Baltimore21201.Com

Get on Track, You!

Just when I think that Amtrak may not actually be headed, full speed, toward a solid brick wall... they come up with another very expensive PR move. One that may or may not play to a new, younger rider audience, which is what they need. Especially a younger vacation & excursion rider audience.

The first annual National Train Day is Saturday. Major celebrations in the largest rail stations they service. It celebrates the day the Golden Spike was driven in Utah. Al Roker will be heading up the festivities in Washington, DC.

Their releases do make some good points: "Now, 139 years after the golden spike connected east and west, there’s never been a better time to take the train. Huge crowds and the frustrations that go with them burden our highways and airports. And at a time when we all share the same pressing concerns about ecology and energy conservation, trains are a more energy-efficient mode of travel than either autos or airplanes. Riding the rails is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Not to mention meet interesting people and see breathtaking scenery".

Now, that's not bad copy... though, I'm not sure about that 'interesting people' business.

Also, Jacob and I were threatened with expulsion from Baltimore's Penn Station while we were waiting for our train to DC. I was taking photos of the stained glass dome in the ceiling. Apparently that was a security breach. The security guard was large... and armed. I put the lens cap on the camera and sat down.

Don't get me wrong. I love riding the train. I just wish this PR push would let me know why the Amtrak tickets from BWI to NYP are so expensive as I'm reducing my carbon footprint.   

After January Each Year: The Ho-Hum Press Releases Hit Baltimore

Odd, but true... Take this urgent message from the Live Baltimore Home Center:

Need a makeover? Want to be on national TV? Then head down to the Harborplace Amphitheater on Monday, February 18, where one lucky person will be "glambushed" live on TV during the CBS Early Show. [Say now, that sounds like a good time to be had by all.]

The Early Show's Dave Price will be LIVE in Baltimore on Monday morning. All Baltimoreans are invited to show their support by joining him as part of the show's audience from 5:30 - 9:00 a.m. One lucky audience member will be selected for a makeover by designer to the stars, Bradley Bayou - author of "The Science of Sexy." WJZ-TV's Ron Matz will also be broadcasting live. We want to show support for the CBS Early Show and proudly represent the city of Baltimore, so come out and don't miss your chance to be on national television. 

[They've got to be kidding, right?]

And, this just in from "The Insiders Club" at 1st Mariner Arena:

WWE PRESENTS BACKLASH - Sunday , April 27^th AT 7:45 PM

As a member of the 1st Mariner Arena Insiders Club [I'm on their mailing list, yes. But, I had no idea that I was a member of anything so very special...] you are invited to take part in an exclusive presale for WWE Presents Backlash, at 1st Mariner Arena on Sunday. Attendees must be 14 years of age.

[Oh swell, let's round up all of our young teens and head out to see this smart little package. Oh and yes, the best tickets are $175 each...]

He doesn't look like another Hanna Montana so I think I'll hold-off on this one and not stand in line.

If you've ever read this blog before, you know that I'm a rah-rah, full-on supporter of Baltimore and 21201. It just gets creepy on the PR front around this time of year. Stay tuned for some of the truly worthwhile notices of late winter.

And, if you see huge guys walking around downtown Baltimore in tights... well, consider yourself warned. It's not altogether pretty.

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.

Avenue Q - Quintessentially Quotable

After over twenty years of being a regular theatre-goer, something strange and wonderful happened Saturday night.

I expect to walk home, after seeing a musical, humming the two or three most memorable tunes. And as an utterly and completly tone-deaf singer, it's a torment - if not a true torture - for my friends.

Saturday Jacob and I saw Avenue Q at Baltimore's Hippodrome and we walked home reciting the hysterically funny, rude, politically incorrect, and downright nasty lines. We were laughing like the show was still going on. For us, it was. We both agreed that you haven't really lived until you've been given the finger by a puppet. Or, watched puppets DOING IT complete with dramatic lighting and sound effects and well placed gasps.

You haven't lived until you've watched a gay puppet come out of the closet to his friends and immediately go back in his apartment for a three-way. Avenue Q is heady stuff. (I'm not giving anything away here. The plot is not complex.)

So, what exactly were we and most of the audience laughing at that evening? Here are a couple of G-Rated samples (for the really good quotes - R-Rated and X, get tickets):

[On a Missed Teaching Assignment]
Kate Monster: Hello?
Mrs. Thistletwat: Good afternoon, Katherine. If you may recall, you were supposed to teach my class this morning while I got my heart replaced. You left the children unattended for three hours! They created their own tribal society and were about to sacrifice poor little Brittany! Where were you?
Kate Monster: I overslept! I'm so sorry!
Mrs. Thistletwat: I should never have hired a monster.
Kate Monster: What?
Mrs. Thistletwat: Your race is notoriously lazy!
Kate Monster: Well, better a monster than a crabby old bitch!
Mrs. Thistletwat: Crabby old bitches are the backbone of this nation!

[On Schadenfreude]
Nicky: How 'bout straight A students getting B's?
Gary: Exes getting STDs!
Nicky: Waking doormen from their naps!
Gary: Watching tourists reading maps!
Nicky: Football players getting tackled!
Gary: CEOs getting shackled!
Nicky: Watching actors never reach
Both: The ending of their Oscar speech!

[On Gift-giving & Investments]
Trekkie Monster: Me give you ten million dollars!
Princeton: Trekkie! Where did you get all that money?!?
Trekkie Monster: In volatile market, only stable investment is porn!

NOTICE: As advertised, the Tony award winning, Avenue Q is "Not Fur the Kiddies"... It's apparently not FUR most grandparents either. The ladies on either side of us looked Queasier and Queasier with each drop of the F-Bomb. But hey, they should have known that they - for about two fun hours - were going to live on Avenue Q!

WMAR - Honored by BMI for 60 Years in Broadcasting

The Baltimore Museum of Industry is hosting an exhibit of artifacts, vintage television cameras and TV sets, film and tape to celebrate WMAR's 60th year. (First a little background from the official WMAR website: In 1997 WMAR-TV celebrated 50 years of broadcast excellence. It is Maryland's first commercial television station and the 11th in the nation. The station was the site of many technological breakthroughs: first with a color film processor for television news and production, and first Zoom camera lens for film and tape cameras. It has also had a noteworthy staff, including Janet Covington, the first woman director [1948].)

The exhibit, Charm City TV: Sixty Years of WMAR, opens to the public tomorrow, October 26th. While at first glance it seems to appeal to old-time radio and TV buffs, it could actually be a great deal of fun by way of this example of a WMAR original production -- The Collegians. Collegians was a local talent show that aired in the 1960s. Note: You must have your audio turned on to truly enjoy these clips. And check out the curmudgeon MCing this program.

There are two more clips from this show.... If you want more visit YouTube.Com and search for WMAR.

I'm thinking that anyone who has ever wondered how John Waters was inspired, should visit this exhibit. And, check out this camera man standing on a chair. You've gotta love it.

150 Years of the Peabody Institute - Audio Now Online

An email arrived today announcing the Peabody's 2007-08 Concert Series. The run of presentations is impressive and the box office opens tomorrow, August 29th, at 10AM.

There are 15 concerts in the series and subscribers may choose 5 for $50 - just $10 per concert. Does it get better than that? Not to my way of thinking.

While I was visiting the Peabody's website to look at concert details, I noticed that the audio of "150 Years of the Peabody Institute" is online.

According the JHU & the Peabody:

"Featuring readings of historic documents and interviews with Peabody students, alumni, and faculty, as well as local community leaders, the documentary is a sound-rich celebration of one of America's most prestigious conservatories of music. Jeffrey Sharkey, Director of the Peabody Institute, also speaks of present day Peabody and leads listeners to future successes of the Institute."

Even if you can't make the 2007-08 season, spend an hour listening to this audio documentary. It's wonderfully done and was first heard a couple of months ago on Baltimore's National Public Radio Station, WYPR.

Rolling Roadshow: A John Waters Marathon

Tomorrow evening the Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow arrives in Baltimore with three feature films: the original Hairspray at 8:30 followed by Polyester and Desperate Living. Oh, what a night! (Rolling Roadshow brings movies to locations where the films take place: Escape from Alcatraz on Alcatraz Island, A Christmas Story in Columbus, Ohio, they had a floating screening of JAWS... yup, and they hosted Poseidon Adventure on the Queen Mary.)

Metromix notes that Polyester and Desperate Living are Water's most "filhy films". And that's OK because the good folks with the Rolling Roadshow will be giving away free John Waters Barf Bags.

But wait, there's more... early arrivers will receive Limited Edition Odorama Cards for the Polyester screening. Just like the old days, yes?

So you can bring a little something to the fun, I'm posting the lyrics to Good Morning Baltimore. Practice, practice, practice... and sing along.

Music of the Harp

Tomorrow, February 1st, the Peabody Institute is presenting a very special installment of their Thursday Noon Recital Series:

Presented by the Harp Department in the Cohen-Davison Family Theatre at 12Noon. 17 E Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore. 410-659-8100

Marissa Knaub
Paul Hindemith: Sonata for Harp

Jacqueline Pollauf
Elias Parish-Alvars: Serenade

 

Katherine Loughrey
Andre Caplet: Divertissement a l’español

Jeongeun Kil
Felix Godefroid: Danse des sylphs

Mary-Margaret Buchanan
Carlos Salzedo: Scintillation