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Be Careful Who You Sleep With: An Interactive Map

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.

Loved the Wye Oak? Raise Your Own.

First, a little history from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources:

Maryland's Wye Oak was long recognized as the largest white oak tree in the nation. Its stately presence in the village of Wye Mills in Talbot County had marked the passage of time for many generations. Since beginning its quiet unassuming life in the 1500s, it had seen the fall of a civilization and the birth of a nation. Native Americans, believed to be the Wiccomisses, lived and hunted in the area. The Choptank Trail, which ran down the east side of the Chesapeake Bay, traversing the land from the head of one river to the next, was near the oak. This ancient trail later developed into a road and as the tree grew, its boughs provided shade for the early settlers as they traveled by. The road, which eventually linked Oxford with Philadelphia, became an important cog in the settlement of the Eastern Shore... The story continues at Maryland DNR.

On June 6, 2002 the giant Wye Oak came crashing down when its massive trunk collapsed during a severe thunderstorm. At the end, the tree measured 31 feet 8 inches in circumference, was 96 feet tall and had an average crown spread of 119 feet. The main bole of the tree weighed over 61,000 pounds.

I only saw the Wye Oak once, back in the early '90s. It was an impressive site.

In 2005 the Oyster Recovery Partnership had a limited number of oyster knives created with handles made from the wood of the Wye Oak. We bought one... and snagged serial number 410.

We had our personal, little piece of the big tree and thought that was all she wrote.

But wait. There's more:

Now you can buy a Wye Oak seedling of your very own. An actual, certified descendant of the original.

Own a piece of Maryland History! This special offering of seedlings grown from a direct offspring of Maryland's historic Wye Oak is available for order now and shipment in Spring 2010. The two-year old seedlings (minimum 15" tall) are certified descendants of the Wye Oak and were raised at Maryland's John S. Ayton State Forest Tree Nursery from acorns collected from an original Wye Oak offspring. The seedlings are limited in quantity and available on a first come, first served basis. Seedlings will be shipped in the spring with a certificate showing the authenticity and history of the famous tree.

At $35. with shipping to Maryland included, your very own Wye Oak is within reach. And so is supporting Maryland's Department of Natural Resources.

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

U.S. and Maryland Flags Fly at Half Staff this Sunday

Governor Martin O'Malley has ordered the United States Flag and Maryland State Flag flown at half staff on Sunday, October 4, 2009, from sunrise to sunset. This is in honor of Marine Lance Cpl. Jordan L. Chrobot, of Frederick, Maryland, who died on September 26, 2009 while fighting in Operation Enduring Freedom. 

From Freedom Remembered: Lance Cpl. Jordan L. Chrobot, 24, of Frederick, Maryland, grew up idolizing his grandfather, a Vietnam veteran. Jordan decided from an early age he was also going to be a Marine some day.

After graduating from high school he worked with his father for a couple of years and in November of 2006 enlisted in the Marine Corps. He served a tour of duty in Iraq from October 2007 to May 2008. In May of 2009 he was deployed to Afghanistan, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Jordan was killed by small arms fire on September 26 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province.

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.)

Herblock Celebrated by Library of Congress

By all estimates, Herbert Lawrence Block was one of the most influential of all U.S. editorial cartoonists. Working as Herblock, he was certainly one of the most of the award-winning.

For as long as I can remember his cartoons would make me gasp. Gasp audibly.  And, think.

Herblock's first cartoon appeared in the Chicago Daily News on April 24, 1929. It advocated for the conservation of America's forests.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of Herblock's birth, the Library of Congress and the Herb Block Foundation, in association with WW Norton Company, have published HERBLOCK: The Life and Works of the Great Political Cartoonist.

On October 15th the authors, Haynes Johnson and Harry L Katz, will discuss the retrospective volume and the public is invited. Complete information is available at LOC - News.

The book accompanies a Library of Congress exhibition titled "Herblock!" featuring 82 original Herblock drawings that have never before been displayed.

These works were selected from the Herb Block Foundation 2002 gift of the cartoonist’s entire personal and professional archives comprising more than 14,000 finished cartoons and three seminal cartoons on loan from The Washington Post collection. The exhibition is free and open to the public, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, Oct. 13, 2009, through May 1, 2010.

Make plans to head down the short road to Washington, DC in October. DC is, after all, just Baltimore's southern-most suburb. (That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.) Learn from all of the Herblock events at LOC. And while most events focus on Herblock's content, it's fascinating to see how cartoonists used to work and the artistic techniques they used. Think: blue non-photo pencil, graphite, White-Out, crayon, charcoal, white tape, opaque paint, grease pencil, and more. Tell your designer friends, this is a study in style.

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's Artscape 2009 - Improved, Enhanced

This year, Artscape's 28th, you can be a VIP with all the rights and privileges that come with that special honor. At Artscape 2009 you can really strut you stuff.

There are lots of new things in store for '09. I'm thinking that the new VIP Lounge is right at the top of the list of goodies.

• Admission to the VIP Lounge,
• Two cocktails (or other beverages),
• Free light fare, food, snacks,
• Bird's eye view of the festivities,
• Discounted Artscape merchandise,
• Comfortable seating above in all in the shade,
• and more. So much more. Check the Artscape website for all the details and tickets.

For all the new stuff visit Artscape's What's New Page. See you there. See you at Artscape.

Behind the Scenes Tours of Baltimore Landmarks. Baltimore Heritage.

Most Baltimore residents and fans of the city know the historic sites that we all visit because they are highly visible or heavily promoted in one way or another. The Shot Tower. The Lexington Market. The Washington Monument. And we all visit Little Italy and the Inner Harbor and Attman's Deli (Ohhh the corned beef).

Few of us ever get real behind-the-scenes-tours of the more extraordinary places that make Baltimore Baltimore.

Have you ever been to the woodwright shop of Thomas Brown in the Remington neighborhood? Or the Robyn and Travis Hardaway home in Bolton HIll -- it was a Synagogue that's now a private home? How about G. Krug and Sons' Ironworks -- Krug and Sons is our nations oldest ironworks facility and is still in the same location as it was in 1810.

As far as Jacob and I know, there's only one way to get true access (intimate access) to properties like these.

It's by being a member of Baltimore Heritage.

We've been members for some years now, and while it's one of the least expensive memberships in our city, it's one of the memberships with the most benefits.

The next members' tour from Baltimore Heritage is an extensive, insiders tour of the Basilica of the Assumption. Join Baltimore Heritage. And, be there. We will.

Now That the O's Are Winning Again...

Head over the the website of the Library of Congress for a super wonderful video presentation by Paul Dickson. He's the author of The Dickson Baseball Dictionary.

The DBD is an indispensable resource for hard-core fans as well as anyone newly interested in our national pastime.

It was 25 years in the making. Contains more than 10,000 terms with 18,000 individual entries. Was written with the help of 300 baseball and lexical experts. And the origins of many of the words and terms are remarkable.

This isn't just for baseball folks, though. If you love words, terms, dictionaries, research... you'll love this presentation. I did and I thought out of left field meant presenting a bad advertising concept.

New Website at Library of Congress

Want to learn more about Presidential Signing Statements? State Secrets Privilege? Second Amendment? Or the Constitution in general? Well, heads up.

The Law Library division of Library of Congress has launched a new website dedicated to the United States Constitution and the new site is a wonderful thing.

The site combines many of the items from the Law Library of Congress in one centralized location.

Check out the section "Primary Documents in American History"... I may have to spend a month or two working my way through, and learning, from that section alone.

I haven't been inside the LOC in way too many years. I need to change that. Seeing what the folks there are doing online makes me want to call up something from deep in the stacks and smell really old paper and ink and knowledge. And, learn.

Michael Phelps Steps Up for the Robert F. Kennedy Center

We know it. You know it. Maryland's Michael Phelps is a giver. And, we love him for it.

This time he's offering a 1-hour, private swim lesson with you and him in the pool at Meadowbrook. And you can bring two friends to watch. Too cool? Nope, there's more.

This auction benefits the Robert F Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights.

From Charity Buzz:

Includes: one hour private swim lesson with Michael Phelps. Valid for one person however, two additional people can watch the lesson and meet Michael. Based on a mutually agreeable time at Meadowbrook Swim Club. 

Michael Phelps was one of the biggest stars of the 2008 Olympics, with his record breaking 8 gold medals, Phelps has earned his place in swimming and Olympic history. Don't miss your chance to win this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a private swim lesson from the one and only, Michael Phelps.

Right now the bid is $1,700.  5/20 $2,200.  5/27 $3,700. Auction Lot closes at 2:30 PM EST tomorrow, May 27th. Don't miss this opportunity to support the RFK Center and join the ranks of the good guys and the givers. We'll love you for it.  Details are here.

Open Studio Day at Bromo Seltzer Tower

Today 5 to 9 PM. I've toured the artist's studios and it's fun and informative and educational. The artists working there are a special and talented group and need the support of all of us.

The folks who create in the Bromo Seltzer Tower's unique spaces are playwrights, painters of all kinds, photographers, and mixed media artists.

Also, if you ever have the chance to get inside the head of the beast (the inside of the clock tower) grab it. I was in the clock-works space last year and it was a trip. One I won't soon forget.

Getting to the clock-works takes some serious climbing. The artist's studios are reached by an outstanding, truly-vintage elevator.

Wineology 101 - Maryland Science Center

Hey, this isn't going to be your ordinary night at the planetarium.

  

Explore the connection between your senses and wine. Thursday, April 30th. 6:30 - 8PM in the Atrium.

Wine experts will lead an informal discussion on the role that color, scent, and taste play in the way we enjoy wine. Discussions on taste zones, clarity, bouquet, and more. Admission includes a variety of wine samplings and food parings. You'll have plenty of time to visit with the experts one on one.

$40 per person; $35 for members. RSVP 410-545-5960. Hosted by The Wine Market, the invitation says the event will be a certain sell out.

Gee. Ya think?

You Love Frederick Law Olmsted? You'll Love This Tour.

Olmsted was America's First Landscape Architect. Olmsted believed that parks and landscapes were an essential part of every democratic society. He designed Central Park in New York City and the Capital grounds in Washington, DC... but, you already knew that, right?. He was also responsible for the Emerald Necklace in Boston. And, on and on and on.

Baltimore's Friends of Maryland's Olmsted Parks and Landscapes (FMOPL) has a walking tour coming up on May 17th, 2 - 4:30PM. Here's the information, read it and be there:

CARROLL PARK and MT. CLARE MANSION Sunday, May 17 - 2:00 - 4:30 PM
2:00-3:00 PM - Tour of the mansion led by volunteers of the museum
3:00-4:30 PM - Walk through the Park
Led by:

• Myra Brosius, park and environmental planner
• Bus Chambers,vice president, Friends of Carroll Park
• Gloria Pestridge, president, Friends of Carroll Park

Meet at 1:45 PM at the parking lot behind the Mansion off 1500 Washington Blvd. Accessibility: mansion includes stairs to second floor; park has gradual inclines on asphalt trails and roadways.

Part of the colonial plantation of Charles Carroll the Barrister, these grounds became a city park in 1890. The Olmsted Brothers Report Upon the Development of Public Grounds for Greater Baltimore, 1904 incorporated the park into the comprehensive city park system and later designed significant recreational facilities. Various organizations concerned about the conservation and restoration of the many-layered park are working with the City to implement the 2001 Carroll Park Master Plan.

If you don't already belong to FMOPL, visit their website and think about it. You may download a PDF membership form right here. Memberships start at just $25. I'll be posting more information about their upcoming walking tours here soon.

I'd close this post by writing, as I often do: We'll see you there. I can't say that this time. Jacob has broken a bone in each of his feet. So odd and so true. It's a long story. Want to know more? Ask me about the frozen ham!

Your Kid in the Pool with Michael Phelps

Yep, it can happen. And for a good cause, too.

Charity Buzz Auctions has announced a new auction to benefit Child Abuse Prevention Program (CAPP):

Now is your chance to have your son or daughter jump into the pool with the greatest swimmer of all time. Coming off his 8-gold medal winning performance in Beijing, Michael Phelps will go down in the record books with more gold medals than any athlete has ever amassed in a single competition.

This package will admit one (1) child into a swimming clinic to be hosted by Michael Phelps. Two (2) adult chaperones may accompany the child to this experience. In addition to spending time in the pool with Michael Phelps, this package also includes a photo with the swimming superstar and a hand-signed piece of memorabilia. Date to be determined, but will be held in the New York area the summer of 2009. Only 100 spots are available for this clinic. Duration will be an hour and a half.

Charity Buzz is my favorite charity auction website. Even if you're not interested in this specific lot, I encourage you to visit them and sign up for email updates. Bottom-line... even if you never, ever bid on one of their auctions, you'll find out who the good-guys are in the celebrity world. You'll discover who gives.

Actual Recordings: Voices from the Days of Slavery

There's a new free-for-everyone podcast series from the Library of Congress that you need to know about. One that you should let all of your friends know about. One that you should subcribe to. I hope it amazes you as much as it does me: "Voices from the Days of Slavery: Stories, Songs, and Memories"...

Sojouner Truth, Slave (and so much more)

From sometime long ago, by way of some now-forgotten research, I learned that there were actual sound recordings of the last living slaves in America. I'd forgotten about that until today.

Today I learned where those recordings are. I learned that they are being made available, in a sequence, for anyone who wants to listen, learn, download, and share them.

From the Library of Congress:

Oral histories and interviews with African Americans who endured the hardships of slavery. These recordings document the first-person accounts of several individuals whose life experiences spanned the period during and after slavery. The podcasts are drawn from several collections in the American Folklife Center Archives, one of the preeminent audio-visual repositories of national and international folklife, history and cultural expressions.

Pass this information along. These recordings will touch anyone who listens. The first of the series features Mr. Fountain Hughes, Slave. This initial audio release was recorded in Baltimore in the late 1940s. The transcript is free, also.