Simply Bowie October 2022

THE

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Tiasia Saunders, Braxton Babb, Leelyn Ellis

Askya Alexander, Veronica Fountain

Myia Borland, Brittney DeZwaan

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Tracey Marlene, Unsplash

& Owner

From the Publisher An exciting finish as the Best of the Best closes

Simply Bowie Best of Best Reader’s Choice Awards voting closed late Friday, and this year’s contest was amazing.

Readers submitted almost 3,000 votes this year, and some first-place races came down to the wire. We had Fourteen categories where there is a tie for the top spot and several where one vote made the difference between first and second place.

This year’s Best of the Best was completely online, with a third-party company counting and validating the vote. It was fun watching the votes over the last several weeks and how the lead changed hands many times.

Not every category came down to the wire. Some winners jumped out in front and had a clear majority from the beginning.

The announcements are in and this special publication listing all the winners by category. But we’re notifying the winners this week, and they’ll want to thank those who supported them in the special publication.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to nominate and vote this year. Thanks also go to the businesses that worked hard to claim first place. We have some fun things planned for this promotion next year, including announcing the winners at an event — both winners and the public will be on the invite list.

Enjoy this October, Best of the Best special publication!

When we think about October, the first thing that comes to most of our minds is Halloween, which is, October 31st. Many of you may already getting started to look for the creative costumes and getting ready for fun activities by now. Hold on, I’m not there yet! I think I will start from curling up with a tea and a cozy blanket as I saw that my wife just bought new favor of tea bags and switched up blanket of light silk for fluffy. I can feel the cooler nights but it’s still a wonderful time to get outside and enjoy the warmth of the sun.

As the leaves begin to change color of green for reds, oranges and yellows, and the temperatures start to drop, there’s no better time to buy entrance pass to the national park and book a cozy lodge in advance to experience gorgeous nature and fall foliage in October. I found a couple places for both romantic and family get away in DMV area. I will definitely take my wife there since she is getting ready to break out the sweaters, leggings, boots and a cute scarf. That way I can enjoy taking a photo of colorful leaves and sharing some of creative and festive colorful pictures on my Facebook and Instagram.

What is your favorite thing to get cozy up on a cold day? What is the first thing that comes to you mind in a month of October?

Enjoy Your Halloween

ReaderAWARDSChoiceWinners

1. Caruso Homes Winner

2. Two Rivers

3. Stanley Martin Homes

4. Castle Rock Builders

5. Timberlake Homes

We are committed to providing you with the highest level of personal attention and service throughout the entire home buying experience.

Purchasing a new home is one of the most exciting and memorable experiences in your life. At Caruso Homes, we are committed to providing you with the highest level of personal attention and service throughout the entire process.

Build a Caruso Home on the site of your choice. Whether you already own land or you are looking for a lot to build on, our experienced tmortar. It’

BEST EVENT PLANNER

1. Honey Do Planners Winner

2. Lovely T Events

3. Angie D Entertainment

4. B Astonished Events

5. Celebrations Event & Rental

Honey Do Wedding & Event Planners has been in the business of Event Planning for over 13 years. Angie Stancil, the founding Planner, and the Honey Do Team will bring your VISION to REALITY.

We provide services in the Maryland, Virginia, and DC area. Our goal is to cater to the client, keeping in mind your unique style, personality and budget.

No event is ever too large or small for the Honey Do Team. Allow us to plan your event from beginning to end!

1. Chansaerae Designs Winner

2. Serenity Interiors by Trenell

BEST

DESIGN OR

3. Remodeling & Design

4. Signature Design Interiors

5. Sho’nita Interiors

When you think of home what comes to mind? As your Interior Designer I like to create a home for you that feels like you. What do I mean by that? I mean that it will be a reflection of your style, your experiences and your wants. But even with that it will far exceed your expectations. Interior design is more than just fluffing pillows, it’s about creating the correct flow and functionality in your home.

Although I’m located in Bowie, MD, I work with clients in Washington DC, and all throughout Northern Virginia.

I love whole home projects but I do work with clients on kitchens and bathrooms. I can help sell your home by staging it for its best look before going on the market.

BEST CASUAL DINING RESTAURANT

1. BJ’s

Winner

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse started off as a pizza place, and we’ve never forgotten these roots. Our BJ’s Deep Dish Pizza combines delicious deep-dish Chicago-style pizza with the flavor innovation that California-style pizza is known for. Choose from one of our own amazing pizzas or build your own pizza by choosing from a variety of tasty meats and vegetables!

BEST DESSERT

1. The Dessert Junkie Winner

2. Sugar Vault Desserts

3. Crumbl Cookies

4. Sweet Tooth Bakery

5. Uncaged Desserts

Located in Bowie Maryland, The Dessert Junkie Bakery is famous for its tempting takes on classic American-style desserts.

Our reputation is built upon providing the highest quality desserts both locally and nationally. We pride ourselves by offering recipes made with the freshest ingredients. Our enormous variety of cupcakes, milkshakes and cookies , The Dessert Junkie is also the perfect location for customdecorated birthday and wedding cakes.

BEST LOCAL COFFEE SHOP

1. PJ’s Coffee Winner

2. Starbucks

3. First Watch

4. Dunkin’ Dougnuts

5. Main Street Coffee

PJ’s Coffee in Bowie offers catering that’s perfect for office meetings, school functions, book club, just because, and more! Bring the spirit of New Orleans to your next outing with PJ’s famous iced coffees. Choose from our JoeTo-Go, fresh-baked pastries and baked goods that will highlight everyone’s morning and have you looking like the office hero. Whether you need your catering order today or want to schedule ahead, let PJ’s Coffee assist you in all your catering planning. Call your PJ’s coffee shop near you today or visit us at 12530 Fairwood Parkway to plan your order!

BEST DENTIST

1. The Bowie Dental Group Winner

2. Smile Ro Dental

3. Vargas Dental Associates

4. Superior Cosmetic & Family Dentistry

5. Neibauer Dental Care

We are based in the beautiful city of Bowie, Maryland and take pleasure in inviting you to browse through our website. The site is designed to provide an overview of our dental office and potential dental treatments. Dr. Shawn and his team are committed to providing quality dental care to help their patient’s achieve healthy teeth and gums for life. Our team is constantly working to master the art and science of dental medicine. Every patient is special to us and we approach every problem with the patient’s best interest in mind.

Browse through our website and find out more about our dental philosophy and treatments. We have patient education videos and articles on procedures performed at our office. Visit the gallery to view some of the cases we have successfully treated.

Reader Choice AWARDSWinners

1. Bowie Towne Veterinary Hospital Winner

2. Dogs and Cats Emergency

3. Family Veterinary Clinic

4. Upper Marlboro Veterinary Hospital

5. Highway Veterinary Hospital

If you’re looking for reliable veterinary services, get in touch with Bowie Towne Veterinary Hospital today. We are a private veterinary office and have been in business for over 25 years! Tick season is in full swing! Don’t forget to pick up Frontline Gold or Bravecto to ensure your pets are protected.

BEST VETERINARY CLINIC

BEST SENIOR LIVING

1. Charter Senior Living of Bowie Winner

2. Tribute at Melford

3. Bowie Spring Assisted Living

4. Willows Senior Community

5. Brightview

Charter Senior Living of Bowie is an elegantly furnished senior living community featuring Assisted Living and Memory Care, as well as Short-Term Stays for both Respite Care and Rehabilitation services.

BEST PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN

1. Golden Days Healthcare Winner

2. Maryland Primary Care Physicians

3. Cheverly Primary Care

4. Omni Primary & Urgent Care

5. Medstar Health: Primary Care Hyattsville

Golden Days Primary & Express Medical Care is a retail medical service offering express walk-in medical care and the immediate treatment of urgent, but non-life threatening emergencies for individuals and families ages 18 months and up. With convenient hours and weekend availability, Golden Days fills the gap between Emergency Rooms and Doctors’ offices to provide a quality healthcare avenue within the community.

Reader Choice

Winners

BEST

RETAIL

BEST ENTERTAINMENT & RECREATION

1. Concerts & Causes Winner

2. Brencore Entertainment

3. 2nd Star Productions

4. Bowie Performing Arts Center

5. Joe Clair Comedy

Since it’s beginning, Concerts for Causes has given hundreds of musical instruments to deserving students. Our “Save the Music” program purchases brand new musical instruments for students. With the dropout rate of high school students in the DMV for certain demographics approaching 67%, studies show 95% of high school students who are involved in a music program graduate and go on to college — a staggering statistic! Many of our high schools have wonderful music programs with dedicated teachers, but inferior or no musical instruments. Concerts for Causes has given thousands and thousands of dollars worth of instruments to the most deserving students in under-served communities across the nation.

BEST REALTOR

1. India Hall - Home Smart Team Ultimate Realtor Winner

2. Ebony McCarthy – McArthur Realty Group

3. Will Stein Realtor

4. Silver River Property Management

5. Jackie Gee-Ferko Broker

Welcome Home Sellers and Home Buyers! I’m India Hall, The Ultimate REALTOR. I am a former Chief Financial Officer (CFO), now Top Producing Multi-Million Dollar Real Estate Professional serving Maryland and Washington, DC. I am also Founder & CFO of The Ultimate Team, a Top Producing Team of innovative, full service, real estate professionals brokered by HomeSmart.p Producing team of innovative, full service, real estate pro

BEST MOVER & SHAKER BOWIE COMMUNITY

1. Everette Browning – President of 100 Black Men Winner

2. Henri Gardner - At Large Council member

3. Sia Finoh - Political Candidate

4. Kamryn Watkins - Senior Chief of Staff for Government at Bowie State

5. Fabiola Wallace - Bowie MD Travel Agent Destination Weddings

Everette Browning Sr. is a Bowie resident, combat veteran, husband, father, Vice President for a veteran-owned minority business, and Vice President of Mentoring for the 100 Black Men of Prince George’s County, Inc. If elected to District 24 of the Maryland State Senate, Browning hopes to establish education and economic development initiatives in order to build and maintain a generational wealth infrastructure for Prince George’s County families.

HELPING YOU GET YOUR FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER

Serving all of Maryland and the District of ColumbiaChapter 13)

“I have attended a few seminars on Estate Planning, and I was aware that I needed to start this process sooner than later. I was fortunate to attend an Estate Planning seminar presented by Suren Adams. I was very impressed with her professionalism, her impeccable knowledge of the subject matter, and the ability to present the information in an understandable language. Suren’s noteworthy credentials speak for themselves, and her service costs are comparable to others in the area. I would highly recommend her service to anyone who is interested in the Estate Planning process. I guarantee that once you attend Suren’s seminar, you will not delay in starting the process today!”

- C.H. (Upper Marlboro, MD)

“Mrs. Adams: We want to thank you very much for the diligent work your office has done in finalizing our Trust package, to include notifications to our investment organizations and trustees. We could not be happier for the great legal work you and your staff has done for us. Again, many thanks for bringing everything together in our Trust.”

- R.G. & D.G (District Heights)

HALLOWEEN Snack Board

LArticle by Marie Lichty

This festive Halloween Snack Board is filled with tasty snacks, treats, and even a few tricks! It’s the perfect spread for parties or a fun night in. Your friends and family will love these fun Halloween snacks.

LLLHow to Make a Halloween Snack Board

I am going to share how I made made my Halloween Snack Board and some tips, but there is no right or wrong way to make a snack board. There are no rules! Have fun with it, use your favorite snacks or what you have in your pantry. You can make a big snack board or a small snack board.

• First, decide how many people you are making the board for. This will help you determine what board to use and how many snacks to buy.

• If you are sharing with family and friends, have them bring a Halloween snack to add to the board. This will help keep the cost down and you get to try new things!

• I always try to have a mix of sweet and salty, some healthy and some indulgent, and kid and adult friendly snacks.

• Next, you need a board. You can use a wood cutting board, marble board, large platter, or even a baking sheet. The board can be rectangle, square, round, long, or you can even put a few small boards together. For this board, I used a large wood cutting board. I also use this board all of the time.

• Get out a few small bowls for dips, olives, candy, etc. It is nice to have height and variation on the board. Also, do you need serving spoons or forks? Get those out too!

• Prep in advance! Wash and cut up veggies and fruit, make dips, cut up cheese, etc. Do anything you can so when it’s time to put the board together, you are ready!

• Lay out all of the snacks so you can see what you have. See what colors and textures you have. Decide what needs to go in bowls.

• Start building your board! Put the bowls on the board first and then start adding small piles and groupings of snacks on the board. I like to mix up the colors so you don’t have all of the same color in one area. Again, there are no rules!

You can always move things around. Once you have the look you like, I always make the piles of snacks a little fuller so there are no gaps. You want a FULL board with no spaces.

• Prep in advance! Wash and cut up veggies and fruit, make dips, cut up cheese, etc. Do anything you can so when it’s time to put the board together, you are ready!

• Lay out all of the snacks so you can see what you have. See what colors and textures you have. Decide what needs to go in bowls.

• Start building your board! Put the bowls on the board first and then start adding small piles and groupings of snacks on the board. I like to mix up the colors so you don’t have all of the same color in one area. Again, there are no rules!

You can always move things around. Once you have the look you like, I always make the piles of snacks a little fuller so there are no gaps. You want a FULL board with no spaces.

THE ADVENTURES

BEGIN

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Wedding bells ring, are you listening? A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight. Walking in a wedding wonderland!

Mercedes Harris and Milas Brown are months away from tying the knot. This is not your traditional wedding as they will be getting married at the Hilton Playa del Carmen in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. They chose a destination wedding because they love to travel. “Milas and I like to travel so a destination wedding was fitting for us,” states Harris.

The soon-to-be Browns live in the Indianapolis area but both did reside in Chicago, IL. “We looked at venues in Indy and Chicago but they were very expensive. We wanted a destination venue that was affordable, familiar, and did not require a passport.” They browsed through destinations such as Hawaii or Asian areas that did not require a passport but that was not fitting for their wedding. So how did they narrow it down to Mexico?

“We wanted an all-inclusive resort. Jamaica was nice but it was too expensive. Mexico is affordable and familiar, and we had already visited the resort.”

There is no theme for their wedding but the inspiration springs from the Indianapolis Be Nimble Foundation’s Social Garden Pardi and Pardi Ball. “The color scheme is marigold, navy blue, and ivory. My favorite color is yellow, and Milas’ favorite color is blue. We added the Ivory as a neutral color.”

No wedding is perfect and Harris did run into a few challenges. For starters, both Harris and Brown have planned their wedding all by themselves, they have no wedding planner or travel agent. Harris describes her personality as type A and detail oriented which has been a little bump in the road while planning.

Harris and Brown are excited to share this moment with their family and friends who have never traveled abroad. “Even before the pandemic, they haven’t traveled out of the country.” Guests and the almost newlyweds are getting the best of both worlds as a yacht has been rented, a day trip to Tulum has been planned, so it is a vacation and wedding all bundled in one. Harris does have a few words of advice for future brides. “First, Enjoy the process and do not be so uptight during planning. Do not get stressed over the small details because you can get consumed in the wedding planning versus the actual wedding. Second, Be particular in choosing your wedding party. Choose people who are supportive of you. The fewer people you have to account for the better. Lastly, take into account how much you spend on your wedding. Spend more time and money on the marriage itself.”

What Does Inflation Mean For Consumers’ Holiday Shopping

How to prepare for the busy holiday season without stressing over inflation prices

Article by Tiasia Saunders

How Inflation is Affecting Americans

Many Americans have struggled this year due to increased everyday commodity prices such as eggs, meat, gas and poultry. As of August, the current inflation rate is 8.3 percent compared to 9.1 percent in June. Higher prices in goods will prompt consumers not only to shop earlier but spend less on holiday gifts.

“Our current period of inflation has primarily affected my spending habits on food as I am avoiding some of the pains of high gas prices by lying in an area with many effective public transportation options. Since food costs have been less predictable. I have increased the number and types of grocery stores I visit to ensure I am paying the most competitive prices in my area for the variety of items I buy,” Associate Professor of Economics, Dr. Gerald Daniels Jr., said.

Unfortunately, it is unlikely that prices will drop crucially by the time the holiday shopping season comes around. Although there are discounts and deals, many items are more expensive than in previous years. Most consumers will likely cut back on holiday travel, decor, and alcohol to compensate for increased costs.

Even college students feel the pressure as a student worker, Janelle Gardner mentioned, “I have witnessed a lot of price spikes on a lot of items that I normally use daily. Gas is one price hike that I saw coming but had never fully felt impact until my Honda Civic cost me $70 for a full tank of gas.”

It would be best to start your holiday shopping in October to jumpstart your search for deals. Due to the pandemic, retailers have an inventory surplus from delayed shipments. So, be sure to take advantage of any deals you come across.

Difference Between Consumers’ 2021 and 2022 Holiday Shopping Plans

According to Morning Consult, a global intelligence company, people plan to spend about the same amount on gifts as they did the previous year. It reports that September data represents almost half of U.S. shoppers spending the same amount over the 2022 holiday season compared to last year.

“Although I anticipate my airfare and gas costs during the holidays will be significantly higher this year, I plan to follow my typical plans of visiting and cooking for my family. I intend to buy the same quality of gifts as in previous years, but I will more closely follow the prices of gift items I would like to purchase,” Dr. Daniels Jr. said.

According to Practical Ecommerce, annualized prices rise from 6-8 percent per month. It would be wise to do your holiday shopping now. Despite the socioeconomic issues in 2021, consumers still managed to buy gifts for their loved ones during the holiday season. It was predicted to be relatively the same this year.

“Everything has gone up and the pay has stayed the same that means adjustments to living and spending; how much I can save and possibly what school my kids are able to attend now and in the near future,” father and manager at Barnes and Noble Howard University, Justin Wiggins said.

Holiday gifts Photo Courtesy of Unsplash

9520

When you think of home what comes to mind? As your Interior Designer I like to create a home for you that feels like you. What do I mean by that? I mean that it will be a reflection of your style, your experiences and your wants. But even with that it will far exceed your expectations. Interior design is more than just fluffing pillows, it’s about creating the correct flow and functionality in your home.

Although I’m located in Bowie, MD, I work with clients in Washington DC, and all throughout Northern Virginia.

I love whole home projects but I do work with clients on kitchens and bathrooms.

Want to talk about a possible project? Schedule a free phone call with me today by clicking on this link.

Article by Leelyn Ellis

Photography by Tracey Marlene

Weekly YouTube videos to catering, private events to cooking classes, Chef Nick of Kountry Unlimited wasn’t always in the culinary arts. In fact, he started off in a career that seemed to be on the opposite end of the spectrum. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology and an MBA with concentrations in project management and information security, no one would expect that he would begin cooking, let alone start his own culinary businesses. Starting as a teacher with no idea about the culinary arts, he called on those closest to him for help in learning about the craft. “I asked my mom for some cookbooks, and she gave me some with no pictures in it. I would spend hours upon hours in the kitchen trying to figure out ‘Is this what it’s supposed to look like? is this what it’s supposed to taste like?’” said Chef Nick.

Experimentation and dedication to the profession are what led him to become the chef that he is today, and he takes pride in his nontraditional approach to cooking. Ever heard of a meat bomb? It’s one of Chef Nick’s many creations: ground lamb, bison, and wagyu mixed with pâté de campagne, stuffed with cheese and peppers, and wrapped in bacon. And while Chef Nick can do many things in the kitchen, it wasn’t easy starting out as a beginner with no formal training. “I had to reach out to people and ask them questions because of things I don’t know.”

It was still a little later until he started his catering company, Kountry Unlimited, serving D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, all beginning with a community staple: a cookout. A place to gather, eat, and celebrate, Chef Nick knew that if he was to pursue this further, he would need confirmation from the community where he’d offer his services. He’d have cookouts and invite everyone he knew, which paid off, as he received the justification that he needed to keep going. “Everybody kept saying ‘why don’t you have your own restaurant? This food is amazing!’” he said. Community has since been a large part of Chef Nick’s success in the DMV and building customer relations has been one of his greatest strengths.

With the community he has built in his culinary career, he maintains those relationships through events and experiences. From cookouts to inviting previous customers to his show, Chef Nick remarks that it’s important to nurture his client base and exercise kindness to others. “My next event will be my second annual New Year’s Eve dinner. This past year when I did it, I had about ten people that couldn’t come because of Covid. I told them to come anyways, and I’ll meet you at the door, that way you can enjoy your New Year’s Eve,” said Chef Nick. “Kindness never hurts, so I try to do the things that matter the most. Good food makes everything better.”

Building these relationships has paid off for Chef Nick, and he finds that most of his newer customers come to him from recommendations of previous events. “I was in Montgomery County for a happy hour, and three people recognized me,” he remembers. “’We heard about you and your show.’” Within five minutes, he had them scheduled on his YouTube show. “Word of mouth is powerful!”

YouTube and catering are only the beginning for Chef Nick and Kountry Unlimited. “I didn’t get rid of my day job, I still do IT. The cooking is my side gig, but I’m trying to turn it into a money maker. I have a few different things that I’m trying to do to get my business to where it needs to be.” The next step in Chef Nick’s business venture is a cooking class through YouTube, with five videos for five

recipes. The classes will include the recipes, necessary ingredients, and directions. His ultimate goal, however, is to start a series of restaurants using the funds that he’s getting through his additional efforts, what he calls “adventures.” “I’m on step one, working on step two right now in that process,” he said

Home Chef with over 20 years cooking delicious foods and fusion recipes ranging from Soul Food, Italian, Indian, Caribbean, Tappas and more.

Creating delicious foods to be served for in home cooking for private events, catering for wedding buffets, events of up to 120 people buffets, and other events. Menu and pricing are available upon notification of interest.

Lillian's Southern Box Catering Product Launch on MD/DC Market Wagon

We are super excited to announce that Lillian's Southern Box Catering will launch its desserts and box meals on Market Wagon MD/DC on Monday...

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Lillian's Southern Box Catering will offer a special weekend menu of curated boxed meals and desserts- Sweet and Savory Southern food and desserts - infused with Love!

Lillian’s Southern Box Catering Cakes & Pies.

We are a catering establishment that serves Southern Gourmet food & desserts.

FESTIVAL 2022! FESTIVAL 2022!

With its strong ties to the railroad, Old Bowie established itself as a growing vibrant community. Over time, our city became home to people from an ever-growing collection of cultures. Our community invites you to our festival for a day-long celebration.

Old Bowie Celebrates! Festival has something for everyone. Our 2nd Annual Festival features live music and dance on multiple stages—one, devoted solely to performances from a variety of cultures! Savor local and ethnic offerings from our food vendors. Shop arts and crafts. Appreciate the talents showcased in our art show. Be fascinated by magicians, a unicyclist, and a medley of entertainers. Explore cultures through children’s activities, earning them stamps in their festival “passports.” Free admission.

Two Days of Complimentary Wine tastings, Great Food Vendors, Exhibitors, and Artisans! Brand New Layout with many additions and surprises. Many areas of music and other entertainment! October 8th & 9th , from 11am - 6pm both days! Get

tickets at Event Brite

Festival spans 12th St. & Chestnut Ave. to Maple Ave. at 9th St., Bowie, MD