How about Dr. Erlenmeyer Cantaloupe? Is he is a distinct personality as well? Perhaps a cousin of OMG and VDP? And I still think Pierre is mixed up in there somehow. Whoosh! The mind boggles if we contemplate these questions too long ...
Thank goodness for Hal VoR and hmpstd, who is also very reasonable and well informed, as well as brave in the face of the frozen stuffed bagel.

My fear is that there is only me and one other person on this blog. EL

I think Dr. Cantaloupe is a friend of Jesus PIcklefeather. All these existential questions.

No no no, EL--I have only one personality (on the blog, anyway) and I met two Roberts and an assortment of other bloggers just last weekend, so there are at least 7 or 8 of us!

Maybe we should be suspicious that Piano Rob and Rosebud cancelled at the last minute, though ...

I don't really worry about how many of us there actually are as long as were having fun and learning new things at the same time.
I'll be at a seminar this weekend and probably won't get much chance to pop in, so havefun in the sandbox, my friends!

Has anyone ever seen Pierre and Sam Sessa in the same place at the same time?

When I have the guests in from out of town, of course they want to go to the Harbor.

Usually my guests come in town for a weekend or a few days. Hopefully I/they can knock the Harbor out in a day, which leaves me a day and usually a meal to take them somewhere quirky or distinctly Baltimore's.

I used to love taking them to Simon's in Butcher's Hill, just to show them that Baltimore really is a city built on neighborhoods, with art and character in every corner, and often in the unexpected.

I usually take my out-of-towners to one of two spots now:

Peter's in Fells/upper-Fells now: fantastic food, and definitive character.

Al's Seafood in Essex: A Crab Nazi, poker machines, good food, and the O's on the tube (hun).

Actually, there are 8. We work in shifts.

As to where to takes tourists: start in the inner harbour and then leave to eat someplace good (your choice.) You're right, everyone wants to see and be in the harbour area, so you can't avoid it (you didn't think it was you they were coming to see, did you? Oh, sorry, but no.)

Elizabeth, as I read your post I was laughing out loud. I then decided that you really had a nice lunch this afternoon and it included at least one, probably two glasses of wine because you threw caution to the wind and let us know just how you felt. The image of Pete having a cow was the best; good for you. I think you are starting the weekend off just fine!

Dream on. My lunch was half a swiss cheese sandwich from the Sun caf, because I tossed the other half. :-) EL

I meet my out of town guests at the inner harbor, AFTER they've done their thing there. Then we take the water taxi to Fells Point and go to John Stevens for dinner on the patio and for a short stroll (or bar hopping) around the neighborhood. By the time we arrive back at the harbor, they want to move here. And they weren't gouged $6 for a pint of good beer, at least in my presence.

After reading these postings, and the listing of all of the colorful (to put it mildly) monikers on this blog, I am so ashamed to sign with my dorky Christian name.
I have no imagination and can't think of anything that would define me. How could I come anywhere close to Dr. Erlenmeyer Cantaloupe, Owl Meat Jerky, or any of the other identities.
They are a tough, tough act to follow!

and me
" I should have been a pair of ragged claws
Scuttling across the floors of silent seas. "

If you want to take your guests to a nice place that's not a tourist trap in Howard County...

First, avoid all the big-box chains...yes, it's possible!

Take them to Elkridge Furnance Inn, especially if they're picking up the tab to express their endless gratitude for putting up with them.

If they like Indian, go to House of India.

Dim Sum - Jesse Wong's Hong Kong at the lake!

I can't wait for this as I have friends coming in a couple of weeks. I know on Friday we will travel up to Havre de Grace and have lunch at the Laurrapin Grille. Hopefully the list will give me good idea for Saturday lunch.

Ah, would that I were in the same family tree as Owl Meat and Voodoo Pork... you all flatter me.

In the interest of preserving pete's sanity, we could perhaps throw in Tersiguel's or Iron Bridge Wine Company. Great meals, great wine that makes you forget you're in Howard County. (I tease because I care, pete.)

Sam Sessa you are the devil! I have not even seen him in a same room with me because only fed me chicken bones and oats meal through a tiny door in the basement cellar! My only entratainment for one month was his collection of Tiger Beats magazine. Who is this David Cassady? Free at last you will not capture me again Sam Sessa with your handsome acid washed jean pants and your neatly trimmed beard face!!!!

Good one Hue, but you forget the rest ...

Let us go then, you and I,
When the evening is spread out against the sky ...
To Red Lobster for Claw Fest! $11.99 for an all you can eat claw-tastic buffet and Davy Jones' bucket o' chowder! And breadsticks!!! Scuittle on down to your nearby Red Lobster before Claw Fest is over. It's pincer-ific!

Pierre how you escaped is beyond me but I will find you again and whoosh you back into captivity.

My jeans are not washed in acid, they are marinated in owl meat gravy.

I always take out of town guests to Gertrude's for brunch - they get to experience John Shields' Chesapeake-style food while I get to enjoy a killer bloody on the terrace overlooking the sculpture garden.

If kids are in tow we head to Papermoon since the menu is accessible and there are enough toys hanging around to maintain any child's attention span.

And, of late, Dogwood is the go-to spot for lunch. It proves Baltimore can hang with the whole locavore idea and serve tasty food. Plus, strolling around Hampden afterwards is a pleasure.

Just this week I was tasked with taking out my aunt and uncle who were visiting from Chicago. Their request was to go somewhere along the lines of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" on the Food Network.

They had spent the day bar hopping from the Harbor to Fells Point, and when I told them I wanted to take them to Duda's (on Bond St) they CHEERED. Evidently several bartenders had told them that was the place to eat.

It was 1/2 price crabcake night so we all indulged. They loved it, it was right up their alley.

Ohh Sam Sessa you are too cruel. Now you have taken away my whooosh! I curse you dog-man!

Dahlink - I begged you not to let the proverbial cat out of the bag regarding Rosebud and me. She's got her reputation for good taste to protect, and I, well ... ah, I got nothin'.

Shameless self-promotion: "On the Road Again" - concert and silent auction by the New Wave Singers of Baltimore (of which I am Artistic Director) - Saturday, May 17 @ 8PM, Govans Presbyterian Church on York Road.

Piano Rob, looks interesting. Is it free will offering, or is there a fee?

Dottie - Tix are $15 advance/$20 at the door.

www.newwavesingers.org

Thanks for inquiring.

Morton's The Steakhouse in Baltimore and Annapolis are still accepting reservations for Mother's Day! They have a special prix fix menu for the day, including a choice of salad, entrée, side dish, and dessert, for $59 per person. They will also be open for special hours that day - 1 - 9 p.m. (normal hours are 5:30 – 11 p.m.). For more information and to make reservations, call 410-547-8255 for Baltimore, 410-280-1170 for Annapolis, or visit www.mortons.com.

Additionally, Morton's will be offering a one time only, special Mother's Day Champagne Cocktail on Mother's Day. The cocktail has a Wild Hibiscus flower at the bottom of the glass, which blooms as the champagne is poured over it. The flower is edible. The cocktail will cost $16.

I work with Morton's The Steakhouse and wanted to let you know that both the Baltimore and Annapolis restaurants are still accepting reservations for Mother's Day! They have a special prix fix menu for the day, including a choice of salad, entrée, side dish, and dessert, for $59 per person. They will also be open for special hours that day - 1 - 9 p.m. (normal hours are 5:30 – 11 p.m.). For more information and to make reservations, call 410-547-8255 for Baltimore, 410-280-1170 for Annapolis, or visit www.mortons.com.

Additionally, Morton's will be offering a one time only, special Mother's Day Champagne Cocktail on Mother's Day. The cocktail has a Wild Hibiscus flower at the bottom of the glass, which blooms as the champagne is poured over it. The flower is edible. The cocktail will cost $16.