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Ellicott Mills was one of the first brew pubs I had ever been to, so it set the standard for me of what a brew pub should be like. I've been to many more since then and have found others I like...
Ellicott Mills was one of the first brew pubs I had ever been to, so it set the standard for me of what a brew pub should be like. I've been to many more since then and have found others I like much better, but I still enjoy going to Ellicott Mills.
When we go, it's primarily for the beer. They have some good standards that are almost always on tap (I like the Marzen) and their seasonal beers are often creative and very good. You can get a sampler of small glasses of several of the beers so you can try them all--good for the indecisive. The food is decent but unremarkable, pretty much standard pub food. The service is the same--they always seem to have too few servers but once you get their attention, they are courteous and helpful.
The atmosphere is easygoing--it's fine to walk off the street wearing shorts and a t-shirt to eat here. Don't sit close to the door or you'll be cold in the winter and hot in the summer. If you can, sit upstairs where it's quieter and not drafty.
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I just wrote a review of Terra Firma, a jewelry making supply store with only one weakness: they don't sell many beads. But not to worry--just head downtown to Beadazzled and you'll have more beads...
I just wrote a review of Terra Firma, a jewelry making supply store with only one weakness: they don't sell many beads. But not to worry--just head downtown to Beadazzled and you'll have more beads than you know what to do with! It always strikes me as odd that a store like this can be successful with a City location--it seems more like something you'd find on the outskirts of the City, but they've been in business for a number of years and whenever I go in (usually at lunchtime) it seems pretty crowded.
This is a beautiful store. Most of the beads--all types and sizes--are displayed loose in open containers on tables taking up most of the retail space. When I walk in, I have to resist the urge to pick up handfuls and run my fingers through them, or worse--grab handfuls and buy them just because they are so pretty. Even if you've never made anything with beads before, you'll want to take up this hobby when you walk in. They also have racks of seed beads and ropes of pearls and gemstones.
Prices are about average--you could do better buying off various internet sites--but then you wouldn't get the pleasure of shopping at a place that looks like a treasure chest exploded.
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Terra Firma, off the beltway in the heart of Pikesville, is the Baltimore-area's most comprehensive store for jewelry making supplies. They carry a lot of tools for metalworking and bead stringing...
Terra Firma, off the beltway in the heart of Pikesville, is the Baltimore-area's most comprehensive store for jewelry making supplies. They carry a lot of tools for metalworking and bead stringing (although not many beads) and stock a good supply of precious and semi-precious metals. Their book selection is decent. They even have tools and books about gem cutting.
The store is an old-fashioned kind of store where the proprietor knows where everything is but customers can't always find what they want--things are in piles and stuck all around the place. There's lots of variety but only one or two of each item so the particular item you want might be sold out when you're there. The manager is very nice and helpful.
The store itself is not easy to find. You have to weave through parking lots off of Reisterstown Road opposite Boston Market to get to the store. The entrance to the store is semi-concealed at the back of a building, but it's worth the trip if you want to make jewelry--Michael's doesn't sell stuff like this.
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Store
Category:
Grocery Stores
6500 Frederick Rd
Catonsville, Maryland 21228
(410) 747-8612
The Store (and really, it’s just called The Store) in Catonsville is what grocery stores used to be—privately owned and small. Located on Frederick Road in Paradise, it’s the anchor store of a...
The Store (and really, it’s just called The Store) in Catonsville is what grocery stores used to be—privately owned and small. Located on Frederick Road in Paradise, it’s the anchor store of a number of small businesses in the area. But it’s also a reminder of why large grocery stores have nearly taken over—The Store is small and although they have a good variety of items, it isn’t nearly the selection that you’re used to from a larger store. They probably won’t have the brand of breakfast cereal that you want, and they certainly will only have it in one size if they have it at all. Their prices are also significantly higher than you’ll find elsewhere. I feel awful saying this because it’s the sort of store that you really want to like—neighborhood grocer, friendly staff, you can walk there from home (or at least I can)—but in spite of its proximity, I rarely go there. Even with the cost of gas these days, it’s still cheaper for me to get in the car and go to Safeway or Giant. They do have a beer and wine section, nearly unheard of in Maryland, but like the rest of their stock it’s very limited.
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Record and Tape Traders has become a Baltimore classic—I remember them from my teenage years, when they were still relatively new, as the record store where you could buy quirky, non-mainstream...
Record and Tape Traders has become a Baltimore classic—I remember them from my teenage years, when they were still relatively new, as the record store where you could buy quirky, non-mainstream records (and they were still records at that point) for almost no money. They’ve now expanded to several locations in the Baltimore area and I’m lucky enough to live within walking distance of one. It was the one local store where my teenage stepson, my husband, and myself—all with wildly different musical tastes—could find something to suit ourselves and kill some time. They are still the store of choice for quirky, non-mainstream music (fortunately now on CD) as well as a large selection of popular music as well, although don’t expect to find much of anything at all in the way of world music or classical music. Anytime you go, you’ll find something new because they aren’t just stocking what’s selling well nationally. The prices aren’t quite as cheap as they once were, but they are certainly better than you’ll find at even discount chains.
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About an hour's drive away from Baltimore in Carroll County is one of the nation's nicest country inns. The owners bought and renovated this mansion so that every room is unique and luxurious. ...
About an hour's drive away from Baltimore in Carroll County is one of the nation's nicest country inns. The owners bought and renovated this mansion so that every room is unique and luxurious. Over time, they have converted the outbuildings on the property into guest rooms as well. Some rooms have fireplaces (in the main house they are woodburning, but some of the ones in outbuildings are gas fireplaces) and many have jacuzzis, but each room is slightly different in what it offers in the way of amenities. The rooms in the outbuildings are the most luxurious and the most private. The staff is nearly invisible, but they are doing their work perfectly--in the morning, continental breakfast is left outside your room, while a full breakfast (better than anything you'll find at most restaurants) is served either in the dining room or on the porch overlooking the gardens. When I stayed here, I felt like a weekend guest at one of those British country estates. This would be a perfect place to spend a honeymoon, especially for Civil War fans--Gettysburg is not far away.
The restaurant, which serves both B&B guests and anyone willing to make the drive (and many are) is stunning. The six-course prix fixe menu changes daily but is always spectacular.
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Patapsco Valley State Park winds around the western edge of Baltimore County, including parts of Howard and Carroll Counties and has a huge range of outdoor activities for any level of fitness or...
Patapsco Valley State Park winds around the western edge of Baltimore County, including parts of Howard and Carroll Counties and has a huge range of outdoor activities for any level of fitness or interest. The closest entrance to me is in Catonsville itself--there's a great tire park/playground that is a popular spot for birthdays, school trips, or just families having fun. It's ringed by picnic tables and fairly decent bathrooms so you can make a day of it. There are hiking trails off of this area; my favorite goes down into the valley and joins up with a longer and wider trail that parallels the Patapsco River. It's a short and easy hike, so it's perfect for families with young children. Walk a little ways along the river trail and you'll get to a swinging bridge that I think is nerve-wracking to go over, but my family loves it.
Other entrances to the park give you access to activities like mountain biking and road biking, equestrian trails, tubing and canoeing, and fishing. There are camping spots throughout the park (including a few at the Catonsville entrance) as well.
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When you first walk into Plymouth Wallpaper Company, you think they took the name Plymouth because they've been stocking things since the Mayflower landed. This place is packed to the gills with...
When you first walk into Plymouth Wallpaper Company, you think they took the name Plymouth because they've been stocking things since the Mayflower landed. This place is packed to the gills with ever wallcovering you can imagine. The store is a warren of little rooms and is somewhat dingy, but they have everything from cute borders for your kitchen to elegant embossed wallpapers for a bedroom or living room. They also have catalogs from every wallpaper manufacturer, so if you don't find something you like, it can be specially ordered. It's sometimes hard to find someone to help you when you need it, but their selection and prices make it worthwhile to wait.
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Located on Charles Street in Mount Vernon, Sascha’s is one of my favorite lunch spots and favorite caterers for business lunches at the office. I love the fresh grilled sandwiches and...
Located on Charles Street in Mount Vernon, Sascha’s is one of my favorite lunch spots and favorite caterers for business lunches at the office. I love the fresh grilled sandwiches and elegant-casual atmosphere for lunch onsite, and everyone loves showing up for a business lunch and finding Sascha’s Silver Sacs—bagged lunches way better than anything you took to school. The Silver Sacs include a sandwich or salad, fruit, beverage, gourmet chips, and a fresh flower. I think it’s the flower that does it for me, but the sandwiches are pretty darn good too—their chicken salad is just wonderful, with big chunks of chicken, walnuts, and grapes in a tarragon mayonnaise. I’ve tried to duplicate it at home, but it’s never as good.
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Family owned and operated, the Double T Diner at the corner of Route 40 and Rolling Road in Catonsville is a traditional diner with a huge menu and an equally huge fan club. Although the diner has...
Family owned and operated, the Double T Diner at the corner of Route 40 and Rolling Road in Catonsville is a traditional diner with a huge menu and an equally huge fan club. Although the diner has a large capacity, at busy times (especially Sunday brunch) it’s hard to get a seat and the servers are overworked (and consequently not always attentive). But the food is good and plentiful and the atmosphere fun, as a diner should be, and the prices are a bargain. I love going for weekday breakfasts with my kids when we can relax and enjoy ourselves. The parking lot is difficult—there are usually plenty of spaces, but often badly angled or inconvenient to the entrance.
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