The Stalking Horse will re-open on or about Jan. 10, according to manager Marc McFaul.

The bar and restaurant at 26 E. Cross St. has been closed for months after a fire. During renovations, they moved the bar from the right side to the left side, which makes the small space seem roomier, McFaul said.

They also added some more TVs.

I don't know how that's possible, though. Before, it seemed like every inch of wall space was covered with a flat screen.

Either way, welcome back, Stalking Horse.

Posted by Sam Sessa at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

This was one of the toughest Fab Five Fridays I've ever put together -- because a ton of good music came out this year.

Some of these albums stayed in my car stereo for weeks at a time.

Even with two honorable mentions, I still spent a long time figuring out this list.

So here it is, the best Baltimore albums of 2007: 

1. Hamsterdam 2: Stash to the Strip by Darkroom Productions Inc.

When Darkroom makes the beats, local MCs step up their game. 

2. Spiderman of the Rings by Dan Deacon

Deacon makes music for the five-year-olds in all of us.

3. Hail Megaboys by J-Roddy Walston and the Business

Everybody knows Baltimore is a rock town, but nobody put out a better rock album this year than J-Roddy. 

4. If Children by Wye Oak (formerly Monarch)

A morbid but brilliant debut album. 

5. The Collective Now by the Seldon Plan

Their catchiest, most cohesive album yet. 

Honorable mentions: Come Back Home by Caleb Stine and the Brakemen and The King of Roq by Blaqstarr

Posted by Sam Sessa at 9:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

Looks like Canton Station (1028 S. Conkling St.) has started a drink special in honor of their special guest upstairs.

Ron Stack made it his personal mission to stay on the roof of the bar until the Ravens win.

I walked by today, clapped and wished him well.

"Thanks, buddy," he said.

He sounded pretty demoralized.

If I had to camp out in the cold for another few weeks after last weekend's devastating loss to the Dolphins, I probably would be, too.

$2 Heinekens isn't a bad deal, though. 

Posted by Sam Sessa at 1:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
                    

Well, R.I.P., Clayton's Tavern.

I went there more than a few times, but usually for dinner -- not drinks.

Their food was a notch or two above pub grub, and their service was decent, but the beverages were a few bucks more than other neighborhood pubs.

Still, I'll miss Clayton's.

Wonder what's going to replace it.

(Photo by me) 

Posted by Sam Sessa at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

Want to buy a sports bar?

Head over to Dundalk, where, at 3 p.m. today, Playbook Sports Bar will be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

The manager who answered the phone when I called this morning couldn't give me an explanation as to why it's being sold.

But, according to expressauction.com, there was a "partnership dissolution."

Hope the new owners keep the place open -- it was supposed to be a big step in the neighborhood's revitalization, I'm told. 

And I liked the place. Lots of TVs. 

(Kenneth K. Lam/Sun Photographer) 

Posted by Sam Sessa at 1:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
                    

Some of you (JM especially) are going to hate me for this, but I'm going to do it anyway.

This week's Fab Five Friday is on the five best albums released by Baltimore musicians this year.

Got any suggestions?

I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't. Nobody but me seems to care much about local music around here.

Maybe that's why Baltimore's scene gets such little national attention.

Posted by Sam Sessa at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
                    

Whew.

After being stricken with sickness for a couple days, I'm ready to start blogging again.

Stay tuned for updates on McFaul's, Looney's, Playbook Sports Bar and more. 

Posted by Sam Sessa at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

We were blessed with a bunch of new watering holes in 2007.

Sure, a few bars closed -- especially in Fells Point -- but a number sprung up to take their place.

Here are the best new bars and clubs of 2007:

1. The Lo-Fi Social Club (pictured)

Owner Neil Freebairn didn't fit into any of the city's music scenes, so, with the Lo-Fi, he made a club where everyone feels welcome.  

2. Mosaic Lounge

General manager LG Concannon and the rest of Mosaic's planners turned a hot seasonal lounge into one of the city's best year-round dance clubs.

3. McCracken's on Key

A lot of new bars are semi-expensive. Not so at McCracken's. Here, you can play pool and shoot darts for free, and domestic bottles are $1.75.

4. Don't Know Tavern

I love sinking into the plush leather sofa and chairs near the front of Don't Know. Sometimes I head to the back of the bar for some air hockey, shuffleboard and pool, too. 

5. Illusions Magic Bar

This super swanky lounge has classic decor and nightly magic shows.

Posted by Sam Sessa at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
                    

1. The Ed Schrader Show, 9 p.m. tonight at the Metro Gallery, 1700 N. Charles St.

Schrader (pictured) hosts monthly showcases of some of the city's most interesting artists and musicians. Tonight, his guests are band Rosemary Krust, comic book artist Hazard Vaupem and poet Ryan Coffman. $5.

2. Come Together Saturday at Rams Head Live, 20 Market Place in Power Plant Live

Local bands such as the Kelly Bell Band, David Tieff, and the Cheaters cover Beatles songs for charity. Doors open at 7 p.m. $10.

3. Dangerously Delicious Pies Rock-N-Roll Holiday Extravaganza Saturday at The Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St.

This night of musical and edible decadence features the Expotentials, 40 Acres, Agents of the Sun and more. Eat pie. Rock out. Repeat. $10.

Posted by Sam Sessa at 4:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

If you're in town and thirsty Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, duck into Liam's Pint-Size Pub, which will be open 5 p.m.-2 a.m. both days.

I was there for a little while last night, listening some live music from an electric guitarist/singer.

Or, if you're hungry, check out E. Large's Top Ten Tuesday about restaurants open on Christmas day.

(Photo by me)

Posted by Sam Sessa at 1:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

It occurred to me last night that you guys might not remember a lot of the new bars and clubs that opened this year.

Here are a few: Mosaic Lounge (pictured) and Angels Rock Bar in Power Plant Live, the Lo-Fi Social Club, Don't Know Tavern, the Local High Rise, Tyson's Tavern, McCracken's on Key, Mustang Alley's, the Stalking Horse, Quigley's Half-Irish Pub and Illusions Magic Bar.

Rank them as you wish.

(Colby Ware/Special to The Sun)

Posted by Sam Sessa at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

Meet Wayne Cromwell, the upbeat owner of Mount Vernon's newest video store: Vanguard Video.

Cromwell, a self-confessed cinephile, lives in a building owned by the folks who own Minato.

One day, one of Minato's owners saw Crowmwell's collection of 2000+ DVDs, and asked him if he wanted to start a video store.

She wasn't kidding and offered to rent him a small basement space at 1015-B N. Charles St. He opened last Monday.

A good chunk of Cromwell's DVDs are documentaries and foreign flicks.

If you're in the area, check him out. The dude knows his stuff. And soon, he plans to start showing movies on a flat-screen TV for patrons.

Hours are 3 p.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 1 p.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays. Call 410-539-2221.

Posted by Sam Sessa at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

This week's Fab Five Friday is the best new bars/clubs of 2007.

We've been pretty lucky when it comes to bar openings this year.

Got any nominations for me?

Posted by Sam Sessa at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

I love this ad Della Rose's Tavern took out in the City Paper the other week.

Who wouldn't want a half-price cornucopia?

But when you look closer, you see the truth is ... 

Della Rose's doesn't have any cornucopias. You've been fooled!

Sneaky, huh?

(Photo by me) 

Posted by Sam Sessa at 9:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

This song and video, by Baltimore-based musician Brandon Harris Walker, is hilarious.

It has racked up more than 500,000 views on YouTube, too. A new holiday classic? I think so.

Posted by Sam Sessa at 3:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

Visiting celebrities love to go to ESPN Zone.

Got this note yesterday:

R&B artist Chris Brown came into ESPN Zone in Baltimore on Sunday afternoon with a group of about 30 friends and family to celebrate the birthday of his young backup dancer, Lil Scooter. 

Two bodyguards stood watch outside the Bristol Suite (the private room where the party took place) while the group ate and watched football. 

They brought two birthday cakes including one cake in the shape of an actual miniature scooter. 

They stayed for about two and half hours and left when the football games wrapped up.

(AP Photo)

Posted by Sam Sessa at 2:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
                    

It's a little unnerving when you go into a bathroom and there is a giant framed poster of Al Capone hanging right above the toilet.

That's the scene in Ale Mary's men's restroom.

The whole time you're in there, Capone's fat face stares you down.

(Cell phone photo by me)

Posted by Sam Sessa at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
                    

Got this email from Midnight Sun reader Neal: 

When I was out in LA a few months back I absolutely fell in love with authentic tiki-style drinks. Since I got back I've been looking around for something similar here and have come up with zeroes across the board.

Any ideas where someone can go in the area for an authentic tiki drink? I'm not necessarily looking for the full-on kitsch experience, more for the quality of the drinks. A good zombie or scorpion (etc) is all I'm after, and if it comes with the decor and the music that's 
just a bonus.

Neal

I don't know of any authentic tiki bars around here.

Anybody got some suggestions for him?

Posted by Sam Sessa at 8:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
                    

One of my pet peeves with Baltimore bars is some of them don't round off their drink prices.

Club Charles is notorious for this.

Get a beer there, and it might come to something like $3.31.

Pay with a $5 and the bartender hands you a single and a fistful of coins.

And since you don't want to be the guy that tips the bartender in coins, you give him the single.

That means by the end of the night, you walk out of the place with pockets full of change.

And, if you're like me, when you pull your keys out of your pockets, change spills all over the sidewalk.

(Doug Kapustin/Sun Photographer)

Posted by Sam Sessa at 4:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
                    

Saturday night, I made a triumphant return to the Idle Hour following my debacle there last weekend.

The same bartender was working, and one of two things happened:

1) He didn't recognize me

or

2) He did notice me but let me stay anyway this time around.

Either way, it was a good move, because I rolled deep Saturday night.

Me and about a dozen friends (it was my birthday party) strolled into the place, automatically doubling the size of the crowd.

If the bartender jumped the bar at me again, we could have taken him.

(Elizabeth Malby/Sun Photographer)

Posted by Sam Sessa at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
                    

You can't please everybody all the time.
 
Got this e-mail last week from a Midnight Sun reader.
 
It's about my Fab Five Friday on wine tastings.
 
Hi Sam,
If you're going to give out information about wine events I'd like to see something more definitive than "I believe." Nobody cares what you believe. Just put down the facts. Other than that your information sucks.
Ed Y
S Baltimore

Your thoughts? 

Posted by Sam Sessa at 9:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
                    

The long version of the story involves an estate and LLCs, so I'll spare you the details. 

In short: The owners of the building, which sits at the corner of Broadway and Thames Street, decided to sell the place.

The lease was up, and that was that.

I'll let you know what the plans are for the space when it's sold.

(Photo by me)

Posted by Sam Sessa at 3:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
                    

In honor of U2's recently remastered and re-released Joshua Tree, here is a chilling cover of "With Or Without You," done by Scala and Kolacny Bros, a Belgian girls choir.

Posted by Sam Sessa at 1:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Can you believe Rodos in Fells Point is 30 years old?

After all these years, it still fills up on Friday and Saturday nights.

A lot of bikers (not of the Harley variety) go to Rodos and neighboring Moby's.

I've looked but never been inside.

Usually, the music is loud enough to give me a headache if I stand th