Attention all lovers of cupcakes, pastries, and epic battles: Flavor Cupcakery has yet another feather in their spun-sugar cap. This past week, Flavor trounced the competition in Fox45’s Cupcake Battle. We’re not sure who makes these things official, or how one gets appointed to the high court of buttercream evaluators, but it certainly seems clear that whatever honors one can bestow upon a cupcake (or its creator) are well deserved by Flavor and its owner Shelley Stannard.

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So, it turns out you can’t show up to work with your entire face and chest painted orange with a giant “O” in the middle of your chest. You can’t even show up in your super-chic orange and black ski mask with bird eyes on it. And business casual can be difficult to pull off in a strictly orange-and-black color palette. So how on Earth are we supposed to show our love for the Orioles on those days when we’re stuck in the office instead of the stands? Surely there’s a way to keep that fire burning, no? Isn’t that what fandom is all about?

Enter Vineyard  Vines’ new Orioles Club Belts (yeah, okay, they also have belts for other cities’ teams, but just ignore all those). The belts are perfectly classy, in a traditional style, while still letting everyone around know where you stand. So you can wear it all week and then of course bust out the body paint on the weekends. We wouldn’t expect anything less.

Vineyard Vines’ Orioles Club Belts are available through www.vineyardvines.com or at Cohen’s Clothiers in Yorktown Plaza, Cockeysville.

Continuing the focus on fall restaurant news has come naturally this week. I mean, who isn’t feeling autumnal? The brisk weather and the football on the tube (Faith Hill’s sparkly minidress was a vast improvement over last year’s bizarre capri/blazer combo, I’m sure the men are with me on this one) has us all in the mood. So let’s get our cozy on and figure out where we are going for our butternut squash bisque this season. It’s game time folks! Read More →

Patrick Michael McCusker, the owner of  two popular Canton eateries, Nacho Mama’s and Mama’s On the Halfshell, was killed last night when his bike collided with a bus in Ocean City.

From the Ocean City Police Dept. website:

On August 24, 2012, at approximately 8:38 p.m. Ocean City Police and Paramedics responded to the north bound lanes of 132^nd Street and Coastal Highway, in reference to vehicle collision involving an Ocean City Municipal bus and a bicycle.

Emergency personnel arrived at the scene and determined that a bicycle being operated by an adult male impacted a city bus that was travelling in the north bound bus lane, in the area of 132^th Street and Coastal Highway.

The operator of the bicycle was seriously injured and treated at the scene by OC EMS.  The cyclist was taken by ambulance to Atlantic General Hospital and then transferred to Peninsula Regional Medical Center where he later died.  The deceased has been identified as: Patrick Michael McCusker, 49, of Cockeysville, Maryland.

Ocean City Police are investigating this fatal collision.  The identity of the municipal bus driver involved in this collision is not being released at this time.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact the OCPD, SGT R. Townsend at: 410-520-5357.

HOT HOUSE: 19 Chris Eliot Court, Cockeysville 21030

Two story contemporary in brick and wood, 5,500 square feet, built in 1989. Four bedrooms, 3.5 baths, with heated swimming pool, deck and Jacuzzi. Remote controlled gate, smart home technology w/central sound, security system and generator.  3.06 private and deer-fenced wooded acres adjoining Oregon Ridge Park: $975,000 Read More →

12 Laurelford Court, Cockeysville

$1,299,000

6 br/6.5 ba

Do you remember the Carousel of Progress ride at Disney World? More specifically, the scene where the animatronic family is portrayed living in the future, their home tricked out with imagined technological advances? The attraction has been updated in recent years, but when I first saw it in the early eighties the future was a mauve and aqua spectacle of MTV inspired design.

I was ten-years old and I loved the look of the futuristic home. I returned from my Disney trip inspired and created a folder with “dream house” written in bubble letters. There, I stashed design ideas that included a purple Formica platform bed, a sunken lounge area and a rainbow wall mural.

I think someone found my folder.

There is a house for sale in Cockeysville that might as well be a time capsule from 1983. All the classic elements are included: built in pastel furniture, brushed stainless steel fixtures, austere white walls, geometric artwork and skylights aplenty.

My ten-year-old-self wants to do a back handspring. My thirty-nine-year-old-self can’t do that anymore but is still intrigued. Read More →

Baltimore must have a sweet tooth.

Three weeks ago, Flavor Cupcakery, the Bel Air-based winner of the reality show Cupcake Wars, opened a store in Cockeysville at 10253 York Road in the Scotts Corner Shopping Center.

Now Easton-based JoJo’s Cupcake & Cream is eyeing Baltimore for its next shop, Bmore Media reports, after it opens its Annapolis store next week on May 25.  Baltimore already has several cupcake bakeries including Charm City Cupcakes and Ooh So Sweet, but no matter.  The Flavor Cupcakery has had a steady stream of customers at its new Cockeysville location, the owner Shelly Stannard tells The Baltimore Sun.

(And don’t forget, Food & Wine’s “People’s Best New Pastry Chef” Chris Ford works at the Four Seasons, and his confections have also received notice for their delectable goodness.  He has even sponsored a local dessert contest.)

What do you say Baltimore?  Just what you need right before swimsuit season?

UPDATE:  We got word after we posted this story that yet another star pastry chef is coming to town.

The newest addition to Baltimore’s surge in sugar savants is award-winning pastry chef Mohan De Silva, who has joined the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront.  He will take charge of the dessert and pastry offerings at Grille 700, Kozmo’s Lounge and Rigano’s Bakery.

HOT HOUSE: 5 Stone Row Court, Cockeysville, MD 21030-1919

 Stone built attached cottage, circa 1845, in historic Ashland. Three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2,300 sq. ft., recently renovated. Backs directly on the NCR trail bordering the Gunpowder. Snow removal and grass mowing included. Price just reduced to: $375,000

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Hot House:  Scott’s Mill House, 1727 Western Run Road, Cockeysville, Md. 21230

Early American in the Quaker style, a three story, five bedroom, five bath, fieldstone farmhouse overlooking the widest part of the Western Run,  5,100 sq. ft.,  with new-built guesthouse and garage, landscaped gardens with pond, orchard and river frontage, 8.7 acres : $2.7 million

What: Historic home, built over a hundred year period, starting in 1770. This house has all the hallmarks of colonial-era architecture: wide plank pine floors, deep windowsills and lowish doorframes.  It has been impeccably and sensitively restored and modernized – it’s rare to see a house so old anywhere in such perfect condition.

Enter the center hall by either front or back door – both are equally inviting. Just one room deep, the house forms a telescope, with the oldest part in the middle. To the left is a cozy, well-proportioned living room with generous windows and a fireplace. To the right, vistas lead through the long, beamed dining room to the eat-in kitchen and on to a newly added sunroom. Kitchen has Viking range, Sub-zero fridge, brick floor and large adjacent mudroom/alcove. The sunroom has 180 degree views of river, pond and meadow, lots of wildlife.  Upstairs, four sunny bedrooms with plenty of closets and a master bedroom suit. Bathrooms are all modern. Outside, a new guesthouse and garage perfectly match the design of the old house. Guesthouse has another large bedroom and luxurious office/studio overlooking pond and meadow.

Naturalistic gardens link the house to the river, meadow, outbuildings, orchard and pond.  The rivers runs about 50 yards behind the house, visible through the trees. Owner is one of Baltimore’s favorite ice skaters — guess which one — moving to warmer climes. We will miss her, but she’s left a wonderful legacy in the restoration of this classic Maryland property.

Where:  If you’re looking for a real country house which is not a horse farm, this may be it. About 25 minutes from Baltimore, it’s an exceptionally pretty drive. Winding roads, horses, stone walls – everything you go to the country for. And proximity to Wegman’s.  83N to Exit 24 Butler/Sparks. Left off the ramp to Belfast Road. 1.6 miles then a left onto Tanyard. 1.4 miles, then left to Western Run. 1727 is on left, just past the horse farm.

Why:  Skating on the pond. Fruit from the orchard. Fish from the river.

Why Not: Ticks from the deer.

Would Suit:  Seeker of authenticity. Well, up to a point…

NB: No pool, but the river here is private (no tubing, no boating). Maybe you could swim in it?