The day after Chinese New Year, on a rainy February late-morning Sunday, the line at Dimsum Palace in Catonsville filled the entryway and stretched out into the parking lot. Inside, families sat around the large round tables on either side of the dining room, their lazy Susans loaded with dishes, while a banquette and smaller, white-tablecloth-covered tables ran down the center of the vast room.

The staff pushed a series of dim sum carts down the aisles, off-loading small plates of various dumplings and buns, while servers brought a steady progression of teapots and larger dishes. Every seat in the house was filled with couples, families, older folks, and children, one small girl proudly wearing a bright red outfit covered with dragons—2024 being, of course, the Year of the Dragon.

Dimsum Palace opened last July in Catonsville’s One Mile West, a shopping center off Baltimore National Pike. The company that owns the restaurant is based in Florida, where it owns other dim sum spots; its owner is from Hong Kong, as is this location’s dim sum chef. Hong Kong is also the home of modern dim sum itself, the small-plates service that began in Cantonese teahouses in the 19th century.

Apparently, diners with ties to the Old Line State told the staff at the Florida restaurants that Maryland sorely needed dim sum restaurants—and they listened, for which we should all be grateful.

Traditional dim sum service utilizes metal carts that wheel the various dumplings and other small dishes around the dining room, shuttling them in an efficient rotation. Dimsum Palace has four such carts, and they’re all in use on the weekends, when the place is packed for the four hours it’s open for late morning and lunch service, the time dim sum is historically served; the restaurant reopens for dinner, when everything, including the dim sum, is also on offer.

Dim sum houses typically have extensive menus beyond what’s on the carts, which here include Cantonese appetizers and mains, clay pots, barbecue, soups, noodles, and rice dishes. There are the better-known items, like Kung Pao chicken and wonton soup, as well as those that are more esoteric, like jelly fish salad and Cantonese frog legs.

There’s a sub-section of congee, the savory rice porridge that’s a staple in much of Asia and served for breakfast in Hong Kong; plus another short list of the wonderful Cantonese rice noodle rolls called cheung fun, which are made of sheets of flat rice noodles that are rolled around fillings of pork, shrimp, and crisp crullers—long fried doughnuts that are themselves the filling—and served with dipping sauce.

Dimsum Palace also has a beautiful Peking duck service, as well as dishes made with XO sauce, the spicy mixture of dried seafood, ham, and chiles that was invented in the ’80s in a Hong Kong hotel kitchen.

One dish that should not be missed: the homemade noodles with XO. These are thin sheets of pale rice noodles that are tightly rolled up, then cut on the diagonal and sauced. It’s a simple dish, just noodles and XO, but both the technique involved and the flavor are spectacular.

One of the many joys of an excellent dim sum restaurant is the carts, which slalom between tables and are repeatedly refilled by the staff in the busy kitchen. So, if you forget something, or want seconds, or have been coveting what you see on an adjacent table, you can soon enough get it from the next cart.

The best thing to do is to bring as many family members or friends as you can and secure one of the big tables with the lazy Susans—another genius culinary invention—as they allow for easy access and cut down on both spills and infighting. As for what to order off those carts, in addition to the obligatory bbq pork buns and shu mai, do not overlook the turnip cakes, pineapple buns, and Hong Kong sticky rice. And yes, they have chicken feet, here glazed a deep burnished gold, so they look more like pub chicken wings than, well, actual feet.

And remember that you will need to save room for dessert, as the kitchen makes splendid charcoal egg-yolk buns—gorgeous obsidian orbs with gold brush-stroked stripes down the center—fried sesame balls, and not only Hong Kong-style egg tarts but Portuguese-style as well. The egg tarts are blissful pastries filled with egg custard the shape and color of a noon sun, and they routinely sell out, so grab a plate when you see them. The Portuguese-style tarts are bigger, with a caramelized top, and the best thing to do is get some of both and conduct a taste test.

It’s worth remembering that if your teapot runs dry, just open the lid and an observant server will quickly refill it, and that you can get food to go—especially if you’ve driven down from Pennsylvania for dim sum, as some diners do. An extra order of egg tarts will work nicely for any drive home.

DIMSUM PALACE: 6600 Baltimore National Pike, Ste. O, Catonsville. 443-860-9378. HOURS: Sun., Mon. Wed., Thurs. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 5-9:30 p.m.; Fri., Sat. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 5-10 p.m. PRICES: Dim sum: $5.25-8.25; soups, noodles, entrees: $11-68. AMBIANCE: Hong Kong-style teahouse.

While attending a family wedding last year, Steve Colegrove and his wife, Stephanie, decided to fulfill a lifelong dream and purchase a diner in Catonsville.

“It literally fell into our laps,” recalls Steve, who was working as a chef at Sykesville Station in Carroll County at the time. “Stephanie’s aunt approached us and said, ‘Would you be interested in taking over Dusenberg’s American Cafe and Grill? It’s closing.’ She just happened to know the guy who was selling the building. We immediately said yes.”

After some minor renovations, by August 2022, the diner—dubbed “Doozy’s Diner” as an homage to its predecessor—opened its doors. The menu features classic American diner food, plus fare with a Southwestern spin.

Unlike some diners, Doozy’s is only open for breakfast and lunch. “In this industry, it’s tough to find an opportunity where you can be home with your girls at night,” says Steve, the father of two young daughters. “This just seemed like the perfect idea.”

In addition to the gentler hours, breakfast is also the Catonsville couple’s favorite meal of the day. “I know it sounds corny,” says Steve, “but I love breakfast. Working a lot of nights as a chef, breakfast was the only chance I got to see my wife and we’d go out on dates to a diner. Diners have always been a special thing to us.”

Why did diner food appeal to you?
We felt like we wanted a diner because it’s so wide open. You can go to Double T Diner and get souvlaki, but diner food can be whatever you want it to be. For us, we wanted to do a Southwest thing, but we can have dan dan noodles as a special and it wouldn’t be weird. In opening a diner, we felt like we wouldn’t have to pigeonhole our creativity.

What are your favorite menu items?
My favorite thing in the whole wide world is my grandma Mary Lou’s green chili stew, which is on the menu. I also love the stacked enchiladas, which are like, “If I’m on death row, that’s my last meal.”

Why Southwest specialties?
My grandma is from Albuquerque and my dad and stepmom live in Santa Fe. The Southwest has always been very important to us. A lot of restaurants around here do breakfast burritos, but they’re not very good. We use Hatch chiles that are grown in New Mexico, which have a ton of flavor, and we use solid, authentic ingredients from Hatch Valley in northern New Mexico in our food. In fact, as a kid, my grandma had shelves and clothing racks in her basement with red chile peppers drying.

What was your first job in hospitality?
I waited tables at a restaurant in Ellicott City called Bippy’s Pub when I was 15. I don’t know that I have the social graces to work in front of the restaurant now at 34—and 15-year-old me certainly didn’t have them. After six months and spilling three glasses of wine on one customer, they discovered I was terrible at it, and they put me in the kitchen to wash dishes. I’ve been in the kitchen ever since.

This is the perfect moment to shake off winter and get back out with friends and family. With its convenient location, Baltimore County is an ideal destination for travelers from afar or those who want to explore something new in their own town.

Life sure has had its ups and downs in recent years, but one thing has stayed the same: Baltimore County is a lively home to a wide array of activities to suit any interest. Our parks, restaurants, shops, recreational areas, and golf courses are open for everyone to safely enjoy.

In the following pages we provide you with information that is sure to inspire your next outing. Cuisine connoisseurs will appreciate a taste of all that we have to offer, from farm-fresh produce to world-class restaurants and wine from locally grown grapes.

We offer charming main streets for strolling, the perfect way to shop small. For families looking to reconnect, Baltimore County has outdoor adventure, arts, athletic, and recreational activities that will surely entice even the most reluctant in the family to put down that device and enjoy some fresh air.

It’s time to get back to play again. Whether you’re ready to pick up the game of golf, want to return to open air concerts, or are looking for a way to amp up your fitness practice (paddle pilates, anyone?), let Baltimore County welcome you with all we have to offer.

The construction of the Milton Inn dates to the mid-18th century and it began its life as a coach stop for local Quakers. It is still a haven of hospitality in Baltimore County, only now it welcomes diners with discerning palates from all around the region.

“OUR LONG-TIME CLIENTS AND OUR NEW NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN SO ENTHUSIASTIC. ALSO IT’S NOT HALF BAD FOR A CITY BOY LIKE ME TO GET TO ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE OF NORTHERN BALTIMORE COUNTY EVERYDAY. ” — TONY FOREMAN

The announcement that the Foreman-Wolf Group were going to reopen The Milton Inn— its first restaurant in the county—created a shockwave of culinary joy.

Foreman-Wolf refreshed the historic building’s interiors and kitchen, opening the restaurant in 2021 under the guidance of chef and coowner, Chris Scanga. Today, The Milton Inn offers cuisine focused on the Southwest of France showcasing fresh, seasonal ingredients from over two dozen of the mid-Atlantic’s finest farms and purveyors.

Looking to taste more of what Baltimore County offers? Try these delectable destinations:

THE TILLERY, OWINGS MILLS
Dine in on classic American fare and craft beverages or enjoy sitting outside, perhaps around the firepit.
thetilleryowingsmills.com

PERENNIAL, TOWSON
Enjoy Chef Jay Rohlfing’s innovative, seasonally-inspired menu and a “robust cocktail program,” right in the heart of Towson.
perennialtowson.com

LA FOOD MARKETA, PIKESVILLE
Chefs Chad Gauss and Johntay Bedingfield bring the same quality of its sister restaurant in the city, The Food Market, to Quarry Lake.
lafoodmarketa.com

SUNSET COVE, MIDDLE RIVER
This beach bar and restaurant with its perfect waterfront view is the place to enjoy long, warm summer days and evenings.
sunsetcovemd.com

THE HUB, CATONSVILLE
This food hall features cuisine from multiple vendors so you can sample everything from Korean street food to all things hot pot goodness. There’s even a Montessori-inspired kids play area.
thehubfoodcourt.com

BOORDY VINEYARDS, HYDES
Enjoy everything from a tour of the vineyard to food truck cuisine and farmers’ markets, all with a sip of wine from one of the county’s oldest vintners.
boordy.com

Catonsville became Baltimore County’s first state-recognized Arts and Entertainment District in 2020. The award was given by the Maryland State Arts Council, and it is easy to see why. Catonsville is home to a host of live music venues and shops—and places like Bill’s Music House and Appalachian Bluegrass Shoppe that are both shops and live music destinations. Perhaps it’s no surprise the Maryland General Assembly dubbed it, “Music City, Maryland.”

But there’s more to Catonsville than just great music, and many of its charms are best explored on foot with a leisurely stroll down Frederick Avenue. Here you will find enticing places to shop small, such as locally owned antique shops, boutiques, and artisan food markets. And whether you need a restorative jolt of caffeine or a delicious meal to recharge during your saunter, Catonsville features coffee shops and restaurants to suit all tastes.

With Catonsville leading the way, Baltimore County is sure to continue its growth as a recognized center of arts and entertainment.

Looking for more places to stroll and shop local? Be sure to visit the county’s retail hubs:

TOWSON: The county seat features small shops, boutiques, and great restaurants.

HUNT VALLEY: While the energetic town center is Hunt Valley’s heart, don’t miss the small shops, garden centers, and markets along York Road.

REISTERSTOWN: From one end of Main Street to another you can pick up kids clothes at The Elephant’s Trunk, enjoy a coffee at Reister’s Daughter, and get ice cream, salon styling, and more in between

Do you have an aspiring golfer in your household or do you want to share your love of the game with a young person? The Fox Hollow Training Center (FHTC) in Timonium is the perfect place to start—or to get a seasonal refresher.

Golf is a sport a child can learn now and play for a lifetime. Since it’s noncontact, it’s a great way to exercise with less likelihood of injury.

At FHTC, children learn the game from trained professionals and are introduced to important life skills like integrity, sportmanship, and self-control.

The facilities at FHTC are top notch, including 60 hitting stations, three lighted putting greens, and practice bunkers. FHTC is routinely ranked nationally as a Top 50 Driving Range
by the Golf Range Association of America.

Now is the time to get in the swing of things, with special offers like professional instruction at reduced rates for juniors and reduced and/or complimentary access to any of Baltimore County Golf’s five courses for golfers 17 and under. Or take advantage of one of FHTC’s summer camps.

baltimoregolfing.com

Baltimore County has countless places to get out and connect with friends and family.
Here are just a few:

CROMWELL VALLEY PARK, PARKVILLE
Just minutes from Towson, this park encompasses 460 acres of stream valley and upland habitat, a combination that makes it perfect for birding. The nature center offers many programs or simply enjoy its hiking trails.
cromwellvalleypark.org

MARSHY POINT NATURE CENTER, CHASE
Sitting within a 3,000-acre nature preserve on the Upper Chesapeake, Marshy Point offers innnovative programs and exhibits for visitors, hiking trails, and Baltimore County’s first water trail for kayaking or canoeing!
marshypoint.org

BENGIES DRIVE-IN THEATRE, MIDDLE RIVER
Recapture a bygone era at Maryland’s only remaining drive-in theatre. Featuring the “biggest movie theatre screen in the USA,” Bengies is a great spot to enjoy the latest blockbuster.
bengies.com

PRIGEL FAMILY CREAMERY, GLEN ARM
At the scenic Prigel Creamery enjoy a scoop of chocolate peanut butter, caramel pretzel, or even a choose-your-own ice cream sandwich, while the farm’s dairy cows graze happily in their pastures. P.S.: They serve way more than ice cream!
prigelfamilycreamery.com

HAMPTON NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, TOWSON
In 1790, Hampton was perhaps the largest home in America. Today, the architecturally significant home and surrounding site offer a chance to explore and gain a deeper understanding of the complex history of our nation.
nps.gov/hamp

There’s no better way to spend a hot, humid summer day than lazing down the Gunpowder River in a tube. The always cool and shaded river winds its way by pastures and woodlands, meandering parallel to the NCR hike and bike trail. Tubing is the antidote for harried lives.

The Monkton Bike shop, housed in the historic Monkton village, offers tubes for rent for kids and adults. It has also marked two tubing routes accessible by foot. Simply walk north on the NCR trail and look for the blue tree markers to find the path where you put in at the river. When you coast under the Monkton Road bridge you’ve reached the end of your float.

The Gunpowder is generally tranquil and often shallow enough to walk and splash in, making it a perfect outing even with young kids.

Looking for more outdoor adventures?
Here are a few destinations to add to your summer bucket list:

LOCH RAVEN RESERVOIR
The protected woodlands around the reservoir feature 60 miles of hiking trails while its calm waters are perfect for kayaking.
baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/environment/watersheds/lrmain.html

NCR (TORREY C. BROWN) TRAIL
Whether you’re a runner, walker, or biker, the nearly 20 miles of trail following the meandering path of the former Northern Central Railway (NCR) offers optimal conditions. Just look out for tubers sharing the path on hot summer days!
dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/central/tcb.aspx

B’MORE SUP
Interested in paddle pilates? Or a board excursion with your pup? Whether you simply want to try staying upright in a begininers paddle board class or you’re ready for yogaflo on your board, the three locations of B’More SUP are here to help.
baltimoresup.com

ROCKY POINT GOLF COURSE
Go for par—which is 72, by the way—on this exceptional course set in meandering natural wetlands, the only waterfront course on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay.
baltimoregolfing.com/course/rocky-point

PATAPSCO VALLEY STATE PARK
There are 200 miles of hiking trails inside the park’s more than 16,000 acres. See for yourself why the park is nationally recognized for its trail system and scenic beauty.
dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/central/patapsco.aspx

Drive by the home of Carri Beer and her husband, Michael Hindle, and you see it right away—this house is not like the others.

Situated on a Catonsville street lined with brick bungalows on manicured green lawns, the Beer-Hindle home is a midcentury-modern gem tucked so neatly behind an elevated stretch of yard covered in wildflowers as to almost be invisible in high summer.

The Beer-Hindles don’t mind standing out. In fact, they want their home to be an example of what a typical family can do to fight climate change by making responsible, reasoned home choices.

Beer, a member of the American Institute of Architects, is an expert on such things: She’s principal architect at CommONEcology, which provides net-zero and passive-house services, as well as sustainability consulting, permaculture landscapes, and holistic neighborhood planning. Hindle began his career as an artist and a teacher at MICA, but was drawn to the critical issue of climate change. He became a certified passive-house consultant (CPHC) in 2010 and is now owner and principal of Passive to Positive, a design consulting firm.

“It’s a moral imperative to do what we can [about climate change] with the information we have,” says Hindle. “We bought this house to serve as a test and to walk the walk so we aren’t just greenwashing.”

Buying the house wasn’t exactly a no-brainer. While it had good bones, it was being sold as a short sale. When the couple received the home inspector’s report, it was essentially 20 pages of why not to buy the house. Far from being deterred, the couple embraced this troubled canvas.

“This is a beautiful midcentury home but it was in pretty bad shape,” says Beer, “which was an invitation for us to make this house what we wanted it to be.”

What they wanted in the renovation was for the home to be a beacon in a typical American neighborhood showcasing how a regular family—the couple has three children in their blended family—can make choices to reduce their environmental footprint. Everything they undertook was seen through a lens of preservation and restoration.

Given Hindle’s exuberant passion for high-performance building enclosures, it’s no surprise that the couple removed the old, failing windows (which they’ve saved for other projects, including a greenhouse) and replaced them with tilt-turn, triple-glazed windows. The Beer-Hindles purchased the house, in part, for its southern exposure, which provides passive heating in the winter. But to reduce solar gain in the summer, they extended an exterior overhang to provide seasonal shade.

All the systems were upgraded for greatest efficiency, including a three-zoned HVAC system and a heat pump water heater that is much more efficient than a conventional system. All three baths feature dual-flush toilets, and a gray-water diverter system discharges water from the laundry into an exterior filtration system that features its own garden.

Perhaps most remarkably, the couple chose to decrease the square footage of the house by removing a room and turning it into a covered porch. Only the bare post and beams of the old structure remain, now stained a rich brown, creating a pleasant alcove shaded by a natural wall of climbing hops. Opting for solar power and all-electric appliances, they also shut the gas line off at the street.

A priority for the couple was for the home to avoid all foam products. While foam insulation is a popular choice for making a home airtight, it can contain fire retardants, formaldehyde, and carcinogens. Instead, they used mineral wool and cellulose. They also applied carbon-negative cork as cladding and for flooring, creating both insulation and a unique aesthetic.

Much of the air sealing was done by a crew from the job-training program Civic-Works. The Beer-Hindles don’t just want to make their home sustainable; they want to contribute to building a workforce that can fuel an environmentally directed economy.

“It’s not just about the sustainability of the building, it’s a holistic way of approaching every decision you make,” says Hindle. “We tend to think about buildings and people as separate,” says Beer. “When they are connected, we can radically change a community.”

The couple believes in a “circular economy” where little goes to waste. Wood from areas of the house that were demolished were reused elsewhere, for example, and they scored old slate from a neighbor, which was useful in the kitchen backsplash and for flooring.

Given that the effects of climate change have become more prevalent, the Beer-Hindles built for resiliency, too, particularly in light of their location near Ellicott City, with its vulnerability to floods. The basement, which was damp and dark, received a significant retrofit including special flooring that can be pulled out, removed, and air-dried in the event of a catastrophic flood.

The walls are fitted with drainage membrane, or vapor barrier, clad in cork. All the old window wells were dug out to allow light into the space and their drainage capacity is now handled by lovely rain gardens. The once musty basement is now a comfortable living space.

Much of the dirt and detritus from that project helped build the privacy berm that overflows with perennial flowers. Beer used the design plan for her yard as a project for her advanced permaculture certificate. It is a haven for wildlife now, with a saltwater pool surrounded by peach, pear, plum, fig, and persimmon trees.

One can hop across a Japanese-style footbridge that spans the 10-by-15-foot pond that is home to peeper frogs and visited by a blue heron. While the couple says the neighbors were likely mortified when the yard was ripped up, people now stop to have their picture taken next to the pollinating perennials that grow down to the sidewalk.

For all its airtight efficiency, this is still a family home, a beautiful space where Beer’s homemade kombucha and herbal tinctures sit in the windowsills casting pretty shades of light and Hindle’s artwork fills the walls. After remodeling the kitchen with natural linoleum, soapstone countertops, and new cabinet fronts, open shelving provided an exhibit space for the couple’s Russel Wright ceramics. Healthy houseplants abound.

Lacking both time and a large budget, the Beer-Hindles did much of the work themselves, over the six years they’ve been there. Baltimore County’s High Performance Home tax credit helped offset some of the expenses. Beer sought out non-toxic ECOS paint and Bioshield clay paint for a unique interior. They designed the window layout themselves (mirroring a window pattern original to the midcentury design) and installed the windows on their own.

It’s the passion project of a lifetime for the benefit of the next generation.

“If you want to be a low-or zero-carbon family, it’s a lifestyle,” says Hindle. “Any family can improve their insulation, get an energy audit from BGE—that’s the low-hanging fruit, but that won’t stave off climate change. To do that, we need to think more aggressively.”

“It’s important to know that this is possible,” he says. “We have the building science, materials, and techniques to retrofit a house, you just have to be dedicated to doing it.”

Gary “Groove” Massey places three Shure 58 microphones on the counter at Bill’s Music and reaches for his wallet. A bass player who’s worked with the likes of Chico DeBarge and R&B duo Ruff Endz, Massey wears a T-shirt repping his band (DemBmoreKatz) and says he’s been shopping at the Catonsville store for more than 40 years.

“I bought my first bass amp and cabinet here when I was 13,” he says, “and I’ve been coming back ever since. They have everything a musician could possibly need.”

“WE BELIEVE IN MUSIC” hangs in large red letters over the front door, and the shop backs up that motto with an impressive inventory. On any given day, you’ll find hundreds of acoustic guitars mounted on the walls, aisles of colorful electric guitars in display cases, stacks of amplifiers and speakers, full drum kits, dozens of keyboards and electric pianos, violins and cellos, an assortment of brass instruments, accordions, mics and mic stands, mixing boards and lighting rigs, DJ equipment, racks of sheet music, crates of vinyl records, and a dizzying selection of cords, pedals, straps, and strings. Poke around and you might also spot a sitar, dulcimer, and a barrel of didgeridoos and rainsticks.

“There’s a definite ‘wow’ factor when you come in here,” says Massey, “but the vibe isn’t intimidating. It’s a community-based store where you can have real conversations with friendly people, people who know you.”

As if on cue, an employee calls Massey by name and asks if he’s ready to check out. It’s Brian Higgins, the store’s general manager and the son of owner Bill Higgins. They exchange greetings and, after a clerk comes over to ring up the sale, Brian wanders off to help another customer. Massey says Brian epitomizes the spirit at Bill’s and recalls once heading to a gig and realizing he’d forgotten to pack a keyboard stand. Turning onto Frederick Road, he spotted Brian locking up for the night.

“He literally had the key in the lock when I pulled up and told him my situation,” says Massey, who recounts how Brian unlocked the door, told him to run inside and grab a stand, and refused any payment. “Tell me where else are you going to get that kind of service? That’s what friends do for friends, though it’s actually more like family.”

That familial vibe, figuratively and literally, has proven essential to Bill’s survival. In addition to Bill’s son, Brian, his two daughters, Jamie Reese and Tracey Kern, and son-in-law also work at the store. His wife, Nancy, has worked there, too.

“A family member is here almost all the time,” says Brian. “We recently went away together, and it was the first time in 20 years that at least one of us wasn’t in the store. We work hard. We put a lot into it.”

It’s why they’ve been able to overcome serious challenges over the years, including changes in musical tastes, the arrival of big-box stores, the rise of online shopping, and COVID. But in some ways, Bill’s now faces its biggest challenge yet: the retirement of its namesake founder.

Bill Higgins settles into a rocking chair in an office off the showroom floor at Bill’s. Now 78, he still bears a resemblance to the portrait that’s adorned the store’s signage for decades. The black-and-white drawing, dating back to the 1970s, was originally created for a music column he wrote for The News American. The mustache and hair may have turned white, but the welcoming smile endures.

Bill opened the shop in 1965. At the time, he rented a 400-square-foot space (currently the Peace of Sunshine head shop) at the corner of Frederick Road and Mellor Avenue. A Catonsville High School graduate, he worked briefly at the Social Security Administration but had a passion for rock music, especially The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. He picked up the guitar and developed enough talent to put together a couple bands and recruit students for lessons.

After going around to people’s houses for a year, he figured it would be more profitable to teach from a central location. He quit Social Security, took the Mellor Avenue space, and put a Bill’s Music sign in the window. He charged $2.50 a lesson and says the timing was perfect, “because everybody and his brother wanted to play ‘Satisfaction’ when the guitar rush hit.”

He bought guitars for students and, fortuitously, got into a conversation with a supplier delivering instruments to the store he frequented. Bill asked if he could buy product directly from the supplier and was told he just needed a resale license.

“I got that resale license and had my first supplier,” recalls Bill. “Gradually, I learned about other suppliers and started going after guitar lines like Fender and Gibson, and things just took off.”

He hired two instructors to handle lessons and devoted himself to sales. It turned out he had a knack for it. “I didn’t have any money, but I had plenty of energy,” he says.

“I became the frontman, because I really liked selling.”

Bill smiles at Nancy, who pulls up a chair, and credits her for helping take things to the next level. She was dating Bill and working at the National Security Agency (NSA) when the shop opened. She got off at 4 p.m. and joined him at the store until closing time, usually 9 p.m. When Bill suggested she might work full-time, Nancy took a leave of absence at the NSA.

“I never went back,” says Nancy, who handled the bookkeeping. “We got so busy, and I really enjoyed working together.”

 

“THERE’S A DEFINITE ‘WOW’ FACTOR WHEN YOU COME IN HERE, BUT THE VIBE ISN’T INTIMIDATING.”

 

“As soon as we got a little something going,” adds Bill, “we went ahead and got married.” The couple celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary this year.

The shop moved from its basement digs to a storefront across Frederick Road until the mid 1970s, when Bill bought the building that now houses the shop. A major renovation in 1996 produced the current 36,000-square-foot iteration of Bill’s, a far cry from its humble beginnings. Bill says Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center, a D.C.-area institution since the late 1950s, inspired him to think big.

“It was the state-of-the-art music store,” says Bill. “I’d go over there and think, ‘Man, I’d love to have this someday.’ Well, my store kept getting bigger and stronger, and, one day, I had my version of that.”

It anchors a music-centric corridor, which also includes Appalachian Bluegrass, The Piano Man, and the Trax on Wax record store. It’s one of the primary reasons that stretch of Frederick Road was designated “Music City, Maryland” by the state.

Bill and Nancy laud their workers for such growth and stability. Some salesmen worked 10 or 20 years, and three early employees stayed at Bill’s for more than four decades. Two of them retired a few years ago, while Ron Cook continues to repair and tune up instruments just as he has since 1965.

Their children have worked there for decades. “It’s time to give them a shot at running things,” says Bill, who says COVID concerns kept him away from the store for more than a year. “They’re ready for it.”

The next generation is firmly in place. Brian started working at Bill’s at 14 and now has his father’s job. Tracey has taken over her mother’s job, handling the accounting and paying the bills. She also oversees the music lessons. Jamie manages the website and online sales, as well as social media. Tracey’s husband, Leni Kern, works in online sales, too.

“At this point, we have customers bringing in their kids,” says Brian. “In fact, I see customers who bought their first guitar here bringing in grandchildren for their first guitar.”

Jamie sees more women coming in, especially young girls. “They’re 10, 11, 12 years old,” she says, “and they’re coming for electric guitars and drums. Before, they might be getting violins or flutes, but girls are branching out.”

“We see it in our lessons program, too,” says Tracey. “There’s a new generation of girls coming for lessons and taking over a little bit with the rock instruments.”

Guitars and amps are still the most popular sellers at Bill’s, but changing tastes have led to a more robust stock of electronic gear as more people make music on computers or give podcasting a try. Sales soared during the pandemic.

“Last year was the biggest selling year for guitars in the history of the music industry,” says Brian. “People also needed equipment for Zoom meetings, setting up home studios, broadcasting church services, or just for something to do. They bought everything we had.”

Pre-COVID, for instance, Brian may have ordered half a dozen audio interfaces for the store. During lockdown, he was ordering 100 at a time and struggling to keep up with demand. Due to limited staffing, family members worked overtime. “It was non-stop,” says Brian, “and we were exhausted every day. It actually turned out to be a good year for us. We were shocked.”

Going forward, they’ll need to focus on daunting challenges posed by Amazon and other online retailers. Bill’s outlasted the big-box stores that popped up in the 1990s with its winning mix of competitive pricing and customer service. Now, they’re working to simultaneously grow Bill’s online presence and make the brick- and-mortar store even more of a destination. They now rent gear and instruments, buy used instruments, and have rehearsal spaces available.

 

“OUR BUSINESS IS ALL ABOUT BUILDING AND MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS. IT’S LIKE A FAMILY.”

 

The Higgins kids, like their father, understand the value of self-promotion. With Nancy and Leni in tow, they recently flew to Atlanta and taped episodes of Family Feud with Steve Harvey. “It was so much fun doing that together,” says Brian. The segments will likely air in February.

Brian, Jamie, and Tracey—who all live about a mile from the store—enjoy getting together when they aren’t working. They regularly meet for dinners and try not to talk too much shop. They acknowledge the significance of Bill stepping aside, but feel they’ve been well prepared. He taught them to buy smart and to always be honest and fair with customers, says Jamie. “He gave us the tools to survive no matter what.”

“Our business is all about building and maintaining relationships,” says Tracey. “It’s like a family.”

It’s been that way at Bill’s since 1965.

On a recent visit to Catonsville, Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski Jr. and other officials stopped by Frederick Road staple Trax On Wax to ask Gary Gebler, who has owned the record store for 10 years, what he thought about naming Catonsville an official Arts and Entertainment District.

“If I was going to put an arts district anywhere in Baltimore in its surrounding counties or towns, this is a no-brainer,” Gebler says. “You can’t say this about Towson and Ellicott City—they’re great towns and all have their niche. But Catonsville is the only one designated ‘Music City, Maryland.’”

Designed to stimulate growth and economic development, the formal state distinction is meant to serve as a catalyst for further commercial growth in the town, and by extension, the county, overall. Currently, there are 29 places with the designation in Maryland—including the Pennsylvania Avenue Arts and Entertainment District in West Baltimore, which earned the title this summer. The main benefit of the distinction: Over the course of a 10-year period, arts and entertainment districts offer tax-related incentives to “help attract artists, arts organizations, and other creative enterprises,” according to the Maryland State Arts Council.

Gebler assumes Olszewski and officials visited other shops, too, but whatever information they gathered must have been supportive. Last week, the Maryland State Arts Council named Catonsville the first Arts and Entertainment District in Baltimore County, effective July 2020.

“It’s definitely overdue,” Gebler says. “It’s nice someone else realizes that, as well.”

Fondly known by its moniker “Music City, Maryland,” Catonsville—home to Bill’s Music, an independent instrument shop and landmark since 1965—has long had a reputation as a place for musicians and artists to practice and develop their craft, as well as a destination for locally owned arts businesses. In addition to a bustling music scene, Catonsville is home to artist-run bakeries, live performance spaces, and community-first activation. It also holds an annual arts and crafts festival, which will celebrate its 47th year when it returns next summer.

The town even garnered some national attention this past summer when its own Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon was one of American Idol’s final six contestants. “There’s a lot of musicians coming and going in this area,” Gebler says. “It’s a really cool vibe.”

With the designation, the hope is that the chatter around Catonsville as a destination will only continue to grow.

“This exciting designation highlights Catonsville’s vibrant history as well as its bright future,” said Governor Larry Hogan, in a press release. “‘Music City, Maryland’ is a shining success story for Baltimore County.”

As time has passed, the neighborhood’s arts organizations have enjoyed supporting each other. Gebler estimates that one in three of his customers also go to fellow Frederick Road mainstay Appalachian Bluegrass Shoppe, and vice versa. Emory Knode, a lifelong Catonsville local who founded Appalachian Bluegrass in 1980, has seen firsthand how the city has changed into a place worthy of the distinction.

Knode says that, in an era in which the Internet has changed how, when, and where people shop, he’ll take any boost that he and his fellow small business owners can get.

“It definitely is an evolution of some sort for the city,” Knode says. “Catonsville is very active overall. There are very few vacancies, and when something becomes vacant, typically it gets filled up pretty quickly.”

Becoming an Arts and Entertainment District is far from just a ceremonial title—there is a proven economic benefit. A 2018 Towson University report found that $232.6 million in state GDP was supported by new businesses formed within Arts and Entertainment District boundaries. Overall, Arts and Entertainment Districts contributed more than $1 billion in total state GDP.

“We’ve watched Catonsville grow into a thriving community that welcomes artistic expression of all kinds,” says Jamie Reese, whose parents Bill and Nancy Higgins founded Bill’s Music. “As a musical instrument retailer and lessons studio, we hope the new Arts and Entertainment designation will bring more live music and musicians to our town, increase tourism, and bring our community together even more.”

Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon brought Katy Perry to tears last night.

The Towson University vocal performance major, who lives in Catonsville, has made quite the impression on American Idol with a run of stellar performances. He’s tackled emotionally heavy belters that his falsetto is more than suited for, including his latest performance, a rendition of Elton John’s “We All Fall in Love Sometimes” that made Perry burst with pride. Harmon, 26, has been extremely open in telling his story on a national stage: As a preacher’s kid in a tight-knit, religious family, he came out to his parents last November. He’s acknowledged his struggles of the last several months—his parents have yet to come to a performance, but should he continue to advance, they have plans to attend.

Harmon, one of two Idol connections to Baltimore this season—Dimitrius Graham is also still in the running—wowed the judges in his first audition with an original song. Lionel Richie to compare him to Billy Joel.

Harmon frequents Catonsville’s Atwater’s and Farmhouse Greens—he’s currently a music director at Babcock Presbyterian Church, and does counseling work at BACHS Health Care. He’s lived a lot of life in a short span—a whirlwind of television fame and personal and emotional growth. On the eve of a results show that will determine if he makes Idol’s Top 10, Baltimore spoke with the singer-songwriter about his journey thus far.

What’s your relationship with Baltimore like?

I’ve moved around a lot throughout my life, but Baltimore’s kind of been the place that [my family has] gone back to a lot. I’ve lived in Baltimore this time around for a little over two years. I was working on my music degree at Towson University up until [Idol] and I’m taking a semester off now, but I’m still working on graduating hopefully this year.

What do you like most about Towson and the area?

One of the things I like about Towson and the school of music in particular, it’s small like a conservatory but it doesn’t feel competitive and cutthroat like you would expect from a top-notch conservatory. It’s a very welcoming environment. I feel like I have extended family there. It was just a really positive experience for me. Especially as a transfer student. I still keep in touch with the faculty. I’m actually living with my academic advisor right now, renting out a room there.

Going from an environment like Towson to a competition like American Idol where the purpose is to eliminate performers and crown a winner has to be a bit of a shift.

That’s one of the things that I appreciate about the music program at Towson. It’s not super competitive, even though we are challenging each other to be our best musicians. I think I would say the same about American Idol. It doesn’t feel like we’re against each other. It feels like we’re there for each other and rooting for each other. We’re all getting close at this point and we’ve had a lot of time to bond and hang out. It’s kind of a family environment.

You said in a recent interview that as an artist, you feel you have a responsibility to communicate your experience through music. What did you mean by that?

I think any artist has an opportunity to portray their emotional experiences and their relationships through their art in different ways. At the end of the day, we’re all human and we go through some of the same experiences, but we all have different ways of communicating that. As an artist, I feel a responsibility to maintain a certain level of transparency about my experience because I know that, for me personally, I used to listen to other artists to help me contextualize my own experiences. You become kind of like this voice for other people through your art, and it’s a way of connecting.

Do you think that this process has provided a lens for [your parents] to see where you’re coming from that might not otherwise have been there?

I can’t answer that in full confidence. I’m hesitant to speak on anyone else’s behalf. But what I would say is that I hope whatever I’ve done so far on the show has just shown not only my parents but everyone else that I’m just a human being and struggling through my emotional experiences as imperfectly as anyone else. And I’m trying to do that on this platform and succeed musically, and I hope that at the end of the day, they can see that and understand that I love them and this is just me owning my story. I think I’ve done that to the best of my ability.

You have been very transparent throughout this whole process. As you’ve continued to do so, has it emboldened you further?

One thing that I’ve experienced is that when I open up to people and kind of say, “This is who I am and I’m proud of it,” then people respond in a similar way. You treat other people with respect and kindness, then you’ll get that back. If you’re open and vulnerable with people, I’ve discovered that people tend to be the same way with you. The support that I’ve received has been really amazing. People have reached out to me and shared their stories. It’s just a further confirmation that nobody’s alone in their experiences.

Is there a story in your mind that sticks out?

I’ve heard from a bunch of people that say they also grew up in a conservative environment, and to see someone going through that process of coming out and all the struggles that can come with that, a lot of people have said, “Oh, I feel less alone,” or [that they have] more power to share [their] story with people. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. Your music or your artistry is just a vehicle to connect to people, and I think that’s been the most amazing part of this experience to me. You kind of get the sense that you’re a part of something bigger than yourself.

It seems like your song choices are very deliberate, like when you dedicated “Landslide” to your parents. Is that something you’re doing consciously?

All the songs that I’ve covered so far have been songs that I think have spoken to me personally. That’s kind of my goal with each performance is to bring the most feeling and the most that I can to the stage and to give that to other people. I’ve been fortunate enough to have those songs available to me—we have a list to choose from certain rounds. I think what I try to do is reflect on what the song means to me personally and apply that to whatever my circumstances look like at the time, whether it be about a relationship in my life or an emotional experience that I’m going through. And once I’ve connected to the song in that way, that’s the energy that’s going to send it out that people are getting.

What’s the moment just before you’re about to open your mouth and sing like?

That’s a really interesting moment, because up until you sing, you’re thinking about everything that’s happening around you. But then once you start the music, at least for me, that’s all that there is.

Has the thought of winning crossed your mind yet? How do you control the voice in your head that says you can win while also staying in the moment?

I think the closer that I get to the finale, that thought comes up more often. I just try to say that I know that I can win this, I think that I have as good of a shot as anybody. At the same time, this is just the beginning of my journey, no matter how American Idol ends for me. I think I’ve embarked upon something that transcends any reality show or music competition.

What lesson have you learned from this experience so far?

I’ve never done self-promotion at this level. However, I am an independent artist, and I’ve been doing my music for several years now. And I think I’m just learning how to take it to the next level. At the end of the day, I sort of realized that it’s not totally about me. I represent what people believe in and I’m kind of this symbol for people, and I’m just pushing for an ideal.

Sure, streaming is convenient. But you can’t flip through bins full of MP3s, and algorithms can’t beat a trusted recommendation from your friendly neighborhood clerk.

As our profile of the Arbutus Record Show suggests, there’s still an undeniable allure to vinyl. Maybe it’s the cover art, or simply the tangible object in our digital world, but vinyl record sales continued their 12-year climb in 2017, with sales topping the previous year by more than $1 million.

Whether you’re just jumping on the bandwagon or you’ve been collecting for decades, you’re sure to find something for your turntable at one of these local spots.

Baby’s On Fire
This young café-cum-record shop takes its name from a Brian Eno track, which is a pretty good indication of what you’ll find there. Match your coffee to your listening-station pick for a fun, multi-sensory experience: French pop pairs well with cafe au laits, while Fugazi begs for a double shot of Hair Bender espresso. 1010 Morton St., 443-885-9892. 

Celebrated Summer Records
Looking to embrace your inner punk or hardcore headbanger? While the music inside this Hampden shop is of the messier variety, it’s also one of the best-organized record stores you’ll encounter. Check out the local section for releases from Baltimore bands like War On Women. 3616 Falls Rd., 443-866-9988. 

El Suprimo
Packed with used finds, this Fells Point hole-in-the-wall is a haven for Baltimore music-heads who love the joy of the hunt. Whether you’re into Morrissey or Memphis blues, chat with Jack about your tastes. He might just dig out something special from the back. 1709 Aliceanna St., 443-226-9628.  

Normal’s
This Waverly record and book store has recently updated its exterior, and inside you’ll find one of the best jazz selections in town, as well as notable additions to any collection (interested in a private press of early U2 demos?). Pick co-owner Rupert’s brain for insight on the store’s ever-expanding inventory. 425 E. 31st St., 410-243-6888.

Protean Books & Records
Books, music, games, movies, and more fill this eccentric treasure trove near M&T Bank Stadium. Used records run the gamut, with Jay-Z, JFK, and Miss Piggy all having been spotted in the bins. Brave browsers can also enjoy a quick scare at the oddities museum, Dr. Gloom’s Crypt of Curiosities, located in the back. 836 Leadenhall St., 410-227-3006.

The Sound Garden
After more than a quarter century (and being named one of Rolling Stone’s top record stores in the country), this beloved Fells Point music shop still stocks an abundance of new and used vinyl of every genre and price. Keep your eyes peeled for records from local artists and your ears open for the shop’s occasional concerts. 1616 Thames St., 410-563-9011

Trax on Wax
This local gem is a classic record store experience, with a friendly staff and packed bins of new, used, and rare music. Hit the reissue section for fresh copies of old favorites, such as Bowie’s whole range of Berlin recordings. It’s also a great place for newbies to check out equipment. Ask Gary or Jeff for help—those guys know everything. 709 Frederick Rd., Catonsville, 410-869-8729.

Ka-Chunk!! Records
If you’re in the Annapolis area, this solid shop hosts a sizable selection of new, reissued, and used LPs, plus live in-store performances and something good always spinning while you browse. One recent playlist included The Replacements, Leonard Cohen, and Ty Segall. 78 Maryland Ave., Annapolis, 410-571-5047.

True Vine
Established by friends with a love for “raw and non-traditional” music, this Hampden haunt is the place to go for music beyond our borders. Also dubbed one of Rolling Stone’s top record shops, its truly eclectic selection includes globe-spanning sounds from the “organ king of Cairo,” Belgian avant-rockers, and the Baltimore Club scene, just to name a few. 3544 Hickory Ave., 410-235-4500. [Editor’s Note 6/11/21: True Vine remains temporarily closed.]

Looking back on it, maybe we should have seen the greatest upset in college basketball history coming. After all, how great is this? As the TNT broadcast crew told a national television audience afterward: “UMBC: U Might Be Cinderella.” 

The 15 members of the men’s basketball team from the University of Maryland-Baltimore County—as we’ve long known the school as—stunned the sports world, busted brackets across America, and sent Twitter into a frenzy.

The relatively tiny public research university in Catonsville of 14,000 students, recognized more for its science, tech, and engineering programs than anything else before Friday, will now be associated with something much different for as long as the memories of the historic night exist.

Like these…

In an unforgettable and surprisingly dominant performance, second-year coach Ryan Odom’s Retrievers, who got into the NCAA tournament on a last-second shot in the America East title game last Saturday, followed that up with an upset of the 68-team national bracket’s No. 1 overall seed Virginia, 74-54, in a first-round game in Charlotte, North Carolina.

UMBC became the first 16-seed to ever beat a No. 1 in a NCAA men’s tournament, in 136 such games played, and will now face Kansas State in the Round of 32 on Sunday. 

“It’s just amazing,” play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz said in the waning moments when it became clear the Retrievers would win, after yet another bucket by star graduate student guard Jairus Lyles, who finished with 28 points, coming in a variety of ways, while fighting through cramps in the second half. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

By that time, UMBC had already broken parts of the internet (including its own), as people from around the country looked for more information on the school with a four-letter acronym that was about to make history…

It’s hard to believe it all just happened. The game was tied at 21 before the Retrievers pulled away in the second half. Lyles scored 23 of his 28 points after halftime, and shot 9-for-11 overall.

Like him, the UMBC Athletics official Twitter account was a star of the evening, going from less than 6,000 followers before the game to more than 30,000 in the 30 minutes after. Whoever thumbed replies throughout the game to curious strangers and sports journalists alike did so with a healthy dose of hardscrabble sass.

As we said with a smidge less snark in a preview of the game on Thursday, when out-of-towners ask about the school, just say it’s University of Maryland-Baltimore County, of course. 

Now there’s another name in play—that Cinderella one. How crazy, how unlikely, how fun. How long will the story continue?

After retiring from the NFL in 2015, former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jameel McClain and his wife, Keisha, knew it was time to invest in something they cared about, ideally in the area of health and fitness. After going to several conferences and researching franchising opportunities, they found the best option in Retro Fitness and opened a location together in Catonsville. 

“Retro Fitness immediately felt like a good fit with their team aspect, which was something I missed after retiring,” says Jameel. The gym, which has been open since the beginning of January, already has 1,200 members. “We want people to stop needing five different gym memberships,” says Keisha. “We want to be a one-stop shop.” 

The gym offers group fitness classes, 108 pieces of equipment, and team training—which is a personalized hour-long group workout during which your heart rate is monitored for maximum performance. Retro Fitness also offers some unique features that you don’t generally find at your neighborhood gym, like a cardio movie theater where you can run on the treadmill while watching the latest blockbuster, machines designed to add elements of interactive gaming to your workout, and a 25-yard turf complete with yard lines and markers.

 “Other Retro Fitness locations have the turf, but we’re the only ones who have the yard lines,” boasts Jameel with a smile, an obvious nod to his time in the NFL. 

The 18,000-square-foot space also offers child care, a smoothie bar, tanning beds, and an outdoor training area that will open this spring. “We are a gym for everyone,” Jameel says. “What makes our establishment so special is that you are always competing against the best version of yourself.”