Woman About Town

What’s WAT!? 5 Things To Do Other Than Protest the G8 Summit.

Seems like everyone in town has one thing on their minds this weekend: how to avoid the G8 Summit.

Here, let us help you with that!

5 Things to Do Other Than Protest The G8 Summit

Have a beer. It’s the final days of the Frederick Beer Week festivities. Might as well go out tonight and have a few. Okay, maybe just a couple. A few may be excessive.
Go Greek. It is the annual Frederick Greek Festival after all so get out to Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church and enjoy it. They’ll have music and dancing and food. Plenty of yummy food to take your mind off of the traffic and the protests and all of that. Ends Sunday, May 20th.
See the man on the flying trapeze. Okay, not exactly. But, the Acrobats of Cirque-Tacular will be making an appearance at the Westview Promenade and that’s pretty much the same thing! They’ll bring aerialists, acrobatics, magicians, and other spectacularity. Yep, we made up the word spectacularity, but it fits, totally.
Celebrate May at the Mt. Airy Mayfest. This is a perfect event to enjoy this weekend because a) it’s fun, so, so fun, and b) it’s down county so the G8 people probably won’t even be hanging around there. Also, the weather is going to be amazingly perfect for outdoorsy-ness.
See a show. Heidi opens this weekend and the Comedy Pigs are putting on a show or two this weekend as well! The MET is the perfect place to escape the madness. For more madness. Of a different and more entertaining sort of course!

Stay safe this weekend Frederick!

Making a Donation to The Frederick County Humane Society.

Remember a while ago when we asked you to leave a comment on our post to help us win $250 for the Frederick County Humane Society?

Well, unfortunately, we didn’t quite come out on top in that competition.

But, that’s cool, because we did get a bunch of comments from Frederick County animal junkies who really wanted to help make a difference.

And we appreciate that.

And, we know our animal homies would too.

Especially since we have decided to donate one can of cat food (according to their website they are in desperate need of this at the moment) to the Humane Society for every single comment that we got on that entry post!

Don’t want the little guys to go hungry now do we?!

And, thanks to your help, they won’t have to. At least not for 25 meals:). And, we’re hopeful, that the wonderful people of Frederick County will continue to support them and their needs for years to come.

Oh, and we didn’t forget that we were planning to gift one lucky pet-supporting person with a $25 gift card to Glory Days!

Kelly who said, “My furbaby is a Frederick rescue…and I cannot imagine a better one!” is our winner so be sure you send your email address to womanabouttown[at]pulsepublishing[dot]net so we can get that in the mail to you!

Thanks for your support of us supporting them.

We are so happy to live in a pet friendly community!

FiND iT FREDERiCK: Mother’s Day Gift Guide.

Mother’s Day is a week away!

One. Week.

That’s how long you have to find a suitable gift to make up for all of the years of torment you put your mother through.

So, what’s a Frederick resident to do?!

Get your shop on when you’re downtown enjoying the First Saturday festivities this weekend of course!

We’ve got some ideas for you, naturally!

Great Mother’s Day Gift Ideas to Buy in Frederick

For the mom who appreciates pretty. Throw pillows are a fun and easy way to add color to spruce up a room. Salvaged has some seriously sprucy ones in their East Patrick retail location. I also fell in love with their vintage and antique furniture and adorable wall clocks when I stopped in a few weeks ago!

For the mom who loves the Earth. The Earth is already a pretty good looking chunk of land but, we all know that there are some places that could use a little help getting back to their most awesome. That’s where Seed Bombs by Lucy and Amelia come in. They are the perfect combination of seeds and other-stuff-that-makes-things-grow and all they require is a chunk of land and a little sunlight. I love the tiny, in home versions too. These little terrariums are the perfect way to have a little indoor gardening fun and bring the outdoors inside your home year round. You can check them out online, or pop into The Muse on Market Street and pick yourself up one. Or 5!

For the mom who likes to smell good. There are so many things we love about Molly’s Meanderings on Market Street. It’s one of those stores that you can go in and spend an hour without even realizing it. At least that’s what WAT! did. I discovered that they have at least 3 Brighton’s bracelets and a necklace I MUST own, a hat I think will be perfect for lounging on the beach this summer, and some of the sweetest smelling bath and body products I’ve ever put nose too. Even better than a big, ole icy Micky Ds Sweet Tea, the Sweet Tea lotions and bath stuffs they have in store are divine.

For the mom who likes handmade stuff. The Muse. Hands down the best place in Frederick to connect with local designers and makers of eclectic awesomeness. Looking for something with more than one use? Check out these decorated candles. Once the candle burns down, the glass can be cleaned and reused. We suggest getting the entire set. Because they are all pretty.

For the mom who loves Maryland. Check out The Frederick Basket Company in Everedy Square for some cool MD basket ideas. They pack it and wrap and all you have to do is pick it up and deliver it with a smile. And a hug. And maybe a gift card for another one?!

Have a good Mother’s Day Gift idea?! Feel free to pop over to the FiND iT FREDERiCK Facebook page to share!

What’s WAT!? Spring Fun in FREDERiCK.

Spring is in the air which means the Frederick calendar is heating up.

So, we’re bringing back What’s WAT!?

We know how stalk-y you guys get when it comes to our Woman About Town, so we want to make sure we share where you may (or may not) FiND WAT! on the weekends.

Don’t get surprised if you don’t fin her at all of these things. She’s only one person, she sorta has a life, and she’s sneaky when she wants to be.

But, as always, keep your eyes peeled because any time you spot her, at one of her favorite stores, at an event, or even overspending at Target (what? She likes adorable things she could probably live without too), you are entitled to a special FiND iT flavored gift.

Just cause.

So where might you cross paths with our WAT! this weekend?

Check out this week;s edition to FiND out!

South Mountain Creamery Spring Festival 2012. We love this farm and this festival and WAT! makes it a point to go to something here every single year (they have a number of annual events, but this is for sure one of the most fun). The ice cream is awesome, the staff is friendly, and the baby cows are seriously adorbs. Rain or shine, this fun family event is happening and as a self-proclaimed ice cream connoisseur WAT! says it’s worth a little wetness and hair frizz for this fun farm event! Saturday, 4/28, 10-5 & Sunday, 4/29, 11-5.

Frederick Keys Baseball Fun. Football with baseball? Um, awesome?! That’s what you get on Friday during football night, football in the form of a discount if you show up in your jersey and a meet and greet with Lavar Arrington. Not down with the Redskins we don’t blame you. Kidding! Everyone is down with Buzz Lightyear! He’ll be making a kid pleasing appearance on Sunday too. Home games scheduled Friday-Monday. See schedule for deets.

Rose Hill Manor Museum Spring Festival 2012. Another spring celebration going on that you are gonna love if you a) have kids, or b) love history, or c) like to have fun! Something interesting for everybody on tap for this two day festival. Saturday, 4/28, 10-4 and Sunday, 4/29, 12-4.

The Comedy Pigs Live. Get your laugh on with WAT!’s favorite improve and sketch group.

Brunswick’s Eco Palooza. Everybody knows WAT! is all for living and Eco Gangsta lifestyle. And partying. Do both simultaneously at this earth loving event.

Now, before you rush out to have fun, be sure you head over and leave a comment to help us raise money for the Humane Society. Pets will love you and we will too (and, psssst, we’re giving away a $25 gift card to one lucky commenter too!).

Wednesday About Town. Raise Money for the Humane Society!

We at FiND iT are huge lovers of the four legged friend.

We ALL have furry sidekicks…

Even the FiND iT office is pet friendly (thank you for not hating Dog About Town for her puppy indiscretions on the office floor!)!

And we have been known to throw a fund raiser or two to help out one of our favorite local charities designed to save pets and provide aid when they find themselves in trouble.

So, when Woman About Town discovered this awesome opportunity to raise cash for worthy causes, we figured we’d see if we can help again!

We’re hoping to help the Frederick County Humane Society win an easy $250!

So they can buy stuff their animals need, like food and blankets and medicine and toys.

They are a wonderful organization staffed by caring people who really just want to make sure that local pets are safe, well cared for, healthy and happy!

And, as pet friendly as our Fredericktonian readers seem to be, we hope you will all be able to spare a comment to ensure that our Humane Society wins this thing!

All you have to do is leave us a comment in support of our efforts. No Tweets (unless you want to), no Facebook status updates (although it would be awesome), not even any cash outta your own pocket (although that would rock too!).

Just one, teeny weeny comment on THIS post. Saying you love us, or dogs, or cats, or something and want us to win the contest!

Moments in Frames will be donating $1/comment to the TWO blogs who receive the most comments (up to $250) and, since last we checked there aren’t any other entries, we could seriously win this thing! If you guys help us that is!

So COMMENT and help us, help the Humane Society, help animals.

We’ll even throw in a $25 gift card to Glory Days to one lucky commenter as our way of saying thanks for being supportive!

Comments must be left by 5/6/12 and only one comment per person please!

Disclaimer: We are participating in a blogging promotion sponsored by Moments in Frames to help raise money for The Frederick County Human Society. Please help us reach our goal by leaving a comment. Each comment you leave me could earn $1 (up to $250) for Insert Charity.

Wednesday About Town. Win FREE Cupcakes from Sweet Angela’s Cupcakery!

First Saturday this month was a beautiful evening.

We were there premiering the Spring edition of FiND iT.

Didya see us?!

Maybe you’ve already snagged a copy of the magazine and are admiring the wonderful photos and interesting stories?!

Maybe you haven’t had a chance to pick up a copy yet and want to check it out online.

That’s cool. You can see it here: FiND iT FREDERiCK Magazine.

Either way, we hope you read and like and comment on our Facebook page about which article you enjoyed the most.

If you do, we might be willing to give you a sweet prize?!

How about a cupcake?!

We’ve got cupcakes from Sweet Angela’s Cupcakery to give to 4 lucky readers!

And all you have to do is take a peek in the mag and tell us, on the FiND iT Facebook page, what you love about it!*

*Contest closes Friday, 4/13 at midnight. Winner must provide a Frederick County address to claim prize. Facebook comment must refer to the Spring, 2012 edition of FiND iT FREDERiCK Magazine. Good luck!

What’s WAT!? Bell & History Days, Egg Hunts & More to Do in Frederick, Maryland.

Looking for fun this weekend in Frederick?!

Well, you’re in luck!

Especially if you’re a history buff, a singer, or a fan of the Easter Egg hunt!

Ready for another edition of What’s WAT!? We got you…

FiND HiSTORY:

Bell and History Day. It’s the kick off of museum season in Frederick which means many of the area museums (think Shcifferstadt and the battlefields and stuff) will be having special events and tours and other awesomeness to celebrate. Head out to learn and revel in the oldness of it all! 3/31, check the website of the specific museum you plan to visit to see what they have going on, or download the Bell and History Program Guide from the tourism office!

FiND OPPORTUNiTY:

Frederick Keys National Anthem Audtions. Doesn’t every great singer get their start on the ball fields of this nation belting out the National Anthem? No? Whatever, it’s still a great place to show off your pipes if you’ve got ‘em. Plus, the fun zone will be open, tickets will be for sale, and people will be getting in the mood for baseball. Season opens at home on Friday, April 6th!

FiND EGGS:

Tots2Tweens Egg Hunt at The Banner School. Age group hunts for kids will be hosted along with an appearance by the Easter Bunny! Also cool? There will be a bunch of vendors on site showing off their wares and services. Best part?! The event is free! Event hosted 3/31 at 11am, rain or shine.
Easter at the Farm at Crumland Farms. Hit up the bunny trail, the egg hunts, the games and the crafts. Take pics with the Easter Bunny. And, what’s this? An egg hunt for moms?! Woot.
Westview Promenade Easter Bunny Celebration. No eggs, but photo opps with the Easter Bunny. Plus, first 500 kids get a free gift. And then, mom can send the kids to watch The Lorax while she catches The Hunger Games at the Regal! Winning?! We think so!
Walkersville Southern Railroads Bunny Trains: There aren’t any eggs to find per se, but since E.B. will be on the scene chances are you’ll still wind up with a couple. Make reservations; these trains are popular!

WAT! will be making an appearance at one or more of these events this weekend (cough-the Banner School Egg Hunt-cough) so come out and say hey!

What’s WAT!? Frederick, Maryland Events. March 16-18, 2012.

St. Patty’s Day weekend is here, Frederick!

What’s on your agenda to celebrate?

Woman About Town is hosting a birthday. That’s right.

St. Patty’s Day ’05 and WAT! was in a labor and delivery room saying hello to a bouncing baby boy!

Needless to say I didn’t have a sip of green beer that day!

Thinking about changing that this weekend, and also checking out some of this stuff!

What’s WAT! St. Patty’s Day Edition…

FiND iT: Theater

Get your Shakespeare on with MD Shakespeare Festival. This weekend they bring you a Bare Bard Repertory which, to those of us with a 9th grade appreciation of Shakespeare seems to indicate that they will be presenting a few different plays in rotation. And, with what I’ve seen from them, it will be great. Check it out this weekend. Deets on the MD Shakes site!
Footloose the Musical presented by 24-7 SRC at the Cultural Arts Center. I saw the remade movie version of this recently. Not by choice, just by circumstance. I guarantee this performance will be wildly better than that movie. Four showings this weekend. Try to catch one of them.

FiND iT: EDUCATiON (with a side of tastiness)

42nd Annual Maple Syrup Demonstrations at Cunningham Falls State Park. Head out to the park to learn all about how syrup gets from tree to table. The real kind. Not the liquid sugar version most of us are used to slathering all over our breakfast foods. Oh, and they will have samples. With pancakes and stuff. Event held Saturday and Sunday.

FiND iT: FUND RAiSiNG

Clutch the Future Purse Auction at FCC. Cool, whimsical, designer, and one-of-a-kind purses for auction to raise cash for scholarships. Score an awesome handbag and send a kid to college? Winning!
Francie’s Family 5k Run/Walk in Middletown. Like sunshinny weather? Big fan of pumping up your heart rate? Enjoy doing good things for good people? Why not get your run (or walk, that’s cool too) on for a good cause? Money raised benefits the city (they put in new playground equipment already!) and you get to have a feel good day! Race scheduled for bright and early Saturday morning!

Have an event you’d like to see here? Shoot an email to womanabouttown[at]pulsepublishing[dot]net so we can get you written about!

Wednesday’s Woman. Meet JG.

It’s been a while since we’ve introduced you to a special lady in Frederick.

Not because we’ve not been able to find one, and not because we aren’t inspired to share.

Mostly, um, just because.

We’re planning to get better about that.

Especially because Frederick is pretty much teaming with spectacular women who we think you should meet!

Like today’s Wednesday’s Woman: Jennifer Gerlock!

courtesy of Mary Kate McKenna Photography

A local business owner (she’s one half of the marketing powerhouse, Want2Grow), an acclaimed blogger (Hip As I Wannabe, her blog about motherhood has even made it into the NY Times), and a member of a pretty cool professional, all-female Frederick co-op (The Garden, includes Want2Grow and a few other ventures headed up by some super savvy business women), a wife (to a pretty cool husband), and a mom (to some super fun tween Dudes), Jen has a lot on her plate.

But, somehow she still finds time to connect with moms in Maryland, help Frederick non-profit organizations, and meet WAT! for coffee so we can gossip discuss important matters in the Frederick Community.

Like, what she’s passionate about, why she loves Frederick, and how she’s making this life memorable!

WAT!: What are you passionate about?

JG: Aside from my family, I’m most passionate about helping others. I have a deep personal belief in giving back to the community and supporting causes that make a difference in the lives of those around us. That is probably why I am drawn to non-profit work. I am also passionate about running. A couple of years ago I couldn’t run longer than 30 minutes but thanks to the encouragement from a friend, I’ve conquered a number of 1/2 marathons, 4 full marathons and even a 182 mile relay across the Cumberland mountains and into Washington DC. Running empowers me.

WAT!: Where does your inspiration come from?

JG: I draw my inspiration from so many things… visiting a museum, reading an excellent book, or even catching a quiet moment alone. But nothing feeds my soul more than simply stepping outside and communing with nature. When I find myself in a funk it is usually because I’ve been unable to get my fix of sunlight and fresh air. It is like an instant jolt of motivation and creativity! Now if I could just figure out how to move my desk (and wi-fi) into Baker Park, I might be able to conquer the world…

WAT!: What do you love about the city of Frederick?

JG: Everything! I love Downtown Frederick. The vibe. The people. The shops. I love that I can walk from my office to an outstanding restaurant in under five minutes. I love that I know that names of the shop owners and that they recognize me. I love the secret gardens, the public works of art and the eclectic coffee shops. To me, it is perfect!

WAT!: What do you want people to remember about you?

JG: I would love people to remember me as a kind, optimistic spirit with a passion for making a difference in the lives of others. I hope that my family remembers me as a positive role model with a quirky sense of humor.

WAT!: Fun in Frederick?! Where do you go?

JG: Fun in Frederick for my family usually equals a visit to Cunningham Falls, a stop at Rita’s Italian Ice or day spent on the soccer field. (Yes, I am a soccer mom.) My personal favorite thing to do however, is run so come Saturday morning you can usually find me running through town with a couple of girlfriends in tow.

Want to catch up with Jennifer and get the deets on how she’s planning to conquer the world?

Tweet her (@jennifergerlock), Facebook her, or read her blog.

I guess you could call her at her desk if you want to, but that’s so old school!

Wednesday About Town. Let’s Take to the Skies with Tailwinds Over Frederick!

A few weekends ago, Woman About Town headed out to the Frederick Municipal Airport to check out the newest edition to the Tailwinds Over Frederick family.

I helped watched them put up a brand new hot air balloon in the freezing cold weather.

Well this Saturday?!

I’m going to fly in it!

While it’s tethered to the ground of course!

And, I want you and TWO LUCKY FRIENDS to join me on a VIP Tailwinds Over Frederick adventure!

It will be free.

It will be awesome.

And you will get a guaranteed ride in the balloon with yours truly.

Want in?! Head over to the FiND iT Facebook page and leave a comment saying you want to ride!

One lucky person will be notified Friday (by 12 noon) and you will be required to get out to the Frederick Municiapl Airport on Saturday (our flight will be at 11:30-ish) to enjoy the Women Fly it Forward Event and catch your free ride!

Don’t forget to also follow Tailwinds Over Frederick on Facebook so you can be sure to stay in the loop on flight plans and other such awesomeness!