A local meteorologist creates an app with his son.
It was last January, Friday the 13th no less, when meteorologist Justin Berk was let go from WMAR-TV. Though he was initially upset, it gave him an opportunity to start focusing on a new passion for developing apps. But he was surprised when his son Brendan, now 7, wanted to get involved. “I had about five apps I wanted to develop,” Berk says. “While I read them off, Brendan said, ‘I have an idea...
The new Baltimore County Public Schools superintendent isn’t satisfied with the status quo.
When S. Dallas Dance was hired as the Baltimore County schools chief, the conversation among parents, educators, and staff revolved around his age and his experience—or more accurately, his lack thereof. In fact, he was one year shy of the three years of teaching experience that Maryland requires of its superintendents and the Baltimore County Public Schools’ school board needed a waiver from the...
Getting personal with the top 20 bachelors and bachelorettes in Baltimore.
There’s only so much a first date, online dating profile, or Facebook page can tell you about potential suitors. Maybe what they do, where they went to school, some of their favorite bands, perhaps an inspirational quote or two. But we wanted to delve a little deeper—to see what makes the 20 top singles in Baltimore tick. We reveal their hidden talents, quirky collections, dream jobs, and traits...
Catrice Rogers, 33, pharmacy technician: “Honesty, communication, and being able to protect and provide. Then priorities will be in line.”
Nancy L. Russo, 36, senior creative media specialist: “Their ability to live each day according to the vows they took on their wedding day. For example, when I lost my job and I was visibly upset, my husband grabbed my hands, pulled me toward him, and said ‘...
Our interview with Manil Suri, best-selling author and UMBC mathematics professor.
Does Baltimore ever remind you of Mumbai, or other cities in India? If so, how?It doesn’t, but we can work on it. First, fill the streets with people until every inch is occupied. Ask every car owner in the entire state to drive into the downtown area. Stuff the light-rail with commuters so that they are hanging out of the doors (have some perch on the roof as well). Unleash street vendors to...
Civil-rights activist.
What are your memories of segregated Maryland?I grew up in total segregation in Harford County. Total. And by that I mean we could not even go to the hospital. We could not go to the public library. We were told our library was on Route 40, whatever that meant. We had a hanging tree on Magnolia Road in a little town called Magnolia, and in Bel Air there was a hanging tree. It was cut down when...
Winston Blick of Clementine transitions from chef to business manager.
Despite his affable manner, Winston Blick is worried. The chef/owner of Clementine restaurant in Hamilton and the recently opened Green Onion market and Clementine at the Creative Alliance is once again trying to make payroll. “We’re struggling,” he admits. “If I hadn’t done half of the dumb-ass things I did, we’d be successful.” But Blick has never done things the easy way. He dropped out of...
Baltimore celebrates the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with two special events this month.
First up is the play The Mountaintop, which brings alive the man himself as he unwinds after delivering what would be his final speech in Memphis in early April, 1968. In room 306 of the Lorraine Hotel, Dr. King is visited by a hotel maid with some challenging and surprising questions. The play has already received great praise for its Broadway incarnation and is making its Baltimore debut under...
John Waters performs in the latest version of his cult classic.
The tagline for Hairspray could read something like, “Your favorite movie, now a musical, now a movie, now a . . . symphony concert?” That’s right, John Waters’s beloved 1988 film about racial segregation in 1960’s Baltimore is being adapted once again—this time by the BSO—and staged January 25-27 at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The kicker? Waters himself will take the stage as a narrator...
A Laurel native wins the World Series of Poker.
Greg Merson has come a long way. From a 16-year-old playing cards in his parents’ basement to a drug addict who lost his way to the 2012 World Series of Poker champion. “It doesn’t seem like real life,” says Merson, who won $8.5 million. Merson, 25, developed his craft while attending the University of Maryland, playing 70 hours a week online, joining underground games, and traveling to New...
