AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services
Whether opting for a delicious taste or a divine sip to start with, guests at the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s 13th Annual Taste & Sip event had an amazing array of foods and libations to choose from.
Many attendees chose to begin and end their evening with a beverage. Sharing a corner of the Chartwell Golf & Country Club ballroom, Kevin Sosnoski and Doug Morris from Goska’s Liquors poured from a selection of wines and mixed Pear & Ginger Sparklers for the guests while Greg and Christie Coster from The Big Bean offered them a selection of after-dinner coffees including one called Jack Frost as well as hot chocolate.
People who decided to try a beverage or two before “tasting” mingled extensively. A majority of those were chamber members who know each other well. In addition to Joy Cortina from Life of Joy Foundation and Courtney Capece from Committed Change Health & Wellness trading the latest business news, we spotted Nancy Greer of Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi talking with executive director Sarah Elder about Severna Park Community Center’s Cookies and Cocoa with Santa event this Friday.
Ever trendy fashion-wise, Bohemian Black owner Rose Walker caught up with Big Bean owner Christie Coster to chat about the Olde Severna Park “Stroll & Shop” Coster is organizing with The Blended Essentials’ manager Danielle Bowen. The event takes place this Sunday (Dec. 10) from 4 to 7 pm and Walker is considering showing clothing from her collection there.
Folks who yearned for a nibble or two while socializing, gathered around one of Chartwell’s conveniently placed tables. Seen below, Debbie Kitchen, Diana Noon, Jennifer McAndrews, Barbara Gill and Donna Butman share food, friendship and the latest business buzz while waiting for three other friends to join them.
Casting a glance across Chartwell’s ballroom, we noticed one of the largest displays of Silent Auction items donated by the business community that we’ve seen. In addition, there was a separate table featuring gift cards one could bid on. As the Taste & Sip event is one of the chamber’s best fundraisers, the Silent Auction is an important one.
We’ll admit that we split our time between visiting the tables of the restaurants and businesses represented and scanning the sizeable crowd for people we knew. Brand new to chamber Taste & Sip events was Neil Kenworthy from Donnelly’s Dockside located in Arnold off of Shore Acres Drive. Known for its seafood, Donnelly’s Dockside served ever-so-tempting crab balls.
Next to Kenworthy were the adjoining tables of 206 Restaurant Group’ eateries JB’s and Park Tavern. Tastebud- teasers from JB’s included meatballs and onion dip with chips while Park Tavern had wings and garlic knots.
Moving down one more station, attendees found an incredible spread from Green Valley Market Place’s assistant manager Mike Carter that included a pretzel and dip platter, freshly-made crab dip, seasonal cranberry and walnut chicken salad, cheese dip, pretzel bites and crab balls. He emphasized that everything he served could be purchased ready-made at Green Valley.
A few stations further on was another restaurant new to the event, Pasadena-based Oscar’s Alehouse East. According to Brian Harper, the establishment is noted for having 36 craft beers and a diverse menu. Chef Kevin Gregario brought two of his favorite dishes – Old Bay wings and Jambalaya.
Brian Harper and Chef Kevin Gregario had some tempting dishes beneath those lids including… 
Jambalaya, a Creole and Cajun rice dish seen more often in the South… but delicious.
More than a few food and beverage vendors were long-time chamber Taste & Sip participants. Foremost among them were Fishpaws Marketplace, Cafe Mezzanotte, and, of course, The Big Bean, and Goska’s Liquors.
Fishpaws’ general manager Terri Schroeter and cheese manager Terri Phoebus served assorted wines, olives and aged gouda to Emily Clement while the shop’s owner Kim Lawson checked out Silent Auction items and chatted with shop owners who’ll also be participating in Girls Night Out at Homestead Gardens Severna Park on December 13th.
At one end of the ballroom a young singer from Priddy Music Academy had been serenading the crowd with holiday songs while at the other end people were deep in conversation. Matt Wyble, whose company Next Step Realty was the event sponsor, could be seen weaving his way through the crowd stopping to greet one group after another. When we finally caught up with Wyble, we recalled that he and former chamber CEO Linda Zahn launched the first Taste & Sip event at Homestead Gardens Severna Park.
“Fourteen years ago, in the spring of 2010, I’d just gotten out of the food and beverage business and I’d been to events similar to this one in other locations including Annapolis,” he said. “I thought, ‘Why don’t we do something like this for Severna Park?’ I approached Linda who said she loved the idea but the chamber had never had anyone willing to chair it. So I chaired it for 13 consecutive events. It started out as a fun way to kick off the holidays and now it’s grown into a tradition. There are many people here who have come to every single one of the Holiday Taste & Sips.”
Wyble added that he was using this year’s event as a customer appreciation party so there were fifteen couples new to the area being exposed to one of the chamber’s finest endeavors.
Unbeknownst to the crowd, members of The Chesapeake Harmony Chorus had been keeping undercover in a small “green room” adjacent to the lady’s room.
At a signal from Liz League, they stepped out and assembled for a program of carols sung in four-part harmony. Though, for some reason, a sound system had not been provided, the crowd gathered round to enjoy them.
There were so many great vendors – too many to get to. However, we entered an alcove off the ballroom and discovered BD Provisions’ coffee roaster Phil Peters with a choice of blends from various roasts to sample.
BD Provisions’ coffee roaster Phil Peters brews nine different roasts and concocts various blends such as his popular “Morning Joe” coffee. He brought two along to sample. 
Though Pat’s Select Pizza Grill’s Harris Tsap chose not to, Ally Tyler and Megan Dunaway lit up the night with strings of Christmas lights.
In the same alcove we discovered Magothy Wine & Spirits, Adam’s Taphouse & Grille and Pat’s Select Pizza Grill among others.
Making our way to the far side of the ballroom, we passed by some delectable pastries from the kitchen of Chartwell Golf & Country Club and bumped into Arnold-based Cheers & Spirits general manager Lacey Barry pouring some impressive wines aided by pal Matthew and distributor Mark Parker. Barry reminded us that Cheers & Spirits’ intricate Lionel Train display is up and running in the shop from 4 to 7 pm daily from now until Christmas.
Ice cream seemed the perfect top off for some attendees and we spotted guests walking around with ice cream from both Bruster’s Real Ice Cream and Sweet Satisfaction.
Local residents still have many more Christmas events to go and we’ll probably see you at some of them including tomorrow’s (Dec. 8) Community Tree Lighting at the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber at 1 Holly Avenue at 5 pm and, at the same time, across B&A Boulevard at Severna Park Community Center’s “Cocoa and Cookies with Santa”.
Severna Park Farmer’s Market “Christmas Market” this Saturday morning
All of our favorite local vendors will be on hand at 8 am this Saturday morning, December 9th for the opening of the Severna Park Farmers Market’s celebrated “Christmas Market”. As seen in the photos below, taken in 2021, the Christmas Market is very special and a lot of fun.
The Dance Center of Severna Park will perform “The Nutcracker” on December 16
The Dance Center at Severna Park Community Center‘s upcoming performance of “The Nutcracker” will be presented on December 16th at Severna Park High School. The performance will begin at 5:30 pm, and tickets are available for just $10 each.
Choreographed by dancers Jill Weeks and Kathryn Quigly, “The Nutcracker” will showcase a condensed but delightful rendition of the ballet with beloved favorites such as The Sugar Plum Fairy, and the Waltz of the Flowers.
Thirty-five students from the dance program at The Dance Center will participate, showcasing their hard work and dedication. The doors will open 30 minutes prior to the performance for general admission. Tickets can be purchased in advance at The Nutcracker Campaign (spcommunitycenter.org) or at the door.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
