Baltimore ACTS—a campaign to activate Baltimore citizens and businesses to serve critical causes—is putting on a gala concert celebration to benefit organizations supporting Haiti's recovery. "Rock to Rebuild" will be hosted by the siblings of Wyclef Jean, Melky and Fael, and will take place February 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.

In addition, the evening will feature performances by R&B vocalist Mario, pop-rocker Ryan Cabrera, R&B vocalist Mya, acoustic guitarist Adam Day, and TLC member T-Boz. They will share the stage with the Morgan State University Choir and Baltimore's own Afro-jazz ensemble The ARKJammers.

The event will also feature multimedia tribute to local organizations helping Haiti's recovery, such as the USNS Comfort hospital ship, University of Maryland Shock Trauma, and Johns Hopkins institutions.

Most importantly, event proceeds will benefit Partners in Health, Architecture for Humanity, Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services, and Melky Jean’s Carma Foundation, all of which are on the ground in Haiti and are committed to the country’s long-term well-being.

In a press release, Baltimore ACTS co-founder Paul Wolman said: “'Rock to Rebuild’ will celebrate Baltimore’s phenomenal support for the cause by bringing together performers whose vibrant music expresses our hopes for the people of Haiti."

Tickets go on sale tomorrow, February 3, at noon. Reserved VIP seating is $100 and includes a pre-concert reception. General admission is $35. For tickets and information, visit baltimoreacts.com or call 443-469-8460.

[Image: courtesy of baltimoreacts.com]

On Wednesday night I attended a cocktail reception at the new Milan restaurant/lounge in Little Italy. As Suzanne Loudermilk wrote on her blog, she and I were able to get a private tour of the space a few weeks back and it's pretty impressive. The plush white leather couches and glittery cherry red bar make patrons feel as if they're in a lounge in Miami or Los Angeles. Plus, there are private rooms off the upstairs dining area and an outdoor patio (with space heaters) that offers year-round al fresco dining.

At the media reception, Milan offered a handful of complimentary drinks, two of which were signature martinis. The Prada martini (Grey Goose vodka, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice) was a bit too sugary for my taste. And the Fendi martini (Stoli vanilla vodka, Frangelico, crème de coco, and cream) would make a good after-dinner drink, but was too heavy to start the night out. But, I loved their version of the Melon Ball cocktail (melon liqueur, vodka, and pineapple juice), which was a frothy, perfectly balanced blend of sweet and sour flavors.

Normally, these cocktails would run about $11 each. Yikes. Good thing Milan offers a decent happy hour Monday through Friday from 5-7 p.m. Specials include $3 domestic bottled beer, $4 select white and red wines, $5 mixed drinks, and a rotating $6 fashion martini (like the two above). It also offers $2.50 off small plates, flatbreads, and bruschettas.

Though Milan hasn't even been open for a month, there's already a lot of talk about whether a space like this can succeed in this city. Certainly there have been a lot of lounge-type places that haven't fared well in low-maintenance Baltimore. But, there have been many (like Red Maple and Pazo) that have thrived. I think Milan's proximity to Harbor East will help its business tremendously—most people that frequent that neighborhood wouldn't mind the steep drink prices and would welcome the beautiful décor.

Still, in order for it to truly succeed, Milan will have to prove it's just as successful beneath the surface—with stellar service, consistently delicious food, and a lively bar scene. But if Wednesday night's wall-to-wall attendance was any indication, it's off to a good start.

[Image: courtesy of bmoremedia.com]

In what has to be seen as a silver lining to the tragic earthquake in Haiti, so many people have banned together to raise money for relief efforts. At the magazine, we've blogged about various places donating their proceeds to the Red Cross and I'm sure there are more out there.

I want to highlight one event in particular, taking place tonight, at Big Poppa's Bar & Grill in Patterson Park. Starting at 6:30 p.m., all of the bar's profits will go towards the American Red Cross' Haiti Relief and Development fund (a $5 donation is also suggested). In addition, the bar will be providing free food and entertainment (co-owner Rico Amero will play an acoustic set). Local resident, David Bersch, will be giving a presentation on his family's experience in Port-au-Prince during the earthquake. TVs in the back room will be tuned in to the State of the Union address at 9 p.m.

According to the Red Cross' website, this specific fund "will support emergency relief and recovery efforts to help those people affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Assistance provided by the American Red Cross may include deploying personnel, sending relief supplies, and providing financial resources."

As always, feel free to let us know of any other fundraising efforts going on around town.

[Image: courtesy of redcross.org]

J.A. Murphy's Tavern, the Fells Point bar on Aliceanna Street near Broadway, will be celebrating its first birthday tonight. In its inaugural year, the bar has become known for its generous happy hour ($1 shots, anyone?), its down-to-earth staff, and its tasty but affordable pub grub.

Tonight from 7 p.m.-2 a.m., the bar will hand out free jello shots, free drunken gummy bears, and free Grand Marnier while supplies last. There will also be raffles and giveaways.

Opening a bar in 2009, defying the recession, and remaining open a year later is quite an accomplishment. "Was it a smart decision? Probably not," says Keith Murphy, co-owner (and Top Single featured in our February issue). "But we've done everything we can to make it affordable. In the recession, most bars only get one strike. The last thing we'd ever give is poor service, and we go out of our way to provide fun."

[Image: courtesy of jamurphys.com]

According to some recent tweets, Bad Decisions in Fells Point is collecting donations and giving them to the Red Cross to aide the devastation from the recent earthquake in Haiti. They will accept cash and checks. In addition, the bar will be serving a special menu of tropical drinks all week and, for each sold, Bad Decisions will donate $1.

Any other bars around town that are making donations to help Haiti?

[Image: courtesy of 600block.com]

Last night I checked out Field House, the new sports bar housed where Ray Lewis' Full Moon BBQ used to be. The Can Company location has a lot of advantages, including its huge size and a parking garage that's free after 5 p.m. Field House opened New Year's Eve and was, by all accounts, packed for the Ravens-Patriots game on Sunday.

And I can certainly see why. As a sports bar, Field House excels. The two-level loft space is enormous and there are TVs everywhere you look. The nice thing is the TVs are all actually high-definition, something surprisingly rare in most sports bars in the area. There are also two huge screens in the middle of the downstairs bar, on which projectors cast crystal-clear images of games (staff can control which direction the images are being projected, which is pretty cool, too).

So, Field House has the TV situation down pat. Onto the drinks. The bar has a decent happy hour special from 4-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, where Yuengling drafts are $2, Ketel One and Captain Morgan drinks are $3, and appetizer specials are $5. Beyond that, they have individual specials every night of the week. The drafts selection is pretty good, with a Clipper City seasonal tap in rotation. PBR and Natty Boh cans are also available, which is a plus. There are about 15 wines on the menu, ranging from $5.50-$7 a glass.

Though this isn't a food blog, part of what makes a great sports bar is great wings. We ordered the "crispy jumbo chicken wings" ($5 during happy hour), which really lived up to their name. We got 10 meaty wings, smothered in thick buffalo sauce and served with celery and carrots. The sauce packed a lot of heat, and the wings were overall a great value.

What might make Field House work where others have not is the live entertainment it plans to provide. Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the bar hosts a DJ. Additionally, every Saturday night, a live band will perform. Upcoming acts include Mr. Greengenes (1/23), Burnt Sienna (1/30), Jah Works (2/6), and Can't Hang (2/20). The bands play on the upstairs loft and, judging by the attention paid to the nice TVs, the sound system is probably pretty good.

My one complaint is that Field House doesn't seem to have much of an identity, yet. Besides the college flags, the walls were pretty bare and I wasn't really able to pick up much of a distinct ambiance. Hopefully, that's something that Field House can find over time because, if you're looking to watch that big game in Canton, it will be hard to find a better spot.

[Image: courtesy of fieldhousebaltimore.com]

As January 1st approaches, the question everyone starts to ask is, "What are you doing for New Year's?" Some people want to go all out with fireworks and champagne toasts, while others just want to hang out with friends and hear some good music. Here are some options for New Year's Eve in Baltimore depending on your mood:

Mega Parties: You know the types. Multiple bands, multiple floors, and clocking in around $100. My experience, though, is these are usually worth it as you enjoy live entertainment and close to five hours of open-bar time.

• The grandaddy of these parties is the 9th annual New Years Eve Deck Party on the U.S.S. Constellation. From 10 p.m.-1 a.m., guests dine on an all-inclusive menu and sip local beer, wine, and mulled cider. At midnight, watch fireworks and sip champagne from the deck of the ship.
• Right around the corner is Mother's Downtown Countdown at The Hyatt Regency. Guests enjoy a five-hour open bar, various buffet stations, and bands and DJs from the '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s. The event also features a comedy tent and a great view of the fireworks.
• Similarly, there's the Charm City Countdown, which will transform Port Discovery into a party venue. The event will feature six bands and DJs, open bar and food, and a five-story adult climbing structure. Proceeds will benefit EpiCenter Baltimore and Caring Communities.
• If you want to party Federal Hill-style, head over to Mad River's New Year's Eve Party. There will be top-shelf open bar, shooters, a buffet, champagne and party favors from 9 p.m.-2 a.m.

Live Music: If enjoying some live music on New Year's is more your thing, there's plenty to do in Baltimore from major concerts to intimate shows.

• The Ottobar will feature local band J. Roddy Walston and The Business (which will be celebrating its recent sign with Farifax/Vagrant Records), as well as Young Sir Jim, Hollywood, and more. Guests can enjoy a free buffet, $2 Bohs and rail drinks, and the venue will stay open until 5 a.m.
• Over at The 8x10 Club, the North Carolina-based, eccentric group Southern Culture on the Skids will perform. From 3 a.m. to sunrise, the club will host another show with the band Second Self. This show is free with a ticket from the first 8x10 or one from this next event.
• Rams Head Live's Cosmic New Year will feature Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra playing three sets (including a rare acoustic one). Guests can also enjoy an opening set from Baltimore's own The Bridge, as well as finger foods, champagne, and party favors. Again, a ticket to the Dark Star show gets you in free to the late-night show at The 8x10.
• A little further up town, The Wind-Up Space is hosting a New Year's Eve Soul Dance Party with local cover band The Bellevederes, folk singer Tommy Tucker, and more. Plus, free champagne and hors d'oeuvres.
• Nearby, Joe Squared will host the JW Group, featuring Jeron White and his band's fusion of jazz and drum-and-bass beats.
• The party starts at 11 p.m. over at Golden West Cafe when indie-pop group The Matrimonials take the stage.
• One of the cooler things happening this New Year's is the Free Taxlo Party at Sonar. From 9 p.m.-4 a.m., the venue hosts local hip-hop acts the Get 'Em Mamis, Height and Friends, and Aasha Adore, plus DJs Simon Phoenix and Cullen Stalin.

Family Fun: If you are less interested in partying the night away and more interested in keeping the little ones entertained, then try these family-friendly events.

• Attend Midnight Noon at the Maryland Science Center, which will feature crafts, a puppet show, food, and a performance by local kids band (and Grammy nominees!) Milkshake. The fun runs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. New Year's Eve day.
• Or you could head on over to Port Discovery for their Noontime New Year. The event includes MPT's host Bob Heck, milk and cookies, cultural programs from around the world, and a performance by the Hilltop Hightops.
• If your kids are creative types, head to The Walters Art Museum for its Winter Break Activities. On both New Year's Eve and Day—from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.—kids can create artwork celebrating everything from holidays to heroes using the museum's ArtCarts as a guide.

Now you have no excuse to say you haven't heard of much going on this year. Of course, I couldn't touch on all the events. Any you guys want to add?

[Image: courtesy of baltssc.com]

When browsing cocktail recipes this holiday season, I kept stumbling upon Baltimore Eggnog. After doing a little bit of research, it seems that this drink originated in a Baltimore cookbook in the 1940s. I liked the sound of Gourmet magazine's recipe (and I also wanted to give a nod to a fallen magazine comrade). The eggnog sounds like it would be perfect (and quite potent) for a holiday party, or anytime during the winter. Hope you enjoy and happy holidays!

Ingredients:
2 dozen eggs
1 bottle (4/5 quart) brandy
1 pint Jamaican rum
2 pounds confectioners sugar
3 quarts whole sweet milk
1 quart heavy cream
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

Yield: 25 servings. Beat egg yolks until light and lemon colored. Add to the yolks the brandy, rum, confectioners sugar, milk, cream, and salt, beating slowly all the while during the adding of the ingredients, to allow the spirits to cook the egg yolks. Finally fold in the 24 egg whites, beaten stiff with grated nutmeg. Eggnog may be bottled, corked tightly, and kept in the refrigerator until wanted. If so kept, the fluffiness of the egg whites will diminish but this will not harm the flavor of the drink. (If worried about raw eggs, heat the yolks slowly on the stove with the cream to kill any potential bacteria.)

[Image: courtesy of gourmet.com]

I got a tip that a new sports bar is coming to the Canton area. A bar called Field House is going in the building that once housed Ray Lewis' Full Moon BBQ. I don't know too many details about the place, except that they plan on having live music on the weekends (they've already booked some acts) and are set to open around January.

I ate at the Full Moon BBQ in Canton's Can Company once and, judging from the inside of the building, this place will be pretty big. There are two levels, with a bar on each, and plenty of open space. It will be interesting to see how the new sports bar uses that potential.

[Image: courtesy of thecancompany.com]

On Friday night, Fells Point was a little darker than usual. According to Waterfront Hotel office manager Evan Wallace, at around 5:30 p.m., some cables below Thames Street exploded, causing the power to go out at many of the businesses on Thames Street between Broadway and Ann Street.

Some businesses, understandably, decided not to deal with the headache of a power outage on a busy Friday night, so they closed. But others, like The Waterfront, rolled with the punches and stayed open anyway. Staff at The Waterfront lit candles all along the downstairs bar and atop the tables. One of the bar's more popular bands, Lawnchair, went sans amps and played a great acoustic set. Bartenders used manual credit card slips instead of machines. The whole vibe felt very intimate and I wanted to give a nod to The Waterfront for making the most of a bad situation.

Wallace said that the power came back on, ironically, as they were announcing last call.

[Image: courtesy of flickr.com/photos/brianeden]