Friday, December 28, 2007
1/1/2008 UPDATE: Westfield Falls: The New Neighborhood Water Feature!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
chameleon cafe experience
Hello all, i remember a while back we had a thread going about places to eat in the neighborhood. i don't remember if anyone had mentioned the chameleon cafe or not. i have heard a few good reports from some neighbors and have been trying to get a chance to try out a meal there. I finally got my chance thursday evening after a very long day of christmas shopping. I was very impressed to find such a classy yet quaint place in our neighborhood. quite a gourmet menu, however limited. i never thought i would ever be in a place that served escargot, being the proletarian that i am. interesting and wide-ranging wine list, as well as other libations and aperitifs. it's a cute and quiet place with an interesting yet abstruse theme as far as the framed art goes. my only complaint would be that, however delicious our food was, the portions were very small and the prices were rather high, but i guess thats the cost of quality and atmosphere. i suggest everyone try it out. it's comforting and reassuring to have a classy little place like this on our main road. it would be a shame if they closed.
also they have a website http://www.thechameleoncafe.com/
does anybody else have anything to add?
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Welcome our newest contributor ... Whitecat!
Perhaps you're wondering how you, too, can be a famous blogger like us. It's easy! Simply drop an email to me, at pookyshoehorn@gmail.com and I'll send you the info. This is your chance to see your name or pseudonym of choice in print!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Recycling: "Single Stream" may flow better
- All recyclables—paper, cardboard, glass bottles, plastic bottles and jars (with 1 – 7 on the bottom), metal, aluminum, and tin cans—will go into one container, on the same day.
- Plastic bags will no longer be acceptable for recyclables.
- Recycling will no longer be collected on Mondays. Your current paper recycling collection day will become your new single stream recycling collection day.
- Single stream recycling will be collected on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays through Fridays; depending on your recycling zone.
- You have 3 options for setting out single stream recycling: (1) purchase and use a recycling bin; (2) use a container of choice that is clearly marked as recycling material; (3) or use a cardboard box.
December 15, 2007, 10am–2pm
Baltimore Polytechnic,
1400 W. Cold Spring Ln.
Montebello Elem.,
2040 E. 32nd St.
Patterson H.S.,
100 Kane St.
Edmondson-Westside Skill Ctr.,
501 Athol Ave.
December 16, 2007, 10am–2pm
Northwestern High School,
6900 Park Heights Ave.
But remember, you don't have to use this bin, as long as your container "is clearly marked as recycling material." So, a cardboard box and a sharpie, works just fine, too. You can find out more about the Single Stream Recycling initiative at Cleaner Greener Baltimore.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
CHOKCHAI
Just in case anyone else hasn't found out yet, Chokchai thai food restaurant is moving and will be closed for the remainder of the year. The new location is north on Harford road. It is in the corner building where the ice cream parlor used to be. Across the street from the Amoco station and near what used to be Kildaires Tavern, which is now something new too. A steak and seafood place now i think. It looks like the new Chokchai will be a little larger, maybe they will have a nicer dining area. I just hope this doesn't mean that the prices will go up alot.
Edelweiss Bakery closed!
From today's Baltimore Sun:
A few plastic bags of sugar cookies remain on the otherwise bare shelves. A thumbed and stained recipe book rests beside cold ovens. Signs taped to the doors and windows say "Closed."
It's been 12 days since 68-year-old Hamilton baker Dietrich A. Paul died of Lou Gehrig's disease and the doors were locked on his Edelweiss Bakery and Cafe. No more German accordion music, Thursday afternoon sour beef and dumplings sessions and those legendary apple fritters, a confection one food writer called "a misshapen bear claw of bliss."
Seated on a wooden chair yesterday in the cafe was Paul's widow, the former Genevieve Miller. She had converted one of the tables into a desk and filled it with business papers.
"I can't run this place by myself," she said. "The place is for sale."
She then told a story of how they met just across the street at the Calvary Tabernacle Church at a time when both had been widowed. They married nine years ago, and soon afterward their pastor suggested that they buy and renovate a nearby building where the 6000 block of Harford Road joins Old Harford Road.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Recycling woes!
The city clearly needs more resources for this. When I was driving home on Moravia Road last night at 5:30, I had to wait for a backup to clear: a trash truck on one side of the road, and a city-owned pickup truck on the other, all gathering recycling from the curb.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
the leaves, the breeze, the birds, everything. this neighborhood can be so beautiful. i took the liberty of adding to the previous posting by sue. i really enjoyed her story and would love to hear some others. so if you have a moment see sue's thanksgiving story and add you own.
love, and peace,
scepter
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
What's your favorite Thanksgiving memory or story?
Here's one of my favorite memories: When I was student teaching at Dundalk Middle School, I was excited that the school cafeteria served a Thanksgiving lunch the day before Thanksgiving. After all, I was a graduate student and not being paid for my student teaching, so the idea of a "real meal" (that is, anything other than peanut butter and jelly again) was a joyous occasion, indeed!
I stood in the cafeteria line behind a couple of my students, my mouth watering at the smell of turkey and stuffing. So imagine my surprise when I took my plate from Cafeteria Lady and it included a big heapin' pile of ... sauerkraut! I thought it must have been leftover or a mistake, or something. But when I got to the teacher's lunch room, I was educated on the joys of sauerkraut at Thanksgiving.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
WNIA Holiday Party
- Pot Luck (bring a dish to share)
- Bring a gift (unwrapped & new) for Toys for Tots.
- Bring a non-perishable item for the NORTHEAST FOOD PANTRY
Items especially needed are: cereal, rice, pasta, powdered milk, peanut butter, paper towels, canned meats, canned tuna and salmon, canned vegetables and soups, canned fruit and juices, jelly, and toilet tissue. Your generosity will be greatly appreciated.
HOLIDAY HOUSE
6427 Harford Road
(Pinewood Road entrance)
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Recycling: Life in Baltimore is about to get a little easier
From today's Baltimore Sun:
Starting Jan. 8 in city, everything goes to the curb on same day
Starting in January, the city will begin collecting all recyclable material - bottles, cans, paper and cardboard - in a single container, eliminating the complicated schedule in which residents place bottles and cans at the curb on one day, and paper and cardboard on another.
Read the rest of the article here.
Monday, November 5, 2007
For your to-do list
A sampling of their offerings includes:
- Classes and performances by the Baltimore Improv Group, (that's them in the photo, and they are hysterical, by the way)
- All kinds of talent from the hole in the wall cabaret
- CD release parties like the one on November 10 for Davey G and the Keyboard
- Foreign movie night
- Stand up comedy
Calling all lurkers!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Cue the sound of crickets chirping ....
Then there's Fantasy Football to keep up with, and well, let's just say that picking Tom Brady was really a stroke of genius on my part, if I do say so. Watch out Westfieldia!
Now the weather has turned and it's time for the switch of the clothes for those of us with no closet space. Um, would that be all of Hamilton? What did we do before those big plastic storage boxes? And how did that old down comforter get so smelly closed up in storage? Time to go shopping ....
Halloween is tomorrow, and there have been costumes to assemble and parties to attend. Delicious food and drink, albeit disgustingly named. (I believe the wine was "Troll Vomit"?)
City elections are coming up soon, and there's a rumor that the WNIA may also have an election at the next meeting, November 6.
And how have you been spending these glorious fall days?
image from chiaroscuro.baltiblogs.com
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Sit down a spell. That can wait.
From their own description:
Professional Porch Sitters (PPS) is an informal organization with a large and growing grassroots membership. To become a member you simply need to say you are a member and agree to sit around with friends and neighbors shooting the breeze as often as possible or practical. Preferably on a porch but that's not critical. There are no dues, no membership requirements, no mailings, no agenda, no committees, no worries. PPS believes that the radical act of sitting around sharing stories with no specific agenda is critical to building sustainable communities.
Television and air-conditioning have moved far too many people off their porches and into their homes where they quickly become isolated from their communities. We believe that sometimes the most effective course of action is to sit down and relax while sipping lemonade and sharing stories.
PPS only has one rule but it's more like a suggestion. “Sit down a spell. That can wait.”
Starting your own chapter of PPS is simple. You simply declare yourself a local chapter, pick a number to represent your Local Chapter identity and then sit back with friends and neighbors to celebrate with an interesting story or two. Meetings can be called at any time by any member and attendance is optional. You are invited to communicate with PPS Headquarters but that is voluntary since no records are kept. PPS was founded on a porch in Louisville, Kentucky in 1999 but many additional chapters have been founded since then. Perhaps your chapter will be next.
We would love to hear from you if you start up a chapter, but don't sweat it if you don't.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Primary results: Same 'ol, same 'ol
Friday, September 7, 2007
A PATH FOR PEACE
The path begins @ 4 p.m. to 6 pm Tuesday, September 11th. For information call 410.467.9114 or e-mail peacepath911@yahoo.com
Come on out, I'll be standing at 83 and Charles Street (near Kenilworth) PEACE & LOVE
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Gang activity: What can we do to stop it in our neighborhood?
I found some general information about gangs that might be useful at this University of Maryland site. The sites says:
Report non-emergency information about gangs to the Baltimore City Intelligence Watch Center at 1-888-223-0033.This would be absolutely horrible if gangs see our neighborhood as an easy place to claim as their territory. But if we don't react to their initial sitings (or markings) I'm sure that's just what they'll do.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Don't forget ...
If you want change, you have to be a part of it ....
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Wandering the Wilds of Westfield
Foxes are skittish, and are afraid of humans, and this one ran as soon as I opened my back door. Although my dog was incensed at the intruder (ran around the yard with his nose to the ground), I am happy to have a fox around. They keep down the rat population, for one thing. Also, it means we have enough foliage to support wildlife. I have also seen a hawk many times, and a blue heron sometimes cruises overhead. (He's probably eyeing the fish and frogs in my pond!)
So if you see the fox, just pause for a moment and observe the beauty and grace of one of God's creatures. And be happy that we live in a neighborhood that is not just concrete and asphalt, but also a little bit of nature.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
AUGUST IN WESTFIELD
Monday, August 20, 2007
Street renovations north and south: Why not Westfield?
All this makes me wonder why we got the short end of the stick here. Did we miss an opportunity somewhere to get a facelift? Was this something WNIA should have been more involved in? The number one neighborhood concern in our blog poll was empty storefronts, and until we upgrade our neighborhood, we're going to have a tough time appealing to new businesses.
Please comment.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
If it's dinnertime in Westfield, where can I go?
Monday, August 13, 2007
Campaign 2008: The 3rd District
Curran isn't just a three-term councilman who now serves as council vice president. He won the seat vacated by his brother, Martin E. “Mike” Curran, who was appointed after their father, J. Joseph Curran Sr., died in 1977. Curran men have been serving the 3rd District — the northeasternmost district in the city, bordered by York Road, Harford Road, and Sinclair Lane — since 1958.
So take a serious look at the other candidate for the Democratic primary, Michael Hamilton, “a former banker and independent businessman who now teaches special education on a contract with the Baltimore City Public School System. For six years, he served as the president of the Baltimore City Council of Parent-Teacher Associations.”
And also look at Green Party candidate (and Lauraville resident) Bill Barry, who will be running against the winner of the Sept. 11 Democratic primary winner.
I have not heard of any Republican candidates. If you know of one, let us know so we can give them equal press here.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Update: Gallery financing falls through
What do you think?
Friday, August 10, 2007
Great resource for home renovations
But it can get expensive, so you should know about a fantastic local resource for building materials of all kinds. The Loading Dock is a Baltimore nonprofit whose mission is to: increase the supply and use of affordable building materials for housing and community improvement by redirecting landfill-bound, reusable materials into productive use.
For an annual fee of only $10 you'll have access to their warehouse. A sample of what they have in their warehouse includes:
Banisters, Bathtubs, Bi-fold doors, Carpet, Caulk, Ceramic Tile, Cinder blocks, Counter tops, Doors, Door sweeps, Electric lights, Floor covering, Gas stoves, Hardware, Insulation, Kitchen cabinets, Lumber, Marble, Paint, Plumbing fixtures, Roof shingles, Shelving, Sinks, Stairs, Toilets, Vinyl flooring, Wallpaper, Windows.
Have your measurements, bring a measuring tape, and a way to haul away your materials. You'll be amazed at what's available at a fraction of the cost of the big box home improvement stores.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
What the cable companies don't want you to know
You won't see it advertised anywhere, but I just called Comcast at (410) 649-9000 and asked for the Limited Basic package. Of course, they tried to offer me more packages, more channels, but I just said nope, just want it for the reception. And they signed me right up.
So, if you're like me (don't really watch much television, but do like having the ability to when I want to), call Comcast and request Limited Basic service.
It's Comcastic ...
Art Gallery coming to our neighborhood?
Personally, I think it's a great idea. It could bring a funky artistic element to our neighborhood, that is, let's face it, not here now. And if this gallery succeeds, it could entice other artists to move in. Struggling artists are finding it hard to afford the now trendy Hampden and Patterson Park. Could Hamilton be the new Hampden?!
What do you think?