Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Maryland

Maryland DMV

josher71 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:23:21 -0800

Marylanders, I need your help. I haven't had a driver's license since 2004 and now I need one in a shorter time than nine months from now. I haven't had a license in a long time since I was living in NYC and didn't need one. Now, here in Maryland I need to drive again and in order to do that, I have to get a learner's permit. That's fine, except for the fact that you have to have the permit for NINE MONTHS before you can get your license.

This seems excessive to me especially since I've had a license before. Regardless, I pretty much need to get a license as soon as possible to help me get a job here in Baltimore. Is there some way to get around this nine month wait that you know of? Or, are there any suggestions you have for how I would go about trying to get an exception?

Beautiful towns within driving distance of Washington, DC (and that are not overrun with tourists)

actionPetential — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:55:27 -0800

EastCoastFilter: Is your lovely town a best-kept secret? Looking for a magical sort of place to visit in or near DC, Virginia, or Maryland, something with the sort of historic downtown/art scene/subtle eccentricity vibe of Savannah, Ga. or Charlottesville, Va. I live near DC and have a car this weekend and my spur-of-the-moment notion was to find a special sort of place to which to have a leaves-changing-colors drive that is near the Mid-Atlantic. The last time I felt I was walking around in a "magical" town or city was New Orleans (of course), but I would gladly and gratefully "settle" for a place like Charlottesville, Va. or Savannah, Ga., where there's a lot of things to see and do without having to drive around. I think these sorts of places align very closely with college towns rather than places where people retire which is the impression I got from places like, say, Middleburg, Va. Thanks so much!

Places to see, people to go... wait... is that right?

Nice Guy Mike — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:03:13 -0800

RoadTripFilter (again): D/FW to Southern MD. Anything unmissable inbetween? I'll be moving up to southern Maryland from north Texas in a couple of weeks' time, and I was wondering if the collective had any "must see" places or good (fun and/or scenic) roads they could recommend?

I have some flexibility in routing and timing, and am considering anywhere between 3-6 days on the road.

I'll be driving alone in a pretty reliable car, so fun roads (with those "curve" things in them that you don't find in Texas) and scenic drive suggestions are welcome.

What is there to do in Charles County, MD?

youcancallmeal — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:57:14 -0800

What should I not miss in southern Maryland? I unexpectedly got a job as a farm apprentice in Newburg, MD and am wondering what the hidden gems of the area are. I know Baltimore and DC pretty well already, so I'm hoping to find great restaurants and bars and such in the small towns in and around Charles County. I'd also love to find any good beaches or parks where I can take my dog and let him run around and camp at.

Looking for a 65-70 mile cycling route near Frederick, MD

jquinby — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:47:33 -0800

Maryland cyclists: looking for a 65-70 mile route/loop in (or around) Frederick. Hivemind: I'm heading up to Frederick, MD, to visit family next week but am also training for a century in late August. Next week is supposed to be a 65 mile long-ride, the last until the The Big Day.

I've looked at the cue sheets and maps at the local club site, (esp. this ride from Monocacy MS to Antietam) but would also be interested in hearing from anyone else in the area as regards routes with moderate hills and (if this is possible) light traffic.

We'll be staying near the C&O Towpath, but it's unfortunately not paved. Road is best but I'm OK with paved greenways as well.

Is it easier to get a driver's license in MD or DC?

cowbellemoo — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:47:26 -0800

Is it easier to get a driver's license in Maryland or D.C.? Which tests are easier? Which has less-fussy paperwork or bureaucracy? Will there be a probationary period for either? Asking for an adult friend who is likely able to prove residency in both MD and DC and wants to take the path of least resistance to getting a driver's license (all else being equal).

How do I prioritize cost/budget, commute, amenities, and neighborhood cool-seeming-ness?

NikitaNikita — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 22:16:52 -0800

Deciding-where-to-live-filter: How do I prioritize cost/budget, commute, amenities, and neighborhood cool-seeming-ness? (sorry: long, personal, and northwest DC/Maryland-based.) (sorry for the long, personal/specific question here... asking my question to a internet-full of strangers seems to be the only way to silence my brain tonight):

I'm relocating to DC/MD for a year-long (possibly longer) fellowship program in policy work, and looking to turn over a new leaf for my finances (mainly, building up some savings, and not living paycheck-to-paycheck). Using the 33% of take-home pay as my guideline for rent, my rent budget allowance is... tiny. I found an older (non-pet-friendly) rental condo in a fairly walking-friendly area, near the train/buses and work, but a relatively unhip-seeming 'hood. It does however fit within my 33% rent budget, including utilities.

I'm comparing this to a new, modern, pet-friendly condo further away from work, but in the District. The rent sounds do-able (43% of take home), but overall living will be more expensive given the nature of DC (taxes, car insurance (I got markedly higher quotes with a DC address), etc). But it seems like a younger, more lively neighborhood.)

I'm stuck between these options (the cheapest/most convenient I've found, thus far) and am wondering if the hive-mind has some ideas about how to prioritize/balance a budget against general lifestyle-type happiness.

Thanks y'all...

(PS: I'm the person who posted this, if that helps. And it's Friendship Heights MD vs Cleaveland Park/Vaness-ish))

(PPS: I throw in the pet-stuff since I'd really like to have a dog, but again, cost has been an issue.)

(PPPS: I have only one piece of 'equity', my car, which I not only really like but am not ready to sell in a rush, in case I need it.)

Wheelchair-friendly dentists in DC area

LobsterMitten — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:05:21 -0800

Wheelchair-friendly dentist in the Washington DC area (Montgomery County MD if possible)? A dear friend of mine is in his 70s and uses a power wheelchair. He has some arm strength, but he has no leg muscles and has a big belly, so he's easily thrown off balance when transferring from the wheelchair to the dentist chair. Recently he had a really bad fall when the dental assistant tried misguidedly to "help" him transfer -- she basically shoved him off balance and he fell full force. No apology from her or the dentist, who he's been seeing for 35 years.

He's looking for a different dentist's office where they may be more aware of wheelchair issues. I don't know if there are special arrangements where he could stay in his chair? Or just any office where they are more with-it about this.

Recent graduate dating in DC

Anonymous — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:50:10 -0800

I get the impression that DC is not a great dating town for young 20-something college graduates. Am I totally off base? I'm a 23 year old guy, gainfully employed, more attractive than average, sociable, approachable, no physical deformities, I've had a successful dating life in multiple other cities, etc.

Basically: I don't think my problems meeting people have anything to do with me. I think they have to do with DC.

However: I don't know many people in town. My coworkers -- though great -- are all significantly older than me (29 is the youngest I can think of). I don't have a substantiative friend base to work. I don't want to be the creepy guy who goes to bars or concerts alone to pick up girls.

I'm probably way off base, but my impression after living here for 6 months is that it's too expensive of a town for many recent graduates, especially considering that many of the graduate-attracting jobs are low-paying government ones. And the ones who make it here work crazy hours and multiple jobs, not leaving them much time to get out there.

Or maybe I'm just looking in all the wrong places.

So what I'm looking for by asking this question is this:
1) Affirmation that this is actually an issue with the town (i.e. I'm not being a wimp)
2) Specific suggestions about where I might go to meet girls ("Bars" would be an okay response; "The U Street Busboys and Poets on poetry reading nights" would be a great one). Feel free to email me if you know the town well and would like to get a better idea of what I'm like.
3) Other strategies for meeting people (I've dabbled with things like OKCupid and Meetup with little success, but those would be good examples)

Thanks, all!

E-mail followups: datelessindc@gmail.com

(Asked anonymously because my account is tied to my name and job)

Fourth of July Fireworks in Thurmont, MD?

Mrs. Pterodactyl — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:04:14 -0800

Fourth of July fireworks displays near Thurmont, MD? Mr. Pterodactyl and I will be going camping at Cunningham Falls State Park over the Fourth of July weekend and if possible we'd like to see fireworks without going too far; I would be very grateful if anyone could let me know of any that would be nearby. Ideally we'd like to be able to walk to them but driving is fine too if necessary. We'll be there the whole weekend so the display wouldn't have to be on the Fourth of July proper. Thanks so much for your help!

MVA vs. Tag and Title Service Center?

Loto — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:12:11 -0800

In Maryland, can a new to MD resident (with an MD license) bring in his out of state vehicle at a registered "Tag and Title" service center as opposed to using the MVA or is that a service only for cars already registered with Maryland?

How should I say goodbye to the East Coast?

susoka — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:29:08 -0800

So I'm moving from Baltimore to Atlanta for work - yay, new job! Boo, leaving the East Coast! I've got a month remaining, so in the time between finishing my business here and taking deep breaths, what should I do here that I won't be able to do in the south? I've been here for two years and haven't really explored the area much at all. I'll definitely spend at least one more day in DC and maybe go for a weekend in New York. Any other awesome places I should visit? Are there regional delicacies I won't be able to find in Atlanta? Non-perishable consumer goods? Basically: what should I buy, eat, see, and do? Money's not an issue... just time.

Where to get Yuengling in cans at room temp?

little e — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:26:40 -0800

Where can I procure Yuengling in cans at room temperature in Arlington, VA? (Failing that, in DC, along I-81 between Arlington and Abingdon, or along the DC to WV route of I-270 to I-70 to I-68 in Maryland?) I'm journeying back to my home where Yuengling is widely held to be an exotic delicacy. I have accepted the responsibility of stocking our creek with beverages for the weekend's festivities.

It's got to be in cans, because we'll be carrying it around a farm in backpacks and nestling it among rocks to keep it chilled in the water of the same creek where there will be small children and our bare feet and other things incompatible with rocks and glass. I'd like it to be at room temperature because I won't be in possession of icy coolers until Friday.

The trip is about the same whether I take the northerly or southerly route, hence the flexibility in geography. I started to diligently visit every grocery store nearby but then I thought about the number of hours of my life already spent on oddly specific alcohol-related quests and couldn't decide whether to be ashamed or proud and then realized I really don't want to go to every grocery store in Arlington. Thanks in advance for helping me bring great joy to my friends!

Writing retreat for East-coast cheapskates?

metajc — Mon, 04 May 2009 20:14:15 -0800

We've a gallon of Rebel Yell, a tupperware of pesto pasta, and 200 pages to go. But where to? Where in the DC area can we get away from people on Memorial Day weekend for cheap? My buddy and I have been talking for years about holing up somewhere to polish off some writing. We finally have time this Memorial Day Weekend but, then again, it's Memorial Day Weekend and, worse, we live in the DC-Baltimore area (plagues of humans).

We have a plan -- we'd like to try for a camping spot or a cheap cabin and, if that fails, wait till the last second for a super deal on Hotwire.

Help us narrow down West Virginia or Virginia or Maryland or where. We'd like to go somewhere cheap but somewhere cool, comfortable. Activities not required. A view would be nice as would electricity.

I once stayed in a bayou cabin in Louisiana overlooking gator-infested swamp for $30/night. The place was quiet with fishermen, had a mini-fridge and outlets. Something like that would be perfect.

Other options (including city options) are welcome. Sketchy hotels? Hotwire hotels with views of Baltimore? Maybe we could watch your penthouse while you're out? We'll be awake for 72 hours straight but we promise not to play with fire this time.

Eastern Shore destinations?

Morrigan — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:51:52 -0800

Can you recommend a nice/interesting place for a weekend away on Maryland's Eastern Shore or thereabouts? Especially interested in gay-friendly accommodations.

Suggestions for living/working in DC/Maryland?

Anonymous — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:43:18 -0800

Don'tGoBackToRockville(?)-Filter: Moving to and working in Washington DC... or Maryland: Where do I live to make the best out of my commute? I'm interviewing for jobs and will likely be working here, or here, or here. (specific office to be determined)

However, I'd rather live closer into downtown, since I really don't do suburban living well. (OK, I've never done it ever. So I'm wary.)
Plus I know I'll have frequent meetings and after-work events in downtown DC.

Suggestions on how to deal with commuting?
(I've had the good fortune of easy walking commutes until now!)
and any suggestions on where to live where I can make the commute not so horrible, and keep my car since I may not have good Metro access?

Would also appreciate a relatively safe area for a single female, and input on how expensive the neighboorhoods are relative to the general area.

Thanks!

Deserted beach camping in the DC-area

charmston — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 05:21:38 -0800

I'm looking for extremely primitive beach camping sites (preferably on the Chesapeake) in the DC/MD/VA area. I'm talking about places with no running water, no bathrooms, nothing but nature for miles around. Assateague Island's backcountry camping sites are a perfect example of what I'm looking for. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Driving on the beltway. They easy way.

nikkorizz — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:37:23 -0800

DC Filter: Moving. New job is in south Potomac. Where should I live in relation to the beltway to encounter the least amount of traffic? I imagine most major traffic is going inbound to DC in the morning and then outbound in the afternoon. Right?

But the beltway goes around D.C., not into it. Is traffic heavy both ways during rush hour or is one side lighter at certain parts?
And ultimately, where should I live in relation to the beltway?

Also, as a side question, what do you do to pass the time in heavy traffic?

Find me a Vegas Style Spa in Maryland

petethered — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 02:02:52 -0800

After a trip to Vegas, the desire to visit a spa like the ones there has come over me. The spa in Vegas was sweet. Pay for a day pass and get to use a Sauna, Whirlpool, Steam room, cold dip pool and more... Anyone know of one near Frederick, MD like this? Baltimore and DC would be options, but would prefer one closer.

Bar Exam Filter: DC, VA or MD bar?

smallstatic — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:42:48 -0800

I just passed MA and am considering a move to DC. I'm looking for advice on which bar exam to potentially sit for in February 2009. I'm considering a move to DC in the next few months but I don't have a job there yet. Ideally, that would be the first step but I'm not sure I'm going to be able to make it happen without first getting licensed. I just passed MA and am considering VA, MD, or DC for February. I've got civil litigation experience here in a general practice firm, in addition to a bit of real estate and wills/trusts. I'm hoping to do employment law, either in-house, or as an associate, as a next step. I don't have the credentials for a big firm position but I've got a decent amount of legal professional experience, having worked full time through law school and the bar. Given this, which state should I focus on licensure in first? I'm thinking VA but am very interested to hear from lawyers practicing in the area about what the market is like, in addition to the relative difficulty of the exams, which I know has been commented on here in the past.

Low Key Big Day (or, please save our sanity in wedding planning)

xaire — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:39:40 -0800

Group cabin/house rental in a lovely location in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area? Seeking beautiful spot that can host a celebration for around 70 people and (maybe) provide sleeping accommodations for some of them? State parks, beach rentals, lodges, summer camps all welcome. I confess: we're looking for a place to hold a wedding that is absolutely not a place one normally holds a wedding, hence the "celebration" in the opening question. There are fabulous venues all over the area for weddings, but future Mr. Xaire (Inkoate to you) and I are hoping to find a place where our personalities can show through (independent, outdoorsy, non-traditional).

Our absolute ideal location would be a secluded circle of cabins or houses (w/water and elecctricity) where our friends and family can stay, a short hike away from some outdoorsy spot (a shore? a meadow? a mountain overlook) where we can say our vows and have a grand old time. If this place had a shower my mother wouldn't freak out at, it would be perfect.

So, hive mind, have you been to a retreat, a reunion, a campout, or a weekend trip in some place that meets those specifications? We are hoping to be within one hour of a DC area airport (BWI and IAD included). This will be an early fall wedding.

In a perfect world, this place would have a pavilion of some kind we could set up food (REALLY ideally, a central kitchen). Old barns or other similar structures welcome (Civil War era manors NOT required). Regardless, we'd make do if it was extra-special.

If all else fails, we can do without the cabins and just need a beautiful spot close to a pavilion/barn/other structure); there's always B&Bs or Holiday Inns for accommodations. Happy to answer follow-ups--please feel free to be outside the box.

help with happy hour

divka — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:06:42 -0800

Does any have advice in regard to holding a small charity event in a bar in the DC or DC-adjacent area of Maryland? I'm trying to scrape together the minimum fundraising amount for a charity half-marathon. I'm pondering a charity night at a local bar--either a happy hour or a trivia night. I'm in the Bethesda-Rockville area, but I think somewhere in downtown DC would work nicely too.

Before I start with cold calls, I was wondering if anyone had any experience in setting this sort of thing up? Do you know of any bars in the area that are friendly to this sort of thing? What will they be expecting from me on my end of the deal (minimum head counts, purchases)?

Insurance screw-up, who's resonsible for the fine?

spaltavian — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:38:07 -0800

My friend's car was totaled in January by a drunk driver. She sold it back to the insurance company and bought a new car. Somewhere, someone screwed up: her car insurance was never switched from her old car to her new car. She was, however, able to switch her tags to the new car and register it. Nonetheless, until last month, she was paying insurance on a totaled car that she no longer owned. She just got a fine from Maryland Vehicle Administration for 2K+ for having tags on an uninsured vehicle. What should she do? The insurance company is blaming the car dealership, and Maryland just wants its money. Isn't her paying insurance on a car the insurance company owned illegal?

I told her she should get a hold of all the documents- canceled checks to the insurance company, registrations, sales slips- and set up an appointment with a supervisor at the the MVA. If that fails, I told her to lawyer up.

I figure either she won't have to pay the fine, or she'll have to be refunded all her insurance payments since January. However, I am not a lawyer nor have I ever had to tangle with the MVA or insurance companies like this before. Any advice? Thank you in advance.

We're havin' a party, a scientific party...

acrasis — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:14:30 -0800

We're scientists. We're in Frederick, MD. We need entertainment. It's a regional meeting (potomac division), and we're stuck hosting it, so we have to come up with a venue and entertainment for the banquet. Normally, the entertainment is a band, but last year the WV hosts had a great bluegrass band, so we have to come up with something else. Germanic polka band? Or do we think out of the box? Educational wine tasting of Maryland wines? Rent a mechanical bull? Since I'm deciding, I want no storytellers and no re-enactors. Anyone ever provided entertainment for a banquet?

What's this alien looking plant?

ShawnString — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:22:24 -0800

IdentifyThisPlantFilter: We have a garden plot at a local county park, and there is one plot behind us that is growing these. Any Idea what they are? We live in Maryland (Zone 7).