Graphix Gaming Center offers newest and hottest videogames in state-of-the-art viewing environment

There's a new gaming place in town featuring the newest and most popular video games for kids to play in specially designed viewing rooms featuring big screen TVs and surround sound. Graphix Gaming Center at 8 Newport Drive in Forest Hill opened just a few months ago offering the latest game releases for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii, and PC games and accessories. Kids can select from the center's vast videogame collection and play their favorite games on Graphix Gaming Center's HDTV 1080i LCD televisions. They enjoy their games in X Rocker Wireless Gaming Chairs equipped with headphones. There are two chairs to each gaming station so friends can play each other.


In Graphix Gaming Center's special Wii Room, kids experience Wii games on a 54 inch 1080i HDTV LCD in a spacious room featuring dolby surround sound and all Wii accessories. Bring friends along to play guitar, keyboard and drums along with Wii The Beatles Rock Band.

Graphix's eight-seat iTheatre includes six Berkline Italian leather recliners, a 1080i DLP projector showing a crystal clear image onto a 133-inch HD screen, and a dolby digital 7.1 surround sound system with Bose speakers and subwoofer for optimum sound. You can bring in your own Blu-Ray DVD to use in the iTheatre to make it more like your own private movie theatre. In addition, there is a satellite installed in the iTheatre for other viewing options, including sporting events, movies and more. From custom made sconces to a fully touch-screen LCD remote control, there are just too many details to list...this is one you have to see for yourself. And yes, there is a Xbox 360, PS3 and a Wii available in the iTheatre as one of the rental options.

Graphix has also created a division specifically for the kids who are competitive gamers and who enjoy playing in all types of tournaments. It is called EAST COAST HALO and the website is eastcoasthalo.com.

Graphix Gaming Center offers birthday parties designed for any age child. Click here for details.

Click here for a list of Graphix Gaming Center's games.

Click here for a description of Graphix Gaming Center's equipment.

For more information, visit Graphix Gaming Center's website: www.graphixgaming.com or call 410-420-6811.


This post was sponsored by Graphix Gaming Center.

For more information on sponsored posts e-mail BANV at stacey@belairnewsandviews.com

MaxGXL has arrived in Bel Air

Would you like to naturally increase your energy, detoxify your body and strengthen your immune system? Harford County's Tim O’Connell has the answer: MaxGXL, the natural supplement discovered by renowned immunologist Dr. Robert Keller and manufactured by Max International, helps to boost the level of the critical antioxidant Glutathione in your body.

Results you can expect to experience by raising your Glutathione levels:

• Feeling like you’re “younger”
• Increased and consistent natural energy throughout the day
• Increased mental clarity
• Healthier and younger looking skin
• Better and deeper sleep
• Waking up alert and with high energy
• More stamina and endurance during workouts with less recovery time
• Better memory
• Reduced inflammation
• Strengthened immune system

Research shows that Glutathione levels in our bodies begin declining at the age of 20. Levels of glutathione are further reduced by continual stress upon the immune system such as illness, infection, and environmental toxins. Unlike most other supplements, the effects of MaxGXL can be verified and quantified through blood tests. Most people who take MaxGXL feel results within 2 weeks, and studies show that everybody experiences results within 2 months.

Please call Tim O’Connell at 443-717-1425 for more information, or visit www.RechargeWithMAX.com for testimonials, company and product information.

Ask how you can earn a second income as a Max International Associate.

Max International is dedicated to improving both the physical and financial lives of individuals all over the world. We accomplish this by providing products that are scientifically proven to be beneficial. With the Max business opportunity, Associates have lucrative compensation plans and Associate support that is unmatched.

This Bel Air News & VIews post was sponsored by Tim O'Connell.

For more information on sponsored posts, contact stacey@belairnewsandviews.com

Free regular water ice at Rita's this Saturday to celebrate spring

Spring will be here by the end of the week and Rita's is celebrating by giving away free regular size water ice from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 20. What more is there to say? Here's the press release:

Press Release

Jarrettsville Elementary School is hosting a Lego and American Girls Bingo March 19

This Friday, Jarrettsville Elementary School, 3818 Norrisville Road, will host a Lego and American Girl Bingo. Doors Open at 6:15 p.m. and 20 games of Bingo will be played. Tickets are $12. For more information, call 410-692-7800.

Quarter Auction at the Bel Air Moose Lodge this Thursday

The Bel Air Moose Lodge is hosting a quarter auction this Thursday. See the flyer below for details:

Quarter Auction Moose

Joppa-Magnolia Vol. Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary hosts bingo night every Wednesday at the fire hall

Looking for something to do on Wednesday nights? The Joppa-Magnolia Vol. Fire Co Ladies Auxiliary hosts a bingo night every Wednesday night at the fire hall at 1403 Old Mountain Road South in Joppa. Doors open at 6 p.m. and bingo starts 7 p.m. For more information, call 410-679-1055 or 410-676-0888.

New website shows Harford County traffic incidents in real time

I've been intrigued with this web site that tracks Harford County traffic jams since I saw it mentioned in the Aegis last week: http://pwc.harfordpublicsafety.org/publicwebcad/. The Aegis story says it was put together by Harford’s Emergency Operations Division as part of an effort to improve communication between different groups of emergency responders. It uses uses the Computer Aided Dispatch system (CAD) to compile information from Bel Air Police Department, Havre de Grace Police Department, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and the 911 Center.

The first time I tried to view the page, I didn't see any data. But then my neighbor and BANV reader (Thanks Tony!) said he saw a fire at the home of someone he knew on the site, so I checked it out again. It looks like there is data there -- just not all the time. I think the best way to use it is to subscribe to the RSS feed in the upper right hand corner of the page. I put the feed on my iGoogle homepage. That way, when an incident shows up, I see it. It's helpful when I'm heading out the door to take the kids somewhere. I give it a quick look to see if there are any traffic incidents that could hold us up on the way. Another way to track traffic jams in the county is to follow the Harford Traffic Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/harford_traffic. You can subscribe to an RSS feed of that as well so you can view all your Harford Traffic information in the same place if you like.

Click here to see the site: http://pwc.harfordpublicsafety.org/publicwebcad/
Click here to read the Aegis article: http://www.exploreharford.com/news/3694/web-site-tracks-harford-traffic-jams/

Wee-cycle Mart comes to Perryville Outlet Center March 12-14

It's Wee-cycle Mart time again. Organizers are already setting up for this weekend's sale in the old L.L. Bean store at the Perryville Outlet Center. They're accepting items for consignment through noon this Wednesday. The photo above is from last year's sale and here's the info they sent me on this year's event:

The big children's consignment sale is scheduled March 12-14th at the Perryville Outlet Center (old LL Bean Store). The last Perryville sale proved to have the highest sales despite early doubts from the Bel Air moms! Yes, not only did the Harford County moms consign GREAT stuff (over 25,000 items) at the sale but they came to the sale in droves! Some even came back all 3 days with friends! We are once again offering a 5% discount up to $5 if they bring a toll reciept dated that day! Saturday's MomsFest is starting to become a favorite of the moms with a FREE baby photo contest, free childcare (if you have to bring those kids) and over 20 vendors that support moms! We also give out goodie bags to first 500 moms and a punchcard on Sat where moms can get an extra 6% off for stoopping by some of our vendors!

More info about consigning, volunteering and shopping at the sale: www.wee-cyclemart.com

You can follow Wee-cycle Mart on Facebook and Twitter.

Here's a cute video they made of themselves setting up for last year's Harford County sale:



This post was sponsored by Wee-cyclemart.

For more information on sponsored posts e-mail BANV at stacey@belairnewsandviews.com

Bel Air Massage Envy therapists help set new Guinness World Record for simultaneous massage

Massage is usually what you do to relax and restore yourself after a competitive event. But massage therapists from Massage Envy in Bel Air recently helped to turn massage itself into a competition. They ended up winning the new Guinness World Record for the most people being massaged simultaneously in one location. Angela Green and Effie Avgerinos of the Bel Air Massage Envy were among hundreds of therapists from all over the region who massaged 167 people at the same time at the finish line of the 34th annual Marine Corps Marathon in Rosslyn, Virginia last October. They received the official letter notifying them of their record and certificate from The Guinness Book of World Records in late February. The previous world record for the most people being massaged at the same time was 154, set in London, England in 2007.

“We’re thrilled that Massage Envy now officially holds the new world record,” said Regional Developer Eric Barton. He added that, “massage is becoming more and more popular as a way to not only relax, but improve health by lowering blood pressure and boosting the immune system. We’re happy to have given that to the race participants, and we’re happy to share this world-wide honor with the local community.”

Massage Envy is the largest provider and franchisor of therapeutic massage and spa services in the United States. With 609 clinics in 42 states, they employ over 14,000 therapists and are dedicated to providing professional and affordable therapeutic massage services to clients nationwide. In the greater Baltimore/Washington, DC area, there are 19 Massage Envy clinics, with approximately 27,100 members. For more information, please visit www.massageenvy.com.

Find Massage Therapy at 591 Baltimore Pike in the Bel Air Plaza at the intersection of Routes 1 and 24. Call (410) 420-7770 or visit www.massageenvy.com.


This post was sponsored by Massage Envy

For more information on sponsored posts e-mail BANV at stacey@belairnewsandviews.com

Sweet weekend coming up in Bel Air: Chocolate & Wine Affaire Friday night and Chocolate & Candy Festival Saturday

It's going to be a sweet weekend in Bel Air. Friday night is The Bel Air Downtown Alliance's 3rd Annual Chocolate & Wine Affaire from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Bel Air Armory. Then on Saturday, the alliance hosts its 9th Annual Chocolate & Candy Festival at the Armory from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The alliance has all the information you need about both events on its Facebook page. Click here to see it. You can also see everyone who has confirmed that they're coming to the events. You can look and see if your friends will be there.

3rd Annual Chocolate & Wine Affaire

The Bel Air Downtown Alliance would like to cordially invite you to enjoy an evening out on Main Street! Join us on Friday, March 5th, 7pm-10pm at the Bel Air Armory for delicious specialties from local restaurants, wine & beer pairings with scrumptious chocolate desserts (provided by Bel Air Liquors), music, dancing, an open bar, & a silent auction. Tickets are only $50/person or $90/couple. All proceeds benefit the Bel Air Downtown Alliance - creating a vibrant business community & visitor friendly destination in & around Downtown Bel Air!

Chocolate Specialties & Desserts provided by: Moore's Candies, Wockenfuss Candies, & Bel Air Bakery.

Special thanks to our participating restaurants: MaGerk's Pub & Grill, Looney's Pub, C. R. Wings, Pairings Bistro, Buontempo Brothers, Main Street Tower, & Coffee Coffee.

Special thanks to our sponsors:
GOLD: Verizon Wireless & Point Breeze Credit Union
BRONZE: The Aegis & Rosedale Federal
CHOCOLATE: Brown, Brown, & Young, PA

Sponsorship & vendor opportunities are available. For more information or to order your tickets, please contact Scott T. Walker at (410) 638-1023 or swalker@downtownbelair.com.

9th Annual Chocolate & Candy Festival

The Bel Air Downtown Alliance would like to invite you & your entire family out for an afternoon of FUN on Main Street! Join us on Saturday, March 6th, 10am-3pm at the Bel Air Armory for this year's Chocolate & Candy Festival featuring: chocolate & candy treats for the whole family, music, a children's activity area, & a "Main Street Scavenger Hunt". Tickets are only $5.00 & children under 5 are FREE. Sponsorship & vendor opportunities are available. For more information, please contact Scott T. Walker at (410) 638-1023 or at swalker@downtownbelair.com. All proceeds benefit the Bel Air Downtown Alliance - creating a vibrant business community & visitor friendly destination in & around Downtown Bel Air!

Dark Horse Saloon opens in old Greene Turtle location on Main Street Thursday, March 4

The Dark Horse Saloon -- former home of The Greene Turtle and The Ropewalk -- opens Thursday. Prudential Carruthers Realtor Chris Reda, who owns the building at 119 S. Main St. along with his partners, decided to open the restaurant after The Greene Turtle closed last November. He invited BANV & family to his "friends and family" night yesterday to give his kitchen and wait staff a chance to practice running through their menu items. We enjoyed it. He went with a Tex-Mex and barbecue menu. I had a portabella taco. The portabella mushroom filling was well seasoned and flavorful. The taco had a soft shell which made it easy to handle. It was served with black beans and rice. I liked that it was nice and light. My son had a much heavier dish, the Mexi Mac: pasta and cheese served with spicy chorizo sausage and a tomato base. He enjoyed it and we took the leftovers home for the next day. Their $5.99 kids menu reflects their Tex Mex theme. Along with staples like hot dogs and cheeseburgers, they offer Mexican dishes like quesadillas and tacos for the kids. My daughter had the kids cheeseburger which was small enough for her, but nice and thick on a good roll with fries showing a bit of potato skin, like boardwalk fries. The menu also had a good number of barbecue dishes, which we'll try the next time we go. Reda says his Executive Chef, Frank Campanella, has traveled the country winning awards in barbecue competitions like our Maryland BBQ Bash. Reda and company have given the historic building an Americana theme, with murals by local artist Marshall Adams featuring themes from the Wild West. In a nod to Harford County's equestrian heritage, they've incorporated race horses into the interior design and logo and brought back the bronze replica of race horse Seattle Slew that used to sit atop the outdoor deck when the restaurant was The Ropewalk.

The Dark Horse Saloon opens to the public at 4 p.m. tomorrow and at 5 p.m. on Friday. They'll hold their grand opening event from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday with a special buffet. They'll open for lunch starting at 11:30 a.m. next Wednesday.

I'd link to their website, but it doesn't appear they have one yet.

Click here for previous BANV posts on The Dark Horse Saloon.

Rita's in Forest Hill opened for the season today

I'm sipping a Mango Misto as a write this. The Forest Hill Rita's opened today -- a sure sign of spring despite the remaining piles of slushy snow everywhere. It's so much nicer to experience slush flavored and in a cup. Please don't tell my kids. I got my Misto while they were in school. Oops. Brain freeze. 

To show just how cool they are, Rita's is on Facebook and Twitter.

Chesapeake TriSport to open this week; will sponsor First Annual Havre de Grace Triathlon in May

Warmer weather is on its way and Chesapeake Cycle & Sport and Chesapeake TriSport are ready to greet the season with a new store opening and a partnership with Upper Chesapeake Health to bring races and events to the area.

This week Chesapeake TriSport is scheduled to open at 116 S. Main St. in Bel Air. Chesapeake TriSport will be the headquarters for the company's fully sanctioned multisport team (triathlon, road racing and mountain biking).

The company is also pleased to announce a partnership with Upper Chesapeake Health to form TEAM CHESAPEAKE to bring competitions such as the First Annual Havre de Grace Triathlon, outreach programs and special events to the Harford County area.

TEAM CHESAPEAKE is a USAT and USAC sanctioned competition team participating in running races, duathlons, triathlons, mountain bike racing, road bike racing, cyclocross racing. The TEAM provides for access to a pool of professional coaching, elite athlete support network with promotional and sponsorship duties, event planning, and more.

TEAM CHESAPEAKE's first event will be the Havre de Grace Triathlon to benefit the Maritime Museum on May 2nd 2010. This event is a sprint distance triathlon staged on the grounds of Concord Point Lighthouse adjacent to the HdG Maritime Museum. For more information, click here. To register, click here.

For more info on joining TEAM CHESAPEAKE and all the great products from Chesapeake Cycle and Chesapeake Trisport, visit www.chesapeakecyclesport.com and www.chesapeaketrisport.com.

This post was sponsored by Chesapeake TriSport.

For more information on sponsored posts e-mail BANV at stacey@belairnewsandviews.com

Did shoveling snow give you an aching back? Massage Envy can help

If shoveling your way through our historic snow storms left you with an aching back, Massage Envy can help. This national spa chain, which is the leading provider of massage therapy in the U.S., features therapies specifically designed to alleviate back pain. Visit Massage Envy's Bel Air location for a treatment that increases blood flow, relaxes muscles, releases endorphins and restores flexibility to tense muscles. Massage can reduce the need for painkillers by 36 percent, according to a study from the Annals of Internal Medicine. Massage is most effective for pain relief when it is combined with other treatments. A Massage Envy therapist can recommend such things as correcting posture, adjusting living and working spaces and changing work habits. Exercise should also play a role with massage therapy to achieve maximum relief, but consult with your doctor before starting a new regimen. Sufferers of chronic back pain should develop a plan that includes a massage therapy session every three to four weeks.

"It's important to listen to your therapist," says Massage Envy's C.G. Funk, vice president of industry relations and product development. A good therapist will give you homework that you need to stay on top of to get rid of the back pain."

At Massage Envy clinics, the front desk personnel will match clientele with therapists skilled in specific areas such as Swedish massage or one customized to back pain relief. With proper therapy and monitored exercise habits, back pain can be alleviated and even eliminated in the long term. At Massage Envy, an introductory one-hour massage session (a 50-minute massage and time for consultation and dressing) is just $49. Memberships are available for $59 per month and include a one-hour massage session. Members may also enjoy unlimited additional one-hour massage sessions at the $49 member rate, with an array of massage styles including deep tissue, therapeutic, trigger point, and cranial sacral massage.

For more information, contact Massage Therapy's Bel Air location at 591 Baltimore Pike in the Bel Air Plaza at the intersection of Routes 1 and 24. Call (410) 420-7770 or visit www.massageenvy.com.



This post was sponsored by Massage Envy

For more information on sponsored posts e-mail BANV at stacey@belairnewsandviews.com

Preliminary work on Forest Hill Kohl's site has begun

You've probably seen the construction trailer and equipment at the corner of Rock Spring Road and Osborne Parkway in Forest Hill. If you're thinking that's there to get the Kohl's Department store building started, it looks like that is the case. I'm still tracking down a date for when we can expect to see that much-discussed Kohl's to start taking shape. However, I learned from the county planning department that what's going on now is some preliminary work to install retaining walls and lay water and sewer pipelines. Even though the work is just getting started, I did see that Kohl's has already posted an advertisement to fill the job of Executive Manager at the Forest Hill store. Click here to see it.

Click here for previous BANV posts on Kohl's and The Village at Forest Lakes.