Together with

Hello Friends—

Welcome to the 235 new subscribers who joined since last week’s edition. Happy to have you in our (growing) community. Now 9,000+ subscribers strong!

Good news if you own a historic home in Bel Air — the Town of Bel Air now offers a 25% property tax credit for restoration work done with period-accurate materials. My house doesn't make the cut — apparently "aging poorly" isn't the same as "historic." Anyways.

🏠 For Sale: A 5-bed, 3.5-bath brick Colonial on nearly 3 acres in Forest Hill — 6-seat home theater, outdoor kitchen and full deck, chef's kitchen with Viking appliances and Sub-Zero fridge, and a lower level that's less "basement" and more destination. Priced at $999,000.

🍹 Menu Item: This Black-Eyed Susan cocktail at Basta Pasta celebrating Maryland Day

🎟️ Hot Ticket: The Spring Social & Non-Profit Night, hosted by ConnectProMD, on April 1st (5–7:30 PM) at Fallston Barrel House — networking, free appetizers, and 100% of your ticket donation goes to local nonprofits. Register here…

Now to this weekend…

Scroll down, make plans, and enjoy your weekend!

_{TOGETHER WITH FRESH START FURNISHINGS AT INNER COUNTY OUTREACH}

That couch, table, or dresser sitting in your basement can do more than collect dust — it can help a local family turn an empty house into a home.

Fresh Start Furnishings has spent a decade doing exactly that, furnishing more than 2,050 homes and impacting nearly 6,000 lives right here in Harford County. Now, as part of a merger with Inner County Outreach, their reach just got bigger.

Fresh Start Furnishings at Inner County Outreach combines 10 years of furniture-banking experience with ICO's 40-year history of wraparound services — mental health support, food assistance, and family services — so that families don't just get a furnished home. They get a real foundation.

Furniture poverty affects 3 in 10 people. A bedroom without a bed, a kitchen without a table — it's not cosmetic. It destabilizes everything.

You can help change that… Donate gently used furniture (pickup available)… Donate funds to help furnish homes when items aren't available

Make your impact today at FreshStartMD.org. Because a fresh start isn't just a place to live — it's a place to come home to.

P.S. Want your business in front of 9,000+ locals? Advertising with the Bel Air Brief means growing your business and supporting a feel-good, homegrown newsletter that’s all about building community in Bel Air & Harford County. Let’s talk!

March Market (Free)
📅 Friday–Sunday, March 27–29 | 10AM – 5PM
📍 The Painted Mill, 1119 Main St, Fallston
Browse a rotating market of unique finds including furniture, home decor, apparel, accessories, gourmet foods, and baked goods inside this local favorite shop.

🎵 Tracksuit Night (Free)
📅 Friday, March 27 | 7PM – 10:30PM
📍 Independent Brewing Company, 418 N Main St, Bel Air
Throw on your best tracksuit and enjoy a laid-back night of local beer and throwback vibes with a live DJ spinning ‘80s and ‘90s hits—perfect excuse to dress up (or down) and have some fun.

Bunny Brunch & Egg Hunt ($)
📅 Saturday, March 28 | 9AM - 1PM
📍 Rockfield Manor, 501 E Churchville Rd, Bel Air
All-you-can-eat brunch buffet with pancakes, eggs, meats, and more plus kids crafts, photos with the Easter Bunny, and an egg hunt at Rockfield Park—tickets required and seating-specific.

Annual Marsh Cleanup (Free)
📅 Saturday, March 28 | 9AM – 12PM
📍 Anita C. Leight Estuary Center, 2601 Perry Ave, Edgewood
Pitch in to help clean up the Otter Point Creek marsh alongside local conservation partners—family-friendly event (kids welcome with an adult), just bring boots and gloves and meet at the Bosely Conservancy entrance.

Easter Bunny Breakfast ($)
📅 Saturday, March 28 | 9AM – 11AM
📍 Harford County 4-H Camp & Deer Creek Overlook, 6 Cherry Hill Rd, Street
All-you-can-eat breakfast (pancakes, eggs, meats & more) plus a visit with the Easter Bunny, crafts, and a kid-friendly egg hunt where each child gets a dozen filled eggs, stickers, and a prize—tickets required in advance.

Harford’s Harvest Winter Market (Free)
📅 Saturday, March 28 | 10AM – 1PM
📍 2 S. Bond St, Bel Air
Shop fresh, local goods from farmers, crafters, and small businesses in Downtown Bel Air—expect homemade favorites, seasonal produce, and a great way to support local.

Conrad’s Abingdon Oyster Festival ($)
📅 Saturday, March 28 | 12PM – 4PM
📍 Conrad’s Seafood Restaurant, 3414 Merchant Blvd, Abingdon
Fresh local oysters, live music, raffles, and drink specials plus an optional all-you-can-eat oyster pass—expect a high-energy afternoon with serious seafood lovers.

Hop on the Trail Easter Egg Hunt (Free)
📅 Saturday, March 28 | 1PM – 4PM
📍 Bear Legacy Trail at Maryland Center for the Arts, 2503 S. Tollgate Rd, Bel Air
A family-friendly Easter celebration with age-group egg hunts (including toddler-only field hunts), trail adventures for older kids, face painting, crafts, and photos with the Easter Bunny—all set along the scenic Bear Legacy Trail; arrive early to find your group and join the fun.

Inclusive Egg Hunt (Free)
📅 Saturday, March 28 | 1PM – 4PM
📍 Coppermine Bel Air Athletic Club, Bel Air
A fully accessible, all-ages egg hunt featuring interactive, wheelchair-friendly stations, spring-themed trunks, and a relaxed, come-and-go format designed so every child can participate and enjoy the experience.

Sons & Daughters of Italy Spring Fling ($)
📅 Saturday, March 28 | 1PM – 5PM
📍 Fallston Barrel House, 2403 Bel Air Rd, Fallston
Annual fundraiser featuring a buffet lunch, live music by Bobby Bassett, raffles, door prizes, and a cash bar—all supporting local and national charitable efforts.

🎵 Jazz on the Edge ($)
📅 Saturday, March 28 | 7PM
📍 Edgewood High School, 2415 Willoughby Beach Rd, Edgewood
An evening of live jazz featuring renowned pianist Cyrus Chestnut as the grand finale of the High School Jazz Festival—doors open at 6:30 PM, with free parking and ticket proceeds supporting the Edgewood High music program.

Easter Egg Hunt & Brunch (Free)
📅 Saturday–Sunday, March 28–29 | 11AM – 2PM
📍 Fallston Barrel House, 2403 Bel Air Rd, Fallston
Family-friendly brunch with face painting, photos with the Easter Bunny, and a 12:30 PM egg hunt—easy weekend outing with plenty for kids to do.

Allure Anniversary Brunch (Free)
📅 Sunday, March 29 | 11AM – 2PM
📍 Allure Aesthetics, 130 N Bond St, Bel Air
Celebrate two years of beauty with brunch, bubbly, local vendors, raffles, giveaways, and exclusive specials—easy chance to mingle and check out the space.

Spring Sip & Paint ($)
📅 Sunday, March 29 | 1PM – 3PM
📍 Watchtower Brewing Co., 22 Howard St, Aberdeen
Guided paint night with local artist Andrea Boyer Sauer—ticket includes all supplies, just grab a drink and enjoy a relaxed, creative afternoon in the taproom.

Save the Dates:
Das Bierhalle 3rd Anniversary Block Party, April 4th, Das Bierhalle Bel Air
The First Ladies of Song starring Helen Welch, April 10th, Chesapeake Theater
Courtney’s Kids Foundation Basket Bingo, April 11th, Bel Air Armory
2026 Bel Air Kite Festival, April 11th, Rockfield Park
Bikes & Beers Festival 2026, April 25th, Hopkins Farm Brewery

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

Rising Star Home Care Services Offering Free CPR & First Aid Training Through 1000 Hearts Initiative — AHA Certification Included. Read more…

Bel Air Launches New 25% Historic Property Tax Credit for Homeowners Making Period-Accurate Upgrades. Read more…

Cigar & Bourbon Night Comes to Black Forest Taphouse — Live Music, Pairings & Dinner Included. Read more…

Waxing the City - Forest Hill Held Their Ribbon Cutting on Wednesday, Grand Opening Specials Run Through March 28. Read more…

Harford County Wine Festival Tickets Go on Sale May 1 — 20th Annual Event Set for September at Rockfield Manor. Read more…

Bynum Run Pond Stocked with 250 Trout Ahead of Bel Air Fishing Rodeo — Practice Now Before the Event. Read more…

Beautiful. Durable. Built to Last. Since 2001.

For 25 years, Platinum Concrete Coatings has been transforming garages, basements and patios across Harford County with floors that are beautiful, durable and built to last.

As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we’re also introducing the newest member of the Platinum family . . . Piper the Platinum Pup.

Piper represents what our customers love most about Platinum floors: surfaces that are tough enough for claws, spills and real life, yet beautiful enough to elevate any space.

Whether it’s a garage, patio or basement, Platinum Concrete Coatings delivers flooring systems designed to perform for decades.

Schedule Your Free Estimate Today at PlatinumConcreteCoatings.net or Call 443-903-2999

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: Parker

“This is Parker, he just celebrated his 6th gotcha day! We adopted him and later found out he is from "Parkersburg" West Virginia. He loves to tear up all of his toys, eat ice cubes, and give hugs. He always has a huge smile on his face.”

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.

Our Community Partners are local businesses and organizations that have committed to growing with us in the Bel Air community.

These businesses make this newsletter possible so please consider supporting them!

Carl’s Garage Door Service — A third-generation, family-owned garage door company serving Harford and surrounding counties since 1965, specializing in residential and commercial installation, repair, and maintenance.

Paul Applegate, Edward Jones — A local financial advisor with Edward Jones helping Harford County residents plan confidently for retirement, career changes, and long-term financial goals.

Chesapeake Carpet & Flooring — Local flooring specialists offering carpet, hardwood, vinyl, tile, and custom flooring solutions with full installation and shop-at-home estimates.

Platinum Concrete Coatings — A Forest Hill–based concrete coating company serving Maryland and Pennsylvania since 2001, specializing in garage floors, patios, basements, and commercial spaces with durable, one-day installations backed by a lifetime warranty.

Shannon’s Pretty Paws Pet Grooming — A calm, caring pet grooming studio in Edgewood providing gentle grooming services for dogs and cats, from full grooms to walk-in nail trims.

Fresh Start Furnishings at Inner County Outreach— Harford County’s only furniture bank, providing free furniture and household essentials to families transitioning out of crisis.

Hardiman Marketing — A Bel Air–based marketing studio helping local businesses grow through branding, social media management, photography, and video storytelling.

The Screaming Bean Cafe — A locally owned café that donates a portion of monthly profits to Harford County charities while serving coffee, breakfast, and lunch in Aberdeen.

*Interested in having your business become a Community Partner?, click here to submit your interest

📍 1521 Rock Spring Rd, Forest Hill

Mr. Souvlaki is the kind of place that makes you wonder why you ever settle for average takeout — authentic Greek food, made right, in a strip mall spot that punches way above its weight.

Start with the Saganaki (fried kasseri cheese, $9.75) or split the Gyro Egg Rolls — a surprisingly great mashup. For the main event, go with a platter: your choice of protein — authentic pork gyro, chicken souvlaki, or the Bifteki (ground beef mixed with feta and Greek spices) — served with two sides, grilled pita, and tzatziki. The Greek French Fries topped with feta, oregano, and house dressing are worth the upcharge. Save room for Loukoumades or the Baklava Cheesecake.

Casual, unpretentious, and genuinely delicious. Great for a relaxed date night or a lunch worth leaving the office for.

Click here to view the menu & order online →

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