Together with

Hello Friends—

Welcome to the 211 new subscribers who joined since last week’s edition. Happy to have you in our (growing) community.

Last week's poll came back with something that genuinely made my day — 70% of you (500+ votes) have tried a restaurant, attended an event, or supported a local business because of this newsletter. That's the whole point of this. Thank you for showing up.

🏠 For Sale: A custom stacked stone colonial in Fox Chase backing to preserved land — five fireplaces, a resort-style pool with retractable cover, and a detached garage with its own office and wet bar. Listed at $1,300,000 in Bel Air.

🍷 Hot Ticket: Pairings Bistro is bringing Spain to Bel Air on May 21st — five chef-crafted courses (Tiger's Milk Ceviche, Chargrilled Octopus, Basque Cheesecake) paired with Spanish wines. $125/person, seats are limited. Reserve here.

✍️ Good to Know: Our 2026 date night guide is live — 13 Bel Air restaurants, ranked editorially (no paid placements), from milestone-dinner upscale to easy first-date casual.

Now to this weekend…

Scroll down, make plans, and enjoy your weekend!

P.S. For any parents with elementary/middle-school aged kids needing a camp this summer, I struck a deal with the Total Play Sports Camp & their director Mark, on a special discount just for Bel Air Brief readers. 10% off registration w/ code “BELAIRBRIEF” Click here to learn more…
_{*Discount expires Sunday, 4/26}

_{TOGETHER WITH TAR HEEL CONSTRUCTION GROUP}

Here's something Bel Air homeowners figure out pretty quickly: when a contractor has 700+ Google reviews, a 5.0 rating, and SIX consecutive “Best of Harford” awards, hunting for three bids starts to feel like a waste of an afternoon.

Joe Ayler and his team at Tar Heel Construction Group have completed 1,000+ exterior projects in this area — roofing, siding, gutters, solar — and built their reputation on showing up on time, pricing things clearly, and leaving your yard cleaner than they found it.

Spring slots are filling up. The free inspection costs you nothing. The peace of mind lasts a lot longer than that.

P.S. If you’d rather not fill out any forms, just reply or click here and I’ll personally connect you with the Tar Heel team.

Save the Dates:
Pairings Bistro Beer Dinner, April 30th, Double Groove Brewing
Teacher Appreciation Happy Hour, May 6th, Looney’s Pub Bel Air
Mother’s Day Bubbles & Bouquets, May 7th, Bacco Italian + Wine Bar
Mother’s Day Self-Defense Workshop, May 7th, Empire Dojo Abingdon
13th Annual Amanda Hichkad CCA Celebration Walk, May 9th, John Carroll School
Bel Air Town Derby, May 17th, Main Street Bel Air

For more live music on the schedule this weekend, check out the “Harco Live Music Round Up” facebook group…

Are you looking for something fun and active for your kids this summer?

Total Play Sports is a multi-sport summer camp built right here in Harford County, and they're open for registration with limited spots available…

Kids entering 1st through 8th grade can sign up for a week of soccer, basketball, flag football, and more at Harford Day School in Bel Air — June 29 through July 3, 9am to 3pm.

Get 10% off when you mention the code “BELAIRBRIEF” at checkout!

Click here to learn more and register…

Maison Intimate Catering Unveils "Field to Feast" Mother's Day Menu — Treat Mom to Homemade Breads, Sweet Corn Gazpacho, and a Strawberry Limoncello Cocktail Before Seats Sell Out. Read more…

Kay Services Inc. Brings the Autism Family Fun Fest to Aberdeen Festival Park on May 30th — A Full Day of Local Vendors, Community Resources, and Inclusive Fun for Autism Families Across Maryland. Read more…

Bel Air’s Beloved Edible Arrangements Franchise is Up for Sale — After 20 Years of Sweet Celebrations, a Rare Opportunity Awaits the Next Local Owner to Take the Reins. Read more…

Primrose School of Forest Hill Officially Cuts the Ribbon — A New Era of Purposeful Play and Nurturing Guidance Begins for Local Infants and Pre-Schoolers. Read more…

Bel Air Recreation Committee Celebrates National Volunteer Week — A Massive Shout-Out to the Coaches and Helpers Who Keep Our Parks Beautiful and Our Community Thriving. Read more…

Harford County Cultural Arts Board and Harford County Public Library Announce Call for Art for ‘The Art of Healing’ Summer Exhibition. Read more…

Give your pet the 5-star treatment & book a grooming session at Shannon’s Pretty Paws today. Your furry friend will thank you (and so will your furniture).

Click here to book an appointment with one of our experienced groomers!

This week’s reader submission is: Benny

“Benny is 4 years old and the most handsome pup we know. He’s always front and center for attention and takes his job as treat inspector very seriously!”

Have a furry, feathered, or scaly friend you’re proud of? Send a photo and a few fun facts, and we might feature them in an upcoming issue.

When you need something done right the first time, you don’t want to guess.
These are local businesses that Bel Air Brief readers rely on—trusted, proven, and part of the community.

Reach out and tell them “Matt from the Bel Air Brief” sent you.

✔️ Garage Doors: Carl’s Door Service has 150+ Google reviews and a 4.8-star rating—trusted locally since 1965 for fast, reliable garage door repair and installation.

✔️ Financial Planning: Paul Applegate — Edward Jones helps Harford County families and business owners build clear, no-pressure retirement and financial plans that actually make sense.

✔️ Flooring: Chesapeake Carpet & Flooring brings 40+ years of local experience—offering shop-at-home estimates and full-service installation for carpet, hardwood, tile, and more.

✔️ Roofing: Tar Heel Construction Group has 750+ five-star Google reviews, an A+ BBB rating, and has won “Best of Harford” six years in a row—Bel Air's go-to contractor since 2004 for roof replacements, repairs, siding, gutters, and solar.

✔️ Concrete Coatings: Platinum Concrete Coatings has 1,000+ five-star Google reviews—one-day installs with a lifetime warranty for garage floors, patios, and basements.

✔️ Pet Grooming: Shannon’s Pretty Paws is 4.7-star rated—calm, certified grooming for dogs and cats with walk-in nail trims available.

✔️ Community Resource: Fresh Start Furnishings at Inner County Outreach has helped furnish 2,000+ homes—providing free furniture to local families transitioning out of crisis.

✔️ Marketing: Hardiman Marketing helps local businesses grow through social media, photography, and video—built for brands that want more visibility.

✔️ Coffee & Community: The Screaming Bean Café has 500+ reviews and a 4.6-star rating—locally owned coffee shop that gives back to Harford County charities.

Want to be featured here and seen by 9,800+ local readers each week? Apply to become a Community Partner here.

Twenty minutes down the road, and worth every one of them.

Patio weather is here, and Water Street Seafood in Havre de Grace might just be the move. Waterfront views, right where the Susquehanna meets the Bay, a full raw bar, and a menu that punches well above the casual vibes of the room. Their tagline is "Where Classy Meets Casual" — they mean it.

Start with the Chesapeake Fondue (melted cheese, lump crab, Maryland spices in a bread bowl — yes, really) or go bold with the Oyster Flight, where you pick four dressed oysters: IPA, Dirty Martini, Bloody Mary, Cucumber Martini, or Blackberry Jalapeño Mimosa. For mains, the Water Street Cioppino is a full seafood production — fish, scallops, clams, mussels, calamari, shrimp in a tomato broth — and the award-winning Cream of Crab is basically mandatory. Their Bacon Wrapped Scallops hold up as a main event too.

Pro tip: reservations are highly recommended, and they mean it. Parties max out at six. Plan on lingering — this is a destination, not a dash.

Check out their menu & grab a table →

Advertise Your Business in the Bel Air Brief
Want to get your business in front of 9,800+ Bel Air residents? Click here to submit your interest…

Visit the Bel Air Restaurant Directory
Looking to try a new spot? Check out 160+ Bel Air area restaurants here…

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Hosting something fun in Bel Air or Harford County? Submit your event here...

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