Chesapeake Home

Empty your Easter baskets! You’ll need lots of room to carry home your goodies from this Saturday’s Shop Hop Scavenger Hunt, sponsored by the shops of Hampden.

That’s right – egg hunts aren’t just for the kids anymore. On Mar. 23, boutiques near The Avenue will offer customers the chance to have a little fun while they browse for treasures.

Here’s how it works: when customers enter a participating store, they will select from a basket an egg that contains a clue and special offer from a Hampden business. Using the clue, customers will find the business, where they can then apply the offer to receive a discount on their purchases. Afterward, customers can select another egg with a new clue and offer and go in search of the next business.

Among the shops participating are 9^th Life, Alchemy, Avenue Antiques and The Ideal, Charlotte Elliott and the Book Store Next Door, DoubleDutch Boutique, Hanging on a Whim, Have Fun Be Lucky, In the Details, Kiss and MakeUp, LovelyYarns, Mend, Parisian Flea, Party Dress, Studio C Jewelry & Boutique, and Wholly Terra. Additional shops will likely join the shop hop by Saturday, and customers can call their favorite shops to find out if they are taking part.

For more information about the Shop Hop Scavenger Hunt, please call Charlotte Hays Murray of Charlotte Elliott and The Book Store Next Door at 410-243-0990.

The best of Baltimore will be exhibited in miniature when the National Association for Catering and Events Baltimore (NACE Baltimore) throws its eighth annual UNCORKED! fundraiser on Mar. 18, from 5:30-11 p.m. at the Baltimore Country Club. On a Monday night like no other, the organization will present the finest in Charm City’s catering, dining and event design in hopes of raising $50,000 to benefit Moveable Feast and to fund scholarships, grants and educational programs for catering professionals through NACE Baltimore and the Foundation of NACE.

The theme, “Baltimore Rocks!,” will feature interpretations of prominent Baltimore landmarks. Following a stop at an imitation of the Baltimore Visitor Center, guests will proceed to the outdoor terrace, which will mimic the Inner Harbor Amphitheater with street performers and food and beverage vendors. Next, guests will visit the Maryland Room, which will represent the HarborPlace pavilions, and where additional food and beverage stations, entertainers and a silent auction will be present. Among the items available for bidding will be dining and travel packages, sports memorabilia, art and a party in the Governor’s skybox at an Orioles game.

After their tour of Downtown, UNCORKED! guests will travel to 11 of Baltimore’s neighborhoods, where local chefs, designers and event professionals will give visitors a taste of the unique culture and flavors of each district.

The evening will end with a trip to a refined rendition of 1950s Baltimore Street, where sightseers can take in a burlesque dance performance, a twist on a peep show photobooth, desserts from Charm City Cakes and karaoke provided by Absolute Entertainment.

Tickets to the event are $150, and over 300 guests are expected to attend. Where else can you enjoy a night about town without ever having to get in your car? Get all that Baltimore has to offer right here in one place, and support two wonderful causes.

The Baltimore Country Club is located at 4712 Club Road in Roland Park. For additional information, or to purchase tickets, please visit baltimoreuncorked.com.

As the daffodils begin to poke their heads above the soil, the very first signs of spring have us daydreaming of flirty skirts, light jackets and, perhaps most of all, cute accessories. And, boy, are we in luck! On Thursday, March 7 from 6-9 p.m., Hobo Flagship Store in Annapolis will herald the onset of the fairest season with its Spring Preview Party.

During this evening only, shoppers can enjoy discounts on new spring merchandise and have their pick of winter and holiday sale items. With their purchases, customers will be supporting a wonderful cause: Hobo will donate 100% of the event’s profits to Food Link, a nonprofit that works to alleviate hunger in Maryland.

And even while spring is all about ushering in the freshest in fashion, there is still plenty of room to celebrate the classics. This year, Hobo observes the 10^th anniversary of its iconic Lauren wallet, which designer Koren Ray says she wanted to create for “the multitasking woman.” Indeed, the Lauren features a quality leather exterior, deep pockets and a kiss lock, making it contemporary, feminine and flexible enough to transition between clutch and wallet.

You might need to buy a tote just to carry out all the bags up for grabs at this fantastic fundraiser!

Hobo Flagship Store is located at 194 Green Street in Annapolis. For more information, please visit Hobo’s website at  hobobags.com or call 410-349-5081.

This weekend, Baltimore’s “Historically Hip” neighborhood will throw a party for the history books themselves. On Saturday, Feb. 23, the Baltimore Museum of Industry will host Federal Hill’s 6^th annual Fest-of-All, an event celebrating the best of the south side of the Inner Harbor’s food and fashion.

From 7-11 p.m., guests can enjoy tasty bites from local restaurants such as Abbey Burger Bistro, Blue Agave, Bluegrass Tavern, Brewer’s Cask, LIV2EAT, Mad River Bar & Grill, MaGerk’s Pub, Midnite Confection’s Cupcakery, Mother’s Federal Hill Grille, No Way Jose Café, Pub Dog, Ropewalk Tavern, Ryleigh’s Oyster House, Thai Arroy and Trattoria Annamaria. Admission also includes an open bar.

When you’re finished eating with your fork, you can keep eating with your eyes by taking in a fashion show featuring the sumptuous designs offered at boutiques including B’more Betty, Brightside Boutique, Cottage Kidz, Curiosity, LOVELACE: The Showroom, Pandora’s Box, Phina’s for the Home, Posh Retro, Seleh’s de Federal Hill, The Bridal Suite and Vanessa’s Vintage Treasures.

Live music, provided by The Real Geniuses, will accompany the festivities. But if your updo is falling down from dancing the night away, don’t fret – representatives from M Salon, Kim’s Day Spa and Veruna Aveda Spa will be present to demonstrate techniques for hair, nails and make-up.

Tickets cost $75 in advance and $90 at the door. Fest-of-All has sold out the past two years, so secure your tickets to the event by visiting historicfederalhill.org or by calling 410-727-4500. The Baltimore Museum of Industry is located at 1415 Key Highway.

The designer is moving her creative studio and team to Hampden.

This month, Stephanie Bradshaw, Inc., a full-service design and branding firm, is relocating to Baltimore’s eclectic neighborhood of Hampden. Formerly based out of Cockeysville, the firm has blossomed into a fabulous success: Founder and Creative Director Stephanie Bradshaw was voted by Special Events Magazine one of the “30 Under 40 – Rising Young Events Professionals Worth Watching” in 2012.

By moving her studio and design team to Union Avenue in Hampden,  Bradshaw hopes to contribute her own artistic touch to the vibrant culture of the neighborhood while further expanding her services in styling people, events and locations. Stephanie Bradshaw, Inc. specializes in wedding and event design and planning, interior design, art direction, brand strategy, image consulting, personal styling, and marketing and public relations.

Along with its move, Stephanie Bradshaw, Inc. will launch an exciting new product line this spring. Keep an eye on Bradshaw and her creative team by visiting stephanie-bradshaw.com, or enlist their services for your own event or wardrobe by calling 410-844-0818.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Abingdon’s new Spa on the Boulevard offers a variety of relaxing treatments for couples.

In rooms boasting luxurious soaking tubs, side-by-side treatment tables and sweetheart dining tables, Spa on the Boulevard provides an intimate setting for you and your loved one to find calm and romance.

Experience the Couples Serenity treatment, which includes an aromatherapy soak, customized 60-minute massage and lunch ($250 per couple). Or, extend your mini-holiday by opting for the Journey of Tranquility, which provides all of the aforementioned treatments plus a pedicure ($330 per couple). Those seeking the ultimate in spa services might consider the Blissful Pairing, in which a choice of body treatment (Sedona Mud Mask, Tahitian Coconut or Lavender Sugar) precedes a soak, massage and lunch ($418 per couple).

If you’d rather forgo the romance, a spa treatment is a fabulous way to unwind with a friend. Get together with your closest companion and share a few hours pampering yourselves!

Spa on the Boulevard is located at 3491 Merchant Boulevard in Abingdon. To make an appointment, please call 410-569-0100. For more information about available services, please visit spaontheboulevard.net.

Though the Ravens have migrated south to play in this Sunday’s Super Bowl XLVII, hometown fans can still cheer them on from afar. While New Orleans pauses its Mardi Gras parades to welcome the big game, Baltimore’s own Four Seasons Hotel is just getting the party started, celebrating with purple-themed manicures, pedicures, cocktails and cupcakes.

Get your spirit fingers ready! The Spa will offer special manicures and pedicures in Baltimore Ravens purple polish.

Then, toast the hometown team by stopping by Wit & Wisdom, the Four Seasons’ own tavern, which will engage in a little friendly competition of its own. Paired against two of Michael Mina’s San Francisco-based restaurants, Clock Bar and Bourbon Steak, Wit & Wisdom invites guests to purchase the purple Ravens Royale, crafted with vodka, gin, honey, lemon juice and sparkling wine. The winning bar’s cocktail will be featured for a week following the Super Bowl.

For dessert, treat yourself to a lusciously lavender delicacy at Lamill Coffee, which will be serving up Ravens cupcakes and macarons.

To get your purple on, please visit the Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore at 200 International Drive, check out fourseasons.com/baltimore or call 410-576-5800.

It’s not unusual to see a food truck rolling around the streets of Baltimore these days. After Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake gave food trucks the go-ahead a couple of years ago, they can be spotted everywhere, including now at Everyman Theatre on Fayette Street.

Beginning this month, Charm City Gourmet Food Truck has been added as a pre-show dining option for patrons at Everyman Theatre. Known for its contemporary American cuisine featuring New England lobster rolls and falafel with Israeli salad, the truck will be parked outside of the theatre where patrons can either order directly from the truck and eat outside or enjoy the meal inside the Everyman lobby while enjoying table service.

The Charm City Gourmet Food Truck service begins this week. The theatre is also celebrating its Grand Opening Week Jan. 14-20 with a ribbon cutting ceremony, inaugural opening night, a black tie grand opening gala and a founders brunch. The theatre company’s inaugural production on Fayette Street, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning drama, “August: Osage County,” will run from Jan. 16 through Feb. 17, 2013.

On Tuesday, Jan. 15, patrons can “pay what they can” for a special performance of “August: Osage County.” Tickets are limited and will only be available in-person at the Everyman Box Office that night.

The new Everyman Theatre is located at 315 W. Fayette Street. For more information, please visit everymantheatre.org or call 410-752-2208.

The Everyman Theatre is closing up shop at its Charles Street location and moving to Fayette Street in downtown Baltimore. Celebrate the move and say goodbye to the Charles Street location at the “wrap party” hosted by the theatre company on Saturday, Dec. 8.

The party is open to all who wish to visit the theatre at its current location one final time before the curtains rise at the new theatre in January. There is a suggested donation of $25 per person at the door, but all donation amounts are welcome.

During the open house-style party, guests can go behind-the-scenes to parts of the theatre that were previously closed to the public. Explore the set of Heroes (the company’s final performance at the Charles Street location), peek into the dressing rooms and go backstage.

Guests will also have the opportunity to mingle and chat with theatre staff and resident company members. Light hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be available.

The Everyman Theatre was founded in 1990. For the last 18 years, Charles Street has been the theatre’s home. Photographs and memorabilia highlighting the theatre company’s history will be on display at the party.

An RSVP is required. Please email events@everymantheatre.org or call the theatre box office at 410-752-2208 to confirm your attendance.

After the move to the new Fayette Street location, various events will take place from Jan. 14 to 20 during Grand Opening Week. This includes a red carpet event for the first opening night at the new theatre, a black tie gala and a founder’s brunch. To learn more about Grand Opening Week, visit everymantheatre.org.

Looking to satisfy your shopping bug but not willing to battle through the crowded shopping mall parking lots? Hampden has the solution!

On the first Friday of each month, many Hampden retailers offer extended hours and special deals. For the next five weeks, every Friday is a First Friday! Participating Hampden merchants will celebrate the holiday season with extended hours every Friday night through Dec. 21 during the Hampden Holidays Five First Fridays.

This year, Cyber Monday takes place on Nov. 26. The Ma Petite Shoe website will feature additional promotions in its online store. Over the weekend, Hampden shoe and chocolate boutique Ma Petite Shoe paired with D.C. chocolatier Double Premium Confections for a Chocolate Happy Hour. Bailey Kasten, the owner of Double Premium Confections, was on hand to greet customers, as were samples of her chocolates that are sold regularly in the boutique.

To learn more about Ma Petite Shoe boutique, visit mapetiteshoe.com. For a full list of retailers participating in the Hampden Holidays Five First Fridays, please visit hampdenmerchants.com/five-first-Fridays.