AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
By last weekend, local shoppers were noticing little hints of Christmas like the evergreen wreaths that appeared in front of Giant supermarket. However, in Olde Severna Park, most of the merchants are waiting to put up Christmas decorations until Thanksgiving has passed.
On November 17, a Happy Hour was hosted by Red Apron Shoppe owners MaryAnn and Cam Neal at their 4 Riggs Avenue storefront. Held outdoors around a firepit, the occasion provided a chance for Olde Severna Park shop owners to meet and discuss ways to raise the shopping district’s profile and cement a stronger community feel. Promoting the town center as a great place for shopping with retailers, restaurants, a baker, a bookstore and neighborhood business people to support it was at the heart of the discussion – and what better time than during the holidays.
Chatting with Nancy Luttrell and WRNR Sales Manager Rick Marsalek, the Neals mentioned their building was constructed in the 1920’s. Not long afterward, town historian Scott Jay arrived with an album of photos from the community’s earliest days. One was of the Red Apron Shoppe when it was Doc Codd’s Pharmacy.
Guests from today’s shops, like Danielle Bowen from Blended Essentials, enjoyed seeing photos of the long-ago businesses. However, most feel the current crop of retailers is ready to shine.
As the original town center and heart of the community, Olde Severna Park has much to offer and is conveniently compact, with shops along both sides of Baltimore and Annapolis Boulevard, wrapping around to both sides of Riggs Avenue and McKinley Road and extending almost to Ritchie Highway.
One topic of conversation at the happy hour gathering was the Neal’s belief in restoring the town’s long-held reputation as the heart of the community by emphasizing its history. The couple even installed a counter in their shop featuring jars of penny candy and fresh eggs to recreate Cam’s childhood memories of going to Dawson’s Country Store and selecting candy from jars offered by Cliff Dawson himself.
For many years, the spirit of Christmas has lived on in the town through the annual community tree lighting at the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce offices at One Holly Avenue. This year, it will be held on December 3rd. By then the entire town will be decorated and the local businesses will delight in welcoming those who choose to Shop Local for food, beverages and gifts.
There are more than two dozen shops in Olde Severna Park that can fulfill most all your holiday needs. We checked out a few, starting at Severna Park Shopping Village. We parked in front of Park Books owned by Melody Wukitch. Inside, there were shelves full of books and gift items that would make wonderful holiday presents. The children’s section is particularly good.
Holiday hours were posted outside Park Books. 
At Park Books, Chris Wukitch serves a customer.
Next Door, at Savvy Consignment, there were already hints of Christmas nestled among various furniture vignettes.
Owner Stacy Cassidy said Savvy began accepting holiday consignment items the day after Halloween.
“We get a lot of shoppers during the holiday season. Many are looking for clothing or gifts. But people also come in looking for decorative items,” she said.
Cassidy added that Savvy customers always buy a lot of gift cards at Christmas in order to give friends or family “the gift of shopping”,
After leaving, we rounded a corner past Rockwell Fitness and came to All for the Pet. We couldn’t resist going in. Christmas gifts for dogs and cats were abundant. If doggy would like his own holiday wreath, miniature Christmas tree or jovial elf, All for the Pet is the place to go.
“Our new Christmas items were just put out yesterday and we are selling a ton of it,” said employee Alex Wiseman.
A few stores away, at Kirsten’s Cakery, the bakers were busy creating sweet treats suitable for the Thanksgiving or Christmas table. Flavorful Pecan Pie and Pumpkin Spice cupcakes would be great alternatives for the classics they represent and perfect for a holiday buffet. Beautifully decorated Red Velvet Truffles, with red swirls over white chocolate, resembled miniature Christmas balls. They are so delicious only half a trayful was left.
Owner Kirsten Klein – on the phone taking an order for a Thanksgiving cake – was having a very busy day.
“For the holiday season, we’re planning to have yule logs and many kinds of truffles.” Klein said. “As always, we’ll be filling many orders for custom-made cakes, pies and cupcakes for Hanukkah and Christmas.”.
Across the parking lot from Kirsten’s, at Dawson’s Liquor, holiday “spirits” abound. Behind Dawson’s, the tents of Diehl’s Produce are prepared to open for the Christmas season the day after Thanksgiving with the arrival of evergreens. They’ll have cider and a few other products as well.
If shoppers get hungry, there are umpteen places to grab a bite within walking distance. To name just a few, there are Adam’s Taphouse and Grille, Garry’s Grill, and Vida Taco Bar in Severna Park Shopping Village and across the street are Squisito’s, Geno’s and Sophie’s Crepes.
Along the opposite side of B&A Boulevard is The Big Bean. which traditionally carries special coffee blends and Christmas items. We caught up with Assistant Manager Ali Sage who shared the good news that the shop has reinstalled its indoor tables.
“I know many people will be happy to hear that since it’s getting cold out,” Sage said.
It will indeed be nice for the long-time neighborhood hangout to return to pre-pandemic normalcy in time for the holidays.
“In addition to our seasonally popular coffee blends, we’ll assemble a little Christmas bar of holiday pops and melt-in-your mouth chocolates just right for stocking stuffing,” Sage added.
There are no worries about shipping hold-ups for products among any of Olde Severna Park’s merchants as many of the products they carry are handcrafted or recycled renewables.
Gallery 564 at 564 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard was, opened three years ago by art dealer Michael Brown and his photographer partner John Dildahl. Gallery 564 carries an amazing variety of artwork – much of it created by local artists or photographers. Brown handles the art. However, he and Dildahl partner in the photography end of the business offering portraiture and off-site photography for commercial businesses along with website design.
Gallery 564 at 564 B&A Boulevard. 
A contemporary painting of a motorcycle by Severna Park artist Richard Newirth.
“The art gallery represents the work of 20 or 30 local artists from Annapolis, Pasadena, Glen Burnie, and Severna Park including John’s wife Sandra Travis-Dildahl who is an incredible acrylic abstract artist,” Brown said. “Other Severna Park artists are Mary Ellen Geise, watercolorist Rinaldo Dorado and Richard Newirth who does automotive paintings that are very popular. Both John and I are photographers so, naturally, we show some of our work. We also show pieces by a metalworker, a glass-blower and other artisans.”
No sooner did Brown complete his though that a customer came in to pick up two of his bold, modernistic automobile paintings.
Next door, at Blended Essentials. a class would soon be underway. Co-owner Ella Bowen and her father Lance opened the shop in July of 2019 but began making the soaps they carry as Christmas presents for friends and family in 2017 and 2018. Lance Bowen is the Dean of Sciences and Technology at Anne Arundel Community College, however, it was Ella who created the recipe for BE’s cold-pressed soaps. The pair soon progressed to making candles and then began looking for a storefront. On establishing their shop, they changed the way they did everything so they could have customers come in and learn to make soaps or candles themselves. Their classes for children and adults have become very popular
“For Christmas, we have a lot of pre-made packages,” Ella said. “We have an advent calendar in conjunction with our neighboring shops and also an Eight Days of Hanukkah advent calendar. We carry gifts for everybody including soaps, bath bombs, candles, body butters, lotions and, of course, gift certificates for both products and classes.
Peaceful Petals proprietor Megan Taylor was busy arranging a bouquet but quickly switched gears to talk about the flowers and greenery most in demand during the holidays.
She noted that following Thanksgiving, Peaceful Petals will be carrying wreaths and garlands. We’ll have some poinsettias too.
“Whether picking out their own stems or ordering bouquets, however, people mostly want flowers for their dining tables during the holidays. They generally prefer flowers that are red, white or green.
Around the corner on Riggs Avenue at Red Apron Shoppe, where the merchant happy hour took place, numerous gift-ready products were already on display. Most of the items displayed were collected from various Red Apron Estate Sales and are quality items recycled or refinished by MaryAnn Neal or artisans who work for her. Prices are reasonable. Jewelry, for example would make a lovely gift.
Or spruce up you home for the holidays with a piece of recycled furniture newly refinished by Mary Ann Neal or one of the local crafters who do similar projects for her.
A 1950’s era red cellophane Christmas tree and other decorations are lurking just behind MaryAnn Neal’s office so holiday decorating can begin the day after Thanksgiving. That is also when the craft-savvy Neal family will start making Christmas wreaths and garlands to be sold in the shop.
Red Apron Estate Sales, of which Red Apron Shoppe is an offshoot, is busier than it’s ever been these days and MaryAnn is heavily involved. Fortunately, daughter Hannah Neal handles the shop so she’s free to work at estate sale locations while daughter Katelyn DoCouto handles the website and social media posts.
Severn River Lions Club fruit sale benefit set for December 11
Fresh Florida navel oranges, pink grapefruit, and Mandarin oranges are the available Saturday, December 11 for the Severn River Lions annual benefit fruit sale. Proceeds benefit community service projects and charitable works.
Orders must be placed by Friday, Dec.3 and picked up at St. Martin’s in-the-Field Episcopal Church at 375 Benfield Road on Saturday, December 11 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Fruit remaining after 1 p.m. will be sold first-come, first-served. Order by e-mail at fruitorders@severnriverlions.org or order online at www.srlcfruit.com.
| Prices: | 1 Tray | 2 Trays | 3 Trays |
| Navel Oranges – 11, 22, 33 pieces | $21 | $30 | $40 |
| Pink Grapefruit – 8, 15, 23 pieces | $21 | $30 | $40 |
| Mixed – 12 Navels & 10 Grapefruit | $30 | ||
| Mandarin Oranges (10 pounds) | $27 |
