Together with

Hello Friends—

Welcome to the 312 new subscribers who joined since last week’s edition. Happy to have you in our (growing) community.

Sad news for a Bel Air summer staple — Waldo's Snowballs, a fixture in the Harford Mall parking lot since 2001, won't be returning this season with the mall undergoing major redevelopment and deciding not to renew their lease. The good news: owner Jamie Covington's brick-and-mortar spot, Emmorton Snowballs & Ice Cream at 101 E. Wheel Road, will still be open this summer.

🏠 For Sale: A 6-bed, 4.5-bath brick Colonial in Bel Air's Glenangus — private in-ground pool, wooded views, finished lower level, and 6,713 sq ft across three levels. A long list of recent updates already done. Priced at $1,300,000.

🍹 Menu Item: A $17 Glazed Donut Old Fashioned at Bacco Italian Wine + Bar — coconut oil fat-washed bourbon, Licor 43, house-made cinnamon brown sugar syrup, and a mini glazed donut on top. Part cocktail, part dessert, entirely worth it.

🎟️ Hot Ticket: The Spring Into Wellness Community Fair is this Saturday (March 21st, 3–6pm) at Harford Day School — free, family-friendly, with food trucks, local vendors, live music, and kids' activities.

Now to this weekend…

Scroll down, make plans, and enjoy your weekend!

P.S. If you're curious about incorporating AI into your business, workflow, or everyday life, hit reply or email me here. I'd love to talk through what's possible.

_{TOGETHER WITH PAUL APPLEGATE, EDWARD JONES}

It's one of the most common financial anxieties in Harford County — and one of the easiest to resolve.

Paul Applegate is a local Edward Jones financial advisor who works with families, small business owners, blue-collar professionals, and first responders. He doesn't sell complicated products or talk over your head. He gives you a clear picture of where you stand and a plan that makes sense for your actual life.

Right now, he's offering Bel Air Brief readers a no-cost, no-pressure Retirement Check-Up — and he'll buy you lunch or coffee at your first meeting.

One hour. No obligation. You'll leave knowing exactly where you stand.

Call 410-939-5270 or email [email protected] and mention "Bel Air Brief" to schedule.

P.S. Want me to personally connect you with Paul? Email me here.

Grown-Up Book Fair (Free)
📅 Friday, March 20 | 9AM–2PM
📍 CoffeeBar Bel Air, 5 N. Main St, Bel Air
A nostalgic throwback to classic school book fairs with 80s/90s favorites, modern reads across all genres, and plenty of browse-worthy finds hosted by Odd Bird Bookshop.

Spring Open House @ Belle Patri (Free)
📅 Friday, March 20 – Sunday, March 22 | 10AM-4PM
📍 Belle Patri – Jarrettsville, 3725 Federal Hill Rd, Jarrettsville
A three-day in-store event featuring fresh spring arrivals, seasonal décor, one-of-a-kind finds, and styling help—plus each purchase comes with a pineapple cup revealing a surprise 5–20% discount.

Walk/Run/Craft-A-Thon Fundraiser (Donation recommended)
📅 Friday, March 20 | 3–7PM
📍 Made Me Mine, 3474 Emmorton Rd, Abingdon
An afternoon supporting the Pruett family with crafts, giveaways, and a stroller-friendly 5K run/walk (race at 6 PM), with a recommended $20 donation benefiting the family and including a finisher token and pizza.

🎵 Pints and Power Pop: Dennis Schocket (Free)
📅 Friday, March 20 | 4-8PM
📍 Watchtower Brewing Co., 22 Howard St, Aberdeen
An acoustic rock set from local favorite Dennis Schocket featuring original songs and deep-cut covers from artists like Tom Petty and Paul McCartney, paired with craft beer in a laid-back taproom setting.

Harford County Celtic Festival Fundraiser Night ($)
📅 Friday, March 20 | 6–9 PM
📍 Towne Grill & Pub, 1006 Joppa Farm Road, Joppa
An Irish-themed fundraiser benefiting the Harford County Celtic Festival with live music from Anton the Human Jukebox and 15% of food sales supporting the cause.

Spring Into Small Business Saturday (Free)
📅 Saturday, March 21 | 10AM
📍 Downtown Bel Air
A day to shop small and support local with participating downtown businesses offering unique finds, spring arrivals, and a chance to explore Bel Air’s local retail scene.

Get Lucky at Bray & Em (Free)
📅 Saturday, March 21 | 10AM–4PM
📍 Bray & Em Boutique, 696 Bel Air Rd, Suite J14, Bel Air
A festive shopping event where every customer gets a chance to pull from the “Golden Lucky Pot” for exclusive deals, freebies, and surprises, plus early access to new spring and Easter arrivals.

Camden Franks Meet & Greet (Free)
📅 Saturday, March 21 | 1-2PM
📍 Weis Markets, 550 W MacPhail Rd, Bel Air
Meet the Baltimore Orioles’ famous racing hot dog mascots for a quick photo op—free, first-come first-served, photos only.

Interactive Ice Cream Tour ($)
📅 Saturday, March 21 | Times vary
📍 Prigel Family Creamery, 4852 Long Green Rd, Glen Arm
A hands-on farm experience where you’ll meet the cows, learn how ice cream is made, create your own custom pint with toppings and flavors, and finish with an ice cream flight—tickets required in advance.

Easter Eggstravaganza (Free)
📅 Saturday, March 21 | 1–3 PM
📍 First Baptist Church of Aberdeen, 219 E Bel Air Ave, Aberdeen
An afternoon of family-friendly fun with an ongoing egg hunt, Easter crafts, a short movie on repeat, light snacks, toddler sensory play, and a bounce house.

Spring Into Wellness Community Fair (Free)
📅 Saturday, March 21 | 3–6 PM
📍 Harford Day School, 715 Moores Mill Rd, Bel Air
A family-friendly indoor fair featuring food trucks, local vendors, live music, health resources, kids’ activities, book readings, a hula hoop contest, martial arts demos, and giveaways celebrating community wellness.

🎵 Barrel House Live: Almost Creed + King Animal ($)
📅 Saturday, March 21 | 8 PM (Doors at 6 PM)
📍 Fallston Barrel House, 2403 Bel Air Rd, Fallston
A high-energy night of rock featuring Almost Creed performing the band’s biggest hits alongside King Animal’s tribute to Chris Cornell, with sing-alongs, grunge classics, and two full tribute sets—tickets $20 advance, $25 at the door.

Easter Bunny Breakfast @ Route 24 Ale House (Free to attend)
📅 Sunday, March 22 | 9–11AM
📍 Route 24 Ale House, 2A Bel Air South Pkwy, Bel Air
A walk-in, family-friendly morning with Easter Bunny photo ops, kids crafts, and a themed breakfast menu with drinks—no reservations needed.

Slate Farm Brewery 8th Anniversary Celebration (Free)
📅 Saturday, March 21 – Sunday, March 22 | All day
📍 Slate Farm Brewery, 2128 Whiteford Rd, Whiteford
A full weekend celebration with live music, all-day festivities, and plenty of craft beer, plus free anniversary glasses for the first 75 customers each day.

🎵 The Day Drinkers @ Independent Brewing (Free)
📅 Sunday, March 22 | 3–6 PM
📍 Independent Brewing Company, 418 N Main St, Bel Air
A laid-back Sunday set with The Day Drinkers playing request-driven tunes alongside craft brews in a relaxed brewery atmosphere.

Save the Dates:
Oyster Fest, Conrad’s Abingdon, March 28th
Bunny Brunch, March 28th, Rockfield Manor
105.7 The Fan "Fanniversary" Event!, April 4th, Fallston Barrel House
Das Bierhalle Bel Air 3rd Anniversary Block Party Event, April 4th, Das Bierhalle Bel Air
Bikes & Beers Festival 2026, April 25h, Hopkins Farm Brewery

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

Bel Air Youth Baseball Hiring Umpires & Field Liners — Teens 14+ Can Earn Up to $50/Game This Spring. Read more…

St. Clair Bridge Road in Jarrettsville to Close for Daytime Repairs Over Two-Week Period. Read more…

Bel Air Hometown Heroes Banner Program Opens — Honor Local Service Members with Downtown Display Through 2028. Read more…

Fisher Auto Parts Closes Longtime Downtown Bel Air Location, Relocates to Forest Hill. Read more…

Odd Bird Bookshop to Open Inside Armory Marketplace as Newest Business Incubator Tenant. Read more…

‘American Idol’ Contestant Brooks Rosser Joins Watch Party Event in Bel Air. 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: Stormy & Nova

“We love to cuddle, play tug-o-war and go for runs! We love cheese and whip cream! We are best friends and love our parents so much so we follow them around everywhere!” 

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 — 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

📍 1827 Mountain Rd, Joppa

Easter Sunday just got a serious upgrade. Mountain Branch Grill & Pub is doing a full Easter Sunday Buffet on April 5th from 9am–6pm, and it's the kind of spread that makes the holiday worth dressing up for.

We're talking carved brisket au jus, maple glazed ham, Mahi Mahi in a Pinot Grigio cream sauce topped with crabmeat, and Maryland crab soup — plus a breakfast spread running until 2pm that includes smoked salmon, cinnamon French toast, bacon cheddar frittatas, and fresh pastries. The dessert table alone — bread pudding with anglaise & caramel, mini cheesecakes, assorted pies — is reason enough to show up.

But even if Easter weren't on the calendar, Mountain Branch would earn its spot on this list. Vaulted timber ceilings, a stone fireplace, a patio overlooking the golf course, and that relaxed-upscale energy that just works for a date. Start with the Maryland crab dip or split the cheesesteak flatbread. The filet mignon and the crab cake & lamb chop duet are both date-night winners — rich, shareable, and consistently solid.

Live music on select nights. A fireplace table if you want to maximize cozy. Classic cocktails, local beers, and a wine list with a few decent surprises.

Click here to explore their Easter Sunday Buffett menu & make a reservation!

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