Chesapeake Bay 2023-24

Renovations

to increase home value

Personalization: We all want to make our home unique to our own character. However, when it comes time to sell, buyers want to envision themselves in the home, which can be difficult if the entire home is personalized to you. Avoid any personalization that is difficult to undo and stick to a nice universal outlook that speaks to everyone.

Landscaping: Just like with personalizing, it’s best to keep it simple. Some home buyers may love how elaborate your landscaping may look, but most of the time they’re considering the cost of upkeep or the difficulty of maintaining that look. A clean lawn with curb appeal is the best first impression to give to potential buyers.

Closet Space: Some of us are minimalist and can do with a larger room by sacrificing closet space, but most potential buyers value the importance of storage. Remember, buyers want to see themselves living in the home, and a lack of closet space might send them looking elsewhere.

Bold Paint: Freshly painted rooms are a great way to brighten up your home. There’s nothing wrong with bringing a little color into your home but keep in mind that buyers may not favor the same colors you do. Stick to keeping the colors subtle with small accents and focus more on neutral tones to appeal to potential buyers.

Trendy Designs: Barn doors and patterned tiles may look great to some buyers, but avoid trendy designs that might be outdated when you decide to sell. No matter how tempting the latest home design trend may be, the classic look is always the safest bet.

DIY Projects: Projects that you build yourself are great, but only when they’re done professionally. This is important to potential buyers so make sure if you’re going to do your own home project, that you do it exceptionally well. This also applies to repairs, quick cover ups will only get you so far. These sort of projects can either increase or decrease the value of your home so make sure you know what you’re doing before proceeding.

Long-Term Necessities: When it comes to renovations, keep in mind that not every buyer needs a built in office desk, or a workshop, or anything that may seem like a great idea to you. Tread carefully when adding permanent fixtures, not all buyers have the same vision as you when it comes to changes made. Make sure your room structures allow the flexibility for potential buyers to make their own changes.

Restaurants

The Iron Bridge Wine Company

Warm, cozy cafe presenting a seasonal New American menu & a celebrated wine collection.

10435 MD-108, Columbia, MD 21044

Phone: (410) 997-3456| Web: ironbridgewines.com

Water Street Seafood

Where classy meets casual for fresh seafood dishes and top-notch customer servic

654 Water St, Havre De Grace, MD 21078

Phone: (443) 502-8855 | Web: waterstreetseafoodhdg.com

Charleston

Celebrated pick for New American plates & a well-curated wine list in white-tablecloth environs.

1000 Lancaster St, Baltimore, MD 21202

Phone: (410) 332-7373| Web: charlestonrestaurant.com

Have a restaurant you’d like us to feature?

Send in a recommendation for your favorite restaurant to be added to our list. Be sure to mention why you think they are worthy of being featured and include a link to their website.

Rusty Scupper

Local landmark serving upscale regional seafood dishes in a waterfront setting for over 30 years.

402 Key Hwy, Baltimore, MD

The Turn House

Modern, roomy restaurant with 4 fireplaces serving innovative seasonal fare.

11130 Willow Bottom Drive, Columbia, MD

Coakley’s Pub

Folksy Irish bar offering classic grill fare & pub grub in a cozy dark-wood room with TVs.

414 St John St #406, Havre De Grace, MD

Sotto Sopra

Farm-to-table contemporary Italian cuisine & wines are served in an art-filled, elegant townhouse.

405 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD

Stanford Grill

Casually stylish restaurant with a patio featuring contemporary fare along with live jazz.

8900 Stanford Blvd, Columbia, MD

La Cucina

Family restaurant known for full meals, pizza, pasta & sub sandwiches served in a homey space.

103 N Washington St, Havre De Grace, MD

La Cuchara

Elegant eatery with an intimate atmosphere serving Basque fare such as pintxos & tapas.

3600 Clipper Mill Road, Baltimore, MD

The White Oak Tavern

New American eatery & beer garden offering many craft brews on tap, plus locally sourced pub grub.

10030 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, MD

Lin’s Hibachi

Japanese sushi, steak grilled tableside & cocktails offered in a contemporary restaurant.

1007 Pulaski Hwy, Havre De Grace, MD

AUG 26

8th Annual Coastal Craft Beer Festival

Neptune’s Park transforms into an oceanfront party hub with live music, food and craft beers from over 30 different breweries. Spend all day by the beach sampling 60+ regional brews, as well as various ciders, seltzers and food truck dishes. Learn more at eventbrite.com.

SEP 3

Deal Island Skipjack Race Festival

Join this town’s tradition that honors historic working vessels. Owners of the wooden boats, some over 100 years old, travel from across the Bay to showcase their love for maritime preservation. Witness the skipjacks up close on display before the race and enjoy local vendors, crafts, artwork and an antique car show. Learn more at festivalnet.com.

OCT 7

Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival

Our goal is to continue to find ways for our community to connect and celebrate who we are not just one day, but throughout the year. Now, more than ever, it is important to foster relationships and help those that are feeling isolated or alone. UCBPride is committed to helping all those that want to come out to feel safe, be safe and be loved. Learn more at ucbpride.com.

NOV 18

Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival

The Eastern Shore Sea Glass and Coastal Arts Festival returns for the holiday season and brings artisans and craftspeople who will exhibit and sell coastal and sea-glass related jewelry, home décor, art, and more. Learn more at cbmm.org.

DEC 9

41st Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade

Watch lighted boats parade along Spa Creek and Annapolis Harbor.

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Popular viewing locations include Spa Creek Bridge, Naval Academy Seawall, City Dock, and any street in downtown Annapolis that ends at the water. Learn more at eastportyc.org.

JAN TBD

Harbor Point Ice Fest

Bundle up and head to the Harbor Point Ice Festival. Watch award-winning sculptors use chainsaws and chisels to create spectacular Year of the Rabbitthemed ice sculptures celebrating Lunar New Year’s Day right in front of your eyes! Learn more at harborpoint.com.

FEB 17

Chesapeake Fire & Ice

The festival will feature dozens of ice sculptures spread throughout Easton’s historic district. The Discover Easton Signature Event will kick off with a Friday night Ice Block Party on February 17. The celebration will feature free live music and fire performances, outdoor ice skating, and the unveiling of the weekend’s ice sculptures with a free self-guided tour and light display. Live carvings will be all over town. Learn more at discovereaston.com.

MAR TBD

St. Michaels ChocolateFest

The 6th Annual St. Michaels ChocolateFest will be held in March 2024 and will include restaurant chefs conjuring up amazing delectable special menu items to showcase chocolate inspired dishes and desserts. There will be no tickets sold in advance, so come hungry and bring cash to pay for delectable items throughout the Town of St. Michaels. Chocolate lovers will enjoy shopping throughout town sampling amazing artisan chocolates, desserts, wine, beer and spirits. Learn more at stmichaelsmd.org

APR TBD

Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show

The Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show is the perfect opportunity for the sailing and boating industry to come together in April 2024. Located in the heart

of Annapolis, Maryland, the show will feature the latest in sailboat design and technology, as well as workshops and presentations from industry experts. Learn more at annapolisboatshows.com.

MAY 18

St. Michaels Running Festival

The St. Michaels Running Festival presented by Brooks has been one of the premier destination races in the Mid-Atlantic since the inaugural event in 2012. Based in one of the oldest waterfront towns on the Chesapeake, runners will be treated to small-town hospitality, great SWAG, and a rockin’ after-party right on the water! Learn more at runstm.com.

JUN TBD

Baltimore Pride 2024

Baltimore Pride 2024 will take place in June to celebrate Baltimore’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community. With over 30,000 spectators, Baltimore pride is frequently one of the biggest pride events in Maryland. Learn more at baltimorepride.org.

JUL 4

Independence Day Celebration

Every year the Town of Chesapeake Beach sponsors a fireworks display at the center of the Town. The display is viewable along the Fishing Creek bridge, Kellam’s field, Veteran’s Memorial Park, or at one of our waterfront restaurants or resort. The fireworks are held at Dusk. Bring a blanket and a picnic for a family fun evening at Kellam’s field. Learn more at chesapeakebeachmd.gov.

With lodging, food and entertainment all included in one price, choosing to do a vacation on a cruise gives great value. Traveling on the sea can be extremely fun, but it is important to choose the correct cruise line. If you’re going to spend a lot of your vacation time on a cruise ship, it may as well be one of luxury. Thankfully, there’s many luxury cruise lines ready to cater to your every

whim while ferrying you to and from some of the world’s most mesmerizing destinations in plush comfort. Some offer exotic voyages to faraway destinations, while others attract travelers with comfortable cabins and stimulating enrichment programs. Use this guide as a starting point to find out which luxury cruise fits best for your next vacation.

We made a list that factors in itinerary affordability, health ratings, and reputation among experts and travelers.

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SILVERSEA OCEANIA REGENT SEVEN SEAS

EATING THE PSYCHOLOGY

Control weight gain and compulsive eating behaviors by making better choices about the food that you eat.

Control weight gain and compulsive eating behaviors by making better choices about the food that you eat.

ConsumptionSome of us more than others realize that what we eat can effect how we feel such as eating too little or too much. We should be able to enjoy what we eat but also feel better when we do.

Eating healthy is a challenging task that many of us

strive to achieve but often fall short.

Influences -

Cultural, social, family, and economical factors may be a direct influence linked to our food and eating behaviors.

However, a more serious influence such as stress, boredom and anxiety can play a larger role as many of us eat as a coping mechanism. Although it can

sometimes help bring relief and ease feelings, it often leads to regret and build more negativity. Avoiding the problem with food will often create another problem with self-image when suffering from weight gain or other negative affects caused by unhealthy eating.

Weight ManagementHere are tips to help you manage your weight.

For starters, never skip a meal. By skipping a meal, you’re allowing yourself to become

hungry later which can result in reckless binge eating. Be sure to plan your meals ahead of time and limit night time snacking. This will allow you to always be one step ahead

of your weight by creating a routine. If you’re getting a craving between meals, try to exercise or find another way to distract yourself from food.

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Eating Diary - This is a great tool to keep track of your eating habits. Record what food you eat and when you eat it. Also take note of how you feel after eating and if you were doing anything while eating such as using your phone or watching TV.

By recording your habits, you will be able to pinpoint which foods and activities to avoid. The diary can also assist you when you’re working with a dietitian to help you make the best decisions.

THE PRIDE CENTER OF MARYLAND

The Pride Center of Maryland offers over 30 programs and services that reflect our dedication to ensuring Maryland’s sexual and gender minority community have equal access to care, services, and a space where they can be their authentic selves. Each year, we serve thousands of Maryland residents in order to fulfill our commitment of uniting, empowering, and advocating on behalf of sexual and gender minorities of Baltimore and Central Maryland. Web: Pridecentermd.org

UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY PRIDE

Our goal is to continue to find ways for our community to connect and celebrate who we are not just one day, but throughout the year. Now, more than ever, it is important to foster relationships and help those that are feeling isolated or alone. UCBPride is committed to helping all those that want to come out to feel safe, be safe and be loved. Web: ucbpride.com

HOCO PRIDE

Howard County Pride celebrates and unites the LGBTQ+ community. Our events and programs advocate, support, and educate. It is our hope that the LGBTQ+ community in Howard County, Maryland finds a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment every time they are at a HoCo Pride event. Join us in celebrating your identity with our community! Web: howardcountypride.org

PFLAG HOCO

We promote the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, as well as their families and friends. Web: pflaghoco.org

NAMI HOWARD COUNTY

At NAMI Howard County we work to ensure that gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning, or intersex (LGBT) individuals diagnosed with a mental illness have access to the same sensitivity and quality of services as anyone else. Web: namihowardcounty.org