A Note from the Editor-in-Chief
Pattee Brown
The magnets were everywhere for months and I was determined to know who was responsible for this very cool project. Wayne Burke was elusive, to say the least, but when I finally tracked him down, the man known to me as “Magnet Man” agreed to give the Gorilla an exclusive interview. You’ve got to love this guy’s story. When you read “Artist Colony,” you’ll understand why.
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Who Is Magnet Man?
By Adrienne Lawrence Photo by James DarbyDowntown business owner Blanch Henry first saw the magnets stuck to a lamp post in front of the Serenity Tearoom, her tea and lunch shop located on East Patrick Street.
“That’s when I started collecting them,” she tells the Gorilla. “I was curious who was making them.”
She thought a meter maid or postman might have left the business card-size magnets on the pole. She knew it had to be someone who spent a great deal of time in downtown Frederick because, after spotting her first one, she started to see them in a variety of places.
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The Women Behind the Skates
Local Roller Derby—Mason Dixon Roller Vixens & Key City Roller Derby
By Rachael Schankle Photos by Bill MilliosFlat-track roller derby—how cool is that? It’s a cult phenomenon—or a sport—that has been sweeping the U.S. for almost a decade now. And it’s inspiring to see women play, such as those on the Mason-Dixon Roller Vixens.
And when it was time to don my own skates and derby gear, I thought, “what have I gotten myself into?”
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Boutique Libation Eateries
Roasthouse Pub: another specialty restaurant boosting Frederick’s local economy.
By Bethany Emerson Starin Photos by Bill Millios
In June, Roasthouse Pub swung open its doors, joining the ranks of Frederick’s eateries that revolve around good alcohol.
Like The Tasting Room, Barley and Hops and Brewer’s Alley, which craft their own microbrews, and the wine lover’s Shab Row Bistro or the Wine Kitchen on Carroll Creek Promenade, Roasthouse boasts an extensive drink list. But the restaurant’s claim to fame is that it carries Frederick’s largest selection of craft beers on draft—20 to be exact.
“We always joke that there is nothing to do in Frederick, but eat,” says co-manager Jeff Beckelman with a laugh. Kris Norris, also co-manager, adds that every time a keg is “kicked” (emptied) at Roasthouse, a new brew is brought in, keeping the list of beers constantly rotating.
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Street Cred
By Caroline Nash Photos By James AdkinsFor this department, I imagined writing a snarky, humorous, light-hearted piece about a rather insignificant topic like “What’s your favorite beer?” or “Where was your first kiss?”
Instead, the question I decided to ask is, “Have you noticed an increase in crime where you work or live?” and this has elicited some interesting answers from sources. Some I spoke to were too afraid of retaliation to have their names published—much less their photos run—while others seemed to have a rather naïve notion of the risks.
A few even said they were too scared to sit in their backyards and anonymously report gangs walking the streets, intimidating the residents.
Read MoreDiametrically Opposed
Submitted by Participants Photos by Bill MilliosEditor’s Note:
To ensure we engage in civilized discussion, we must at the very least agree on the definition of the words we are using. Often, however, I have witnessed heated discussions based on semantics, rather than the issues at hand. If the words we use mean one thing to us, and something entirely different to others, the chances are we’ll get nowhere in our discussion, and likely reduce our exchanges to name-calling or worse.
So, by way of example, I turned to two, politically active people in Frederick to define two words that are not always used consistently. I asked a Democrat to define the word “conservative,” and I asked a Republican to define the word “progressive.” Then, I had the Democrat comment on the Republican’s definition, and I had the Republican comment on the Democrat’s definition.
Here is how this experiment turned out.
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