People and Places | Patricia M. Murret
Mary Alice Fallon Yeskey, a Gaithersburg native and 1994 graduate of Quince Orchard High School, is putting her high school theater talent to work on the Food Network, where she is on the television show ‘‘Ace of Cakes.” The show profiles Charm City Cakes in Baltimore, a bakery where Fallon Yeskey is manager.
She stars with her boss, Duff Goldman and Geof Manthorne, both college friends from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, which Fallon Yeskey attended before earning her master’s degree from UMD College Park.
Goldman caught producers’ attention participating in Food Network competitions and the show was picked up for six episodes. It’s now in its fifth season, Fallon Yeskey said. Goldman is the only cake creator at Charm City who has a culinary background, she said. Most of the decorators have art-related academic degrees.
‘‘We specialize in doing stuff that defies gravity and stretches the limits of what you can do with cake and with sugar,” Fallon Yeskey said.
Charm City’s biggest creation was a cake made last year for the Los Angeles premier of the latest Harry Potter movie: a 5-foot replica of Hogwarts, the boy-wizard’s school, Fallon Yeskey said.
‘‘Some of the weirdest stuff we’ve done has been for doctors with really sick senses of humor,” she said. ‘‘There’s really nothing we can’t do and we won’t do....I think that’s what gets these folks excited is the challenge.”
Fallon Yeskey started working at Charm City three years ago and lives in Baltimore with her husband, Dave Yeskey.
The county fair wants you!
There’s a contest for everyone at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair, held in August at the county fairgrounds in Gaithersburg, fair officials say. Open class categories range from toilet-decorating to cake making and brewing homemade beer and officials are seeking suburban recruits.
‘‘You don’t have to be a fair member, you don’t have to be anything beyond a person who is interested in participating,” said Marty Svrcek, executive director of the Montgomery County Agricultural Center Inc., the nonprofit owner of the fairgrounds that runs the fair.
Prizes are offered in all categories and while monetary rewards are low, ‘‘everyone loves a blue ribbon,” he said
Some entry fees are associated; most do not exceed $10.
Highlights range from amateur flower-arranging, electronics and rocketry, to the dolls and toys category.
Each category has its own deadline for registration scheduled during the days of the fair. To check out the schedule of events and register online, visit www.mcagfair.com.
Fundraisers for research
Two fundraisers in Gaithersburg next week plan to prove that everyone loves bowling and pizza, while making money for cancer research.
A bowling fundraiser for the American Cancer Society called ‘‘Spare a Life – Help Strike Out Cancer!” will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday at Bowl America, 1101 Clopper Road in Gaithersburg.
The following evening, Cici’s Pizza at 642 Quince Orchard Road will donate a portion of its proceeds from 5 to 9 p.m. To participate, mention Relay for Life.
For more information on either event, contact Alicia Mahmot at 301-990-8122, mahmot@comcast.net or www.olneyrelay.org.
Get ready to roll
Bring your Big Wheels, your scooters and your little people. Children 2 to 6 are invited from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday to roll around lower ramps at the Skate Park, located at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg.
The morning will be one of ‘‘endless motion,” according to city spokeswoman Britta Monaco said. Children’s admission is $3 per resident and $5 for nonresidents. Parents watch for free.
Pay at the gate — no need to pre-register. For more information, call 301-258-6350, ext. 144 or visit the Skate Park online at www.gaithersburgmd.gov⁄skate.
The girl’s on fire
Alexandra Day, a 2001 Watkins Mill High School graduate and daughter of Clark and Marie Day of Gaithersburg will return Sunday at 5 p.m. to the Flaming Pit, located at 18701 N. Frederick Ave. to perform original songs from her new CD, ‘‘No Castles, No Moats.” Doors will open at 4 p.m. for the 5 p.m. show. For an advance listen, visit Alex’s MySpace page at www.myspace.com⁄alexandraday.
Art shows
Artists who have studied with award-winning artist Howard Cohen of Gaithersburg will exhibit their work through April 30 at the Kentlands Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg.
Cohen, who teaches oil painting at the Arts Barn, has two paintings in the Kentlands Mansion exhibit of the Gaithersburg Fine Arts Association.
Viewing hours at the Arts Barn are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends.
For more information, call Arts Barn Director Andi Rosati at 301-258-6394 or visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov.
Submissions for People and Places must be received by 10 a.m. Thursday. Send submissions to Patricia M. Murret via e-mail at pmurret@gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or mail to The Gaithersburg-Montgomery Village Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.
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