Another Friend

Lombard Street

One of the few perks of living in downtown Baltimore are the new friends I constantly meet outside on the streets.  Whether, its outside the 7-11 or liquor store, there is always a friendly face to greet you.

Fire on The Block displaces strippers, city workers

You know you live in Baltimore when the newspaper headline reads, "Fire on The Block displaces strippers, city workers" 


"We were trying to get the girls out as soon as possible without getting any indecent exposure charges" 


http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-fire-downtown-20101206,0,6822646,full.story

Baltimore's The Block

One of the more famous seedy spots in the city is The Block. The Block is a stretch of district along Baltimore Street between South Street and Gay Street. Since the late 19th century, the location has variously been home to burlesque shows, nightclubs, strip clubs, pornography shops, and prostitution. The Two O'Clock Club, owned by former burlesque star Blaze Starr, is a current exotic dancing establishment operating on The Block.

Though the presence of Baltimore Police Department (BPD) Headquarters at one end of the district has cut down on many illegal activities, the adult entertainment has continued on The Block and the area is still popular for city nightlife

Man charged with attempted murder of officer, after gun battle - baltimoresun.com

Man charged with attempted murder of officer, after gun battle - baltimoresun.com

No worries, it's only 6 blocks from my apartment. I'm safe.

Former Baltimore Sun VP resigns over racy text messages - Education - NewsObserver.com

UNC faculty member resigns over racy text messages - Education - NewsObserver.com

Seeking Hallucinogen Users

Volunteers enrolled in the study will receive careful preparation and up to 21 visits in which they will receive a hallucinogen or placebo.

Isn't 21 visits a little excessive?

The Hidden Costs of City Living

Patricia Bolgiano, 51, a production coordinator near Baltimore, also wrote in to point out that she has saved money—and improved her quality of life—since moving outside the city itself. She says her city tax rates were higher, food cost more, and homeowners and car insurance payments cost more.

Since she moved outside the city, she feels safer and farther away from violence, as well. She also says that she pays less for gas—along with insurance, taxes, and food. “Yes, living in the city is fun and convenient, but there are costs and trade-offs,” she says. She presumably pays less for her Internet connection, too, since she now uses a dial-up connection.

Source: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/alpha-consumer/2010/11/15/the-hidden-costs-of-city-living.html

Security Information Bulletin

Larceny from Auto  (Off-Campus)

Where: west of campus

When: past few weeks

Corporate Security has been made aware of several vehicle break-ins occurring west of our campus in the area of 400 to 500 block of N. Caroline Street and 400 to 600 block of N. Central Avenue.  There have been some hospital staff and students that have fallen victim to the break-ins. Staff and students are reminded to leave nothing of value in their vehicle—especially visible loose change, GPS devices etc.—and to always secure their vehicle. Corporate Security has been in contact with the Eastern District, and police resources will be devoted to the problem.

America's most attractive cities

Source: Travel + Leisure 

Baltimore named 34th (2nd to last) in a Travel + Leisure survey of most attractive cities.  


Bawtmoore people are fugly.  

Food Stamps- It’s everywhere you want to be

Lexington Market

It's nice to know that the local food bazaar accepts food stamps. 

Found: Black Weave

Patterson Park

Found: Black weave
Where: Patterson Park

If this is yours, please contact your local hair salon to get your hair did.

I'll have a double espresso with a free wife

Caribou Coffee on Fayette St. 

To my surprise, my local Caribou coffee is now offering a free WIFE to those that they are interested.

Forget match.com or online dating, I'll take a pumpkin spice latte and a wife to go!

Perks of downtown living

Perks of living downtown #1: Walking outside of your apartment building to see someone peeing on the street only to hear "Don't worry, I'm just going to the bathroom.  Turn around."

Baltimore Fashion Trend

Baltimore MTA

I'm behind on the Baltimore fashion trend.  You know you're getting old when high school kids start wearing ankle monitor bracelets to school on the metro. 


Watch out Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton, Baltimore is coming atcha!

Baltimore believes

Fells Point

The city of Baltimore believes.  It believes in trash.  At least it believes in something, I was getting worried for a moment.

Asian tourists and peace signs

Marijuana Users Needed

410-FOR-BAIL

Lexington St. 

Another bail bonds institution.  Just two blocks from the city police station.  How convenient.

Photos: Hopkins hospital shooting

Photos from the Baltimore Sun

Shooter Incident at The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Courtesy of the Baltimore Sun- Outside main hospital entrance

Emails to all Hopkins employees:


11:30am:
"There’s a shooter incident on Nelson 8 in The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Stay in your office or room and lock doors until an all-clear is announced. Stay away from windows. Wait for instructions."


12:41pm:
"All Johns Hopkins faculty and staff on the East Baltimore medical campus should wear their Hopkins ID badges prominently. Individuals who do not have Hopkins ID badges should leave the campus immediately."


1:15pm:
"The Johns Hopkins Hospital is not currently locked down, but visitors are being asked to stay out of the Nelson Building. Employees who have hospital identification badges can be in the building, but are not to try to access Nelson 8. Patients on Nelson 8 are going to be evacuated to other locations throughout the hospital.

Pregnant women in active labor should be encouraged to go to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center."

1:32pm:

"The situation in Nelson 8 is controlled. Business operations for the rest of The Johns Hopkins Hospital should continue normally. The shooter is contained in the hospital but is not in custody at this time. Police are reporting that they are in control of the situation. The victim is a faculty physician who is currently being treated at Hopkins. Privacy and confidentiality policies prohibit us from giving further details at this time.

All statements to the media should be made through the hospital’s official spokespeople. Employees should refrain from discussing the incident with the media."

1:41pm:
"The situation in Nelson 8 is controlled. The shooter is contained in the hospital but is not in custody at this time. Police are reporting that they are in control of the situation. Business operations for the rest of The Johns Hopkins Hospital should continue normally.

The victim is a faculty physician who is currently being treated at Hopkins. Privacy and confidentiality policies prohibit us from giving further details at this time.

As mentioned previously, visitors to JHH are being asked to stay away from the Nelson Building. Patients in Nelson are being evacuated to other areas of the hospital. Employees with identification may remain in Nelson but should not attempt to access the 8th floor. 

Pregnant women who are in labor and in need of care are asked at this time to go to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.  Pregnant women who have outpatient clinic visits scheduled should consult their physician’s office and reschedule if they can."


2:10pm:
"The shooting incident is over and Baltimore City police will hold a press briefing shortly to provide details. The Johns Hopkins Hospital is grateful to the Baltimore City Police Department for its successful efforts to end this situation and protect our patients, visitors and staff.

Access to the Nelson Building is temporarily restricted, but the rest of JHH is reopened and back to business as usual. The victim is a faculty physician who is currently being treated at Hopkins. Privacy and confidentiality policies prohibit us from giving further details at this time. Visitors to JHH are still being asked to stay away from the Nelson Building. Employees with identification may remain in Nelson but should not attempt to access the 8^th floor of Nelson. Pregnant women who are in labor and in need of care are once again able to come to JHH."

2:40pm:
"As a reminder, all Johns Hopkins faculty and staff on the East Baltimore medical campus should wear their Hopkins identification badges prominently. In addition, all statements to the media should be made through the hospital’s official spokespeople. Employees should refrain from discussing the incident with the media."

Avocados

Safeway in Canton 

I love avocados.  It's probably one of the most under appreciated fruits in the grocery store.  To my delight, my local grocer sells large ass avocados!  Even better, it was on Club Price for 2/$3.00.

Higher Education in the Charm City

Zombies 101
The University of Baltimore will offer Zombies 101.  The course, which began last week and runs through early December, will include in its curriculum movies ranging from 1932's "White Zombie," to films by George Romero (who's practically the godfather of Zombie culture), to recent fare like "28 Days Later" and "Zombieland." Students will also explore novels like "World War Z" and the comic and TV adaptation of "The Walking Dead."

New Friends

I love making new friends in the Charm City.  Including my new friend above who I found in my office.

Nursing Hall of Fame

Something about glamor shots and the nursing profession just doesn't feel right.

I'll give you $10 for 2 tablespoons of blood

Are you willing to donate 2 tablespoons of blood for $10?

Welcome to Baltimore, Safety!

Pratt Street

The Baltimore Convention Center recently welcomed Safety to city.  Finally, I've been getting a little worried.

Bail Bonds: 410-FOR-BAIL

Baltimore's Metro Transit

Fred Frank Bail Bonds

24 Hours/7 Days a Week

House Calls

Local & National

Immigration Bonds

Credit Cards

Personal Checks

Money Orders

Western Union

Police identify man found in trash chute

(Note: Two blocks from my apartment complex in another high-rise "luxury" apartment complex)

Police identify man found in trash chute - baltimoresun.com

The man found dead in a trash chute of a downtown apartment building has been identified by city police as a 30-year-old resident of the building.

Harsh Kumar, who police say lived on the 16^th floor of the Park Charles building in the 200 block of N. Charles St., was found Aug. 12 in the parking-level trash compactor after an apparent fall from one of the building's top floors. Police say an autopsy has not shown any obvious signs of foul play or any injuries other than those consistent with a fall, but the investigation is continuing.

Police say Kumar lived with a relative, who was out of town at the time of the incident. Friends said Kumar was a likeable IT analyst whose sister works at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

"Like Your Friendly Neighbor, Baltimore is There"

Intersection of Baltimore Street and Howard Street

My neighbor likes to sleep outside.  In the rain.  Above the air vent outside the 7-11.  

Take a Bit Out of Crime

Baltimore's Metro Transit

Charm City Advice

"Andre Kirby got 15 years in Herlong, CA for carrying a gun.  Anyone going to visit him today?  It's only 2,700 miles away."

-Maryland Exile

Greatest City in the America?

Apparently so...

Energy Drinks Epidemic

Homicide: Life on the Street

Thames St. in Fells Point

Phoenix University- Class of 2022

Proud member of the University of Phoenix- Class of 2022

No ski masks allowed

Sign posted outside front door at Howard St. Liquor Store

Apparently, it isn't appropriate to wear ski masks & hoodies inside my local liquor store across the street from my apartment complex.   FAIL.

Security Information Bulletin: Unarmed Robberies (Off Campus)

Wed 08/04/2010 4:24 PM

Unarmed Robberies (Off Campus)

WHERE:        South of campus in the Upper Fells Point and Washington Hill communities

WHEN:          Evening hours, Aug. 2 and Aug. 3

HOW:             Males that are walking alone after dark are grabbed from behind,  thrown to the ground and punched and kicked.  Cell phones and property are taken.  No weapons are used or implied.

WANTED:      Several African-American male teenagers aged 14 to 18, in groups numbering between two and 10, with varied descriptions.  Some were wearing green colored shirts

Suspects have robbed males in their twenties, on four separate occasions, who were walking alone by grabbing them from behind,  throwing them to the ground and taking cell phones and property.  The victims have all received non-life threatening injuries during the physical attack and the suspects have ran from the scenes in varied directions.  The incidents are being investigated by the Baltimore Police Department Southeastern District.

Anyone witnessing any of the above incidents are asked to call Corporate Security Communications at 410-955-5585  (5-5585).

Escalator Etiquette

Proper human-to-human etiquette barely exists, nonetheless escalator etiquette in Baltimore Metro. 

Stand On The Right (http://www.bigwhiteguy.com/dishes/escalator.php)

This applies to escalators city-wide. If you wish to remain stationary, the right side is where you belong.

Not in the middle*.

Not on the left.

This includes your shopping bag(s), too. Forget about taking a cart — or worse, a stroller, complete with infant.

It's obvious, yet despite instruction signs, some folks insist on standing wherever they like. Hong Kong is a fast-paced city: some people are either in a hurry or can't stand waiting. The left side of the escalator is their lane.

Think of it as a multi-lane highway: the fast lane is not the place to drive 30 km/h. When you block the left side, you create a traffic jam.

It's bad enough when one person does it, but when you and your friend (or group of friends, students) stand there gabbing on the same step, you're impeding progress. Shut your pie-holes and move to the right.

Moving sidewalks, however, are another matter. The point of these contraptions is to speed pedestrians through long, flat passageways by augmenting walking speed. In case you haven't noticed, standing still defeats the purpose.

The elderly and the infirm are welcome to remain still, as long as they stand on the right. Everyone else who stops is just lazy. Any able-bodied person who stops and stands on the left ought to have a cattle prod inserted in his nether regions.

Japanese anime invades the Charm City

Japanese anime and manga fans took over the Baltimore Convention Center from July 30-Aug. 1.

(Baltimore Sun photo by Kim Hairston / August 1, 2010)

Free cocaine and money?! Sure why not!

A current Johns Hopkins Hospital research study in which current drug addicts will receive 'standard methadone maintenance treatment' and a total possible earning of $1155.  

Parking Meter Fail

414 Water Street