Occupy Baltimore Fizzles

Walking past the "Occupy Baltimore" site at the Inner Harbor on a Saturday Afternoon.

I have to say there's not much interest being shown. I understand that the evening crowd was better -- up to about fifty people, but that's still not much of a turnout, especially given all the media hype this stuff has gotten. Apparently not very many people here want to "live communism, spread anarchy".

UPDATE:

The small turnout in the evening is confirmed by the pictures at the "Occupy Baltimore" facebook page here.

One of Charm City's Charms -- Cinema al fresco

Yo, Paisan..., Check it out!

Baltimore's Little Italy has in recent years developed a wonderful summertime tradition -- the "Open Air Film Festival".

Each summer people from the neighborhood (and occasional interlopers from other places) gather on Friday evenings [weather permitting] at the intersection of High and Stiles streets to sit outside under the stars, on curbs and in a parking lot to watch Italian-themed films projected on the wall of a building. "She Who Must Not Be Named" and I have wandered over in the past, and it's really cool.

This year the showings begin on July 6th and continue through August 31st. The first film will be "Moonstruck", starring Cher and filmed locally. The last film in the series is "Rocky Balboa" starring Sly and filmed elsewhere. Check out the full schedule here or here and follow the links for more information on Little Italy.

Films start at 9:00 pm, but go early and dine at one of the many local restaurants. "She" and I like to stop by Vaccaro's bakery, located one short block away from the filmsite, for a heaping pile of gelato [yum!]. You might even want to book a room at one of the hotels at the Inner Harbor, just a few blocks away and enjoy a weekend stay in Charm City, take in a game, visit museums, the National Aquarium, hang out in bars, restaurants, etc. The point is to have a good time.

Here's a description of the festival from the Washington Post, back in 2002:

[P]arts of High, Stiles, and Albemarle Streets are closed to vehicular traffic and the parking lot becomes the site of a party. People bring chairs, blankets, and coolers. Some people set up their stuff early to reserve their spot, then have dinner in one of Little Italy's restaurants, returning in time for the show. Others buy carryout and eat al fresco. A musician plays keyboard; some people dance. Soon, the parking lot, the sidewalks and surrounding streets are jammed with as many as 5,000 people....

Folding chairs are provided on a first-come, first-served basis, but attendees are advised to bring their own. So, grab a couple of lawn chairs and your favorite "significant other", round up the kids if you have them, and drive down to Charm City. Bring your appetite and enthusiasm for all things Italian, and have a wonderful time.

Tall Ships Schedule -- Baltimore

A friend of mine just sent me a copy of the tall ships schedule for Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Right now the Libertad [Argentina, pictured] and the Gloria [Colombia] are berthed there, and there are lots more to come in the next few months. Daytrippers take note.

Check out the whole schedule here.

Walking Around Baltimore

I started out to get a long overdue haircut.

"She Who Must Not Be Named" really likes the way Trinh, a Vietnamese woman who works at a shop on S. Light Street, cuts my hair, so that is where I headed. At Montgomery the traffic light was out and drivers were edging warily through the intersection -- a problem for someone like me who can't hurry across the street. Fortunately a woman, seeing my cane, waved me across.

When I got to Trinh's shop it was dark and she and her sister were lounging in the barber chairs. "Power out," they shouted, "come back in half hour." The City was working on the power lines and had shut down the entire block. So I left and spent some time wandering around the neighborhood. Here's some of what I saw.


On a beautiful Spring day like today even alleys look inviting.


In front of the Light Street mission the leaves are bursting.


I wound up here, at my new favorite hotspot. The "Beach Bum's Cafe" on South Light Street, just a few doors up from the Cross Street Market, not only has WiFi, it has the best damn crab soup in the center city. And of course there is ice cream for dessert, unless you want to drop in next door for some "Dangerously Delicious" pie. Mmmmmmm....

Hey, it looks like the power is back on.

I walked [well hobbled] back to Trinh's shop. The power was on, a chair was open, and soon I was getting my annual Spring haircut. About fifteen minutes in, though, the power went out again. Fortunately, by that time Trinh was finished with the clippers and was able to complete the do with scissors.

When I got home, "She" pronounced the work satisfactory..., even good, although a bit "punky" [whatever that means]. Doesn't matter much to me. Basically I just wanted the hair off my ears and out of my eyes. With that done I should be good for at least the next few months.

The Pride of Baltimore

Things are starting to liven up here at the harbor. Last night there were fireworks right outside my window [we still haven't figured out why]. Tonight it's the Pride of Baltimore II back from roaming the seven seas.

Hobbling

My ankle is on the mend -- enough so that I can once again enjoy walking [slowly, more like hobbling] around Baltimore neighborhoods with my camera. Today I walked along South Charles Street toward the Harbor through the Otterbein section of the city.

Spring has finally arrived. Trees are budding.




Daffodils are up.



And one lone magnolia is in full blossom.




Aaaaahhhhh! It's been a long time coming!

The Maryland Orchid Society [part 2]

And some more:

The Maryland Orchid Society [part 1]

"She Who Must Not Be Named" and I had dinner last evening with the Maryland Orchid Society out at the State fairgrounds. And, as an added benefit, we were able to preview their annual Orchid show. It was fascinating, being able to wander around freely, to talk to the growers, the judges, and such. Of course I brought my camera and took lots of pictures. Here are a few.




This one won as "best in show." A friend of mine commented that it looked like something he would run over with a mower in his yard. A bystander replied that where it came from there would be no lawnmowers.

What with the cold and the precip and my bum leg, I've been pretty much confined to the building and have not been able to get around much. Yesterday, though, I did hobble downstairs with my new toy to take some pictures of the new-lain snow. I took more than a hundred pictures [thanks to the wonders of digital photography]. These are the ones I'm keeping.