Feeling stressed? Or maybe you just want to spoil yourself? Visit one of our top spa selections for a high-quality treatment. Is there somewhere else in town you like to go? Share it with us in the comments. 1.     Jordan Thomas Salon & Spa 410-879-6600 111 Fulford Ave. Patch Pick: The Salt Glow, $50, is a perfect start to smooth summer skin. Jordan Thomas is Harford County's undisputed top salon and spa; just ask Baltimore magazine or Harford's Best, where Jordan Thomas has been repeatedly voted among the best. Stop in for a visit, and you'll see why this business is always a favorite.  …

On St. Patrick's Day in Bel Air, there's no shortage of Irish hospitality. All year long, these restaurants and bars serve up delicious food in a great atmosphere; but on March 17, they pull out all the stops for festive parties to celebrate the Irish spirit. 1.     Sean Bolan's Irish Pub I've said it before: Sean Bolan's is the quintessential Irish pub. Authentically Irish all year long, St. Patrick's Day is the most anticipated event of the year at Bolan's. Get there early to take advantage of the breakfast (eggs, potatoes, rashers, toast and fruit) from 8-11 a.m. Traditional favorites such…

Ah, summer. If you're a kid in grade school, the thought of listless days spent outside just can't come soon enough. But if you're a parent with a whole family to keep entertained, the thought of two months without the structure of a school day can stir up anxiety. Enter summer camps, which keep kids and parents happy by masking plenty of education in the form of your child's favorite activities. Check out these five local favorites. 1.     OutBAAC at Bel Air Athletic Club Activities: OutBAAC (self-esteem and sporting skills), dance camp, cheer camp and counselor-in-training camp. Ages: 4-15 …

In honor of the National Education Association's Read Across America Day on March 2, the wonderful staff at the Bel Air branch of the Harford County Public Library rounded up five great reading selections for all ages. Below, you'll find the each book's direct link to the HCPL website, where you can view availability at your local branch. Enjoy a new book for yourself or your children to celebrate Read Across America Day, and keep up the reading all year long by checking in with any librarian at the Harford County Public Library for more great selections. Children’s Recommendations from Annie…

We might not live in Napa Valley, but Harford County is still abundant with local vineyards. Boordy Vineyards, for example, is not only a wine cellar staple but also a great place to go for all sorts of events like wine tastings and outdoor concerts. Fiore Winery of Pylesville is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and Harford Vineyard is right in Forest Hill on Jarrettsville Road. So in the spirit of finding the best from Bel Air, I went to the experts at our locally owned liquor stores and asked for recommendations for their favorite and most popular local wines. I hadn’t heard of …

If you type "non-profit" into Wikipedia, you'll find this description: "An organization that does not distribute its surplus funds to owners or shareholders, but instead uses them to help pursue its goals." The many people who work for and with non-profit organizations in Harford County do not do it for their own financial gain; they do it out of kindness and respect for the community. There are countless non-profits based in and near Bel Air that aim to better all types of individuals and causes; below, we've highlighted just five of these exceptional organizations.  LASOS (Linking All So …

Valentine's Day—whether you love it or hate it—is almost impossible to ignore. Regardless of whether you're blissfully committed, steadily single or always on the lookout for your next date, Valentine's Day puts a lot of pressure on all of us to do something meaningful (or deliberately unmeaningful). We've got an option for everyone: 1. Who: Classic Romantics What: The 11th annual candlelight dinner at Rockfield Manor Where: Rockfield Manor, 501 Churchville Rd. When: Monday and Tuesday, 5–10 p.m. Why: Enjoy a five-course, candlelit dinner catered by Pairings Bistro (with wine pairings!) at …

1.     Buontempo Bros. Self-described as "Bel Air's own Little Italy," Buontempo's is a cornerstone of Main Street whose pizza sauce and dough—which are family recipes made fresh daily—have helped it become a favorite in the community. I love to balance out a slice of pizza with their simple house salad; the homemade pepper parmesan dressing takes it from standard to savory. 1 S. Main St. 2.     Slices Pizzeria It comes as no surprise that there's something special about the size of every slice at Slices: they're huge. With three family-owned locations in Maryland, the spot in the Bel Air …

On-the-go eating doesn't have to be detrimental to your health. In moderation, fast food can be a perfectly healthy alternative to a home-cooked meal. But when eating on the run, it's important to make thoughtful choices about what to order and how to order it. Look for smaller portion sizes and avoid anything that says "crispy"—it's just a euphemism for "fried," which always means double the fat. Instead, check out these five meal options for ideas on how to eat fast and guilt-free without leaving Bel Air. 1.    Arby's Arby's is best known for its menu of deli-style roast beef sandwiches …

Sushi—it's a healthy, sophisticated and surprisingly affordable meal choice with a growing fan base in Bel Air. Now, with more dining options than ever before, everyone can find a sushi joint that matches their style. To expand your expertise on this delectable foreign cuisine, try any (or all!) of these local sushi spots. 1.     Chopstix Gourmet With a great selection of both traditional and specialty sushi rolls, plus a full menu of Chinese dishes, Chopstix has something for everyone. Make sure to try the Pearl River roll; it's an addictive combination of fried shrimp tempura, cream cheese…

No other night has held so many high expectations than New Year's Eve. It is a rare fusion of last chances and fresh beginnings. For many, New Year's Eve is a night to reflect on another year gone by and plan for a better tomorrow. It's a night for goodbyes and hellos. It's a night to be spent in good company. It's a night to celebrate. No need to search for a special way to spend the evening. Whether you're young or old, newly single or faithfully committed, a homebody or a social butterfly, here are five great options to celebrate the evening close to home in Bel Air. Party Central: Main …

The holidays might be over, but some of the best seasonal savings are just beginning. Retailers still have plenty of merchandise to move, so we've pointed out the best sales to shop for everything from wrapping paper to home theater systems. For our final holiday shopping column, Patch wishes you happy hunting! Quick Look: Macy's open at 5 a.m. Target open at 7 a.m. Best Buy open at 7 a.m. Walgreen's open 24/7 Old Navy open at 10 a.m. Macy's You might remember when we showed you some great gift items from Macy's in our holiday gift lists. Department stores are great for making giving …

With Christmas just three days away, Patch has a feeling there are still a few last-minute holiday shoppers out there. For them, we offer five more gift ideas that are easy to find and sure to please. Happy holidays! 1. The "Daring" and "Dangerous" Books for Boys and Girls ($14.95–26.95) Encourage your kids to slow down and recapture the simple pleasures of a Sunday afternoon. In these incredibly useful books, girls will learn about female heroes in history, secret note-passing skills, science projects, cat's cradle and the perfect cartwheel. Boys will learn tricks for the essential skills of…

With just about one week left before Christmas, there are still plenty of ways to keep everyone in the family happy as the final countdown begins. Patch found five great activities for everyone on your list. 1. For the whole family... Even the biggest Scrooge will fall in love with Charles Dickens' classic Chistmas tale. Harford Community College hosts Theatreworks USA for a presentation of "A Christmas Carol" on Friday at 5:30 p.m and 7:30 p.m.. Click here for tickets and more information. 2. For your card-trading kids... Check out the Yu-Gi-Oh Dueling Club at the Edgewood branch of the …

Last week, Patch gave you a crash course in the five rules of successful and meaningful holiday shopping. But just in case you need some extra help, we've rounded up a few of the best gifts from local stores to spark your imagination a little more. Happy shopping! 1. "Holiday Pet Bell Collar" by Plush Puppies ($4.99) Your furry best friend deserves the best, and The Mill has a great selection of gifts for a range of animals from birds to horses. This Santa-style collar was absolutely irresistible, and my pug Bella doesn't seem to mind it either (check her out in the photos, right).  Find …

Don't let the holiday season pass you by; slow down and take a few moments to enjoy this special time of year. Whether you spend your weekend with your kids at the tree lighting or with your college pals at the wine tasting, make sure you take a break from all of life's constant responsibilities to appreciate the little things. We tracked down some of the best events to make it that much easier for you. 1.     Count down 'til Christmas. For the first weekend of December, jumpstart the season's festivities with an extravagant celebration organized by Bel Air's Downtown Alliance. This year, the…

Some businesses cannot be taken for granted. A good bakery. A convenience store open after midnight. Even somewhere to get a fresh breakfast. Downtown Bel Air has all of these, and if it were not a holiday, I might stop by a couple of them. Shamrock Coffee Company I don't drink a lot of coffee, mostly because it makes me twitch like that kid from South Park. When I do, though, I need more than some basic Folgers. Shamrock is just the place for the extra jolt of caffeine and flavor that I'm seeking on nights when I don't get enough sleep. But it's about more than coffee. Have you heard of the …

Tired of serving the same old Thanksgiving fare, year after year? Want to impress your guests—and yourself—by whipping up something new? Patch went to local culinary experts for ideas on how to make deliciously unexpected variations of the Thanksgiving classics. Try these simple recipes to spice up your table this Thursday. 1.    Fried Green Tomatoes with Jumbo Lump Crab and Spicy Remoulade From Chef Joseph Kahl of Sean Bolan's Sound complicated? It's not. When I asked Joe for an interesting appetizer, he whipped this up in 10 minutes flat so we could take a picture … and when he graciously …

Can't find anything to do this weekend? You haven't looked hard enough. Here are some activities in Harford County that everyone can attend. 1.     Listen to some live music. On Saturday afternoon, grab the kids and catch a free performance by the Harford String Orchestra and Harford Youth Orchestra. They'll perform at Harford Community College's Amoss Center at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., respectively. 401 Thomas Run Rd. Looney's North has live bands playing both nights of the weekend, starting out with Baltimore-based modern rock band Starcrush on Friday. Saturday night goes country with Walk-Ins…