Baltimore21201.Com - The Blog

New Year's Tamales, Tacos. And, a Question.

As you probably know, Jacob and I make lots of Mexican Food each New Year. It's a tradition. We make the food from scratch and write about the prep work and the outcome.

Tamales are a New Year's Day standard for us. So are great tacos -- chicken, beef, and pork. So is a big pot of hearty chili.

Thinking about our 2010 Mexican Food Feast, Jacob asked me a question. "Remember pinatas when you were a little kid?"

 
I laughed out loud and said, "Remember, Jacob... as little kid, I grew up in Kansas. I didn't know a real Mexican person until I was in high school. Even then, I only met three."

When people ask why and how I moved from Kansas to New York City when I was just hitting my late teen years, I remind them about the wonders of diversity. Finding a more liberal environment. Learning from the larger universe of multi-cultural teachers. And, now I'll tell them the about Jacob's totally innocent question.

The question that brought it all home.

2010 is a New Year. Try exploring the world beyond your comfortable boundaries, your usual boundaries. Learn.

Start the New Year with Dancing Feet!

"You've got to go on, and you've got to give and give and give. They've got to like you. Got to. Do you understand? You can't fall down. You can't because your future's in it, my future and everything all of us have is staked on you. All right, now I'm through, but you keep your feet on the ground and your head on those shoulders of yours and go out, and Sawyer, you're going out a youngster but you've got to come back a star!" -- Director, Julian Marsh

42nd Street (1933) at The Charles Theatre. 42nd Street was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1934, and in 1998 it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant". In 2006 this film ranked 13th on the American Film Institute's list of best musicals.

SHOW TIMES: Saturday, January 2 - Noon, $6; Monday, January 4 - 7 PM, $8; Thursday, January 7 - 9 PM, $8.

My favorite 42nd Street tune? Dick Powell singing I'm Young and Healthy. Or, maybe Shuffle Off to Buffalo.

Of Cabbages and Kings (or Kings and their Cabbages)

 
It's that time again. Time to make reservations and make them fast.

John Shields and his Gertrude's Kraut Krafters are gearing up for their Seventh Annual Krautfest. And, Krautfest is always a night to remember. Fact is, Krautfest is so popular that this year it's going to be two nights to remember.

Here are some of the buffet highlights:

Roasted Beet Borscht with Kraut

Charcuterie Platter - Binkert's Bavarian Bratwurst, Knackwurst, Weisswuurst and Ostrowski's Kielbasa

Veggie Wurst Platter

Sour Beef with buttered noodles

Pork Meat Balls and kraut

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls - Meat and Veggie

Sausage & Kraut Corn Dogs

Kraut Seitan with garlic spinach and farfel

Kraut Braised Red Potatoes and Carrots

Desserts will include:

Double Chocolate Sauerkraut Cake

Krauty Berger Cookie Cheesecake

German Chocolate Ice Cream (no kraut) 

And the Cash Bar! Offering "Krautinis" and seasonal beers! (I have it on good authority that Krautinis are an excellent remedy for hangovers. Really good authority.)

There will be dancing, also. If piles and piles of kraut dishes aren't enough to keep your toes tapping, the Joy of Maryland will be playing big band polka music both evenings. Word has it that Joy of Maryland is one of the most celebrated bands on the East Coast.

If you're not a Baltimore regular or have been under a rock for years and years, Gertrude's is the sophisticated, highly-acclaimed restaurant in the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Gertrude's chef, John Shields, also cooks the best single fry oysters on the planet. I'm just saying...

Krautfest. January 8th and 9th. 6 - 9PM. 10 Art Museum Drive Baltimore, MD 21218 Reservations 410.889.3399 or online.

Figgy Pudding Fun Run - Deadline Approaching

I received a reminder this morning from Jason Sullivan at Fell's Point Main Street. And, I'm passing it along because everyone loves our neighbors in Fell's Point.

 

From Jason:

Come run the most scenic 5K race in Baltimore city, along the waterfront promenade and through the cobblestone streets of historic Fells Point.

All preregistered runners receive a Figgy Pudding race tee shirt and a pint of Guiness after the race! All effort will be made to provide tee shirts to runners registering on race day, however those registering day of race are not guaranteed a shirt. Pickup race packet on December 10th 2:00-6:00pm or 11th, from 2:00-7:00 at Fells Point Main Street office 1730 Bank Street, corner of Regester St., Baltimore, MD 21231 or beginning at 7:30 am race day. Race begins 9:00 a.m.

Registration is about to close for the 3rd annual Fell's Point Figgy Pudding 5K race.

Some previous race photos are here. Registration is here.

Run Date: Saturday, December 12, 2009 @ 9:00 AM

Address: Fells Point Broadway Square, 900 South Broadway

Fees: $35 advance/$40 day of race

Registration Closing Date: Thursday, December 10, 2009 @ 11:59 PM

Now then, just as an FYI: Jacob and I don't run, but we just may be there with cameras in hand for the fun!

Christmas is Always Better with Rocks

Really, really big rocks. Huge rocks. Diamonds.

I received a note the other day from my Twitter friend, Ron Samuelson (@diamondbuyer) -- Ron is the powerful force behind Samuelson's Diamonds, the 87 year old, family owned business, on West Baltimore Street.

Samuelson's Diamonds is hosting a Holiday Party on December 20th, 4 to 9 PM. And, yes they will be showcasing some huge rocks along with food, drinks, fun, and diamond give-aways.

Yep, diamond give-aways! And, if that's not enough... there will be free beer. Could it get any better?

Sure it could. If you're reading this, you're invited! Does it feel like Christmas around Baltimore 21201, or what?

BTW, the two photos above are actually diamonds from Samuelson's. I snagged the pics from their website. For the diamond give-away, Click Here to Register. The invitation is on Samuelson's Facebook page.

This just in, Jon Wood will be playing acoustic for the Samuelson's Holiday Party. Jacob and I will see you there. Somehow, I think Ron will dazzel us.

Think You Know Tin-Pan Alley? Vaudeville? Think Again.

If I'd received this information earlier, I would have written about it long ago and I would have been at this event.

From the Library of Congress:

December 1, 2009, 12 Noon - 1 PM, Whittall Pavilion, Thomas Jefferson Building

If It Wasn't for the Irish and the Jews: Irish and Jewish Influences on the Music of Vaudeville and Tin Pan Alley presented by Mick Moloney, Global Distinguished Professor of Music, New York University

Mick Moloney's illustrated talk on Jewish and Irish collaborations in vaudeville and early Tin Pan Alley explores a fascinating, though largely forgotten, era in American popular culture.

Rich with biographical details and period and contemporary recordings, this is a charming story of decades of good natured inter-ethnic flux, competition and cooperation that left a lasting imprint on the history of American popular music.

You will learn that "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" was written by Norah Goldberg (not Norah Bayes, her stage name) and husband, Jack Norworth.

You'll also learn that George M Cohan wasn't Jewish, but Irish-American.

(And, all these years I thought I knew most everything about American Musical Theatre!)

I won't give the rest of the presentation away. If you can, head down the road to Washington, DC tomorrow. And, since I can't, tell me all about it.

Here's a bit of a teaser from Messrs. Cohan and Harris from their early days.

Breakfast at Tiffany's at The Charles Theatre

The next revival film at The Charles is one motion picture that should never have to be revived. Breakfast at Tiffany's is extraordinary in so many different ways that I never get tired of it.

The cast includes Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Mickey Rooney, Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen, and Martin Balsam. That's outstanding.

The score was composed by Henry Mancini. And the signature song, Moon River, has lyrics by Johnny Mercer. That's outstanding, too.

Breakfast at Tiffany's, the novella, was written by Truman Capote. The film was directed by one of my favorite directors, Blake Edwards. Edwards created a warm glow around characters found in a somewhat biting little book by Capote. Also, outstanding.

The list goes on and on and on.

If outstanding costuming is your thing, Hepburn's gowns were by Hubert Givenchy, Edith Head was costume supervisor, Patricia Neal's wardrobe was by Pauline Trigere.

And, if a beautiful cinematic experience is what you want to see, head to The Charles Theatre. You won't be disappointed.

Breakfast at Tiffany's at The Charles. Saturday, November 28th at 12noon, Monday, November 30th at 7pm, and Thursday, December 3rd at 9pm.

BTW, did I mention that The Charles is outstanding in its own right? It is.

Wine Tasting at The Wine Source

It's that time again. Party time, that is! Just had an email from our favorite spirits and wine vendor, The Wine Source, about their Arrival Celebration for the 2009 Beaujolais Nouveau.

The third Thursday of November marks the release of Beaujolais Nouveau and, for some, the unofficial start of the holiday season that runs until the first of the year. Get in early, as supplies are sure to move quickly.

Trust me, "Get in early" is not an overstatement by The Wine Source. BN stock sells fast on average years. And from what I've read, the 2009 vintage (if you can use that word for a bright, young wine) BN is going to be a real contender for the best of the best.

If you've never enjoyed the Beaujolais Nouveau experience (and that's hard to imagine), I can sum it up this way: BN is a fun wine, a happy wine, a slap-your-friend-on-the-back wine, a nearly tannin free wine. BN is not a sipping wine. BN is a gulping wine. Beaujolais Nouveau is a wine to uncork and share with friends. It's a wine to create a party around.

We do just that every year.

Be there. Save the date. Thursday November 19, 5-7pm - 3601 Elm Ave Baltimore, MD 21211 410.467.7777

The Sky's the Limit. Not.

Thursday, November 19th at 7:30pm -- Join WYPR’s SkyWatch hosts Jim O’Leary and Dr. Carol Christian as they reveal and discuss images from the latest Hubble Space Telescope Mission. Their lecture, Gifts from the Sky—Hubble’s Latest Images is free with RSVP.

Mr. O’Leary is the resident space expert at the Maryland Science Center and director of the IMAX Theater and Davis Planetarium. Dr. Christian is a scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute here in Baltimore. Their show airs every Thursday on local NPR affiliate WYPR.

On September 9, 2009, scientists got their first glimpse of images from the nearly new Hubble Space Telescope, refurbished by the hugely ambitious servicing mission in May. With two new instruments and two successfully repaired cameras, Hubble resumed scientific research with more capability than ever.

Enjoy stories of the servicing mission, and explore the latest Hubble Space Telescope images of giant star clusters, new star-forming regions, exploding stars and colliding galaxies. Hear about Hubble’s quest for understanding Dark Matter and Dark Energy along with Hubble’s other contributions to our new understanding of the universe.

This lecture is free with an RSVP by phoning 410-545-5943.

Hubble Photos: Top, Giant Disk of Cold Gas and Dust Fuels Possible Black Hole at the Core of NGC 4261. Above: Detail of Saturn's Rings, Disk and Shadow.

Let's Eat! Charles Street.

My parents warned me about playing in the street, but this Saturday I'll take my chances. Why? Because... well, if an event has to do with food I'm all over it.

 

And, this Historic Charles Street Association event is ALL about food AND drink.

Saturday, November 7, noon to 6PM  Come to an outdoor celebration and spend the afternoon indulging in delicious food, revitalizing drinks, live music and belly dancing provided by establishments from our Charles Street corridor!  Enjoy getting together with friends and neighbors at this Fall block party on Read Street between Charles and Cathedral. Fun for the family, admission is free and open to all, with food and drink prices to vary.  Featured participants include:

Brewers Art Restaurant    George's   El Guapito   Howard's of Mt.Vernon   Lumbini Restaurant   Marie Louise Bistro   Mick O'Sheas   Saschas 527 Restaurant   Spirits of Mt. Vernon   The Helmand

For more information about Let's Eat! Charles Street, please contact michele@charlesstreet.net or call HCSA at 410-332-4144.

Call your friends, come on out Saturday, and let's all play in the street! Did I mention that there will be revitalizing drinks? 

Fall Opera Series at The Charles

From our friends up the street:

The Charles Theatre continues its Fall opera series this Sunday October 25th at noon (repeat screening on Tuesday October 27th at 6:30 pm.) with Wagner’s Die Walkure.

This production of Wagner’s epic second evening of the The Ring of The Niebelung comes to us from the spectacular new opera house in Valencia and the production is every bit as brilliant as the house itself.

 
Since I'm not operacentric, operasmart, or operainclined I'll let the good folks at The Charles tell the rest of the story:

In the words of the prestigious German weekly "Die Zeit," the stage production of Wagner's "Rheingold" and "Walküre" by La Fura dels Baus "quite possibly shows us the path that musical theater will be taking in the future."

There's no doubt about it: the city of Valencia is setting new accents in 21st-century opera not only with its spectacular new theater designed by Santiago Calatrava, but also with its visually transfixing production of Wagner's "Ring" staged by Carlos Padrissa and his theater group La Fura dels Baus. The Barcelona-based Fura ble! nds music, dance, acrobatics and technology into unforgettable stage events of sometimes raw but always captivating power.

The Fura made its breakthrough in the classical establishment with its production of Berlioz's "La damnation de Faust" at the 1999 Salzburg Festival. The Fura's fertile visual fantasy and endless combinations of savvy video technology, lighting and props (often formed of human beings) are predestined for Wagner's visionary expressive world. Wagner's dream of a Gesamtkunstwerk becomes reality as this shape-shifting sequence of tableaux unfolds before our eyes: 3D computer projections that evoke computer games, organic structures built of athletic performers that recall the "Cirque du Soleil," and much more. In this production, "the visual codes of the digital era become elemental and dazzlingly employed means of narration" (Opernwelt).

Musically, the first two parts of Wagner's tetralogy – "Das Rheingold" and "Die Walküre" – are on a par with productions from historically more prestigious opera houses. Part Three, "Siegfried," was performed last June, and Part Four, "Götterdämmerung," is set for June 2009.

Legendary conductor Zubin Mehta leads world-class Wagner singers such as Peter Seiffert, Petra-Maria Schnitzer and Matti Salminen, and promising young talents that include Jennifer Wilson (Brünnhilde), John Daszak (Loge) and Juha Uusitalo (Wotan), whom the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung hailed as a new "Number one among the opera gods." Equally outstanding is the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, an ensemble of top musicians hand-picked by Music Director Lorin Maazel.

Genießen. Und sagen sie mir die geschichte in einem kurzen absatz. Danke.

I Love a Gershwin Tune. How About You?

Plan early and save the date: Friday 7:30PM, October 23rd 2009. At the Peabody Institute, East Hall: The Peabody Jazz Orchestra. With vocalists Amanda Bloom (shown) and Hanna Elson. Oh yeah, this is going to be good.

Peabody Jazz Orchestra creates some hot concerts and this event is no exception. This one will be a packed house. Call early for tickets: 410-234-4800, Box office is open 10A - 4P.

The program is wonderful. With Michael Formanek, Director.

1. Cole Porter: Night and Day
2. Antonio Carlos Jobim: Chega de Saudade
3. George and Ira Gershwin: I Loves You Porgy
4. Burt Bacharach and Hal David: The Look of Love
5. Nat King Cole: Straighten Up and Fly Right
6. Thelonious Monk: 'Round Midnight
7. Joe Zawinul: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy

Tickets: $15 Adults, $10 Seniors, $5 Students with ID

Walking Tour: Ten Hills

This Saturday, 1 to 3 PM. Friends of Maryland's Olmsted Parks & Landscapes host a guided tour of Ten Hills, a Baltimore neighborhood and residential development influenced by the Olmsted Firm.

In 1909, developer Charles Steffey laid out Ten Hills on the site of the old A.S. Chappel estate, keeping the natural topography intact. Edward Bouton, developer of the Olmsted Brothers-designed neighborhoods in Baltimore -- Roland Park, Guilford, and Homeland -- influenced Steffy as a community builder.

Ten Hills residents, Robert O. Hatnick and Stephen Israel will guide the tour of the picturesque area. Hatnick is an architect and principal at GWWO Inc./Architects and Hatnick is a retired archaeologist and preservation planner, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Ten Hills exemplifies the concept of a superbly planned suburban neighborhood. Lining the winding streets are houses built in the Colonial, English Tudor, Spanish Colonial, Greek Revival, and Arts & Crafts styles.

Tour tickets are $15 in advance. $18 day of the tour. For more information and to make reservations contact Heide Grundman at 410-945-0586. These tours usually sell out. Call today.

Fine Wine, Fine Food. Festive Evening.

The Wine Source is hosting a wine dinner featuring the wines of Ken Forrester Vineyards on Monday, October 5th at the Explorer's Lounge in the Intercontinental Harbor Court Hotel.

Situated on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain, in the heart of South Africa's most famous wine region Stellenbosch, Ken Forrester Vineyards are commonly referred to as the Home of Chenin Blanc and other premium award-winning wines.

This wine dinner is a big event as befits some very big wines. There are still a few reservations available and this dinner is certain to sell out. Call today and join The Wine Source on Monday evening.

5:00-6:30 - Explorer's Lounge on 2nd Floor of Hotel: Wine Tasting of all Ken Forrester Wines with cheese and crackers.

6:30-7:00 - Explorer's Lounge, Reception before dinner with passed hors d'ouevres. 

7:00-9:30- Plated Wine Dinner at Restaurant adjacent to Explorer's Lounge.

$85.00 per person including valet parking. Intercontinental Harbor Court Hotel, 550 Light Street Baltimore, MD 21202 For reservations, contact Diane Waite: 410.347.9706 or email diane.waite@ihg.com

Jacob Was Robbed!

Of course, I'm just a tad bit biased. But Honorable Mention and a tee shirt?

PARTYWARE is Jacob's entry in the Enoch Pratt Library's altered books competition, Un(bound). Here's his Artist's Statement:

PARTYWARE
 Enlighten the Mind, Nourish the Soul: Written Works Abused. 

To begin this project I reviewed a number of books that present more than stories to millions and millions around the world. These are books that actually change civilizations. These are books that comfort and fortify some — yet annoy — and often frighten and horrify others. 

I looked at books that change the way people think, act, and respond. I looked at books and documents that speak of peace, love, and respect yet cause people to go to war, to conquer, to ravage, to maim, and to kill. 

In designing the project, I found the theme of sustenance and nourishment to run through all of these books and works. 

PARTYWARE is a study in contrasts assembled with this thought in mind: What food is for one may be poison for another. 

The word PARTY in the title of this project may refer to political parties, celebrations, events, obstructers, conspirators, or other concepts. The pick is yours. 

The juxtapositions are many. And, I hope, complex. 

The Torah and Mein Kampf create the tablecloth. The placemat is the Declaration of Independence. 

Darwin’s On the Origin of the Species provides the rich water bottle where life might have begun. The King James Bible, provides the plate the where creation might have been presented. 

There are many concepts and thoughts presented here and if you search for them I’ve achieved my intent.

-- Jacob R Bouknight

Books used in this project: Constitution of the United States - Holy Bible, King James Edition - Kojiki, Book of Ancient Records - Mein Kampf - On the Origin of the Species - Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong - Qur’an - Torah - Writings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.

To be fair and honest, the competition was stiff. There were 47 entries and some are pretty remarkable special decent. But, Honorable Mention and a tee shirt?

Drop by the Enoch Pratt central library and see all the finalists. Un(bound): An Altered Books Competition is on display through October in the Central Hall and in Periodicals.

But, Honorable Mention and a tee shirt...

Theatre Mecca: Baltimore. Now You Know.

And, on October 22nd you can learn more about the history of legitimate theatre, vaudeville, and the early film houses in Baltimore. Think of theatre names like the Broadway, Globe, Colony, Mayfair, Stanley, Vogue, Ritz, Embassy, the Apex, the Argonne, and the Astor. They were all part of Baltimore's theatrical heritage.

Many folks don't know that Baltimore has been a theatre hub since before the Civil War when one of the first Shakespearian theatres in the United States opened here.

From Baltimore Heritage:

From Vaudeville theatres to movie palaces, the city's nearly 150 theatres spanned a wide range of sizes, architectural styles, and audiences.

Many are -- sadly -- no longer standing. Some have been renovated and privately reused or re-purposed, and, a few are still operating as theatres.

On October 22nd at the Baltimore School for the Arts, Mr. Wally Coberg will discuss and share Baltimore's place in theatre history, the city's historic theatres, and their history and their future.

Coberg is an award-winning designer and filmaker by trade. He's an avid Baltimore theatre researcher by inclination.

This very special event is part of Free Fall Baltimore and as such there is no charge and is open to the public. RSVP 410-332-9992 or hopkins@baltimoreheritage.org -- I suggest making your reservations soon.

7PM, 712 Cathedral Street. Baltimore School for the Arts. (Enter the doors on Cathedral Street, nearest Madison.)

Bad Decisions, Golden Girls, a Bacon Wallet

UPDATE, 9/18/09: THE GOLDEN GIRLS TRIVIA CONTEST HAS BEEN MOVED TO OCTOBER 13TH. PASS THE WORD.

What a combo! It all comes together next Tuesday, September 22nd at one of Fell's Point's best neighborhood bars. Bad Decisions - you've got to love the name - is a warm, friendly, corner bar at 1928 Fleet Street. Here's a great description of the place from Metromix.

Bad Decisions is also sort of famous for their Bacon and Beer Happy Hour and why wouldn't they be?

 
They're having a Golden Girls Trivia contest next Tuesday evening... which, I'm guessing, may go late into the night. The Twitter chatter has been growing. Crack teams are preparing. And, it's all good.

I may have to recuse myself from the competition tho, I knew Bea Arthur well. She loved to play trivia about her series. Especially Maude, she adored that show and could remember minutiae like no other.

I've donated a prize for the trivia contest and it's one that seems perfect for Bad Decisions. A super-duper, deluxe, NIB, Bacon Wallet.

It's going to be a fun night. Let your friends know. See you there. (I'll be thinking of you, Bea.)

I've Never Done It for Money. But, Recognition is Nice!

That's right, while I've never blogged for bucks... a pat on the back sure feels nice. And you can help. 

Baltimore 21201 - The Vertical Neighborhood (this very blog) has been nominated for a Mobbie Award at the Baltimore Sun.

  

I'd like your vote. But, there will be no pleading, no begging, and no bribery.

If you like what you've been reading here for the past three years or so, vote. If you're new to this blog about Baltimore and Downtown Living - take a look around. There's some good stuff here.

And, if you really like what goes on here, tell your friends. Demand Threaten er, uh, Suggest that they vote, also. Today is day #1 of voting. Vote now.

Thanks!
Stephen Brockelman

Screen Actors Guild - Message for Members in VA, DC, MD and other states

Remember Rule One

Important Information to Clarify the Status of the Unions’ Agency Franchises and Union Members’ Obligations.

Because of the inherent complexities of agency relations today, SAG and AFTRA (the “Unions”) have received numerous requests from members in both the Virginia Beach and Washington, D.C. areas to clarify the status of the Unions’ agency franchises, and Union members’ obligations there under.  

Pursuant to SAG and AFTRA Agency Regulations, Union members who choose to secure the services of an agent are, generally, required to choose from a list of franchised representatives [i.e. those that are bound by the Unions’ Agency Regulations, SAG’s Rule 16(g) and AFTRA’s Rule 12-C, respectively]. However, in some areas of the country, such as Virginia, SAG and AFTRA do not have a brick and mortar presence. In such limited circumstances, we are aware that some Union members may sometimes secure representation from agents that are not franchised, with the understanding that they have voluntarily chosen to enter into those arrangements at their own risk. In the latter scenario, SAG and AFTRA nonetheless strongly encourage members who are desirous of having Union protections to seek out franchised agents in the next nearest area where SAG and AFTRA do have a physical presence (such as Washington, D.C., for example). The Unions can only protect you when you are represented by franchised agents. 

If you have made the decision to seek out non-franchised agents in areas such as Virginia, the Unions urge you to proceed with extreme caution before entering into any contractual relationship with an entity that may be operating under divided loyalties. For instance, a production company in a position to hire you that also bills itself as a “talent agency” wishing to represent you, should be thoroughly vetted before you sign on the dotted line. Union members are strongly encouraged to fully investigate companies that sell themselves as so-called “one stop shops” to ensure that there are no inherent conflicts of interest in their business models which could ultimately damage an actor’s long term career development/goals/earning capacity. e.g. if a producer you have worked for suddenly announces that it can also “represent” you as a talent agent, ask yourselves, “is this an irreconcilable conflict of interest? Is the production company more interested in keeping the costs of production down, or negotiating the highest possible wages and working conditions for my services as an actor?”  

Other warning signals that should be closely heeded include, but are not limited to:

•    Entities claiming to be “talent agencies” that seek to charge you upwards of 15% commission;

•    Entities claiming to be “talent agencies” that encourage you to abandon your Union status in order to try to secure “non-Union” work;

•    Entities claiming to be “talent agencies” that try to tether you to automatically renewing contracts;

•    Entities claiming to be “talent agencies” that purport to own any of your work product or property as an artist in perpetuity;

•    Entities claiming to be “talent agencies” that seek to have you indemnify them for the  cost of doing business or litigation;

•    Entities claiming to be “talent agencies” who attempt to get you to agree to non-compete clauses in their contracts, essentially prohibiting you from auditioning for other employers with which they have a pre-existing relationship.

Remember: Simply signing with some entity for the sake of securing an “agent” may, if not done cautiously in conjunction with your Union office/branch and with your long term business interests in mind, cause you and your career possibly irreparable and irreversible damage. In most instances, it is just not worth the risk.

Should you have any agency-related questions, or are unclear about the status of entities with which you are seeking to work, please do not hesitate to contact SAG’s National Agency Departments at: (in LA) (323) 549-6729, AFTRA’s National Agency Department (in NY) at 212-532-0800, or the SAG/AFTRA Local Branch office (in Washington, D.C.) at (301) 657-2560. We can also be reached by email at zino.macaluso@sag.org, mcapuano@aftra.com and, locally, at jlove@aftra.com. Thank you.

And, to Screen Actors Guild & AFTRA, your members thank you!

Baltimore 21201's Hotel Monaco: A Stellar Opening Night

Jacob and I have been fans of Baltimore's grand old architecture for a long, long time. And, we've been fans of the Kimpton Hotel brand for years and years. When we first read, in the BBJ, about a possible Kimpton Hotel coming to 21201 we were thrilled.

 
When we learned that Kimpton had selected the venerable B&O Building, built in 1906, at 2 N Charles Street as the location for a new Hotel Monaco, we pondered the possibilities and the build-out and what that would mean to city-center and decided we'd stay there on opening night. We did; it was wonderful.

Our Hotel Monaco stay was a true nextdoorcation. We live just a block away.

Here's a little background on Kimpton Hotels: They are the largest operator of boutique hotels in the United States and they are truly a lifestyle brand. Their hotels are pet-friendly. You'll see a couple of doggie bowls by the hotel entrances, one constantly filled with fresh water, the other with kibbles. Both are for resident pups and the pups just passing by. Kimpton hotels are gay friendly and support the LGBT efforts in their host cities. They create hotels in stunning, architectural masterpieces that need a new life. You can read more good things about Kimpton initiatives, many more, at the their Media Buzz site.

We made reservations through Kimpton Intouch. We packed a duffel and a backpack, and headed down Charles Street on July 30th, Monaco's opening night. We left home at 5pm; we checked in around 5:15. 

We didn't dress for the stay, but lots of folks did. We wore shorts and polos and tennis shoes. And, we were treated as if were wearing our tuxes. That's the Kimpton way.

Our front desk experience was super-quick, professional, and extremely personal. So far, so good.

We were invited to the daily wine hour in the second-floor hotel living room. We headed up to our room, #1222. It was spot-on, correct. When we made the online reservation we noted that we wanted four down pillows, a king bed, a high floor with a north view, spa tub, and more.

Every single item that we asked for was provided. And we received bonuses: Iced bottled water, two plates of cookies, and a handwritten welcome note were waiting for us.

(At this point, I have to apologize for using a couple of Kimpton's stock photos. I took my Canon 20D with the L USM 16-35mm lens, newly recharged batteries, and the 580EX Speedlite. I didn't, however, put a CF card in the memory slot. Oh, swell. Just swell.) Jacob had his point and shoot camera in his backpack. It didn't serve us perfectly, but it took great photos of fish and food.

After we scoped out our room and took a look around, we called the front desk for some serious Guppy Love. Our little fish, named Charles, arrived a few minutes later, fully fed, in a pristine bowl. Check the Guppy Love link above, it's a great Kimpton program.

Our marble and granite bathroom had a neck-deep, spa tub that could easily seat two. A walk-in shower with three walls of marble. The towels were puffy and I couldn't wait to use one or two. And the faux-leather wall coverings, complete with needle-stitching emboss, were a hot touch. 

We set up our bar on the stainless steel tray provided, got ice, and had a couple of drinks. Fresh-squeezed OJ screwdrivers for Jacob. Vodka gimlets for me. Then we headed down to the newest restaurant on Charles.

The B&O American Brasserie is truly something special. A welcome addition to 21201. We didn't have reservations. And, as walk-ins, we were asked if we wanted to be on the ground floor or the mezzanine. Mezzanine, please. The perfect service continued.

A perfect Grey Goose martini arrived at our table with three olives on a bamboo skewer. Astonishingly, it arrived with a little skiff of ice on the surface. I haven't had a martini served that icy-cold since the last time Jacob and I were at the Round Robin bar in the Willard Hotel in DC. Jacob's tall, Grey Goose screwdriver arrived with a slice of orange in the glass and the true fragrance of the best Florida oranges. I didn't taste; I did sniff. Yep, very fresh, very orange.

The B&O American Brasserie has a substantial, but not extensive, menu. Our server couldn't have provided us with more perfectly-timed attention from start to finish. She knew the menu forward and backward. She recommended the Heirloom Tomato & Watermelon Salad ($10) as a starter. Jacob ordered it. I knew what I wanted. I started with Steak Tartare & Carpaccio ($12).

Both appetizers were brilliant. Presentation and complex tastes were amazing. We shared the starters and couldn't agree on which one was best.

Jacob and I know our steaks. He ordered a Petite Filet, medium rare ($28) -- it was truly petite; I ordered a Ribeye, rare ($34). Both came with duck fat fries and pickled red onion and watercress. Jacob's Filet was as tender as cake, but it was dry as dust. My Ribeye was cooked perfectly. However, it was thin and super-tough, gristle abounded. We opted not to order anything more.

B&O's beef comes from Vande Rose Farms. Perhaps it shouldn't. It was nothing special, not flavorful, and didn't live up to the special experience that Hotel Monaco and the Brasserie were providing.

In summary, our new Kimpton hotel is as wonderful as wonderful can be. You feel like royalty when you check in.

The B&O American Brasserie is still working on it's menu legs. If the Brasserie can find steaks that live up to it's appetizers -- and I'm certain that will happen -- it will be good to go.

In the whole opening process of the Baltimore Hotel Monaco, there was only one complete disappointment: Bruce Miller at Sandy Hillman Communications. I wrote to Kimpton Corporate in San Francisco and explained how pleased I was about the pending opening of the New Monaco. I asked to be informed about developments.

The next day I had an email from Bruce Miller. He promised me the world. Constant updates, etc. Despite numerous requests, the last I heard from Miller at Hillman, was on March 31st 2009. That kind of non-response is just wrong.