
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
simulated sex with a potted palm tree." Before The Sun, he was a reporter at the Miami New Times. He's also written for Miami magazine, the Orlando Sentinel, the Sarasota Herald Tribune and the Gainesville Sun. Got tips? Gripes? Pitches? He's reachable at
erik.maza@baltsun.com. Click
here to keep up with the dumb music he's listening to.
Midnight Sun covers Baltimore music, live entertainment, and nightlife news. On the blog, you'll find, among other things, concert announcements, breaking news, bars closings and openings, up-to-date coverage of crime in nightlife, new music, round-the-clock coverage of Virgin Mobile FreeFest, handy guides on bars staying open past 2 a.m. on New Year's Eve and those that carry Natty Boh on draft. Recurring features include seven-day nightlife guides, Concert News, guest reviews of bars and concerts, Wednesday Corkboard, and photo galleries, as well as reader-submitted photos. Thanks for reading.
Comments
Oh! How about '30days until the smoking ban?'
Posted by: Michael Byrne | December 3, 2007 4:13 PM
Sigh.
Thanks for the cheerful thought, Michael.
So much for reclining at Max's Taphouse with a fine cigar.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | December 3, 2007 5:48 PM
Bars of Baltimore,
I did not realize that my absence would have such an affect on the local economy. I will soon return from tour and resume my alcoholic activities at bars everywhere. I am sorry for any inconvenience caused by my absence.
-Jeremy
Posted by: Jeremy | December 3, 2007 11:43 PM
sam,
I think that Max's is exempt from the ban because they sell cigars. As for Lulu's, call Jack at El Supremo records. He's tight with the Lulu people.
Posted by: jmgiordano | December 4, 2007 12:12 AM
Can somebody clarify the smoking ban and how it relates to places like Max's or Hookah's? I thought I read a while ago that a high percentage of sales had to be from smoking items to be exempt. I want to make sure I go to Max's on a Thursday night before the ban goes into effect to get the beer and a cigar for $6.00. That is a great deal!
Posted by: C Double | December 4, 2007 11:07 AM
JM and C Double,
Just got off the phone with Ron Furman, the owner of Max's. You will not be able to smoke a cigar inside Max's when the ban goes into effect.
Furman is applying for an outside seating license, partly because of the impending ban. But no, the Mobtown Lounge will be smoke free starting 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | December 4, 2007 11:12 AM
I thought there was a month reprive?
Posted by: J.M. Giordano | December 4, 2007 11:25 AM
From my research. The ban goes into effect january 1, 2008. A bar may site a 'hardship' appeal. I think it is 15% dip in revenue to be exempt. Plus they pay a hefty fee for the exeption. That only lasts unitl 2010 or 2011, then EVERYWHERE is smoke free. Another way is to have an outdoor lounge/deck/patio/separate smoking room. I did hear a rumor that if a bar installs an upgraded HVAC system they maybe be exempt for the three years. I'm not sure how hookah bars fare in all this. In california, I watched the growing pains of bars going smokeless and the, "I'm never coming back here again!" line then only to have the same person(s) back at their rightful place at the end of the bar. Trust me, SF and other parts of CA, not just LA, gets wet, dreary and cold. P.S. - You think it sucks now, but you will come to love the new law. You will. Really you will.
Posted by: Justin | December 19, 2007 4:57 PM
I think that the walls of the Mt. Royal Tavern will collaspe. the smoke is holding them up!
Posted by: jmgiordano | December 19, 2007 10:49 PM