Baltimore21201.Com

Laura Lippman - On the Air

Last week I mentioned Laura Lippman, her latest book, What the Dead Know, and her upcoming appearance at the Enoch Pratt Central Library. A fine interview with her is now archived on NPR's Weekend Edition website.

An even more compelling archived video interview is Lippman's conversation with Harry Smith on the Early Show. Lippman's passion for story telling never shows more than when she's on camera.

Listen, watch and enjoy. Here's a miniscule excerpt from what the Washington Post had to say:

It's an all but flawless performance by a writer at the peak of her powers. It was Lippman's destiny to drive past that shopping plaza and write this novel. If you only know her from her Tess Monaghan series, or if you don't know her work at all, read "What the Dead Know."
- Patrick Anderson for the Post

They're Going to Show Us the Money... And Sell It to Us, Too

This weekend. Baltimore Convention Center on Pratt Street. Whitman's Coin & Currency Convention. Now in its 35th year. Be there!

Whitman is bringing together hundreds of vendors and thousands of collectors for this edition of their three-time-a-year Baltimore event.

Surely, one of the highlights will occur at 6PM on Saturday:

A Free Handful of Money for all kids under 12 years of age. Now, that's gotta be cute.

There is a special section devoted to Ancient and Foreign currency. And, a section just for collectibles. There's on-site grading & authentication and book signings by Whitman's many numismatic authors.

The full schedule and floor plan is on Whitman's web site. And, the event is free.

For Matthew Kern It's His Proccess and His Vision that Produce His Fine Art

Now through April 28th, 2007, Gallery Imperato in Federal Hill presents the work of New York City artist, Matthew Kern.

Kern, now living in Manhattan, was born in a Ketchum, Idaho log cabin in 1970. He is a long way from his childhood home. However, he does begin many projects using a technology that was at its zenith in his early years...the 1970s and early 80s: The Polaroid SX70.

(His press release caught my eye because I owned one of the very first SX70s... the brushed chrome and saddle-leather clad camera wowed everyone in every crowd who saw it make its magic. And, taking it public nearly crashed my 70s bank account. When THE photo popped out of the rear-end of the beast the folks watching the process WANTED ONE. Well, there was ONLY ONE! Most often they got the photo.)

Matthew Kern begins his creative process by taking a seemingly insane number of SX70 photos. He, through his multiple processes of manipulating the disected Polaroid film set, creates final collage works along with single-image pieces. They are inspiring and remarkable.

Kern will be at Gallery Imperato in person on March 23rd. 7 to 10PM. Make a point of going to the gallery on Fort Avenue. And if you can get there on the 23rd, ask him where he still gets the film. I will, too.

This NOTICE from Polaroid seems to be a a royal pain in the hoo-ha.

Buon Compleanno, Vaccaro's!

Scurry on over to Little Italy. Head for Vaccaro's Italian Pastries on Albemarle Street at #222.

Vaccaro's is celebrating its 51st Birthday today and is giving US gifts. (How nice is that?) Selections of their famous desserts are just 51-cents!

Gioacchino Vaccaro founded the shop in 1956. Today, the company is run by his son, Nick.

I can personally vouch for their Tiramisu, Pasticiotti and, of course, their delicious Cannoli. And, if you haven't tasted Vaccaro's Rum Cake... well you just don't live in Baltimore, Hon.

The celebration goes on at all of their locations. So, take them a birthday card. And, enjoy. 

What the Dead Know

Baltimore author, Laura Lippman, is on tour with her latest book.

What the Dead Know -- Thirty years ago two sisters disappeared from a shopping mall. Their bodies were never found and those familiar with the case have always been tortured by these questions: How do you kidnap two girls? Who—or what—could have lured the two sisters away from a busy mall on a Saturday afternoon without leaving behind a single clue or witness? And, so begins Lippman's latest tale.

She'll be at the Enoch Pratt Free Library on Thursday, March 15th at 7PM. The central library's Wheeler Auditorium on Cathedral Street is a wonderful venue for the creator of Tess Monaghan. If you can't get out to see Lippman in person, she'll be on NPR's Weekend Edition - Sunday.

I Otto Buy This One, Or That One...

Every time I see one of Greg Otto's paintings around town (and hey, that's often) I remind myself to buy tickets to Maryland Institute College of Art's next Biennial Artafare. Well, Artafare is tomorrow! Once again, I have no tickets in hand. Worse, I only have myself to blame. Below is Greg Otto's offering for this year, Wachovia Building.

I won't be able to feast on the way-cool cuisine in the newly created theme venues like "La Cantina de Diego y Frida" or "An Elegant Evening at Southfork" or "Lights, Camera, Baltimore" nor any of the half-dozen others...

I won't be able to rub elbows with the way-cool people who attend this always-sold-out fundraiser.

I won't be able to get into the way-cool buying frenzy that is part of the live auctions. Yet, all is not lost. There's a well put together online auction that will preceede the live auction. From the site you can make arrangements for absentee bidding. Check out the works that will be up for auction, make a bid, and do what I'm going to do right this minute.

I'm going to email MICA and give them my name, address, email information and plead to have my name added to their invitation list for their next, you-must-plan-ahead, Artafare.

I'll see you next time. Until then, I'm on Birches and Needles (See the above painting by Ed Nadeau).

Snow and... Shamrocks?

Watching the snow this morning and feeling the wind chill (feels like 18 degrees) it's hard to imagine that Baltimore's St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off this Sunday, March 11th.

The folks at Weather.Com are predicting Sunday's highs in the low 50s with a chance of rain.

Here are a couple of shots from the 2006 Parade.

And, here's a link to the entire gallery. If that's not enough to get you in the mood, head up Charles Street to Mick O'Shea's. Their fine Irish Coffee and Shepherd's Pie will do the trick.

A Stellar Masquerade and A Night to Remember

On January 17th I mentioned receiving an amazingly classy invitation from the Historic Charles Street Association. I immediately purchased a pair of tickets to their First Annual Masquerade. And, we attended their seamless event last night at the Tremont Grand on Charles Street.

Their Masquerade was even classier and more amazing than the invitation!

What a night it was! What wonderful, delightful and insightful people were there! There were smart conversations between smartly dressed and smartly masked folks from all over the East Coast.

The food, provided and served by many of Charles Street's finest restaurants, was superb. The drinks were top shelf all the way, and the Mood Swings Orchestra is my new tune-provider of choice.

Am I gushing about this very special evening? Oh yes, you bet I am. It was designed and choreographed to perfecton by Robin Budish and Ann Mead Daniel. I've never seen two more lovely ladies work a room so well. Every single attendee was immediately provided with the proper introductions and made welcome time and time again.

Not enough can be said about the Tremont Grand, the former Masonic Grand Lodge of Maryland. The restoration of the building is perfection to the Nth degree. Just being in the building is akin to being on a great movie set. Temont's Corporate Catering Sales Manager, Keith Berghoff, displays an infectious pride and a studied education regarding this unique property.

I have just one suggestion: Phone or email Robin Budish at the Historic Charles Street Associaton NOW for your tickets to their 2nd Annual Masquerade in 2008. It's sure to be an early sell-out. A very, very early sell-out. Meantime, buy a Mood Swings CD... make yourself a gimlet, a manhattan or an old fashioned... turn down the lights and pretend you were at this one.

Party with the Pachyderms!

The circus is coming to town: Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey bring the 136th edition of their Greatest Show on Earth to 1st Mariner Arena March 7th through the 18th. However, I think the bigger story is Lunch with the Elephants at Baltimore's venerable Lexington Market.

It's a yearly event that only happens this way in Baltimore. It's great fun, a fantastic photo op... and it's free.

After the parade of giants moves up Eutaw Street from the arena to Lexington Market's south parking lot, the elephants dine on 1100 oranges, 1000 apples, 500 heads of lettuce, 700 bananas, 400 pears and 500 carrots. And, as I've witnessed, more that a few pounds of produce tossed into the mix by their fans.

You'll enjoy live music and circus clowns as you witness what's billed as the World's Largest Stand-up Vegetarian Buffet.

I'll see you there. March 14th, 12-noon. You might want to get there earlier if you have little ones who need a good view of the action... or if you need a great camera angle. (Think little tykes faces looking at the biggest faces they'll ever see.)