It's been a hot minute since I've written anything on this blog, and I miss it! Also can't believe it's already mid-April.. Q1 flew by with new clients, projects, collaborations, and professional learning opportunities. The beginning of the year also started out strong with family and friend events. I like to keep busy during the winter months, especially when the cold weather zaps my energy and motivation. Right now I'm in the process of updating my website/ social media pages with recent work and additional offerings. I'm also evaluating growth strategies for Q2.
Notable events/what I've been up to the past few months:
January
• Community Arts Event at AVAM for the MLK Dare to Dream Day, watch a recap video on my Instagram here
• Free online Masterclass with Design and Prosper (lots of great nuggets of information that I need to revisit!)
• First snow of the year
February
• Havre de Grace Ice Festival
• Disney on Ice
• Visiting one of my besties in SC for her baby shower
March
• Coworking Day at two local establishments (more details below)
• Family & friends trip to Great Wolf Lodge
• Bryce's first haircut
I volunteered at each of the CreativeMornings events in 2024 so far. We have a new initiative with a frequent attendee card (MVBaler), and I am motivated to attend each one of the year! The next event is on Friday, April 26th at the BMA.
In March I completed two new branding projects and made a lot of progress in planning my 20-year high school reunion with the reunion planning committee. The event is coming up a week from tomorrow! We have been sharing event details on social media while highlighting alumni and local businesses. I created a logo and social media templates for the event to keep consistency in the visual components. It's been really cool to see everything coming together.
Throughout the month of April, my artwork will be on display at Found Studio Shop in their upstairs gallery. The art reception took place during First Friday, on April 5th, and the theme of the show was 'Spring Chickens'. I repurposed a chicken shirt I made several years ago while volunteering with AVAM for their Kinetic Sculpture Race. Here are photos from when I originally wore it.
As the title of this post implies, I'm catching up and sharing a bit more about local coffee shops/cafes that I recently visited. If you've been following along with my blog, you may be familiar with my coffee series that I started last summer. I've been highlighting places in my area where I've worked/coworked as a change of scenery from my home office. Not only does this get me out of the house, it gives me an opportunity to share local resources for others who work from home, want a change of scenery, need a good meetup spot, and/or want to support local small businesses. I have several places still on my list, so I hope to get to each of them soon! Below are three places in Howard County, Maryland that are work checking out if you're local or visiting!
cafe columbia
Address: 5550 Sterrett Pl # 103, Columbia, MD 21044
Hours: M-Sat. 8 am-3pm, Sun.-Closed
The Space
cafe columbia (intentionally lowercase according to their Google business page) is located on the first floor of an office building in Columbia, Maryland near The Columbia Mall. The space is well-lit with large windows and several places to sit, including hightop tables and a countertop looking out to the parking lot.
Menu
They serve a variety of food and beverage items including sweet and savory crepes, Belgian waffles, coffee, tea, and milkshakes. I ordered a banana and Nutella crepe when I went there and it was SO good.
Amenities
√ Free Wi-Fi
√ Lots of seating
√ Plenty of parking
Overall
cafe columbia is kind of tucked away without distinct signage, but I'm so glad I came across it when I had some time between meetings one day. It has a relaxing vibe, with lo-fi beats playing overhead, and colorful, inviting decor. It was a great environment to work in and enjoy a yummy drink and food!
Cafe June
Address: 10039 Baltimore National Pike Suite E, Ellicott City, MD 21042
Hours: Mon.-Sun. 8 am- 9 pm
The Space
Cafe June is a cute spot to meet up for a coffee and/or a bite to eat. They have a lot of records/music-inspired decor around, giving it a unique and welcoming vibe. I wanted to take more photos while I was there, but I wanted to respect people's privacy, and many of the tables were full!
Menu
Cafe June has a wide arrange of food items on their menu, from fruit smoothies and bowls, to waffles, sandwiches, and soups. They serve coffee, tea, and iced beverages. View the full menu here.
Amenities
√ Free Wi-Fi
√ Online Ordering
√ Parking lot
Overall
Cafe June is a great place to meetup/work for a short amount of time. They have a 90 minute time limit at tables, which is totally understandable since the tables fill up fast.
Roggenart
Address: 9535 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7 am- 6 pm, Sat. & Sun. 7 am- 5pm
The Space
We went to the Ellicott City location, which is very close to Cafe June (worked from both locations in one day since we reached our time limit). Roggenart has assorted seating arrangements, including a cozy space in front of a fireplace, which is where we ended up.
Menu
Roggenart is a European bakery, bistro, and cafe with a wide variety of sandwiches, baked goods, and additional breakfast/lunch items. View the full menu here.
Amenities
√ Free Wi-Fi
√ Parking lot
Overall
Roggenart was a comfortable spot to sit and co-work for a few hours while enjoying a beverage and pastry. I was able to charge my laptop along the wall behind the chair, and I had space to spread out my items without feeling like I was in the way of other patrons.
Do you have any favorite local spots in the Baltimore vicinity? I'd love to hear about them!