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?

Start a New Tradition

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

Thanksgiving is a holiday with a lot of traditions attached to it. Lots of families like to stay in, cook up a big meal, invite the whole family over and watch parades and football games. However, some traditions are made to be broken. This year for Thanksgiving, mix it up. These restaurants are offering up a meal selection for you to take the pressure off of cooking up a big meal.

Cunningham’s Cafe and Bakery isn’t actually open for Thanksgiving but you can order up a delicious meal and cut out the hard work. Order up a real Thanksgiving dinner for the whole family minus the day of cooking. Get a whole roasted turkey or a hand-carved honey glazed ham. Grab mashed potatoes or mashed butternut squash or roasted herb red potatoes on the side. Just because you didn’t put in the hard work doesn’t mean that you can’t have dessert too! Mini tartlets, grandma’s apple pie and pumpkin rolls will have you full and happy. You’ll spend the rest of the holiday on your couch napping off the food high. For their full holiday menu check here. Cunningham’s is only a 20 minute drive away from McHenry Row Apartments.

Thanksgiving doesn’t always have to mean turkey and cranberry sauce. Mission BBQ is offering up pick-up packs for the holidays. Depending on how big your party is, they have packs for upwards of 50 people. So you won’t have to worry about accommodating a large number of people; Mission has you covered. Pulled pork, brisket, pulled chicken: these aren’t your typical Thanksgiving fares but they’re even better. Take your pick of sides and make sure to grab something from the bakery. You can pretend like you cooked it all yourself and really wow your guests. Check out their full menu here. Mission BBQ is only 8 minutes away from our home at McHenry Row Apartments.

If you’d prefer not to pack your entire extended family into your home for Thanksgiving, you can take them out to dinner. The Row House Grille is opening their doors for the holiday and inviting you in as their family. If you’d prefer a Thanksgiving breakfast to a Thanksgiving dinner, they offer breakfast bright and early at 8 AM. Bring the whole family for a breakfast buffet. After 4 PM you can make your way into the dinner fare. Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce: all the classics for your dinner. You won’t regret taking the whole family out for this new holiday tradition with Row House Grille. The Row House Grille is a quick 4 minute drive down the road from McHenry Row.


Does your family have a unique Thanksgiving tradition that doesn’t involve home cooked meals at home? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.

Take A Hike: Best Trails in Baltimore

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Just because the weather is cooling off doesn’t mean you can’t get outside. The cold air is even more invigorating than the warm summer air. Today, November 17th, is annual Take a Hike Day. While the holiday could be about telling some rude person to get lost, we’re going to assume it’s probably about getting into the great outdoors for some fresh air and exercise.

Herring Run Park is only a 15 minute drive away from our home at McHenry Row. The 375 acres of woodlands have no shortage of beautiful scenery. The trails wind and wrap their way throughout the park. Get lost in the trees and foliage of the park. A trail extends from Halls Spring Area all the way to Sinclair Lane, allowing for walking, hiking and biking along the stream bed. The changing of the leaves makes for extra beautiful views as you huff and puff your way down the trails.

Patapsco Valley State Park stretches along 32 miles of the Patapsco River. The state park encompasses, altogether, 16,043 acres of land. You’ll never run out of trails to explore in Patapsco Valley State Park. Enjoy the acres and acres of forest. If you bring along a picnic basket, you’ll have plenty of places to stop and throw your blanket down. There are tons of great spots under trees and at picnic tables to plop down and enjoy an afternoon snack. Patapsco Valley State Park is only 10 minutes away from McHenry Row, so you don’t have to go far to get into the outdoors.

What better place to take a hike than a place where you can also enjoy the company of some exotic animals? The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is more than 135 acres of trail to explore. It’s certainly not your typical definition of a trail but you’ll tire yourself out moving through the zoo, trying to take in all the wildlife. Make sure you hike past the brand new exhibit to take in the 46 waddling African penguins. You might have to pay admission to hike along this ‘trail’, but it’s well worth it when you think of all the amazing animals you’ll get to see along the way. The zoo is only a 20 minute drive away from McHenry Row Apartments.

Pretty soon, the weather is going to be much too frigid to head to the outdoors and take a hike. We have to soak up the hiking time while we can! Do you have a favorite place to hike at?

American Diabetes Month

Image courtesy of Pixabay

There are over 600,000 people living in Maryland with diabetes and almost 1.6 million with pre-diabetes who are at risk of developing diabetes. The American Diabetes Association has dedicated countless hours to raising awareness and funds for the care of those living with diabetes and funding research for a cure. They have designated the month of November as National Diabetes Month. There are so many ways for you to donate and make a difference. Here’s how we in Baltimore can help the cause.

Donations are crucial to the American Diabetes Association. All of the money received through donations goes right back into those suffering from diabetes. The ADA provides invaluable resources for those living with diabetes. The estimated total national cost of caring for those with diabetes is near $245 billion in the United States. By donating even just a little, you can help someone receive care that they might not get otherwise. Donate here.

The inaugural Greater Maryland Fabulous YOU luncheon takes place this month on the 12th at the Horseshoe Casino. Join hundreds of women from all walks of life in a celebration inspiring and empowering them all to be their most fabulous selves inside and out. The celebrations starts with a luncheon to fuel you up followed by interactive stations to explore. All of the stations will include health and beauty related activities to teach you to empower yourself and feel beautiful inside and out. Make sure to stay for the keynote speaker, Dr. Michelle A. Gourdine, who will inspire you to take charge of your own health. Check here to buy your tickets.

November 17th is National Healthy Lunch Day, encouraging you to make the right choices when it comes to the things you’re putting into your belly. The American Diabetes Association is inviting you and your business or organization to join them that day for the healthy eating challenge. Making healthy choices for your meals can help prevent type 2 diabetes and other obesity related illnesses. Register for the pledge and your organization will receive an e-toolkit to help you make better decisions when it comes to mealtimes. Head here to learn more and to register your organization.

Living with diabetes is a challenging task but it’s manageable with the right funding and tools. Together, we can find a cure. Until then, it’s up to us to help those living with it cope with it and make the right choices. Do you know someone living with diabetes?

Handling Stress In Your Daily Life

You’ve most likely known some form of stress your entire life. Whether it be tough tests in elementary school, relationships in high school, balancing school and a job in college or paying bills as an adult, stress comes in every shape and size and unfortunately, there’s enough to go around for everyone. Today, November 4th, is Stress Awareness Day, which aims to identify any stress in your life and find healthy outlets for it. There are so many outlets for you to get the stress out and relax.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

One of the best stress relievers that there is is yoga. Yoga focuses on breathing techniques and stretching to slow your heart rate and ease you into a calmer and more peaceful state of mind. Charm City Yoga has seven locations throughout Baltimore, with the closest being just 6 minutes away in Federal Hill. You can take group classes, individual sessions for a more personalized focus and workshops for specializations. Newbies to the exercise can join for just $30 a month. Bring a friend each month with your monthly guest passes, grab a towel and mat when you forget yours at home and get %10 off yoga wear in the shop. These and a ton of other benefits are just a small part of why you should pick up yoga. Start relieving your stress with a healthy mind and body.

Sometimes all it takes to clear your mind and relax is some good old fashioned fresh air. Luckily for us at McHenry Row, we’re in close proximity to some pretty fabulous parks to roam through, starting with Latrobe Park. Latrobe has some great outlets for releasing stress. The tennis and basketball courts will be there when you need to let your frustrations out and whack a few tennis balls around with all your might. If that’s not what you need then, you can walk to the dog park and just sit and watch the puppies frolic. There’s nothing better for relieving stress than a nice, fluffy dog. Get some extra fresh air and take a walk to the park. It’s only 11 minutes away on foot and the extra time outdoors will help relieve the stress even more.