February 16, 2012

I’m fortunate that my office has a window view onto Charles Street. I love watching the people go by, and there’s always a crowd waiting for the Charm City Circulator bus.

Good for them, I think. I ride the Circulator whenever I can.

The Circulator is so popular that when it rolls up Charles Street, I usually see one or two people running after it!

If only they knew about the Circulator App…

This App is available for free for iPhone and Android users. Once you install it, you can see a map of Baltimore with detailed route information for the Purple, Orange and Green Lines. It has points of interest, neighborhood listings (like Mount Vernon’s), and stop names.

There’s also a ‘Geo-location’ feature, which pinpoints exactly where you are, so you’ll never be lost.

But this is my favorite feature:

Next Bus

The Next Bus feature tells you – down to the minute – when and where there’s another bus coming.

Just select your route (for instance: the Purple Line in Mount Vernon); the Direction you’re heading (towards the Harbor or away from it); and your bus stop. Then voila! An instant answer.

Even if you don’t have an iPhone or an Android, you can still take advantage of this fantastic program by logging onto the Circulator’s website: http://www.charmcitycirculator.com/content/next-bus

As they say, “the backbone of any great city is its transportation.” So, thanks Circulator App, for making sure we’ll never miss the bus again!

Charles Street’s Basilica

There’s a new video highlighting the history and architecture of The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

From its brick-lined crypt to the dove of peace sitting high atop the rotunda, the Basilica’s interior is beautifully captured on film.

In 1806, John Carroll, America’s first Catholic bishop, selected Benjamin Latrobe, the architect of our nation’s Capitol, to build the Basilica.

Bishop Carroll was hoping for a ‘uniquely American’ design.

But when he saw Latrobe’s first sketches of a Gothic-looking cathedral, similar to the ones found in Europe, Bishop Carroll asked him to go back to the drawing board.

“The Gothic style has great beauty and spiritual strength, but it speaks to the past…” Carroll said. “Our cathedral should share the perspective of the new American nation. It should speak to the future.”

So Latrobe designed the Basilica in the same Neoclassical style as the US Capitol. At its center, a magnificent rotunda, which Latrobe’s good friend (and third President of the United States) Thomas Jefferson suggested would look best with the addition of light-filled windows.

The rest, as they say, is history. Click here to watch the 13-minute film. The Basilica is located at 409 Cathedral Street, and free tours are available daily at 9 am, 11 am and 1 pm.

Mount Vernon is Historically Delicious!

Speaking of history, some people enjoy their history in an edible format!

Our friend Marcus Dagan has created a series of posters celebrating Mount Vernon’s renowned restaurants. He calls it “Historically Delicious.”

Marcus is a longtime resident of Mount Vernon who tells me he eats about $9,000 worth of meals in the neighborhood each year.

(I’ll tip my glass to that!)

This project is his labor of love – Marcus simply wants to share his favorite restaurants with his friends and neighbors.

(And when he’s not designing posters like this one, you can catch him playing the piano at Howard’s of Mt. Vernon every Thursday night.)

Each poster is just $15, including shipping. You can email Marcus at marcusdagan@hotmail.com or send a check or money order to: 14 East Read St., Baltimore MD 21202.

Supplies are limited: only 12 posters remain from a run of 25, and they can be signed if desired.

Kudos to another friend in Mount Vernon for keeping the entrepreneurial spirit alive!

The Beef Brothers: From Board Room to Deli & Loving Every Minute

Did that get your attention? Lol!

I’d like to introduce you to Marc and Brad Quint, more famously known as The Beef Brothers. A few years ago, Marc was in the construction business, and Brad owned a mortgage business. “I was tired of filling out the same forms every day,” Brad said, “Tired of working with appraisers and realtors… my brother Marc said, ‘let’s do something together.’”

Brad had always wanted to own a deli. And so, The Beef Brothers was born.

In order to learn the ropes of the food business, Marc and Brad met with a friend who owned the MGM Grand’s Stage Deli in Las Vegas. He helped them put together a business plan and advised them to start small – with a food truck.

Now, I’ve always seen food trucks when I visit Austin, Texas, and Portland, Oregon, but just in the past year or so, they’ve taken off here in Baltimore. “I figured it was a good way to get our feet wet.” Brad said. So they bought a refrigerated truck, secured a good spot off Hopkins plaza and made friends with basically every person on the street. Soon they had a loyal following and decided to set up a more permanent base in the Eats Food Court in the Charles Towers Apartment Building.

They now have an expanded menu, including the delicious “Beef Brother” sandwich pictured above, made with hot BBQ brisket, horseradish sauce, BBQ sauce and onions piled on a Kaiser roll. Mmm. Their second food stand, The Beach Shack, is right next to the Deli Stop and serves ice cream and dessert. They’ve been named “Best Restaurant” By Baltimore Sun Readers and “Best Hot Dog” by CityPaper, and also got this great review from The Baltimore Sun.

Their catering business has specials from as low as $9.99 a person for a 1/4lb sandwich, chips, soft drink and dessert – and no added delivery charge. So the next time you’re bringing lunch in to your office, give Marc and Brad a call! Their phone number is 443-857-6328. Website: http://www.thebeefbrothers.com/

(And stay tuned to more exciting new developments at the Eats Food Court. In the coming weeks, there’ll be a few more new eateries opening, from a sweet and savory Crepes shop to a Sushi bar. The Eats Food Court is located at 222 N. Charles Street.)

Fun Things Happening the Rest of This Week

Let’s begin with a correction. The new “Exploring Art of the Ancient Americas” exhibit at The Walters Art Museum is NOT free, like I stated last week.

It’s $10 for nonmembers, but it *is* free for members of the museum.

The exhibit is organized thematically by culture and presents more than 2,500 years of creativity in Mexico. It’s on display through May 20. 600 N. Charles St. Phone 410-547-9000. http://thewalters.org/

On Saturday February 18 from 3pm-5pm, take a Woven Leather and Gems Class at Beadazzled! This is a fun and stylish technique of wrapping lather with a lattice of your favorite beads. You’ll be able to apply this technique to any number of other accessories, including multi-wrap bracelets, anklets, necklaces and headbands. $30. Call 410-837-2323 to register. Beadazzled is located at 501 North Charles St.
http://www.beadazzled.net/index.php

Pressing Strings

Later on Saturday – 9:30pm to be exact – hear the sounds of Pressing Strings as they play at Mick O’Shea’s. Pressing Strings is a well-known Maryland-based Roots and rock band. There is no cover for this event! Mick O’Sheas is located at 328 N. Charles. Call 410-539-7504 for details.

http://www.mickosheas.com/index2.html

Also on Saturday, at 9:30pm at An Die Musik, hear Saxophonist Tim Berne and his quartet play from Snakeoil, their new album (and Berne’s first album in eight years). “Berne’s exacting pieces propel the players down maze-like corridors, with new challenges looming around every corner.”
ECM made a digital player for Tim Berne’s Snakeoil that you can listen to here: http://player.ecmrecords.com/tim-berne-snakeoil.
Tickets $15. An die Musik is located at 409 N. Charles St. Call 410-385-2638 for details. http://andiemusiklive.com/

For a complete list of Charles Street happenings, be sure you’re following us on Facebook!

Now it’s Trivia Time…

Last week’s question was a doozy! The image was taken from the wall of Mick O’Sheas, which, in my opinion, has one of the prettiest bars in the city.

I’d like to thank Brad Williams for the photo, and offer congratulations to our one and only winner of the week, Jason Simpkins.

Here’s this week’s question:

What did Lombard Street used to be called?

Email me your answer, and good luck! The first person who responds correctly wins a “Historically Delicious” t-shirt – it’s a collector’s item!

Until next week,

Laura Rodini
Executive Director, The Historic Charles Street Association

The Historic Charles Street Association (HCSA) is a non-profit organization, 501 (c)(3),whose mission is to support and promote the businesses, cultural attractions, entertainment venues, restaurants and retail establishments along the Charles Street corridor. HCSA serves as a problem solving and information resource for its members, as well as provides a forum for networking, communication and collaboration.