Evan Serpick's picture
December, 12th 2011

In Praise of the Light Rail

Three times in the last month, I've been to the Joseph Meyerhoff Theater, once for a Louis CK show, once for Handel's Messiah (my mom was in the chorus!), and just this past Saturday to take my son to Cirque de la Symphonie. Each time, I parked at the Mt. Washington light rail stop, took the train to the aptly named Cultural Center stop and walked about 25 steps through a lovely sculpture garden to get to the theater, and after the show, 25 steps back for a train back north.

Each time, the train was almost entirely empty. And the passengers that were on the train were coming from points further south. Only after the Louis CK show did I see any fellow audience members—in that case, just a few young people—walking to the train with me. What a waste! Each time, as we pulled out of the station, I watched...

Evan Serpick's picture
December, 8th 2011

Ravens Get No Respect... Again!

Alright Baltimore, get ready to be angry.

I've written before about how little respect our beloved Ravens get from the national media, but this is ridiculous: A new piece on SportsIllustrated.com ranks the 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL, and puts Joe Flacco at number 22—behind Tim Tebow at number 5 (!), NFL interception leader Phillip Rivers of the 5-7 San Diego Chargers (18), rookie Christian Ponder of 2-10 Vikings (20), and even third-stringer T.J. Yates, who started his first game ever last Sunday and completed just 50% of his passes (21).

In his commentary on Flacco, Jim Trotter writes, "Baltimore is tied for the best record in the AFC, but Flacco is on pace to throw for his fewest touchdowns since his rookie season in 2008. His 55.3 completion...

3:35 pm Comment Count Tags: sports
John Lewis's picture
December, 7th 2011

Not So Lame Vanity Plate

lame iicense plate

Great license plate spotted in Fells Point this afternoon.

I don't know if this driver has any physical limitations, but his/her sense of humor is fully operational.

4:10 pm Comment Count Tags: vanity plate
Daric Snyder's picture
December, 2nd 2011

Candy Men

During last night's Eagles-Seahawks game, we learned that Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch eats Skittles candies after scoring a touchdown. The publicity has already netted Lynch a sweet setup from the candy maker.

We figured there were at least a few Ravens that deserved their own confection connections.

Starburst
Torrey Smith. Five TDs and counting as a rookie, plus a 19.8-yards-per-catch average. That's a star in the making.

Jawbreakers
Vonta Leach. The dude's helmet looks like a tank that just drove through a brick wall.

Skor
Ray Rice. Duh.

Smarties
Harvard guy Matt Birk.

3 Musketeers
The defensive linemen—Ngata, Redding, and Suggs (yeah, we're calling him D-line)—with 17.5 swashbuckling sacks between them.

PayDay
What Joe Flacco may have earned with his last-second touchdown pass to beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh.

Runts
Ray Rice. And we mean this in the best possible way. Only 5'8" but plays stronger than guys twice his...

3:25 pm Comment Count Tags: Ravens
Amy Mulvihill's picture
December, 2nd 2011

Super '70s Slideshow: Athletes and WAGs

I saw this on a friend's Twitter feed this morning and thought it was too good not to share. 

Sports Illustrated has compiled a slideshow of various 70s sports stars and their wives and girlfriends (aka WAGs). I don't want to oversell it, but it may be the best thing you look at today. Even if you're not a particularly big sports fan, it's an interesting time capsule of 70s celebrity and fashion. Behold the sideburns! The afros! The chest hair! The gold chains! The mustaches! The polyester! 

Baltimoreans will be particularly interested to see shots of Johnny and Sandra Unitas making their way through an airport and Marvin and Madeira Webster walking across the Morgan State University campus. 

Enjoy!

John Lewis's picture
December, 1st 2011

America's Strangest People: Baltimore #17

According to Travel + Leisure, Baltimore is the 17th strangest city in America. Really? I'd have figured our city was a shoo-in to crack the Top 10, but we were topped by the likes of New Orleans (#1) and two Portlands, Oregon (#4) and Maine (#10).

Does anyone really think the folks in Portland, Maine are stranger than Baltimoreans? Here's the write-up on that city...

Artists and fishermen in this New England city may or may not like to be referred to as salty, but you can soak up the waterfront vibe by walking along the docks, fish pounds, and bars on Commercial Street. Be sure to stop for a pint: the local microbrews ranked third in the survey. One thing that’s happily un-quirky about the locals: their good driving, which ranked No. 1.

What's odd is that anyone would consider that sort of thing "strange."

And what, according to Travel + Leisure, is so peculiar about Baltimore? Honfest. These are the same folks who consider us ugly and...

Max Weiss's picture
December, 1st 2011

Team Edward is also Team . . . Orioles?

Robert Pattinson Os

Hey, check out this pic of Twilight hottie Robert Pattinson in his native London. Nice cap there, bloodsucker!


Photo courtesy of People magazine.

Evan Serpick's picture
November, 29th 2011

A Few Great Baltimore Blog Posts

Adam Meister (left) certainly has lived up to his title as Best Rabble Rouser lately, particularly in his confrontation with Frank Conaway Sr., city court clerk, patriarch of the local political dynasty, and father to Belinda Conaway, whom Meister helped defeat in her bid for re-election to the Baltimore City Council (after she sued him—it's a long story).

Anyway, Meister is back to blogging and his two most recent posts demonstrate what an asset he is to Baltimore City. A commenter on a previous...

Jess Blumberg's picture
November, 29th 2011

New football field in East Baltimore

This morning, Living Classrooms Foundation along with city officials and members of the Baltimore Ravens, are holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the new City Springs football field in East Baltimore. The newly renovated football field is adjacent to the City Springs pool at 1500 E. Baltimore Street. 

On hand to introduce the new facility—which features a regulation size football field—will be Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Baltimore City Council President Jack Young, Greg Bayor of Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, Coach Joe Ehrmann, Kwame Flaherty of NFL/Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Program, East Baltimore students, Dick Cass of the Ravens, and Ravens players including Ricky Williams, Tyrod Taylor, and Lee Evans. 

City Springs football field was initiated by an NFL LISC...

Evan Serpick's picture
November, 28th 2011

Zappa Number 22 on Rolling Stone's Greatest Guitarist List

With last year's dedication of a Frank Zappa statue on Frank Zappa Way in Highlandtown—presided over by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake—Baltimore's claim to Frank Zappa is solid. (If there's any remaining doubt, Rafael Alvarez's 2009 piece, Charm City Freakout, which chronicled Zappa's links to Baltimore will resolve them).

And so, we get to revel in our native son's posthumous achievements: Last week, Rolling Stone named Zappa number 22 on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of all time. The lauditory listing includes a tribute from Phish's Trey Anastasio, who says he was inspired by Zappa's experimental axe work. "Every boundary that was possible on the guitar was examined by him in ways...

5:40 pm Comment Count Tags: Music