Can you dig it?

Dog Days of Summer return to Frederick

Thursday, Aug. 3, 2006

Click here to enlarge this photo Photos courtesy of the Downtown Frederick Partnership Frederick goes to the dogs during downtown’s monthly First Saturday Gallery Walk Event. Dog Days of Summer will feature dog-friendly eateries, special events, contests, and even a Doggy Spa at the new Carroll Creek Amphitheatre.

Downtown Frederick is going to the dogs, literally.

Entering its third year, the event was the brainchild of local retailer, Michael McCrawson, proprietor of The Grapevine on East Patrick Street in Frederick.

‘‘While the event was my idea, I had very little to do with putting the package together. Credit for that goes to the Downtown Frederick Partnership and Allison Levitt, owner of Two Paws Up,” said McCrawson. ‘‘The idea was original for Frederick but I recently heard they are doing this in Leesburg and Middleburg, Va.”

This is certainly indicative of a trend sweeping the Washington DC Metropolitan Region.

Organized by the Downtown Frederick Partnership and Frederick County Humane Society, the event is sponsored by Frederick County Bank and Two Paws Up. Beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday evening, the event will offer dog contests, dog friendly stores and eateries, a Yappy Hour at the new Carroll Creek Amphitheatre and new this year, the Doggywood Photo Booth, sponsored by Parlights Stage Lighting, and a Doggy Spa, sponsored by Golden Orchid Spa and Salon.

A portion of the day’s proceeds will be donated to the event’s co-organizer, the Frederick County Humane Society.

The event commences with registration from 5-7 p.m. at dog and cat boutique Two Paws Up, 15 S. Carroll Street. Registration costs $10 for the first dog and is offered at a discounted rate for each additional dog.

Dog Days of Summer When: 5-9 p.m. Saturday Where: Downtown Frederick For information: 301-698-8118 www.downtownfrederick.org SCHEDULE 5-7 p.m. - Registration, Two Paws Up, 15 S. Carroll St., $10 6-8 p.m. - Judging, various downtown locations 8 p.m. - Yappy Hour, Carroll Creek Amphitheatre Doggywood Photo Booth and Doggy Spa to be held from 5-9 p.m. at Carroll Creek Amphitheatre

Included in the entry fee is a goody bag provided by sponsors and various downtown merchants with tickets to the Doggywood Photo Booth and the Doggy Spa. Also included in the goody bag are treats for everyone — a magnetic doggy photo frame, bracelets and other fun items. A limited number of goody bags will include gift certificates to some local downtown businesses. Registration also can enter your dog into the costume contest.

From 6-8 p.m. your pooch can strut his or her stuff in their best costumes and vie for the titles of the Hottest Dog (for the pint-sized pooch), Coolest Dog (for the canine of the larger variety), and lastly, the local favorite, the Dog-Owner look alike contest.

Judging will be set-up at four different locations throughout downtown Frederick, so visitors should come prepared for a workout as they stroll through town.

Federated Charities will host the Hound Hiking Station at 22 S. Market Street.

The Dog Gone Country Station is sponsored by Social Study⁄Market Street Jewelry at the corner of North Market and 2nd Streets.

For the parched dog walker, The Grapevine and the Frederick County Humane Society will sponsor the Wags and Wine judging station at 117 E. Patrick Street.

The final judging station is located in Everedy Square where Flights of Fancy will present Bone Beach.

‘‘Everybody is out for a great event and everybody has a great time. It is a great way to bring people downtown,” said Camilla Vandann, owner of Market Street Jewelry. ‘‘One year my grandson and Rottweiler wore matching Market Street Jewelry T-shirts and competed in the look-alike contest. It was a lot of fun!”

‘‘It is quite a show,” said Will Morris of Frederick’s Downtime Café. ‘‘Everyday should be doggy day.”

Following judging, all are invited to Yappy Hour beginning at 8 p.m. at the Carroll Creek Amphitheatre located across from the public library along the newly opened Carroll Creek.

This celebration will offer snacks for humans and canines and features live music from the Old Line Skiffle Combo.

Skiffle music swept Britain in the 50’s and uses guitars, washboards and tea chest basses to create an exuberant rhythmic blend of ragtime, folk and blues — and, on Saturday, will also include the blended vocals of Bassett and Beagle to boot.

The Carroll Creek Amphitheatre also plays host to the Doggywood Photo Booth and Doggy spa from 5-9 p.m.

The Doggy wood Photo Booth will offer one free photo op for your dog in front of a fun backdrop and the Doggy Spa will make Fido fabulous by offering paw painting and doggy dips in the giant bone shaped bowl. Free hand massages will be offered to participants of the two legged variety.

All throughout the downtown area will be strategically placed watering fountains for the thirsty pup and the Kingsbrook Animal Hospital will be providing first aid and emergency services for all pets involved.

‘‘We anticipate that we will get at least 200 dogs,” said Allison Levitt, proprietor of Two Paws Up. ‘‘We’ve been doing this about three years, ever since our store has been here and we love it! This event is the highlight of our year. We have people calling from New York and Florida about the event. They attended in years past and really enjoyed it and are making plans to return this year. The community really pulls together to make it a success. We even have customers volunteering to help out. We are so happy to be involved with this event. It really helps promote the local independently owned businesses in downtown Frederick. We are thrilled to be a part of it.”

Two Paws Up recently instituted a program entitled ‘‘My Dog Digs.” Each dog-friendly retailer prominently displays a sticker in the front display window that reads, ‘‘My Dog Digs Downtown Frederick,” often accompanied by a second, more self-explanatory sticker that simply reads ‘‘Woof.”

The campaign has been an apparent success —48 of the 62 merchants participating in this Gallery Walk are dog friendly.

In addition, all participating retailers will be open until 9 p.m. offering unique and fun gifts for dog and man alike.

For more information on participating retailers, visit www.downtownfrederick.org.

First Saturday Gallery Walk is a monthly event held in Downtown Frederick that generally features exhibit openings, guest artists and live entertainment designed to showcase the best of Downtown Frederick.

Bring your Fido or Fifi out for a piece of the action, get to know your town and neighbors a little better and contribute to a great cause.