And by cracking down you mean looking for any tiny thing they can fine or tax since the absurd property taxes in the city haven't generated enough money to cover Sheila's fur habit.

Andy -- You are right on the money! To add to that, the city is in some serious financial troubles. They need to make money any way they can!!

I am really confused as to how the flamingo presents a hindrance to "the public right of way."

I'm kind of tall.

Before they go after the Flamingo, could the city do something about the bad food and the goofy gift shop?

Denise craves attention, and you gave it to her. For her $500 fine, she's getting thousands of dollars in publicity from radio, television and newspapers. I just wish she were as good at being a restauranteur as she is a marketer.

Same thing happened with the Elvis in front of Nacho Mamas. The city is doing it for money.

Wait, THE KING needed a permit?? Was it for live entertainment? I think I could see the flamingo needing one, in the same way scaffolding might, because it could fall on someone on the sidewalk if not secured properly.

They should leave the poor flamingo out of it and simply fine her for perpetuating that ridiculous Baltimore "hon" stereotype.

I've no problem with this. I don't want a giant flamingo falling on my head.

I do have a problem with selectively enforced law. So I expect to see the permitting folks in my neighbourhood soon, nailing the contractors who don't pull permits, the contractors who dump trash in alleys illegally, the contractors who work before 7 am and after 11 pm, etc.

Love to see the people who hire those contractors get nailed, too.

Years ago there was a street artist in NYC, who went around drawing body outlines,like a crime scene to draw attention to the crime problem....maybe thats what we need rather than Pink Flamingo's....

Off the subject, I admit...

Is Cafe Hon still printing out complete credit card numbers on their receipts?
I thought the Maryland Attorney General outlawed that years ago.

I find it a touch odd that responsible owners are getting nailed for minor infractions from years back; yet the liquor board is be regarded as "heavy handed" for trying to end complete non enforcement of major public safety violations.

That flamingo has never harmed anyone. It does provide a smile and point of reference. Same with Elvis outside of Nacho Mama's

There are a few clubs that are a public menace to a point that have kept me out from recommending places to out-of-towners or have provoked me to being more cautious then necessary otherwise.

So, would you rather turn the corner and see Elvis or a massive flamingo... or a violent altercation spilling out of some den of idiocy?

I hope they don't come for our noodly master, hon, that's just a bit north...

clearly the city is picking and choosing what laws to enforce. @ET "They should leave the poor flamingo out of it and simply fine her for perpetuating that ridiculous Baltimore "hon" stereotype."
it's a stereotype for a reason, cause it's accurate. it's a strong part of the Baltimore history. If the rediculous, movie inspiring, revenue generating ridiculous "Hon" stereotype irks you so much , perhaps move to a different city .. or even better state.Although something tells me that if you find a way to be bothered by a lighthearted stereotype that dates back decades.. you will more than likely be unhappy no matter where you hitch your trailer.

Baltimore. Love it or leave it. :-) EL

Hi Gizzard,

I'm Baltimore born and raised, and I love my city very much, so no plans to move away. Thanks though. And I find the stereotype ridiculous because in my experience it is not accurate, and it doesn't do our great city justice. It might be a revenue generator, but that's about the only positive thing I could say for it. And for me, I'd rather our city have the respect it deserves than a little extra revenue.

I miss the four mature trees she cut down so the flamingo could be seen.

It's a cry for help.

How about a Dining@Large column on gustatory oxymorons?

You know, like "jumbo shrimp," or "non-alcoholic beer," or "non-fat cheese," or "Hampden gentrification"?

I lived in the heart of Hampden for eight years in the 80s. It is unregenerate asylum.

ET--I'm with you. The whole "Hon" thing is a commercially-based concoction. (BTW, people use it in Philly and in Norfolk.) It ain't exclusively Baltimore, HON! It's like "Bro" or "Dude," or "Weedhopper." A term of endearment, not exclusive to our town, and no real connection to anything Baltimore really. The "Hon-Fest" is a fantasy-world creation of out-of-towners bent on romanticizing "old Baltimore" Old Baltimore is race riots and segregated neighborhoods. Good riddance.

Cafe Hon has flamingo?? How do they serve it? If, as I have been told, their pink color comes from their diet of little shrimp, I bet it doesn't taste like chicken. I can't find any recipes for it in my cookbooks.

Has anybody noticed that Denise Whiting didn't say in her interview that she appealed the notice? The first thing she does is call the Sun, TV and radio stations to complain about it to get free publicity. for her overpriced restaurant.

In her defense however I wonder if the businesses that sponsored those painted fish and crabs that were placed in front of businesses blocking sidewalks and access to cars a few years ago had to pay this fee.

any publicity is good publicity. Smart restaurateur, IMHO!

Never been to Cafe Hon and only been to Hamden a few times but who cares about the flamingo. I think it adds character and the city has bigger fish to fry. The city should worry about crime at Harborplace, cleaning up dirty neighborhoods and lowering property taxes. Oh and a new mayor wouldnt hurt either.

Fight crime, clean up neighbourhoods and lower property taxes? Gee, if you do the last one, how is the city going to pay for the first two?

Canon, for flamingo recipes, try medieval cookbooks.

Lissa, maybe by lowering the minimum wage as they are doing in Colorado. After all, pinching money off of the poorest workers always helps to balance one's budget.

Meanwhile Flamingo Croquet, anyone?

That's right, Joyce, I missed the second part of that. Lower taxes on the upper middle class and the rich, make it up from the poor and working poor.

flamingo croquet!

You can bet this was started by a someone as a vendatta against the owner. Years ago I worked in a small neighborhood convenience store. It was amazing how malcontents could cause grief with petty complaints. The bottom line? The owners sold the store. A loss not for the owners, but for the neighborhood.

The Flamingo is just an example of the kinds of things that make Baltimore what it is..."Charm City". Then again, maybe I'm biased, I'm friends with the artist who made the Flamingo. Bird is the Word.

Pink Flamingo icons? I envy Baltimore. I come from a state where a vast number of residents wear foam cheese wedges on their heads.

I love the flamingo. Any public art is a good thing, in my mind. Why people would get upset about it is beyond me. It's fun, and it adds visual interest to the neighborhood and streetscape. It doesn't harm anyone, so let it stay. And being fined after 7 years is clearly an example of the city desperately tying to make more money.

Flamingo Croquet indeed! Too bad I forgot how to html code for a clean link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chwiandcarrie/3138042639/

Just a lil' sumthin' from a wedding.

Remember the linking post in the categories to the right. EL

It's called a minor privilege permit. Everyone that encroaches on the public right of way has to get one. It goes for signs, newspaper boxes, etc.

Waiting for John Waters to give the Sun a comment on this whole mess...

Ah, didn't know who he was, but the gent in the pic made our day there last week when he pitched in for our server that was having a rough night. Thanks again, Thomas!

Lissa - efficiency is the cornerstone of the Ivory Tower. Dare to dream, right?

When I first read the story I was mad at the city for such a ludicrous thing. I even took a friend to Cafe Hon for lunch to give my support. Then I got the bill for my two grilled cheese sandwiches and two bowls of soup and two cokes. $30 frickin dollars! She has enough money to pay!

The flamingo is a cry for help.

John Waters is busy fratinizing with Sqeaky Fromme

As The Canon noted above, the flamingos' pink color comes from the shrimp they eat - has anyone done any research into what we would have to feed them to make them turn PURPLE? Inquiring minds.....

@gimletgirl: yeah, a steady diet of Broncos and Bengals !! GO Ravens!