Some news, some notes, some whatnots
You know, most days when you see the 7 a.m. time stamp on a post, I'm actually up that early blogging.
But I won't touch Midnight Sun without a large cup of hot, tasty coffee. That's my only prerequisite (a big word for 7 a.m., I know).
A brief tangent: Anybody know a local spot or distributor that carries really good coffee? Like, this stuff? I'd love to get some without paying an arm and a leg for shipping from Costa Rica.
If you notice, Midnight Sun (and the rest of the Sun blogs) got a minor face lift earlier this week.
I lobbied hard to have the blog search bar bumped up from the very bottom of the sidebar almost all the way to the top. That way, it's easier to find previous posts. At least, that's what I'm hoping.
I also created a Name That Bar category, which will (soon) have all the previous Name That Bar contests and winners, just for kicks. And I'm going to add a category titled All the Essentials (or something like that), and put some background posts about me and Midnight Sun in it ...
BD left a comment last night under the Best Fells Point Neighborhood Bar post wanting to know when a winner will be declared.
Truth is, I've been putting it off because I don't feel like sitting down and tallying 130-some votes. I mean, Bad Decisions won, but I'd like to know who came in second and such. Hopefully I can get to that today.Last night, I had the Dirty Marmaduke Flute Squad (also known as the Hilltop Hightopps) in for a Baltimore Unsigned taping. At one point, guitarist Ryan Graham and I were talking about Midnight Sun, and how I'll write a post that I expect will be a hit but goes nowhere. And then, I'll write a post as a one-off and it will catch fire.
"Then why don't you write more posts like that?", he said.
Smartypants.
My response: "That's just like saying, 'Hey, Billy Joel, why haven't you written any hits lately?'"
Better yet -- my colleague Chris Kaltenbach was on the red carpet back in '98, standing next to a member of the foreign press. Up walks one of actor Michael Douglas' brothers. In what is probably the most tactless question possible, the foreign journo walks up to the Douglas bro and asks:
"Hey [random Douglas brother], why aren't you as famous as your father or brother?"Categories: Bars & Clubs, Local music, Random stuff
I've been The Baltimore Sun's nightlife and local entertainment reporter for a couple years, and it's surprising how much the scene has grown in that time. Most of Baltimore's bars and clubs are unpretentious places with fairly cheap drinks and plenty of character. I like dancing and think this city needs more clubs, but nothing beats having a cold, locally brewed beer with friends in a comfortably full corner bar.
Comments
not a fan of the gray background. blech.
Posted by: Allan | July 1, 2009 9:15 AM
Sam-
I highly recommend Zeke's coffee.
http://www.zekescoffee.com
Posted by: Paul | July 1, 2009 9:16 AM
Not knowing exactly what coffee you're looking for, I can possibly suggest Baltimore Coffee & Tea up in Timonium next to the Timonium Business Park Light Rail stop at Aylesbury Road (?). It's a successor to what I recall was, and probably still is, an excellent coffee-roasting shop in downtown Pikesville, behind the main strip of Reisterstown Road next to what was the post office for a while. Anyone from Pikesville remember what I'm talking about?
Posted by: Alexander D. Mitchell IV | July 1, 2009 10:20 AM
You have the power, Sessa! You're like Drew Barrymore in Firestarter; you just have to harness your flame-starting abilities.
The thing about Billy Joel is that he realized he was sucking and retired, unlike Elton John and Sting. But I think you have a few good years of rabble-rousing left in you.
Excellent locally roasted coffee: Zeke's on Harford Rd in Lauraville.
Thanks again for having us over last night! We love Chipotle!!!
Posted by: Ryan Graham | July 1, 2009 10:35 AM
i know everyone rants about zeke's (rightfully so), but another gem is High Grounds across the street from patterson theater. i've been in there multiple times, and the manager has told me about how they get their beans from a private farm in ethiopia or some such...and it tastes pretty damned good to me.
he also made mention that recently they started getting their roasted beans carried in all the local whole foods.
rec'd
Posted by: ryan97ou | July 1, 2009 10:47 AM
I'm a coffee drinker, but not necessarily an aficionado, so I don't really know what I'm talking about, but I will second Ryan's High Grounds shout out anyway. It's my favorite coffee spot.
Posted by: CantonKate | July 1, 2009 11:19 AM
Try Phoenix Coffee (www.phoenixcoffee.com). Full disclosure, I used to date the owner's sister, but they definitely know their stuff. Freshly roasted beans, of varing locales/qualities. Not exactly cheap, but not ridiculously expensive either...and everyhting is good.
Posted by: TheBeav | July 1, 2009 12:33 PM
I really like Mayoga, roasted in Silver Spring, I think? You can get it at Costco locally.
Posted by: sarah | July 1, 2009 2:59 PM
Dunkin' Donuts or 7-11 coffee not good enough for ya?
Posted by: johnnycat | July 1, 2009 3:50 PM
Always with the claws, eh, Johnnycat?
No, that stuff ain't good enough for me.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | July 1, 2009 5:12 PM
Sam,
Have you had five fingers of Old Red Eye?
Posted by: GDA | July 1, 2009 8:40 PM
gda, i'm afraid to ask what that is.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | July 1, 2009 8:44 PM
Baltimore Coffee & Tea
Barbie Hargrave. 'Nuff said
Posted by: RayRay | July 2, 2009 12:24 PM