Small Town: Cockeysville (Part 1)

Date of Visit: July 31, 2021
Weather: Sunny, somewhat crisp, temps in the low to mid-70’s
Music: Ninja Sex Party

This Saturday’s excursion was a bit more abbreviated than I had initially anticipated. I took my husband out to get coffee, but he didn’t like the place we ended up going, and they were out of all the sweet treats we both wanted to try. We also did not go to the place I wanted to go to for dinner because my brother-in-law decided to make homemade Japanese food, and I am not going to say no to that.

I have a bit of an advantage in going to places in Cockeysville as I live QUITE close to it, and have been in and around the environs for the better part of a decade. It’s more suburb than rural small town, but it still comes in within the population limit I set for myself at the beginning of this adventure (21,038 in 2019). Cockeysville was founded in Baltimore County in the 1700’s by members of the Cockey family. Thomas Cockey settled himself in the area in 1725, and his son Joshua Frederick Cockey was responsible for constructing one of the first homes in 1798, as well as the first hotel in 1810. His son, Joshua F. Cockey, built the train station in the 1830’s and some of the prominent commercial buildings. The local Episcopal church, Sherwood Episcopal, was established in 1837 during this time of growth. Joshua’s son, Joshua F. Cockey III, founded the National Bank in 1891, and developed home along what was then known as the York Turnpike, and is now present-day York Road. [1] Part of Cockeysville are more developed than others, mostly to the South. The farther North you go, to the East and West, things become sparser, and the suburbs give way to a more rural feel.

On this sunniest yet crisp last day of July, we drove out to John Brown Coffee off Falls Road. Every day, their Instagram page shows the goodies they have for sale. We went about two hours after they opened, which was a mistake only because there was nothing left by the time we got there. If you truly want to have a chance at getting some of their goodies, you must stop by when they open, or very soon after.

Though sad, I was undeterred, and got myself an iced vanilla latte. I’m sure many of you have noticed a theme of my getting iced coffee from these coffee shops. And, well, iced coffee is the bomb, especially during the summer. The barista used whole milk, and it was delicious and creamy, with just a hint of vanilla. I am looking forward to going back for another or trying another of their specialties. They also have concoctions such as honey thyme lattes, cold brews, chocolate dirty chai, and London fog. I think the London fog is calling my name for next time.

The cashier told us that the butcher’s next door might have some cookies, so we went into John Brown General and Butchery. Almost immediately when you enter, you can smell cooking meat, and you see the large meat case with almost every type of meat you can imagine: whole chickens, pork cheeks, racks of lamb, sirloin tip steaks, dry-aged rib eye, and no less than three different types of Japanese wagyu beef. There is also a case on the other side of the register with house-made sausage (ask about the Frito Pie sausage). We continued browsing, and towards the back saw their freezer cases where they are dry aging their meats, before getting to their extensive collection of wine and other spirits near the indoor eating area.

In addition to all these products, there are numerous bottles of different kombucha brands; cheeses; prepped meats in bags to bring home; house-made broths; lard; ice cream from a local farm; specialty mustards; miso paste; different vinegars; and spice rubs, among with items. They were even selling bread behind the counter, and a loaf of sourdough came home with us, along with the special mustard, and prepped pork shoulder. In addition to all of these, if this wasn’t enough, you can also order lunch from the counter. Their menu changes often so make sure to come back more than once. We will certainly be coming back to see what sandwiches we can get and experience how delicious they are, along with some other goodies.

The next time I venture out to Cockeysville, there will be more than just one stop, but sometimes life gets in the way, and we have to improvise. I hope I’ve once again inspired you to take a little visit somewhere you might not have otherwise known about. As always, enjoy the journey!

John Brown Coffee- 13501-13523, Falls Rd, Cockeysville, MD 21030
Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 7 AM-4 PM, Saturday and Sunday: 8 AM-5 PM
Website: https://www.johnbrowncoffee.com

John Brown General and Butchery- 13501 Falls Road, Cockeysville, MD 21030
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 10 AM-6 PM
Website: https://jbgbutchery.com

[1] “Cockeysville, Maryland”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockeysville,_Maryland.

Small Town: Westminster (Part 1)

Date of Visit: July 25, 2021
Weather: Sunny, humid, with temps in the 80’s and 90’s
Music: True Crime Obsessed podcast

This past Sunday, hot and humid that it was, I decided to take a solo trip to Carroll County and stop in at the town of Westminster for my breakfast. As a lot of my outings the last few weekends have been achieved by way of the back-roads, I decided to take the highway to Westminster (though you can get to Westminster from my area by back-roads, it’s just way more round-about), and went down 83 South to 695 West, to 795 North, to MD-140 West and onto MD-27 South to get to the Main Street area of Westminster itself. From points south, you can reach Westminster by going North on 97.

Westminster was founded by William Winchester in 1764 after he moved to the area, purchasing some 167 acres called “White’s Level” by its previous owner, John White. William Winchester named the community after himself, Winchester’s Town, but it was changed in 1768 to Westminster because “the mail was too often mistakenly delivered in nearby Winchester, in Frederick County, Virginia”. [1] The town was incorporated in 1818 and was originally on the boundary between Baltimore County to the East and Frederick County to the West before the formation of Carroll County in 1837, which is the county the town is in today. [2]

I arrived in town a little before 10 AM, making use of a parking lot on Railroad Avenue that boasted free parking on the weekends (metered during the week). I initially planned to go to the tCUP Café for breakfast, but the shop was closed, and I couldn’t discern the reason for it aside from a hastily scribbled note on the front window (I checked social media and didn’t find anything). I was slightly disappointed, but I decided to try my luck further up Main Street, and found myself near the historic district at the Rare Opportunity Bakehouse. The shop is in what looks like a home from the Victorian era, and indeed was most likely a residence in the 1800’s. There is a small porch with three tables for outdoor seating, along with a bench at street level to the right of the stone steps leading inside.

There were a lot of options on the menu to choose from, not to mention all the baked goods on display: scones, brookies, cake slices, cookies, black bottom cupcakes. I wanted to try everything (and indeed, I did come back for an almond scone after my breakfast), but I settled on a sausage, egg and Muenster cheese sandwich, an iced vanilla coffee, and the lone black bottom cupcake to eat out in the early morning sunshine (it wasn’t too sticky yet). The food was incredible, and so was the coffee, and I am looking forward to trying the options on their lunch menu, and maybe a cold drink the next time I come in.

In addition to baked goods and things from the kitchen, they also sell bags of Zeke’s coffee, bagged tea, jams and jellies, and local honey, among other sundries. They have stalls at farmer’s markets around the area, including on Saturdays at the Westminster Farmer’s Market (May 16- Nov 21, Saturdays, 8 AM-12 PM), and if you can’t make it into the shop, I highly encourage you to find them at the farmer’s market to get your fix.

After breakfast, I took a leisurely stroll up Main Street, iced coffee in hand, drinking in the old buildings. I have a deep love of history (I have 2 degrees on the subject), and I can’t get enough of old buildings. If I see a historical marker on the side of the road, or even one on the street, I will stop and look at it if I can. I passed by the Carroll County Historical Society, and spotted a historical marker detailing when Confederate troops passed through Westminster during the Civil War in June of 1863. This website offers a map of a self-guided tour you can take through Westminster, and important stops along the way: http://carrollcountytourism.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Corbits-Charge-Tour.pdf

The weather started to get a little muggy, so I left Main Street, and went back onto MD-140, with my destination being Baugher’s (pronounced “boggers”) Orchard. Previously, I had only been to Larriland Farm in Woodbine for pick your own fruit (a separate entry will be coming on Larriland in the next few months). Baugher’s was a little different in that you bought tickets to get into the fields, and an open-air bus/wagon/tractor took you out there with others to get your fruit or vegetables. When I went, they were advertising pick your own nectarines, and those did sound nice, but it was even hotter and more humid by the time I got there, and there were a lot of people, so I just opted to look at the orchard market and bought myself a few things: a large container of applesauce for only $3.99, some maple walnut fudge, a small basket of peaches, sugar-free maple praline syrup, and two coasters with the Maryland flag on them. They had many more products I am eager to get on my next visit: popcorn, raspberries, English walnuts, honey, beauty products, pies, homemade ice cream, jams and jellies. There are truly too many items to list here, and I don’t want to spoil the surprise for you when you make your way out there (you’ll go out there, right?). Baugher’s also has a restaurant with an adjacent fruit market, which I will also have to check out the next time I return. There’s always more to explore! Until next time, enjoy the journey!

Rare Opportunity Bakehouse- 172 East Main Street, Westminster, MD 21157
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday: 7 AM-3 PM, Sunday: 7 AM-2 PM
Website: http://www.rareopportunityfarm.com/

Baugher’s Orchards and Farm- 1015 Baugher Road, Westminster, MD 21157
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 9 AM-6 PM (May-June: 7 days a week, July-August: Friday-Sunday, September-October: Saturdays and Sundays)
Website: https://baughers.com/index.php
**Always call ahead before coming for the pick your own: 410-857-0111**

[1] “History of Westminster”, http://www.westminstermd.gov/264/History-of-Westminster.

[2] Ibid.

Small Town: Monkton (Part 2)

Date of Visit: July 11, 2021
Weather: Cloudy then sunny, temps in the 80’s and 90’s
Music: AJR, Bo Burnham, Britney Spears

My second excursion to Monkton was as much of a delight as the first one, and this time, I had company. One of my friends came over, and we drove the scenic backroads of Monkton towards our first stop of the day for breakfast: The Monkton Hotel and Café. The building itself pre-dates the Civil War, built in 1858 [1], and is a landmark on the Northern Central Rail (NCR) Trail that snakes its way from Cockeysville, Maryland to York, Pennsylvania. Before the NCR Trail was established in the early 1980’s, Monkton was one of the many stops coming north or south, and the railway station is situated less than 500 feet away from the front of the building. In addition to being a hotel, there is a café on the ground floor where you can get breakfast, lunch, and other treats to eat in the seating area in front, or take to go. You can also opt to rent bikes for exploring the surrounding area or the Trail, or tubes to use in the nearby Gunpowder Falls waterway.

When we got to the parking lot, there was a small back up of about 3 or 4 cars in front of us, the occupants of which were taking up space while they got tubing equipment and got ready to go into the water (shedding outer clothing to their swimsuits underneath, putting on water shoes, etc). After waiting for awhile trying to figure out what to do, we had almost made the decision to leave when one of the café employees came out and made them move so we could park. We both appreciated that he had done that, and found out that that happens a lot when the weather is hot. As an aside, there is a lot of roadside parking along MD-138 W, with access to the hotel and the other outdoor recreation areas I mentioned. You may have to walk a little to get back to the hotel.

The café is quaint and cozy: a small table of local craft wooden bowls for sale greet you when you step over the threshold and onto the blue and white checkered floor. There is a small cooler with cold drinks next to the butcher block topped white counter, and there are baked goods from Stone Mill Bakery on the counter next to the register. The menu above, written in what looks like chalk marker, is sparse but straight forward. We both ordered smoothies- my friend had mango vanilla, and I opted for the mixed berry (raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries)- and we opted to split a chocolate croissant, and a hot bagel sandwich. Everything was very delicious and hearty, and kept us full for hours, but I will be coming back specifically for that bagel sandwich, and won’t be splitting it with anyone the second time.

Once we were finished with breakfast, we drove out through more backroads and down Jarrettsville Pike, arriving at Ladew Topiary Gardens, a landmark in the area (crossing over into the Harford County portion of Monkton). The gardens were designed by Harvey S. Ladew after he purchased the land, which was previously known as Pleasant Valley Farm, from a descendant of the original family who had owned the land since the 1740’s: the Scarffs. The Manor House’s original foundation dates from 1747 and has been expanded throughout the centuries. There are 22 acres of gardens filled with various flowers, berries, and different topiary sculptures. Everything we saw was beautiful, and we didn’t even see everything while we were there, but some of my favorites included the Portico Garden, the Water Lily Garden, the Rose Garden, the Keyhole Garden, and the Temple of Venus.

I could have spent most of the day in the Portico Garden, thanks to both the serenity of the space, and the small water lily pond with small fish, and more than a few frogs that popped up to say hello. Ladew also boasts a seasonal butterfly house near the (currently closed) café that houses a variety of native butterfly species, and a few moths. I am looking forward to my next visit to see all of the places I missed, though I will make sure to wear sunscreen, as the weather turned from cloudy to sunny and I got a sunburn from standing out in the sun without protection. Once we were finished with the Gardens, we went over to Hampstead for lunch, which is detailed in the next entry!

Monkton Hotel and Café- 1900 Monkton Road, Monkton, MD 21111
Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 10 AM-5 PM, Saturday and Sunday: 9 AM- 5PM
Website: https://www.monktonhotel.com/

Ladew Topiary Gardens- 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, MD 21111
Hours: Thursday-Tuesday: 9 AM-3 PM
Admission: Adults- $15, Seniors (62+) and Students- $10, Children (2-12)- $4, Children under 2- free
Website: https://ladewgardens.com/

[1] Monkton Hotel: About, https://www.monktonhotel.com/about.