Frederick's ‘Amazing Race’

Mar. 15, 2007
By JOSEPH M. DELEON News-Post Staff
jdeleon@fredericknewspost.com

FREDERICK — The contestants on CBS' ‘Amazing Race' have been to Cairo, Egypt, St. Petersburg, Russia and Punta Ballena, Uruguay.
     Frederick's version of the popular game show offered locations such as the Carroll Creek parking deck, Shab Row and the C. Burr Artz Library.
     The familiar locales didn't detract from the fun people were having Wednesday night as part of Amazing Race: Downtown Frederick. The race was part of the Business Speaker Series, a string of events sponsored by the city and county departments of economic development and the Downtown Frederick Partnership to educate and improve downtown businesses.
     About a dozen people gathered near the Federated Charities Building on South Market Street on Wednesday night to play. While waiting for the game to start, a few joked about turning it into a pub crawl.
By the end of the race, that wish came true. The group huddled near a 150-yearold metal statue of a golden retriever as Kara Norman, Downtown Frederick Partnership director, explained the rules: Use the clues on colorful slips of paper to find four locations throughout downtown. Along the way, answer three questions about each leg of the route. Answering all three correctly earns the next round of clues. Get to the final destination first to win.
     Contestants formed three teams, were handed the first of the clues and the race began.
     Shuan Butcher, executive director of the Frederick Arts Council, helped come up with some of the questions.
     “I had to walk the route to make it a little bit challenging for them,” he said. “I particularly came up with a diversity of questions about history, the arts, retail shops and architecture.”
     The race spanned about 15 blocks and took about an hour to finish.
     Representatives from the city and county departments of economic development tallied scores and handed out clues at each of the destinations.
     Norman said the race helps merchants learn about downtown while encouraging the best source of referrals — those from other businesses.
     While walking between destinations, contestants shared details about their businesses. Conversations were often interrupted when team members figured out the answer to a question.
     Senior stylist Kelli Puddy and salon director Roxanne Pugh of O'Hair Salon and Spa on East Church Street, joined the race to meet other downtown merchants.
     The pair are part of a team of stylists, massage therapists and nail technicians who opened the business last week.
     “It's not about winning,” Pugh said. “It's all about the people we're meeting along the way.”
     Their first stop was C. Burr Artz Library, where they picked up a clue directing them to Shab Row.
     While walking to East Street, the pair was surprised to learn the antique mall on West Patrick Street used to be a car dealership.
     The next clue took the team to one of the new parking decks along Carroll Creek. The team lost time when they made a wrong turn on their way to the final destination.
     When rival teams crossed paths, they playfully taunted each other and bragged about winning.
     Debbie Bennison of Little's Fine Furniture, Michael McCrossin of Grapevine and Dulcie Storm of Chiffon joined the race to represent the 100 block of West Patrick Street, where their shops are located.
     They invited Richard Bailey of Earthly Elements to join the team. He sells rocks and minerals to collectors, beaders, decorators and metaphysical enthusiasts at craft shows.
     Bailey is considering opening a shop decorated to look like an old mine on Patrick or Market street.
     “I think there's a good market for a full-service rock shop downtown,” he said. “I really intend to make it a unique boutique.”
     When the group collected each of the clues, McCrossin and Storm made a dash for the final destination — Cacique restaurant on North Market Street.
     They were the first to arrive, winning the grand prize, a set of gift certificates to downtown businesses.
     As other teams arrived, the group cheered.
     But, no one left empty handed. Just for participating, contestants were given a drink from the bar.
     Bennison drank white wine; McCrossin ordered a gin and tonic and Storm celebrated with a Cadillac Margarita — a Cacique specialty.
     “Getting out and getting the exercise was fun,” Storm said. “We had such a great time.”
     For Norman, the race was the success she expected.
     “This is exactly what I was hoping for,” Norman said. “We had a great time, got to learn about each other and downtown and now we're all here.”