To round off the Fair festivities, Bryan was invited to guest judge the celebrity grillers challenge on the last day of the fair.

Vying for the winning title were Jeff Holtzinger, mayor of Frederick, Jim Hoover (who was returning champ), mayor of Emmitsburg, Chuck Fry, Maryland Farm Bureau VP and Ike Wilson, the agricultural editor at the Frederick News Post. Each contestant had their own special recipe to work their magic on the steaks.

And the winner is …

The Great Frederick Fair is always a highlight for me, usually because of the food, rides and people watching. But this year it took on an entirely different level of excitement. The fair being such an integral part of Frederick County, we decided to jump right in and take part in the 4-H Beef, Sheep and Swine auction this past Thursday.

The Frederick County 4-H is one of the largest programs in Maryland with more than 1000 members ages 8-18 dedicated to learning valuable life skills through a hands-on approach.

Never having participated in a livestock auction before I have to say that it was absolutely addictive to watch. Here is a little video of 4H’er Chase’s Market Barrow selling in at $12.75 a pound. This was the Grand Champion Hog weighing 249 pounds. We didn’t get that one. A little out of our budget.

We did get Josh. Our very first purchase.

Posing with Chase who raised Josh weighing in at 263 pounds.

This was our second purchase. Number 23 is the Dude weighing in at 252 pounds. Raised by 4H’er Davis from Union Bridge. This is a Market Gilts from the Johnsville Club.

Cooks Stephanie and Blake chowing down on the auction buffet dinner. They came to cheer us on.

It was a great day and a wonderful way for us to celebrate the youths of Frederick County 4-H.

We went to the Frederick Fair today to take part in our first 4H Beef, Sheep and Swine Auction today. We came back happy owners of two pigs, but more on that later.

On the way to the auction tent, we came across the show chickens which i fell in love with. Especially the lady with the hat.

I wonder if the city will allow us to keep chicken in the backyard.

It seems that summer slips away too quickly every year as we wish a found farewell to the abundant summer crops that graced our doorsteps. This being our first summer open we were blessed with many local farmers finding their way to VOLT and welcoming us to partake in the fruits of their labor. As we build on these relationships we are looking forward to seeing what is in store for us with the fall crops.

To celebrate the bounties of fall we are offering complementary canapes in the lounge every Thursday 5 -7 pm from now through October. Please join us as we wish adieu to summer and welcome fall.

Lounge Menu

Partnering culinary and performing arts excellence. We have teamed up with Weinberg Center to celebrate the theater’s season opener - Simply Sinatra, Sunday, September 21st at 2:00 p.m. Featuring Steve Lippia and a 10-piece band.

To kick off the season, we welcome all ticket and non-ticket holders to join us for brunch before the show from 11:30 - 2:30 this Sunday to the sounds of Frank Sinatra in the main dining room.

Ticket holders are welcome to park off-street on our parking lot and enjoy complementary canapes in the lounge after the show. (Please bring in your ticket stub)

Ticket Information

Brunch Menu

Our flower displays change weekly and they are so pretty I hate seeing them go every week. But they are replaced by even prettier ones every time. Here is a look at this weeks.

The big and bold sunflowers in the front windows

These elegant orchids match the serenity of the main dining room

These sunny side ups bring in the outdoors in the conservatory

VOLT lands on Ireland this Saturday September 6th.
Around the World is actually Downtown Partnership’s theme this month for the first Saturday Gallery Walk. The 15 blocks of downtown have each been assigned a different country and region. You can explore the world with international music, crafts, and demonstrations from different countries including Ireland, France, Asia, Germany, Central South America and more!

To go along with our assigned country, we are offering an Irish themed lounge menu. Here’s a quick look to tempt your appetite:

Guiness braised beef short rib sandwich, pommes soufflé $9

“Irish Breakfast”, tasting of pork charcuterie, 61° egg $14

Corned lamb brisket, pickles, and ground mustard $8

“Irish Meat Pies” house made steak sauce $8

For an extra kick pair it with our flight of Irish Whiskeys - Bushmills, Jameson, Red Breast. We will offer this menu for one night only in the lounge.

Well just taking it a couple blocks up the street to Carroll Creek to serve up some VOLT-style street food in the Alive @ Five on September 11th.

Alive @ Five is the happy hour held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 5 - 8pm. Great music, great food, beer and wine make it a great outing.

We were planning on going to the last show for Brothers Shamus, a Southern Rock Band, to serve kobe beef hot dogs. What could be better than southern rock, beer and a VOLT style hot dog? But the show got rained out. So disappointing.

But we are geared up again for the next show. This time we are bringing with us the kobe beef hot dogs, and lobster corn dogs.

The show this time is straight up jazz with the Howard Burns Quartet.