Victorian Bed And Breakfast At 10 Clarke Place Frederick MD

During the Victorian Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts movement there was a love of beauty and nature that was reflected in all of the arts of that time period. The artists were rejecting the coming machine age. Upon entering 10 Clarke Place, a bed and breakfast in Frederick Maryland, I was immediately transported into the Victorian world of the Art Nouveau and Pre-Raphaelite painters. The experience felt as if I were in one of those famous romantic painter's homes. Resplendent in texture and color, comfortable without being stuffy, an abundance of period antiques invited you to immediately sit and relax. Every detail observed gave the impression of living in another time, and I was loving this house! This was the perfect retreat from modern living, be it to get away from an industrialized age, or the pervasive electronic technology of today! I was grateful to be in this magical space. We were welcomed into this glorious home by the vivacious owner and designer Monique. Ben and I knew we had come to the right place for our get-a-way weekend!

Once inside, I was thrilled to find the living room walls were covered in the finest wallpapers from Bradbury and Bradbury. These masterwork wallpapers have been favorites of mine for years. How wonderful to see the many layers and trims built up along the borders and onto the ceiling of this room up close. Gorgeous! The sofa and club chair reminded me of ones I once owned. I felt at home!

Every lamp, whether it hung from the ceiling, stood on a stand, or rested upon on a table, was unique. The lovely hostess and her husband have done an astounding job of decorating and restoring this beautiful period home. They are quite a team, and we get to enjoy the benefits of their creation.

We felt entirely fortunate to find such an amazing place to stay, given our short notice of a few days. Having just moved, living among boxes at the old castle, then being surrounded by the dig out from those boxes at 'Hobbit House,' we needed to get away! Our brains were fried, and this remarkable B and B turned out to be a sublime solution! A big thanks to my fantastic husband and his thoughtful idea! I did not know just how perfect it would be for me! The Queen was in her personal heaven.

Anyone who knows me, would be aware of my love of iridescent peacock feathers, as I have them all over my home in various displays. So imagine my awe and wonder, at seeing a dining room inspired by the famous Whistler/Leyland Peacock Room from the Freer Gallery Of Art in this home! Jaw dropping! Magnifique! The decorative artists who worked on the rooms of this house were indeed talented. Since that was my former profession too, I am happy to say they did it right! I am ready to sip a cup of green tea by this fireplace, please. Then off we went with Monique up the staircase to check out our room for the night. Passing a stained glass window, and another glorious lamp on the newel post, we turned into a long hallway. What is behind door number two?

We enter and once again I am floored at how this bedroom is so me!  A romantic twig bed that is just perfect for this Fairy Queen! Yes, it's another out-of-this world piece of romantic design by Monique.

Note the hand painted lace wall in the lightest whisper of color in the photo below. This is a time consuming faux glazing technique that is well worth the effort when done in such a subtle color scheme. The wonderful charming bedroom was also appointed with a large elaborate mirrored antique armoire wardrobe. Maybe it leads to Narnia! You can see The Queen is pleased!

After gushing about our room, we unpacked and decided to go for a walkabout in Frederick for the afternoon and evening. The weather was inviting and sunny, so we were off to enjoy the day!

Out past the porch swing and avenue of impeccable historic Victorian homes we went. We were quite happy there were no brown boxes in sight! Ahhh! This felt good!

We decided to start with the little shops of Shab Row and Everedy Square.

We meandered slowly through the quaint area, and sadly a few shops had already closed for the day. Still it was a good walk through the neighborhood.

Hungry, we stopped in the casual Frederick Coffee Co. And Cafe for some healthy and delicious veggie sandwiches. I think this was the best powerhouse type of sandwich I have ever eaten. You can see from their menu boards they have an excellent vegetarian selection. Which for a vegan is really important! We definitely will return to enjoy the food at this cafe again! Now, if they could add a fresh green juice, and green smoothie bar that would be awesome!!!

Check out the vintage coffee grinder sitting in the corner of the room.

As evening set in we drove uptown towards Market street. I always love the view of the church spires from atop this parking garage on Church Street. We seem to be floating in the clouds.

Gee I wish we had gotten to this art gallery below earlier, but we were not on a schedule, just wandering...there is always much to do and see in downtown Frederick! Looks like we missed a very cool art show featuring psychedelic posters from the sixties.

As it became darker we headed back to our comfy B and B to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Moving past the whimsical fountain display, I had to peek at the walls in The Peacock room again!

Then we sat for awhile in the living room to take in that amazing wallpaper and room decor!

I love the tapestry drapes that hang from the entrance to each of the sitting rooms downstairs, as they really give the air of authenticity. Just look at that wooden hand carved decorative Victorian birdcage. What a beauty! Those fantastic giant palms are a nice touch too!

It's time to retire to our soothing room where sparkling water waits on the nightstand.

We awoke to the smell of breakfast in the air. Anyone want to take a long peaceful soak in the claw foot tub below? A glass enclosed shower stall, and hand painted sink on a marble topped chest was equally lovely in this light filled room. You can get pampered easily here.

 
Breakfast was served in the Peacock Room! As the morning light filtered through the windows I thought, "What a wonderful room to start our day!" More eye candy for me!

One of my favorite parts of going to a Bed and Breakfast along with the intimate settings is getting to know new people. So we invited Monique and her husband to join us for breakfast. I was fascinated by these people who would create such a lavish setting, and share it with guests. Just imagine going on antique hunts with Monique! We ran into her a few months later in town, and that was exactly what she was doing! She has the best eye for what works together! Below is my tasty mango smoothie!

Pictured is Ben's generous breakfast plate of Monique's home made chocolate waffles with strawberries, fresh whipped cream, and a side of bacon. I spy fresh muffins too! They were sent over from a neighboring B and B, so nice!

Since being diagnosed with breast cancer, I no longer eat meat. Monique provided me with fresh kiwi slices instead of bacon, and an extra helping of strawberries on my waffles! Yum! During breakfast some very nice friends of the owners stopped over, and we all sat around the dining table chatting and having some tea. I loved learning more about this home and the historic area.

After our divine breakfast it was time for us to go to a Renaissance festival in Annapolis for the day. We really enjoyed our stay, and we will return again... and probably again...to 10 Clarke Place. The captivating setting, friendly hosts, and the fresh made food, provided us with all we could have wanted for our quick get-a-way weekend! Monique and her husband have lovingly restored this stunning home, and the care taken is evident in every exquisite detail, I think you will like it here too!

I have an idea, which is the only way they could improve on this Victorian immersion experience for me, this would be to create a bedroom dedicated to my favorite Art Nouveau graphic artist Alfonse Mucha! (See my old Mucha foyer here) Then perhaps scatter a few Pre-Raphaelite influenced paintings or tapestries throughout the home! Something like this, this or this. (Of course there are so many more...) The Painting Queen thinks such romantic artistry would fit nicely into a home based on such elegant beauty. So wonderful to live in our dreams! That is what this bed and breakfast does for me!

Ben and I can highly recommended this gem of a bed and breakfast at 10 Clarke Place that's nestled on a very quaint Victorian street in Frederick, Maryland. Once you step inside to this quieter place in time, you will be surrounded by the picturesque loveliness of another era. A breath of fresh air in a busy world. Dream on.

American Visionary Art Museum

Come take a trip with me to a land of no boundaries, and no rigid pre-conceived ideas about art. I promise you will have fun!

You are going on a great googly-moogly trip to funky fun-town!

Let's ride down the river of free imagination. Let's get surprised, 

and fill our heads full of wonder and awe. Play, play, play!

Allow the shiny happy things in life to shimmer and shine their way into your heart. Watch and run through the sparkles and rainbows that scatter in all directions from this 'Universal Tree Of Life.' This is just like the Queen's own room of natural rainbows, gotten from stringing all manner of crystals in every window. The sun and earth together can make magic happen! So can you! Feel your lightness!

Yes just let your mind go. Be free to think silly thoughts and smile loudly! Now how often do you see a nest full of people? We are in a wonderland of ideas made manifest. 

We are happy like wax lips!

Yes, there are real peeps in that nest.

Where in the mad hatters world are we my dear? We are at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore Hon! There are no rules here...no boxes...and no formally trained artists.

Since they don't allow cameras inside the buildings my photos are taken in their outside spaces, which happen to have a few funtastical sculptures that I can share with you. I do wish I could have shown you the beautiful blue bottle covered hearse in the Jim Rouse Visionary Building. Elvis would have adored it!

Feast your eyes on this eight foot mosaic egg! The Queen loves eggs... and sparkly things...so I really wish for this sculpture to be in my castle! I just want to hug it! Gorgeous from every angle and when the sunbeams hit it look out! The mosaic design is based on the photos taken with the Hubble Telescope of our beautiful galaxy.

The museum sits next to Federal Hill where crowds come to watch movies on this wall with the giant hand over the big movie screen. Imagine that the hand is going to reach down and pluck someone right out of a movie scene. Bwah-hahahaha

It's time to go and see the crazy funkyfide art that lives inside The American Visionary Art Museum. Oh there is that egg again! Can't get enough of it!    Speaking of Galaxies, the show inside AVAM right now is called  'All Things Round - Galaxies, Eyeballs, and Karma!'  You have to visit the AVAM website as it is a wonderment in itself, plus you will get a peek at some of the things going on in the museum.

After going through all the levels of the museum we were hungry! So we went to 'Mr. Rain's Fun House' for lunch located on the top floor of the museum. Since it was a very warm October day we decided to eat outside on the patio over looking Federal Hill and the giant whirligig kinetic sculpture that constantly spins and moves in the breeze.

Oh My! The food is just as fantastic as the exhibitions of AVAM! Let's eat! While we waited our server brought us some soft pretzel bites and honey mustard. This Philly girl was extra happy when they brought us a second round of these fun little delights!

Wowie Zowie the food here was soooooo good! This is no museum cafe folks, 'Mr Rain's Fun House' is a really awesome restaurant!
Our first course was Butternut Squash Soup. Mmmm a fall favorite!

Then came one the best sandwiches I have ever eaten! I am getting hungry just looking at this salmon fillet sandwich again! Look at that bread all full of holes. So good!

Ben had an Asian salad and veggie sandwich combo.

Of course the art work does not stop at the restaurant door. They have big funky bottle cap n' pearled animal-like heads hanging out on the walls of the patio Fun House for your viewing pleasure.

Ben and I usually share a dessert and this was a yummy work of art!

As we stare deeply into all the mosaic walls covering the AVAM's exterior walls, we think we are so glad to have taken this trip through time and space and arrived at such a place of artistic freedom. I may love the 'old masters,'  but I also know when it's time to indulge my inner child! This museum is the perfect outlet for a zany zippy toothy grin-fest! You certainly will remember the pieces of art that immediately made you say, "How cool is that!"

If you are ever in Baltimore a trip to AVAM funky fun town should be a priority. The museum is filled with all kinds of inventive pieces from tramp art to phantasmagorical paintings. It is located between the Inner Harbor and the Federal Hill area at 800 Key Highway. There is also a fun spirited museum shop called Sideshow that will keep you busy looking at all the loony and kitschy gifts.

Just watch that Egg... there may be other worldly beings transporting through this galaxy gateway to check out the joint during your visit!

PQ found this universal message in the parking area. Spread the Love!

Sesame Place: Toddler Hope And Tragedy, Then A Whole Lotta Philly Food

To celebrate Aowyn's 'only-child-ness' before she becomes a big sister in a few months, we planned a trip to Sesame Place in Pennsylvania. Loving Abby and Elmo, we felt this park would be perfect for her. 

Well...things don't always go as one would imagine. So it's a good rule to just go with the flow, however difficult or disappointing at the time. As a grandmother I was so looking forward to our two day trip to Sesame Place. To start out we had to get up at 6 am which does not go well for night owls. We managed to be ready and in our daughters vehicle on time. Ben caught up on some sleep during the long three and half hour drive. Not me. I cannot sleep in cars. Try as I might the night before to go to sleep early, my body would not cooperate. I sustained on four hours sleep. I had a pillow with me... just in case.  It is a tight fit next to the baby seat and my old aching body shifted often and then my breakfast sandwich fell between the seats. Not a good omen for the day.

It was good we had ordered our tickets and VIP parking passes online. This moves you along quicker when you arrive at Sesame Place. The VIP parking was an excellent choice as we parked right next to the entrance. This really helped my pregnant daughter and well...me! You can get your hand stamped and go out to the car during the day for supplies too. Other people had to park so far away! We were very glad we had paid the extra money for this parking area!

I remembered Sesame Place as an amusement park for toddlers.  My children and I went shortly after the park was opened over 26 years ago. Yes things have changed....a lot! 

There were no huge crowds and all the rides and play areas built at the time were easily accessible. Here are a couple old photos from 1985 of me and my two little ones. Now that little girl is taking her little girl to Sesame Place. Oh there's my eighties frosted perm.

The lack of people in these old pics is very evident and you can even see the Sheraton hotel in the background of one. Now there are so many big water rides that the view in the park is quite different.

Sesame Place has grown into a large water park with wall to wall big people in bathing suits and towels. Saturday was hot, steamy and uncomfortable. Just moving through the vast sea of people and strollers was overwhelming. All my energy was in finding shade and just breathing. We tried going into a few of the food areas for some air-conditioned shade. There was not one empty table in any of them. People kept pouring in from every direction. The lines were long for everything and that is not fun for toddlers or big peeps. We pressed on.

Aowyn is not known for her patience, and could not understand at two and half years old, the concept of waiting in long wrap-around lines to get on a ride. Cutting the line off right in front of her was cause for sad loud wailing sounds. Not the gooey wonderment we had all hoped for in our imagining this day we planned around her. 

Finally on the carousel ride, she was in baby heaven. Then it stopped. She did not understand having to get off of a ride either. So ended her short moment of glory. More tears.

Luckily Aowyn really enjoyed this soft blocks area the best of all. She could run round and round the big circle while interacting with other children. Occasionally she would escape to the next play area that had a colorful twisted slide and then jump in an old fashioned puddle on the sidewalk. I was really hoping there would be more safe creative play areas like this one just for toddlers.

Sitting on the carpeted steps we all felt this shady play area was a good spot for a relaxing break. I closed my eyes a few minutes while leaning on Ben, and then ate some tiny picnic sandwiches my daughter had made for such a moment. I felt refreshed.

Next we headed to one of the indoor shows featuring Elmo. This show was based on the 'Elmo's World' TV show and dancing. The wait in line was long, and many people butted in front of us, as our place in line was just in front of the door to the venue. I also felt the attendants could have moved us inside the small theater much sooner. Once inside my daughter spotted the best seats in the house. Up on the top row next to the exit. These seats had a Plexiglas wall in front of them allowing Aowyn to stand up and not bother anyone around her. Much better than being squished in the bleachers below.

Everyone was instructed to move down to the end of their benches to make room for all the people coming in. We were fine, but we spied a woman who refused to move from her seat near the aisle and then left a blank spot of three to four available seats. It was funny, because from above you could see she would have had twice as much room if she moved down the bench. An extremely large man was behind her and had her locked into a very uncomfortable position. Some people are just difficult, and that led to the last four people entering the theater being jammed into the row behind us.

Rules for the crowd were repeated over and over at the beginning of the show, and then finally... Elmo appeared, all red and furry. We were not sure how Aowyn would react to seeing him. It was disbelief, surprise, and awe. She kept holding her hand over her mouth as she stared down at him. Silence.

The show was enjoyable for her and was not too long. We quickly exited afterward and tried to make a game plan for the rest of the day. We decided to walk around the park and scope things out for the next day's activities. Of course we were hoping there would not be as many people on a Sunday. 

It seemed like the park had gotten even more crowded towards the evening. Attempts to get in line for rides were becoming impossible as the lines were just too long. Navigating the masses was really not much fun and now everyone was getting tired. Even the crowds were looking grumpy. Not those happy photos you see on the website.

Aowyn's parents thought they had a bit of luck when they arrived at the 'Sesame Street Hoopers Store' area just when Abby Cadabby arrived for a photo op. So they waited in front of Abby while the attendants got Abby ready. Well that was not to be, because they were on the right side of Abby and the powers that be formed a line on the left side of Abby. So close but so far away! Aowyn was not having any of that nonsense, she squirmed down from daddy and "bum rushed the stage" as they say. The attendants shushed her away from Abby. She is only two and was treated like a adult transgressor. Her little heart was broken. That was so sad.

Walking on through the park we came across another water feature area with a giant bucket that dumped water on the people walking under. The cool spray floated out to the crowd below. Tomorrow Aowyn would wear her bathing suit so she would be ready to experience the water rides quickly and easily.

Weary of getting in any more lines and tired of the stroller tangles we headed for the entrance gate. Tomorrow we would go through the Twiddle Bug water area, hopefully with more success. Gathering our thoughts and our exhausted bodies we planned Sunday's activities. Off we went to our hotel twenty minutes away. On the way we stopped at 'Lees Hoagie House of Newtown' to get some Philly food to take back to our room at the Hampton Inn in Doylestown. We knew Aowyn was too tired to handle a sit down restaurant as she fell asleep in the car anyway. A variety of very delicious hoagies were ordered: Tuna, Shrimp Salad, Grilled Vegetable and a Cheese Steak. The curly fries were fantastic too. The nine inch hoagies were large, quite good and almost too big to finish. Imagine ordering an 18 inch. OMG!

The Hampton Inn was new and the interior design was modern. The bathroom was really nice, and the beds comfy. We awoke to rain...a lot of rain! They have a self serve breakfast for hotel guests. It was fine for what it is. I am spoiled by Ben's wonderful breakfasts! 

Before going back to the park we need to stock up on more Philly foods! Sticky Buns and Soft Pretzels! I had gone online to find something in the Sesame Place area and found two excellent choices. They would close before we got out of the park so we need to make our purchases first. The google had the location of the 'Philly Pretzel Factory' wrong and we drove all around creation trying to locate the building. We even ended up using my daughter's GPS, which took us on a joy ride past my old high school. That was weird. 

I happened to jot down a second location in Levittown and we found that store easily. We purchased a dozen pretzels each to take home and freeze. Of course we ate some right away in the car and would take some into the Park for a snack later! Yum!!!! No they are not part of my new food lifestyle, but I told myself I would always allow 
an occasional treat, and especially not deny myself some carbo-liscious Philly food when back home. They reheat nicely in the toaster oven and even taste a bit like street vendor pretzels.

Fritz's Bakery is just across the street from Sesame Place, next to the Sheraton. We also noticed a Hoagie deli right next door, which makes this an ideal shopping center if you are visiting Sesame Street. It was pouring rain and the parking lot was a river. The feet got wet! You do not want to miss a trip to this Bakery!!! The place oozes with yummy gooey wonderfulness! They specialize in StickY Buns, so we got a half dozen to take home, as well as a snack box for the car. If I was not pre-diabetic I would have gotten a bunch of their Cinnamon buns that were covered in a pool of whipped cream cheese icing so thick that you could not see the round shape of the buns!

Arriving at Sesame Place we noticed the satellite parking areas were empty as well as nearby parking. We made our way to the VIP area and saw a few cars and people. Is the park closed? We saw people in bathing suits and rain ponchos. The rain was light at this time. The guys went in to investigate and reported that the park was open and some things are running. Sesame Place gave us the option to use our tickets as credit during this year for another day at the park, since it rained on our day. We decided to go in and see a couple of shows. By the time we got the stroller packed and covered from the rain, it was coming down hard again. As we entered the park, people came out saying everything was closed. After much back and forth we decided we had given Sesame Place our best shot, so we cut our losses and headed back home. 

Oh, but not before drowning our sorrows in more Philly food! I had mapped out the location of 'Steve Prince of Steaks' on nearby business route 1 in Langhorne. An award winning cheese steak operation very nearby! Whoo hoo! We found them just past the K-mart and guess what was just across the street? The original 'Philly Pretzel Factory' we had been looking for earlier that morning. Now we know this is another good hot spot for Philly food! Our Cheese steaks were excellent! Some of us got em' "wit" cheese. Meaning cheeze whiz, and some of us got provolone. My daughter wished it was possible to take home a dozen and freeze them, as they were that good! She is still thinking about those cheese steaks. Photo above needs cheese on that delish roll! We will be back someday Steeeeve! Below is a video about the Prince of Steaks.



Looking back on our trip, here are some recommendations for going to Sesame Place: Book your hotel way in advance as all the nearby hotels were booked and unavailable. We saw shuttle vans from 'The Sheraton' and 'The Holiday Inn Express' frequently pull into the VIP parking area. If you stay at those hotels you do not even have to mess or pay for parking. Consider, if you can afford it, to stay in the area the night before, so you are not already exhausted from a very long car trip before you even enter the park. Purchase your two day pass online for Sesame Place as well as the VIP parking for both days. Perhaps it is a good idea to pay extra for the privilege of not having to wait in long ride lines too. Pack a large cooler and eat out in the VIP parking area instead of bothering with the park's overcrowded food area. Try to plan your entrance route to Sesame Place by going around the mall ring from the other direction. You will not be stuck in a long traffic back-up line like on the highway entrance side. 

Afterward check out some of the Philly food places I have mentioned in this blog. They were all very good and you do not have to drive to downtown Philly to get your fix. I am so hungry for Philly food after working with the food photos above! I will be good! I will be good. I will be.... So then I find this video on combining the pretzel and the Cheese Steak at the Philly Pretzel Factory. Can you freakin believe it!!! Okay... I will go eat my avocado and tomatoes now.