Baltimore21201.Com

Would You Party With This Man?

Tomorrow is the birthday of that Baltimore son and rascal, Edgar Allen Poe. The 199th to be exact. I've never really thought about his birthday until I read the MetroMix suggestions on how to observe Poe's special day.

Metromix says, "We at MetroMix think this calls for a celebration. You could pay homage by killing your loved one and stashing her dismembered limbs in walls and under floorboards, but the police (dare we say the Poe-Poe?) wouldn't be too fond of that. Instead, pay your respects at the Poe house and his grave at Westminster Hall, then do as he did and go on a Baltimorean bender. We've staked out the spots—all you need is a glass and a penchant for thinking in rhymed couplets."

NOTE: I'm not advocating here, I'm just reporting.

MetroMix also provides a couple of pick-up lines. They begin this way:

"Let's drink a whole Cask of Amontillado and put my Pendulum in your..."

You get the idea. One final thought... Don't Try Any of This at Home.

Centerpoint to Get WOW Factor

The WOW is World Of Wings. Coming this spring to Baltimore's westside Centerpoint complex: WOW Cafe & Wingery. Based in Covington, LA the WOW chain offers up wings in dozens of flavors.

What's looking good to me are their Texas Toast Burgers. The Philly, for example, is 1/2 pound of beef on buttered Texas Toast dressed with Monerey Jack, lettuce, tomato, grilled onions, peppers, mushrooms, and spicy mayo.

What really brings the WOW factor (and seperates this from your average hot wing and burger joint) is its full bar with some signature drinks that might just set you on fire even without the wings. Check out their Chamation: This 32-ounce cocktail is filled with Smirnoff Vodka, Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, pineapple juice, orange juice and grenadine. (I'll stick with Johnny Walker on the rocks with a twist, thanks.)

Male Midwives? I Had No Clue!

I wasn't around Baltimore in the 1800s. Still, I had no idea. Apparently I need to head up Charles Street tomorrow for some continuing education from the folks at JHU's Homewood Museum.

They say, "The early 19th century was a pivotal time in maternal care as female midwives gave way to male midwives and obstetrics emerged as a major medical specialty. Cribs, cradles, silver baby bottle nipples, forceps, early medical books, and other period items on display offer a look at practices, traditions, and politics concerning childbirth and childrearing in early Maryland, particularly those of Baltimore families like the Carrolls of Homewood."

The event was organized by students in the Introduction to Material Culture course taught fall 2007 at Homewood as part of the JHU Krieger School’s Museums & Society Program. The course and focus show were made possible by the late Anne Merrick Pinkard.

While I'm considering about all of this, I'm kind of creeped-out thinking of the silver baby bottle nipples. That, somehow, just seems so wrong. It's not like they were serving up mint juleps or anything.

These Architecture-Types Know How to Party

And suddenly Groundhog Day is something to look forward to. Get your tickets today.

BAF's Executive Director, Adam Blumenthal will answer any questions. Give him a call at 410-539-7772. The theme is Light and Shadow so get your black and white cocktail attire to the cleaners and prepare to party.

Catering is by the new Woodberry Kitchen so we're sure to be in for some special treats.
I'm sort of hoping for Woodberry's little lamb meatballs with red pepper sauce and fried sage! And maybe their brick oven clams. Or griddled scallops...

The Walters Art Museum Director, Gary Vikan, Tells Stories

And, what entertaining and extraordinary stories they are. Vikan joined forces with Baltimore's NPR station, WYPR, a few months back and is hosting a weekly feature, Postcards from The Walters. It's broadcast Monday mornings at 9:35. However, you don't have to be tuned-in to listen.

The Walters website has a link to WYPR where the previous months audio postcards are archived.

I first learned of Vikan's natural story-telling ability when he made a presentation on branding Baltimore at one of the Baltimore Architecture Foundation's lunchtime forums.

I wrote him a note to thank him for his funny, clever, and informative talk. (It takes some on-stage savvy and bravado to get a room full of architecture enthusiasts laughing out loud. He has that savvy and more.) A few weeks later he invited me to lunch. That's when I truly learned what a story-teller he is. Just click here - Postcards from The Walters - and you'll be hooked. You'll also find out why the first Walters in Baltimore wasn't a museum at all. It was a bath house! Yep, a bath house.

I Love Kraut

And most of all, I love it on a Sabrett hot dog from any street vendor in New York. A Sabrett with natural casing, covered with kraut and mustard in a steamed bun is the perfect food.

So I may have to check out Gertrude's Fifth Annual Kraut Festival. At first blush John Shield's menu seemed a tad kraut-excessive... a day later, not so much.

Gertrude's at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Friday, January 11th. 6 to 11 PM with Polka Music. And these fine eats:

Kraut & Roasted Beet Borscht
Kraut Stroganoff
Braised Pulled Pork with Kraut and Apples
Stuffed "Kraut" Cabbage Rolls - meat and veggie
Ziti with Kielbasa & Sauerkraut
Kraut, Tofu and Braised Mean Greens Fettuccini
Charcuterie Platter - Binkert's Bavarian Brautwurst, Knackwurst, Weisswurst, and Bauernwurst and Ostrowski's Kielbasa and Veggie Wursts
Kraut Braised Red Potatoes and Carrots
Pumpernickel rolls and German rye
Desserts
Grandma Wissman's Chocolate Sauerkraut Cake
Sauerkraut & Apple Flan
Double Chocolate Tart with Caramel Kraut

And yes, the cash bar will have a Krautini along with some "specality" vodkas. $22 in advance, $25 at the door. Reservations: 410-889-3399.