In Frederick, we think we know old. After all, we were part of one of the original 13 colonies and have a rich pre-American Independence history.
But we don’t know old like St. Augustine, Florida knows old.
It was founded in 1565 by Pedro de Aviles, Juan Ponce de Leon and other Spanish explorers. It is the oldest continually occupied European settlement in the United States. In 2025 it will celebrate its 460th anniversary. By comparison, Frederick County just celebrated its 275th anniversary.
For further context, St. Augustine had already been a thriving community for about 50 years at the time English settlers first set foot at Jamestown, Virgina, and a little later, at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts.
St. Augustine sits in the northeast coast of Florida, just 15 miles south of Jacksonville on what is known as Florida’s Historic Coast. It is served by Jacksonville International Airport and is just off I-95 and Route 1. It is about a 12-hour drive from Frederick on a good traffic day.
St. Augustine attracts people from around the globe. About six million visit each year. I was pleased to hear a mix of languages and dialects as we strolled the streets.
Oldest wooden schoolhouse in America
It makes a lot of favorites lists, too. USA Today’s Reader’s Choice 2020 ranks it as “best historic small town.” Conde Naste Traveler ranks it No. 1 on its list of U.S. cities that are full of European charm.
My wife and I just returned from a short visit between Christmas and New Year’s Day. It had been on our bucket list for quite some time. We’ve been all over Florida from Jacksonville to Key West but never made time to visit St. Augustine.
I’m glad we did.
Along with its “old world” charm, St. Augustine is well known for its brick-lined streets, Spanish colonial architecture, legendary Fountain of Youth and warmth of its people. All were in ample supply during our visit.
From the moment you arrive, you’ll likely want nothing more than to walk around and take in the breathtaking Spanish architecture. Try to resist that! As cheesy as this may sound, we wholeheartedly recommend taking the on-and-off-again sightseeing trolley as soon as you can. It can’t be beat for getting the lay of the land and figuring out where you want to spend time.
In St. Augustine, the trolley costs about $40 per person, lasted for about an hour and half (if you don’t get off) and made about 20 stops all around the historic area. The trolley runs all day and you are free to get on and off at will.
History
If history is your thing, this is the place to be. The numerous American “firsts” are lovingly preserved and welcoming to locals and tourists alike.
Over 60 historic sites dot the downtown landscape including the oldest schoolhouse in America, oldest store, oldest jail and oldest public street, Aviles Street, which was also home to the first military hospital. Today, the Spanish Military Hospital Museum sits at the end of the street. The first Holy Mass in America was held in St. Augustine at the Mission Nombre de Dios—also the first Catholic mission.
You won’t want to miss a tour of Castillo de San Marcos, the large historic fort sitting on the bayfront that at one time protected St. Augustine from marauding invaders. It still stands like a sentinel dominating the skyline of St. Augustine. There’s even a moat (now dry) and a working drawbridge.
Castillo de San Marcos fort stands sentinel over St. Augustine
Not much is made of the reaction from and treatment of Native Americans when the Spanish arrived, and that is too bad. I would love to have learned more about that. There are some indications that many of the natives converted to Catholicism because of the way they were buried.
On the bright side, the Spanish rulers of St. Augustine did not allow slavery unlike their British counterparts to the north. Slaves from the British colonies ran away to St. Augustine every chance they got. There, they were free and welcomed into society. The nation’s oldest free Black community was established at Fort Mose in St. Augustine. The proud story is told at the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center.
Fountain of Youth
No visit to St. Augustine is complete without visiting the legendary Fountain of Youth. I’m happy to report this is not the tourist trap you may think it is. The grounds of the Fountain of Youth mark the location of the Native American Timucua village of Seloy and the first settlement of St. Augustine. Extensive archeological work in the 20th century proved this.
The Fountain grounds are now a national park with several acres of exhibits and demonstrations to enjoy. The best features, however, are the impeccably recreated village structures that shed light on Native American life at the time of Spanish settlement.
The Spanish Watchtower, mission church, Ponce de Leon Landing Memorial and canon firing demonstrations are all highlights of the park. The Fountain itself is underwhelming but a good spot for photos. We drank from the Fountain, but I can attest it did not work.
Grounds of the Fountain of Youth
Nights of Lights
If you visit St. Augustine any time between mid-November and late January, you’ll enjoy Nights of Lights. At this annual event, three million twinkling lights adorn every corner of the downtown historic area. A 30- to 40-minute walk will allow you to take in all the splendor. Nights of Lights was named one of the ten best holiday lighting displays in the world by National Geographic Traveler. I highly recommend it.
St George Street Pedestrian Mall
Begin at the Old City Gate and stroll along narrow but charming St. George Street for several blocks to find unique gifts and antiques at boutiques and vintage shops along the way. Numerous cafes and restaurants beckon you inside with their pungent, sweet, salty and savory scents. We recommend Harry’s or Meehan’s to quell your munchies.
At the end of the street, you’ll be treated with the Plaza de la Constitucion, the striking town square established in 1573. Now, it pays homage to the Spanish constitution of 1812 with a monument that is believed to be the only one to a constitution remaining in the world.
Henry Flagler
If you spend any time at all in St. Augustine, you’ll hear the name Henry Flagler over and over again. Flagler was a wealthy New York oil baron who saw the possibilities of St. Augustine before anyone else. In the late 1800s, he helped build a railroad from New York to Florida, ushering in its thriving tourism industry. His name adorns the city’s college, several beautiful hotels and the Lightner Museum, which holds an extensive array of Gilded Age artifacts.
Beaches
St. Augustine lies inland across the impressive Bridge of Lions from Anastasia Island and the Atlantic Ocean. Ocean beaches like sandy St. Augustine Beach and tranquil Crescent Beach await you. Farther south, Anastasia State Park is a protected wildlife sanctuary and includes the gorgeous St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum. Both are worthy of a few hours of your time. Accommodations
St. Augustine sports a wide range of accommodations for every taste and budget. From hotels with suites to condos for large families, bed and breakfasts, camp grounds and budget motels, you will have no trouble finding exactly what you need. My wife and I opted for a budget motel within walking distance of the beach so we could watch the sun rise over Florida’s Historic Coast and then shuttle over to St. Augustine. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Winter is upon us once again, and unlike my friends to the south, I love it — the chill of the air and the heat of the fireplace.
I suspect many of you feel the same.
To me, real winter begins right after the holidays. I don’t even consider December to be part of winter.
On Jan. 2, family get-togethers, all the anticipation, celebrations and sparkle of the holiday season are gone. We are left with two full months (or more) of persevering and seeing what we are made of.
And, it’s absolutely invaluable.
There’s something about winter that toughens us and opens our eyes to myriad possibilities. We buckle down. We work hard. We don’t worry about vacations. Days are short. Time is of the essence. When we accomplish something, particularly outdoors, we feel good about ourselves. We feel like we can’t be deterred.
But there can be a melancholy about winter. There’s an overabundance of darkness. The other three seasons seem long ago and far away. Unfortunately, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can rear its ugly head with some folks, causing mental and physical ailments.
Still, if you can, try to embrace the season. Embrace the cold. Embrace the melancholy. Spring will come in fits and starts and everything will be renewed again.
Here are my top 17 classic rock songs about winter (or set in the winter) to help get you through, nee, celebrate, the season.
Warm, caring loner holed up in his cabin, longing for an absent love. “The lamp is burnin’ low upon my table top, the snow is softly falling, the air is still in the silence of my room, I hear your voice softly calling.”
Sweet, poignant song about losing a love but taking it well. “It was only a winter’s tale, just another winter’s tale, and why should the world take notice, of one more love that’s failed?”
Longing for the warmth of LA during a cold winter in New York City. “All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray, I’ve been for a walk, on a winter’s day.”
Not the same tune as the Moody Blues song above, but Freddie Mercury singing gorgeously of life and beauty as both wind down. “It’s winter-fall, red skies are gleaming, sea-gulls are flyin’ over, swans are floatin’ by, smoking chimney-tops.”
Quintessential pop tune contemplating the passing of the seasons with a focus on winter. “But look around, leaves are brown now, and the sky is a hazy shade of winter.”
Song explores longing, isolation and heartbreak—the cold realities of life. “Cold is the color of crystal, the snow light, that falls from the heavenly skies, catch me and let me dive under, for I want to swim in the pools of your eyes.”
Johnny Mercer lyrics contemplating the pain of growing old and of reliving lost love. “I should be over it now, I know, it doesn’t matter much how old I grow, I hate to see October go.”
A heartwarming song trying to explain the rapture of true love when it’s cold outside. “If I put my arms around you, turn you in from the storm, from your autumn through winter, darling I’ll keep you warm.”
The wonder of glowing, snowy mountaintops at dawn and dusk. “As the winter days unfold, hearts grow warmer with the cold, peace of mind is all you know, winter’s gold, Aspenglow.”
Lovely ballad about (somehow!) a peaceful death out in the cold. “Lay your body down upon the midnight snow, feel the cold of winter in your hair, here in a world of your own, in a casing that’s grown.”
Sad story about being away and missing home. “This is my December, these are my snow-covered dreams, this is me pretending, this is all I need.”
14. “WINTERTIME LOVE” The Doors, 1968 A plea for love and warmth in the cold season. “Wintertime winds blow cold to season, fallin’ in love, I’m hopin’ to be, wind is so cold, is that the reason? Keeping you warm, your hands touching me.”
Peppy song about yearning for youth in the twilight of life. “Beneath this snowy mantle, cold and clean, the unborn grass lies waiting, for its coat to turn to green, the snowbird sings the song he always sings.”
Song bemoans the realities of the season and hopes for spring love. “And it sure been a cold, cold winter, and the wind ain’t been blowin’ from the south, it’s sure been a cold, cold winter, And a lotta love is all burned out.”
Slow, moody “acquired-taste” song that drips with sexual innuendo cloaked in seasonal comparisons. “Summer’s sweet and she brings me water, but give me winter, that old icy whore, summer lies meek and follows orders, winter cries “Me!” and pulls you through the door.”
You should be dancing—yeah! The Bee Gees sang those words back in the disco-crazed late 1970s, and boy, were they right! I can confirm what you probably already know: Dancing is a terrific aerobic and mental workout and a lot of fun, too.
Not to get too technical, but a large body of research touts numerous health benefits to dancing:
Boosts cardiovascular health
Builds core strength
Promotes flexibility
Helps with weight loss
Assists with bone health
Helps to prevent memory loss
Promotes good mental health
Minimizes stress
Enhances a feeling of social connection
Of course, health benefits will vary according to the type of dancing you do. Slow dancing is still great for those non-physical benefits but won’t do much for the more physical items.
Not a dancer? Here’s the good news: it’s never too late to start. And no one will care what you look like doing it.
Sure, you can just get out there and shake around a bit like we all did in high school. That can be a lot of fun and a good workout, too. But for the more adventurous among us, why not wow the crowd and learn a few coordinated moves with a partner?
As you might expect, Frederick is well-served by dance studios and other organizations to help you get dancing. Sign up for a class and in no time, you’ll be impressing others in public—or yourself in the privacy of your home.
If my wife and I can do it for our 40th wedding anniversary, you can do it, too.
Depending on your level of experience, you will likely need anywhere from three to nine lessons to feel confident learning the rhythm, timing of the music, the dance steps, how to lead or follow and more complex moves like spins, dips, and potentially a lift (if you’re feeling daring!) My wife and I polished off a pretty simple routine combining swing and hustle steps in six easy lessons, plus we practiced some at home, too, but not too much.
The easiest dances to learn are the waltz, foxtrot, swing, rhumba, and cha cha. Most reputable dance instructors will be able to discern what you want to accomplish and your ability level quickly. Start with a song you want to dance to and go from there. We chose to learn a dance that worked for the song “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” from the movie Dirty Dancing and had no regrets.
There is wisdom in that adage “dance like no one is watching.” Of course, it helps if you have confidence and a few moves to show off.
The following organizations do not comprise an exhaustive list, but they all offer adult dance classes, and I considered them all in my quest to impress. Keep in mind that many Frederick-area dance studios specialize in children’s dance or a specific type of dance such as belly, ballet, pole, or aerial. Those studios are not listed here.
City Rec Department
Go with the City for a more casual dance experience and to drop in as needed. Salsa, swing, line, jazz and tap classes will be taught at the Talley Rec Center on Bentz Street over six weeks beginning in January. Classes are held in the evenings Sunday through Wednesday. Prices range from $35 to $75 per session.
YMCA
The Y offers classes in ballet, tap, ballroom and hip-hop. Go with ballroom dancing to get you onto the floor quickly. No prior experience is needed. Classes typically run one hour and are offered on various days in the afternoon and evening. Monthly memberships for adults start at about $50 per month.
24/7 Dance Studio
This studio on Prospect Boulevard offers adult classes in hip-hop, tap, contemporary, ballet and jazz. Contemporary is the one you’ll want for dancing to pop or rock music. Classes are held on various days and range from half hour to 75-minutes. Most classes are based on a 32-week season and start at roughly $70 per session.
Dance Unlimited
This studio on South Jefferson Street offers adult classes in tap, ballet, jazz and hip-hop. Classes typically run a half hour to one hour and held in the evenings. Monthly payments range from $65 to $90. Total class time ranges from as little as two hours to nine hours or more. You can stop when you’ve met your goals.
Elite Feet
This studio on East Fourth Street offers adult classes in hip-hop and tap over six-week sessions. The adult classes are designed to provide a fun, safe space for adults to learn dance while also getting exercise. Prices range from $60 per month for half-hour classes to $80 per month for 90-minute classes. A full class schedule spans 32 weeks.
Ballroom Dance of Frederick
This studio on Grove Road specializes ballroom dancing’s two styles: American and International. American style is both social and competitive. International style is more focused on competition but can also be enjoyed socially. They offer a structured dance experience that moves through levels from basic to very advanced. They also have their own dance club. Contact them for specific pricing at 301-662-1602 or ballroomdanceinfrederick@verizon.net.
Fred Astaire Dance Studios
This studio on Pegasus Court near the Westview Promenade shopping area is the one my wife and I patronized and the one I recommend. They are the most complete and customized studio. They tailor their offerings to your needs and goals. They offer adults-only classes and one-on-one instruction in wedding and ballroom dances, including foxtrot, waltz, tango, salsa, merengue, hustle swing, cha cha, rhumba, samba and jive. They offer competitive dance events and their own dance parties.
Take advantage of the introductory offer of $50 per couple for two lessons. Afterwards, one-hour sessions run you about $100 per session, but you can stop at any time.
Where to dance?
Once you’ve got your moves down, you’ll need a place to show them off. Technically, any venue that plays live or recorded music and has a dance floor is a good place to dance. Of course, it helps if others are dancing, too.
Here is a short list of bars, night clubs, social clubs, dance clubs and events in Frederick where you can shake your groove thing. Go to their websites for more information:
AARCH Society Unity Ball, annually in October
Alive at Five, summer on Carroll Creek, Frederick
Anchor Bar, near FSK Mall, Frederick
Bushwaller’s, North Market Street, Frederick
Café 611, North Market Street, Frederick
Cellar Door, East Church Street, Frederick
Community Living Gala, annually in September
Delaplaine Annual Gala, annually in September or October
Firestone’s, North Market Street, Frederick
Frederick Ballroom Dance Club, West Frederick Street, Walkersville
Frederick Eagles Club, West Patrick Street, Frederick
Frederick Elks Club, Willowdale Road, Frederick
Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund Pink Ribbon Gala, annually in October
Mental Health Association Gala, annually in April
Mission of Mercy Gala, annually in September
Monkey La La, (part of Avery’s Maryland Grille) Baltimore Road, Frederick
New Thurmont Dance Club, (part of American Legion) Thurmont
Old Towne Tavern, North Market Street, Frederick
Orioles Nest, West Patrick Street, Frederick
Owls Club, South Jefferson Street, Frederick
Platoon 22 Red Tie Gala, annually in September
Sass Choice Awards Gala at Tenth Ward Distillery, annually in September
Top Classic Dance Songs
These 25 songs are guaranteed to get you out of your chair and onto the dance floor. Ask your DJ to give them a spin. Not all at once, though!
1999 – Prince
All Night Long – Lionel Ritchie
Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
Brick House – Commodores
Celebration – Kool & The Gang
Dance to the Music – Sly & The Family Stone
Dancing Machine – Jackson 5
Dancing Queen – ABBA
Don’t Stop ‘Till You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
Flashdance – Irene Cara
I’m So Excited – Pointer Sisters
I Want to Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston
Night Fever – Bee Gees
Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry
Respect – Aretha Franklin
Rock the Boat – Hues Corporation
September – Earth, Wind & Fire
Shake Your Groove Thing – Peaches & Herb
Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees
Thank You (Falettin Me Be Mice Elf Again) – Sly & The Family Stone
Ask a Marylander where they’re going this summer, and chances are you’ll hear the typical “Merlin” response, “downee ocean, hon!” (Translation: Down to the ocean, my friend.)
Of course, when you go to the ocean in Maryland, you’re going to just one place: Maryland’s iconic beach resort, Ocean City.
But let’s face it, Ocean City in the summer is not for everyone. It can be loud and obnoxious. I know it can be an acquired taste for many, including myself. But, as with, say, a stern mother-in-law, if you can give yourself a chance to know and love her, you’ll be repaid many times over.
There’s good news for people like us: We can fall in love with Ocean City all over again in the winter. It’s really the perfect antidote to the winter blues. So, if you haven’t tried Ocean City with a chill in the air, you’re in for a treat. A calm, quiet treat.
CITY SIZE
In the off-season, Ocean City returns to being a small village of about 7,000 residents, down from about 320,000 in the summer. This is about the size of Walkersville! With so few people and so much land and infrastructure, you’ll have plenty of room to spread out and relax.
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Be advised: Ocean City is open in the winter. Not everything, of course, but everything that matters.
You’ll still have the iconic boardwalk paralleling the Atlantic Ocean from First to 27th Street. You’ll still have about 10 miles of sandy beaches to explore. You’ll still have beautiful sunrises over the ocean and sunsets over the bay.
When you bundle up for a brisk walk on the smooth, wooden-planked boardwalk in the winter, you’ll have plenty of room to watch the crashing waves without crashing into fellow tourists. Believe it or not, fires are also allowed on the beach, with a permit.
Most of the familiar boardwalk haunts will be open at least for limited hours in the winter. I’ve frequented all these in the winter myself: Thrasher’s French Fries, Wockenfuss Candy, Fisher’s Popcorn, The Dough Roller, M.R. Ducks and Purple Moose Saloon, to name a few.
HOTELS
Not all hotels are open in the winter, but you should have no trouble finding perfectly acceptable oceanfront properties to unwind and gaze upon the waves. Most will have indoor pools, too. The name-brand hotels are your best bet in the winter. Also, be sure to search out local favorites Carousel and Princess Royale. They and others will feature specials for Valentine’s Day and the long President’s Day weekend.
RESTAURANTS
Many of the smaller restaurants on the boardwalk are closed in the winter, but don’t despair. Food options are plentiful year-round for locals and brave tourists. I recommend Harborside Bar and Grill, which reopens Dec. 15, for burgers and comfort food, in West Ocean City. Fager’s Island is a fine upscale restaurant worth visiting in North Ocean City. Other local favorites are Marlin Moon, Palm, Coral Reef, Captain’s Table and The Restaurant at Lighthouse Sound.
DOGS AND BIKES
If you have dogs and want to bring them along, the offseason (Oct. 1 to April 30) is for you. Dogs are allowed on the beach anytime. You’ll have ample room to throw that frisbee or play ball. For a little green space, head up to 94th Street for the Dog Playground. It comes complete with a doggie pool, a small dog area and covered seating with plenty of benches. You’ll need to register your dogs in person at Northside Park on 125th Street or online at oceancitymd.gov/rec. Passes are $10 for one day and $20 for three days.
On those relatively warm winter days that are become increasingly normal, head out by boat to the sandbar just north of Hooper’s Crab House where you’ll likely see plenty of dogs frolicking in the shallow water.
Bring your bike, too. Bikes are also allowed on the boardwalk at any time in the winter. The same goes for rollerblades, scooters and other self-propelled and small engine apparatuses. Rentals will be hard to find, so bring your own. Up and down the boardwalk from start to finish is a perfect 5-mile circuit.
Dogs frolic in the cold, shallow Ocean City surf.
FISHING
The typical fishing season in Ocean City is May through October, so you may not be able to charter an excursion during the off-season, but you can do some ocean, bay, surf or pier fishing on your own any time of year. A valid fishing license for the Atlantic Ocean and coastal bays is required.
Ocean City bills itself as the “white marlin capital of the world,” but several other species are plentiful and in season at any time of year, including American eel, black drum, black sea bass, bluefish, croaker, grouper, mahi-mahi, red drum, Spanish mackerel, spotted seatrout, flounder, wahoo, and weakfish.
INDOOR MINI GOLF AND ICE SKATING
Old Pro Golf has an under-cover course at 68th Street called, appropriately, Undersea Adventure. There’s no better way to while away a couple hours putt-putting your way in total warmth through whales’ mouths and windmills and up and down long hills and curves.
The beautiful oceanfront Carousel Hotel at 118th Street has an indoor ice-skating rink open to the public. Between October and May, you can reserve the rink for two-hour time slots for $125 — perfect for a getaway birthday party.
WINTERFEST OF LIGHTS
If you go between Nov. 17 and Dec. 31, you can enjoy Winterfest of Lights, a mammoth display of holiday lights you can stroll or ride through on a handy tram in 58-acre Northside Park. The animated light displays include a 50-foot tree, flying reindeer and hot chocolate and photos with Santa. This is a much larger display than anything available in Frederick. It’s on par, scale-wise, with the large Christmas lights display in Olney but at a fraction of the cost. The price per person to go through the Olney display: $39. Ocean City’s Winterfest: $6.
ASSATEAGUE ISLAND
You can head a little south of Ocean City for a beautiful escape to Assateague Island. The island itself is 37 miles long and spans Maryland and Virginia. You’ll want to stop at Assateague Island State Park, which has two miles of pristine beach. The nearby marshes are the homes for hundreds of species of wildlife you can spot in the off season, including the famous wild horses. The 100 or so horses roam free and make for great photos. But keep your distance. They are wild animals, after all. The Assateague Island National Seashore Visitor Center offers interesting exhibits including marine aquariums, touch tanks and a film about the wild horses.
View from our winter time, ocean front, reasonably-priced hotel.
PUBLIC PARKS
Ocean City is home to several public parks and recreational areas. Some of my favorites include Inlet Park, which is at the southernmost tip of the boardwalk and features great views of the Atlantic and Ocean City’s official time capsule. Northside Park at 125th Street offers 58 acres of hiking trails, a playground, fishing lagoon, picnic areas and an indoor gymnasium. Sunset Park has a bayside promenade with fantastic views of the bay and Assateague. The Downtown Recreation Complex has basketball courts, a skate park, two tennis courts, a playground and an area for bay fishing.
OUTLET MALL IN WEST OCEAN CITY
You can easily spend an entire day at the Outlet Mall in “West O,” as the locals call it. Over 30 outlet shops feature discounts on apparel, footwear, jewelry, handbags, kid’s clothing and eats.
FOX GOLD COAST THEATER
You can kick back and relax in heated recliners and catch the latest movie you can’t seem to find the time to enjoy in Frederick. The theater is on Coastal Highway at 113th Street behind the Goad Coast Mall.
BAR SCENE
If hitting the bars is more your style, Ocean City naps a bit in the winter but certainly doesn’t hibernate. Local favorites like Brass Balls Saloon, Seacrets, Fager’s Island and Pier 23 are open and inviting places to sample local beers and cocktails.
And speaking of local cocktails, don’t forget to sample Ocean City’s own original Orange Crush at just about any bar in town. I heartily recommend you go to the source of this concoction at Harborside Bar and Grill in West Ocean City, where you can also have the best burger in town. Be forewarned, it is the quintessential biker and dive bar.
OCEAN CITY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
For a more genteel evening, head over to the Ocean City Performing Arts Center. Located inside the Roland E. Powell Convention Center at 4001 Coastal Highway, the center provides local, regional and national musical acts, plays and a variety of off-Broadway shows.
The venue is similar to our Weinberg Center, with a 1,200-seat auditorium, two tiers of fixed seating and a concession area. During the off-season, they specialize in orchestral shows, stand-up comedians and tribute shows.
OCEAN CITY LIFE-SAVING MUSEUM
Near the end of the boardwalk at the inlet is the Ocean City Life-Saving Museum. There, you’ll find exhibits of the great storms that have battered Ocean City over the years, sea life, shipwreck finds, mermaids and how life-saving is performed in Ocean City.
BERLIN
The historic town of Berlin is only 8 miles west of Ocean City and well worth a visit. Like Frederick, it has been designated an arts and entertainment district. Its downtown has over 60 retail shops, restaurants, art galleries and music venues. You can explore Berlin’s rich history at Taylor House Museum.
SALISBURY
Salisbury is an easy 30-minute car ride to the west. You won’t want to miss The Country House, “the largest country store in the East,” as it is billed. It’s located at 805 E. Main St. and is quite impressive, with 16,000 square feet of gifts, antiques, home décor, linens, florals, baskets, jewelry, food items and seasonal items.
Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.
The goal-oriented author enjoying a crisp day on the boardwalk.
“50 Years Gone: A Tribute to Jim Croce” will hit downtown Frederick at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at New Spire Arts for two shows, one of which is already sold out. Presented by Key West Productions, the show was put together as a loving, musical tribute to the life and music of Jim Croce.
According to show producer Tom Kohlhepp, Frederick will be the first stop for this show.
The duo of Mike Schirf and Chris Masheck will take the stage and not only play all of Croce’s biggest hits, like “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” “Time in a Bottle,” “I Got a Name” and “Operator,” but they’ll also tell the great stories that Croce told during his all-too-short career.
They’ll also sing many of Croce’s lesser-known songs, like “Roller Derby Queen,” “One Less Set of Footsteps” and “Workin’ at the Car Wash Blues.”
“This night will be really [about] spending time not only listening to Croce’s music but more importantly, I think, getting to know more about the man,” Kohlhepp said. “He wrote so many of his best songs about people he actually knew and came across in life.”
Schirf will sing and play the Jim Croce parts. He is a big Croce fan, according to Kohlhepp, and includes many of Croce’s songs in his setlist when playing his own gigs.
Once Schirf and Kohlhepp decided to put this show together, they settled on Chris Masheck as the best person to accompany Schirf in Maury Muehleisen’s role. All Jim Croce fans know the impact Maury’s beautiful guitar work had on Croce’s success. It’s a testament to the producer that his part is included in the show.
It should be noted, Schirf and Masheck will not attempt to look like the original band members. “The feel and the sound are what we’re really going after,” Kohlhepp said.
Kohlhepp’s production company will also offer the “It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere” show about the life and times of the late Jimmy Buffett at New Spire Arts in February. Kohlhepp was privileged to know Buffett and has lots of interesting, little-known stories to share. “I really like doing my research and enjoy sharing these stories with anyone who wants to listen,” he said.
And if you were wondering, yes, Croce and Buffett knew each other in real life and got together a few times in the early ‘70s. Buffett was actually signed in 1974 to take Croce’s place on the roster of ABC Records’ recording artists after Croce passed.
Every time I make my way to Siesta Key, Florida, the terrific steel-drum-infused Beach Boys song “Kokomo” comes to mind. “Everybody knows, a little place like Kokomo … that’s where you wanna go, to get away from it all.”
I’ve been getting away from it all for close to 40 years now, and it’s the same place almost every year — beautiful Siesta Key. It’s a delightful barrier island that juts into the Gulf of Mexico in Western Florida about 70 miles south of Tampa.
The island itself is only eight miles long and crescent-shaped. It’s bordered by the Gulf of Mexico on the west and the Intercoastal Waterway on the east. The vibrant, handsome city of Sarasota is close by, too. That’s where the Orioles train each spring. Two charming drawbridges connect Siesta Key to the mainland.
Florida, of course, sports hundreds of miles of beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and the gulf. It’s hard to go wrong with almost any of them. But if you want calm, warm water almost any time of year; gentle surf; pristine, white powdery sand; and quiet, minimally invasive nightlife, Siesta Key is the destination for you, too.
STAR ATTRACTIONS
Of its many qualities, the real star of the show in Siesta Key is the white, cool-to-the-touch sand, rated as some of the world’s finest. It’s clean, dazzling white, and feels like confectioner’s sugar. Scientists say this is because it’s made up of nearly 99% quartz crystals, with little to no chipped shells mixed in. You’ll find nothing like it in the beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. There is no such thing as burned feet due to sand in Siesta Key.
Gentle, shallow, azure waves lap continuously at your ankles.
For nine months of the year, the co-star to the beautiful white sand is the gentle, warm water. You rarely need to worry about waves knocking you over or shocking yourself with cold or even cool water as you enter the surf for the first time. Mostly, the water temperature hovers in the high 80s, which approximates the air temperature. You can literally take your noodle out into the gentle surf and bob for hours while chatting with friends or enjoying an adult beverage. There has been no scientific research to my knowledge to prove this, but I am convinced of the healing powers of the gulf waters. I certainly feel rejuvenated after a few hours in it.
BEACHES
Siesta Key is actually made up of three beaches. Each seems to have its own personality.
Siesta Beach to the north is a busy public beach, complete with tennis and volleyball courts, shaded playgrounds and a bustling concession stand. It has year-round lifeguard protection. There is a fun drum circle one or two hours before sunset each Sunday. Teenagers, 20-somethings and day-tripping families flock here.
Crescent Beach, in the middle of the island, is more secluded and private, with only one public access trail. It is perfect for, shall we say, the more mature crowd. It is dotted with pools, palm trees and lovely condos to rent for as little as three days or as much as a year. Loggerhead sea turtles use this beach to lay eggs and nest for up to six months. The beach is kept dark at night so as not to disorient them. There have been nearly 400 total nests established so far in 2023. Chances are, you’ll see some nests on this beach that have been staked off by biologists.
Lovely, fluttering seagrass on the Siesta Key beach.
Turtle Beach to the south is a sportier, family play beach. It’s a great location for paddle boarding and snorkeling. An abundance of seashells makes it beachcomber’s paradise. There are lots of shark’s teeth, too, to impress the kids.
All three beaches feature breathtaking sunsets; gentle, easy-going waves; and beautiful, shallow, azure water. Young parents can feel secure allowing their pre-school kids to play unattended at the water’s edge. Each beach has been recognized for cleanliness, water quality and safety.
The Travel Channel ranks Siesta Beach as one of the nation’s top 10 beaches. It has also been recognized as the No. 1 beach in the U.S. by Stephen D. Leatherman (aka Dr. Beach), director of the highly respected Laboratory for Coastal Research. It continues to receive recognition across the country and world as one of the top coastal destinations. International visitors abound. There is a cacophony of languages to be heard up and down the island.
GETTING THERE
If you’ve seen any of my contributions to 72 Hours, you may know I love road trips. My best friend and I have made this trip by car many times, picking up our less adventurous (OK, saner) wives at the airport. The 1,200 miles from Frederick to Siesta Key may seem daunting, but it’s really not too bad. You can depart from Frederick at 8 a.m. (preferably on a weekend) and be in Daytona Beach or Ocala (depending on which way you go) by 8 p.m. After a good night’s rest, you’ll be in Siesta Key by lunch time. If you really want to push it, you can make it all the way to Siesta Key in about 16 hours, mostly down I-95.
Siesta Key has breathtaking sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico nearly every night.
Of course, you can easily fly into Tampa, St. Petersburg/Clearwater, or Sarasota International Airports from BWI or Dulles in just about two and a half hours and rent a car to complete your trip. A round-trip plane ticket to Tampa and back to BWI on Southwest recently ran us about $450 each. We then rented a mid-size car for 10 days for about $600 at Enterprise.
While on the island, take advantage of handy and free shuttle services when you can. Siesta Trolley, Jonny’s Original Free Rides, Froghopper and Key Life Shuttle will all deliver you to the commercial parts of the island in a relaxed, fun atmosphere.
WHERE TO STAY
One thing you should know about Siesta Key is that there are no hotels. This has been a controversial subject among locals for years. They have, time and again, prevented the big hotel chains from encroaching on the island. For tourists like us, there are plusses and minuses to this stance. There is no denying the lack of hotels keeps a certain charm about the island intact. On the other hand, this means condo owners rule, and rentals can be pricey.
There are plenty of condos, big and small, up and down the island to suit every taste. Three of our favorites include Sea Shell, Midnight Cove and Palm Bay Club. There are even campgrounds at Turtle Beach for the campers among us.
We and another couple just finished up 10 days at a typical five-story condo in the middle of Siesta Key in the front unit with a panoramic view of the Gulf for about $4,500 or about $450 per night. Nearly a quarter of this price is made up of various state and local taxes placed on tourists. We have been loyal to our condo over the years, staying at Sarasota Surf and Raquet Club almost every trip. But, if you decide to go, it would be wise to consult with a real estate agent who can do all the legwork to find the best value for you. They are paid by the condo owners to find renters.
Prices vary by season, of course. In-season in Florida is generally winter and spring. Prices will be higher then. Our annual trip in September is off-season and a bit cheaper. It also has the added benefit of less tourists due to schools being in session all over the country. Many owners do not rent their condos off-season.
WHAT TO DO
Many people, including us, are more than happy to just chill — spend all day reading, chatting and snoozing under big umbrellas and floating in the warm gulf waters. But if you are more energetic, there is no lack of things to do. I heartily recommend visits to at least four local institutions we have enjoyed.
Ringling Museum of Art, named after circus magnate John Ringling, sports 66 lush acres and one of the largest art collections in the country. Ringling’s mansion is a stunning Gothic style palazzo with sweeping views of Sarasota Bay.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a tropical oasis on the shores of Sarasota Bay. It is an open-air museum with more than 20,000 colorful plants, a butterfly garden, Koi Pond, orchid display and art exhibits.
Mote Aquarium has a variety of sea life from the smallest creatures to the largest predators. A shark habitat and hands-on exhibits round out the offerings.
The Legacy Trail is a 20-mile hardwood biking trail from nearby Sarasota to Venice, Florida, through a thick, lush canopy of vegetation. Be sure to watch out for the frequent “alligator crossing” signs as you roll along at a comfortable 10 miles per hour on the flat terrain. There are frequent rest stops along the way.
The beautiful seaside pool at Sarasota Surf & Racquet Club.
Of course, there are the requisite boat rentals, golf courses, fishing charters, parasailing excursions, jet skis rentals and beach cars to tool up and down the island. Most of these commercial offerings happen at the far northern or southern tips of the island, leaving the large middle section blissfully noncommercial.
There is terrific shopping in Siesta Key Village that includes a farmers market every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. “The Village,” as it is known to the locals, is a quaint, mile-long shopping and eating district at the northern end of the island. You’ll likely find yourself drawn here many evenings during your visit. Doors are wide open and inviting. The aroma from the restaurants are exquisite. Most of them sport live acoustic music that gives the area a laid-back, beachy feel. Young people are drawn here, including the cast of the MTV series “Siesta Key.”
WHERE TO EAT
If you venture into Sarasota or Venice, you can enjoy upscale, 4- and 5-star restaurants, like Fins at Sharky’s, Marina Jacks, Antoines, Michael’s on East and Flemings. However, I recommend you mostly stay on the island and eat where the locals eat.
Blasé Café, Gilligan’s Island Bar & Restaurant, Crescent Club, Island House Tap & Grill, Siesta Key Oyster Bar, Sniki Tiki and Captain Curt’s are some of our favorites. You won’t want to miss Broken Egg or Toasted Mango for breakfast at least once during your trip. Other top restaurants on the island include Walt’s, Turtle’s, Ophelia’s on the Bay, Flavios, Café Gabbiano, Siesta Key Oyster Bar and The Old Salty Dog.
The Gulf of Mexico has 87 degree water in September.
Longtime Frederick resident and insurance executive Dick Brown is a dedicated fisherman who has taken his passion and turned it into service for injured veterans.
The organization he belongs to, Maryland Bass Nation, is one of many state affiliates of the national Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society, which has approximately 24,000 members and is dedicated to conservation, youth activities and promoting the sport. Brown is the first vice president of MBN.
Each spring, Paralyzed Veterans of America holds the Capital Clash Bass Tournament in conjunction with MBN to bring injured and paralyzed veterans together with experienced fishermen for a peaceful yet competitive weekend on the water for bass fishing.
Brown has put his heart and soul into organizing this tournament for 16 years now as the tournament committee chairman for the Capital Clash event. He has been involved in some capacity since 1997. Last year they celebrated their 25th anniversary of the PVA B.A.S.S. Tournament Series. Fishermen ranre in age from 18 to 80.
Characteristically humble, Brown said, “I just kind of said I’m going to do this. The guy that got me involved was an old drill sergeant who just treated me fantastically. He was one of the best small-mouth bass fishermen in the country, and I wanted to learn from those guys. At first, PVA did 98% of it [the tournament], and I just took people out in my boat. It took off from there.”
Dick Brown (left) and PVA colleague preparing for touney.
A Logistical Challenge
Despite running a busy insurance agency and managing Type 1 diabetes and disk problems in his back, Brown and the Capital Clash committee spend most of the year organizing the tournament, including all fundraising and logistical activities.
Brown and his committee of eight fundraise to purchase and distribute T-shirts, tackle, lures and other supplies for the vets. Everyone gets a new, fully-packed tackle box and a new rod and reel.
“If they come with nothing, they’ll still be able to fish, but they usually already have equipment. Most of us have a tackle store in the boat – it’s an addiction! We want the vets to get out on the water and enjoy themselves, the camaraderie and the therapeutic aspect of that,” Brown said.
Where’s My Captain?
A big part of the organizing effort is to find enough boat captains to take the veterans out on the water. Brown needs anywhere from 30 to 90 boats, depending on attendance and demand.
“You have to find guys who have bass boats big enough to go out on the bigger bodies of water, who can keep the fish alive, because they are released back into the river and are able to donate their time, ability, gas, and oil, which is not cheap,” according to Brown.
Brown says the captains assist the paralyzed veterans as much as they can. They are not allowed to cast for them unless the veteran is unable. The captains also cannot set the hook or reel in the fish, but they can net the fish for them when it is reeled into the boat.
“Sometimes I’m short 10 or more boat captains the night before,” Brown said. “Only if we have to will we put more than one disabled vet in a boat. If someone wants to fish, we’ll find a spot for them.”
“You should have seen the one that got away!”
Not Just for Fun
The tournament is not just for camaraderie and relaxation. There are real championships and prizes at stake.
“We have a couple of donors who say they want every injured soldier to get something,” Brown said. “PVA supplies prizes to the top 10 fishermen, and MBN steps in and supplies prizes to all the others.”
Championships are measured by a point system. For each tournament you weigh your five biggest bass, and whomever has the most weight wins the tournament.
Some are novice fishermen, but because they have a national tournament trail, some have become very skilled. PVA developed this tournament trail for those who would like to fish nationally.
A First-Rate Operation
Generally, the two-day tournament begins on Friday evening at the American Legion in LaPlata. Registration is held while a picnic-style dinner is served of hamburgers, hot dogs and potato salad.
Names go into a computer, and the vets and boat captains are matched randomly, almost always one to one. In keeping with the rules, the tournament is a total “blind-draw.”
Brown explained it’s done that way so no one can pick their vet or boat captain ahead of time. “There’s always a different match made each year. It can be very competitive.”
Often these matches foster lasting relationships.
A typical fishing excursion lasts for eight hours. Vets and captains arrive at Smallwood State Park, near LaPlata, at 4 am. Saturday and are on the water by 6 am after a flag-raising ceremony. They mostly fish in the Potomac River near LaPlata and the creeks on both the Maryland and Virginia sides. They only fish for bass.
There is a separate bank division tournament. These anglers fish from the river banks if they’re not able enough to get on a boat, “a tourney within the tourney,” as Brown put it, and they also get prizes. They fish for anything, not just bass.
Time to weigh those fish.
Vets Love It
Many anglers come from all over the country to participate. “I see huge smiles and get huge thank-yous,” Brown said. “Just getting away from their daily grind and out into nature is so great. The nice thing is the vets from this area just go 20 or 30 miles south of D.C., and it’s like you’re in Florida on some of these creeks.”
Brown is proud of the fact that it is inspiring to hear participants exclaim that they are “already looking forward to next year” as they say their goodbyes.
“One of the things that gets overlooked sometimes is that veterans who are injured would not have this chance, 25, 30 years ago, and they’re back here enjoying life – such as fishing – and not complaining. They’re out there having wheelchair races and having fun, and that’s what made me realize this is important,” Brown said.
Many paralyzed vets hear about this opportunity through the rec department at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda. PVA also reaches out to local military bases and hospitals, such as Fort Belvoir, Joint Base Andrews, Quantico, and the Baltimore and Winchester VA hospitals.
A Fishing Tourney Lifer
Brown insists he’ll keep doing this as long as he is able.
“It’s totally a labor of love,” he said. “If I were in their shoes, I would love to have this available to me. It’s my hobby anyway, which I don’t get to do very often.”
“The very first time I did this, it changed me,” he went on. “Some days I don’t feel well because I’ve got Type 1 diabetes. But what some of these vets have to endure just to get out of bed each day and to just function at all is amazing. What do I have to be upset about? I would do it if I were in the organization or not. As long as I’m breathing and able, I’m going to participate.”
Brown considered the service out of high school but was disqualified. “’You’re flat footed and legally blind in your left eye’ was what they told me.”
It was disappointing because he was very fast and athletic and had been a hunter all his life, able to hit any target. He sees the tournament as a way to give back.
You Can Help
Anyone who wants to help with the tournament can contact Brown at dickbrown@4myinsurance.net.
There are several ways to volunteer, such as distributing supplies and lunches, helping with parking and weigh-ins, and many other tasks.
If you know someone who is injured or disabled and wants to fish, veteran or not, they may qualify to fish in this tournament and are encouraged to contact Brown. For more information, see pva.org/adaptive-sports/bass-tournament-series.
The next PVA Capital Clash Tournament is set for June 7 to 9, 2024, in Waldorf.
And yes, Brown has been working on logistics for months already.
I realize this probably doesn’t sound unusual to you. But, to me, it was. I hardly ever dream. At least I don’t think so.
Scientists say most people dream but don’t remember them. I probably fall into that category. Scientists also say the purpose of dreaming is to “help analyze and consolidate memories, a process where recent, learned experiences are converted into long-term storage.” I guess that that makes sense but still doesn’t explain the sensation of falling out of an airplane, showing up at work naked or snake monsters.
Naturally, last night’s dream got me to thinking about classic rock songs about dreaming. Why? Because I love classic rocks songs and because popular music tends to cover all the esoteric feelings and experiences we all share. If listening to love songs can help make you a more loving or romantic person, which I believe, why can’t songs about dreams make you a “dreamier” person?
Unfortunately, it seems that most songs about dreams are not really about dreams at all, at least not in the sleeping sense. No, they are more about conscious dreaming and trying to reach your full potential.
Still, I think I’ll give it a try tonight by listening to my top ten classic rock songs about dreams and see if I can repeat last night’s performance.
10. “DAYDREAM BELIEVER” The Monkees, 1968 Tuneful, repetitive song about the sweet boredom of suburban life delivered up by the fun loving boys of ‘60s bubblegum rock. “Cheer up Sleepy Jean, Oh, what can it mean, To a daydream believer, And a homecoming queen?”
9. “DREAMS” Fleetwood Mac, 1977 Haunting melody and cryptic lyrics by Stevie Nicks poking fun at her cheating boyfriend and bandmate at the time, Lindsey Buckingham. “Thunder only happens when it’s raining, Players only love you when they’re playing.”
8. “YOUR WILDEST DREAMS” The Moody Blues, 1986 Thoughtful lyrics and upbeat groove exploring whether a lost love ever thinks about you “in their wildest dreams.” “Once upon a time, Once when you were mine, I remember skies, Reflected in your eyes.”
7. “BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS” Green Day, 2004 Moody, reflective song covering heartbreaking loneliness and lost dreams. “I walk this empty street, On the boulevard of broken dreams, Where the city sleeps, And I’m the only one, And I walk alone.”
6. “ENTER SANDMAN” Metallica, 1991 These heavy metal rockers serve up a terrifying lullaby with an unforgettable guitar lick. Have to blast this one full volume for the best effect. “Say your prayers little one, Don’t forget, my son, To include everyone, I tuck you in, warm within, Keep you free from sin.”
5. “#9 DREAM” John Lennon, 1974 A soothing, haunting, spiritual song that reportedly sprang from a real dream. One of his best. “Dream, dream away, Magic in the air, Was magic in the air?, I believe, yes, I believe, More I cannot say, On a river of sound.”
4. “DREAM ON” Aerosmith, 1973 This timeless masterpiece with the unforgettable opening chords implores us to live for today because tomorrow is not promised. “Every time that I look in the mirror, All these lines on my face getting clearer, The past is gone, It went by like dusk to dawn.”
3. “CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’” The Mamas and the Papas, 1965 A lovely call and response song with impeccable harmonies about longing for something you can’t have. “All the leaves are brown, And the sky is gray, I went for a walk, On a winter’s day, I’d be safe and warm, If I was in LA.”
2. “DAYDREAM” Lovin’ Spoonful, 1966 A carefree, feel-good song about being so much in love, it’s like a daydream. Terrific tenor vocal from John Sebastian. “I’ve been having a sweet dream, I been dreamin’ since I woke up today, It’s starring me and my sweet dream, ‘Cause she’s the one makes me feel this way.”
“ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DREAM” Everly Brothers, 1958 This sweet, classic song extols the virtues of dreaming to be reunited with the one you love. Impeccable harmonies introduced America to this classic duo. “When I want you in my arms, When I want you and all your charms, Whenever I want you, All I have to do is dream, dream, dream.”
Honorable Mentions: Jim Croce’s “Dreamin’ Again,” Crowded House’s ”Don’t Dream It’s Over,” Bobby Darin’s “Dream Lover,” The Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” Heart’s “These Dreams,” Billy Joel’s “The River of Dreams,” Gordon Lightfoot’s “Summertime Dream,” Kenny Nolan’s “I Like Dreamin’,” Billy Ocean’s “Get Out of My Dreams, Get Into My Car,” Elvis Presley’s “If I Can Dream,” The Romantics’ “Talking in Your Sleep,” The Talking Heads’ “Dream Operator,” and Gary Wright’s “Dream Weaver.”
Back in early August, in the pages of 72 Hours, Crystal Schelle wrote evocatively about the music of George Michael and Wham! and how much their music meant to her youth.
I know exactly how she feels.
For me, it was an obscure ‘70s singer-songwriter named Jim Croce that got into my soul and never left. Music has that power, somehow, to grab ahold of you and not let go. If you don’t have an artist that does that for you, I urge you to keep looking. It is one of the sweetest things in life.
Croce only reached American consciousness for one year before dying tragically 50 years ago this week in 1973. I cannot begin to tell you what his music means to me, even to this day. But, I’ll try.
Philadelphian James Joseph Croce had a mysterious knack for singing about the very things I was feeling as a teenager in the ‘70s, and he did it with a kind of carefree coolness that belied his long climb to fame. His relaxed demeanor is hard to describe but comes out clearly, I think, in photographs.
The album cover for “Have You Heard: Jim Croce Live,” for example, shows him on a stool playing his guitar in an old work shirt and boots, a cigar dangling beneath his enormous mustache. He didn’t seem to realize or care how big he was becoming. He caught the sensitive singer-songwriter craze of the early ‘70s, writing most of his own songs and producing three critically acclaimed albums.
A copy of the author’s own DVD
Croce didn’t so much burst on the scene as amble up to it. He provided some pleasant pop tunes in 1972, including his self-effacing hit “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim” and the lovely but sad ballad “Operator” that spoke of getting over lost love (but not really). Both songs made the top 10. I’m almost ashamed to say that I wasn’t really aware of Croce in 1972. I honestly can’t remember either song playing on the radio. But, as an awkward 10th-grader, I wasn’t really into music yet.
Croce spent years chasing his musical dreams, occasionally giving up for a while and doing all kinds of blue-collar jobs that he reportedly loved. He was a trucker, construction worker, jackhammer operator, soldier and special education teacher, among other things. Little did we know that doing those jobs and getting to know the other workers would eventually bring us such spot-on character studies as Leroy Brown, Big Jim Walker, Rapid Roy the Stock Car Boy, Spike (aka Tuffy), the infamous Roller Derby Queen, the unnamed car wash attendant with big dreams and Speedball Tucker.
In that fateful year of 1973, however, Croce came into his own with the rollicking story-song “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” which speaks of the comeuppance of a really bad dude living in the Southside of Chicago. Croce sang, “If you go down there, you better just beware of a man name’a Leroy Brown.”
You know someone is more than just a pop artist if they add everyday lexicon to the English language. Jim Croce did that at least twice. The next time you describe a lost cause as “spitting into the wind” or a really mean person as “meaner than a junkyard dog,” you have Croce to thank.
“Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” is a funny, funky song (with a bad word thrown in there for good measure) that we all sang with abandon. It seemed like it was always on the radio during the summer of ‘73, rising to No. 1 in July and staying there for two weeks and in the top 10 for 10 weeks through late August. I can still remember driving down the road and hearing that unmistakable opening piano riff arriving unannounced on the radio and instantly singing along and going much too fast. It was up for a Grammy and brought implausible celebrity to Croce. He spoke of writing the song about a not-too-bright Army buddy who went AWOL but came back to get his paycheck.
Stardom beckoned as Croce quickly went on to host the top music shows of the day: “The Midnight Special,” “In Concert” and “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert” in August and early September of ‘73, a time where there was no MTV, YouTube or streaming services. He even guest-hosted “The Tonight Show” once.
As good of a singer as Croce was, he may have been an even better storyteller. Between songs, he seamlessly shared funny stories of playing in bars surrounded by chicken wire so he wouldn’t get hit by flying beer bottles and of being attracted to a five-foot-six, 215-pound “roller derby queen” who had a tooth removed so she could fit a cigarette up in there and keep her hands free.
Jim Croce, 1972
Sadly, just a month later, at the apex of his career, on Sept. 20, 1973, Croce and his guitar virtuoso accompanist, Maury Muehleisen, and several others in his party perished in a tragic small plane crash in Natchitoches, Louisiana, en route to a gig. The plane snagged a pecan tree on takeoff and tumbled to the ground in a ball of fire. Croce and the others were killed instantly. Pilot error was to blame.
He’s been gone 50 years now, and it seems like yesterday I was driving my dad’s Plymouth Satellite to the opening days of my junior year of high school and hearing the heartbreaking news on the radio. I literally had to stop and collect myself before going to school.
No one could have imagined what would happen next.
Instantaneously, the record-buying public couldn’t get enough of Croce. The stardom that eluded him during his life came flooding in after his death, as if we had to make it up to him somehow. His previous two albums shot to the top of the charts. A single released the very day of his death, “I Got a Name,” entered the top 10 immediately. His just-released album of the same name joined its two brethren by becoming one of the top three best-selling albums. Croce’s other two previously released albums also rose in popularity: “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim” soared to No. 1, and “Life and Times” settled in at No. 3. This trifecta has never again been matched in the music business.
Amazingly, all this happened in the span of a month or two. His albums went from sales in the 50,000 range nationwide to selling over 1 million copies each. To this day, I don’t know how they printed them fast enough to satisfy demand. I relished the chance to play his 8-track tapes every night during intermission at the drive-in theater I was working at in ’74 and ’75. We never got a complaint (as far as I know).
If all this weren’t enough, shortly after the single and album “I Got a Name” hit the charts at the time of his death, a lovely, obscure Croce deep cut from his first album called “Time in a Bottle” was being featured in a TV movie called “She Lives.”
The public demanded it be released as a single by bombarding radio stations with requests for it. It went on to become the No. 1 single in December 1973 through January 1974. You may know it as a very popular wedding song to this day.
One line in the song brought sadness to everyone (and still does for me): “There never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do once you find them.” Indeed. So true.
I tell you all this because the music industry had never seen anything like it before or since. To be sure, we had very popular artists die way too soon — Elvis, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Michael Jackson. But to some extent, all these artists had shortened their own lives due to their own actions. The murder of John Lennon in 1980 shook the world, but there was no denying his best musical days were behind him. Thirty-year-old Jim Croce was neither killing himself quickly or slowly.
You have to go all the way back to the ‘50s and the tragic death of a very young Buddy Holly in another small plane crash to come anywhere close to the outpouring of sentiment that came after Croce’s death.
Record executives have chalked up this phenomenon to the public feeling cheated that this promising new artist was gone before they really got a chance to know him. He wasn’t on the way out; he was on the way up. He was soft spoken and humble. He was a family man. His songs were somehow different. We just knew there were a lot more funny, up-tempo songs and quiet, romantic ballads coming our way from this everyman troubadour.
UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1970: Photo of Jim Croce Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
I believe his looks had a lot to do with his popularity, too. He doubled down on his working-man persona by sporting curly, unkept hair, a big mustache that looked like it never saw a razor, work shirts, work boots and jeans. Tattoos rounded out the look — and tattoos were not a fashion statement for young people in the ‘70s like they are today. Tattoos were reserved for sailors, convicts and really bad dudes not yet convicted. The dichotomy is that he was none of these. He looked tough, but from all reports, he was a sweet, gentle, soft-spoken guy. As far as blue-collar rockers go, he was Bruce Springsteen before there was a Bruce Springsteen.
Ahh, but it wasn’t meant to be.
Jim Croce likely would have gone on to have a similar career to those of John Denver and James Taylor — long, popular, highly respected and very near to superstar quality. He would have been a staple on TV and most probably a talk show host.
His music was hard to categorize. It was part folk, part pop and part easy-listening, I suppose. He had a very distinctive voice that was (and still is) immediately recognizable, sometimes funny and self-effacing and other times sweet and gentle. He told evocative stories of everyday people because he was one of them. To this day, his songs remain on heavy rotation on certain Sirius XM channels. They frequently pop up in movies like “Django Unchained” and series like “Stranger Things.”
I was trying to think of an analogy that might drive home the tragedy most of us felt in 1973. The best I can come up with is this: Suppose a promising young artist named Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber or Ed Sheeran, who we were just becoming aware of and whose songs were funny and different and great, was suddenly killed in a plane crash. I imagine that would be like losing Jim Croce in the ‘70s. He was becoming that big.
But time goes on and Croce is largely forgotten now. For a few of us, though, he lives on. Meeting Jim’s widow and fellow musician Ingrid Croce, at her delightful Italian restaurant in San Diego (named Croce’s, of course) was one of the happiest days of my life. She was sweet and accommodating, but I couldn’t help wondering if she had secretly activated a panic button due to my exuberance at meeting her.
Catch the live show “50 Years Gone: A Tribute to Jim Croce” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at New Spire Arts. The performance is a musical tribute to the life and music of Jim Croce. Mike Schirf and Chris Masheck will take the stage and not only play all of Croce’s biggest hits but will also tell the great stories that Croce told during his all-too-short career.
Despite a pesky smattering of Nationals fans, Frederick is unquestionably Orioles territory. And like many of you, for better or worse, I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with the Orioles. Just like a wayward brother, I can’t stand them for a while, but as time goes by, I do care what becomes of them.
The O’s are playing surprisingly well this season, but even in the lean years, we still had that oasis of a ballpark to visit – Oriole Park at Camden Yards. That modern, yet retro-looking stadium in the heart of Baltimore with the iconic B&O warehouse as its backdrop started the baseball stadium building craze back in 1992. Since then, almost every major league team has either built a new park like OPACY or has made major renovations to their existing park to create a destination for fans.
While I’m not too interested in the success of any other major league team, I do very much enjoy visiting other major league ballparks. Unlike football stadiums (which are never called parks,) no two baseball parks are alike, not even the playing dimensions! Major League parks tend to be little cities unto themselves and a microcosm of humanity from all walks of life. In short, they are fascinating!
Think of a never-ending food court full of delicious food that is never good for you, a multi-level shopping mall, enormous escape room, rollicking music hall, a spacious outdoor lounge under the stars, helpful talk therapy session and expansive entertainment venue all rolled into one. And with more people-watching than even the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills could stand!
My fascination with ballparks goes back to my youth and the occasional family visit to a favorite uncle in Baltimore. Without fail, one of the highlights of these visits would be a trip over to old Memorial Stadium. I can still remember the first time I caught a glimpse of the greenest grass I had ever seen in that mammoth expanse of outfield as I ascended the escalator. Other perplexing and wondrous sights, sounds and (especially) smells awaited this rural, pre-teen kid who never dreamed he’d actually be in a place his heroes played and only occasionally saw on TV.
Comerica Park in Detroit, MI
Soon after college in 1980 I embarked on my professional career and was introduced to the glory and misery of corporate business travel to faraway cities. Thankfully, nearly all had major league baseball teams that were at home during my visits.
That’s when I began my lifelong hobby of collecting major league baseball stadiums. Not physically of course, although I do have many photos and souvenirs in my home, but as fond memories tucked away in the corners of my mind. To me, there is nothing better than getting off by myself in some faraway city to catch a game under the lights after a long day of dealing with demanding clients and irritable colleagues.
In August of this year, I finally finished up. I recently visited Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and thus completed what I call my lifetime grand slam, visiting the home ballparks of all 30 major league teams. To be honest, I have not yet been to a couple of the newer stadiums, but I have been to all 30 major league cities and their home parks at the time, so I’m counting it!
To me, this was a great achievement. But I’ve come to learn it might not be so great after all and certainly not unique. Thousands of people have completed this quest. They are called “ball park chasers.” They even have a website: (ballparkchasers.com).
The world record is a breathtaking 30 parks in 24 days by a fellow named Chuck Booth in 2009. He had to do some East coast day/night doubleheaders to achieve that number. I’ll bet he’s also single.
He has my respect. I completed my lifetime quest just a few parks at a time. It was only after I retired a few years ago that I actually took what you might call a baseball trip—a grueling eight-day, six-ballpark drive around the Midwest to catch the “fly over” parks. My wife went with me. She may never be the same.
In the last couple of years, I’ve also scheduled mini vacations with pals to finish up cities I had somehow missed along the way. This included quick 2-day forays to Detroit, Denver, Arlington, TX, and Los Angeles.
Busch Stadium in St. Louis
Before I give you my Top 10 list, let’s get one thing out of the way: I didn’t really like the two oldest parks and the most storied one. Sacrilegious? Maybe, but that’s how I feel. Despite improvements made along the way, Fenway Park (1912) in Boston and Wrigley Field (1914) in Chicago, feel their ages. The seats are small and sometimes not positioned correctly. Concourses tend to be narrow and the fan bases can be, shall we say, overly exuberant. One of Wrigley Field’s concourses even sits underground, which gave me a feeling of claustrophobia.
Yankee Stadium in New York has a corporate feel to it. It’s hard to explain. It’s like they tried too hard to mimic old Yankee Stadium in every way. Lines are long and the food is very expensive. Unfortunately, the fan base takes obnoxiousness to a whole new level making the game-day experience for visitors and families poor at best.
Gary Bennett at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas
MY TOP TEN BALLPARKS
10. Target Field – Minneapolis, MN – Minnesota Twins The park is downtown with a terrific cityscape. I loved the statues of Twins’ greats on the concourses and the big sign in center field featuring their original logo: one player representing Minneapolis, the other representing St. Paul, shaking hands over the Mississippi River. Wonderful!
9. American Family Field – Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee Brewers This park has a cool roof, brats, and Bernie Brewer coming down a slide when a home run is hit. Unfortunately, the park is not in downtown or it would be higher on my list. The very best part: The crowd exuberantly singing “Roll Out the Barrell” complete with accordion accompaniment during the seventh inning stretch!
8. Coors Field – Denver, CO – Colorado Rockies This park is one of the best with stunning views of the Rocky Mountains and a great, natural park-like feature inside the stadium that includes trees and a stream. Even in mid-July the air is so fresh and clean that you hate to leave.
Coors Field in Denver
7. T-Mobile Park – Seattle WA – Seattle Mariners The site of this year’s All-Star Game is tucked in next to the city’s football stadium and a train depot and has an operating train within the park. It’s a downtown park with great views of Puget Sound. It has what looks like a giant umbrella atop the park. That gives it an open-air feel even when the roof is closed.
6. Busch Stadium – St. Louis, MO – St. Louis Cardinals This park features the very best cityscape in all of baseball. You just can’t beat the view of the gateway arch and the feeling of smallness you get when you gaze upon it during the game. This park does a wonderful job of depicting its abundant history, too. Cardinals’ games are always sold out so the energy in the stadium is amazing, but it can feel crowded.
5. Petco Park – San Diego, CA – San Diego Padres A beautiful park in the heart of San Diego’s Gaslamp district. The cityscape is just about unmatched. The incorporation of the iron company façade in left field, which the park was built around, was a master stroke that gives the park character. The park also has the major’s second-best steak sandwich, just after Philadelphia.
4. Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Dodgers This is the third oldest park still operating (1962) but it doesn’t feel it. Overlooking the San Gabriel Mountains, it provides stunning views from all over the stadium. There’s sort of a coolness to being at a Dodger’s game that is palpable and unmatched anywhere else. The Dodger Dog really is the best in all the majors.
3. Oriole Park at Camden Yards – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Orioles What can you say about my home park? It really is amazing. I made it to this gem of a stadium just a few weeks after the inaugural game and looked on approvingly at the warehouse, Utah Street, flag court, and Boog’s Barbeque. Simply mesmerizing! When the O’s are hot, there’s no better place to catch a game.
2. PNC Park – Pittsburgh, PA – Pittsburgh Pirates This park features a beautiful cityscape, but this one is notable for incorporating the Pirates’ gold and black colors on nearby bridges and buildings. It nestles up nicely against the Allegheny River. Since it is a relatively small stadium, all the seats are terrific. You almost feel a part of the action. It’s just a shame the Pirates have fallen on perpetual hard times. When they are good, the place really rocks.
1. Oracle Park – San Francisco, CA – San Francisco Giants For me, there is just no better place to catch a game than stunning Oracle Park. It is nestled up so close to McCovey Cove that home runs splash into the bay just about every game. The food is creative. The weather, perfect. It’s the best walk around the park of them all. Stadium is a pleasant, easy walk from downtown.
MY WORST FIVE STADIUMS
Tropicana Field – St. Petersburg, FL – Tampa Bay Rays Just a terrible place for a game. A non-retractable domed stadium, it is dark and dank and lacks any kind of energy from the sparse fans.
Ring Central Coliseum – Oakland, CA – Oakland A’s Just a horrible, mostly empty stadium set inexplicably in an industrial area. The seats are set much too far away from the field. No wonder the team is contemplating a move to Las Vegas.
Guaranteed Rate Field – Chicago, IL – Chicago White Sox Set in the southside of Chicago, the neighborhood is not the best and there’s not much to do after the game. The stadium has a steep design that makes you feel far away from the action.
Nationals Park – Washington, DC – Washington Nationals A big, impersonal park with no views of the monuments. What were they thinking? Unfortunately, the Nats lost their Senators history when the franchise relocated to Texas.
Angels Stadium – Anaheim, CA – Los Angeles Angels The stadium is not only in the middle of nowhere, but it takes forever in hellish LA traffic to get there. The boulder feature beyond the centerfield fence seems pointless and has nothing to do with LA.
MOST INTERESTING FOOD ITEMS (I’VE TRIED THEM ALL) Poutine – Toronto Blue Jays Dodger Dog – LA Dodgers BBQ Burger – Kansas City Royals Donut Burger – Philadelphia Philles Slider Dog w/Fruit Loops – Cleveland Guardians 4-Way Chili – Cincinnati Reds The Mega Slice – St. Louis Cardinals Prime Rib Sandwich – Houston Astros Fried Dough Sundae – Boston Red Sox Wisconsin Ultimate Cheese Fries – Milwaukee Brewers Pierogi/Kielbasa Cone – Pittsburgh Pirates 18-Inch Hotdog – Arizona Diamondbacks Crab Cakes/Boog’s BBQ – Baltimore Orioles Peanut Butter & Bacon Sandwich – Minnesota Twins Triple Threat Pork Sandwich – San Diego Padres
Ellen Bennett at Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City, MO.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF MY TRAVELS TO THE PARKS
8/16/67 – Memorial Stadium – Baltimore, MD New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles It took forever to wind our way through Baltimore to get to this mammoth monument to World War II. I made about 25 other trips to this stadium including the final game played there on October 6, 1991.
5/1/78 – Three Rivers Stadium – Pittsburgh, PA San Diego Padres vs. Pittsburgh Pirates The game is memorable for being a fun boy’s trip near the end of the college year and the Iron City beer vendor yelling “Willie Stargell dips his bat in it.”
4/18/92 – Oriole Park at Camden Yards – Baltimore, MD Detroit Tigers vs. Baltimore Orioles I still remember the pride I felt looking out at this glorious new ballpark. The B&O warehouse made it seem cozy. I’ve now been to this park about 50 times including the ’93 All-Star Game.
4/15/98 – Joe Robbie Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL Philadelphia Phillies vs. Florida Marlins I was attending a conference in Hollywood, FL, so I drove over to this huge football stadium for a day game. It was orange, big and empty.
4/24/01 – Chase Field – Phoenix, AZ Florida Marlins vs. Arizona Diamondbacks I was in Phoenix for a national sales meeting. The stadium is right next to the basketball arena and in a very nice entertainment district. The outfield pool is nice, too.
6/9/04 – Anaheim Stadium (or ”The Big A”) – Anaheim, CA Milwaukee Brewers vs. Anaheim Angels This trip is memorable because my then 14-year old son and I drove down from Disneyland to attend a game. Stadium is in the middle of nowhere and only so-so.
6/18/05 – Tropicana Field – St. Petersburg, FL St. Louis Cardinals vs. Tampa Bay Devil Rays (now Rays) I’ve been to this stadium several times since my wife and I like to vacation in Sarasota about 40 miles away. Terrible stadium. The dome appears oddly tilted from the outside and it famously leaks.
10/6/05 – Turner Field – Atlanta, GA Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves Memorable, because it was a playoff game, which shows how easy it is to buy one seat at any park at any time. I was in town to visit a vendor. I don’t like the tomahawk chop.
5/20/07 – Wrigley Field – Chicago, IL Chicago White Sox vs. Chicago Cubs I was in town working at a large medical conference when I got a ticket to this cross-town rivalry game in the major’s second-oldest ballpark.
5/4/08 – Guaranteed Rate Field – Chicago, IL Anaheim Angels vs. Chicago White Sox This visit was part of our 25th wedding anniversary getaway. (Not one of my finest moments.) Stadium is on the south side, and yes, it really is the baddest part of town.
7/19/09 – New Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees This game is memorable because it was the centerpiece of an epic baseball weekend with my then 19-year-old son. We also visited Cooperstown, New York, home of the baseball Hall of Fame.
6/23/10 – Citi Field – Queens, NY Detroit Tigers vs. New York Mets I was in Manhattan for a conference so rode the subway over for a game. I was pleasantly surprised. The stadium does a nice job representing its considerable history. The arches are nice, too.
9/9/10 – Rogers Centre (originally Skydome) – Toronto, Ontario Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Blue Jays I was in town exhibiting at a convention. The stadium is kind of bland inside but is situated in downtown with a great view of CN Tower. The singing of “Oh Canada” is stirring!
4/14/12 – T-Mobile Park – Seattle, WA Oakland A’s vs. Seattle Mariners I attended this game with a work colleague while at a conference in Seattle. A gorgeous stadium with retractable roof and wonderful food.
5/22/13 – Fenway Park – Boston, MA Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox I was in town for a business meeting so of course I had to make the pilgrimage over to the oldest major league ballpark. The Green Monster wall in left field is the most interesting quirk in modern baseball and the “Sweet Caroline” singalong is awesome in person!
6/23/14 – Citizens Bank Park – Philadelphia, PA Miami Marlins vs. Philadelphia Phillies Not sure why it took me so long to get up to Philly. This is a very nice park but in a rough part of town. I love the Liberty Bell replica in centerfield… and, of course, the cheesesteaks.
8/16/14 – Oakland Alameda Coliseum (now Ring Central Coliseum) – Oakland, CA Tampa Bay Devil Rays vs. Oakland A’s I drove down from a business trip in Medford, Oregon. This game is only memorable because I missed my return flight to Baltimore because of it.
5/6/15 – Oracle Park – San Francisco, CA San Diego Padres vs. San Francisco Giants I was in town for a conference and brought my wife along for a day game. Aha, I found it! The best park in the land. I could definitely live here and still make use of my O’s orange and black regalia.
8/16/16 – Nationals Park – Washington, DC Baltimore Orioles vs. Washington Nationals This game is memorable because I walked over from my office in D.C. to meet my 26-year-old son for an O’s game. I distinctly remember the O’s winning 10-8 and him outdrinking me 3-2. Or, was it the other way around?
5/18/17 – Minute Maid Park – Houston, TX Cleveland Indians vs. Houston Astros My wife and I drove to Houston from San Antonio where I was attending a conference. The stadium is quirky and fun. It features a very short porch in left field and an actual incline in centerfield, now (thankfully) removed.
5/10/18 – Petco Park, San Diego, CA Texas Rangers vs. San Diego Padres I’ve been to this stadium a few times since San Diego is a popular convention destination. Loved it every time! One of the best. Could live here, too.
7/20/19 – PNC Park – Pittsburgh, PA Philadelphia Phillies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates One of the few times I visited this city just for a game. I remember it was extremely hot throughout the game, but that didn’t dim my appreciation for this beautiful park.
7/21/21 – Great American Ballpark – Cincinnati, OH New York Mets vs. Cincinnati Reds This was the first game of a summer Midwest swing. Six cities in eight days. Best part of this stadium is its location: snuggled right up against the Ohio River. The famous 3- and 4-way chili is nice, too.
7/22/21 – Busch Stadium – St. Louis, MO New York Mets vs. St. Louis Cardinals Game two of our Midwest swing. It was a scorcher of a day, but this beautiful stadium with the gateway arch standing guard beyond the stadium was well worth the visit.
7/23/21 – Kaufmann Stadium, Kansas City, MO Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals Game three of our Midwest swing. The park is undeniably beautiful especially with the iconic water fountains ringing the outfield and spouting almost continuously. But it is way out of town.
7/24/21 – Target Field – Minneapolis, MN Los Angeles Angels vs. Minnesota Twins Game four of our Midwest swing. Love the statues, walkways and summer weather.
7/25/21 – American Family Field – Milwaukee, WI Chicago White Sox vs. Milwaukee Brewers Game five of our Midwest swing. Love the roof, beer selection, Bernie Brewer and brats. Only downside is the park is well outside of town.
7/27/21 – Progressive Field – Cleveland, OH St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cleveland Guardians The final leg of our 2021 Midwest swing. This downtown stadium features an attractive light coloring on the outside and outstanding city views on the inside. It even features Flo of Progressive Insurance fame.
5/13&5/14/22 – Comerica Park – Detroit, MI Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers This was a buddy’s weekend trip to see our beloved Orioles and to help complete this city. The park is OK, but nothing special. The best feature is the roaring Tiger when the home team does something good.
7/16/22 – Coors Field – Denver, CO Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Colorado Rockies This was another buddy’s trip to see our second favorite team and to complete another missed city. Love the mountain views and cool, crisp mile-high air.
4/3/23 – Globe Life Field – Arlington, TX Baltimore Orioles vs. Texas Rangers This was yet another buddy’s outing to see the O’s and mark off another city. (I have a very understanding wife.) Stadium is odd because they built it next door to the old stadium, which is still standing and in use by a college team.
8/19/23 – Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles, CA Miami Marlins vs. Los Angeles Dodgers My final stadium! My wife and I took a whirlwind weekend trip to finish up my baseball stadium quest. Beautiful, mature stadium with great mountain views. They even gave me a certificate!
HOW PARKS ARE NAMED
Team name: 5 Oriole Park, Yankee Stadium, Angels Stadium, Nationals Park, Dodger Stadium Owner’s name: 5 Rogers Center, Kauffman Stadium, Turner Field, Joe Robbie Stadium, Busch Stadium Insurance Companies: 5 Progressive Field, Guaranteed Rate Field, Globe Life Field, Great American Ballpark, American Family Field Bank/Finance: 5 Comerica Park, Citizen’s Bank Park, Citi Field, PNC Park, Chase Field Food: 4 Tropicana Field, Minute Maid Park, Wrigley Field, Coors Field Locale: 3 Fenway Park, Camden Yards, Three Rivers Stadium Telecom: 3 T-Mobile Park, Ring Central Coliseum, Oracle Park Retail: 2 Target Field, Petco Park
