3 Museums to Teach You About Waldorf's History

Grabbing a cup of coffee on a cool morning is the perfect way to start your day. It gives you a burst of energy that improves your productivity and helps you focus on the things you've got to do. If you're looking for the perfect cup of joe in Waldorf, consider stopping by one of these local coffee shops for your next caffeine jolt. 1. Silver Diner If you're craving a bite of breakfast with your coffee, then the Silver Diner at 2081 Festival Way should be your first stop. Open at 6:30 a.m. every day, it serves the finest locally roasted French roast in town in both regular and decaf variants. If you aren't a fan of coffee, it also has a variety of Tazo hot teas to warm your belly. Best of all, all coffee and tea is bottomless, meaning you can have as many refills as you want. To satiate your appetite, try one of the farm-fresh three-egg omelets, farm-fresh egg combos, or brunch specialties, all of which come from the brain of Executive Chef Ype Von Hengst. more 2. Waldorf Starbucks Situated at 3053 Waldorf Market Place, this Starbucks is a great place to grab a cup of coffee to go. It's open Monday through Thursday from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and opens a half hour earlier on Fridays, giving you plenty of time to stop by on your way to work. Naturally, you can order all your favorite Starbucks drinks here and take in the cozy atmosphere from one of the many tables. Some of the current highlights of the menu include the Blonde Vanilla Latte, Blonde Caffe Americano, and Blonde Cappuccino. 3. Donut Connection What's better than a fresh, warm donut and a steaming mug of coffee? Not much, which is why you should stop by the Donut Connection at 3480 Leonardtown Road. This establishment touts its life-giving elixir as the World's Best Coffee and features a number of flavored brews, including amaretto, cinnamon hazelnut, Irish cream, chocolate macadamia nut, and more. You also have your choice of cappuccino or frozen granita if you want something a bit different. The Waldorf Donut Connection is open extremely early, which is perfect if you work a night shift and need a caffeine fix. Stop in as early as 3:30 a.m. every day except Friday, when you can get your coffee at 3 a.m. 4. The Bistro As a part of the Courtyard Marriott at 3145 Crain Highway, The Bistro is a more upscale stop for your favorite coffee beverages. This location offers a number of tasty treats to give you the fuel to make it through the day, as well as coffee from Starbucks. You can get your favorites like the Caffe Latte, Caffe Mocha, espresso, and anything else you'd like. Coffee is something you shouldn't mess around with. If you're a connoisseur for good brews, these local coffee hot spots should be on your list of places to visit in Waldorf. " Flat White Coffee " by russelljsmith is licensed by CC BY 2.0

This winter, as you're dashing through the snow, don't forget to prep your car for Maryland's blustery weather. Snow, sleet, and freezing rain all present unique challenges on the road. When the weather outside is frightful, you want to make sure that you're keeping yourself and your car safe for travel. Try these four strategies to help keep you and your family safe while driving during the winter. Have a Winter Vehicle Emergency Kit Make sure you're not left stranded without the tools you need in an emergency. Having a preparedness kit in your trunk may be the single most important thing you can do for your car and your personal safety. Use a large plastic container and include these items in your kit: more Flashlights with new batteries Road flares First-aid kit Thermal blankets Extra water-resistant coat Waterproof gloves Waterproof boots and warm socks Radio with new batteries Charged cellphone and spare car charger Bag of sand or kitty litter Small shovel Ice scraper with brush Battery jumper cables Non-perishable snacks, such as nuts or jerky Check Your Engine's Antifreeze As temperatures drop, antifreeze becomes even more critical than ever, to help keep your vehicle running. Like a magic elixir, antifreeze keeps your engine block from freezing and cracking. Some of us fill our radiators with water during the summer months, and if this is you, you might be in for some trouble once temperatures drop below zero. Have your coolant system flushed and refilled by a professional if you suspect that your radiator is full of water. If you're sure you've got the right antifreeze, check your owner's manual for instructions on how you can refill it yourself. Invest in Winter Tires Winter tires are essential in Maryland, where the average winter temperature is 34 degrees. Winter tires stay flexible at these low temperatures, providing reliable traction when stopping and turning on cold pavement. Ensure that your tires are ready for severe weather by checking the pressure with a gauge from any auto supply store and fill them up at the free air tank available at most gas stations. Examine your tires for their tread life and don't forget to check the sidewalls, and your spare and jack too. Use Winter-Rated Wiper Fluid When old man winter comes knocking, switch your windshield washer fluid to the winter type. Yes, there is a difference.  Ordinary washer fluid will freeze quickly upon contact with your icy windshield, while cold weather fluid won't. Winter-rated wiper fluid is made to help loosen ice and snow from your windshield, making it easier to ensure your visibility is crystal clear. Western counties in Maryland experience colder weather and more snow, so make sure to install winter, rubber-clad wiper blades to fight ice build-up too. There's still time to get your car ready before Jack Frost starts nipping at your windshield. Ensure that you have a well-running vehicle this winter and that your family is safe and snug inside with these tips to prep your car for a Maryland winter. " Snowstorm, 12/19/09 " by the bridge is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Ah, the bakery, where you can enter the establishment under the guise of buying a loaf of sourdough and come out with a dozen chocolate pudding cupcakes too. In celebration of the noble service that bakeries provide, behold our picks for four of the best pudding purveyors, cupcake specialists, and customizable cake designers around Waldorf. Sabor Casero Bakery Sabor Casero Bakery is a small, authentic Veracruz-style Mexican bakery that is immensely popular for their desserts, tortas, and tamales. Their tamales are melt-in-your-mouth good, with a delicious balance of flavors that are just addicting. Order a cake for your wedding or birthday party. Your guests will love Sabor's beautifully decorated and deliciously moist custom tres leches cakes made by their friendly staff. These bakers are true artisans, who create a magical display right on their cakes. Sabors is located at 3262 Leonardtown Road and is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. more Lavender Moon Cupcakery About a half-hour from Waldorf, at 116 South Royal Street in Alexandria, Virginia, you'll find a cupcakery called Lavender Moon. Flavors vary daily, based on the local farmer's market inspiration and the staff's creativity. Unique flavors of organic cupcakes, in addition to some amazing classics, include Blood Orange Dreamsicle, Pistachio and Passion Fruit, and Peach and Basil. Stop by the Moon and see what high-quality, fresh organic cupcakes are on the menu today. Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and weekends until 10. Cupcakes baked fresh daily from Lavender Moon run $30 per dozen or more. Sweet Thing Black Orchid Sweet Thing Black Orchid joins a menagerie of delights under one roof, from custom cakes to elegant floral designs, to event planning. Their extensive portfolio of event and novelty cakes speaks volumes for their talented designers. Cakes start at $35 while basic cupcakes are $3 each, and fancy cupcakes with embellishments run $10. Whimsical cakes, family pies, and puddings can be pre-ordered for the holidays. Located at 3088 Festival Way in the Festival Way shopping center, Sweet Thing is open to everyone Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday until 6, and Sunday noon to 5. Wigwam Wall's Bakery 2260 Old Washington Road is home to the family-owned and -operated Wall's Bakery. Since 1968, the Wall Family has been serving up made-from-scratch baked goods for the home, holidays, and events. The welcoming team over at Wall's Bakery is baking up their world-famous, and reportedly mega chocolate eclairs, sweet potato pie and traditional cannoli's. You'll also find custom-ordered cakes, cookies, pies of all flavors, dinner rolls and more, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday till 6 p.m., and Sunday till 5 p.m. Take home a delicious pie for under $10, and regular cakes starting at just $11. This confectionery also makes the elusive fried-dough elephant ears from time to time, making this a real treat, since they're so hard to find in Waldorf. No matter what type of deliciously sweet concoction you've got a craving for, your favorite hometown bakery is always a hit in Waldorf. " Bakery " by Borya is licensed by CC BY-SA 2.0