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
After three and a half decades as one of Park Plaza’s most popular and enduring family-owned businesses, Side Street Framers & Gift Gallery has expanded to a second location at 8220 Ritchie Highway in Pasadena. (Formerly, the King James Gallery.) A flag announcing the shop’s Grand Opening was still fluttering in the breeze as we stopped by for a looksee and a chat with Dawn Baumgartner Wilson.
The original shop at Park Plaza is well known for carrying the work of local artists and craftspeople and has long been a major draw for art lovers throughout the area. We admitted to Wilson that we were wondering why the family wanted to open a second location.
On April 4th, Side Street Framers will have been at Park Plaza for 35 years (the shopping center opened 37 years ago). The business was started by Wilson, her mother Barbara Daniels, her twin sister Donna Phillips and her other sister Sandra Monck.
“My sisters and I were just getting out of college when our mother, who’d been in the carpet business, was contacted by a neighbor who was selling a Fastlane franchise. She wondered if we’d like to go into business with her,” Wilson said. “I had a Fine Arts degree and all three of us were involved with arts and crafts so we agreed. The four of us got everything going and were pleased to see both our shop and framing services thrive.”
The business not only thrived but grew year after year which is what eventually prompted the family to consider the acquisition of a second location.
“We were running completely out of space at our Park Plaza store,” said Wilson. “The front end was filled and busy and the back end was filled and busy. We were so limited on space, that we only had room in back for two framers. But we didn’t really want to move.”
Interestingly, the sisters were acquainted with framer Joe Hynson, owner of the King James Gallery, who’d told them for some time that he might want to step back from running the gallery fulltime.
In business, as in life, timing is everything. Just as Hynson was deciding to sell his shop, Side Street Framer’s dry mount press unexpectedly caught on fire. Wilson, who was waiting on a customer when flames shot out from the knobs, turned the machine off and realized it could no longer be used.
Joe Hyson was kind enough to do Side Street Framers’ dry mounts for them so Wilson was running back and forth to the gallery frequently. When she’d stop by, they’d talk and he expressed his desire to slow down, give up the responsibility of running the gallery and just concentrate on framing.
“Since Joe was determined to close King James Gallery, we decided to take over his space which would give us more framing capacity and more room for our gift items. That way, we wouldn’t have to move out of Severna Park but could service the Pasadena, Millersville and Glen Burnie areas easier. Best of all, Joe agreed to stay on with us as a framer two days a week and arranged for one of his staff to take over for an additional two days a week.”
Though small by comparison to the Park Plaza Store, the gift gallery at the new establishment is quite impressive. The work of virtually all of the local and regional artists and crafters shown at the larger original gallery is carried in the new space as well. There is quite a bit of jewelry, decorative glass pieces, oil paintings, watercolors, and locally made soaps and lotions. There are also beautiful hand painted gift cards made locally.
The shop also carries pottery, as well, including some beautiful pieces from the Providence Center…. and there are some remarkable stylized caricatures and teapots with faces and other art from Frederick, Maryland artist Carrie Euler.
Like the Park Plaza store where well-known framer Stephanie Lavis has been working her magic for many years, framing is also a mainstay of the new location.
Moving into the New Year, both shops have plenty of business to handle. Long involved in the community’s SHOP LOCAL initiatives, Side Street Framers & Gift Gallery looks forward to exposing the products of their artists and craftsmen to new customers by participating in community events. Be sure to look for them at the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce’s SHOP LOCAL Fun Fest in the spring and SHOPTOBERFEST in the autumn as well as the Severna Park Voice sponsored Art In The Park event at Cafe Mezzanotte in October.
New Year’s Eve events few and far between?
To quote the popular song written by Frank Loesser in 1947, “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve”? Possibilities run the gamut from enjoying a fine dining experience at an area restaurant to counting down to the New Year with fireworks as the clock strikes 12.
Many people we’ve spoken to, however, are opting to spend a cozy evening at home. For those looking for something exciting to do, here are a few suggestions.
Ring in the New Year with the City of Annapolis where there will be two fireworks displays December 31 at Susan Campbell Park – a Family Fireworks display at 7 pm and a Final Fireworks display at midnight.
A New Year’s Eve Annapolis Yacht Party with Watermark Cruises – Ring in the New Year on the water in Annapolis aboard a luxury yacht with a DJ, dinner, dancing, desserts and fireworks. To inquire, visit New Year’s Eve Annapolis Yacht Party – Watermark (watermarkjourney.com) .
The Ultimate 80’s Prom with the New Romance Tribute Band at Rams Head On Stage – Light up the night on the dance floor at Ram’s Head On Stage at 25 West Street in Annapolis. The event begins at 9 pm and tickets may be ordered at AXS. For information, call (410) 268-4545.
Those are just a few local happenings. We’re opting for a cozy evening at home while getting ready for a family dinner New Year’s Day. Meantime, our best wishes for a happy New Year.
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.
