Anthony Cushing Jr. walks into a bar on Thames Street. In his standard uniform—a black ballcap, an oxford button-down, silver rings on his fingers, a medallioned chain around his neck—he slips through the crowd, greeted by a seemingly endless procession of hugs, handshakes, and “hey, Tonys!,” before dipping into the service pass for a small pour of whiskey.

As the first band of the day belts out a rockabilly rendition of “Hit the Road Jack,” he checks the cash register, chats with his bartenders, then reaches through the draft taps to kiss the ring of an older patron.

For him, this isn’t just any bar. It’s his bar. And his father’s bar before him.

“I run the circus here,” says Cushing, 41, with a wry smile, talking a mile a minute while a motley crew of customers fills the wooden stools and spreads out across the standing-room dance floor of the Cat’s Eye Pub on this cool Sunday afternoon in June. Most are here to hear the music, which graces the small corner stage seven days a week, 365 days a year, holidays included. Others have simply stopped in to see friends and have a drink. Or three.

Near the front windows, beneath the ceiling’s upside-down Christmas tree and miniature schooner, preppy twenty-somethings take shots and watch the Orioles play between Barry Glazer commercials. Closer to the graffitied bathrooms and in the low-lit backroom, a few gray-haired barflies sip their pints or read the news.

All around them is a museum’s worth of memorabilia: fading photographs, oil paintings of Fells Point’s old working waterfront, flags from around the world brought in by visiting sailors, as the Cat’s Eye—located the flick of a cigarette butt from the Baltimore harbor—has long been the city’s salty-dog watering hole.

It’s the kind of place that today’s hipsters could only wish to emulate. “But nothing in here was bought at a store, or could be replaced,” says Cushing, pointing to the murals of Irish history painted by late local artist C.W. Newton, or behind the stage, to the “Wall of Fallen Soldiers,” hung with portraits of his dad, “Big Tony,” and his original co-owner, Kenny Orye, both of whom have long since passed away.

And boy, after a half-century, if these walls could talk, they would certainly tell some stories. Same goes for Cushing, who’s run the bar for two of those decades, alongside a tight-knit staff and the pub’s matriarch, his mother, Ana Marie. Not that he’ll necessarily remember, though.

“After 21 years? I don’t know what happened yesterday,” says the boyish barkeep. “It’s Groundhog Day in here. It all blends together … But I could be fast asleep, going full Weekend at Bernie’s, and run the bar just fine.”

Still, it’s honest work, and he’s proud of it—placing the orders, tending the bar, buying a round for birthdays, sending the last stragglers home with a bottle of water, keeping the 41 keg lines clean—especially as the neighborhood changes and other long-standing businesses call it a day.

“We’re the last of the Mohicans, the last of our kind,” says Cushing. “And we’re busier now than ever.”

When the Cat’s Eye Pub opened in the spring of 1975, Fells Point was reveling in a moment of rebirth. Residents had just stopped the highway from cutting through their cobblestone streets, and at the water’s edge, the docks still bustled with ships and tugboats. The neighborhood was founded as Baltimore’s first port of call, thanks to its deep harbor, around which blossomed a cultural crossroads of maritime activity. From the very beginning, it was a hard-living, heavy-drinking district, full of boarding houses, brothels, and, of course, bars.

By the middle of the 20th century, you could find one on every corner, many helmed by scrappy young owners—Leadbetter’s, Bertha’s Mussels, Turkey Joe’s, Pete’s Hotel, John Steven’s, The Whistling Oyster, The Horse You Came In On (purchased with winnings from the Pimlico Race Course)—and crammed with a colorful cast of working-class characters: sailors, shift workers, drunks, punks, poets, John Waters with his entourage of eccentric artists, and, of course, the Cat’s Eye’s Kenny Orye.

“The majordomo,” says Steve Bunker, owner of the old China Sea Marine Trading shop, who arrived on the Broadway Square in ’76. “Kenny drank too much and misbehaved a lot. But he was an interesting guy. And all kinds of crazy stuff happened around that bar back then.”

“WE’RE THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS, THE LAST OF OUR KIND. AND WE’RE BUSIER NOW THAN EVER.”

Growing up near Clifton Park, Orye dropped out of high school his senior year to work in the city’s booming steel industry until coming into an inheritance. Instead of using it for college, as was his old man’s wish, the 21-year-old opened up a tavern at 1730 Thames Street with Big Tony, a Texas-born, Europe-raised military brat whom he’d met through a mutual friend. “Liquor Board Growls, And Cat’s Eye Pub Winks” declared The Baltimore Sun within their first six months, after complaints from neighbors about loud music and lewd behavior well past last call.

“It would be open sometimes until sunrise,” says Bunker, 79, a former boat captain whose parrot was known to sit on Orye’s shoulder and curse at customers. “I’d be working late and walking home. The windows would be dark, but I’d hear people inside. I’d knock on the door and Easy Eddie—a Vietnam vet, with his big moon face, who ran the back—would open it and say, ‘Bunker! Come in, man.’ The marijuana smoke would knock you over and everybody would be there. The local beat cop, the state’s attorney, illegal Irishmen, Russian sailors who’d jumped ship, drinking free booze and playing cards and telling war stories. That would go on until Kenny fell asleep at the bar, at which point Jeff Knapp, the bartender, who many say looked like Abraham Lincoln, would rob the cash register to buy us breakfast at Jimmy’s. And then it would start all over again.”

From the beginning, it was an Irish bar, as Orye held a particular soft spot for the Emerald Isle, and the IRA. Many nights, string bands played rebel tunes and seaside ballads to a full house, with other genres eventually added: jazz, blues, rock-and-roll. Beer was cheap. Whiskey flowed freely. (The Cat’s Eye was named after a West Virginia distillery where they bought moonshine in the early days.)

“We had a real saloon society back then,” says Bunker. “So many brilliant people, so many talented people, and so many sad stories, too. But a real community, where an awful lot of people showed up for a second start.”

By ’87, though, they worried the party was over, when Orye died suddenly at age 33. At the time, Big Tony had moved to Florida, and Fells Point was in the midst of a newfound real-estate boom. Forgotten rowhomes were being renovated for families, while factories and warehouses got redeveloped into condos for yuppies. Soon enough, the tugs pulled anchor, and the last of the old guard left in Fells were a few oddball shops and those seedy bars, which were increasingly changing hands and sprucing up.

In fact, with Orye out of the picture, local realtor-cum-preservationist Lucretia Fisher wanted to turn the Cat’s Eye into a tearoom.

“Of course, Kenny wouldn’t hear of it,” says Bunker, recalling the barkeep once pulling out a pistol and blowing a neon sign to bits in the front window, just to quit hearing complaints from Fisher and her county cronies. “She really thought we ought to walk around in three-corner hats and be right out of Colonial Williamsburg. … But then all of a sudden, Big Tony shows back up, and everything changed.”

Anthony Cushing Sr. wore his nickname well. Tall, thin, with a tussle of dark curls, he was larger-than-life to those who knew him, whether gregariously greeting Cat’s Eye regulars—often helping them out during hard times, too—or taking matters into his own hands, tossing troublemakers out onto Thames Street.

“He was the king of leaning in real close and telling a story right to your face,” says Sam Sessa, former nightlife reporter for the Sun, who was told tall tales about tequila-drinking bikers and a rumored second-floor whorehouse from way back when. “He was a rascal, with this sort of devilish smile. Like he was always up to something.”

A raconteur and rambling man, Big Tony ended up in Baltimore by happenstance. After graduating from the University of Maryland’s Munich campus, he worked in publishing in New York City, which in some roundabout way eventually landed him in Fells. He met his wife at 28 and opened the Cat’s Eye with Orye a few months later.

“Neither of them had ever run a bar, but both men had a lot of charm,” says Ana Marie, who, then and now, at 75, handles the business’ books. “And after Kenny died, we did whatever was necessary to make it work.”

Back from Florida with a 5-year-old “Little Tony,” the couple pulled every penny to buy that circa-1810, two-and-a-half-story rowhome building from their retiring landlord. They cleaned up the bar and built a real stage. Friends chipped in. Drinks kept flowing. At one point during repairs, the upstairs fireplace collapsed onto the first floor, sending a plume of dust out the front door. After the last brick fell, they went back inside, topped off their glasses, and carried on their conversations. True to form.

“Ron Furman of Max’s Taphouse once told me that the key to building a bar’s character is to wipe but never scrub, and that’s the Cat’s Eye,” says Sessa, who wrote Big Tony’s Sun obituary, when he died of a heart attack at 62 in 2008. “It is a prism into the past, when Fells Point was full of these gritty bars with cold beer and live music every night. It was a bit like the Wild West back then, and so much of the neighborhood has turned over now. But 50 years later, thanks to the Cushing family, the Cat’s Eye is still there.”

Can Ana Marie believe it? After all, she knows many of the old-timers are either dead or no longer drinking, some now bellying up at the Daily Grind coffee shop next door instead.

“Well … yes,” she says, matter-of-factly. “Because we didn’t give up.”

On this late-spring Sunday, musicians shuffle in—past the Cat’s Eye’s turquoise façade and two Old English signs reading “No Drugs In” and “No Booze Out”—hauling their instruments toward the stage for the afternoon’s second set. Some call that small black platform the “litter box,” and over the years, its tight quarters have become a bona fide stop for not just classic cover bands but some of the city and region’s top talent, booked by the bar’s manager, Jenn Airey. Most of the time, there’s not even a cover charge.

“You’re very much right there, in the crowd, with no distance between you, which actually makes it a great place to play,” says Bud Tiffany, 63, a guitarist with The Kindly Strangers and co-owner of Peter’s Inn, up Ann Street, with his wife, Karin. “On our days off, we always stop in to see who’s playing.”

Tonight, there’s a memorial service for a longtime regular, with an accompanying jam session. Wearing a tie-dye dress and an electric purple hairdo, Kristin Corsi wafts around the bar and waits for her turn at the mic. The local singer has been coming to the Cat’s Eye since the mid-’90s, and loves it so much, she got married here, exchanging vows in the middle of a gig with her bandmate-turned-husband, Bill.

“It’s my church,” says Corsi, who lives a few blocks away on Bank Street. “Nobody cares what you do or where you come from. And that spot, over there, in the middle of the dance floor? We call it the nexus of the universe. I’ve met people from all over the world right there. They come back years later, like, ‘You’re still here!’ Well, I’m always here … In fact, I’ve been thinking about getting a bracelet made that says, ‘If found, return to the Cat’s Eye.’”

On weekends, you can often find “Bowtie” Bob Nelson bopping about, too. Many Sundays, and every St. Patrick’s Day, he attends Mass, then makes his way to Thames Street for his usual: a pint of Guinness and a Jameson, neat. He knows there’s been an influx of fancy restaurants and cocktail lounges around the neighborhood lately, but he likes the lack of pretension in this pub, where anyone and everyone can cut a rug, and the “only gourmet decision to make is if you get the plain or barbecue Utz.”

“The Cat’s Eye is something that Atlas will never be able to take over, because it just wouldn’t work,” says Nelson, 80, referring to the high-end hospitality group that’s gobbled up other stalwarts like the Waterfront Hotel and Admiral’s Cup. “You hope it’s going to be here forever.”

As the band launches into their first song, Little Tony bounces between the front and back bars, holding court beside a black-and-white photograph of him in here as a little kid, his head barely reaching the rail. In his grade-school yearbook, his dream was to “run a successful bar” one day. And by now, he’s had plenty of practice, dropping out of college to learn the ropes from Big Tony, then stepping all the way in after his father’s death.

HE LIKES THE LACK OF PRETENSION IN THIS PUB, WHERE ANYONE AND EVERYONE CAN CUT A RUG, AND THE “ONLY GOURMET DECISION TO MAKE IS IF YOU GET THE PLAIN OR BARBECUE UTZ.”

In one breath, Cushing says he’s got just under a decade left in him—and a recurring nightmare where he can’t catch up on drink orders. And yet, in the next, he’s reminiscing about his first shift, when he ran the bar all by his lonesome, then went home with a grand in tips and an adrenaline rush to last a lifetime, making it hard to imagine him anywhere else.

But sell it to some stranger with deep pockets? He’s clear on that one: “I’d rather burn the place to the fucking ground.”

Besides, he wants to finish his dad’s to-do list—the last item left being an enclosed balcony above the stage, where a 1920s pool table is already waiting. Not that there’s much time to make it happen. The bar doesn’t take a day off and slings some thousand drinks a week year-round. No matter that closing time comes early—the clock above the refrigerator is set 15 minutes ahead.

“I pay my doorman to kick me out, too,” quips Cushing. “I always thank him in the morning.”

Later, on the back patio, for a little quiet while the band grooves on, his mother straightens her blouse, sips a glass of white wine, and remembers that it’s Father’s Day.

Ana Marie still feels Big Tony all around. In fact, many believe that his ghost—along with Orye’s and that Lincoln-esque Knapp’s—still haunts the pub. Making it easy to wonder what he might think of the place these days.

She pauses, grins, then shrugs. “He’d be glad.”

Then Little Tony leans in, his eyes lighting up, just like his dad. “He’d say that we’ve done good.”

hall we go, or shall we stay?” That’s a question many baby boomers, empty nesters, and those who find their house too big, may be asking themselves. And if the decision is to move, the next question is: What kind of place do you want and where? Do you want a smaller home on one level, one in an over-55 community with lots of activities, or are you thinking ahead and want a place that offers independent living with more care in the future, namely a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)?

Anyone who thinks that a CCRC is only for “old folks” hasn’t met the Minks. Susan Minks, 75, is a “Senior Poster Child” for Blakehurst, a CCRC located in Towson. “It’s like living in a five-star resort,” says Susan. “Everyone here is happy and helpful, and you could be busy every minute of the day if you want.”

Susan, a Baltimore native, and her husband Tom, 76, were living in a townhouse half the year and in Florida the other half when they decided to return to Baltimore full time. “At that point, we realized it was time to reassess where we were going to live,” Susan explains. “At first, I thought we were too young to go into a CCRC, but then we thought, if one of us gets sick we’d still be on the same campus or maybe in our condo and a CCRC would save our children a lot of trouble later on.”

When the Minks met with Elizabeth O’Connor, the director of marketing and sales at Blakehurst, O’Connor was unbelievably accommodating about everything they asked for and showed them how an apartment could be renovated. They then knew this was the right place. “And the location is perfect—it’s close to Tom’s children, our country club, doctors, and many of our friends,” says Susan. The Minks had the apartment renovated and moved in in January 2022.

“The staff is incredible. The food is excellent. We just had Smith Island cake that was unbelievable. I’m so happy I don’t have to cook. I made one dinner since we’ve been here and it was terrible,” laughs Susan. The vibe at Blakehurst is very positive. The couple participate in many activities. They attend lectures, use the pool, the gym, walk on the private walking path, and meet friends at the bar and for dinner. The residence offers trips, a putting green, transportation to doctors’ appointments, to the grocery store, and so much more. “Tom plays gin rummy two or three times a week and I’ve signed up for a garden plot. There isn’t a party I haven’t been involved in,” says Susan, who is on the party committee and just joined the hospitality committee. “I just love it.”

O’Connor says, “Just like the Minks, other boomers are arriving at Blakehurst earlier than previous generations. They are not waiting for a health scare to move in.

Is a Continuing Care Retirement Community Right for You?
A CCRC is a type of retirement community that is part independent living, part assisted living, and part skilled nursing home. Today, many communities offer memory care, too. And there’s usually rehabilitation therapy on site. All levels of care are on one campus. According to AARP, a CCRC offers a tiered approach to the aging process, accommodating residents’ changing needs. Upon entering, healthy adults can reside independently in single-family homes, apartments, or condominiums. When assistance with everyday activities becomes necessary, they can move into assisted living (sometimes all they might need is extra help in their apartment), memory care, or nursing care facilities. These communities give older adults the option to live in one location for the duration of their life, with much of their future care already figured out.

A Co-op CCRC
Bill and Paula Lecky had lived in their McLean, Virginia, home for 45 years when their children started constantly saying that they should think about moving. That was four years ago. Bill, now 89 and an accomplished architect who has left his mark in Washington, D.C., (he was the architect of record for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the architect of the Korean War Veterans Memorial) says, “I knew I was getting up there in age, and realized maybe we should move, even though Paula at the time was only 76.” With one daughter in Silver Spring and a son in Annapolis, they started their search in Silver Spring, but quickly decided they didn’t want to live there and turned their attention to the Annapolis area.

Bill remembers, “We drove past one community in Annapolis, but said, ‘Keep driving.’” Then they saw Baywoods of Annapolis and wanted to explore further. Besides Baywoods being a CCRC, it’s a resident-owned-and-run co-operative community, where residents provide vital input regarding the operations of the community and have a voice in how it’s run.

“There was one apartment that overlooked the water that interested us. But what really sealed the deal was the woodworking shop.” Bill, who loves making small replicas of animals similar to those made by the Hopi Tribe of the Southwest, was blown away by the shop’s size. “It was five times the size of mine.”

Given Bill’s more than 50 years of experience as an architect, it’s no surprise the couple put a lot of work into making changes to the apartment they bought. They knocked down walls and added lighting, but the most dramatic change was to the porch overlooking the water. “There was a series of windows and doors that we took down and instead put in an eight-foot-high, 14-foot-wide glass door.”

Besides woodworking, Bill makes jewelry and Paula paints. Not gym rats, the Leckys instead prefer taking walks along the water. In addition, Bill has given talks about his years creating the Vietnam Veterans and Korean War Veterans memorials. His architectural expertise has now led to a new gig, consulting with management about future residents’ plans for changes to their apartments. And, oh yes, this busy couple still has time to socialize with their friends at Baywoods.

Rental CCRC
Retia Scott Walker had been an educator for more than 40 years, first at Texas Woman’s University, next at the University of Maryland on the Eastern Shore, and then at the University of Kentucky. Later, her research emphasis was gerontology with a focus on older African Americans, rural elders, older women, and inter-generational issues. In addition, she studied aging in Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

“When I retired in 2005, my daughter kept asking me to move back to Maryland. For 17 years, I told her I would,” says Walker, who was living in a five-bedroom, three-story home in Kentucky.

“It wasn’t until the pandemic that I felt very lonely and isolated and knew I needed to move. It was funny, one time while visiting my daughter, we took a tour of the Atrium, a CCRC. I told my daughter then; it would be my next home.” In 2022 Walker, now 82, moved to the Atrium.

“While doing my research, I found out how important it is to be part of a community.

That’s what the Atrium provides. Every night I have dinner with the same group. During breakfast it’s open seating and I try to meet new people,” she says. And there are lots of activities at the Atrium. Walker goes to music performances, participates in exercise programs, and goes to lectures. As a matter of fact, she will soon be giving a lecture. Another advantage is that her daughter lives only five blocks away and gets to see Walker several times a week. “I’m very lucky,” she says.

Over 55 Community
Joann Myrland,72, is a semi-retired travel agent. Her husband Paul, 74, is retired. They knew they wanted to move, but the big question was where. “We have a four-bedroom home, and now only use the family room, kitchen, and bedroom, and of course bathrooms,” says Joann, “and I’ve had foot and knee surgery and am tired of the stairs.”

The couple knew they wanted a single-family home with everything on one level, and where there would be no yardwork, all within a 55-plus community. They also had some other requirements. “We have two children who live in Denver and both of us love to travel, so it was very important for an airport be an easy drive,” says Joann. “Other must haves were a clubhouse and activities so we could meet new friends. And if it was near the water, that would be a nice plus.”

They began their search in Delaware, but after realizing how long it would take to get to an airport, it was a no go. “We have made several trips to look at Four Seasons in Kent Island. It really checked off most of our boxes,” says Joann At the time of publication, they had not yet decided.

According to real estate agent Veronica Lawson, an associate broker at Real Broker, LLC, over-55 communities are ready made for people like the Myrlands, for whom physical and emotional wellbeing are key components addressed through clubhouse amenities such as fitness centers and resort-like pools, as well as social clubs that encourage interaction to the degree desired. Most communities also offer walking and bike trails, dog parks, and other outdoor social activities, as well as planned trips to local events such as plays and concerts.

This interaction between neighbors creates a strong sense of community that in turn creates a fun and safe environment. Fifty-five-plus communities are becoming more popular, as many retirees are still very active and looking for engaging communities once retired.

Whatever place someone chooses, O’Connor, the director from Blakehurst, says, “Retirement is a time to continue to engage and maybe even reinvent oneself.”

Your Guide to Regional CCRCs

Looking for the retirement living situation that is just right for you?
Here is our guide to some of the area’s continuing care retirement communities.

Asbury-Solomons Island
11100 Asbury Circle
Solomons, MD 20688
410-205-4501
asbury.org/asbury-solomons

Bayleigh Chase
501 Dutchman’s Lane
Easton, MD 21601
410-673-4405
actsretirement.org/communities/maryland/bayleigh-chase-easton/

BayWoods of Annapolis
7101 Bay Front Drive
Annapolis, MD 21403
410-268-9222
baywoodsofannapolis.com/

Blakehurst
1055 W. Joppa Road
Towson, MD 21204
410-296-2900
Blakehurstlcs.com

Broadmead
13801 York Road
Cockeysville, MD 21030
410-527-1900
broadmead.org

Carroll Lutheran Village
300 St. Luke Circle
Westminster, MD 21158
410-848-0090
clvillage.org

Charlestown Retirement Community
715 Maiden Choice Lane
Catonsville, MD 21228
410-705-7058
ericksonseniorliving.com/charlestown

Edenwald
800 Southerly Road
Towson, MD 21286
410-339-6000
edenwald.org

Fairhaven
7200 Third Avenue
Sykesville, MD 21784
443-300-4047
actsretirement.org/communities/maryland/fairhaven-sykesville/

Ginger Cove Annapolis Life Care
4000 River Crescent Drive
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-266-7300
gingercove.com

Glen Meadows Retirement Community
11630 Glen Arm Road
Glen Arm, MD 21057
410-319-5034
presbyterianseniorliving.org/glen-meadows-retirement-community

Goodwill Retirement Village
891 Dorsey Hotel Road
Grantsville, MD 21536
301-895-5194
goodwillhome.org

Heron Point of Chestertown
501 Campus Avenue
Chestertown, MD 21620
443-214-3556
actsretirement.org/communities/maryland/heron-point-of-chestertown

Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant
9000 Fathers Legacy
Ellicott City, MD 21042
410-465-2005
millersgrant.org

Maryland Masonic Homes
300 International Circle
Cockeysville, MD 21030
410-316-9129
mdmasonichomes.com

Mercy Ridge
2525 Pot Spring Road
Timonium, MD 21093
410-561-0200
mercyridge.com

Mosaic
450 Willow Lakes Drive
Willow Street, PA 17584
888-893-1423
mosaiclancaster.com

North Oaks
725 Mount Wilson Lane
Pikesville, MD 21208
410-602-0318
northoaksseniorliving.com

Oak Crest Village
8800 Walther Boulevard
Parkville, MD 21234
410-469-8053
ericksonseniorliving.com/oak-crest

Roland Park Place
830 W. 40th Street
Baltimore, MD 21211
410-243-5700
rolandparkplace.org

The Residences at Vantage Point
5400 Vantage Point Road
Columbia, MD 21044
888-680-6324
vantagepointresidences.org

The Village at Augsburg
6811 Campfield Road
Baltimore, MD 21207
410-834-4143
thevillageataugsburg.org

Willow Valley Communities
450 Willow Lakes Drive
Willow Street, PA 17584
717-464-6800
WillowValleyCommunities.org

Superbly sited on one of Baltimore County’s most bucolic and sought-after lanes, at the confluence of Mantua Mill Road and Green Road, this exquisite stone 5-plus bedroom estate farm at 14111 Green Road is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to own one of the finest, most iconic equestrian farms in the region. Owning both banks of a long stretch of the Western Run and Deadman’s Run with picturesque swimming holds and storybook hideaways for picnics and fishing, Goose Green Farm enjoys breathtaking, gently rolling grounds with miles of protected open views and riding trails.

Designed circa 1948 by Charles Nes Jr., the manor house beautifully integrates updated elements with classic, elegant style. An oversized entry door opens into the foyer with a powder room and flows into the adjoining living spaces. A deep-cased portal leads to the living room with a woodburning fireplace and French doors to a covered porch, taking in the surrounding beauty. French doors from the foyer open into the den, which is accented by a stone wall and built-ins, also with access to the covered porch. The adjacent library features a woodburning fireplace, built-in bookcases, a concealed wet bar, and French doors to the adjoining sunroom. With heated floors and two walls of windows including French doors to the patio, this space is an ideal retreat to relax and enjoy the breathtaking scenery encircling the home. French doors open from the sunroom to the dining room, awash in natural light from a triple window. Swinging doors lead into the gourmet kitchen, updated by Cox Kitchens and featuring custom cabinetry, granite counters, professional grade appliances, a charming breakfast area accented by a stone wall, and access to the kitchen hall, mud room (with indoor dog kennel), and laundry room. A beautiful, spacious family room with two walls of custom built-in bookcases and a bath complete this level.

A private hall from the upstairs landing leads to the primary suite with a woodburning fireplace, built-ins, adjoining bath, dressing room, and French doors to an expansive IPE roof deck, taking in miles of rolling hills and pastures. An additional primary suite also enjoys an attached bath, dressing room, built-ins, and French doors to the deck. Three additional en suite bedrooms complete the second level. The lower level includes a recreation room with built-ins and a bar.

A drive-through lattice work porte-cochere flanked by breezeways leads to the Butler stone estate home as well as to the adjacent three-car garage boasting an upstairs apartment with a vaulted living room, kitchen area, bedroom, and bath.

Designed to match the main house, the nearby pool house (2016) sits to one end of the 50’ fenced-in pool. Guests can relax in the shade of the covered porch while others splash about or enjoy the beautiful indoor living spaces, including a large great room with fireplace and built-ins, a kitchen, exercise room, and a bath.

Slightly separated from the main house, a lovely 18^th century stone guest cottage enjoys a living room with vintage pine flooring and an oversized fireplace, a kitchen, laundry/mud room, three upper-level bedrooms and a bath as well as a nearby two-car garage and garden shed.

Spectacular panoramas surround the cottage including a wonderful view of the large riding ring, updated with EFT footing. The expansive farm complex just beyond includes three professional grade barns (2006 and 2008) with over 20 stalls, one with a silo observatory and all with tack rooms and wash stalls, an Amish built tractor palace/garage/workshop (2008), six run-in sheds, 83 acres with new, Centaur five-board fencing, and a sporting clay facility. The surrounding fields and meadows include extensive stretches along both banks of the Western Run and Deadman’s Run. Professionally designed gardens and grounds create landscapes begging to be captured on canvas by a master’s brush. Beautifully maintained and impeccably updated, this fabled 183-plus acre equestrian retreat is a rare opportunity to own one of the finest properties in Baltimore County!

 

 

For more information, and to view other listings, click here:

ue and Thom Rinker, age 74 and 75 respectively, were feeling very isolated in their condo in Baltimore County. “We were ready for a change,” says Sue.
“My mother had lived at a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) for 20 years and some of our friends had moved to that type of community. We really liked what a CCRC offered.”

According to seniorliving.org, a CCRC (also known as a Life Plan Community) delivers independent living and an amenity-rich lifestyle with access to onsite, higher-level care should a resident’s medical needs progress. The levels of care usually include independent, assisted, memory care, and skilled nursing as well as rehabilitation therapy on the campus. This continuum of care ensures residents that they have the comfort of remaining in the place they call home and the peace of mind that comes from knowing their future care is figured out.

“We wanted a CCRC so our two children who live in the area wouldn’t be burdened with our future healthcare,” Sue continues. “But for now, we are healthy and wanted lots of great amenities.” The Rinkers, who live at Blakehurst in Towson, say that it’s like living at a five-star resort.

Robin Somers, CEO of Broadmead, a Life Plan Community in Cockeysville, says, “Today we are seeing many of our residents coming in younger. Rather than in their 80s, they come in their 70s.”

Elizabeth O’Conner, director of marketing and sales at Blakehurst, adds that not only are residents younger, “they are very active.”

Without the drudgery of home maintenance, doing daily chores like cleaning and meal planning, and even trying to get the COVID-19 vaccine booster, there’s time for residents to be physically active and explore myriad intellectual and cultural opportunities. But for those who prefer to spend time alone or with a few friends, there’s that too.

A fitness center ranks high on must-have lists for incoming residents. In many CCRCs, residents will find state-of-the-art equipment, classes including yoga, tai chi, and aerobics, and a heated pool. Sometimes there’s even a juice bar and a spa for manicures, pedicures, and massages. Parker Williamson, 81, is an avid sailor who lives at BayWoods of Annapolis, a waterfront community. He says, “I exercise every other day, but don’t like group classes, so the personal trainer worked up a routine just for me.”

“Today’s residents want individualization,” remarks Somers.

Sharon Krulak, 79, is a new resident at Blakehurst. She’s also an artist who works in mixed-media. When the Krulaks were looking at Blakehurst, she told O’Connor, “I need a room to do my art. And they made it happen.”

At Broadmead, two residents who were trained and experienced beekeepers had a conversation with the Broadmead executive director, and the Broadmead Apiary was established in 2013. Today, there is a group of six residents who are involved. Throughout the year they inspect the beehives, feed the bees sugar syrup, and harvest the honey into jars for sale.

Usually, CCRCs have councils, committees, and their own governing body where residents can make things happen. “At Blakehurst we have 43 residential-run committees,” says Sue Rinker. “Thom is on the residents’ board and I’m on the refurbishing and jigsaw committees.”

CCRCs have concerts, guest speakers, and some arrange continuing education through Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (university-based education specifically for people 50 and older) or nearby universities. At Broadmead, they recognize artists within their community and in the greater Baltimore vicinity by having exhibits, programs, and educational outreach. This April, the Broadmead Art Council will host an exhibit of the works of Herman Maril, a Baltimore native known for painting seascapes, interiors, and landscapes. These exhibits and lectures will be open to the greater community.

Other amenities usually include endless clubs, beautiful walking trails, gardens where residents can plant vegetables and flowers, a movie theater, a library, woodworking, a beauty salon and barber shop, card and poker rooms, billiards, bocce, and a resident computer and business center. Some communities have a croquet court, a putting green, and pickleball. As most CCRCs welcome your four-legged family members, there are even dog parks. And in keeping with making life effortless, some places will deliver your incoming packages right to your door. The list of concierge services goes on, including scheduled transportation to grocery stores, shops and more. At Edenwald, a CCRC in Towson, a bus transports residents to cultural events and attractions like the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at the Meyerhoff, a string quartet at Shriver Hall, and plays.

Cuisine plays an important part in daily life. The number of dining venues depends on the CCRC and so do the plans they offer. Many have a grill, café, bar, and outdoor dining. CCRCs pride themselves on having an excellent chef, offering plenty of choices on the menu, high quality ingredients, and dining experiences resembling a great restaurant.

In this area, all CCRCs are close to vibrant cities—Annapolis, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. As Parker Williamson, resident at BayWoods, says with a laugh, “What’s great is we can visit Baltimore and D.C. and take advantage of all they have to offer, but we don’t have to live there.”

The Guide to Regional Continuing Care Facilities & Senior Resources

ASBURY METHODIST VILLAGE
201 Russell Ave.
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
(301) 216-4001
asbury.org/asbury-methodist-village

ASBURY-SOLOMONS ISLAND
11100 Asbury Circle
Solomons, MD 20688
(410) 394-3000
asbury.org/asbury-solomons

BAYLEIGH CHASE
501 Dutchmans Lane
Easton, MD 21601
(410) 657-4900
actsretirement.org/communities/maryland/bayleigh-chase-easton

BAYWOODS OF ANNAPOLIS
7101 Bay Front Drive
Annapolis, MD 21403
(410) 268-9222
baywoodsofannapolis.com

BEDFORD COURT
3701 International Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20906
(301) 598-2900
sunriseseniorliving.com/communities/bedford

BLAKEHURST
1055 W. Joppa Road
Towson, MD 21204
(410) 296-2900
blakehurstlcs.com

BRIGHTVIEW SENIOR LIVING
Multiple locations
(888) 566-8854
brightviewseniorliving.com

BROADMEAD
13801 York Road
Cockeysville, MD 21030
(410) 527-1900
www.broadmead.org

BROOKE GROVE
18100 Slade School Road
Sandy Spring, MD 20860
(301) 924-2811
www.bgf.org

BUCKINGHAM’S CHOICE
3200 Baker Circle
Adamstown, MD 21710
(301) 804-2159
actsretirement.org/communities/maryland/buckinghams-choice-adamstown

CARROLL LUTHERAN VILLAGE
300 St. Luke Circle
Westminster, MD 21158
(410) 848-0090
clvillage.org

CHARLESTOWN RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
715 Maiden Choice Lane
Catonsville, MD 21228
(410) 405-7683
ericksonseniorliving.com/charlestown

COLLINGTON EPISCOPAL LIFE CARE COMMUNITY
10450 Lottsford Road
Mitchellville, MD 20721
(301) 925-9610
collington.kendal.org

EDENWALD
800 Southerly Road
Towson, MD 21286
(410) 339-6000
edenwald.org

ELIZABETH COONEY CARE NETWORK
1107 Kenilworth Drive, Ste. 200
Towson, MD 21204
(410) 323-1700
Elizabethcooneyagency.com

FAHRNEY-KEEDY
8507 Mapleville Road
Boonsboro, MD 21713-1818
(301) 733-6284
fkhv.org

FAIRHAVEN
7200 Third Ave.
Sykesville, MD 21784
(410) 892-1946
actsretirement.org/communities/maryland/fairhaven-sykesville

FRIENDS HOUSE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
17340 Quaker Lane
Sandy Spring, MD 20860
(301) 924-5100
friendshouse.com

GINGER COVE ANNAPOLIS LIFE CARE
4000 River Crescent Drive
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 266-7300
gingercove.com

GLEN MEADOWS RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
11630 Glen Arm Road
Glen Arm, MD 21057
(410) 592-5310
presbyterianseniorliving.org/glen-meadows-retirement-community

GOODWILL RETIREMENT VILLAGE
891 Dorsey Hotel Road
Grantsville, MD 21536
(301) 895-5194
goodwillhome.org

HARMONY AT WALDORF
11239 Berry Road
Waldorf, MD 20603
(240) 270-2759
harmonyseniorservices.com/senior-living/md/waldorf/berry-road

HERON POINT OF CHESTERTOWN
501 Campus Ave.
Chestertown, MD 21620
(443) 214-3605
actsretirement.org/communities/maryland/heron-point-of-chestertown

HOMEWOOD AT FREDERICK
7407 Willow Road
Frederick, MD 21702
(301) 644-5600
homewoodfrederick.com

HOMEWOOD AT WILLIAMSPORT
16505 Virginia Ave.
Williamsport, MD 21795
(301) 582-1472
homewoodwilliamsport.com

INGLESIDE AT KING FARM
701 King Farm Blvd.
Rockville, Maryland 20850
(240) 557-8791
inglesideonline.org/ingleside-king-farm

LEISURE CARE: THE LANDING OF SILVER SPRINGS
13908 New Hampshire Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20904
(301) 388-7700
leisurecare.com/our-communities/landing-of-silver-spring

LUTHERAN VILLAGE AT MILLER’S GRANT
9000 Fathers Legacy
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 465-2005
millersgrant.org

MAPLEWOOD PARK PLACE
9707 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 571-7444
maplewoodparkplace.com

MARYLAND MASONIC HOMES
300 International Circle
Cockeysville, MD 21030
(410) 527-1111
mdmasonichomes.com

MERCY RIDGE
2525 Pot Spring Road
Timonium, MD 21093
(410) 561-0200
mercyridge.com

NORTH OAKS
725 Mount Wilson Lane
Pikesville, MD 21208
(410) 484-7300
northoaksseniorliving.com

RIDERWOOD VILLAGE
3140 Gracefield Road
Silver Spring, MD 20904
(301) 701-4076
ericksonseniorliving.com/riderwood

ROLAND PARK PLACE
830 W. 40th St.
Baltimore, MD 21211
(410) 243-5700
rolandparkplace.org

THE RESIDENCES AT VANTAGE POINT
5400 Vantage Point Road
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 964-5454
vantagepointresidences.org

OAK CREST VILLAGE
8800 Walther Blvd.
Parkville, MD 21234
(410) 405-7419
ericksonseniorliving.com/oak-crest

ORTHOPAEDIC ASSOCIATES OF CENTRAL MARYLAND
Six locations in the area
(410) 644-1880
mdbonedocs.com

RECORD STREET HOME–HOME OF THE AGED
115 Record St.
Frederick, MD 21701
(301) 663-6822
recordstreethome.org

THE VILLAGE AT AUGSBURG
6811 Campfield Road
Baltimore, MD 21207
(410) 834-4143
thevillageataugsburg.org

THE VILLAGE AT ROCKVILLE
9701 Veirs Drive
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 424-9560
thevillageatrockville.org

WECARE
1852 Reisterstown Road
Pikesville, MD 21208
(410) 602-3993
wecarepds.com

WILLOW VALLEY
600 Willow Valley Sq.
Lancaster, PA 17602
(717) 464-6800
willowvalleycommunities.org

OPEN

Vida Taco Bar: Ever since the Central Avenue Bridge opened earlier this month, diners have enjoyed easy access to eateries in Harbor Point—the 27-acre peninsula that sits in between Harbor East and Fells Point. The most recent addition to the mixed-use development is a new location of Annapolis favorite Vida Taco Bar, which officially opened earlier this week. The strictly tacos-and-tequila menu features creative tortillas stuffed with everything from fried avocado and Buffalo cauliflower to glazed pork belly and soft-shell crab. Wash down all of the eats with colorful cocktails including a classic Paloma, watermelon margarita, and a hibiscus sangria. 1401 Point St., 443-835-8474

Dear Globe Coffee: Since it was founded last year, this local roastery has been winning over coffee fiends with its worldly blends sold at Remington Wine Company, Taps Fill Station, and local pop-up markets around town. Last week, owner LieAnne Navarro opened a brick-and-mortar headquarters for the coffee operation on Antique Row in Mt. Vernon. Swing by to sample the strong java drinks alongside muffins and cookies by local bakeshop Taste This Cake. To celebrate the opening, Bottoms Up Bagels will be on site slinging their signature bagels and sandwiches at the shop July 24-27 from 7-10 a.m. 827 N. Howard St., 443-850-5051

LemonTopia: Pucker up for this sweet pop-up that opened inside Cross Street Market earlier this week. Perfect for summer scorchers, the stall offers refreshing lemonades (think flavors like mint, cherry, and peach citrus) and other lemon-flavored treats created by 11-year-old Jamaria Crump. The young entrepreneur will be behind the counter on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. until school starts back up in the fall. Stop by to indulge in the ultimate summer snack of lemonade paired with cookies, pie bites, cheesecake, and, of course, lemon bars. 1065 S. Charles St.

World of Beer: Adding to the thriving dining scene in Owings Mills—which recently welcomed Stanford Kitchen and will soon see a new Mexican hotspot—is the latest location of this Tampa-based craft beer franchise. World of Beer has officially debuted in the Metro Centre development offering a full food menu and more than 50 brews on tap. Drink your way through the local (think Union, Heavy Seas, Flying Dog, Jailbreak, etc.) and domestic selection while enjoying eats like mac and cheese bites, Margherita flatbreads, and DIY burgers. 10200 Grand Central Ave., Ste. 100, 410-363-1040

COMING SOON

AJ’s on Hanover: After a string of neighborhood closures—including Regi’s Bistro, Rachel New American Cuisine, and Metropolitan—South Baltimore locals will be happy to hear that the team behind Delia Foley’s on South Charles Street has taken over the former Bluegrass Tavern space one block over. Come September, owners Andrew Carter and Jesse Selke will transform the former Lowcountry spot into this community hangout featuring upscale pub grub, moderately priced entrees, oysters, wine, cocktails on tap, and a selection of craft beer. Stay tuned for more details. 1500 S. Hanover St.

NEWS

Chelsea Gregoire Named One of Eater’s Young Guns: It’s been an exciting week for Chelsea Gregoire. The local service industry veteran—who we name Best Bartender in our current “Best of Baltimore” issue on stands July 27—also received national acclaim from Eater this week. Gregoire earned a coveted spot on the publication’s annual “Young Guns” list, which praises food service up-and-comers from cities across the country. Aside from shouting out her work as bar manager at the new Hotel Revival, the piece mentions Gregoire’s consulting business, Drinkable Genius, as well as her work to advocate for women and LGBTQ+ professionals. “More than ever, I want to encourage people to take up their space,” she told Eater. “I’m excited to do what I do and bring people along with me as I go.”

EPICUREAN EVENTS

7/19: KoRYEan Pop-Up at Rye
Throughout the past year, Haenyo has invaded local kitchens including Dylan’s Oyster Cellar, Forno, R. House, Cafe Andamiro, and Village Square Cafe to serve its signature Korean-fusion dishes to the masses. Now, the pop-up is celebrating its first birthday in style with a special event at Rye in Fells Point. Head to the bar tonight to sample an a la carte menu of small plates such as yukhoe (beef tartare), shrimp and kimchi mandu, and spicy tteokbokki (stir-fried rice cakes) paired with Korean-inspired cocktails crafted by the Rye team. 1639 Thames St. 6-11 p.m. 443-438-3455

7/19: Gathering for the Gazette

Tonight, Mick O’Sheas in Mt. Vernon is hosting this trivia fundraiser to support victims of the tragic shooting in the Capital Gazette newsroom last month. All trivia proceeds and donations will benefit the Capital Gazette Families Fund—which aids survivors and families of the victims with funeral costs, grief and trauma counseling, and other expenses that might arise as a result of the tragedy. In true Charm City fashion, many local establishments including Mother’s Grille, DuClaw Brewing, Alexander’s Tavern are helping to support the cause by donating gift cards to be raffled off as prizes at the event. 328 N. Charles St. 6:30-9 p.m. 410-539-7504

In Naval aviation terms, a ready room is a room on an aircraft carrier where pilots conduct missions and swap stories. Arch Watkins and Mark McLaughlin, co-owners of Old Line Spirits and former Navy pilots, are hoping their bar of the same name can pay homage to that idea.

Opening on June 8, Ready Room will be the first full-service bar to operate out of a distillery in Baltimore City. Inspired by Seacrets in Ocean City, which operates as a bar and distillery thanks to a 2015 bill that created a Class 9 distiller’s license, Old Line wanted to create a tavern experience adjacent to its distillery production.

“One of the challenges we’ve had is that, under our old license, you could do a tour, tasting, and bottles to go. We couldn’t do bar service,” McLaughlin explains. “It was almost like a museum. You could have a great time and great experience, but there’s no reason to come back next month.”

The Old Line owners still had to apply for a liquor license in the city, which isn’t the easiest of tasks, and were able to piggyback onto a bill in District 46 submitted by Sen. Bill Ferguson and Del. Luke Clippinger. They are hoping this could inspire similar models throughout the city.

“I imagine that this sets a precedent,” says Steve Lamb, bar manager at the Ready Room, who helped open Rye on Thames Street. “If this bar is successful and respectful to the community, then others like it can follow this same model.”

Lamb and his staff have designed a beverage program loosely based on the Naval theme with a majority of cocktails using Old Line whiskey and rum. The menu will include six cocktails, a section of Port Calls (named after international ports), boilermakers (a shot and a beer), two draft beers, and an approachable wine list. The drafts will rotate, but start out with Monument City and Key Brewing “since they’re in the same zip code,” he says.

One cocktail they are excited about is called the Liberty Risk, a term describing an officer who is more prone to trouble while visiting a port, which is a take on a zombie made with Old Line Navy Strength Rum, rhum Agricola, Jamaican rum, grapefruit juice, lime juice, grenadine, and bitters.

“The Ready Room is a nod to our heritage and where we came from before we got in this business,” McLaughlin says. “But we are trying not to overdue it, so it will just be a subtle nod. The bar is mostly going to be about showcasing our products in delicious cocktails.”

The space will be hosting food pop-ups from places like Snake Hill or a catering company started by Tom Hamrick formerly of Modern Cook Shop and Ben Sawyer from Fork & Wrench. Lamb is also excited to feature rotating bartenders on Wednesday nights from places like R. Bar, Sugarvale, and Rye.

Open Wednesday-Saturday, Ready Room will give the community a chance to better experience the distillery’s products.

“It’s one thing to see Old Line at a shelf at a liquor store. But seeing it presented in cocktails that Steve and his team have put together will be an entirely different experience,” McLaughlin said. “We feel like it will be a really nice addition to the neighborhood.”

Repurposed piece: I like this bookshelf as a bar because the shelves are roomy and give me plenty of space to showcase my favorite bottles. It’s the first thing I see when I enter the room, so I like to fill it with a few treasured objects, as well as any bottles I’m excited about for the season. 

First sip: I’ve been bartending for some time now. I caught the bug when I made a trip down to New Orleans and had my first Sazerac. 

Open bar: While I need to cram the bulk of my bottles in traditional hutches in the dining room, I like the accessibility of having these shelves with a few choice bottles in the living room, and the setup doesn’t separate me from my company. 

Super call: On special occasions, we’ll sip from one of the rare bottles that I picked up from Kentucky, like the Willett 25-year-old rye. And thanks to a lucky find at The Wine Source, I recently added the 15-year-old George T. Stagg [bourbon] to my collection. 

Top shelf: I have a bunch of antique glassware, books, and tools. They don’t all fit on this bar. Only my best stuff goes here. Vintage bar tools from Napier are some of my prize possessions. I use the small barrel for aging Negronis, one of my favorite cocktails. I also make a lot of my own bitters, infusions, and syrups. You can see a bunch of my recipes on my website postprohibition.com. 

Back stock: I have two hutches in the dining room and a wine cellar in the basement to store my excess liquor, ingredients for bitters, glassware, bar tools, and projects in the works. People walk in and say, “Wow, you have a lot of booze!”