Clarion Newsletter November 2014

Monument Lighting

Now that the scaffolding has come down from the Washington Monument, The Downtown Partnership Monument Lighting will take place on Thursday, December 4, 2014. Now in its 43rd year, the Monument Lighting will feature local entertainers, children’s activities, a visit from Santa, and a spectacular fireworks display and laser show.

A holiday village featuring food and crafts vendors will open in Mount Vernon’s West Park at 5pm. Kids can get their picture taken with Santa, get their face painted, and enjoy arts & crafts. Stage entertainment begins at 6pm with Jon and Reagan from the MIX 106.5 Morning Show. At approximately 7:45pm, a special Celebrity Lighter will flip the switch that lights the Monument and starts the fireworks display.

The event is produced this year, as always, by Downtown Partnership with support from the City. In addition, there has been a lot of support from the Mount Vernon Conservancy, which has devised a new way to hang the lights from the Monument so that the structure is not damaged by the wires that support the lights. And, as always, the event will end with a spectacular crescendo including a fireworks display and the lighting of the Monument!

Thanks to all of the volunteers who participated in our tree planting on Saturday, October 25!

We had 43 volunteers participate and planted 30 trees! We also finished washing over 160 gator bags for winter storage and began stenciling the gator bags with our “MVBA Trees” logo. Special thanks also to Tribeca/Almack’s for being our meet-up location and serving us free coffees to wake us up and to KIND for donating their bars as snacks to keep us going during the event.

And  a big thanks from Mt. Vernon for all of the efforts from staff of the Midtown Benefits District to make the weekend’s tree planting in Mt. Vernon a success. Andy Smith notes, “It was a true pleasure to work with you all, and we appreciated you making sure all of the trees, tools, and other supplies were in place and ready to go, even as you are in the middle of a move.”

A special note to Michelle who personally rolled up her sleeves and participated in the events. It sends a great message to both staff and community volunteers about how seriously Midtown takes its role in the community. Please also pass along thanks to Troy and Brian for all of their hard work.

MVBA Annual Holiday Party

MVBA is pleased to announce that we will have our annual holiday party at Grand Central, 1001 North Charles Street from 6:30-9pm, Tuesday, December 9th.  Catering will be provided by Indigma Restaurant from 801 N Charles Street.

Please join us for a festive evening and  meet your neighbors! $25 per person.  To register for the party, please visit our website at www.mvba.org and click on the Holiday Party in the Event Box located on the site’s home page.

Master Card. Visa, and Discover Cards are accepted for advance payment.  Payment may be made at the door, cash only.

City Annual Leaf Collection Program

The City of Baltimore has instituted their annual leaf collection program that began in October and will continue through Monday, January 5, 2015. The Department of Public Works Bureau of Solid Waste will collect bagged leaves every Monday throughout the season.

Solid Waste crews will collect up to 20 bags of leaves from each address every Monday.  Residents must call 311 before 10 p.m Sunday to schedule a collection the following Monday. Residents may make multiple appointments for up to two months prior to the pick-up date.

The Bureau of Solid Waste will also continue to collect bagged leaves on the regularly scheduled trash collection day.

Solid Waste crews will collect up to 5 bags of leaves from each address every week.  Residents need to put leaves in clear or labeled bags and place them at their regular mixed refuse collection location and not in the public right-of-way. With Monday collections and regular mixed refuse collections, the Bureau of Solid Waste will collect, in total, up to 25 bags of leaves per week, per residence.

Residents can also drop off bagged leaves at five Bureau of Solid Waste locations, Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

Quarantine Road Sanitary Landfill – 6100 Quarantine Road

Western Citizens’ Convenience Center- 701 Reedbird Avenue

Eastern Citizens’ Convenience Center- 6101 Bowleys Lane

Northwest Citizens’ Convenience Center – 2840 Sisson Street

MVBA Elections

This year’s annual election involves filling two directors seats.  Steve Ruckman, currently occupying one of the seats whose term will expire at the end of the year, has expressed interest to continue serving on the board.

At the October general membership meeting, the candidates below were announced and introduced to those attending.  In addition, as required by the Association’s by-laws, a call for nominations from the floor for any other interested individuals to serve on the board as an additional candidate for the two available positions was made.  There were no nominations offered and therefore, at the November general meeting, the candidates below will be affirmed by acclamation.

Stephen Ruckman 
Stephen is a longtime resident of Mount Vernon, and a homeowner here since 2009, moving here to enjoy its history and culture and its great walkability to downtown. He has been a board member of the MVBA since 2012, and serves as chair of its Stewardship Committee. In his time living in Mount Vernon he has worked to improve residential parking, combat neglect and blight (graffiti, code violations), and strengthen communication between city agencies and the neighborhood. He and his wife are committed to this neighborhood, and hope to raise their family here, and he is seeking to stay on the board so that he can help the MVBA to continue to work cooperatively and effectively to respond to the needs of all residents here.

Jason House 
Jason is a lifelong resident of Baltimore City who moved to Mount Vernon two years ago. I was drawn to Mount Vernon for its vibrancy, tranquility, diversity, beautiful architecture and place in history as well as Baltimore’s bright future. I joined the Mount Vernon Urbanites which allowed me to get to know a lot of great people and local businesses and also introduced me to the Baltimore Tree Trust and MVBA. Through volunteering with the Baltimore Tree Trust, I have enjoyed the ability to not just be a spectator in Baltimore’s positive transformation, but to be an active participant. Through all of these organizations I have received a great feeling of community that I would like help become stronger.

Liquor Happenings

520 Park Avenue was approved for a Class B restaurant license that will cover the first floor market retail space that will be occupied by multiple vendors.  The application included permission for outdoor table service as well as permission for live entertainment, both of which were also approved.

Regarding live entertainment, restrictions were agreed to that include:  Live entertainment would cease by 10pm, Sunday through Thursday, and cease by 11pm on Friday and Saturday.  There will be no Dj’s or dancing permitted. However bands will be permitted with up to 6 members, although bands of this size would be the exception rather than the rule.

Included in the decision was that each vendor in the market could only serve alcohol as part of agreed terms in their individual contract with the Time Group, who manages the complex.  In addition, each vendor that has permission to provide alcohol will be required to have appropriate staff participate in the City’s Alcohol Awareness Training Program.

New Businesses in Mount Vernon

Grand Opening: reUP

Located at 519 N. Charles Street, reUP Home specializes in furniture and finds for your home with a focus on REcycled and UPcycled products. They work with a wide variety of artisans to bring you finely crafted and interesting pieces – furniture, artwork, lighting and gifts brought to you with one of a kind reuse and focus. Their pieces are fun and practical and beautiful at the same time that they are helping to keep items out of the landfill.

Grille Twelve 24

With the imminent opening of Grille Twelve 24 (1224 N. Charles St.), Mount Vernon is getting a taste of the South American flavor. Executive chefs Jonathan Halpern, formerly of Tampa, Florida, and Brendan Andrews, formerly of The Grand Historic Venue, plan to offer up Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken, gourmet sandwiches, and dishes from both the Middle East and Mediterranean regions.

Warehouse 518
Ware House 518 has taken over the classic Mount Vernon space of 518 N. Charles Street. Known for its previous tenants, Ware and Co. Furniture, Louie’s Bookstore and most recently Creme Restaurant and Lounge, the 1900 building has been a popular dining spot for many years. Ezra Tilaye, the owner of the former Creme Restaurant, has opened Ware House 518 as not only a tribute to the space, but Baltimore as well.
The new restaurant has been stripped down to its roots and inside you will find a neutral, industrial palette; Executive Chef Chris Vocci, formerly of Oyster Bay Grille, has been brought on-board to showcase his talent by creating dishes inspired by tastes of Dixie. Heading the bar, Pat Raley, formerly of Cunningham’s, has crafted a bar program with pre-prohibition style cocktails, wine pairings and local craft beers. The restaurant has seating for 130 guests, with private and semi-private dining spaces available.

Studio 7
At the former site of Donna’s and recently, Charles Luck, Studio 7 has opened its doors as Mount Vernon’s newest hair salon. Studio 7 The Salon, offers all hair care services, facial waxing, manicure services to complete your experience.
Open 7 days, hours vary from 11-5 Monday/Tuesday, 11-7 Wednesday/Thursday, 9-7 Friday, 9-4 Saturday, 10-2 Sunday. For more information, (410)528-7158 or visit www.studio7thesalon.com

Happenings in Mount Vernon

Dooby’s Love
Dooby’s notes that they are now open for Brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Need deserts for Thanksgiving this year? This Thanksgiving, spread the Dooby’s love and bring home a pie made by our pastry team (read: more time to relax & sip on wine). We’ll have 9″ Pumpkin Pies, Damn Good Pies, and Apple Rosemary Pies, as well as ready-to-bake cookie dough. Pies need to be pre-ordered by November 22. Visit Dooby’s website at www.doobys.com

Winter Solstice
A Winter Solstice Ritual at the First Unitarian Church of Baltimore (Charles and Franklin 21201), 7 p.m. Sunday, December 21, will include songs, poetry, drama, symbolic extinguishing of the old year’s fire and lighting of the new, turning the Wheel of the Year, welcoming the newborn babes, giving thanks for seasonal blessings, tasting seasonal sweets, rejoicing in the return of the light. For additional information, contact Pat Montley at 410-252-6074 or solstice@firstunitarian.net

The Walters Art Museum
600 N. Charles Street | Phone: 410-547-9000
thewalters.org

Now On View! ‘From Rye to Raphael: The Walters Story’

From Rye to Raphael: The Walters Story brings together for the first time an extraordinary group of art and artifacts to illustrate the intriguing stories behind the magnificent gift to the City from the Walters family. The dramatic new installation features 200 works chosen for their beauty and craftsmanship as well as never-before-seen Walters family photographs and historic material culled from the museum’s archives. At the end of the installation, which celebrates the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Walters Art Museum, visitors are invited to consider the impact of giving on our community today.
From Rye to Raphael: The Walters Story has been generously supported by the Richard C. von Hess Foundation; the Women’s Committee of the Walters Art Museum; Cynthia Redmond Mead; PNC – celebrating its 147-year relationship with the Walters and our shared commitment to Baltimore; Walters Family; Kathleen and William Farley; and other anonymous donors

On Stage!

Center Stage
700 North Calvert Street | 410-332-0033
centerstage.org

It’s a Wonderful Life:
A Live Radio Play
Adapted by Joe Landry
Directed by Nelson T. Eusebio III
Nov 18 – Dec 21

Revisit Bedford Falls, fall in love again with George and Mary, and discover the magic of an angel named Clarence. It’s Christmas Eve in 1946, and inside a live radio broadcast brings to life Frank Capra’s timeless film in all of its feel-good glory. Be a part of the live studio audience, and join the cast and crew as they take you on a journey through the most important evening in one man’s life. It’s the perfect holiday outing for the entire family and, who knows, an angel might even get his wings.

Spotlighters Theatre
817 St. Paul Street | Phone: 410-752-1225
spotlighters.org

The Man Who Came to Dinner
by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman
Fuzz Roark, director
Nov 21- Dec 21, 2014

Sheridan Whiteside, having dined at the home of the Stanleys, slips on their doorstep, breaking his hip. A tumultuous six weeks of confinement follow. The Stanley living room is monopolized by the irascible invalid; ex-convicts are invited to meals; and transatlantic calls bring a $784 phone bill. The arrival of strange gifts from his friends further destroys domestic tranquility. It would take a stoical housewife to harbor penguins in her library, an octopus in her cellar, and 10,000 cockroaches in her kitchen. Throw in famous guests from Hollywood and a sudden romance, what more can happen? Just tons of laughs in the 1939 classic!
Presented by arrangement with Dramatists Play Service.

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
1212 Cathedral Street | 410-783-8000
bsomusic.org

Bernstein & Beethoven
Marin Alsop, conductor
Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano
Cathedral Choral Society
J. Reilly Lewis, Music Director

Fri, Nov 21, 2014 8 PM
Sun, Nov 23, 2014 3 PM
All events held at the Meyerhoff

Bernstein: Chichester Psalms
Bernstein: Symphony No. 1, “Jeremiah”
Beethoven: Symphony No. 7

Beethoven’s great Seventh Symphony anchors two contrasting works by Bernstein, Marin Alsop’s inspirational mentor. Both pieces occupy the fascinating nexus between Christian and Judaic liturgical traditions, the introspective First Symphony, and Chichester Psalms, with its catchy melodic and rhythmic appeal.

Special Thanks..
A special thanks from the Mount Vernon Belvedere Association to the Belvedere & Company for generously providing meeting space for our general membership meetings through the year. When your plans call for dining out, please consider the Owl Bar or the 13th Floor for you next dining out experience!

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