May the Landon Ladies inspire you as they did us this week with their book club that’s been meeting regularly for 20 years. They have read more than 180 books together. Several book clubs exist in the community through Frederick County Public Libraries, the Curious Iguana, the YMCA and other local groups, or why not start your own? It’s the season to get cozy with a cup of tea and a good book, and what better time to join a club and chat about what you’ve discovered in your reading.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
Perhaps it’s too early, but Halloween is over and Christmas music is playing in local shops, so if you are one to embrace the start of the Christmas season, what better way to get in the mood than by getting to the Weinberg Center for the Arts for the “Motown Christmas” show? The Motortown All-Stars will bring two performances to town on Nov. 22.
LAST CHANCE!
Aynex Mercado’s exhibition “Quilting Frederick” is on view at Maryland Hall in Annapolis through Nov. 22. The small fiber-art pieces depict quintessential Frederick scenes and architecture, like the holiday lights that go up each November downtown. These Frederick pieces were the first themed series she’s ever created, despite having worked in the art form for 25 years, and this show marks her first time showing the quilts outside of Frederick. “It was interesting telling about our town,” she said in an interview. “Some people would tell me about the times they had been in Frederick and their favorite spots. Others would tell me they had never been to Frederick and now they wanted to come.” This week also marks the last chance for photographers across the region to submit work to the annual Cumberland Valley Photographers Exhibition at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts in Hagerstown, a show that highlights the best work around and usually includes several artists based in Frederick County. Entries will be accepted until Nov. 29.
OF NOTE: 72 HOURS NEXT WEEK
As you may or may not know, The News-Post recently stopped publishing its daily paper on the six major U.S. holidays (Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day). This means next week’s 72 Hours will be inserted in the Friday, Nov. 29, paper — aka Black Friday, aka Frosty Friday. Stories will appear online throughout the week, as usual, but please remember to grab a copy of the Friday paper, should you want to see 72 Hours in print. As always, reach out to the editor, Lauren LaRocca, at llarocca@newspost.com with any questions.
Meet Bob & Freddie. When it comes to local businesses, businesspeople and organizations in Frederick, they know best. Here is a personal interview with a 2024 Best of the Best winner or finalist about why they love what they do, helping those they serve and working in Frederick.
Thurmont Kountry Kitchen
2024 WINNER FOR BEST COMPANY TO WORK FOR
17 Water Street, Thurmont 301-271-4071
thurmontkountrykitchen.com
BOB HISTORY
2024 – Winner, Company to Work For 2024 – Finalist, Catering Company, Chicken Wings, Omelette, Restaurant Service, Salad, Sandwich
2024, 2020 – Finalist, Place to Eat with Kids 2023 – Winner, Omelette 2021 – Finalist, Company to Work For
WHEN DID YOUR BUSINESS OPEN IN FREDERICK?
Our business opened in Thurmont Feb. 15, 1984. We will be celebrating 41 years in 2025.
WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART?
We try creating a friendly environment where customers have become like family. Catching up with old friends, having a great time, while enjoying a home cooked meal. Our signature Broasted Chicken and Homemade Red Velvet
Cake will leave your taste buds craving more.
WHY DID YOU CHOSE THIS PROFESSION AND WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
Growing up in the restaurant business I’ve always admired the hard work and dedication our parents put into building the foundation of our business. Year after year watching it grow, seeing the changes, meeting new faces, and learning so many important aspects of being a business owner. Now as a second generation owner I am proud to continue my parent’s legacy.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OTHERS GOING INTO BUSINESS?
Cut cost whenever possible without sacrificing product quality. Always focus on outstanding customer service. Overcome fear and embrace failure, take risks, and pursue your goals. Always take care of your employees, because they take care of you!
UNCAPPED
Beer Zombies in Nevada
In this episode of the UnCapped podcast, host Chris Sands talks with Chris Jacobs from Beer Zombies about the journey from starting an Instagram account to opening a production brewery over the past 10 years. Along the way were numerous collabs, bottle shops, merch drops and contract brewing. Here is an excerpt of their talk.
UnCapped: Today I’m recording live from the Kill the Lights Festival, and right now I’m joined by Chris Jacobs, the founder/owner/operator/ everything at Beer Zombies … which is a whole brand. I guess you just go through a list of things that you do.
Chris Jacobs: Yeah, it definitely started off as a brand, the Beer Zombies brand. It was my way of being involved in the hobby that I was into at the time. I wanted to be a part of something I loved.
My background is graphic design and street art and anything that has to do with making items art — shirts, clothing. I started doing a lot of the typical drinking and checking in Untappd in early 2012, and by the end of the year, I decided I wanted to be a little bit more involved.
I came up with a concept called Beer Zombies while drinking beer one night. I had a company I was already using for street art called We Are Zombies, which had a zombie head logo, and I just sketched a hop on it. I thought this would be my creative beer outlet. It just snowballed from there. This is 10 years this year. It turned into a bunch of cool things with cool people.
UnCapped: That gives me hope that someday I’ll make something of myself.
Jacobs: It’s funny you say that. I talk to a lot of people, and I think the reason I resonate with so many people that are not already in the industry is because they look at it and say, “So it can be done.” You can start an Instagram page, you can start just being involved and be a good person and be around good people and make things happen. It can be done.
UnCapped: Was the bottle shop your first foray into brick and mortar?
Jacobs: Yeah. The short version of it is it started off with merch, then I got linked up with Jeremiah [Adam Cooper] at Kings [Brewing Co.].
UnCapped: You’re big into shoes, too, aren’t you?
Jacobs: Yeah, big into shoes. So we reached out, and he said we should do a collab. That was 2016 and the first
time we’d ever done a beer collab. In 2016, it wasn’t common for breweries to do collabs with non-breweries. Now it’s a little bit more normal.
UnCapped: I’ve done 60-some. The first one I ever did was 10 years ago. But UnCapped was definitely much more local until COVID. It was all Maryland, but once COVID happened and I couldn’t bring people into my studio, I started remote podcasts. Then I met Russ [Tinsley] from Oozlefinch, and he invited me down to his festival, and that’s when I started meeting all you guys and then started going national.
Jacobs: It’s a good group of people.
UnCapped: It’s an amazing group of people. The best people I’ve ever met.
Jacobs: Of course when you come to a festival, there’s the work aspect of it … but I always say I could be digging ditches. I am very lucky that I get to do what I love for work. There’s so much good stuff with networking and coming together, it really makes all of this even better.
UnCapped: I always get people saying how amazing it must be to go to all these things, but it’s also exhausting. Once that beard starts going gray, these weekends become more exhausting than ever.
Jacobs: Yeah, you go here and you drink and talk and you’re doing all this stuff, and then pretty soon it’s 2 in the morning. I’m 46 years old. Two in the morning is late for me.
UnCapped: So you opened the bottle shop and it was also drafts, right?
Jacobs: Yeah, the first one was a 400-square-foot building called The Clubhouse. It’s tiny — five seats at the bar, three coolers for to-go beers, 10 taps — and it was really a proof of concept. Can I do something and in Vegas, where there is not really a big craft beer scene in general. It’s gotten way better. Even five years ago, there were only one or two places that were selling predominately craft beer. When we opened, we became the only place in Nevada that sold exclusively independent craft beers. We focused on our friends and getting them into
Vegas and stocking those beers.
UnCapped: You still have the original location?
Jacobs: Yeah, it’s still there, and since then, we’ve opened three more in Vegas — one more bottle shop, one that is more of a standalone beer bar restaurant, and the newest location in Boulder City is the bigger spot with a huge outdoor patio and live music.
UnCapped: Did you build your connections within the industry from that bottle shop?
Jacobs: No, a lot of it was social media stuff and traveling. I put in
the work. I think it was 2018 I left my position at the Cosmopolitan, where I’d been for 18 years, and decided to go full-time. That year, I was gone 48 weekends out of 52, and every single one was for beer events and networking. At that time, I wasn’t pouring beer. I was just showing up and talking to the people that I looked up to, tasting beer, getting to know people and letting them know I want to be a part of this. That whole year was really the year of building up relationships, and in 2019, we opened the first shop.
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
Chris Jacobs of Beer Zombies.
Quilter Aynex Mercado shares the charm of Frederick in her show at Maryland Hall
BY DAWN MORGAN NEARY Special to The News-Post
Aynex Mercado is a federal employee by day and quilting artist in her spare time. Originally from Puerto Rico, she studied hotel management in Massachusetts, but a car crash and spinal cord injury in college put her on a more artistic path. She has lived in Frederick since 2008.
Aynex Mercado + Learn more about the artist at aynexquilts.com, or follow her on Instagram and Threads @aynexquilts.
72 Hours caught up with her to talk about her craft and current quilt exhibition, on view through Nov. 22 at Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St., Annapolis. When did you start quilting?
I have been quilting for 25 years. After graduating, it was very hard to get a job in the hotel industry being in a wheelchair. I decided to do art full-time. In 2004, I moved to Paducah, Kentucky, also known as Quilt City USA. I got an associate’s degree at FCC in digital design [where she was awarded with the Distinguished Artist Award for Graphic Design in 2018]. I worked as a freelance web and graphic designer for several years until I started working for NIH as a user experience designer.
What is your process?
When I design my quilts, I usually trace from photos in the computer with Adobe Illustrator, print out a fullsize pattern, then cut the fabric pieces that form the quilt.
I have fabric that I have collected for 25 years and it is always fun to find the perfect fabric for the effect I want to achieve. After sewing the fabric pieces together, they are layered with batting and a backing fabric and the quilting stitches join the three layers and add texture. If the piece needs it, I may add embroidery or beads.
Lately I have been working with subjects that are not easily photographed, like a building. I have been using AI to create an image of
what I have in mind and trace from the AI image.
Right now you have your Frederick quilts on display in Annapolis. How do you choose what you’ll be designing? Do you tend to work in themes?
My series of Frederick quilts was my first formal series. Before that, I used to do all kinds of quilts until I decided to just work on one idea and develop it further. Working in a series has opened up many opportunities and my plan is to continue working this way. At the moment, I am developing a new series. This series is going to be more controversial and hopefully make people think and start conversations. I am excited and nervous about it as I don’t know how they will be received. Will people want to hang controversial artwork in their house, or do they just want something pretty? Can I make something controversial and pretty? We will see.
What was it like to show your work and represent Frederick in the capital of Maryland?
(See MERCADO 8)
Courtesy photos
“Christmas in Frederick,” by Aynex Mercado.
Quilt by Aynex Mercado.
MUSIC
The magic of a ‘Motown Christmas’ returns to Frederick
BY KARI A. MARTINDALE
Special to The News-Post
Fee-fi-fo-fum, look out Frederick, ‘cause here they come. A Motown Christmas is returning to the Weinberg Center.
The group, The Motortown All-Stars, is made up of former members of legendary Motown groups, including The Contours, who had such hits as “Do You Love Me”; Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees the The Miracles; and Ali Woodson’s Temptations, who had such hits as “My Girl.”
Musical director Glen Raby has worked in Motown circles for decades.
“A kid from Detroit, that’s where I gravitated,” he said recently.
about 100 [songs] I wanted to do, but that [concert] would’ve lasted a day and a half, so I had to whittle it down! ”
The show, Baby said, is designed to ramp up through the end, “so the reaction gets better and better” as the evening goes on.
IF YOU GO
A Motown Christmas performances will be held at 2 and 8 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Weinberg Center. Tickets are available at weinbergcenter.org, by calling the box office at 301-600-2828, or in person at 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick.
For years, he directed the Contours. He also worked with Martha and the Vandellas, the Miracles and Temptations groups.
When leaving the Contours, Raby was ready for a new adventure.
“I reached out for what I considered a dream team,” he said, to create a group of authentic Motown singers. “After all these years in the music business, I’ve worked with almost 200 [musicians] who have had hit records throughout the ‘60s, and they’re by and far down to earth and appreciative of the impact they’ve made. [Our group has] never had a cross word between us, and that’s what makes it so great. It doesn’t feel like working.”
Currently forming the group are Antonio Dandridge, who is the godson of Martha Reeves and has sung with Mary J Blige; Danny Friendly, from The Edsels; Leon Franklin, who performed with The Contours, Ali Woodson’s Temptations group, Damon Harris’ Temptations group, and The Miracles; and Charles Franklin, from Ali Woodson’s Temptations group.
The Motortown All-Stars perform throughout the year, but the majority of their performances are A Motown Christmas, which they’ve been putting on for 14 years.
Raby has never had a problem building a set list.
“The problem was always what songs to leave out. I focused on the golden age of Motown, 1959 to 1969. There are
Raby makes minor changes from one year to the next, but people often “come and want to hear the show the way they heard it the year before. I even have people at the autograph table say, ‘You didn’t do this one!’”
“We have a devoted fan base,” he said. “We’re all of an age when they’ve all calmed down a bit,” he claims (as someone who attended A Motown Christmas in 2022, I’d say there were a few women who would’ve been willing to break a hip climbing up onstage if left unchecked).
“I love the way people connect to [Motown],” Raby said.
At the shows, he often asks audiences who is over 70, who is over 80, and who is under 50.
“Classic rock, country, whatever their favorite might be, [Motown has] pretty universal appeal.”
As the website describes, A Motown Christmas “is jam-packed with impeccable harmonies, dazzling choreography, and those timeless Motown grooves that everyone knows and loves. You can choose to dance, sing along, or just sit back (if you can).”
Raby looks forward to returning to the Weinberg.
“I remember Frederick well,” he said. “It’s a neat little town — an artsy, interesting, very comfortable place to be.”
For some sunshine on a cloudy day and the season’s smoothest moves and sweetest harmonies, slide on over to the Weinberg Center on Nov. 22.
Kari Martindale is a Pushcart Prizenominated poet and spoken word artist who has been published in various literary journals and anthologies, and she has been featured in readings across Maryland. She has an MA in linguistics, sits on the board of Maryland Writers’ Association and is a member of EC Poetry & Prose.
Courtesy photos
From left, Antonio Dandridge, Danny Friendly, Leon Franklin and Charles Franklin.
Choral Arts Society of Frederick will honor the legacy of Pearl Harbor in its next concert
The Choral Arts Society of Frederick invites the community to a heart-stirring evening of music and storytelling in a concert at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22 in the Jack B. Kussmaul Theater at Frederick Community College. The concert, Pearl Harbor: A Soldier’s Journey, is an emotional and musical journey through one of the most pivotal moments in American history, the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
CASF has once again been invited to be musical ambassadors to sing at the commemorative ceremonies of historic World War II events, like they did on the beaches of Normandy in 2023 for D-Day commemorations.
This year, the choir will travel to Hawaii to provide the ceremonial soundtrack for the remembrance ceremonies at Pearl Harbor, the attack that brought the U.S. into the war. To offer Frederick a preview of the repertoire they plan to perform
at the anniversary next month, CASF presents the story of the soldier’s experience, from peacetime service to the chaos of the attack and, for the lucky ones, back home again.
“This concert is a tribute to the courage and resilience of those who served, as well as to the sacrifice and strength of the American people during one of the darkest chapters of our history,” said CASF artistic director Lynn Staininger. “We hope this concert will inspire reflection, honor our veterans, and remind us all of the enduring importance of freedom and unity.”
The performance will feature a mix of songs from the World War II era, as well as choral works curated specifically for this concert in memory of those who answered the call to serve or who made the ultimate sacrifice in rendering that service.
Please note, the performance deals with the tragedies of war
and includes images depicting the attack on Pearl Harbor. Families with young children may want to consider the emotional and visual content of the show before deciding to attend together.
In addition to commemorating the legacy of Pearl Harbor, this concert will be a special relief fundraiser from Frederick to the people of Maui. As the choir prepares to perform this concert’s repertoire at the Pearl Harbor historical sites in December, members felt that in the spirit of service and in line with its organizational mission, all proceeds from this concert should be donated to the victims of the Lahaina wildfires.
JBK Theater is at Frederick Community College, 7932 Opossumtown Pike Frederick. For tickets, go to casof.org/tickets.
(Continued from 5)
Way Off Broadway celebrates the holiday season with ‘Christmas Chronicles’
As the Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre prepares to close out its 30th anniversary season, the theater will celebrate the holidays this year with “Christmas Chronicles” opening Nov. 22.
In the show, following a boisterous family Thanksgiving dinner, Pap Pap McCallister heads up to the attic to start bringing down the Christmas decorations, having not been allowed to start putting them up until after Thanksgiving — a rule set by Grammie McCallister. As he’s sorting through the collection of decorations, family members begin joining him as they reminisce about past Christmases and talk about their hopes for the year to come.
A heartwarming and fun-filled evening with the McCallisters will help to put audiences in the holiday spirit as they leave the theater.
Always the most popular show of the year, Way Off Broadway’s Christmas production is suitable for all ages.
Steve Steele will lead the cast at Pap Pap McCallister. He’s joined by Jessica Billones, Betsey Whitmore Brannen, Melissa Ann Martin, Sarah Melinda, Ari Messeca, Randy Stull, Megan Elizabeth West and Caleb Whitcomb.
The production is directed by Justin M. Kiska, who also wrote the show, with music direction by Tina Marie Bruley.
“Christmas Chronicles” runs Nov. 22 to Dec. 22 with performances every Friday and Saturday evening and matinees every Sunday in December. Ticket prices vary by performance date and may be purchased by calling 301-662-6600. To learn more, go to wayoffbroadway.com.
The opening was fun. This was the first time showing my quilts outside of Frederick, so it was interesting telling about our town to people that were not totally familiar with Frederick. Some people would tell me about the times they had been in Frederick and their favorite spots. Others would tell me they had never been to Frederick and now they wanted to come. I was glad to show the beauty our town has to offer.
You also recently had work exhibited at the Delaplaine Arts Center in Frederick.
I had a quilt in the exhibit “Simple Lines,” organized by the DC chapter of the Studio Art Quilt Associates. It was a collection of quilts that represent the DMV area in a simplified, minimal design. My quilt represented the 270 spur. At the time I designed that quilt, I was working in the NIH campus in Bethesda and would have to experience the spur every day. It symbolized that I was getting close to my destination, so it was a welcomed sight. The quilt has lights that represent the traffic.
Is it possible for you to have a favorite quilt from all of your work? No, it is not possible. I’m not really very attached to my quilts. The fun is in making them. Once they are finished, I am done with them, and it is not hard when they sell. I cannot pick a favorite. I can point out some that I think are good or have been important in my artist career, but I don’t have one that I can say is my favorite and I want to be buried with.
This interview has been edited for space and clarity.
Dawn Morgan Neary has been a freelance writer and multimedia producer for more than 20 years. She has reported for the Tampa Bay Times, Current, Creative Loafing, Philadelphia Weekly and others.
Courtesy photo
“Christmas Chronicles” opens Nov. 22 at Way Off Broadway in Frederick — a show for the whole family.
The Frederick Mom’s recommendations for the weekend of Nov. 22
Activities to do with the kids this weekend, courtesy of The Frederick Mom.
Friendsgiving Glow Night
6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 22
Urban Air, 5830 Ballenger Creek Pike, Frederick Cost varies
Your kids might already know and love Frederick’s ultimate indoor adventure park Urban Air, but they won’t want to miss this special event happening on Friday. Urban Air is hosting Friendsgiving Glow Night, where the whole family can get a visit from Gobbles the Turkey (included in the ticket price) while enjoying epic attractions, laser tag and bumper cars. On Friday nights, you can also expect lively music and the venue to glow with neon lights, turning the space into the most funfilled night for kids. Special tickets are not required for Friendsgiving Glow Night, just regular park admission. For tickets, visit urbanair.com/marylandfrederick.
“Christmas Chronicles” Dinner Theatre
6 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 22
Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick Cost: $50+
Get in the holiday spirit at Way Off Broadway! Onstage now at Frederick’s regional dinner theater is “Christmas Chronicles,” a family-friendly holiday show following the heartwarming story of the McCallisters. Enjoy a buffet dinner, included in the ticket price, and a show sure to put you in the holiday spirit. “Christmas Chronicles” debuts Nov. 22 and plays select
dates through Dec. 22. Doors open for dinner at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. There is a full bar for adults 21 and up. If you haven’t been there, the time to go is during the holiday season! For tickets, visit wayoffbroadway.com.
•••
Launch Day of Sailing Through the Winter
Solstice
8 a.m. to noon Nov. 23
Carroll Creek Linear Park, Frederick Free
One of Maryland’s most unique holiday light displays debuts this weekend! A fleet of beautifully decorated, lit-up sailboats will be anchored in Carroll Creek this Saturday, and the community is invited to view the spectacular sights. Sailing Through The Winter Solstice is free and perfect for all ages. If you want to watch the official launch of the boats, you can see them set sail on Saturday and hear music by the Dapper DJs. The Garage food truck will be onsite for lunch. For safety reasons, view the launch of the boats from the suspension bridge or the delegated part of the amphitheater. Remember, Sailing Through The Winter Solstice is also a fundraiser. Vote for your favorite boat, and you’ll be donating to a selected charity at the same time. Visit picturesque downtown Frederick to see these lit-up sailboats, day or night, until mid-March.
•••
Twilight Lantern Tours of Schifferstadt
6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 23
Schiffertstadt Architectural Museum, 1110 Rosemont Ave., Frederick
$8/per person; children under age 12 are free
This Saturday, explore Frederick’s oldest house in the dark! With a lantern provided for each visitor, make memories with your family and see what it would have been like in
Watch the ships “launch” Saturday at the start of this year’s Sailing Through the Winter Solstice.
pioneer days to live before electricity. Trained docents will guide you safely through the almost 300-yearold house of Schifferstadt. Twilight Lantern Tours will also occur on Dec. 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. Regular season tours take place every Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. through midDecember. Don’t forget to stop in their gift shop, where you can browse
colonial-era games and traditional German Christmas ornaments. Visit fredericklandmarks.org/visit-us for more information.
Tiffany Mahaney is at least a fifthgeneration native to Frederick County, and she now proudly raises her own family here. She is the owner of The Frederick Mom on Instagram. Follow her @thefrederickmom.
Tiffany Mahaney
TIFFANY MAHANEY
GETAWAYS A night with thousands of clowns in America’s scariest motel
BY NATALIE B. COMPTON
The Washington Post
The parking lot of the Clown Motel was not empty, even though it’s a motel filled with clowns. Even though it’s next to a cemetery. Even though it’s allegedly haunted.
Plenty of people come here, despite the red flags.
“Nothing scares me, especially not clowns,” a guest with a Colonel Sanders goatee told me near his room on the first floor. Behind him, a black door was painted with fake blood.
I’d think of him the next morning and wonder how he slept. Maybe, like me, he’d had a rough night.
Hundreds of desert miles from any major city, Tonopah — population roughly 2,200 — has become a modest tourist destination in the Nevada wilds for its mining history, stargazing and ghost stories. Travelers staying over have plenty of clown-free options. There’s the historic Mizpah Hotel (allegedly haunted), the Belvada Hotel (also allegedly haunted) and the Best Western (free breakfast).
Then there’s the Clown Motel, near the edge of town, just off Main Street. Video producer Monica Rodman and I drove four hours from Las Vegas to find out whether the place lived up to its superlative: “America’s scariest motel.”
‘PEOPLE DO SAY IT’S HAUNTED’
Unlike the Colonel, a lot of things scare me, and the motel was giving off weird vibes from the minute we arrived.
The candy-striped base of its towering sign looked mangled by a car crash. Behind it, the squat, twostory motel was rust-colored with a mustard trim. The guest-room doors popped in shades of lime, cobalt, bubblegum. Most were accessorized with clowns, fake blood or polka dots. It was almost enough to distract you from the cemetery across the parking lot.
The location wasn’t an accident. In 1985, siblings Leona and Leroy David built the motel next to where their father was buried. To complete the homage, they displayed his 150-piece clown collection in its lobby, and the Clown Motel was born.
Monica and I left the safety of our rental car to check in. A high desert chill
In 2015, the paranormal reality TV show “Ghost Adventures” visited the motel, raising its profile in ghost hunting circles.
set the mood. So did the life-size Ronald McDonald statue and caution sign near the entrance that read: “MUSEUM HAS SOME HAUNTED CLOWNS.”
In the years since the motel opened, legend grew of the property’s supernatural nature. Some guests claimed they saw ghosts coming from the cemetery or had clowns appear in their room. The reality TV show “Ghost Adventures” visited in 2015.
“People do say it’s haunted,” the motel’s owner at the time, Bob Perchetti, told host Zak Bagans. “Might have a lot to do with the graveyard.”
The episode made the motel famous in ghost-hunting circles, and it attracted both YouTubers and clowndoll donations from around the world. The collection has grown so large the motel’s current owner is extending the building to make room for them all.
In the parking lot, we met a young couple from Southern California dressed in black, one with a sweatshirt printed with a pentagram decal. They said their trip to Tonopah was two years in the making.
CLOWNS IN EVERY CORNER
Past the front desk and through the gift shop, the museum overflows with more clown paraphernalia.
Thousands of dolls, statues, masks, paintings, Lego figures, wood carvings and puppets hung from the ceiling, were piled on shelves, gathered near the floor — friendly children’s toys and demonic nightmare fuel alike. I noticed many were caked in dust.
Clown Motel CEO Hame Anand, who lives on-site full-time, was behind the counter, ringing up merch like branded shot glasses, clothing and postcards. Anand said finding this place was his “destiny.”
He’d been looking for a motel for his family to buy when he came across Perchetti’s listing. Anand had been collecting clowns since his childhood in New Delhi. He told his brother Vijay — who already ran some motels in Vegas — that their search was over. Instead of trying to put lipstick on a pig, the brothers went whole-hog with the motel’s most off-putting elements.
Its chaotic website welcomes potential guests to “let fear run down your spine.” Guests can rent an electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation reader, a tool people claim can detect spirits, and the motel offers ghost-hunt tours.
Anand painted the towering clowns fastened to the motel’s facade, as well as hundreds of clown paintings for decoration and for purchase. They remodeled rooms, giving some spooky themes. There’s one inspired by “The Exorcist” and a suite dedicated to “Clownvis,” a guy who impersonates Elvis, but as a clown.
The cheapest rooms (no theme) start at $85. But during peak season — like near Halloween — the themed rooms can run for more than $200. We had chosen room 108, designed after Stephen King’s horror novel “It.” Online, we had read it was a particularly active room for paranormal activity.
From the first crack of our door, a cackle rang out from the dark. We had triggered a giant motion-sensor
Photos by Natalie Compton/The Washington Post
skeleton head with flashing light eyes that was sitting on the top of the closet. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you,” its robot voice said.
The kitsch took the edge off. But the room was still unsettling.
Next to one of the two queen beds was a floor-to-ceiling painting of Pennywise, the horrifying “It” clown. Everywhere you looked were clown paintings and posters. Next to the sink, a tiny Pennywise T-shirt made for either a child or a dog was pinned to the wall. The room opened to the parking lot and the cemetery beyond.
GHOST TOURS AND GHASTLY RUMORS
After dark, we gathered in the lobby for our ghost tour with a couple from Reno and a tall man who stayed silent. Our guide, Wanda Crisp, led us to the back corner of the museum to point out a few notorious clowns in the collection. None moved in our presence, but that wasn’t unusual to Crisp. “They’re not performing animals,” she said.
Crisp wore a shimmering black dress with beaded skulls and carried an EMF reader. She told us spirits tricked her by turning it off at random. In her 36 years living in Tonopah, she said, she had seen ghosts near the property but never on it.
One theory behind the area’s alleged paranormal activity is a macabre rumor. Crisp said the land where the Clown Motel’s buildings and parking lot now stand used to be part of the cemetery. A “huge flood” unearthed bodies, she said, disturbing their final resting place. The Tonopah Historic Mining Park Foundation told me another version of the legend was that mine tailings, not a flood, could have disrupted the graves. Either way, the tale goes, the unearthed bodies here had to be reburied.
We followed Crisp into the graveland-dirt cemetery. It was cold, and Crisp donned a heavy black coat that gave her an ominous shape in the shadow of her flashlight. She pointed out notable plots, like that of George “Devil” Davis, the town’s first Black resident. His ghost was said to sit on the cemetery flagpole at night.
Before we parted ways, Crisp asked us which room we’d booked. She smiled when we answered. The vanity mirror in our room, she said, was a portal for spirits.
NIGHTMARE ON MAIN STREET
With midnight approaching, Monica wanted to go back to the cemetery to film B-roll. I wanted to put this day behind us.
Alone in the room, I couldn’t decide what was worse: leaving the front door open to the parking lot for
any ax murderer to walk in, or shutting it, trapping me with the clown spirits who might escape the portal when the coast was clear. I compromised and left a crack in the door.
Only once Mo returned did I go to the portal mirror to brush my teeth. I was too freaked out by the ghost stories and the plot of “It” to shower.
Our EMF reader hadn’t picked up any activity by the time we got into bed. The room seemed dimmer than
before; Mo and I debated whether the flickering light had always been so faint. Anand’s clowns stared down at us from every angle. I pulled a sweater over my eyes, put on my headphones and fell asleep.
A rattling woke me up. What time was it? I didn’t want to open my eyes. Seeing any razor-toothed clowns — in artwork or otherwise — would be too much to handle in my groggy state.
I listened to the noise: a low,
rumbling grate. I tried to wake Mo, but they were out cold. The EMF reader was off. The grating had to be the fridge, some middle-of-thenight buzz we hadn’t noticed before. I willed myself to believe this rational explanation and went back to bed to the soothing sound of Julia Child’s memoir on audiobook.
Sunrise came, and I told Mo about my bad sleep. Turns out, they had experienced something worse: a nightmare about the room we were in, in which something had pulled at their sheets like the ghost encounters other guests have reported. It had seemed so real.
We packed up and went to the lobby to return our key and EMF reader to Anand, who was sitting in a lounge chair next to Crisp as they drank their morning coffee. She had changed her witchy wardrobe for a more comfortable look. No longer the ghost hunter, just a familiar face. We told them what had happened.
“Freddy Kruger isn’t the only one who comes through dreams,” Crisp said, referring to the plot of “A Nightmare on Elm Street.”
It was time to leave Tonopah.
On our way out, I looked for the man with the goatee to ask him for his take. The parking lot was empty.
The motel now has more than 4,000 pieces of clown memorabilia.
Wanda Crisp, the motel’s ghost tour guide, has lived in Tonopah for 36 years.
“Quilting Frederick” — through Nov. 22 at Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St., Annapolis. Featuring a series of art quilts by artist Aynex Mercado, inspired by the architecture of Frederick. aynex21@gmail.com, marylandhall.org.
National Juried Photography Exhibition — through Nov. 24, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. The exhibition features selected photographs by regional and national artists. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.
”Botanical” — through Nov. 24, Eastside Artists’ Gallery, 313 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Beth Stinson works in mixed media combining watercolor, ink and dye on paper, using a process she calls “echo printing,” that uses the natural chemistry of plants to cast a shadow of their essences onto paper. Doug Moulden’s paintings are as much sculpture as they are flat imagery. He starts off by constructing a form from plywood that he has warped and shaped. He builds up the structure of his paintings using paper, sequins, beads, string and plaster. The end result is a heavy, rich surface that resembles vines, tree bark, woven fabric, rock, or other surfaces. Closing reception 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 30. Noon to 5 p.m. weekends. eastsideartistsgallery.com.
Wine and Art Series: Original Paintings by Galina Kolosovskaya — through Nov. 29, Links Bride Vineyards, 8830 Old Links Bridge Road, Thurmont. Russian-born Kolosovskaya executes masterly paintings in styles that range from old world classic still life to modern mixed media works. This exhibit includes works that feature paint and feathers. Hours 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends, other days by appointment. 301-4662413, linksbridgevineyards.com.
“Civil Rights — Civil Wrong s” — through Nov. 30 at Just Lookin’ Gallery, 40 Summit Ave., Hagerstown. Join us on a journey that traverses the tumultuous landscape of human rights, illuminating the perilous path from the shackles of slavery to the hopeful aspirations of a brighter future. Works in all mediums by more than 35 African American are featured. 301-714-2278, justlookin@justlookin. com, justlookin.com.
”The Loaded Brush” — through Nov. 30, Gallery 322, 322 N. Market St., Frederick. Featuring the artwork of Ross Schofield. Exhibit includes his larger scale paintings. Working at this scale highlights his exceptional use of dramatic settings and vibrant color. Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 240-815-7777 or gallery322.com.
Chris Mona: Recent Solo Projects & Collaborative Projects — through Dec. 13 at Esther Prangley Rice Gallery, located in Peterson Hall at McDaniel College, 2 College Hill, Westminster. This solo exhibition features works by Anne Arundel Community College professor Chris Mona, including printmaking projects done in collaboration with Pyramid Atlantic Art Center founder Helen Frederick, who he began collaborating with in 2023. OCMwork@mcdaniel. edu, 410-857-7000, chrismona.com.
”Brushes With History: Inspiring the Personality of Frederick” — through Dec. 14, Museum of Frederick County History/Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. Features the works of a few of the most notable artists who have worked in Frederick County, past and present. With beautiful paintings of the county’s landmarks and natural splendor, our story explores the ways in which the visual arts provided economic opportunity to individuals and communities. Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 301-6631188 or frederickhistory.org.
“Works on Paper by Werner Drewes” — through Nov. 30 at Triangle Art Studios, 7711 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. After studying at the Bauhaus in Germany, Werner Drewes (1899-1985) emigrated to New York in 1930. He was one of the first artists to bring the creative principles of non-objective art to America. He was a founding member of the American Abstract Artists Group and one of the first to exhibit abstract art at the Guggenheim and MOMA. Curated by Drewes Fine Art, this show embraces works spanning his Bauhaus studies to his retirement years of creating stunning abstract collages. 301-346-9033, karen@seibertgroup.com, bethesda. org/bethesda/triangle-art-studios. “invasive species” — through Dec. 1 at NOMA Gallery, 437 N. Market St., Frederick. Solo exhibition by Jim Roberts exploring what can constitute an existential threat to our well-being. Roberts identifies other “organisms” that have been introduced into our environment and that have the potential to cause harm to the
indigenous populations that exist there. 240-367-9770, nomagallery2@ gmail.com, nomagalleryfrederick.com/ upcoming-exhibitions.
“The Unloaded Brush” — through Dec. 1 at Gallery 322, 322 N. Market St., Frederick. This exhibition of recent artwork by Tom Ritchie illustrates his passion for the intersection between tight, detailed images and loose, abstract shapes in landscapes. Included are also works exploring figures in urban scenes. 301-509-8212, gallery322.com.
”Light is a Kind of Generosity” — through Dec. 1, Gallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. Loriann Signori is a painter of light, air and energy. While her preferred mediums have always been oil or pastel, her methods, techniques and aesthetic aims have all undergone significant transformation. Her paintings, situated between abstraction and recognizable form, are explorations of the color of air and beauty. Artist talk 7 p.m. Nov. 23. Gallery hours are noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 2 p.m. Sunday. 301-215-7990 or bethesda.org.
”Impressions of Frederick: Reimagining Perception” — through Dec. 29, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Ron Ames approach to photography attempts to use the camera like a brush to reimagine perception, to alter, not only what he sees, but how he sees it. Using long exposure techniques and intentional camera movement, Ames creates abstracted images of the world around him. Gallery hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.
”Waterworks” — through Dec. 29, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Combining photography, wood, and ceramics, the work in this exhibition, by Linda Agar-Hendrix, explores water as a theme and hopes to express its varying aspects through the variety of techniques and materials. Hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.
”/bodycrumbs” — through Dec. 29, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Photography and mixed media. As a way to combat anxiety and chronic pain, Ally Christmas’s work focuses on repetition in production, simulating ritual. Her work vacillates between more traditional forms of photography and alternative and mixed-media methods including cyanotype printing and handembroidered images. Hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.
Courtesy photo
Paintings by Galina Kolosovskaya are on view through Nov. 29 at Links Bride Vineyards in Thurmont. Learn more at linksbridgevineyards.com.
Baltimore Watercolor Society’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Exhibition — through Jan. 5 at Gaithersburg Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg. The annual regional juried exhibition featuring the work of more than 90 of the best watercolor artists. A variety of educational opportunities will be available during the exhibit. See gaithersburgmd.gov for details. gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/visual-arts.
”Floating Beauty: Women and the Art of Ukiyo-e” — through Jan. 12, 2025, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown. This exhibition examines historical perspectives on women and their depiction in art from Edo Period Japan (1615 – 1858). Organized and drawn from the collection of the Reading (Pa.) Public Museum, this exhibition features over 50 woodblock prints, including works by ukiyo-e masters. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. 301-739-5727 or wcmfa.org.
“Sunflowers and Snow” — through February at Garryowen Irish Pub, 126 Chambersburg St., Gettysburg, Pa. Paintings and prints by Dorothea Barrick. Open 11 a.m. to midnight. Call or text 240-674-9488.
”Unraveling Narratives: A Dialogue in Toile” — Dec. 6 through Jan. 12, 2025, Gallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. The exhibition aims to foster a visual conversation that highlights the interplay between tearing, collaging and the rhythmic
motion of needle and thread. Works by Kate Norris and Jennifer McBrien. Opening reception 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 13. Noon to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Dowell Farm Paintings — Dec. 7-29, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Margaret Dowell collapses time and space in this series of paintings, using the tobacco fields of her family’s Southern Maryland farm as a way to think about the correlations between an artist’s labor in the studio and the labor of her ancestry. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 301-6980656 or delaplaine.org.
”Inspired by ...” — Dec. 7-29, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. This exhibition features a wide range of quilting imagery, color and techniques.
Clustered Spires Quilt Guild members were asked to make work that is a reflection on personal inspiration and to include imagery and words based on where that inspiration motivates their creative work. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.
15th Annual Community Art Show:
The Best of Local Art — Dec. 12 through Jan. 7, 2025, Washington County Arts Council, 34 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Opening reception 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 12, Virtually Dec. 14. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. 301-791-3132 or washingtoncountyarts.com.
The MET presents the premiere of of Sarah Shulman’s ‘A Very Jewish Christmas’
Maryland Ensemble Theatre will present the world premiere of Sarah Shulman’s original family dramedy, “A Very Jewish Christmas.” This heartwarming and hilarious holiday production centers on a Jewish-Catholic family as they navigate the tensions and surprises that arise during their Hanukkah and Christmas celebrations. Amid the backdrop of their traditional holiday gatherings, the family faces challenges that put their bond to the test.
With brisket, wine, whiskey and plenty of cookies to go around, audiences are invited into this quirky family’s home for a story full of love, heartbreak and hope.
“The key themes of this play are love and tradition,” Shulman says. “Whether the love is familial, romantic or platonic, each character has something they need to say but for whatever reasons they can’t. It is through their traditions that they can express themselves while they search for the right words.”
The production is directed by Sache Satta, and the cast features MET ensemble members Laura Stark, Mallorie Stern, Matt Harris, Eric Jones, Willem Rogers, Jack Evans and AJ George-Wright. They are joined by Taylor Rieland, Tim Seltzer and Michelle Norris.
“A Very Jewish Christmas” runs Nov. 22 through Dec. 22, with a preview night on Nov. 21. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sundays. The show runs approximately 2 hours with one 15-minute intermission. ASL interpretation is available Dec. 6. Audio description services can be arranged through the box office. Tickets range in price from $15 to $36, with discounts for students, seniors, and military. Pay What You Will tickets, starting at $7, are available for each performance while supplies last. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 301-6944744, online at marylandensemble. org, or in person at the MET at 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick.
THE LANDON LADIES
Friends meet to talk books for two decades
BY JILLIAN ATELSEK
Special to The News-Post
Back around 2006, members of the Landon Ladies Literary League were awed by an article in The News-Post about a book club that had been meeting for a whole decade.
At the time, they were a couple years into their own book club, named for the unique location of its meetings at the time — Landon House, the historic, and potentially haunted, 1750s estate in Urbana.
Looking back, the Landon Ladies laugh at how shocked they were by the idea that a book club could last 10 years. They’ve now been meeting consistently for 20.
“Anything lasting 20 years these days is a big deal,” said Joni Dolan, one of the club’s core members.
On a recent November evening, Dolan and five other women were gathered in Lynda Downing’s dining room. Candles were lit, wine was poured, and an array of cheese, crackers and chocolate was spread out on the table. They discussed their latest read and revisited older ones, chatting about which novels were being adapted for the big screen and which actors would play the main characters.
The scene has been much the same on the second Friday of each month since 2004.
The women met through their children, who all went to Urbana schools. They’ve continued meeting as those children have grown up and moved away — and through divorces, retirements and other life changes.
They continued meeting through the
pandemic, first on Zoom and then socially distanced in Downing’s garage.
Downing, the group’s unofficial secretary, heads up an email chain where the women coordinate ahead of each month’s meeting. In a large white binder, she keeps, among other things, a list of every book the Landon Ladies have read and discussed together. There are more than 180 titles.
But for the most part, Downing and the other women said, the club is low-key. If someone isn’t able to get their hands on a
particular title — or if they just don’t like it or don’t have time to finish it — it’s no big deal. Come to the meeting anyway, they say.
“We go with the flow. And I think that’s one of the things that has worked so well with this group,” Dolan said.
Dolan and her ex-husband used to own Landon House, which functioned as a wedding venue and event space at the time, and the book club met there for about 10 years. The group name has stuck. Downing made Christmas ornaments for the club members — clear glass bulbs filled
A book club meets in Urbana on Nov. 7. The book club started in 2004 and is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Lynda Downing, right, speaks at a book club in Urbana on Nov. 7.
with 50 tiny replicas of books they’ve read together and the words “Landon Ladies” written on the front.
The friendship and connection forged through the club has been the best part of its longevity, said member Barbara Abraham.
In September, the women celebrated the club’s 20-year anniversary with a trip to a cabin in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. They wouldn’t be waiting another 20 years to take another trip together, they joked. Despite how many years have passed,
the women were able to recall details about books they’d read back in 2004 and 2005 with surprising accuracy. At the November meeting, an old debate about “Eat Pray Love” was reignited. Passion was high, though they hadn’t read it since 2008. Their choices run the gamut, from historical fiction to memoirs to thrillers. So, too, do their own personal histories with reading: Some devoured books as kids, while others had little to no interest. Now, though, they all say reading for and attending the book club adds a sense
of relaxation and joy to their lives.
There’s only one time of year when the club sparks any stress at all among the Landon Ladies, they all agreed, and it’s coming up soon: In December, everyone must bring a different type of cookie to the meeting.
(It’s OK to buy them at the store, Downing assured them.)
Jillian Atelsek covered education at The Frederick News-Post for three years. She now works as a copy editor at The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Sally Diamond” is shown on a table during the book club meetup in Urbana in November.
LOCAL BOOK CLUBS
• Frederick County Public Libraries offers “Book Club Bundles,” which provide multiple copies of the same title, discussion questions and tips for those leading clubs. Visit fcpl.org/bookclub and fill out a form about your group’s preferences to be matched with a suggested story.
• Curious Iguana, the independent bookseller in downtown Frederick, offers four book clubs, each focused on a different genre or theme. Find information at curiousiguana.com.
• The YMCA of Frederick County hosts an adult book club that’s free to attend and open to those age 25 and up.
• Friends of the Urbana Regional Library hosts a book club on the third Thursday of each month from 6:45 to 8 p.m. Find information at urbanafriends.com/bookclub.
• Ask your local librarian about other book clubs that may be active at your nearest branch.
3 TIPS FOR BOOK-CLUB LONGEVITY, COURTESY OF THE LANDON LADIES LITERARY LEAGUE
Divide and conquer: Have different group members volunteer to provide snacks, drinks and desserts at each meeting. Take turns hosting, if possible. Splitting up the prep can help make monthly meetings sustainable for everyone.
Don’t stress: Life is busy. Reading and discussing books with friends is meant to relieve stress, not add to it. If a member of your group just can’t finish reading before your scheduled meeting, don’t bar them from attending. If you yourself aren’t feeling this month’s pick, remember that it’s OK to put it down. A book club isn’t a test you have to pass — it’s a vehicle for connection.
Keep it small: Having more than 10 or 12 members in your club might make it harder to get a good discussion going. Keeping things more intimate can foster deep conversations and make it easier for everyone to contribute.
A book called “Strange
Staff photos by Katina Zentz
THE LONG BOX
May I offer you a comic in these trying times?
Well, the old Chinese curse — “May you live in interesting times” — seems in full effect, doesn’t it?
In times like these, I turn to a few familiar things to bring me comfort, occasional solace and connection. I lean on my family; I look to my community; and, yes, I indulge my weary soul with pure escapism.
It’s in these latter two that I have found sustenance during these unprecedented times — the power of community, i.e., finding your people; and the power of comics.
For community, I turned to the Slack channels of one of my favorite comics podcasts, the Awesome Comics Podcast, based out of the U.K. For comics, I asked that community for “suggestions for comics to read that comfort you, provide solace, maybe uplift you, make you laugh, are positive in tone, inspire (if that’s even possible anymore), or just give you that good feeling.”
And they delivered.
comics of Roman Dirge. “They are dark, as in it’s a gothic aesthetic, but they are very funny and good distraction reads.”
Dirge’s is a darkly humorous series that follows Lenore, the “cute little dead girl,” as she navigates a bizarre afterlife filled with quirky, macabre characters. Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s poem of the same name, Dirge combines gothic horror elements with a playful, childlike innocence.
Next, a classic go-to that is time-tested and much beloved: “Calvin and Hobbes,” which originally featured in newspapers the world over. Any collected edition is a good place to start (and available cheaply on the shelves of any good second-hand bookshop). If you need a good nostalgia hit, you can lose yourself for hours in the vividly imagined adventures of Calvin and his stuffed tiger, Hobbes.
Thank you to Matthew Bunce for those two suggestions.
Dave Cranna’s suggestion is “The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse,” by Charlie Mackesy. “It’s not really a comic, but every page is beautifully illustrated, with an uplifting couple of lines that create a story of such,” Cranna says. He prefers to follow the author’s suggestion and pick it up to just flick through. “I do that, especially when things get a little rough for whatever reason.”
The book follows four unlikely friends as they journey together through life’s trials and joys. Each character brings a unique perspective, with simple, profound conversations that explore themes of kindness, vulnerability and love.
tale, which follows this anthropomorphic rabbit and masterless samurai through a meticulously researched Edo-era Japan. Action, history and Japanese folklore, with themes of loyalty, sacrifice and compassion, and the strength found in adhering to your principles amid chaos make this a must-read.
Pete Doree (you’d be hard-pressed to find a man more steeped in comics) offered that, as well as French classics “Asterix” and “Valerian & Laureline.” (Translations are widely available.)
Now, there’s no “Watchmen” or “V for Vendetta” here, for obvious reasons. (That said, if you want a look into dystopian futures, both are classics.) But consider what I’m about to lay out as a smorgasbord of comfort food. Some of these I’d not heard of. I’m looking forward to adding some volumes to an already buckling “to read” shelf. (Any bets on when that shelf’s structural integrity will fail?)
Sarah Webb recommends the Lenore
We may not be getting into “Watchmen” or “V” here, but that doesn’t mean the writer of those masterpieces, Alan Moore, is absent from the list. Before those works, he wrote for weekly comics magazine, “2000AD,” “The Ballad of Halo Jones,” illustrated by Ian Gibson, which tells the story of an ordinary young woman, Halo Jones, seeking a life beyond the confines of her dreary future world. This is one I have read, several times, and it’s a powerful message — especially for young women — about perseverance, resilience and the courage to carve one’s own path.
Need a laugh? Zach Cahill’s recommendation is “Groo the Wanderer,” by Mad magazine cartoonist Sergio Aragonés. Known for his lack of intelligence, but unmatched combat skills, Groo unintentionally wreaks havoc wherever he goes, leading to humorous and often absurd situations. It’s hilarious, madcap and another personal favorite.
“Pick up any issue from any era,” Cahill says. “It’s a self-contained tale with lots of laughs, great art and some kind of pithy moral at the end. Any time I see a copy in a back issue bin I pick one up and read it in bed. Proper comfort food.”
In the same vein and, yet, completely different, Usagi Yojimbo, created by Stan Sakai, was suggested a couple of times. Yes, it’s cartoony, but that misses the depth, pathos and sheer storytelling inherent in this classic, longstanding
WCMFA seeks entries for photography exhibition
The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts seeks entries for its 2025 Cumberland Valley Photographers Exhibition. Entries will be accepted through 3 p.m. Nov. 29 and can be submitted through the online portal at client. smarterentry.com/wcmfa.
An annual tradition since the 1930s, the Cumberland Valley Photographers Exhibition showcases, celebrates and supports artists of the Cumberland Valley region. Each year, hundreds of works are submitted for consideration for inclusion by exhibition jurors.
The photography exhibition will be on view April 5 to July 27, 2025. Photographers from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia can enter the competition. A First Place Juror’s Award will be named in both
competitions and receive a $1,000 cash award.
All work must have been completed in the past two years. Artists can submit up to four pieces.
This call for entries is only for the Cumberland Valley Photographers exhibition. The call for the Cumberland Valley Artists Exhibition will be released separately because the exhibitions no longer run concurrently. The Artists Exhibition is scheduled for Nov. 8. 2025, through March 1, 2026, and the call for entries for that exhibition will be about six months prior.
For complete rules, go to wcmfa.org/newslisting/call-for-entries. For more information, call the museum at 301-739-5727 or info@wcmfa. org. WCMFA is located at 401 Museum Drive in Hagerstown.
“[A]ll nice worlds to visit, and always cheer me up,” Doree says. “Even when there’s danger, they always find time to stop and have a chat or enjoy a good meal with friends.” (Good advice for us all there, Pete.)
“Asterix” charms with humor and clever satire set in ancient Gaul; the scifi “Valerian & Laureline” has imaginative worlds, complex alien societies and visually stunning artwork.
As always, I’ve run out of room in print, so I’ll be heading over to the Long Box Substack with more suggestions to add to these. My thanks to everyone from the ACP who sent me a suggestion. I hope these provide you with a few hours of escape and comfort over the coming days, months and (gulp) years.
Do you have a recommendation? Shoot me a note at cgcumber@gmail. com. Follow along with me not posting that often to the socials at @cgcumber. Visit thelongbox.substack.com for deleted scenes and other content.
Courtesy photo
Valerie Dyer, of Frederick, won third place juror’s award for the 2024 Cumberland Valley Photographers exhibition for her digital photograph “Into the Fog.” This image also garnered her the People’s Choice Award.
CLIFF CUMBER
How Hollywood flipped the May-December romance so older women rule
BY AMY NICHOLSON
The Washington Post
If you’re catching a movie at the mall this year, be prepared for Nicole Kidman to prove her passion for the cinema, twice over.
After you’ve been greeted by her campy AMC promo, the lights will dim as the 57-year-old superstar strips off that power suit for “Babygirl,” her Venice Film Festival award-winning performance as a CEO savoring a sadomasochistic fling with her much-younger intern, played by 28-year-old Harris Dickinson.
Kidman looks as fantastic as ever, but it’s the look in her eyes — ecstasy, greed, heat — that’s a screen pleasure we’ve rarely seen. In one scene, she gazes in lustful awe as a shirtless Dickinson strips to (irony alert) George Michael’s “Father Figure”; in another, after another, her character enjoys the most shattering climaxes of her life.
Heart palpitations feel good in a place like this.
And Kidman’s not alone. Hollywood has flipped the script of the MayDecember romance with a string of attention-grabbing grapplings between mature women and junior men. Pick your favorite pairing among these releases with age gaps up to 32 years: Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine (“The Idea of You”), Laura Dern and Liam Hemsworth (“Lonely Planet”), Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman (the upcoming “I Want Your Sex”), Léa Drucker and Samuel Kircher (“Last Summer”) and Carol Kane and Jason Schwartzman (“Between the Temples”). As for Kidman, she’s made two — for “A Family Affair,” she also bedded Zac Efron.
You don’t need me to point out that this is a cultural pivot. Not so long ago, the entertainment industry tucked away women of a certain age on Sexless Mom Island while their male peers wooed girls young enough to be their daughters and granddaughters. “MILF Manor”? Most producers would have had it condemned.
When an older woman did pursue a younger man, the best possible version was Stella getting her groove back, and then, bizarrely, having to marry her fling to ensure that domesticity won out over liberation. Otherwise, we get Maude bonding with Harold over their mutual affection for self-harm and Thelma and Louise running off a cliff after a lousy one-night stand. And then there are
the movies that result in murder or accusations of rape — Norma Desmond going to pieces over the callow screenwriter Joe Gillis, or Mrs. Robinson risking her daughter’s wrath for a romp with Benjamin Braddock — where a woman’s socially unacceptable obsession flat-out makes her go mad.
Yet, the real indignity of “The Graduate” comes when Dustin Hoffman plants his first smooch on Anne Bancroft’s cool sophisticate just when she’s inhaled a mouthful of cigarette smoke. Bancroft’s eyes widen, then narrow with resignation and scorn. But if the character she’s playing had any reality in her — if the script had genuine hormones — Mrs. Robinson would have fled back to the hotel bar to find anyone better than this twerp.
That klutzy kissing gag was recycled from an old Mike Nichols and Elaine May comedy skit written in the ’50s about two teenagers necking in a car. I can empathize with why Nichols crammed a proven laugh-getter into his sophomore movie. Yet I loathe that joke because from that moment on, no matter how much Bancroft gives to the movie, the movie doesn’t give her any motivation to keep sleeping with this chump. In the bedroom montage that follows, Benjamin is more dead frog than prince.
And in the decades that followed, Hoffman would himself slide into the Mrs. Robinson roles and stay there comfortably until he was 71 and courting 49-year-old Emma Thompson in “Last Chance Harvey.” That twosome, of course, didn’t cause controversy. A decade ago,
an ordinary trip to the cinema might have entailed Margot Robbie (24) gallivanting with Will Smith (46), or Emma Stone (25) partnered in back-to-back movies with Sean Penn and Colin Firth (both 53). When “Birdman” won best picture at the 2015 Academy Awards, not one feather was ruffled that Andrea Riseborough (32) played the pregnant girlfriend of Michael Keaton (63).
One year later, the #MeToo rumblings began. With them came a sense of disgust that the culture had inured itself to entitled older men who felt they deserved to grab a woman wherever — on-screen and, more harmfully, off, by gatekeepers like Miramax co-founder Harvey Weinstein, who could prevent an actor from appearing on-screen at all. Nudity that had once been begrudgingly tolerated as a rite of passage — say, that an ingenue will face pressure to flash her chest until she’s earned the clout to say no — was suddenly scrutinized for any whiff of ethical harm. The elderman-meets-nubile-girl trope slunk away sheepishly into the shadows, mostly.
Recently, a UCLA study reported that Generation Z had lost interest in erotic scenes, waving them off as gratuitous and exploitative. It might be more accurate to say they’d lost trust in them, with good reason. There’s enough old schlock streaming out there to give sex a bad reputation: the phony, gauzy whambam thrustings, the postcoital sheets that never stretch high enough to cover a woman’s breasts, the buddy comedies that detour to a strip club just because. I side with those grievances. Hathaway,
Dern, Wilde and Kane all grappled with them firsthand in their 20s, playing romantic scenes with men two decades their senior in, respectively, “Get Smart,” “Jurassic Park,” “Third Person” and “The World’s Greatest Lover.” And yet, I’m also a critic who believes that a well-crafted sex scene can truly reveal a character, can have as much emotional subtext as Mona Lisa’s smile — that a nearby bedroom can pack as much suspense as Hitchcock’s ticking bomb.
So, it feels exactly right that these same actresses, who have all turned 40, should be the ones confidently taking the industry in hand to lead it away from superheroes with shiny-smooth codpieces. They’ve earned the clout to say yes on their terms. Honestly, Hollywood’s gotten too squeamish to let anyone else do it. Two young people? Who knows what the kids are into! Two middle-aged people? Only if it’s a murder-thriller. A divorced dad and a cheerleader? Are you trying to get us picketed?! But an older woman and a younger man? That’s nontoxic titillation. Kidman, the unofficial flag-bearer for this revolution, has been canoodling with younger men since her breakout role in 1994’s “To Die For,” when her married newscaster seduced and destroyed Joaquin Phoenix’s teenage delinquent. She first tempted Zac Efron in 2012’s “The Paperboy,” when he was freshly out of Disney boot camp, and in between those films, rattled audiences in Jonathan Glazer’s “Birth” as a widow who considers dumping her new fiancé for a 10-year-old boy who claims to be the reincarnation of her dead husband.
These fearless performances are among the standouts of Kidman’s already sterling filmography. Yet, they also slot neatly next to Maude, Norma and poor Mrs. Robinson as women motivated by death or ego or ennui — anything but lust. Twelve years ago, when Kidman shrugged off her robe for Efron in “The Paperboy,” it was with indifference: “All right. Just this once.”
But this year, Kidman’s characters put their own desire front and center on the screen — and, if you see “Babygirl” in the theater when it opens on Christmas Day, in an orgasm that’s 30 feet tall. I hope she and the other actors in this mini MayDecember movie marathon can snap the chains of Hollywood’s chastity belt and convince audiences that on-screen sex doesn’t have to be awkward or abusive or a joke. It can also be, well, sexy.
Niko Tavernise/A24
From left, Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in “Babygirl.”
Local Mentions
BLACK FRIDAY CASH BINGO
Fri. Nov. 29, 2024 Carroll Manor Fire Co 1809 Ballenger Creek, Point of Rocks Station
Doors open: 5PM Bingo begins: 7PM Tickets: $40 for 20 All-Cash Games
Sold separately, Special Games, Tip Jars, & Food Call 301-874-5642 Or online at www carrollmanorfire org
CARRY-OUT DINNERS
At New Midway Vol Fire Co
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Featuring: Roast Turkey w/ Dressing Or Fried Shrimp With: Mashed Potatoes/ Gravy Green Beans Applesauce Roll Serving Time: 1-5 pm Cost $13 00
CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN ORCHARDS
Available in our Market: Stayman, Empire, Crimson Crisp Apples, Granny Smith, Fuji Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, Jonathan & Gala Apples Seckel & Bosc Pears Kale, Cabbage, Green Bell Peppers, White & Sweet Potatoes Fresh Baked Fruit Pies, Apple Cider Donuts, Fresh Apple Cider, Jams & Jellies Apple Cider Slushies 301-271-2737
Open Daily 9am-5pm 15036 North Franklinville Rd Thurmont MD www catoctinmountain orchard com
CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
Dec. 7th, 9am-2pm Flint Hill Church 2732 Park Mills Road Adamstown, MD Craft vendors call 240-367-7323
Cookie Platters & Bake Table available
CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
Frederick Church of the Brethren Fri. Dec. 6, 8a-2p. Luncheon served 11a-2p Sandwiches, soups, desserts, beverages, Bake table, comforters, antiques & collectibles, books, white elephant
COUNTRY BREAKFAST
Sat. Nov. 23 • 6:30a-10:30a
Petersville Farmers & Ruritan Clubs
Adults: $12, Child: $6
Farmers Woods Rte 79, 3816 Petersville Rd
FREDERICK CHORALE CONCERT
St John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Creagerstown 8619 Blacks Mill Rd Creagerstown, MD
12/1: 3:00 PM Frederick Chorale Concert in St Johns Union Church Building Light refreshments following the concert Call the church @ 301-898-5290 for more info
FREDERICK
CHORALE CONCERT
St Johns Union Church Building Sun, Dec 1 @ 3p
Light refreshments following the concert St John's Lutheran Church 8619 Blacks Mill Rd , Creagerstown, MD Call: 301-898-5290 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
HILLSIDE
TURKEY FARMS
Turkey, Chicken, Duck, Pork, Beef, Smoked Meats, Deli Meats & Cheeses, Seafood & More Hillsideturkey.com 301-271-2728 30 Elm St Thurmont, MD 21788
Thursday 8-7
Friday 8-3
Saturday 8-12
HOLIDAY BAZAAR
Sat , November 23
Libertytown Fire Hall 12027 South St Libertytown 8 am - 2 pm
Crafts, homemade goodies, sandwiches, Bake table, raffles and much more For more info call 301-401-2824
Sponsored by Libertytown Vol Fire Dept Aux
HOLIDAY CRAFT AND VENDOR EVENT
Hosted by Vigilant Hose Co Activities Bldg , 17701 Creamery Rd Emmitsburg, MD
Saturday, December 7 from 9a-4p Many Crafters and Vendors And much more!
Food available for purchase Visit with Santa Photos Available for sale Bring families, children and pets!
For more info contact: Sharon Keeney 410746-8776, MaryLou Little 240-285-3184 or Kenny Clevinger 240-393-0758
Jefferson Ruritan Club
Country Butchering and Breakfast
Sat Dec 7, 2024; To place advance (Pork) orders before Wed Nov 27, 2024, call (301) 473-7986 or (301) 834-6165
Pick-up orders Sat Dec 7, 2024, 8 am to noon
-------------------Country Breakfast
Sat Dec 7, 2024; 7 am to 11 am, 4603B Lander Rd , Jefferson, MD 21755
Jefferson Ruritan Club HOLIDAY CRAFT MARKET
Sat 11/30/24 from 10a-2 p; Shopping with local talented artists and crafters; Photos and visits with Santa; Meet The Grinch; Holiday themed face painting; Christmas tree sales; food available to purchase for lunch plus homemade apple dumplings 4603B Lander Road, Jefferson, MD 21755
JUMC'S
HOLIDAY BAZAAR & BAKE SHOP
Sat. Nov. 23 8:00 am 2:00 pm
Cakes, Candies , pies, cookie trays
Mystery Gifts, Silent Auction, Crafts, plus Food Served from the kitchen 11106 Green Valley RD Between Union Bridge and Libertytown More info call 410-775-7217
New Midway VFC Co #9 12019 Woodsboro Pike New Midway, MD FIRE PREVENTION SANTA DRIVE THROUGH Sunday, December 8th
12 p m to 1:30 p m
• Santa Goodie Bags
• Craft Bags
• Fire Prevention Bags
• And More!!! Your Firefighters and EMS Responders are Looking Forward to Seeing You!! Don’t Forget!! Plan and Practice Where Your Families Safe Meeting Place is!
NEW YEAR'S EVE BINGO 12-31-2024
Thurmont Event Complex
Over $17,000 00 of Cash Payouts
$50.00 Per Ticket Advance $60 00 at the Door
Available Friday Night Bingo, www eventbrite com
Ticket Includes:
Meal: Dinner Platter
9 Pack of 27 Games ($300 00ea ), 3 Games ($1,000ea ), 3 50/50 Games & 3 Jackpots at $2,000 (1 sheet of 3 for each 50/50’s & 3 Jackpots) Doors Open @ 5:00 p m , Bingo Starts @ 8:00 p m
Meal Served: 6-8 p m
CASH BAR • TIP JARS
Kitchen Open During Break No Reserved SeatingFirst Come, First Served Basis Only No Exceptions!
**We reserve the right to lower payouts if less than 300 tickets sold** Tickets: 301-748-5359 or 301-271-3820 or Eventbrite com
Benefits The Thurmont Community Ambulance Company 13716 Strafford Drive Thurmont, MD 21788
Local Mentions
New Year ’s Eve
Bingo & Buffet
(Buffet of Turkey & Shrimp)
December 31, 2024
New Midway Vol Fire Co
Doors Open: 5:00
Games Start: 7:30
Admission: $50 00 by 12/16/2024, After 12/16/2024 $60 00 includes 30 Reg Games
$100 Minimum - $1000 Jackpot
Free Party Favors
Extra Cards Available
Only 250 Tickets Sold ATM Available For Info Call 301-898-7985 or 301-271-4650
Every Saturday 10:00-1:00 YMCA Farmers Market 1000 North Market Street Tuesday 3:30 -6:30
VIGILANT HOSE COMPANY
NEW YEAR'S EVE BINGO
17701 Creamery Road, Emmitsburg, MD
Tuesday, 12/31/Doors Open @ 5pm/Games @ 8pm
All Inclusive 9 pk/$50 for 30 games, 2 Jackpots @ $2000 each 5 SPECIALS @ $500 each/All other games $300/Incl Dinner Platter! Reserved seating
if tickets purchased by 12/13 Tickets purchased after 12/13 will be $60 No checks mailed after 11/22 For info: Pam @ 240-472-3484 or @ Marylou @ 240-285-3184
Reserve right to change payouts if 200 are not sold
WEDNESDAY NIGHT BINGO FSK Post 11
Doors open at 4:30pm
Early Bird starts at 7:00pm Games: Early Bird, Winner Take All, Specials, Regular Bingo, Grand Slam (Jackpot $2,000), Sr Jackpot ($750 +) 28 games in total 1450 Taney Ave Frederick, MD 21702 301-662-9345
Local Mentions
Weekly BINGO
Every Friday Night Doors open @ 5 p m , Bingo starts @ 7 p m Bonanza, Early Bird, Regular, Specials, Jackpot! Small Jackpot-$500 Big Jackpot-$1500 Great Food!
Thurmont Event Complex 13716 Strafford Drive
Thurmont, Maryland
Thurmont Community Ambulance Service, Inc
Woodsboro Volunteer Fire Company
CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS BINGO
Sun , Dec 8, 2024
Doors Open At 11:30AM
Games Start At 1:00 PM
$5 00 per person
Adults must be accompanied by a child Call Jo Ann for Info 240-446-0451
Reservations Recommended At the Fire Hall
2 South 3rd Street, Woodsboro, MD
Food and beverages available for purchase NO Outside food or drinks allowed
Firewood/Coal/Oil
FIREWOOD
All premium & seasoned Oak $260/cord or $170/half cord Mixed Hardwoods
$240/cord; $150/half cord Credit cards accepted 888-873-3018 www mdtreeexperts com
Pets & Supplies
When veterinary care is unavailable or unaffordable, ask for Happy Jack® healthcare products for dogs, cats, & horses Farm and Home Service. 834- 6500
Services
240-409-2991
NO TRASH IS TOO BIG, NO HAUL IS TOO SMALL!
• Trash/Junk/Yard Waste Removal
• Appliance Removal
• Bed and Mattress Removal
• Mulch Delivery
• Lawnmower & Equipment Removal
• Light Demo
• Welding repairs and fabrication
• Hauling needs
• Dump trailer available for rent
GREAT PRICES! 20% Off 1st Job!
Please call to enquire Talkinscrap@yahoo.com
EXCAVATING AND GRADING SERVICES
Since 1973 Septic Systems (New & Repairs), MDE-Certified, Electric Service Conduit w/Potomac Edison Also, 14-Ton Track Loader, Backhoe, Skid-Loader work Reasonable Rates Call Roland Wolfe at 301-371-5344, LM
HONEY DO SERVICES
Home Repairs and Handyman Work Framing • Drywall • Decks
Senior Resource and Education Seminar — 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung St., Frederick. Hear from members of the Senior Service Provider Community. Each panel of experts will speak on a variety of topics including home health care, transportation, downsizing, at-home doctor and physical therapist services, housing options, dementia issues, and more. There will be time for questions and answers. In partnership with SOAR. 301-600-7000.
Senior Cafe: The Place to Come for Coffee, Conversation Friendship and Fun Events: Topiary Making Demonstration — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. A demonstration by Taskers’ Chance Garden Club member Lucia Kline. Good conversation and a cup of coffee. These topiaries may spur you to create your own for holiday decor or tablescapes. All are welcome. 18 and older. 301-600-8200. fcpl.org.
Queer Art Social — 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Common Market, 927 W. Seventh St., Frederick. Come paint, draw, create, make and mingle every third Thursday of the month in our Community Room! Bring something you are working on and or start a new project! You do not have to be a visual artist to attend, all forms of creating are welcome! This is a free drop-in social gathering! Music, sparkly drinks, tea and limited art supplies will be provided. 301-663-3416. aharmon@commonmarket.coop. commonmarket.coop/classes-events. Fort Detrick Alliance and FITCI Tech
Showcase — 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. FITCI, 321 Ballenger Center Drive, Frederick. Get the opportunity to engage with a variety of small business and technology transfer resources at Fort Detrick and near Frederick, featuring start-up companies in various stages of development. Networking, partnership development/ technology transfer and information acquisition opportunities. $15. 301-6942999. officemanager@fitci.org. fitci.org/events.
Teen Time: Make-A-Magnet — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Make and decorate a magnet to put on your fridge or locker! This program is for teens in 6th through 12th grades (ages 11-18). 301-600-7250. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Frederick County Civil War Roundtable Meeting and Presentation — 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Civil War author Bradley Gottfried will present “Lee Invades the North: A Comparison of the Maryland and Gettysburg Campaigns.” Gottfried will have several different books available for purchase.
Free for members, $5 suggested fee for non-members. gldyson@comcast.net. frederickcountycivilwarrt.org.
HEALTH
Hood College Public Health Seminar Series: Frederick County’s Health Improvement Coalition: Building A More Resilient and Equitable Future — 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Hodson Auditorium, Rosenstock Hall, Hood College, 401 Rosemont Ave., Frederick. Join us for an opportunity with leaders from Frederick County’s Local Health Improvement Coalition Workgroups. The seminar will conclude with an in-depth Q&A session to discuss collaborative solutions and community engagement. douge@hood.edu.
“The Pandemic You Never Heard Of” — 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Hodson Auditorium, Rosenstock Hall, Hood College, 401 Rosemont Ave., Frederick. Join us at Hood College or online via Zoom for a thought-provoking evening as we explore one of the world’s most pressing health challenges and learn about international efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance. Screening the 2022 German documentary “Silent Pandemic” (“Stille Pandemie”). This film will be followed by a panel discussion addressing the global rise of drug-resistant superbugs and their profound impacts. Free, 18+, register online.
Student African Drum Ensembles — 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Naganna Forum, Roj Student Center, 2 College Hill, Westminster. Students in McDaniel College’s Student African Drum Ensembles perform, under the direction of senior adjunct lecturer Pape Demba “Paco” Samb, a Senegalese griot. 410-857-7000. OCMwork@mcdaniel.edu. mcdaniel.edu.
FCC Jazz Ensemble II Performance — 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Frederick Community College, JBK Theater, Visual and Performing Arts Center, 7932 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick. A special night featuring jazz favorites by our advanced jazz improv group under the direction of Jordan Clawson. Save your seat today and get ready to experience a fun and engaging experience with family and friends. Light refreshments to follow. 301-846-2566. mgersten@frederick.edu. FCC2024JazzEnsemble2.eventbrite.com.
Friday Nov. 22
ETCETERA
Mahjong — 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at The C.
Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Recurring mahjong and game event at C Burr Artz library hosted by the Asian American Center of Frederick. Join us to watch, learn and play. All skill levels are welcome. 301-600-1630. mtong@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Next Level Slackers — 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Cactus Flats, 10026 Hansonville Road, Frederick. Rock ‘n’ roll. 21 and older.
FAMILY
Friendsgiving Glow Night — 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Urban Air Frederick, 5830 Ballenger Creek Pike, Frederick. Bring your friends for a fun-filled night of friendship, neon lights, games and a visit from Gobbles the Turkey. No special tickets required, just regular park admission. 240-560-5965. GuestRelations@UrbanAirFrederick.com. UrbanAirFrederick.com.
“Christmas Chronicles” — 6 p.m. at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick. Following a boisterous family Thanksgiving dinner, Pap Pap McCallister heads up to the attic to start bringing down the Christmas decorations, having not been allowed to start putting them up until after Thanksgiving — a rule set by Grammie McCallister. As he’s sorting through the collection of decorations, family members begin joining him as they reminisce about past Christmases and talk about their hopes for the year to come. A heartwarming and fun-filled evening with the McCallisters will have audiences in the holiday spirit as they leave the theater. Tickets vary. 301-662-6600.
WOB@wayoffbroadway.com. wayoffbroadway.com.
Holly Fest — 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. An annual holiday
performance featuring youth performers from the local community. Free, but tickets are required for entry. 240-382-0520. lcarroll@hagerstownmd.org. mainstreethagerstown.org/ holly-fest.
MUSIC
Stone Ridge Boys Live Country
Music — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Rockwell Brewery Riverside, 8411 Broadband Drive, Frederick. Born and raised in Carroll County, The Boys cover your favorite country music, ranging from the ‘80s and ‘90s to songs on the radio today. They will also showcase their original single, recorded in Nashville, called “Madeline.” $5. 301-372-4880. matt@rockwellbrewery.com.
Benefit Concert — Pearl Harbor:
A Soldier’s Journey — 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Jack B. Kussmaul Theater at Frederick Community College, 7932 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick. Dec. 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy. As the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor unfolds, one soldier hears the call to serve. Join the Choral Arts Society of Frederick as they present a story told through heart-stirring music and image. Featuring songs of the era as well as stunning new works. NOTE: Due to the graphic images of the attack on Pearl Harbor, this concert may not be appropriate for young children. All proceeds from this concert will be donated to the victims of the Lahaina, Maui, wildfires which devastated the community on Aug. 8, 2023. $15. tickets@casof.org. casof.org.
“A Motown Christmas” — 8 p.m. at Weinberg Center, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Celebrate the holidays with iconic vocalists from Ali Woodson’s Temptations, The Miracles, and The Contours, backed by a 6-piece band. Enjoy soulful renditions of Motown classics and festive favorites, complete with dazzling choreography and unforgettable harmonies. This family-friendly show promises a magical evening of music and joy, perfect for singing along and creating lasting holiday memories. $64, $58, $52. 301-600-2828. bhiller@cityoffrederickmd.gov. weinbergcenter.org/shows/ a-motown-christmas-2024.
Jack Funk and The Dirty Middle — 9 p.m. to 11:55 p.m. at Cafe Nola, 4 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Jack Funk’s last show of the year. 301-928-1120. jackfunkmusic@gmail.com.
PERFORMER
Comedy Show: Lessons Plans to Late Night with Lucas Bohn — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Shepherdstown
Carroll County Arts Council announces new executive director
The Carroll County Arts Council board of directors announced the appointment of Stephen Strosnider as the executive director. Strosnider’s appointment follows a unanimous vote by the board and will take effect on Nov. 24.
Strosnider brings a wealth of theater management experience and a commitment to arts leadership. He joined the Arts Council staff in 2022 as assistant director. In June 2024, he took on the role of interim executive director.
“His impressive background in theater management will propel CCAC forward in its mission,” said Gail Slater, president of the Arts Council board.
As the assistant director, Strosnider was instrumental in utilizing technology to improve operations. In his role as interim executive director, the board has been impressed with this ability to take a comprehensive view of a project
while maintaining focus on numerous details. He is an effective communicator committed to community engagement.
The board was also impressed with the staff’s solid support for Strosnider’s appointment to this leadership role.
“I am honored to be appointed as the new executive director of the Carroll County Arts Council and will uphold our vision to be a vital public resource where everyone can pursue, enjoy and understand the power of the arts,” said Strosnider. “Together, we can create sustainable practices that provide for the community’s needs and make space for bold ideas.”
Prior to joining the Arts Council, Strosnider worked as a technical director and theater facilities coordinator at McDaniel College, Glenelg Country School and Carroll Community College. Throughout his career in education, he has taught courses in stagecraft, acting,
civil engineering and architecture.
Locally, Strosnider’s directing experience includes “The Sound of Music” for September Song and “La Boheme” for Carroll Community College. Most recently, he was the scenic designer for the production of “Young Frankenstein” at Carroll Community College, where he also starred in their productions of “Into the Woods” and “Spring Awakening.”
Regionally, he has appeared in productions at the Kennedy Center, Metro Stage, in the TV series “VEEP” on HBO and in “House of Cards” on Netflix.
Strosnider was born and raised in Carroll County and earned a BFA in acting from Shenandoah University. Since childhood he has been involved in the performing arts and has worked alongside his family in both the Carroll Players and Mt. Airy Players theater groups. He lives in New Windsor with his wife and two children.
Courtesy photo
Stephen Strosnider will begin his role as the executive director of the Carroll County Arts Council on Nov. 24.
Opera House, 131 W. German St., Shepherdstown, W.Va. Teacher turned nationally touring comedian, Lucas Bohn has been seen on NBC’s “Bring the Funny,” on CBS’ Coastal Comedy Live, and performing with comedy legends like Kevin Hart, Jimmy Fallon and Dave Chappelle. His first comedy special, “too cool for school” went viral with more than 50 million views. His live comedy specials can be heard on Spotify, SiriusXM, Pandora, Apple Music and more. His high energy show has been called “Jeff Foxworthy on speed” by the Las Vegas Review and a “Comedic Masterpiece” by Parade Magazine. $22. 304-876-3704. Contact@OperaHouseLive.com. operahouselive.com/nov-22-comedylucas-bohn.
THEATER
“Indecent” — 7:30 p.m. at New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Paula Vogel’s thought-provoking play with music tells the story of the true events surrounding Sholem Asch’s controversial drama God of Vengeance, from its celebrated premiere in Berlin in 1907 through its European tour and arrival on Broadway in the 1920s — where it met with censorship and obscenity charges. $22. 301-600-2828. bhiller@cityoffrederickmd.gov. weinbergcenter.org/shows/indecent. ESPtheatre presents “Indecent” by Paula Vogel — 7:30 p.m. to 9:05 p.m. at New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Paula Vogel’s thoughtprovoking play with music tells the story of the true events surrounding Sholem Asch’s controversial drama God of Vengeance, from its celebrated premiere in Berlin in 1907 through its European tour and arrival on Broadway in the 1920s, where it met with censorship and obscenity charges. $12-22. 917-667-2756. dan@danjacoby.com. esptheatre.org.
Saturday Nov. 23
ETCETERA
Valley Craft Network Studio Tour — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at VCN Studio Tour, . For over 40 years the Valley Craft Network artists open their studios the weekend before Thanksgiving. Tour each studio and see the creative process up close — pottery, paintings, photography, cheese, craft beverages, wood, jewelry, soap, fiber arts. 301-728-2631. jaymemarshalldesign@gmail.com. vcntour.com.
Winter Wine Release Event — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Adams County Winery, 251 Peach Tree Road, Orrtanna, Pa. The Tasting Room will be the place to start with offerings, including samples of the three wine releases for the weekend. The wines in the spotlight will be “Visions of Sugar Plum” which is a Cabernet and Lemberger blend, sweet as sugar candy with a pleasant plum taste. Last year’s “A
Gettysburg Christmas” Red and White blends will be re- released. These wines were a collaboration with the film by the same name in 2023. Writer and Director Bo Brinkman will be onsite signing bottles and promoting the film, which is scheduled for showings at the Majestic Theater in Gettysburg this December. Check gettysburgmajestic.org for details and showtimes. 717-334-4631. sean@adamscountywinery.com. adamscountywinery.com.
Care to Restring? — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Duet with Music, 5500 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick. Bring 5 or more nonperishable food items to Duet with Music to get your guitar re-strung for free with free strings. Largest food item donation will have their choice of a YAMAHA F325D acoustic guitar or a $100 gift certificate to Duet with Music! Runner-up prizes will be given! All proceeds will benefit local food banks. DM or contact us with any questions. 301-695-3838. sales@duetwithmusic.com.
Captain O’s Stout & Oyster Fest — noon to 5 p.m. at Milkhouse Brewery at Stillpoint Farm, 8253 Dollyhyde Road, Mount Airy. Buck-A-Shuck raw oysters! $1.50 steamed oysters! Brewer Harry’s specialty stouts! Hot dogs and hamburgers also available. $15 advance ticket includes your seat and two discounted pints! Ticket not required to attend. All food, oysters, and beers are a la carte. $15 advance. 301-928-1574. carolann@milkhousebrewery.com.
Twilight Lantern Tours of Schifferstadt — 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Schiffertstadt Architectural Museum, 1110 Rosemont Ave., Frederick. Call it creepy or call it authentic, after dark you can explore Frederick’s oldest house by lantern light. For just three evenings, we’ll provide a lantern for each visitor; you bring your imagination as to what it would have been like to live in this 266-year-old stone house, called Schifferstadt, before electric lighting. Trained docents will guide you safely through the doorways, rooms and stairways, even up to the attic and down to the cellar. Tours on Nov. 16 and 27 and Dec. 7.
— 8 a.m. to noon at Carroll Creek Park, Frederick. Watch Sailing Through the Winter Solstice launch for the season, and enjoy music and food trucks onsite. The Dapper DJs will provide a sea shanty soundtrack while you safely watch cranes, forklifts and crews secure the ships for their season long voyage. The Garage food truck will be onsite. coloronthecreek.com/2024-25-sttwsboats.
Read with a Dog — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Practice reading to a furry friend! For kids.
301-600-7250. frederick.librarycalendar.com. “Christmas Chronicles” — 6 p.m. at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick. Following a boisterous family Thanksgiving dinner, Pap Pap McCallister heads up to the attic to start bringing down the Christmas decorations, having not been allowed to start putting them up until after Thanksgiving — a rule set by Grammie McCallister. As he’s sorting through the collection of decorations, family members begin joining him as they reminisce about past Christmases and talk about their hopes for the year to come. A heartwarming and fun-filled evening with the McCallisters will have audiences in the holiday spirit as they leave the theater. Tickets vary. 301-662-6600.
WOB@wayoffbroadway.com. wayoffbroadway.com.
FESTIVALS
Holiday Market — 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Potomac Street, 26 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown . Stroll along South Potomac Street and shop from over 30 artisan vendors. Handmade Hagerstown features local handmade and vintage items ranging from art, jewelry, decor and baked goods. We’ll have bounce houses for kids and Santa will be arriving for photos at 5 p.m. with the lighting of our Downtown Tree taking place from 5 to 6 p.m.
Downtown Tree Lighting in Hagerstown — 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Public Square , 8 Public Square , Hagerstown . Join us for the 2024 Downtown Tree Lighting in Hagerstown. We’ll have free hot cocoa from Cannon Coffee, a GF Hagerstown favorite, photos with Santa, and lots of holiday cheer. Visit our Handmade Hagerstown Holiday Market from 2 to 6:30 p.m. 240-382-0520. lcarroll@hagerstownmd.org. mainstreethagerstown.org/treelighting.
GALLERY
Art at NOON and Tintype Photo Sessions: Victorian Photography Studio with David Wilson — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Art talk, noon to 1 p.m., free. Demonstration and photo sessions, 10 a.m. to noon and 1–4 p.m., $80/4 5 print or $95/5 7 print. Wilson, of Victorian Photography Studio in Gettysburg, Pa., will demonstrate and discuss wet plate collodion photography. This method, also known as tintype photography, is most commonly associated with the American Civil War but is having a resurgence among photographers today. The demonstrations and talk will cover the history, process, and chemistry required to capture photos before the turn of the century. Registration is highly encouraged. Free. 301-698-0656.
jclark@delaplaine.org. delaplaine.org/programs.
Colorful Pet Portrait — noon to 2:30 p.m. at Give Rise Studio, 125 S. Carroll St., 101, Frederick. Creating a pet portrait using paint, the glass, and unconventional techniques results in a unique and dynamic piece of art that captures the essence of your beloved pet. No experience necessary, tracing and basic painting. This portrait blends traditional painting with innovative methods, providing a modern twist to classical pet portraits.
Guys in Thin Ties — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Rockwell Brewery Riverside, 8411 Broadband Drive, Frederick. Frederick’s own Guys In Thin Ties wants you to get your ‘80s on, as they play music from an era when hair was big, collars were popped up, and pop culture was, like, totally gnarly.
$15. 301-372-4880. matt@rockwellbrewery.com.
The Seldom Scene — 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Carroll Arts Center, 91 W. Main St., Westminster. With an inventive take on bluegrass, progressive bluegrass band The Seldom Scene has displayed both their original material and their interpretations of songs from limitless genres. The Seldom Scene is dobro player Fred Travers, bassist Ronnie Simpkins, guitarist Dudley Connell, mandolinist Lou Reid and banjo player Ron Stewart. All tickets $35. 410-857-2771. maria@commongroundonthehill.org. carrollcountyartscouncil.org/ event/the-seldom-scene.
THEATER
“Indecent” — 7:30 p.m. at New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Paula Vogel’s thought-provoking play with music tells the story of the true events surrounding Sholem Asch’s controversial drama God of Vengeance, from its celebrated premiere in Berlin in 1907 through its European tour and arrival on Broadway in the 1920s — where it met with censorship and obscenity charges. $22. 301-600-2828. bhiller@cityoffrederickmd.gov. weinbergcenter.org/shows/indecent.
Sunday Nov. 24
ETCETERA
Song Circle! — 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Common Market, 5728 Buckeystown Pike, Unit B1, Frederick. Join us for a Song Circle hosted by David Koronet in our Route 85 Community Room. Please bring sheet music if you would like to lead everyone in a song. Song Circles will be held every second and fourth Sunday of the month. All ages. 301-663-3416. aharmon@commonmarket.coop. commonmarket.coop.
MUSIC
College Choir Concert — 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Baker Memorial Chapel, 2 College Hill, McDaniel College, Westminster. The McDaniel College Choir, under the direction of senior lecturer of music Kyle Engler, performs its fall concert featuring music from a variety of countries by diverse composers. The Green TerrorTones, the premier vocal ensemble at McDaniel, also performs. 410-857-7000. OCMwork@mcdaniel.edu. mcdaniel.edu.
LECTURE
Lafayette’s Farewell Tour Lecture Series: Focus on Civil Rights for Women and Native Americans, and Religious Freedom — 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Lafayette’s Farewell Tour saw the famous French 67 year old and last surviving major general of the American Revolution triumphantly return to the country he loved. From Aug. 15, 1824, to Sept. 9, 1825, Lafayette covered over 6,000 miles by carriage, stagecoach, canal barge and steamboat, traveling to all 24 existing states, as well as visiting Frederick. Join Dr. Patricia L. Maclay, of the American Friends of Lafayette, to develop a broader appreciation of Lafayette, a much more multifaceted man than is presented in school history classes. 18 and older.
301-600-8200. fcpl.org.
THEATER
“Indecent” — 2 p.m. at New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Paula Vogel’s thought-provoking play with music tells the story of the true events surrounding Sholem Asch’s controversial drama God of Vengeance, from its celebrated premiere in Berlin in 1907 through its European tour and arrival on Broadway in the 1920s — where it met with censorship and obscenity charges. $22. 301-600-2828. bhiller@ cityoffrederickmd.gov. weinbergcenter.org/shows/indecent/.
Monday Nov. 25 CLASSES
Sol Yoga — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Join us for this free yoga class offered by Sol Yoga. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes. 18 and older.
301-600-8200. fcpl.org.
ETCETERA
Lawyer in the Library — noon to 3 p.m. at C Burr Artz Library, 10 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Lawyer in the Library provides free one-on-one legal advice from Maryland Legal Aid lawyers. Types of issues include bankruptcy, child custody, divorce, expungement (removing
convictions from criminal records), foreclosure, government benefits, landlord/tenant, wills/tenants. Customers are helped on a first-come, first-served basis, no appointments necessary. 301-600-1630. lparish@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Tuesday Nov. 26
ETCETERA
The Salvation Army Community Thanksgiving Dinner — 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Salvation Army, 223 W. Fifth St., Frederick. Call 301-662-2311 to reserve To-Go Meals and Large Group Indoor Dining.
Hagerstown Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America Monthly Meeting — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Hagerstown Seventh-day Adventist Church, 11507 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown. The Hagerstown Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America is having their monthly meeting followed by a program. Stop in and see what we’re stitching and learn how to begin (or continue) on your own stitching journey. If you’ve ever wanted to explore needle art, these are your people. Email member4hag@gmail.com to learn more. 301-401-1702. darlene. 11590@gmail.com.
Annual Mulltifaith Thanksgiving Service — 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at
Asbury United Methodist Church, 101 W. All Saints St., Frederick. This inclusive gathering invites people from all faiths, with each participant given equal opportunity to share scripture, poetry, blessings, and music that hold deep meaning within their tradition. Sponsored by Frederick Interfaith and FAMA (Frederick Area Ministerial Association). 301-668-6008. newhope37@verizon.net.
FAMILY
Elementary Explorers: Raid the Closet — 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Have fun exploring games, toys, and activities from the library’s STEM closet! This program is for children in kindergarten through 5th grades (ages 5-10).
301-600-7250. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Wednesday Nov. 27
FAMILY
Schools Out Movie Matinee and LEGO Time — 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Emmitsburg Branch Library, 300 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. Join us for an afternoon of fun! Dive into our big bucket of LEGO’s to create a masterpiece while watching a movie with your friends. Ages 5-12. dspurrier@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Thursday Nov. 28
ETCETERA
Sheppard Pratt Frederick Turkey Trot — at Baker Park , Frederick. Dust off your sneakers and join us on Thanksgiving Day! Run or walk in our family-friendly 5K and 1K fun run/walk. Your race registration directly supports the care and services provided to those who turn to Sheppard Pratt for help. Register online. Price varies $22-$28. turkeytrot@sheppardpratt.org. sheppardpratt.org/turkey-trot.
Mount Airy 5K Turkey Trot & Fun Run — 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at 210 Park Ave., 210 Park Ave., Mount Airy . Start a Thanksgiving tradition at the 2024 Mount Airy 5K Turkey Trot & Fun Run while supporting an important cause! Join your family and friends running or walking the scenic Links at Challedon in Mount Airy. All proceeds go to Mount Airy Net, the safety net that provides support and services to our neighbors in need. 5K: $40; Kids Fun Run $25. 202-222-5126. Lesajansen08@gmail.com. mtairynet.org.
Friday Nov. 29
ETCETERA
Stoney Gardens Crafts & Open House — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Stoney Gardens, 4220 Delauter Road, Myersville. Craft show and
Holiday Open House with items for sale to the public that are made by local artists and vendors. 301-639-3862. stoneygdn@aol.com. facebook.com/StoneyGarden.
MUSIC
Mike Kuster and The Catoctin Cowboys’ “Honky Tonkin’ Good Time Show” — 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Tenth Ward Distilling Company, 55 E. Patrick St., Frederick. IMN Male Country Artist of the Year, Mike Kuster will bring his “Honky Tonkin’ Good Time Show” back to Tenth Ward Distilling Co. to kick-off summer! 21 and older. 301-662-3355. mike@mikekuster.net. tenthwarddistilling.com.
THEATER
Murder Mystery Party — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Dutch’s Daughter Restaurant, 581 Himes Ave., Frederick. Whodunnit for Hire and Dutch’s Daughter team up to bring you “Wanted Dead or Alive,” the wild west themed murder mystery party. Multiple dates from which to choose. Price includes three course dinner with entree options, mystery, tax and gratuity. https://ddmysteries.eventbrite.com. 21 and older. $85. 410-549-2722. murdermysterycompany@gmail.cm. ddmysteries.eventbrite.com.
Saturday Nov. 30
ETCETERA
Stoney Gardens Crafts & Open House — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Stoney Gardens, 4220 Delauter Road, Myersville. Craft show and Holiday Open House with items for sale to the public that are made by local artists and vendors. 301-639-3862. stoneygdn@aol.com. facebook.com/StoneyGarden.
FAMILY
“Christmas Chronicles” — 6 p.m. at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick. Following a boisterous family Thanksgiving dinner, Pap Pap McCallister heads up to the attic to start bringing down the Christmas decorations, having not been allowed to start putting them up until after Thanksgiving — a rule set by Grammie McCallister. As he’s sorting through the collection of decorations, family members begin joining him as they reminisce about past Christmases and talk about their hopes for the year to come. A heartwarming and fun-filled evening with the McCallisters will have audiences in the holiday spirit as they leave the theater. Tickets vary. 301-662-6600. WOB@wayoffbroadway.com. wayoffbroadway.com.
FESTIVALS
This widely attended event is a highly anticipated holiday tradition in the Shenandoah Valley and the perfect place to shop for unique, one-of-a-kind gifts. Checks, credit cards, and cash accepted. 703-888-8246. maplecottagepottery@gmail.com.
MUSIC
Tuba Christmas — noon at Weinberg Center, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Join us for a jubilant celebration of brass music with a symphony of tubas, euphoniums and baritones in a harmonious blend of holiday cheer. An unforgettable musical for all ages with a variety of brassy Christmas hits, in this annual Weinberg Center tradition. In lieu of admission, a canned food drive will be held to benefit the Community Action Agency of Frederick City. 301-600-2828. bhiller@cityoffrederickmd.gov. weinbergcenter.org/shows/ tuba-christmas-2024.
THEATER
Hagerstown Model RR Museum Fall Train Sale — 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Washington County Ag Educational Center, 7313 Sharpsburg Pike, Boonsboro. Vendors will be selling model trains in various scales/sizes, along with railroad memorabilia. Food and drink available for purchase. Plenty of free parking and is handicap accessible. Admission is $5 adults, children 12 and under are free. 301-800-9829. hmrrm@myactv.net. antietamstation.com.
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” — 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Other Voices at The Performing Arts Factory, 244B S. Jefferson St., Frederick. In this hilarious Christmas classic, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids — probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won’t believe the mayhem — and the fun — when the Herdmans collide head-on with the story of Christmas! $10-$14. 301-662-3722. administration@othervoicestheatre.org.
Sunday Dec. 1 ETCETERA
Stoney Gardens Crafts & Open House — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Stoney Gardens, 4220 Delauter Road, Myersville. Craft show and Holiday Open House with items for sale to the public that are made by local artists and vendors. 301-639-3862. stoneygdn@aol.com. facebook.com/StoneyGarden.
FAMILY
Holiday Craft Market — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Jefferson Ruritan Club, 4603B Lander Road, Jefferson. Over 20 vendors providing a wide variety of crafts/wares. The Club will be serving/selling lunch food and homemade apple dumplings. Boy Scout Troup 1066 will sell Christmas trees. Santa Claus AND the Grinch will be present for pictures with the kids. Holiday-themed face painting will be available. 301-662-3643. rdhigdon@comcast.net. jeffersonruritan.org.
GALLERY
Shenandoah Potters Guild Annual Show and Sale — 10:10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at War Memorial Building, Jim Barnett Park, 1001 E. Cork St., Winchester, Va. Continues Dec. 1. On display and available for purchase are hundreds of unique works created by many members of the Shenandoah Potters Guild, ranging from functional pottery to art pieces.
“Christmas Chronicles” — 12:30 p.m. at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick. Following a boisterous family Thanksgiving dinner, Pap Pap McCallister heads up to the attic to start bringing down the Christmas decorations, having not been allowed to start putting them up until after Thanksgiving — a rule set by Grammie McCallister. As he’s sorting through the collection of decorations, family members begin joining him as they reminisce about past Christmases and talk about their hopes for the year to come. A heartwarming and fun-filled evening with the McCallisters will have audiences in the holiday spirit as they leave the theater. Tickets vary. 301-662-6600.
WOB@wayoffbroadway.com. wayoffbroadway.com.
Live Nativity Presentation — 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Urbana Volunteer Fire Department, 3602 Urbana Pike, Frederick. Wesley Chapel U.M. Church presents its 24th Live Nativity. Showtimes 6, 7 and 8 p.m. at the Urbana Fire Hall rear parking lot. Over a dozen characters dress in costume and perform under the night sky. A live camel accompanies the Wise Men to the stable where the Holy Family sits with a donkey. Real sheep fill the “hills” while shepherds hear the host of angels. An innkeeper, King Herod and his court round out the cast. Professional music & narration. Free admission, free cookies & hot chocolate. Presentation is held outdoors. Shows last approx. 20 minutes. In case of inclement weather, contact the church office at 301663-4956.
MAVFC Holiday Craft/Vendor Show — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at MAVFC Reception Hall, 1008 Twin Arch Road, Mount Airy. Fundraiser for the Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Co. and bring a friend. There will be lots of unique handmade gifts, just in time for the holidays. This is an indoor event and no charge to enter.
240-674-1961. jcgue116@hotmail.com. mavfc.org.
GALLERY
Colorful Pet Portrait — noon to 2:30 p.m. at Give Rise Studio, 125 S. Carroll St., 101, Frederick. Creating a pet portrait using paint,
the glass, and unconventional techniques results in a unique and dynamic piece of art that captures the essence of your beloved pet. This portrait blends traditional painting with innovative methods, providing a modern twist to classical pet portraits. $40. giverisestudio@gmail.com. giverisestudio.com.
MUSIC
Song Circle — 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Middletown Branch Library, 31 E. Green St., Middletown. A song circle is a gathering of folks to make music together, to sing, play and share songs. Bring your own acoustic instrument. You can also just sing or listen. Hosted by The Frederick Acoustic Music Enterprise (FAME). 18 and older. 301-600-7560. lgrackin@frederickcountymd.gov. fcpl.org/calendar.
Hagerstown Municipal Band’s “A Touch of Christmas” — 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at The Capitol Theatre, 159 S Main St , Chambersburg, Pa. This show is sure to get you in the holiday spirit, sprinkled with Christmas music and more just in time for the greatest time of the year! Special guests: Bob Eyer on the Moller Theatre Pipe Organ and vocalist Lisa Turchi. All tickets $19. 717-263-0202. vperry@thecapitoltheatre.org. thecapitoltheatre.org.
The Frederick Chorale’s Holiday Showcase — 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 8619 Black Mill Road, Thurmont. Join us as we celebrate the holiday season with solo and group
performances from Chorale members! This concert will be our second time gathering in this historic building to celebrate the holiday season. We’ll showcase several performances that preview our upcoming Christmas concert (Dec. 8 and 9) in addition to small group and solo performances of your favorite Christmas and holiday-themed songs.This showcase is a perfect event for family, friends, and individuals of all ages to come together to celebrate the season. 301-514-4524.
kiley.mead@frederickchorale.org.
Emmitsburg Community Chorus Free Concert — 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Basilica of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, South Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. The Emmitsburg Community Chorus kicks off its fall season with a free performance. Under the direction of Peggy Flickinger, the 31-voice group includes members from Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. They are accompanied by pianist Lisa Mattia. The concert features holiday favorites.
jnbgraham@gmail.com.
Bach in Baltimore: A Baroque Christmas & Carols — 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at First Evangelical Lutheran Church , 3604 Chatham Road , Ellicott City . Featuring Handel’s “Messiah,” Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio: Cantata I” celebrating the Nativity with festive orchestration and choral magnificence. Mozart’s “Et incarnatus est” from the Mass in C minor, Pärt’s “Magnificat” offers a meditative and ethereal experience. Traditional carols “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” arranged by Sir David Willcocks, invite joyful
audience participation. $39 general, $10 students, free for kids. 410941-9262. elizabachinbbaltimore@gmail.com. bachinbaltimore.org/events/ baroque-christmas-carols-1.
THEATER
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” — 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Other Voices at The Performing Arts Factory, 244B S. Jefferson St., Frederick. In this hilarious Christmas classic, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids — probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won’t believe the mayhem — and the fun — when the Herdmans collide head-on with the story of Christmas! $10-$14. 301-662-3722. administration@othervoicestheatre.org. World Ballet Company “The Nutcracker” — 6 p.m. at Weinberg Center, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. A family-friendly experience accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s timeless score, over 150 radiant hand-crafted costumes, lavish hand-painted sets, and the iconic Lev Ivanov choreography. This fairytale will take you on a Christmas night adventure with Clara and the Nutcracker to the Land of Sweets. See the iconic Waltz of Flowers, and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, meet Mother Ginger and the Drosselmeyer. $89, $75, $55. 301-600-2828. bhiller@cityoffrederickmd.gov. weinbergcenter.org/shows/world-balletcompany-the-nutcracker.
Hulu/Peacock/Max via AP
This combination of images shows promotional art for “Interior Chinatown,” from left, “Based on a True Story” and “The Sex Lives of College Girls.
What to stream this week
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW MOVIES TO STREAM
— Steve McQueen’s “Blitz,” streaming Friday on Apple TV+, is a wartime odyssey about a 9-year-old biracial boy (Elliott Heffernan) who, after being sent to the countryside during the Nazi bombing of London, tries to get home to his mother (Saoirse Ronan). “Blitz,” McQueen’s first narrative feature since 2018’s “Widows,” sometimes feels stuck between a conventional war drama and something more adventurous. But it’s vividly drawn, and, as I wrote in my review, “more complicated and unsparing than the average WWII drama.”
— Denzel Washington’s quest to bring the works of August Wilson to the screen have already produced several exceptional films, and performances, in “Fences” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” In “The Piano Lesson” (on Netflix Friday), he hands the reins to his son, Malcolm Washington, who
makes his directorial debut in a production starring John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler, Samuel L. Jackson, Erykah Badu, Ray Fisher and Corey Hawkins. The film, set in 1930s Pittsburgh, is about a family wrestling with the legacy of a family heirloom, and of slavery. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr praised it as a “a literal ghost story, with creaks, spooks and shadows lurking.”
— Following its first foray into feature film animation, 2022’s “Luck,” Skydance returns with another original animated tale in “Spellbound” (on Netflix Friday). The film, set in the magical world of Lumbria, is about a young girl (voiced by Rachel Zegler) who must save the rulers of Lumbria, her parents (Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem), after they’re turned into monsters. “Spellbound,” produced by former Pixar boss John Lasseter, features original songs from Disney legend Alan Menken.
— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle
NEW SHOWS TO STREAM
— In “Interior Chinatown,” actor and comedian Jimmy O. Yang plays a Chinese American background actor in a police procedural who dreams of becoming a leading man. It’s adapted from a novel by Charles Yu, who also served as showrunner of the series.
Taika Waititi is an executive producer. “Interior Chinatown” premieres Tuesday on Hulu.
— It’s the beginning of sophomore year for the ladies of Max’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls.” The show, created by Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble, follows roommates at a fictional college in Vermont. Season three, premiering Thursday, brings back original leads Pauline Chalamet, Amrit Kaur and Alyah Chanelle Scott but will wrap up Reneé Rapp’s storyline. She quit the show to focus on her music career.
Mia Rodgers and Gracie Lawrence have been added to the mix as series regulars.
— Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messi-
na have more problems when season two of “Based on a True Story” begins streaming Thursday on Peacock. Season one saw their characters, Ava and Nathan, launch a true crime podcast with an actual serial killer (played by Tom Bateman). In the new episodes, the couple are new parents attempting to return to a normal life, until a string of murders draws them back into amateur sleuthing.
— The 1999 film “Cruel Intentions” starring Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar remains a cult classic but Prime Video has updated the story with a TV series. Sarah Catherine Hook and Zac Burgess play wealthy stepsiblings who hatch a plan to seduce and deceive one of their college classmates, who also happens to be the daughter of the vice president of the United States. The show, premiering Thursday, also has plenty of Easter eggs in the that call back to the movie.
— Alicia Rancilio
Small Business Saturday
Visit Main Street Thurmont for Small Business Saturday deals. Shop in our locally owned stores & grab a bite to eat in one of our locally owned restaurants! Pop-Up shops inside of our businesses too! 10am-2pm. Be Local!
Love your Thurmont & Shop Small
Join us for our annual tree lighting! See Thurmont come aglow Saturday, November 30 at 6pm!
Hot Chocolate & cookies immediately following next door at Woodsboro Craftsmen
10am-12:45pm & 2pm-2:30pm Free photos with Santa 10am-Noon Make & Take craft tables for kids up to 12 years old, Adult Map stamping at local businesses. Adults enter to win with a completed map for prizes. (Adult prize drawings at 3:30pm) 10am-2:30pm Enter to win prizes for children up to 17 years old (must be present to win. Drawings at 3pm) Adult map stamping turned back in by 3pm. 2:30pm Dance performance by National Award-Winning Esp Dance 3.00pm Prize Drawings
Christmas on Main Street
Friday, December 13 from 5pm-9pm
Enjoy a Main Street Christmas by visiting our local shops & Pop-Up Shops along the way. Shop for unique & special gifts from our shops & local vendors.
Wine, Beer, Hot Chocolate
M.R. Cheesecakes
Wear your ‘bestest, ugliest’ holiday sweater and enter the contest at 10Tavern at 8:30 for a prize. Ladies’ & men’s categories.
Horse & Carriage Rides from 5pm-8pm Reservations are made by calling 301-271-7313 press 0.
Love Local Tour
DECEMBER 10 | 5PM–8PM
This can’t-miss night of holiday fun is designed with locals in mind! Come out to enjoy the enchanting show of lights, local shopping and holiday cheer that Downtown Frederick puts on each winter, without worrying about weekend crowds. Attendees can sip ‘n’ shop their way through downtown and participate in the #LoveLocalTour photo contest. Plus, receive a free Frederick-exclusive gift with every $20+ purchase. downtownfrederick.org
