Clarion Newsletter May 2015

Brass Elephant applies for liquor license.

Recently purchased by local entrepreneurs Steve and Linda Rivelis, an application has been filed with the Liquor Board for a new Class B restaurant license along with requests for both Live Entertainment and Off Premise Catering. MVBA Liquor Committee chairman, Steve Johnson, has been in discussion with the Rivelis’ regarding live entertainment, seeking appropriate restrictions for the restaurant.  The Rivelis’ will be making a presentation to the general membership at the upcoming May general membership meeting at the Belvedere.  The hearing at the Liquor Board is scheduled for May 28th.

Gay Pride Festival Returns

The festival returns to Charles and Eager Streets on July 25th this year due to the popularity of the event location by its participants.  However, the last time the festival was held on Eager Street, numerous complaints surfaced regarding excessive drinking as well as under-aged drinking.  With the change in City regulations requiring community approval for large events, MVBA created an ad-hoc committee to review the plans for the festival.  The committee met with representatives from the GLCCB on May 13 for several hours to review the generally favorable plans.

Please join us at the general meeting to learn of GLCCB’s plans to manage the festival responsibly.

Tree Planting Success

Thanks to the 40 volunteers who participated in our event on Saturday, May 9th. We planted a total of 38 trees at the event, and a small group planted an additional four more trees on May 13 at the remaining tree wells that have just been created by our concrete contractor.

Our final spring 2015 tree event in Mt. Vernon will be Saturday, June 13th. More information will be coming out soon, but mark your calendars now!

Dog Park Update

The City has finally approved a contract to build out the dog park at the corner of Howard and Druid Hill Avenue.  Work is expected to start sometime in June or beginning of July.  In the meantime, the temporary fence will be removed on June 3 in preparation for the project.

Let’s Eat Charles Street Festival

Save the date: Saturday, June 20th for Historic Charles Street Association’s 100th Anniversary Celebration, co-sponsored by MVBA. Events that day will include a Dollar Stroll featuring retailers in the Charles Street corridor and a Let’s Eat Charles Street festival in the parking lot next to Marie Louise.

It’s true! HCSA turns 100 years old this year… and we’re celebrating with a party on June 20th. We’re looking for local businesses in the Charles Street corridor willing to participate in a “Dollar Stroll” where one item is sold for $1.00. We’ll have more details in the upcoming months, but if you’re an interested business, Contact Amelia Rambissoon at arambissoon@charlesstreet.org or at 410-659-7768

The Hippo Club is Closing

It is with truly mixed feelings, that Charles L. Bowers is announcing the end of a era. Sometime in the fall of 2015, The Hippo nightclub, located at the corner of North Charles and Eager streets, will be closing its doors for the final time.

After long consideration, Mr. Bowers started negotiations with CVS/pharmacy in 2014 and after several months of constructive negotiations, a lease agreement was finalized in April for a new CVS/pharmacy to open in late 2016. CVS has agreed to keep the exterior of the building basically intact as it is today, keeping with the history of the original Chanticleer Club, that opened in the late 1930s.  Victor Borge was the opening act. Many of the biggest names in show business played the Chanticleer, including Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Henny Youngman, Sophie Tucker, Zero Mostel, Billy Holiday and parade of many others.  In 1961, the saloon/pub portion of the building was added as a restaurant named the One West.

The Hippo opened its doors as a gay nightclub in July 1972. The club was opened by Kenny Elbert and Don Endbinder.  Chuck Bowers came on the scene in 1976 and then purchased the business in 1978.  He has been the sole owner for the last 37 years.   Mr. Bowers recently celebrated his 70^th birthday…and has devoted these last 37 years to provide the community with a clean safe venue to visit.  He has always ran a class operation, known very well for the many charitable events and donations made throughout the clubs history.  Most of the disco divas of the 80s performed live at the Hippo.  In the early 80s, at the onset of the AIDS virus, Mr. Bowers decided he personally, along with the club, would do anything necessary to help fight this terrible disease. The Hippo also played as host to numerous of the Broadway shows cast members, who performed at the club benefitting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Chuck says “when I come into the bar on a daily basis, it’s quite, no one is here yet. I walk through the building and look around. I hear the music, I see the lights, I hear the glasses clinking…..and then I stop.  And then I see the people whom I have met over the years.  This is to me, the most valuable asset this club provided me.  Their laughter, their smiles and more importantly their friendship over these years.  This is what I want to remember the most…”kiss the day goodbye…point me to towards tomorrow…this is what I did for love”   I want each and every one of you to know how much you have meant to me and for your ongoing support and friendship that has encouraged me to keep the club open for you.”

Tails of the Owl Bar

Would you like to own a piece of history “a famous artifact”? How about a fabulous gift basket by one of Mount Vernon’s finest neighbors? What about helping thousands of homeless animals in need?

Comprehensive Car Care Closes

After 89 years of business, Comprehensive Car Care closed it’s doors on May 1.  They would like to take this opportunity to thank their loyal customers for their many years of patronage.

Comprehensive would like to introduce its customers to Baltimore Body Shop and Service, located at 2720 Sisson Street for all your future car repair needs.  They have been family owned and operated since 1982 and will be adding Comprehensive’s mechanic David Adamaski and Service Manager Rena Reidt to their staff.  They can be reached at 410-889-2262.

Maryland Historical Society Issues A Call For Photographs

The Maryland Historical Society has issued a public call for images from professional and amateur photographers in order to document the Freddie Gray protests, unrest and cleanup efforts in Baltimore. “We believe this is an important topic for public history,” says Maryland Historical Society President Burt Kummerow. “We have the resources to interpret these events as well as what has happened in the past.”

Images may be submitted to the Maryland Historical Society through Dropbox at Remembrance@mdhs.org. Submissions should include your name, email address, date and location that images were taken, and camera type/model.

The photographic images will become part of a digital collection that will be housed on a WordPress website maintained by The Maryland Historical Society. By submitting images to the Society, photographers should be assured that they are not waiving their rights to these images. The Maryland Historical Society hopes to make these images available for viewing by the general public, the Maryland State Archives and the National Archives.  In addition, the Maryland Historical Society will also be collecting objects and oral histories from protestors and civil rights leaders in Baltimore.

Maryland Historical Society
201 W Monument St, Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 685-3750

<4>Midtown Community Benefits District

Baltimore City’s Grass Mowing Update

Midtown has received several inquiries regarding high grass in the parks and medians around the district and wanted to send an update regarding mowing.

Baltimore City contracts with a private company to provide mowing service throughout all of Baltimore. We have contacted the appropriate staff members from City agencies and they have informed us that given all that is going on in the City, they were a little behind in formalizing the contract with the mower. As of May 2nd, they expected that it may take between 7-10 days to get to every park and median. As more information is available, we will let you know.

While we do not provide mowing service in the parks and medians we maintain around our district, our Green Team does provide crucial, additional services such as edging, weeding and watering.

Please visit www.midtownbaltimore.org for more information.

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