pool each week. Some camp opportunities called Playground Camps are based at several different parks throughout the city, and both the Talley and Butterfly Ridge recreation centers host camps as well. cityoffrederickmd.gov

Adventure Park USA offers 11 weeks of camp, each week with a different theme and focus like Top Secret and Mad Science. But what remains constant is campers will have access to the attractions at the park for daily play. apusachildcare. com

Frederick County Parks and Recreation also hosts summer camps — more than 300 of them, in fact. Some camps are at the county’s various nature centers,

like Catoctin Creek Park & Nature Center and Fountain Rock, featuring camp opportunities for budding naturalists. Other camps include “history, sports, arts and crafts, chess, chorus, cooking, dance, outdoor, and science and discovery,” according to its website. recreater.com

Frederick’s YMCA is an active branch of the national organization and offers a diverse set of camp and summer programming at its various locations from Urbana to downtown Frederick to its classic sleep-away outdoors camp at Camp West Mar, an American Legion property in the foothills of Catoctin Mountain near Thurmont. frederickymca.org

The Banner School offers dozens of camps across an array of emphases, all easily searchable by age group as well as theme. Mornings on the Farm is unique among them and also the school’s

most popular. Created to reflect the rich agricultural history of the county and the popularity of farmers markets, the camp teaches kids where their food grows, how commercial greenhouses work and what goes into caring for animals. bannerschool.org

United Way in partnership with the YMCA brings a service-forward, leadership development camp, geared toward kids ages 12 to 17. Summer Serve camp participants will meet likeminded peers and learn how to create positive change in their community. unitedwayfrederick. org

Frederick Community College offers its Kids on Campus program, full- and half-day camps that feature “adventures in science and technology, culinary and creative arts, theater production, the great outdoors, literature and language, and academics,” as the website states. They also offer Explore instructional sports camps for second grade through 12th. frederick.edu

FOCUS ON PHYSICALITY

Some facilities specialize in dance, gymnastics, rock climbing, martial arts and other physical activities. Here are five options that fit this description.

Frederick Gymnastics Club offers several week-long day camps that range from tumbling to Ninja Gym, including a girls gymnastics camp. frederickgymnastics.com

The Boulder Yard , Frederick’s rock climbing gym, offers The Ultimate Warrior Summer Camp, where kids can “experience a trifecta of warrior activities in this combined camp: rock climbing, ninja warrior, and karate,” according to its website. theboulderyardmd.com

Dream Kicks Taekwondo Martial Arts blends fun with Taekwondo

(See CAMP 23)

Delaplaine Arts Center

The Delaplaine Arts Center offers summer art classes for kids.

Beginner’s Guide: Explore the Maryland

BY GARY BENNETT Special to The News-Post

There is no better time than right now to challenge yourself with a hike on the Appalachian Trail. March and April are prime hiking months in Maryland, due to the cool days and dearth of bugs and snakes.

I recently completed the Maryland portion of the AT, that ancient footpath that stretches nearly 2,200 miles from Maine to Georgia, over one of the oldest mountain ranges on Earth.

When John Denver sings that “life is old there, older than the trees,” he is talking about this part of America.

It is a happy coincidence that it passes right by us in Central Maryland.

Maryland accounts for only about 42 miles of the trail, beginning at Pen Mar Park in Washington County, which straddles the Mason-Dixon line near Cascade, then meanders across the top of South Mountain, roughly paralleling the borders of Frederick and Washington counties before finishing at the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.

I didn’t do too much planning for these day hikes, and you won’t need to either. My hiking wardrobe consisted of comfortable shorts, a T-shirt, sweatshirt, sunglasses, hiking shoes and two pairs of white socks.

I filled my small backpack with two bottles of water, one bottle of Gatorade, two granola bars, two pieces of fruit and some crackers and almonds. I threw in my phone, of course, a towel, an AT guidebook purchased at Trail House in Frederick, a Mophie phone charger and a few bandages and Neosporin, just in case.

What follows are my notes from the adventure.

DAY HIKE 1, MARCH 14

Pen Mar Park to Route 17 (Wolfesville Road) — 9 Miles

My first hike was a modest nine miles from Pen Mar Park to the trail crossing at Wolfesville Road. As I stepped out of the car at 10 a.m., I was pleased to have as my first AT experience a beautiful vista overlook, panning east toward Thurmont. Thank goodness there is a big sign featuring north and south directional arrows near the overlook or I would have needed my phone’s builtin compass right way. The sign says that Maine is 1,080 miles away to the north and Georgia 920 miles to the south.

As I strode deeper and deeper into the woods, I made sure to note the white vertical blazes on the trees that would show me the way. These crucial signposts, painted by various hiking clubs who voluntarily maintain the AT, will become your best friends. I started out on a gentle incline, but it rapidly changed to a steep one of about 700 feet over the course of about three miles to High Rock, a hang-gliding site on the northern part of South Mountain in Cascade. The vista at High Rock is mesmerizing, and the rock itself is covered in graffiti. High Rock is accessible by road so it is a popular hangout for locals of all ages.

The trail soon began an equally steep descent of 500 feet over another two miles to Raven Rock Shelter. From there, I descended another 200 feet over two miles to Warner Gap Road. Along the way, I had the pleasure of making two stream crossings, one by rock hopping and one via two boards situated over the creek by the local AT hiking club.

I ate lunch by a babbling brook and couldn’t help but think I was in a Norman Rockwell painting.

From there, I climbed 250 feet over the final three miles past Md. 77 and Ensign Cowall Shelter and on to Md. 17 for my scheduled pickup.

My tracker said I covered nine miles right on the nose, took 27,000 steps and climbed 134 flights. I finished up

Gary Bennett

Edward B. Garvey Memorial Shelter

Gary Bennett

portion of the AT in four easy day hikes

at about 4 p.m. I hiked for roughly six hours and averaged just under two miles an hour. I felt exhausted but great.

DAY HIKE 2, MARCH 20

Wolfsville Road to the I-70 footbridge — 8.7 Miles

It was a drizzly, cool Friday when my wife dropped me off at the Wolfsville Road AT crossing near Smithsburg at about 11 a.m. I was happy to see only two other unoccupied cars in the lot. My plan for this day was to hike 8.7 miles to the AT footbridge at I-70, possibly the best-known AT crossing in Maryland to non-hikers. It is hard to miss the Appalachian Trail sign on the bridge as you drive under it — or the cars parked at the access point. The footbridge area is also one of the most popular access points to the AT in Maryland, so you can expect some small crowds at times, but they quickly thin out on the trail.

I set off on a slightly downhill path and then crossed back over Md. 17 and immediately started a grueling uphill climb back and forth over large

boulders until I reached the top of South Mountain. This is a 400-foot, hand-overhand ascent in just over half a mile. It is strenuous, but I couldn’t help feeling proud of myself as I reached the top still able to breathe just about normally.

The rest of the hike was mostly downhill, and I settled into a nice loping gait that seemed much faster than two miles an hour. At six foot two, I am blessed with long legs and a long stride. Even so, I had no idea these mountains are so rocky. Nearly every step forces you to decide which rock to step on or avoid.

The two best landmarks on this section of the AT are Black Rock Cliffs and Annapolis Rocks. It took about 5 miles to get to Black Rock Cliffs. I was rewarded with a breathtaking vista looking west toward Hagerstown. In another mile or so with a slight incline, you arrive at Annapolis Rocks, which is at the end of a secondary trail that takes you just 2/10 of a mile out of your way. It is well signed and very much worth the side trip. Don’t pass it up.

Still looking west, the vista is higher

and even more breathtaking than Black Rock Cliffs. The downside is that Annapolis Rocks can be crowded. On this particular day, there were about 30 people lounging among the rocks. Annapolis Rocks is only 2.2 miles from the I-70 footbridge, which explains its popularity. It is a moderately easy hike from there. I later realized that Annapolis Rocks is that clump of rocks you see plastered on the side of South Mountain as you approach Frederick from the west on I-70.

From Annapolis Rocks, I descended about 600 feet over the course of 2 1/2 miles to the I-70 footbridge. I have learned that steep descents bring their own challenges. I found myself trying to hold back so as to not fly down the mountain. This puts some added pressure on your knees. My wife was there to pick me up at about 3:30 p.m.

My tracker said that I walked 8.7 miles, took just under 22,000 steps and climbed 68 flights. I did all this in under five hours, averaging almost 2 miles per hour.

DAY HIKE 3, MARCH 26

I-70 footbridge to Gathland State Park — 14.5 Miles

My wife dropped me off at the I-70 footbridge and now has more confidence in me. I have more confidence in myself, too. On this day, I planned my longest and most ambitious hike yet: 14.5 miles to Gathland State Park near Burkittsville. I didn’t really want to hike this far, but the best two pickup points on this part of the AT are at Gathland and Reno Monument Road, the latter of which is only seven miles away.

I headed out at 10 a.m. on a sunny Thursday with highs forecasted in the 70s. I double checked to make sure I had my sweating towel. After all, it is a long hike and one that promised to be quite challenging. The pros would call it highly technical and moderately difficult. I started out at 1,200 feet, went down to 900 feet, went back up to 1,600 feet, before finishing up at 950 feet.

(See TRAIL 21)

Gary Bennett

Weverton Cliffs

“Comfort” — March 10 to July 1. An interactive multimedia show of art related to coffee and tea and an exploration of the rituals and personal connections surrounding those drinks. Reception from 6 to 8 p.m. March 10. FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. frederickartscouncil.org.

”Unfolding Reality” — through March 10, Esther Prangley Rice Gallery, Peterson Hall, McDaniel College, 2 College Hill, Westminster. Student honors art exhibition features a variety of work from six art majors. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. 410857-2595 or mcdaniel.edu.

Frederick County Public Schools

Youth Art Month Student Exhibition

— through March 26. The annual Youth Art Month exhibition features hundreds of 2D and 3D artworks in a variety of media created by students from each public school within Frederick County. Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. 301-698-0656, delaplaine.org.

Frederick County Public Schools

Faculty Exhibition — through March 26. A salute to those who make Youth Art Month possible, this exhibition showcases the creative talents of Frederick County Public Schools educators. Works in a variety of media. Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. 301-698-0656,

delaplaine.org.

“Home Away From Home” — through March 26, DISTRICT Arts, 15 N. Market St., Frederick. Laurenee Gauvin’s homage to her Haitian roots. This featured-artist exhibition introduces an emotional look into what home feels like in today’s climate and reflects the journey and the arrival of Gauvin as an exciting and thought-provoking presence on the contemporary art scene. Districtarts.com.

”Animal Kingdom” — through March 26, The Mansion House Art Center and Gallery, City Park, 480 Highland Ave., Hagerstown. Valley Art Association members exhibit.

Hours 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301797-2867 or valleyartassoc.org.

”Landscapes in Acrylic” — through March 26, Eastside Artists’ Gallery, 313 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Paintings by Mike Legenzov. Hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. eastsideartistsgallery.com.

”Color Journeys” — through March 26, Gallery 322, 322 N. Market St., Frederick. Featuring works by Leo Ramos, Roberta Staat, Paul Wilson and Karen Winston-Levin. gallery322. com, gallery322@gmail.com.

”UNSHUTTERED: Celebrating Photojournalism of The Frederick News-Post — through April 1 at the Frederick Book Arts Center, 217 W.

Patrick St., Frederick. Curated by Nancy Luse, the show celebrates the News-Post photographers during the era of film. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday. 301-228-9816 or contact@ frederickbookarts.org.

Cumberland Valley Artists and Photographers Exhibitions — through April 23, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown. This juried exhibition features 95 pieces of art and photography from artists who live in the Quad-State area. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 301-739-5727 or wcmfa.org.

Bettie Awards Exhibition — through April 30. View artworks created by local youth selected as 2023 Bettie Award Winners. Visitors can vote for their favorite artwork throughout the duration of the exhibition. The artwork receiving the most votes will receive the People’s Choice Award. Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. 301-698-0656, delaplaine.org.

”Angry Women Done Swallowing

Our Words” — through April 30, Blanche Ames Gallery, 4880 Elmer Derr Road, Frederick. Featuring the work of Kristan Ryan. For gallery hours, call 301-473-7689 or visit frederickuu.org.

”Strands of Time” — through April

30, Locals Farm Market’s Artist in the House Gallery, 19929 Fisher Ave., Poolesville. Artist reception 4 to 6 p.m. March 11. Works by Susan Due Pearcy. A selection of her work over 50 years of art making. Visit localsfarmmarket.com for hours.

”Structures 2023” — through May 5, Crestwood Center, 7211 Bank Court, Frederick. Original works of art, including oil, watercolors, mixed media, acrylic, photography, and wood carvings from some of Frederick’s talented artists. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. 240215-1460 or frederickhealth.org.

“The Hot Button” — through August, Hot Button Gallery, 129 E. German St., Shepherdstown, W.Va. Carol Williams exhibits textiles and poster art that reflect her passion for social responsibility through artistic communication. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. The artist will be available for conversation at these times. anothercarolwilliams.com.

”Miniature Worlds” — April 17 through May 19, Rosemary and Thyme Gallery, Frederick 50+ Community Center, 1440 Taney Ave., Frederick. Featuring works by local artist Kunie Stabley. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. 301-600-3525, dmarkowitz @frederickcountymd.gov or tinyurl. com/50-center.

‘Being Seen’ juried exhibition at TAG

TAG/The Artists Gallery presents its second juried show, “Being Seen,” in which artists create works hoping they will capture the imagination of the viewer. Art requires an audience and must move from the studio to the gallery to be seen, interpreted and felt.

Artists have answered the call of “Being Seen” with an array of styles, media and subjects, through masterfully executed, perplexing and uniquely beautiful works. By visiting TAG in March, visitors assist the journey of each piece of art from studio to “Being Seen.”

Painter and printmaker Craig Allen Subler has selected 47 works for exhibition from more than 450 entries.

The exhibition runs through March 26 at TAG, 501 N. Market St., Frederick. Learn more at theartistsgalleryfrederick. com.

Courtesy photo Jim Haller’s “Mood”

Courtesy photo Esperanza Alzona’s “Silence Within” Courtesy photos Kevin Hluch’s “Dukes Up”

Susan Due Pearcy’s ‘Strands of Time’

Susan Due Pearcy exhibits “Strands of Time” through April 30 in the gallery at Locals Farm Market, 19929 Fisher Ave., Poolesville,

A reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. March 11.

Pearcy’s show includes a selection of her prolific body of work, which connects and highlights the motifs, themes and

sensibilities that carry through her over 50 years of art making.

Pearcy works in a variety of media, including watercolor, oil, pastel and printmaking. She has lived in the Agricultural Reserve for over 28 years and works from her Sugarloaf Studio behind her home in Barnesville, where the natural world continues to inspire her work.

Karin Birch exhibits embroidery paintings at NOMA

In March at NOMA Gallery, Karin Birch will present a solo show of new work created during her year and a half as Artist in Residence at the Y Arts Center in downtown Frederick. “Surface Tension” will include her signature embroidery paintings that combine hand embroidery, beadwork and acrylic paint on linen, as well as large stain paintings and works on paper.

An opening reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. March 4, and an artist talk will be held at 7 p.m. March 16 at the gallery, located at 437 N. Market St. in Frederick.

Birch’s work is abstract, detailed and highly imaginative. Birch is attracted to expressive color and pattern as subtext

in the unfolding play of order and chaos. “Surface Tension” explores the nature of time, beauty and groundlessness, inspired by real and imagined landscapes in a time of climate change and precarious balance.

The show runs through March 26.

In conjunction with the “Surface Tension” exhibition at NOMA Gallery, there will be a Stitch In from noon to 3 p.m. March 19 at the Y Arts Center, 115 E. Church St., Frederick. All are welcome to bring their stitching or mending to work in a community of other stitchers for an afternoon.

To learn more about the artist, visit karinbirch.blogspot.com.

Frederick Arts Council

The exhibition “Comfort” explores coffee and tea and the rituals that surround them.

‘Comfort’ exhibition celebrates coffee, tea and the rituals that surround them

“Comfort” is an interactive multimedia show of art related to coffee and tea and an exploration of the rituals and personal connections surrounding those drinks.

The Frederick Arts Council will bring “Comfort,” a showcase and market that features work by artists and makers from the Mid-Atlantic region, to its FAC Art Center from March 10 to July 1.

The work in this exhibition includes a variety of media, from illustrations to sculptural teapots to music to photographs and digital art prints. All artworks in this gallery are for sale.

Robert van Rens, a local potter,

coffee enthusiast and student of the chanoyu Japanese tea ceremony, is the curating partner for this show.

An opening reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. March 10.

Artists featured include Anthony Brock, Kathryn Burke, Chris Eliff, Janet Greer, Joan Hart, Dee Harris, JevaunDean Linton, Dounia Loudiyi, Natalie Love, Jamie Moore, Tiffany Montes, Pat O’Brien, Constance Rankin, Ron Roos, Loren Scherbak, Janet Seifert, Allison Severance, Lee Ann Tristano and Leathia West.

The FAC Art Center is at 5 E. Second St., Frederick.

‘Angry Women Done Swallowing Our Words’ at Blanche Ames Gallery

“Angry Women Done Swallowing Our Words,” featuring the work of Kristan Ryan, is at the Blanche Ames Gallery, 4880 Elmer Derr Road, Frederick, through April 30. Call 301-473-7680 for gallery hours, or visit frederickuu.org.

Courtesy photo “Tumbling Down,” by Karin Birch.

Courtesy photos “Native American Trump Fury”

Courtesy photo “So much anger in me”

Courtesy photo

Susan Due Pearcy

BY ERIK ANDERSON Special to The News-Post

s Mary Jane Haines readied herself for her 1847 wedding to Abraham Cassell in Wakefield Valley, she probably didn’t imagine that the humble brown dress with a hoop skirt she was donning for the occasion would become the key to unlocking the story of her life for centuries to come.

It’s even less likely she could have imagined her dress would one day provide important context for understanding the much broader story of women’s changing relationships to textile production and fashion in Frederick County.

But thanks to the careful preservation and research efforts of Heritage Frederick (formerly the Frederick County Historical Society), her dress and many other textile artifacts from all over the county are now speaking volumes about their complex local history.

For the rest of 2023, visitors to the Museum of Frederick County History can immerse themselves deeply in those stories as they walk through a new exhibit, “Stitches Through Time: Women’s Work from Farm to Fashion,” which displays antique women’s garments and quilts, as well as textile tools, such as spinning wheels.

“It’s a story of the evolution of textiles as a consumer product and the associated role of women,” said Doug Propheter, executive director of the museum. “It’s an interesting story, it’s a meaningful story, and it’s a very local story.”

The exhibit’s three galleries tell a three-part story about the gendered roles of textile production. In the early years of European settlement, the women of Frederick County were largely in control of the process, diligently making both the raw materials and finished products by hand on their farmsteads.

Women then lost their agency over the process as it became mechanized in factories with male owners and bosses, though they continued to provide important labor.

The 20th century saw women regain a central role in guiding the direction of fashion, as a key consumer base

‘STITCHES THROUGH TIME’

When: Through the remainder of 2023 Where: Museum of Frederick County History, 24 E. Church St., Frederick Info: frederickhistory.org/museum

The Stitches Through Time exhibit will be complemented by special programs throughout the year. Demonstrations will be Saturdays and are open to any visitors who present a pre-paid ticket or pay the cost of admission on that day. Lectures will be on Sundays and are reserved for those patrons who have bought a ticket for that day, specifically.

and as professional designers for major clothing brands. As a prominent example of women’s re-emergence in the fashion industry, the third gallery features a display about the life of Claire McCardell, an internationally famous clothing designer from Frederick.

Except for a few pieces borrowed from the Baltimore Museum of Industry, the gallery artifacts come from Heritage Frederick’s own large inventory of items donated from local families, which they have collected since the 1890s.

Extensive research for the exhibit by the museum curator Amy Hunt has added “an enormous amount of factual detail” to the long-held collection, Propheter said. Starting with information from the museum’s own well-maintained provenance records, Hunt searched old newspaper

clips, land records and other archived legal papers to learn as much as she could about the original owners of the donated items. She then used that information and the help of ancestry.com to locate the living relatives of the original owners. She found quite a few and sent them notes explaining her project and asking if they could provide more

information about their ancestors. She received many positive responses from descendants who were able and willing to provide not only information but more antique items that belonged to their ancestors, including photographs.

That’s how Hunt was able to piece together the touching story

The history of local garment-making is depicted in an exhibition at the Museum of Frederick County History.

of Mary Jane and Abraham Cassel. Many of their living relatives responded to the information requests, and one of them was able to donate several of Mary Jane’s personal items to the museum, including a needlepoint sampler she had done at 13 years old, a portrait and a photograph of her, and a Valentine card from Abraham

dated two months before their wedding.

Hunt discovered Mary Jane had a girl who died as an infant and a son named Charles who grew up to be the owner and editor of the Catoctin Clarion newspaper in Thurmont. When Charles was just a 1-year-old, Mary Jane died at the age of 23, about three years after her wedding.

Abraham lived another 12 years without remarrying, which was an unusual thing for men in his circumstances to do at that time. Together with the other evidence, Hunt takes that as a sign that Mary Jane was much loved by her family.

“Her wedding dress survives; this needle point survives. You can just get the feeling of how special she was,” Hunt said. “It seems like they really kept the few things they had from their few years with her and really kept them special and handed them down through generations. I feel like it’s pretty miraculous for all these different pieces of her life to still survive.”

Mary Jane’s dress is now on display in the exhibition with nine other Frederick County wedding dresses that are arranged chronologically from 1823 to 1943. Hunt says the dresses show a summary of the history of local textile production and use.

This exhibit will likely be the last time the museum is able to display the 1901 wedding dress of Alice Hopkins of New Market, due to the deteriorated state of one of its layers. Textiles are among the most difficult

items to preserve over centuries, Hunt said, and they are even more difficult to repair. While the museum has excellent storage capabilities to preserve its artifacts, they lack a conservator who can make repairs. Hunt hopes that, as the museum expands its public outreach, qualified volunteers will one day be able to help them with repairing their collection of textiles.

Note to readers: Wakefield Valley is in Carroll County today, near Westminster. Heritage Frederick included it in the Frederick County exhibition because at the time Mary Jane Haines was born, Wakefield Valley was part of Frederick County. Carroll County was formed out of Frederick and Baltimore counties in 1837.

Erik Anderson is a freelance writer in Frederick who cares about few things more than the history of his community. Email him at erikanderson07@gmail. com.

A display of quilts is included in the show, on view through the remainder of the year.

Staff photos by Bill Green

WAREHOUSE CINEMAS NEWS AND EVENTS:

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UPCOMING FILMS

THIS WEEKEND:

“65”, “Scream VI”, and “The Champions”

See Academy-nominated shorts on the big screen for one day only

BY DAWN MORGAN NEARY Special to The News-Post Contains spoilers.

most are not yet streaming online.

Warehouse Cinemas is an independently owned cinema that offers a unique, premium movie going experience by providing first-run movies + retro films, leather recliner seating w/ seat warmers, high-quality picture and sound, including Dolby Atmos, a modern-industrial décor, and premium food and drink options, including movie themed cocktails, wine and a 28-tap self-serve beer wall. Visit us at warehouscinemas.com or scan the QR Code for this week’s feature films.

After the Academy Award nominations were announced in mid-January, three small but mighty categories — short films in Animation, Live Action, and Documentary — took to the big screens of select theaters. Each category was packaged as a compilation and screened separately at specialty theaters like Bethesda Row Cinema and the Landmark Annapolis Harbour Center. But none of them played in Frederick this year, and of the 15 nominees (five in each category),

But just because these films are brief (under 40 minutes each) and elusive doesn’t mean the stories aren’t worthwhile. In fact, many are deserving of a Sunday drive to a theater the next county over.

Luckily the Film Lovers of Carroll County organizes an annual screening of the nominated shorts at the Carroll Arts Center in Westminster. This year, the program will start at 1 p.m. March 12 and will include two of the three categories, Best Animated Short and Best Live Action Short.

“Our screening is about the earliest — and often only — opportunity to see

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TWO FREE MOVIE PASSES TO WAREHOUSE CINEMAS

NEWSLETTERS

them,” Frank Baylor, a Carroll County Arts Council board member and current chair of FLICC, wrote in an email.

Baylor explained that short films are appealing because they offer “the opportunity for talented and generally unknown filmmakers to experiment with and refine their art, usually within the constraints of a tight budget. Their small canvases emphasize the performances, writing and themes.”

Danish filmmaker and previous Oscar winner Anders Walter is among this year’s nominees in the Live Action category, with his film “Ivalu.” Walter won in the same category in 2014,

Courtesy photo

A scene from “The Red Suitcase.”

One would think that it would have occurred to us humans by now that picking fights is just a waste of time, money and life. Also, I vaguely recall I’m not supposed to covet my neighbor’s anything, the grass isn’t always greener, I should be grateful for what I have, etc.

Yet, here we are, a year into Russia’s lusting after Ukraine and all its embedded natural resources, brilliant minds and strategic positioning — and Ukraine is showing the universe it is very happy just the way it is. Grieving, but proud, dignified, confident, grateful for what it has and who its people are.

Yes, Ukraine is receiving tremendous help, but theirs are the heels dug in to defend democracy and reason against a slew of toxic egos. We all understand they are so much like those Americans who

Everyday poetry

stood up for and developed our United States, and so much like we Americans after 9/11 — determined to get on with life and not be demeaned by wouldbe destroyers.

Probably like you, I’m filled with pride for those in Ukraine and every place where people refuse to neglect everyday life in the face of aggression. They have what many of us need: pride and gratitude that they have heels to dig into land they love and the wisdom not to squabble among themselves while doing so.

Sheryl Massaro is a Frederick poet and oil painter. She holds an MFA in creative writing from The American University. She is a recipient of one of the many stipends granted in 2022 from the National Endowment for the Arts through the Frederick Arts Council.

and that success allowed him to move on to making feature films. However, he said he continues to make shorts because features take so much time to develop. And while many directors turn to making commercials while they wait, Walter said he prefers making shorts instead so he can practice the craft of directing. Shorts also allow him to “work with stories that may be too difficult to finance.” His nominated film, “Ivalu,” is about the worst kinds of abuse that can happen within a family.

“If you look at the numbers of the children who find themselves in this situation, it’s quite a lot of kids,” he said on a recent Zoom call. And while these things are horrific, it’s easy for society to ignore.

“It’s so hard to talk about this [taboo] subject. People just shut down.” Walter added that few movie goers would want to go out for entertainment on a Saturday night and pay to sit and watch a film about incest. So “Ivalu,” with a total running time of 17 minutes, was his way of addressing the dark topic.

Cyrus Neshvad’s film “The Red Suitcase” was also nominated in the Live Action category. Neshvad, who was born in Iran, moved to Luxembourg with his family when he was very young to escape the 1979

THE FILMS

ANIMATED SHORTS (Estimated Running Time: 97 min.) Rated PG-13/R. The first four films are suitable for kids 10 and up; the final film, “My Year of Dicks, is for adult audiences only.

“The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” — Charlie Mackesy and Matthew Freud, UK, 33 min.

“The Flying Sailor” — Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby, Canada, 8 min.

“Ice Merchants” — João Gonzalez and Bruno Caetano, Portugal/France/UK, 15 min.

“An Ostrich Told Me the World is Fake and I Think I Believe It” — Lachlan Pendragon, Australia, 12 min.

Revolution. Neshvad said this week over Zoom that he had not paid much attention to the news in Iran before 2019. He didn’t even consider himself Iranian.

“I considered myself a Luxembourger,” he said, comparing his adopted homeland to finding a new father. “I never accepted Iran as my country. It was a father that beat me.”

But when he heard his parents talking about the disappearance of a young Iranian woman for questioning the regime and taking off her headscarf, he couldn’t forget it.

“My Year of Dicks” — Sara Gunnarsdóttir and Pamela Ribon, USA, 26 min.

LIVE ACTION SHORTS (Estimated Running Time: 115 minutes) Rated PG-13. Adult Themes.

“An Irish Goodbye” — Tom Berkeley and Ross White, UK, 23 min.

“Ivalu” — Anders Walter and Rebecca Pruzan, Denmark, 17 min.

“Le Pupille” — Alice Rohrwacher, Italy, 39 min.

“Night Ride” — Eirik Tveiten and Gaute Lid Larssen, Norway, 16 min.

“The Red Suitcase” — Cyrus Neshvad, Luxembourg, 18 min.

“I had to do something, anything. Perhaps I can help,” he said. The result is his film about an Iranian girl and the crushing patriarchy she experiences.

Neshvad said he came to filmmaking not as a passion, but for his survival. It started back when he first arrived in Luxumbourg, a country where three languages are spoken but he didn’t understand any of them.

“I expressed myself through drawings,” he said. “At the end of the day, I had a lot of drawings.” It became natural to him to put stories together visually, and “The Red Suitcase” is rife

with visual language.

Ariane, played by actress Nawelle Evad, wears a hijab and silently stares into an airport bathroom mirror. She makes a decision, staring into the camera and the eyes of the viewer. Deliberately, she removes her veil and smoothes out her long, dark hair. She will leave behind not just the hijab but also the patriarchal life she’s led, despite not knowing any other way of living.

Neshvad said he made this film for every oppressed woman around the world. “The young generation is contesting — to say what’s going on is not fair. If this is the future you are giving us today, then we prefer to die.”

Get caught up on the Oscar buzz by attending the screenings on March 12. Tickets are $6 to $7 and available through carrollcountyartscouncil.org.

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

SHERYL MASSARO

ALWAYS ON CUE

Peeking behind the curtain of Fredericktowne Players’ ‘Rent’

BY ERIK ANDERSON Special to The News-Post

One of the great privileges I enjoy as a theater columnist is the chance to occasionally peek behind the curtain of our local productions, like when I recently spoke with Lee Rosenthal and Lindsey Litka-Montes, the director and a lead actor in Fredericktowne Players’ upcoming production of the famed Broadway musical “Rent.”

As with most of the big-name shows that are licensed to theaters around the world, acquiring the rights to stage “Rent” means agreeing to a set of tight production requirements designed to ensure unity across performances.

Rosenthal said the estate of Jonathan Larson, the musical’s genius creator who died the night before its 1996 off-Broadway premiere, is especially dedicated to preserving his exact vision of “Rent” wherever it’s performed.

Having been enthralled with the show since she was in college in the ’90s, calling it “our generation’s Hamilton,” Rosenthal was overwhelmed with joy when she realized it was going to be her turn to fulfill that mandate. She believes being faithful to Larson’s vision is the best way to preserve its message about the AIDS crisis, which she feels is timely in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While that leaves little room for audiences to experience different artistic outputs from production to production, that doesn’t prevent each cast from bringing their own inputs that influence their understandings of their characters and provide interesting hues of meaning for their local communities.

Litka-Montes plays Maureen Johnson, a performance artist who stands up against a friend who attempts to displace a homeless community in order to build a new apartment complex.

“I identify a lot with the character when she’s really advocating for the homeless,” she shared with me. “I was

homeless as a child, so I definitely understand the pain of that experience.”

Like Maureen and many of the show’s characters, Litka-Montes said her mother struggled to make a living as a performing arts professional in the ’90s, so the two of them “couch surfed” through most of her childhood in the Newport News, Virginia, area. She recalled an incident at her middle school when the administration asked her to sign a paper declaring herself homeless, saying it made her feel like “I didn’t belong anywhere.”

She said her childhood experience doesn’t carry over into her performance of Maureen, but it affects her understanding of the entire show.

“‘Rent’ is a story of what everything looked like in the middle of the AIDS epidemic, and that takes center stage a lot,” she said. “Instead of seeing it as just a show that brings attention to this one thing, it brings attention to a wealth of problems that you find in poverty.”

Rosenthal said Frederick’s proximity to Washington, D.C., created a special opportunity for the cast to get to know Victoria Leacock Hoffman, one of Larson’s close friends who is dedicated to keeping his memory alive.

“The cast got a very unique

experience that most companies doing this show don’t,” she said. “We were actually able to talk to someone who knew Jonathan’s girlfriend and knew the story behind all the characters in the show and kind of gave us a little bit of insight into these real people who the show was based on.”

She said it’s in these types of bonding experiences that the cast is able to develop the one aspect of the show that can feel subtly different to audiences from production to production — the depth of feeling for each other.

“If you go to see a production of this, you can tell when the cast gels,” she said. “This cast is one of the nicest, most compassionate casts I’ve ever worked with. I’m guessing that the audience will know that these people truly like each other and truly care about each other.”

She emphasized that this show is unusual for the close productive relationship between the main cast members and their understudies. After learning lessons from the pandemic about the need for backup plans, Rosenthal decided to make sure all the main characters had fully trained understudies. She found their presence made it a lot easier to work around actor absences due to COVID during

rehearsals because the understudies were there to fill in and then train the main actors on what they had missed.

“Everybody is always encouraging each other and discovering new things together. It’s very helpful and very nurturing,” Litka-Montes said.

Because the understudies are such an integral part of the production, they will switch hit for their main cast counterparts on March 17 and 19. Giving them that opportunity to shine feels to me like an expression of what Litka-Montes told me was the central theme of the show.

“What was said most often is the phrase ‘no day but today,’” she said. “I think that really encapsulates so much of what the show means, never secondguessing yourself and just really chasing that dream and chasing those things that you want.”

The Fredericktowne Players will present “Rent” at 8 p.m. march 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25 and 2 p.m. March 12, 19 and 26 at the Performing Arts Factory, 244B S. Jefferson St., Frederick. Tickets are $20. ftptheater.com.

Erik Anderson’s MA in medieval literature only qualifies him to write about Chaucer, but he’s going to tell you about local theater anyway.

Courtesy photo

Fredericktowne Players’ rehearse for their upcoming production of “Rent.”

ERIK ANDERSON

Local Mentions

CARRY-OUT DINNERS

At New Midway Vol Fire Co Sat., March 25, 2023

Featuring: Roast Turkey w/Dressing Or Fried Shrimp With:

Mashed Potatoes/Gravy Green Beans

Applesauce Roll

Serving Time: 2-6 p m

Cost: $12 00

CASH BINGO

Woodsboro American Legion Auxiliary

Sunday, March 19

Doors open 12 pm; games @ 1:30 pm

Local Mentions

LONGABERGER BASKET BINGO

SLIPPERY

POT PIE

Chicken or Ham: $7/Quart

Country Ham Sand : $6/ea Order by: 3/13 Pickup: 3/15 9 a m -12 p m

Farm Items & Equipment

Sunday, March 12, 2023 at Woodsboro Vol Fire Co

classified move here

2 South Third St

Doors open at 12PM

Games start at 1PM $20 00 for Game Packs

Tip Jars Available

Call Sue or Joann 301-401-5698 or 240-446-0451

All proceeds benefit the Woodsboro Vol Company

MT. PLEASANT RURITAN CLUB TO HOST QUARTERMANIA

The Mt Pleasant Ruritan Club is hosting a Quartermania fundraiser on Sunday, March 19, 2023 Tickets are $5 00 in advance, $8 00 at the door 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

$40 for 25 games, includes 3 specials @ $150 & 2 jackpots @ $500; Reserve early and receive free special game-call 301-514-7164;

Bring in canned food for local food bank and receive a free special game

King tuts, bingo balls, holder jars and door prizes; Food, drinks, baked goods available

COACH BAG

March

Door Prizes Cash Bag & Kitchen, ATM

Half-Time Game - $500

FInal Game - $1,000 00

Thurmont Event Complex 13716 Strafford Dr Thurmont, MD 21788

Tickets: Avail at Door or Call: Tammy or Jim Wolf at 717-642-5075 or 717-420-0209 or at www eventbrite com

This is a Non-Profit Event to Benefit the Thurmont Community Ambulance Company

THE FREDERICK CHORALE

will be performing at our historical St John’s Union Church building, on Sunday, March 26 at 4PM 8619 Blacks Mills Rd

Creagerstown, MD

Join us for this exciting event Light refreshments following the service

SPRING BAZAAR

Sat , March 25, 2023

8AM to 2PM at Libertytown Fire Hall 12027 South St Libertytown, MD 21762

Crafts, Homemade Goodies, Sandwiches, Soups, Bake Table, Raffles and much more

For more information & table rental, call Mary at 301-401-2824

Sponsored by Libertytown Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary

Spring EGG-stravaganza

Craft, Yard Sale & Vendor Event

Sat March 25, 2023 & Sun March 26, 2023

9 a m to 3 p m

Thurmont Event Complex

13716 Strafford Drive

Thurmont, Maryland

Food available for purchase

Vendor Information: Contact Jennifer at jensgems2018@yahoo com Or 301-800-3336

General Information: Contact Joyce at 301-748-4344

Proceeds benefit Thurmont Community Ambulance Company

To order call 301-271-2305 or 301-271-2655 Trinity United Church of Christ, 101 E Main St , Thurmont

TURKEY, FRIED OYSTER AND COUNTRY HAM DINNER

March 25 • 12 noon – 5 pm

Menu includes mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans, sauerkraut, cranberry sauce, dressing, cole slaw, rolls, butter, ice tea, hot tea, coffee

Adults $30 • Children 6-12 $8

Children under 6 - free Carry outs - $1 extra Bush Creek Church of the Brethren 4821A Green Valley Rd, Rt 75 South, Monrovia, Md. 21770 301-865-3013

www bushcreekchurch org

CUB CADET 20 TON WOOD SPLITTER model 523, good condition, $600, 301-8468896

WANTED CROP LAND TO RENT

Call: 301-798-2206

Yard Sales

INDOOR/OUTDOOR YARD SALE

Lewistown Fire Dept 11101 Hessong Bridge Road

Saturday April 1, 2023 8a m - 1 p m

For reservations call Beth 240-674-4688

Pets & Supplies

HAVANESE, 10 WEEKS

toy-breed, vet-checked, shots, text pictures, $1200, call 540-303-2591

Shi-chon puppies

Shi-poo puppies

Ready Now Call 304-719-1648

Services

ASPHALT MILLINGS

$15 00 per ton 301-524-8954

!!FATHER AND SONS!!!

HANDYMAN HANDYMAN

INTER. PAINTING

Home Repair & Improvements

301-694-9630

LIC #74117

Serving Frederick for 34 Years!

WALKERSVILLE UMC OYSTER, TURKEY & HAM BUFFET

Walkersville Fire Hall 79 West Frederick St Fri, March 24, 4-7 PM

Sat, March 25, 12-5 PM

Adults: $30 cash; $31 credit card

Children: 6-12: $15 00

5 and under are free

Carry-outs are $1 extra Avail Until 4:30 PM on Sat Bake Table Info: wumcdinner@gmail com

Text or voice message 240-608-2270

HENRY'S BLACKTOP PAVING, LLC

301-663-1888 • 301-416-7229

henrysblacktoppaving @gmail com

Call for FREE est MHIC 3608

POOL WATER

We fill any size pool

Call Nolan Hubble 240-315-1762

TRAIL

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My first stop came at the 3-mile mark at the Washington Monument, built in 1827 by villagers of Boonsboro to honor the first president. The 30foot stone structure commands the southwestern edge of South Mountain, can be seen for miles and looks out over Boonsboro. It quickly appears as you come up a small hill and takes your breath away.

Next, I traveled over fairly flat terrain to Turner’s Gap on Alt. 40. You may know Turner’s Gap better as the place where the South Mountain Inn currently stands. It prominently promises “Food and Drink For All.” Here, I appropriately stopped for lunch at an employee picnic table.

At about the halfway point, 7 miles in, I came upon Reno Monument Road and the monument built to honor a scene of heavy Civil War fighting in 1862 and the winning general from the North, Jesse Reno, who was mortally wounded at the end of the battle. This was the low point of today’s hike (in more ways than one) at 910 feet.

From there, I had a gradual but arduous 700-foot climb to Lambs Knoll and White Rock Cliffs. The overlook at the cliffs faces eastward toward Frederick and features mile after mile of pristine Frederick County farmland in the beautiful Middletown Valley.

From there, it was a gradual 700foot descent over 3 miles to this day’s terminus at Gapland Road just south of Burkittsville. As I passed through these woods made famous by the movie “The Blair Witch Project,” I was happy to see no strange wooden mini-structures designed by otherworldly beings.

I called my wife 30 minutes ahead of time to pick me up at the appointed parking lot. She beat me by about 10 minutes, as I undertook a steep and arduous descent down the mountain. I could see the parking lot below teasing me for what seemed like hours as I eased down the hill. I was traveling extremely slowly on this section, slower than I had traveled when I was going up the mountain. It was that steep.

As I finally collapsed into the waiting car at 5 p.m., my tracker said I traveled more than 14 miles, took 33,000 steps and climbed 106 flights over seven hours. I am improving; I averaged just over 2 miles an hour. After a hot bath and great dinner, I slept like a baby.

DAY HIKE 4, APRIL 2

Gathland State Park to Harpers Ferry — 10 Miles

It was a sunny but blustery Thursday with highs in the 60s as I began this final

leg of the Maryland section of the AT. I anticipated it to be the easiest leg of the trail, since I was starting at 1,150 feet and would be descending steadily to 250 feet over 10 miles, making my way to the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry. I scrambled out of the car at 11:15 a.m.

First, I traveled a little more than 3 miles over mostly level but rocky terrain to the Edward B. Garvey Memorial Shelter, which was closed on this day. I found a rickety picnic table to have my lunch. The shelter looks east over the fertile farmland of Southern Frederick County. Another hiker was lounging there, too.

Next, I completed a gentle descent of about 200 feet over another 2 miles to Weverton Cliffs. The view of the Potomac River from this vantage point is breathtaking. Again, only one other hiker joined me at this beautiful landmark.

After mentally recharging here for about 15 minutes, I began the arduous trek down the mountainside toward Weverton Road and on to the Potomac River. This nearly 400-foot switchback down the trail covers just 1 mile. I was glad I was going down and not up.

From Weverton Road, it is an easy hike under US-340 onto Keep Tryst

Road, and then as an extra bonus, you hike west for 2 miles along the C&O Canal towpath to reach the Goodloe E. Byron Memorial Footbridge over the Potomac River and into Harpers Ferry.

Over about six hours, I had hiked exactly 10 miles, took 27,921 steps and climbed 66 flights.

I had reached my goal of hiking all 42 miles of the AT in Maryland over the course of four day hikes. My wife picked me up at about 5 p.m. on nearby Sandy Hook Road, which parallels the Potomac River and C&O Canal on the Maryland side of the river.

REFLECTIONS

The silence and solitude experienced on the AT is all-consuming. The times when the silence is interrupted by the rat-a-tat-tat of a woodpecker, the laughing of oncoming hikers, the humming of a chainsaw in the distance or small trees creaking in the breeze are surprising and sometimes startling. A strong breeze sometimes sounds like a small freight train just above your head. Sounds of civilization far, far away somehow become comforting. I particularly enjoyed the lonely moan of a train horn many miles away, the faint crackle of a power line in the distance

and the drone of a small plane on the horizon.

There seem to be millions and millions of rocks and boulders of all shapes and sizes to consider on the trail. You will step on many of them and curse some of them.

The white blazes that point the way are like long-lost friends. When you don’t see one for a while, you might panic just a little, even when you know you are not that far from civilization. The trail mostly looks like how you’d expect a trail to look, except when you are clambering up the side of a mountain over boulders. Then, even the rocks are marked with blazes.

For me, hiking the AT was like a very hard workout done during a very quiet mini-vacation with many unexpected rewards along the way.

The trail this time of year is breathtaking, exhausting and very possibly the closest you will ever get to seeing what you are made of.

My mantra was simply put one foot in front of the other, even when tired. That philosophy served me well. If you can do that, before you know it, you’ll be done. It helps that at some point during your hike it makes no sense to turn back. It is better to keep going.

Gary Bennett Annapolis Rocks

Thursday March 9

CLASSES

Maryland Whiskey 101 — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at McClintock Distilling, 35S Carroll St., Frederick. A beginner’s guide to everyone’s favorite nutty, oaky, and smoky spirit — whiskey! You’ll learn how whiskey is made, the different types, and the history of the barrel aging process. This class will have a special focus on Maryland Rye Whiskey and what makes it so special. Must be 21 to register.

434. 301-624-2727. lifelonglearning@ frederick.edu.

ETCETERA

“Stitches Through Time: Women’s Work from Farm to Fashion” — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Museum of Frederick County History/ Heritage Frederick , 24 E. Church St., Frederick. The exhibit explores one story of women’s work, interpreting the history of textile production up to the 1950s. It features a beautiful selection of handsewn quilts and clothes from the 1800s; equipment, advertisements, photos and ephemera from the factory era; and selections of mid-20th century clothing by Claire McCardell that reflect the department store culture that emerged after World War II. 10 wedding dresses spanning 200 years showcase the themes in our story.

$12. director@FrederickHistory.org.

frederickhistory.org/museum/exhibits.

Pour House Trivia — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Champion Billiards Sports Bar, 5205 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick. Come on out with the team and play some Pour House Trivia. 7 p.m. start. Extended Happy Hour from 4 to 8 p.m.  301-846-0089.

frederickchampions.com/weekly-specials.

FILM

Wonder Book Classic Film Series:

“Catch-22” (1970) — 7:30 p.m. at Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. A man is trying desperately to be certified insane during World War II, so he can stop flying missions. Cast: Alan Arkin, Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin. (2 hours 2 min., Rated R)

$7. 301-600-2828. bhiller@cityoffrederick. com. weinbergcenter.org/shows/catch-22-1970.

MUSIC

Salon Music Series — 7:30 p.m. at Shepherd University, 301 S. King St.,

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a parade at rio

The City of Gaithersburg, in partnership with The Peterson Companies and rio, will host its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade at 10 a.m. March 11, which meanders down Grand Corner Avenue at rio, located near I-370 and Washingtonian Boulevard.

Following the parade, stay for festive live music and family fun throughout the rio lakefront. Free parking is available in three garages along Washingtonian Boulevard.

Shepherdstown, W.Va. In Shipley Recital Hall. Featuring Shepherd faculty harpist Dr. Tula Ruggiero and bassist Ray Irving for an eclectic program of works for harp and bass. shepherd.edu.

The Sylvan Waters Duo Concert: “Dances and Mirrors” — 7:30 p.m. at Shepherd University, 301 S. King St., Shepherdstown, W.Va. In the Frank Arts Center. World premiere of “Strange Dances,” a commission funded by a grant from the American Harp Society and composed by SU alumnus Walker Williams and performed by Raymond Irving, bassist, and Tula Ruggiero, harpist. It will also feature a program of music old and new, including works by Claude Debussy, Florence Price, Astor Piazzolla, and Arvo Pärt. shepherd.edu.

Friday March 10

Button-Down Opera presents Mozart’s Don Giovanni — 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Jack B. Kussmaul Theater, Frederick Community College, 7932 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick. The Button-Down Opera Project is dedicated to offering audiences accessible, unpretentious and professional operatic performances that feature the region’s exceptional musical talent. Free. 717-420-0805. nantch62@gmail. com. dirigentenor.com/ button-down-opera-don-giovanni.

Dozens of units will march in the parade, including Celtic dancers, bagpipe bands, school groups, fire trucks, equestrian units, service organizations, characters and more. Sally and Tom Marchessault, longtime city volunteers and 2020 Distinguished Residents, will serve as this year’s grand marshal. The parade will be emceed by Carolyn Muller, director of parks, recreation and culture.

For more information, call 301258-6350.

ETCETERA

Spring Maryland Home and Garden Show — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium. 400 exhibitors showcase the latest trends for home and yard, 11 beautifully landscaped and walk-through gardens, 100+ jury-selected artisans, the annual Maryland Orchid Society show and sale (March 10 to 12), ongoing surprises celebrating the show’s 40th anniversary. $12 adults, $10 ages 62+, $3 ages 6-12, under age 6 free. 410-863-1180. info@ slprod.com. mdhomeandgarden.com/spring.

Fried Chicken/Shrimp Platters — 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at American Legion Post 191, 801 Prospect Road, Mount Airy. Includes two pieces of chicken, six shrimp, mashed potatoes, green beans, coleslaw, roll, pudding, tea, coffee. $18. 301-703-5525. alaunit191@gmail. com. post191.com.

F.A.M.E. All Acoustic Open Mic at the Y Arts Center — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Y Arts Center, 115 E. Church St., Frederick. Come out and play - unplugged! All ages, all abilities welcome! Rick Hill hosts. 301-471-0889. D.Koronet@att.net. frederickacoustic.org.

FAMILY

Weekend Open House: Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum — 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum, 296

S. Burhans Blvd., Hagerstown. Weekend open houses year-round to see historic railroad equipment and artifacts. $6 for adults, $1 for children 4 through 16 Free for children 3 and under. 301-7394665. info@roundhouse.org. roundhouse.org.

KofC Friday Fish Dinners — 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Sr. Margaret Bauer Evangelization Center, St. John the Evangelist Church, 114 E. Second St., Frederick. Fridays through March 31. The St. John’s Knights of Columbus Council 1622 proudly sponsor  both “eat in” and “Quick Curbside To-Go on Second Street, just drive up and place your order, you don’t have to get out of your car. Menu includes a baked or fried fish entrée with complementary drink, home-made vegetable soup, salad, roll and choice of 2 sides: fries, homemade mac & cheese, baked potato, steamed vegetables or coleslaw. Fried fish is freshly breaded by us on-site. Suggested donation is $14, child’s plate $6. Stations of the Cross will follow in the church at 7 p.m. Webpage: https://www.kofc1622.org/fishfry.html

$14. 301-305-2127. satterf@comcast.net. kofc1622.org/fishfry.html.

“James and the Giant Peach” — 7:30 p.m. at The Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg. A musical based on the book by Roald Dahl. Performances through March 26; 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, and 2 p.m. March 25. Ages 5 and older. Presented by Rockville Musical Theatre. $24,, $20 ages 15 to 21, $15 for ages 14 and younger. 301-258-6394. gaithersburgmd.gov.

FILM

American Conservation Film Festival — at Shepherdstown Opera House, 131 W. German St., Shepherdstown, W.Va. Spotlights short films that are 40 minutes or less. The 12 films include animation, narrative and documentary films. In addition to the shorts, ACFF is excited to present a few feature films, including “Path of the Panther” (Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2022 Naples International Film Festival) and “All That Breathes” (winner of the Golden Eye Award for Best Documentary at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, winner of the Grand Jury Prize in World Cinema Documentary at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, and currently in the running for an Academy Award for Documentary Feature Film). Full schedule online. $15 per screening. conservationfilmfest.org.

CAMP

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training, offering six sessions of their summer camp, which include a daily field trip to places like the library, the movie theater, arcades and more. dreamkickstma.com

Urbana Riding Club offers eight weeks of equestrian camps for kids and teens who want to take horsing around literally. Attendees will experience daily horse riding, among other activities. urbanaridingclub.com

24/7 Dance Studio offers six camps in escalating degrees of skill and experience, from a Princess camp for young beginners to an “extreme dance in10sive” for dancers 8 and older. Registration opens March 31, which means all slots are still open. 24-7dancestudio. com

ART AND PERFORMANCE

Camp options for crafty little makers and performers are also plentiful in the area. Here are six to know about.

Frederick Children’s Chorus offers full- and half-day camps children who love to sing. Water days, crafts and play are also part of the camp experience, which culminates in a concert for friends and family. fredcc. org

Hot Fired Arts offers camps that explore hands-on projects in clay, painting, textiles and sculpture. These art-making camps last for three hours only. Space is limited, so early booking is encouraged. hotfiredarts.com

Center Stage

Performing Arts

Academy offers fulland half-day options that serve kids ages 3 to 9. Themes range from Poms and Cheer Camp to Mermaids and Sharks

and emphasize a lot of play and movement. centerstagemaryland.com

Maryland Ensemble Theatre’s FUN Camp is a genuine experience in theater arts for youth and teens, with workshops in singing, acting, dancing and stagecraft. marylandensemble.org

The Delaplaine Arts Center breaks down its summer art classes into two-hour sessions on a specific topic or technique, such as pop art a la Andy Warhol, papiermâché and portraiture. In total, they offer nine weeks of morning and afternoon camps, with a few already fully booked. delaplaine.org

The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, about a half hour west of Frederick in Hagerstown, offers a camp experience themed after its current exhibition

“Landscapes and Legends of Norway: William Singer and His Contemporaries.”

Campers will explore and create art inspired by the magic of Norse gods,

legends and folktales. wcmfa.org

Reminder: Always check the listings for the ages served. Some programs are geared toward kids as young as 3. Some are focused on teens up through senior year. Many of them, however, start around 5 or 6 years of age and cut off their programming at ages 12 or 14.

This list is in no way comprehensive. In an effort to highlight a sampling of the various types of camps available, this list can serve as a jumping off point as you research and determine which option best suits your family, schedule and budget.

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.

APRIL 7th AT 7:30PM

APRIL 8th AT 2PM & 7:30PM

WEINBERG CENTER FOR THE ARTS

20 WEST PATRICK STREET,FREDERICK TICKETS AT 301.600.2828

WWW.WEINBERGCENTER.ORG

Shoff Promotions

FREDERICK COMIC CON

SUNDAY MARCH 19 • 10 am - 4pm

• Gold, Silver, Bronze & Modern Age Comic Books

• Anime, Pulps, Games, Pokemon & Magic Cards, Mini Figures

• Super Heroes Toys, Pop Toys, Art

ARTISTS ALLEY

COSPLAY WELCOME

• Hobby & Gaming Supplies, Sci Fi Toys INFO: shoffpromotions.com

Frederick Clarion Inn (next to the FSK Mall) 5400 Holiday Dr 21703

Admission: $10 cash; 12 and under free EARLY ADMISSION at 9:30am- $15 cash Free Parking!

Preview Party: March 24, 5-7pm, $55, RSVP Saturday, March 25, 9 am-4 pm, free Sunday, March 26, 12-5 pm, free

Designers paired with museum artwork for three days of one-of-a-kind live floral designs

Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown 301-739-5727 | wcmfa.org | Free admission

Tickets: $35 • $30 • $25

Made possible in part by grants from Frederick Arts Council, Ausherman Family Foundation and Delaplaine Foundation

24/7 Dance Studio

24/7 Dance Studio offers six camps in escalating degrees of skill and experience.

CALENDAR

MUSIC

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. 301898-3719.

Resurrection — A Journey Tribute — 7:30 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Based out of Nashville, Resurrection Journey is widely praised as the most authentic Journey experience in the business. $34 and up. 301-790-3500. mdtheatre.org.

James Keelaghan — 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Cellar Stage at The Timonium United Methodist Church, 2300 Pot Spring Road, Timonium. The poet laureate of the folk and roots music. $25. 443-540-0226. uptownconcerts@gmail.com. uptownconcerts.com.

THEATER

“Grease” — 6 p.m. at Washington County Playhouse Dinner Theatre, 44 N. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Here is Rydell High’s senior class of 1959: duck-tailed, hotrodding “Burger Palace Boys” and their gum-snapping, hip-shaking “Pink Ladies” in bobby sox and pedal pushers, evoking the look and sound of the 1950s in this rollicking musical. Dinner precedes show. Cash bar available.

$63 adults, $57 active military and first responders, includes dinner and show. 301-739-7469. washingtoncountyplayhouse.com.

FTP presents “Rent” — 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at The Performing Arts Factory, 244 S. Jefferson St., Frederick. Jonathan Larson’s groundbreaking Pulitzer Prize Winning Broadway musical “Rent” comes to the Frederick theater scene produced by the longest running community theater company in Frederick, the Fredericktowne Players. The rock musical explores the value of love and life through the trials and tribulations of struggling young artists striving to survive in Lower Manhattan’s East Village at the height of the HIV/Aids epidemic. $20. 240-315-3855. hello@ftptheater.com. ftptheater.com.

Saturday March 11

CLASSES

Freedom BANG class — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Walkersville Public Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Freedom Bang is 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. Ages 18 and older.

301-600-8200. AWadding@ FrederickCountyMD.gov. fcpl.org.

Senior Fitness, Drumming Class — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Walkersville LIbrary, 2 S. GladeRoad, Walkersville. Low-impact exercise for seniors using drumsticks, exercise balls and music. Have fun while you work your muscles!

301-600-8200. fcpl.org.

Zumba Saturdays at the Library — 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung St., Frederick. Ready to exercise! Ready to dance! Ready to shake off the pounds? Come on in for Zumba at the Library on Saturday mornings through May 27. Ages 18 and older.

301-600-7004.

marchange-desir@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com/event/ zumba-saturdays-library-8.

Mindfulness Amongst the Vines: Spring Edition — 10:30 a.m. to noon at Hidden Hills Farm and Vineyard, 7550 Green Valley Road, Frederick. Blend mindfulness practices and healthy lifestyle habits to explore new ideas and habits for the spring and summer months ahead.

$55. 703-625-1239. cassidywellnesscoaching@gmail.com.

Small Gardens, Big Impact: Why Pollinator Gardens Matter — 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Middletown Branch Library, 101 Prospect St., Middletown. Join Master Naturalist Karen Whitehair who says, “If you plant the right plants, the pollinators will find you.” With just a few key plants, you can navigate the confusing world of horticulture and start your own pollinator garden.

301-600-7560. wgagne@frederickcountymd.gov. fcpl.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, scrambled eggs, sausage gravy, milk, juice and coffee. Proceeds benefit the Frederick County Pomona Grange Burall Brothers Memorial Scholarship Fund which is part of the Community Foundation of Frederick County.

$10 adults, kids 6-12 - $5; ages 5 and under free (cash or check only). justafarmboy@msn.com.

Kentlands Mansion Weekend Tours and Open House — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kentlands Mansion, 320 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg. A rare weekend to look at everything this historic mansion has to offer! A variety of samples from Key Ingredients Catering, free small Mehndi designs provided by Mehndi by Soma, a sparkling cider toast, live music and more! Tours every half hour beginning at 10 a.m. 301-258-6425. kentlands@gaithersburgmd. gov.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade — 10 a.m..The parade meanders down Grand Corner Avenue at rio, located near I-370 and Washingtonian Boulevard. Following the parade, stay for festive live music, specials and family fun throughout the rio lakefront. Free parking is available in three garages along Washingtonian Boulevard. 301-258-6350. gaithersburgmd.gov.

All About Backyard Chickens — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Thinking about raising chickens in your own backyard? Jeff Semler, poultry expert with the University of Maryland Extension, will share tips on establishing and caring for your personal flock.  301-600-7250. coliver@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com/event/ backyard-chickens.

Frederick Threads (American Sewing Guild) Meeting — 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Frederick Church of Christ, 1305 N. Market St., Frederick. Program: “How to Bead on Fabric.” Call for supply list and registration. Plenty of free parking in lot at rear of church. 301-831-3637.

FAMILY

Memory Lab — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Edward F. Fry Memorial Library at Point of Rocks, 1635 Ballinger Creek Pike, Point of Rocks. Use our equipment to convert your photos and analog home videos and audio recordings to digital formats. Lab volunteers will be available to help. Call 301-874-4560 to make an appointment. 301-874-4560. SCWells@ FrederickCountyMD.gov.

Weekend Open House: Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum — 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum, 296 S. Burhans Blvd., Hagerstown. Weekend open houses year-round to see historic railroad equipment and artifacts. $6 for adults, $1 for children 4 through 16 Free for children 3 and under. 301-7394665. info@roundhouse.org. roundhouse.org.

FILM

American Conservation Film Festival — at Shepherdstown Opera House, 131 W. German St., Shepherdstown, W.Va. Full schedule online. $15 per screening. conservationfilmfest.org.

MUSIC

“You’re Looking at Country” Starring Forever Young with Dale Young and Kip Calahan Young — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Capitol Theatre, 159 S. Main St., Chambersburg, Pa. A multi-media tribute concert to legendary country music artists Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, as well as, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and more. 717-263-0202. vperry@thecapitoltheatre.org.

thecapitoltheatre.org/ shows-movies-events/live-shows-2023.

PERFORMER

Teelin Irish Dance Company – Celtic Journey — 7 p.m. at Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, Celtic Journey celebrates the graceful beauty and thundering beats of Irish dance and music. Experience the brilliant energy of Irish dance with cutting edge choreography of the Teelin Irish Dance Company that audiences have enjoyed for years. $25-$35. 301-600-2828. bhiller@ cityoffrederick.com. weinbergcenter.org/shows/ teelin-irish-dance-company-celtic-journey.

THEATER

“Grease” — 6 p.m. at Washington County Playhouse Dinner Theatre, 44 N. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Here is Rydell High’s senior class of 1959: duck-tailed, hotrodding “Burger Palace Boys” and their gum-snapping, hip-shaking “Pink Ladies” in bobby sox and pedal pushers, evoking the look and sound of the 1950s in this rollicking musical. Dinner precedes show. Cash bar available.

$63 adults, $57 active military and first responders, includes dinner and show. 301-739-7469.

washingtoncountyplayhouse.com.

FTP presents “Rent” — 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at The Performing Arts Factory, 244 S. Jefferson St., Frederick. Jonathan Larson’s ground-breaking Pulitzer Prize Winning Broadway musical “Rent” comes to the Frederick theater scene produced by the longest running community theater company in Frederick, the Fredericktowne Players. The rock musical explores the value of love and life through the trials and tribulations of struggling young artists striving to survive in Lower Manhattan’s East Village at the height of the HIV/Aids epidemic.

$20. 240-315-3855. hello@ftptheater.com. ftptheater.com.

Sunday March 12

CLASSES

Sugary Sweets 1: Making St. Patrick’s Day Candies — 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at The Learning Kitchen @ Chocolates and Tomatoes farm, 7957 Hollow Road, Middletown. In this 90-minute class, you will make pulled sugar and poured sugar candies to sweeten up your St. Patrick’s Day.  Chef Mark will share some sugar science and demonstrate how to create these delightfully colorful and tasty treats with ingredients and materials you probably have at home. $25. 571-271-2686.

chocolatesandtomatoes@gmail.com. chocolatesandtomatoes.com/classes-andevents.

ETCETERA

Breakfast Fundraiser — 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Union Bridge Fire Co., 8 W. Locust St., Union Bridge. All-you-can-eat pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage biscuits, sausage gravy, puddin’, hominy, muffins and more. Benefits the fire company; cancelled if snow emergency plan is in effect. Prices subject to change as market prices dictate. $10 adults, $5 for ages 6-12, under 6 free, $12 for carry out. 410-775-7422 or 443547-9477.

Love Loudoun Wedding Showcase —

11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at West Belmont Place at The National Conference Center, 18980 Upper Belmont Place, Leesburg, Va. 50+ wedding professionals, complimentary food and drink, fashion show, prizes and more. $10. tinyurl.com/3h4xfh37.

Second Sunday Tree Walk with the Frederick County Forestry Board — 1 p.m. to 2:30 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.

“Secrets of the C&O Canal” with James Rada Jr. — 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at St. James United Church of Christ, 10 E. Broad Way, Lovettsville, Va. The C&O Canal’s history is as long as the canal itself and is filled with mishaps, crimes, secrets, and drama. Join author James Rada Jr. and the Lovettsville Historical Society to learn some of the secrets of the C&O Canal. Zoom link available. 540-822-9194. edspannaus@verizon.net. lovettsvillehistoricalsociety.org.

FAMILY

Weekend Open House: Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum — 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum, 296 S. Burhans Blvd., Hagerstown. Weekend open houses year-round to see historic railroad equipment and artifacts.

$6 for adults, $1 for children 4 through 16 Free for children 3 and under. 301-7394665. info@roundhouse.org. roundhouse.org.

FILM

American Conservation Film Festival — at Shepherdstown Opera House, 131 W. German St., Shepherdstown, W.Va. Full schedule online. $15 per screening. conservationfilmfest.org.

2023 Oscar Nominated Shorts — 1 p.m. at Carroll Arts Center, 91 W. Main St., Westminster. Catch the nominated animated and live action short films at this year’s Academy Awards, and get caught up on the Oscar buzz. $7. 410-848-7272. carrollcountyartscouncil.org.

MUSIC

Button-Down Opera presents Mozart’s Don Giovanni — 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Jack B. Kussmaul Theater, Frederick Community College, 7932 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick. The Button-Down Opera Project is dedicated to offering audiences accessible, unpretentious and professional operatic performances that feature the region’s exceptional musical talent. Free. 717-420-0805. nantch62@gmail.com. dirigentenor.com/button-down-opera-dongiovanni.

F.A.M.E. “Formal” Song Circle — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Common Market Coop, 5728 Buckeystown Pike , Frederick. Share some music with friends! Bring your instrument, your voice, or just your ears! Oh, and bring some print-outs of chords and lyrics to share (that’s what makes it “formal”). 301-471-0889. D.Koronet@att.net. frederickacoustic.org.

Calvary United Methodist Church

Community Concert Series Presents Ronn McFarlane, Lute, and Carolyn Surrick, Viola de Gamba — 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Calvary United Methodist Church, 131 W. Second St., Frederick. McFarlane and Surrick have been champions of their respective instruments for decades, immersing themselves in music from the Renaissance and Baroque, music from Ireland and Scotland, and composing new works.

301-662-1464. office@calvaryumc.org. CalvaryUMC.org/concerts.

Frederick Presbyterian to Host Messiah University’s Concert Choir and Chamber Singers — 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Frederick Presbyterian Church, 115 W. Second St., Frederick. Led by conductor Dr. Joy Meade, the 45-member Concert Choir and Chamber Singers will perform “All Things New,” a program with content spanning several centuries, including Baroque standards, spirituals and hymns, and musical reflections on current events. 301-663-5338. music@ frederickpresbyterian.org. frederickpresbyterian.org.

Martin Brothers — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Cactus Flats, 10026 Hansonville Road, Frederick. Bluegrass music.

Classic Albums Live: Pink Floyd “The Dark Side of the Moon” — 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Classic Albums Live has earned their reputation of performing rock music’s most influential albums live on stage just like you remember them. Featuring a roster of world-class musicians from across the globe, they will perform “Dark Side of the Moon” in its entirety and then play a second set full of Pink Floyd’s greatest hits! $38. 301-600-2868. bhiller@ cityoffrederickmd.gov. weinbergcenter.org/shows/classic-albumslive-pink-floyd-the-dark-side-of-the-moon.

THEATER

FTP presents “Rent” — 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Performing Arts Factory, 244 S.

Jefferson St., Frederick. Jonathan Larson’s ground-breaking Pulitzer Prize Winning Broadway musical “Rent” comes to the Frederick theater scene produced by the longest running community theater company in Frederick, the Fredericktowne Players. The rock musical explores the value of love and life through the trials and tribulations of struggling young artists striving to survive in Lower Manhattan’s East Village at the height of the HIV/Aids epidemic. $20. 240-315-3855. hello@ ftptheater.com. ftptheater.com.

Monday March 13

CLASSES

FAC After Hours & Yogamour: Restorative Yoga with Soundbath — 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. Join a gentle flow yoga session on the main level while enjoying art work that adorn the walls of this historic space. All levels which includes beginners. Some yoga mats available. $15. 301-662-4190. wiegand@ frederickartscouncil.org. yogamour.org/public-yoga-classes.

FAMILY

Memory Lab — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Edward F. Fry Memorial Library at Point

of Rocks, 1635 Ballinger Creek Pike, Point of Rocks. Use our equipment to convert your photos and analog home videos and audio recordings to digital formats. Lab volunteers will be available to help. Call 301-874-4560 to make an appointment. 301-874-4560. SCWells@ FrederickCountyMD.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.

Tuesday March 14

CLASSES

Know Your Beer — 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Steinhardt Brewing, 340 E. Patrick St., Suite 100-102., Frederick. It used to be that the only choice you ever had to make while ordering a beer was whether you wanted it served in a bottle or a glass. But as the craft brewing movement grew so did our choices. There are different categories and styles, and never mind color, body and ABV. Any self-respecting beer drinker needs to know the difference before ordering their perfect pour. The expert brewers at the family-owned Steinhardt Brewing Co. will teach you the beer basics as you taste your way through this course. Must be 21 to register.  $29. 301-624-2727. lifelonglearning@ frederick.edu.

CALENDAR

Modern Meds, Ancient Roots: History of Herbs, Drugs & Capitalism with Dr. Eziaku Ogbonna — 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. online, hosted by Fox Haven Farm & Retreat Center, 3630 Poffenberger Road, Jefferson. Learn the hidden history behind some prescription drugs that are powered by plants! In this class, Eziaku will provide an overview of the evolutionary history of modern medicine, from its ancient roots, to historical tragedies that led to the development of some top-selling pharmaceutical drugs.Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Always talk with your healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding your prescriptions or medical condition.

$10 BIPOC, $18 general. 240-490-5484. alecks@foxhavenfarm.org. foxhavenfarm.org/events/ modern-meds-ancient-roots-history-ofherbs-drugs-capitalism-online.

ETCETERA

Pride On The Patio — 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Showroom, 882 N. East St., Fredrick. Weekly LGBTQIA social mixer. Relaxed an casual. Happy hour pricing, full menu available; drink special Gender Fluid. 21 and older. 240-409-8858. prideonthepatio@gmail. com. facebook.com/PrideOnThePatio.

Acoustic Open Mic at Liquidity Aleworks

— 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Liquidity Aleworks, 8 N. Main St., Mount Airy. Come out and play!

All talent levels welcome! Dave Koronet hosts. 301-471-0889. D.Koronet@att.net.

FAMILY

Memory Lab — 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Edward F. Fry Memorial Library at Point of Rocks, 1635 Ballinger Creek Pike, Point of Rocks. Use our equipment to convert your photos and analog home videos and audio recordings to digital formats. Lab volunteers will be available to help. Call 301-874-4560 to make an appointment. 301-874-4560. SCWells@ FrederickCountyMD.gov.

FILM

FAC After Hours: Art Center Bijou — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. A weekly film screening curated in collaboration with documentary filmmaker Leah Michaels and FAC Associate SJ Wiegand. Each month presents films that fall under one general theme in order to cultivate discussion about film as a mode of artistic expression. 301-662-4190. wiegand@ frederickartscouncil.org. frederickartscouncil.org/news-events/ calendar-grid.

Wednesday March 15

ETCETERA

Spaghetti Dinner — 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Winfield Fire Hall, 1320 W. Old Liberty Road, Sykesville. An all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner includes marinara and meat sauce, bread sticks, a salad bar, iced tea and water. A bake table will be available at an additional cost. To support the Winfield Ladies Auxiliary. Adults $10, children 6 to 11 $5, children 5 & under free.

Sass Magazine Girls Night Out at Vintage Restaurant — 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Vintage Eats, 8 W. Main St., New Market. Celebrate the newest issue of Sass while mixing and mingling with other smart and savvy women. Meet the ladies who bring you Sass Magazine, win door prizes, shop our merch table, and more. Light fare included. Cash bar.  $20. 301-882-7674. katy@ sassmagazine.com. events.humanitix.com/sass-magazinemarch-2023-girls-night-out.

FAMILY

Memory Lab — 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Edward F. Fry Memorial Library at Point of Rocks, 1635 Ballinger Creek Pike, Point of Rocks. Use our equipment to convert your photos and analog home videos and audio recordings to digital formats. Lab volunteers will be available to help. Call 301-874-4560 to make an appointment. 301-874-4560. SCWells@ FrederickCountyMD.gov.

MUSIC

FAC After Hours: Joe Keyes Improv Jazz — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. Equal parts frontman, poet and conductor, Joe Keyes leads his nine-piece Late Bloomer Band through a fresh concoction of funk, R&B, soul, rock, and jazz. The band’s vibe and sound journeys from gentle grooves to tight funk and epic crescendos. 301-662-4190. wiegand@ frederickartscouncil.org.

Thursday March 16

ETCETERA

Riverworks’ Storytellers: Connection

Creatives to the Community — 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Riverworks Studio, 19215 Beallsville Road, Beallsville. Monthly series of showand-share talks on the third Thursday of the month. March guest is Tony Cohen, founder of the Menare Foundation at the historic Button Farm, Maryland’s only living history center depicting 19th-century plantation life. Events will be recorded.  301-690-9337. contact@riverworksart.org.

Frederick County Civil War Roundtable Meeting — 7 p.m. to 8:35 p.m. at National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Ron Kirkwood will present “Too Much for Human Endurance.” Kirkwood argues that the George Spangler farm was the most important farm in the

Battle of Gettysburg, revealing factors that have been overlooked for generations. The book and his presentation also offer newly found information about Confederate Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Armistead’s time at Spangler and what the Spangler family lived through while their farm was occupied along with stories of the suffering and heroism of the surgeons, nurses, wounded and mortally wounded at the two hospitals on the Spanglers’ land. free for members, $5 suggested fee for non-members. gldyson@comcast.net. frederickcountycivilwarrt.org/.

Pour House Trivia — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Champion Billiards Sports Bar, 5205 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick. Come on out with the team and play some Pour House Trivia. 7 p.m. start. Extended Happy Hour from 4 to 8 p.m.  301-846-0089. frederickchampions.com/weekly-specials.

PERFORMER

Brooklyn Comedian Kyle Gillis — 8 p.m. at Carroll County Arts Council, 91 W. Main St., Westminster. Over the past 13 years, Brooklyn-based comedian Kyle Gillis has performed at clubs and colleges, pranked his way onto a daytime talk show, and opened for Tom Segura. He is currently hosting the monthly show Ultimate Powerpoint Championship and preparing to record his first comedy special in 2023. For ages 21 and up only. Pre-show happy hour from Pipe the Side Brewing starts at 6:45 p.m. $15. 410-848-7272. carrollcountyartscouncil.org.

Friday March 17

ETCETERA

“Stitches Through Time: Women’s Work from Farm to Fashion” — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Museum of Frederick County History/Heritage Frederick , 24 E. Church St., Frederick. The exhibit explores one story of women’s work, interpreting the history of textile production up to the 1950s. It features a beautiful selection of hand-sewn quilts and clothes from the 1800s; equipment, advertisements, photos and ephemera from the factory era; and selections of mid-20th century clothing by Claire McCardell that reflect the department store culture that emerged after World War II. 10 wedding dresses spanning 200 years showcase the themes in our story.

$12. director@FrederickHistory.org. frederickhistory.org/museum/exhibits/.

FAMILY

KofC Friday Fish Dinners — 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Sr. Margaret Bauer Evangelization Center, St. John the Evangelist Church, 114 E. Second St., Frederick. Fridays through March 31. The St. John’s Knights of

Columbus Council 1622 proudly sponsor  both “eat in” and “Quick Curbside To-Go on Second Street, just drive up and place your order, you don’t have to get out of your car. Menu includes a baked or fried fish entrée with complementary drink, home-made vegetable soup, salad, roll and choice of 2 sides: fries, homemade mac & cheese, baked potato, steamed vegetables or coleslaw. Fried fish is freshly breaded by us on-site. Suggested donation is $14, child’s plate $6. Stations of the Cross will follow in the church at 7 p.m. Webpage: https:// www.kofc1622.org/fishfry.html $14. 301-305-2127. satterf@comcast.net. kofc1622.org/fishfry.html.

“James and the Giant Peach” — 7:30 p.m. at The Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg. A musical based on the book by Roald Dahl. Performances through March 26; 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, and 2 p.m. March 25. Ages 5 and older. Presented by Rockville Musical Theatre.

$24, $20 ages 15 to 21, $15 for ages 14 and younger. 301-258-6394. gaithersburgmd.gov.

MUSIC

F.A.M.E. Song Circle — 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Mount Airy Town Hall, 110 S. Main St., Mount Airy. A song circle is kind of like singing around a campfire (but without the fire). All ages, all abilities - players, singers, and listeners are all welcome! Acoustic instruments only, please! Meets monthly. 301-471-0889. D.Koronet@att.net. frederickacoustic.org.

Tauren Wells: The Joy in the Morning Tour — 7:30 p.m. at Luhrs Preforming Arts Center, 475 Lancaster Drive, Shippensburg, Pa. Wells is a highly celebrated and awarded platinum-selling recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter who has collaborated with H.E.R., and toured with Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey. $18, $29, $30, $35, $69. 717-488-7469. info@luhrscenter.com. luhrscenter.com/event/tauren-wells-thejoy-in-the-morning-tour.

Loudon Wainwright III and Tom Rush with Matt Nakoa — 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. After 30 albums, countless concert appearances, a Grammy, many film and TV roles, and songs recorded by such artists as Johnny Cash, Mose Allison, Bonnie Raitt and his son Rufus, Loudon sounds as engaged and passionate as ever. Tom Rush is a gifted musician and performer, whose shows offer a journey into the tradition and spectrum of what music has been, can be, and will become. Matt Nakoa is an awardwinning songwriter, singer, and multiinstrumentalist. A modern troubadour, he makes his home on the highways and concert stages of America and appears regularly with folk music icon Tom Rush.  $37. 301-600-2868. bhiller@