Ring in the New Year

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

Thanksgiving is behind us, Hanukkah has come and gone, even Christmas is over. That means that New Year’s Eve is finally upon us. The holiday season is typically filled with events and fun goings-on and New Year’s Eve is no exception to that rule. Baltimore didn’t disappoint this year and there are some really amazing parties taking place that you won’t want to miss.

Living in Baltimore has some perks, one of which being our proximity to the ocean. We’re lucky to have things like cruises so accessible to us here. New Year’s Eve brings to us fabulous New Year’s cruises to carry us into 2016. Enjoy front row seats to a New Year’s Eve fireworks display! Board the Spirit of Baltimore at 9 PM and sail until 12:30. Enjoy access to an amazing dinner buffet as well as a Platinum open bar. You’ll be served hors d’oeuvres by waiters who will roam the dining room. Dance the evening away to the DJ as the music spans the decades; there will be something for everyone.

There will also be the Inner Harbor Spirit which boards at 10 PM and returns at 1 AM. Enjoy dinner buffet and open bar all while grooving away to today’s hits played by the DJ. Find out how you can book yourself a spot on one of these fabulous cruises here.

If you’d prefer to keep your feet on solid ground for New Year’s Eve, you can take the party to the New Year’s Eve Gala: Big Night Baltimore. Taking place at the Baltimore Harbor Hotel, ring in the new year at Baltimore’s most storied party location. Your ticket gains you access to a delicious food buffet as well as an open bar to keep your whistle wet while you dance the night away. You’ll get to see eight incredible acts take the stage over the course of the night including bands, DJs and other acts. Make your way through the multiple party rooms to get the full experience of the party. Don’t forget to grab your complimentary party favor at the end of the night. To find out how you can gain access to one of the greatest New Year’s Eve parties in Baltimore check here. Luckily for us, the Baltimore Harbor Hotel is only a 10 minute drive away from McHenry Row Apartments.


New Year’s Eve is an exciting night full of parties and there are tons happening this year in Baltimore. How are you spending your New Year’s Eve? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.

Last Minute Gift Ideas In Baltimore

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Christmas is almost here! Even though the holiday is a fun one filled with family bonding and celebration, it can be a stressful time. Shopping for the people on your Christmas list is daunting. If you still have some last minute shopping to get out of the way try out these ideas.

Do you have an athletic friend who’s always on the move? They’re annoyingly fit and always talking about how they’re waking up early to go to the gym. Gross. You don’t have to go very far to find them a gift this year. Charm City Run has the best merch for your fit friend. This Under Armour Tech Zip Shirt is a great gift, especially now that it’s getting a cold outside. You’ll keep them warm on their outdoor runs with this pullover. If they’ve been struggling with the same smelly gym bag for years, you can change their lives with this Under Armour Tote Bag. They can carry their stinky socks around in style in 2016. Check their website to see more from Charm City Run or you can walk right on down to their storefront located in McHenry Row if you’re feeling ambitious.

Just because they have 2 extra legs and fur all over their bodies doesn’t mean they’re not part of the family! Your pets need Christmas loving too. Dogma - life with your pets has everything you need to make sure your pet has the best Christmas ever! Uncle Ulrick’s Sweet Potato Strips are the perfect treat to show your pup that you love and appreciate them. Their mouths will water just looking at the bag! This next selection isn’t just a gift for your cat but a gift for you as well. The Kong Laser provides endless entertainment to your feline and your party guests. Watching your kitty scramble around the room and up walls to try and catch the mysterious red dot will have you in stitches for hours. Well, until the batteries run out at least. Dogma is situated in McHenry Row also so you don’t have to travel far to buy your pet happiness! However, if you’re feeling lazy, their website will show you what’s offered at Dogma.

South Moon Under has great gifts for almost anyone on your list. Your rabid football fan family member will need to use this beer mug to keep track of the Ravens’ progress on the field. Your coffee fiend/fashionable friend will go crazy for this Kate Spade coffee mug. We all have that one friend who is always asking for a phone charger when their phone dies. Stop that problem at the source and get them a backup phone charger! South Moon Under is a fabulous local shop that has gifts for everyone on your list.


Christmas shopping is stressful but this guide will help you get it out of the way quickly! Do you have any go-tos for last minute shopping? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.

Christmas Village in Baltimore

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

Christmas is almost here and Baltimore is ready for it! The decorations have been hung, the lights are shining bright and everyone is in a happier mood. Celebrate with the Christmas Village in Baltimore. Since 2013, the Christmas Village has been bringing holiday cheer to Baltimore’s residents and it will continue for years to come!

This authentic German Christmas market is worth a visit, for sure! Enjoy a real German Christmas in the Hofbrau beer garden. Authentic German drinks and beers will have your tastebuds watering. Use that delicious beer to wash down some sizzling German bratwurst. Make sure you snag yourself some delicious snacks while you’re at it: gingerbread, fresh frosted almonds as well as crepes, waffles, baked apples and chocolate. You can’t leave the Christmas Village without trying a hot cup of gluhwine!

Take advantage of the upwards of 50 international vendors this year and get that last minute holiday shopping taken out. Find Christmas ornaments to decorate your tree, arts and crafts, jewelry, toys for the little ones, fashion, beauty products and handmade glass and pottery. You won’t be able to leave empty handed once you see all of the amazing wares offered at this year’s Christmas village.

If you’re a fan of wine and you’d like to sample some of the best German wines you can purchase tickets for two for either a wine and cheese tasting or a wine and chocolate tasting. There’s no wrong choice here! Find out how to reserve your spot here.

Brought to you by Condor, the central stage will have tons of exciting entertainment lined up all month. See local school choirs sing their hearts out, local bands and singer-songwriters. Each weekend follows a theme so each weekend will be a different experience.


The German Christmas Village will be up and running until December 27th so you have plenty of chances to experience a true German Christmas! What’s your favorite part of the German Christmas Village? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!

Party With McHenry Row

You’re probably going to spend a lot of time indoors in the next couple of months now that the winter weather is starting to kick in. You’ll need to keep yourself busy and entertained as well as fed! Invite a few friends over and host a cooking demonstration in McHenry Row’s stocked demonstration kitchen. Try out these recipes and really wow your friends and family with how talented you are.

Creamy Four Cheese Garlic Spaghetti Sauce

Pasta is one of the easiest dishes to make but this sauce will be so delicious that your friends will think you worked at it for hours. Here’s what you’ll need to make it happen:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 1 tablespoon butter 
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 8 oz spaghetti
• 1 cup cooked pasta water
• 1 chicken bullion cube
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 and 1/2 cups of Four-Cheese Italian White Cheese Blend (Mozzarella, White Cheddar, Provolone, Asiago)
• parsley or chives or green onions, finely chopped

1. Take your olive oil and butter and heat it up on medium heat in a large skillet. Add in the minced garlic and cook it for about a minute, but make sure it doesn’t burn!
2. Get your pasta good and ready and make sure when you drain it to save some of the water. Dissolve 1 cube of chicken broth bouillon in 1 cup of the pasta water.
3. Take the pasta water/chicken broth bouillon and add in the heavy cream and pasta and then toss it in the skillet with the cooked garlic. Bring the whole mixture to a boil and make sure to continually stir it. Once you get it boiling, stir in the cheese until it melts and coats the pasta. Turn the stove down low and continue to stir to thicken the sauce for another minute or so.
4. If you want to get fancy, serve the pasta with chopped chives, green onions or parsley to really finish off the presentation.

Your guests will be head over heels for your delicious pasta concoction and will be especially impressed with the gorgeous state of the art demonstration kitchen.

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

You can’t just ignore dessert! Dessert is the most important part of any meal and these red velvet cheesecake brownies are sure to become a staple on your dessert menus. Here’s what you’ll need to make it happen:

For the red velvet brownies:

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for greasing pan
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 Tablespoon red food coloring
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

For the cheesecake filling:

• 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
• 3 Tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg yolk

1. To start, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line an 8x8 baking pan and slather it up with butter. We don’t want those brownies sticking!
3. In a big bowl, stir together the butter, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, food coloring and salt. Then, stir all of that in with the white vinegar.
4. Using a mixer, blend together the cream cheese, egg yolk sugar and vanilla until it’s really well blended. Spread the cream cheese mixture in an even layer over the brownie batter then top the cream cheese with dollops of the remaining brownie batter. Using a sharp knife or toothpick, swirl the cream cheese together with the dollops of brownie batter.
5. Bake the brownies for 30 minutes and then pull them out using the parchment paper to slice them and serve them.

Your pals will never forget these delicious cheesecake brownies and will ask you to make them for every function!

These recipes, while they might seem daunting, will be so much easier if you complete them in our state of the art demonstration kitchen. With the huge stovetop, oven and refrigerator, you’ll have all the supplies you need to craft the perfect meal and dessert for your friends. What’s your favorite recipe to share with friends? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!

Braving the Cold in Baltimore

The weather is turning on us. Winter is finally here and the temperatures are dropping. There’s not much to do outside once the weather gets frosty. Take it indoors and keep toasty with some of these winter friendly activities. 

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Those are the things that will be fueling you through this frigid season. Luckily we have some great coffee places right in McHenry Row. Harris Teeter has Rubi Kiosk serving up Seattle’s Best Coffee right in the store. Grab yourself a piping hot cup of Joe and get back out there. If that’s not what you’re feeling, maybe Dunkin Donuts will strike your fancy. Keep that iced stuff away from us! Dunkin has some of the best steamy lattes and coffees. They also serve up some great hot teas and hot chocolates for when coffee isn’t hitting the spot.

A great way to warm yourself up (well, at least feel warmer) is to take it to the bars. We’ve got a great selection of bars in the area and we don’t have to go far to get to them. Barracuda’s not only has some delicious drinks but amazing food. If the drinks don’t warm you up, the prices probably will. From Monday to Friday from 3PM until 7PM, you can get $3 house wines and import bottles and $2 domestic bottles. Their jerk chicken pasta isn’t rude but it is delicious. The spice will give you a little warmth for when you head back out into the winter winds. Barracuda’s food and drinks will warm your belly and your heart.

If you’re feeling a little fancier than the pub, take yourself to Wine Market Bistro. Their selection of wine, cocktails and food will have your belly full and your cheeks pink. Pan roasted swordfish, Murray Farm chicken breast, and bistro filet, you cannot go wrong with anything at Wine Market. While they don’t have their winter cocktail list up on their website yet, we know it’s to die for and you’ll most certainly enjoy it.

When you’re feeling chilly and need somewhere to hide out for a while, these places are where you should camp out. Where’s your favorite place to take shelter from the cold?