For the past few weeks I've been craving tater tots. I tried unsuccessfully to bribe the cook at the bar where I work part-time to make me some from scratch. Then I tried to convince Edgewater-Davidsonville Patch Editor Jonathan Moynihan to break a lunch date with his wife so we could go to the new-ish Sonic down his way, also unsuccessfully. (Sorry Stephanie.) With my plans thwated, I thought: what better way to satisfy a craving and get to know a new place in Glen Burnie? So I decided to stay in town and turned to my good friends on Facebook. "Where can I get good tater tots in Glen Burnie…

After writing an article last week on the Christmas open house that Granville Gilbert has held for the past 25 years, I knew I needed stop by. Gilbert, affectionately known by many as Mr. Christmas, was so pleasant during our phone interview and I could hear his excitement and passion for the holiday. When he said I should stop by, I promised I would try my best. Unfortunately schedule conflicts kept me from getting there until the last day of the open house last Sunday, but I knew that I needed to check it out when every time I mentioned Gilbert's Linthicum Heights home, people's faces lit …

Opening on Sept. 11, 2011, Mission BBQ in the Harundale Mall shopping center has quickly made itself at home in the Glen Burnie community. As tight-knit as I’ve learned that Glen Burnie can be, I was surprised when Lisa Vogel Penix suggested it as a place that every new resident in town should know. And so was Steve Newton, co-founder of Mission BBQ. “That’s just so humbling,” he said when I mentioned why I was there for dinner last week. “The community’s been incredible. I’m in awe of the support that we’ve gotten.” I’d been to the restaurant once before, but I wasn’t going to ignore the …

It started with a Tweet. "Hey @GlenBurniePatch, have you ever heard of us?! We'd love if you came to see us and write about us!" was what I received in my Twitter feed last Wednesday from @SweetTooth410. Followed by, "@GlenBurniePatch keeps everything local!" Someone after my own heart. "@SweetTooth410 Thanks! I wasn't familiar but will make sure to stop by soon!!" I replied. Then she sealed the deal—"@GlenBurniePatch thanks! get an even better deal on tuesdays-thursday during 5-7 for our happy [hour]!! half off pretty much everything :)" I stopped by Monday afternoon to check out Sweet Tooth…

A few months ago I asked for suggestions of places I should visit for this Only in Glen Burnie column that did not involve food. Thanks to Patch reader and contributor Jennifer Donatelli, I put the Big Glen Burnie Carnival on my calendar and anxiously awaited its arrival. Being out of town for opening weekend, I contacted my friends at the Glen Burnie Improvement Association (GBIA) and let them know I would be there Monday night to take it all in. Unfortunately about 20 minutes after I arrived, the event was called due to storms in the area (much to the chagrin of many patrons who had just …

When I started planning my move from Washington, DC, to Glen Burnie back in the fall, I was excited about being close to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. Though it has one drawback—one of these days I’m going to drive off the road out of fear that an airplane is going to land on my car. Upon settling in on the first night, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a light moving outside the window. It was a plane! How cool, I thought. While learning my way around town, I stumbled upon the Thomas A. Dixon Jr. Aircraft Observation Area where the planes seem so close that I feared one would land on …

Thanks everyone for the amazing suggestions over the past few weeks. But, full disclosure, I’m in beach mode as I plan for a June trip to Miami and am going to try to cut back on getting to know Glen Burnie restaurants. That being said, I jumped at Brenda Kelly’s suggestion to take my first stab at duckpin bowling at Glen Burnie Bowl. I’ll be happy to try all of your restaurant suggestions after my vacation in June. Growing up in Virginia—where I’m told there are duckpin-bowling facilities—I’m kind of surprised that I’d never heard of the game before moving to Maryland in 2004. So Sunday …

I finally took the suggestion of so many of you over the past few months—I went to Ann’s Dari-Creme. And boy did it not disappoint. I had been planning to visit the home of the “famous footlong” Monday, but when the weatherman said it would be 80 degrees I knew I had to go grab a dog, milkshake and sit at the outdoor tables. So that’s exactly what I did. Even though I’ve spoken to many Glen Burnie natives over the months about Ann’s and even with the coverage we gave the when we first started about their 60-year anniversary, I was still impressed when my server took three orders at once (one …

With my birthday being on the Mexican “holiday” of Cinco de Mayo (yes, less than a month away), I consider myself to be somewhat of a connoisseur of the country’s food. So when I was invited by Phillip and Jenn Tompkins to check out their favorite Mexican restaurant in Brooklyn Park, El Salto, I jumped at the offer—and I was not disappointed. El Salto, located at 5513 Ritchie Highway, opened its doors in 1995 and was one of the first Mexican restaurants in the area, said assistant manager Juan Loza. “In the beginning, people didn’t really know a lot about Mexican food,” he said in an …

When you walk into Mikie’s you immediately know that it’s a family place. The diner is decorated with pictures of the owner’s children and toys from their childhood. “That right there? That’s my tricycle,” said Scott Wagner, vice president of Mikie’s and Michael’s Eighth Avenue, both owned by his family. “And that picture? I’m the one on the right.” Being that breakfast food is one of my favorites, I was excited when Liz Wagner suggested I check out Mikie’s. (I’m sure you guessed, but Liz is part of the Wagner family. She’s married to Scott’s brother Mike.) I'd driven by the diner on Crain …

I promise, I love you guys. You all keep suggesting nice places with really good food. When I first moved to Glen Burnie I went on Facebook, searched "Glen Burnie" and added every person and page that I could find, one of them being Bill Bateman's Bistro. One Monday they caught my eye with their weekly unlimited-wings special and I knew I needed to check out this place soon. Besides, any place that has the tag line of "best Buffalo wings in town" needs to be checked out. A few weeks later I was heading home on Aquahart Road and decided to try out these wings. And wow, I wasn't disappointed…

I haven't been shy about the fact that I'm new to Glen Burnie. To be completely honest, the first time I ever set foot in town was when I was looking for an apartment in September. I drove up from Washington, D.C., and checked out about four or five places. after finishing my apartment hunt for the day at around 5:30 p.m., I decided it made more sense to hang out around town and grab some food than to attempt to fight rush-hour traffic headed south. That's when I stumbled upon Honey Bee Diner. I was drawn to the name, being that for many years as a child I was called Maya The Bee after the …

I can't lie. I love food. And have a pretty healthy appetite. But for my first "Only in Glen Burnie" adventure I think the food may have won the battle. After sorting through referrals, I decided to take Patch reader Donna up on her suggestion and visit Sunset Restaurant. (Thanks to everyone who submitted, by the way. It's like you all know how much I love food.) Back to the food that won. I was warned the portions are huge, but I never expected the prime rib and whipped potatoes I ordered would end up stretching out over three meals. And I was so full I couldn't even try the strawberry …

My entire life I've yearned for one place I could call my hometown—the place where I knew everyone and had strong family roots. I moved around a lot as a child, and continue to do so as an adult, so I don't have that experience. But many Glen Burnie residents do. Something I've noticed as I get to know people in town, is that most families I've encountered have been here for generations. While Glen Burnie residents live on the same street as their parents, I have to hop a plane to Georgia to see mine. Glen Burnie residents spend holidays with their best friends that they've had since …