Petsmart was voted best pet shop. Photo by Maisie Crow
Here are the winners of our 8th Annual Readers’ Choice contest.
Howard County Winners:
[ Best Story Time ]
Howard County Library
Columbia, Ellicott City, Elkridge, Savage, Cooksville
www.hclibrary.org
Honorable mention
Bedtime
[ Best Museum for Families ]
Maryland Science Center
601 Light St., Baltimore
410-685-5225
www.mdsci.org
Honorable mention
Port Discovery Children’s Museum
35 Market Place, Baltimore
410-727-8120
www.portdiscovery.org
[ Best Family Day Trip Out of Town (tie) ]
Hershey Park
100 W. Hershey Park Drive
Hershey, PA
800-242-4236
www.hersheypark.com
Ocean City, MD
Honorable mention
Washington, D.C.
[ Best Park/Playground ]
Centennial Park
10000 Route 108,
Ellicott City
410-313-7256
Honorable mention
Lake Elkhorn
6800 Cradlerock Way, Columbia
410-715-3161
[ Best Summer Camp ]
Howard County Parks and Recreation
410-313-4700
www.co.ho.md.us/Rap/
Honorable mention
Columbia Association
10221 Wincopin Circle, Suite 100
410-715-3000
www.columbiaassociation.com
[ Best Kids Entertainment Place ]
Chuck E. Cheese’s
Baltimore, Catonsville, Laurel
www.chuckecheese.com
[ Best Restaurant for Kids ]
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
Towson, Owings Mills, Columbia
www.redrobin.com
Honorable mention
Chuck E. Cheese’s
Baltimore, Catonsville, Laurel
www.chuckecheese.com
[ Best Place to Throw a Party ]
Pump It Up
7184 Troy Hill Drive, Suite H, Elkridge
www.pumpitupparty.com
Honorable mention
Jump Zone
7175 Oakland Mills Road,
Columbia
410-309-5966
www.jumpzoneparty.com
[ Best Party Supply Store ]
Party City
Baltimore, Owings Mills, White Marsh, Columbia and Laurel
www.partycity.com
[ Best Eye Doctor ]
Dr. Jeffrey L. Wexler
Physicians Eye Care Center
11055 Little Patuxent Pkwy. Suite 105, Columbia
1001 Pine Heights Ave. Suite 101, Baltimore
Honorable mention (tie)
Eye Associates of Maryland
10801 Hickory Ridge Road, Columbia
410-997-1800
Dr. Patrick Tong
7120 Minstrel Way Suite 110, Columbia
410-309-3399
[ Best Dentist (tie) ]
Dr. Casey Crafton
Crafton Dental
10380 Old Columbia Road Suite 102, Columbia
410-381-0900
Dr. Ximena F. Pareja
8600 Snowden River Pkwy. No. 302, Columbia
410-953-0111
[ Best Pediatric Practice ]
Kenneth M. Klebanow and Associates
8821 Columbia 100 Pkwy., Columbia
410-997-1700
www.klebanowandassociates.medem.com
Honorable mention
Parnes, May, McKay, Lee, and Associates
9501 Old Annapolis Road, No. 101, Ellicott City
410-992-9339
www.parnesandmay.yourmd.com
[ Best Maternity Hospital ]
Howard County General Hospital
5755 Cedar Lane, Columbia
410-740-7890
www.hcgh.org
Honorable mention (tie)
St. Agnes Hospital
900 Caton Ave., Baltimore
410-368-6000
www.stagnes.org
Greater Baltimore Medical Center
6701 N. Charles St., Baltimore
443-849-2000
www.gbmc.org
[ Best Health Club for Families ]
Lifetime Fitness
7220 Lee DeForest Dr., Columbia
410-953-0022
www.lifetimefitness.com
Honorable mention
Columbia Athletic Club
5435 Beaverkill Road, Columbia
410-730-6744
[ Best Day Spa ]
Skin Care Institute
Hawthorn Executive Center
10705 Charter Drive, Suite 430,
Columbia
410-740-0007
www.skincareinstitute.com
Honorable mention
Lynn’s Day Spa
5999 Harpers Farm Road, Suite 150 West
Columbia
410-730-1822
Downstairs - CA Columbia Gym
6151 Day Long Lane
Clarksville
410-730-0445
www.lynnsdayspa.com
[ Best Family Therapist ]
Brenda L. May
10774 Hickory Ridge Road, Columbia
410-992-7288
[ Best Mall for Families ]
The Mall in Columbia
10300 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia
410-730-3300
www.themallincolumbia.com
Honorable mention
Arundel Mills
7000 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover
410-540-5100
[ Best Children's Clothes Store ]
The Children’s Place
Baltimore, Towson, Owings Mills, Hanover, White Marsh
www.thechildrensplace.com
Honorable mention
Gymboree
Columbia, Arundel Mills, Owings Mills, Towson, White Marsh
www.gymboree.com
[ Best Children's Shoe Store ]
Stride Rite
Columbia, Elkridge, Towson, Hanover, Owings Mills
www.StrideRite.com
Honorable mention
Nordstrom
Columbia, Towson
shop.nordstrom.com
[ Best Kids Haircut ]
Hair Cuttery
Baltimore, Catonsville, Columbia, Ellicott City, Owings Mills, Towson, Cockeysville and more
www.haircuttery.com
Honorable mention
Cartoon Cuts
Columbia, White Marsh
www.cartooncuts.com
[ Best Toy Store ]
Toys R Us
Catonsville, Columbia, Towson, Owings Mills
www.toysrus.com
Honorable mention
Target
Baltimore, Columbia, Ellicott City, Pikesville, Cockeysville
www.target.com
[ Best Family Bookstore ]
Barnes and Noble
Ellicott City, Baltimore, Owings Mills, Towson, White Marsh
www.barnesandnoble.com
Honorable mention
Borders
Baltimore, Columbia, Owings Mills, Timonium, Towson, Westminster, White Marsh
www.bordersstores.com
[ Best Consignment Shop (tie) ]
Greenberries
8640 Guilford Road, Columbia
410-290-6253
www.greenberriescompany.com
Once Upon a Childhood
8450 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City
410-418-4707
[ Best Maternity Store ]
Motherhood
Columbia, Hanover, Owings Mills, Towson, White Marsh,
www.motherhood.com
[ Best Pet Store ]
Petsmart
Catonsville, Columbia, Hanover, Timonium, Towson
www.petsmart.com
Honorable mention
Petco
Columbia, Ellicott City, Halethorpe, Owings Mills, Rosedale, Timonium
www.petco.com
[ Best Family/Kids' Photography (tie) ]
Picture People
Columbia, Towson, White Marsh
www.picturepeople.com
Sears
Baltimore, Columbia, Woodlawn
www.sears.com
Honorable mention
JC Penney
Columbia, Owings Mills, White Marsh
www.jcportraits.com
[ Best Auto Dealership ]
Apple Ford
8800 Stanford Blvd., Columbia
410-290-1100 or 410-290-1540
appleford.com
Honorable mention
Ourisman Honda
4800 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda
301-656-1000
www.ourismanhonda.com
[ Best Dance School (tie) ]
Arabesque
6935 Oakland Mills Road, Suite J, Columbia
410-381-0017
www.livetodance.com
b.funk
10291 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City
410-313-8199
www.bfunk.com
Honorable mention
L’Etoile Ballet Academy
3240 Corporate Ct., Ellicott City
443-393-1197
[ Best Martial Arts School ]
Klotz Institute of Karate
10735-B Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia
410-884-3220
Honorable mention
Jow Ga Kung Fu Athletic Association
9220 Rumsey Road, Bay 5, Columbia
410-992-6673
www.jowtigers.com
[ Best Educational Services/tutoring ]
Sylvan
Columbia, Eldersburg, Owings Mills, Pikesville, Towson, Westminster
Tutoring.sylvanlearning.com
[ Best Music Program ]
Columbia School of Music
8950 Old Annapolis Road, No. 17, Columbia
410-964-2228
Columbiaschoolofmusic.com
Honorable mention
Mike’s Music
4872 Montgomery Road, Ellicott City
410-465-0700
www.mikesmusicmd.com
[ Best After School Program ]
Columbia Association
410-715-3000
www.columbiaassociation.com
Honorable mention
Howard County Recreation and Parks
410-313-4700
www.co.ho.md.us/RAP
[ Best Gymnastics Program ]
Top Flight
9179A Red Branch Road, Columbia
410-992-1600
www.topflightgym-md.com
Honorable mention
Columbia Gymnastics
9200 Rumsey Road No. 2, Columbia
410-964-2035
www.columbiagymnastics.com
[ Best Day Care ]
Hilltop Child Care
12121 Linden Linthicum Lane, Clarksville
443-535-8505
www.l-lumc.org/hilltop.html
Honorable mention
Bet Yeladim Preschool
8910 State Route 108, Columbia
410-997-7378
www.betyeladim.org
[ Best Preschool ]
Bet Yeladim Preschool
8910 State Route 108, Columbia
410-997-7378
www.betyeladim.org
Honorable mention
Hilltop Child Care
12121 Linden Linthicum Lane, Clarksville
443-535-8505
www.l-lumc.org/hilltop.html
Baltimore County winners:
[ Best Story Time ]
Rosedale Public Library
6105 Kenwood Ave., Rosedale
410-887-0512
www.bcpl.info
[ Best Museum for Families ]
Baltimore Museum of Art
10 Art Museum Drive, Baltimore
443-573-1700
www.artbma.org
[ Best Family Day Trip Out of Town (tie) ]
Gettysburg
Gettysburg National Military Park
1195 Baltimore Pike, Suite 100
Gettysburg, PA
717-334-1124 Ext. 8023
www.nps.gov/gett/index.htm
Hershey Park
100 W. Hershey Park Drive, Hershey, PA
800-242-4236
www.hersheypark.com
Honorable mention
Dutch Wonderland
2249 Lincoln Hwy. E., Lancaster, PA
1-866-386-2839
www.dutchwonderland.com
[ Best Park/Playground (tie) ]
Oregon Ridge
13401 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville
410-887-1818
Honeygo Run Regional Park
9033 Honeygo Blvd., Perry Hall
410-887-5190
Honorable mention (tie)
Meadowood Regional Park
10650 Falls Road, Lutherville
410-887-3678
Annie’s Playground
864 Smith Lane, Edgely Grove, Fallston
www.anniesplayground.net
[ Best Summer Camp ]
Gerstung
1400 Coppermine Terrace, Baltimore
410-337-7781
www.gerstung.com
[ Best Kids Entertainment Place ]
Gerstung
1400 Coppermine Terrace, Baltimore
410-337-7781
www.gerstung.com
Honorable mention
Port Discovery Children’s Museum
35 Market Place, Baltimore
410-727-8120
www.portdiscovery.org
[ Best Restaurant for Kids ]
Friendly’s
Catonsville, Hanover, Glen Burnie
www.friendlys.com
[ Best Place to Throw a Party ]
Gerstung
1400 Coppermine Terrace, Baltimore
410-337-7781
www.gerstung.com
Honorable mention
Bounce Party N Play
6200 Days Cove Road, White Marsh
410-344-1701
www.bouncepartynplay.com
[ Best Party Supply Store ]
Party City
Baltimore, Owings Mills, White Marsh, Columbia and Laurel
www.partycity.com
Honorable mention
Factory Card Outlet
Cockeysville, Glen Burnie, Westminster
www.factorycard.com
[ Best Eye Doctor ]
Ruxton Towers Eye Associates
8415 Bellona Lane, Suite 104, Towson
410-828-9270
www.ruxtoneye.com
[ Best Dentist (tie) ]
Dr. Larry Banks
2116 W. Pratt St., Baltimore
410-233-3323
Dr. John Meredith
8415 Bellona Lane, Suite 117, Towson
410-828-4641
[ Best Pediatric Practice ]
Pediatrics at Chartley
23 Chartley Park Road, Reisterstown
410-833-2949
[ Best Maternity Hospital ]
Greater Baltimore Medical Center
6701 N. Charles St., Baltimore
443-849-2000
www.gbmc.org
Honorable mention
Sinai Hospital
2401 W. Belvedere Ave., Baltimore
410-601-9000
www.lifebridgehealth.org
[ Best Health Club for Families ]
YMCA
Towson, Baltimore, Catonsville, Ellicott City
http://ymaryland.org
Honorable mention
Maryland Athletic Club
Timonium, Baltimore, Hunt Valley
410-453-9111
www.macwellness.com
[ Best Day Spa ]
About Faces
Canton, Towson, Pikesville
www.aboutfacesdayspa.com
[ Best Family Therapist ]
Jennifer Sober
Trust Builders Counseling and Consultation, LLC
12 Galloway Ave., Suite 2C, Cockeysville
410-804-9404
[ Best Mall for Families ]
Towson Town Center
825 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson
410-494-8800
www.towsontowncenter.com
Honorable mention
White Marsh Mall
8200 Perry Hall Blvd., White Marsh
410-931-7100
www.whitemarshmall.com
[ Best Children's Clothes Store (tie) ]
Gymboree
Columbia, Arundel Mills, Owings Mills, Towson, White Marsh
www.gymboree.com
The Children’s Place
Baltimore, Towson, Owings Mills, Hanover, White Marsh
www.thechildrensplace.com
Honorable mention
Janie and Jack
Towson and Columbia
www.janieandjack.com
[ Best Children's Boutique ]
Pied Piper
32 Village Square, Baltimore
410-435-2676
www.piedpiperchildrenswear.com
[ Best Children's Shoe Store ]
Stride Rite
Columbia, Elkridge, Towson, Hanover, Owings Mills
www.StrideRite.com
[ Best Kids Haircut ]
Cartoon Cuts
Columbia, White Marsh
www.cartooncuts.com
Honorable mention
Hair Cuttery
Baltimore, Catonsville, Columbia, Ellicott City, Owings Mills, Towson, Cockeysville and more
www.haircuttery.com
[ Best Toy Store ]
Toys R Us
Catonsville, Columbia, Towson, Owings Mills
www.toysrus.com
Honorable mention
Target
Baltimore, Columbia, Ellicott City, Pikesville, Cockeysville
www.target.com
[ Best Family Bookstore ]
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Ellicott City, Baltimore, Owings Mills, Towson, White Marsh
www.barnesandnoble.com
Honorable mention
Borders
Baltimore, Columbia, Owings Mills, Timonium, Towson, Westminster, White Marsh
www.bordersstores.com
[ Best Consignment Shop ]
Tried but True
10744 York Road, Cockeysville
410-666-9265
www.triedbuttrue.com
[ Best Maternity Store ]
Motherhood
Columbia, Hanover, Owings Mills, Towson, White Marsh,
www.motherhood.com
[ Best Pet Store ]
Petsmart
Catonsville, Columbia, Hanover, Timonium, Towson
www.petsmart.com
[ Best Family/Kids' Photography ]
JC Penney
Columbia, Owings Mills, White Marsh
www.jcportraits.com
Honorable mention
Sears
Baltimore, Columbia, Woodlawn
www.sears.com
[ Best Dance School ]
Gerstung
1400 Coppermine Terrace, Baltimore
410-337-7781
www.gerstung.com
[ Best Martial Arts School ]
Kim Karate Honeygo
4138 E. Joppa Road, Nottingham
410-256-4000
[ Best Educational services/tutoring ]
Sylvan
Columbia, Eldersburg, Owings Mills, Pikesville, Towson, Westminster
Tutoring.sylvanlearning.com
[ Best Music Program ]
Peabody Institute
Baltimore, Ellicott City, Towson
410-656-8100, Ext. 1130
www.peabody.jhu.edu
[ Best After School Program ]
Gerstung
1400 Coppermine Terrace, Baltimore
410-337-7781
www.gerstung.com
Honorable mention
Project Trudge, Inc.
822 Guilford Ave., No. 186, Baltimore
443-310-8878
projecttrudge.org
[ Best Gymnastics Program ]
Gerstung
1400 Coppermine Terrace, Baltimore
410-337-7781
www.gerstung.com
Honorable mention
Rebounders
7 W. Aylesbury road, Suite A, Timonium
410-252-3374
www.rebounders.com