I think it's a microcosm of Baltimore restaurants. Some are excellent, some are overpriced, and some are just lowest common denominator places.

There are too many choices to paint them all with the same brush.

As a general statement, I think Ted is on the mark. Myself, I have specific restaurants I go to for specific reasons; sometimes its about the food, sometimes its about the bartender, and sometimes its about knowing which owners are also neighborhood residents and actively trying to improve the neighborhood for all of us. And there are some places that I wouldn't mind seeing going out of business.

If you all will excuse me for getting on my soapbox again, though, the fact that the building didn't sell scares me. Its right on the Pratt St. entrace to Little Italy; an empty building there is not good for anyone in the area.

WOW!!! In the 8 yrs I lived in LI I never saw that many people in Velleggia's

There's a reason word to describe why that many people were at the auction, kimmer1850 -- schadenfreude. It brings to mind Red Skelton's famous quote about the crowd at the funeral of Harry Cohn, the much-despised boss of Columbia Pictures: "It proves what Harry always said -- give the public what they want, and they'll come out for it."

So sad...But the City Police better get a handle on some of the lawlessness thugs scaring the hell out of those of us that want to support all things CITY

Locals who love Little Italy are still fanatical about it.

Count me in. I'll defend Chiapparelli's with fork and knife any day.

Ah, yes, it is up to the police to solve the social issues that contribute to kids running wild in the Inner Harbor.

When society is failing, don't you think it is a bit unfair to expect the police to clean up the mess?

Excellent observation, Lissa.

People should look at the "parents" who unleashed these animals on society.

give it up, anne. the city has been lawless for quite some time. it's just taken a little while for the riff raff to catch on about the ineptitude of baltimore city's finest.

Anyone seen the movie "A Clockwork Orange" lately?

Baltimore City's Police are not inept, but perhaps the prosecutors office is. And perhaps the jails are filled with "weed crimes" that the city's already limited recources are wasting time with.

If people want to lay blame, look at the boy Govenor who keeps slashing social program dollars.

I am going to pull a middle-child diversionary peacemaking diversionary tactic and try to steer the conversation toward whether or not the Skelton quote is apocryphal.

http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=32;t=000457;p=0

I think DaMimmo's has ruined Little Italy with its bad attitude, overpriced food and tourist trap atmosphere. No wines available by the glass! Surly service. It all adds up to tourist trap and gives the area a bad rep.

Ummm CS?

DaMimmo does have wines by the glass. They're just ridiculously overpriced. And some of the servers there are competent and friendly. Just ask not to be seated downstairs. I do agree with the rest of what you said.

Ted--

You said it best with the first comment.

DaMimmo's is a little overpriced, but I would sacrafice my left kidney and my right ear for a plate of those veal chops . It's actually 1 chop cut so thick that they butterfly it to equal 2 very nice sized chops. But so tender that you can cut it with a spoon.

There are two neon Peroni lights still on inside, casting a lonely glow on the interior - so sad.

This is spookier than a werewolf bar mitzvah

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