Wow, 2014 just flew by, didn't it? It was a very good year here in the Historic District. We won a makeover from Benjamin Moore paints that really lifted everyone's spirits and made the town look vibrant and fresh-all of the buildings getting painted at the same time really made our town pop.
We also landed in the top four destinations of Parade Magazine's "Best small towns in America" contest. And, Money Magazine made us number six of their fifty best places to live in America. Money said we have "quaint older homes and a charming downtown."
I know we don't need to be told how great a place we live in, but it's nice to get that recognition sometimes. I hope you resolve with me to take more advantage of what we have this year — patronize the wonderful individual businesses that make up the Historic District, volunteer with the great nonprofits that work hard to keep our town vibrant, and soak up the history that has been being made here since the Ellicott brothers arrived 243 years ago.
It's good that we don't rest on our laurels, either. We continue to strive to improve. Toward that end, it's encouraging that we now have a town manager, Debra Korb, who is working to coordinate the different groups working in the Historic District.
One new group that has made significant strides is the Ellicott City Arts Coalition. This group introduced the Art Walk event and has brought a lot of good attention to the blossoming art colony at the far west end of Main Street.
So, in 2015, plan to go to the summer movies at the Wine Bin, the concerts behind Tonge Row, First Fridays, Girls Night Out, the Farmers Markets, Midnight Madness, the Historical Society's Music at the Museum series, the Holiday Festival of Trains, the Ghost Tours ... I think you get the picture — there is lots to do here!
Read a book
I am delighted to report that people are still reading real books, and that there is a new bookstore on Main Street ready to supply them. Green Row Books opened this past fall at 8132 Main St. It is hosting a trio of book clubs that will make reading fun for everyone.
The Kids Book Club is for students ages 8 to 14. The next meeting is at the shop on Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. The book selection is "How to Outrun a Crocodile When Your Shoes are Untied."
Another club is the food-based Book Plates, which will next meet at the Rumor Mill at 7 p.m. on Jan. 13. A fee of $20 covers the cost of the book and a snack at the restaurant.
The third choice is a Brown Bag Book Club, which meets the third Wednesday of each month. In this club the titles are a surprise — you pick up your book wrapped in brown paper at the shop and don't open it until you leave the shop. Sounds like fun.
For more information about these clubs, contact Green Row Books at 410-750-7000 or info@greenrowbooks.com.
The Howard County Historical Society is offering a new lecture series at the Museum on Court Avenue called "Lunch Dates with History." The first in the series will be on Friday, Jan. 9, at noon. It is "Restoring a Historic House" with Ray and Pat Greenwald. Bring your own lunch and drinks and treats will be provided. The lecture will be followed by an optional tour of the museum. The event is free to members and $5 for non-members.
Also, now that the holidays are behind us and we all have more time to try new recipes, don't forget about the Historical Society's new 50th anniversary cookbook, "Let's Dish." Contact the society at 410-480-3250.
Restaurant weeks
Restaurant weeks are coming up Jan. 19 to Feb. 2. Nothing breaks up the cold dark days of winter better than exploring new restaurants or trying new menus at the tried and true favorites. This year two restaurants in the Historic District will be participating — Tersiguel's French Country Restaurant and LaPalapa. Those are certainly two very different dining experiences, both terrific.