Liquor board finds Bourbon Street not guilty after 'Girls Gone Wild' incident
The liquor board found Bourbon Street not guilty yesterday of disturbing the peace -- a charge stemming from a "Girls Gone Wild" incident at the Baltimore megaclub.
In September, Bourbon Street invited promoters from the X-rated video series "Girls Gone Wild" to throw a party at the downtown club. According to their contract, the camera crews were only supposed to be filming on the "Girls Gone Wild" bus, which was parked outside, club owner James Temple said.
But early in the night, "Girls Gone Wild" cameramen entered Bourbon Street and solicited female patrons to expose their breasts.
When they heard cameramen were shooting inside Bourbon Street, Temple and general manager Sam Chaney rounded up the videographers and kicked them out of the club.
The liquor board ruled that Chaney and Temple acted appropriately, chairman Stephan Fogleman said.
"We decided the actions of Temple and Chaney were such that they tried to avoid a disturbance of the peace." Fogleman said. "They did what they should have." ...
"They were doing activities they were not supposed to," Temple said. "I advised them that if they didn't leave the premises, I was going to have them removed and charge them with trespassing."
Liquor board inspectors collected photos and video from the incident, but Fogleman declined to watch the tape.
"I didn't feel comfortable watching it," he said. "It put me in such a weird position."
Bourbon Street was fined $1,600 at yesterday's hearing for underage drinking from a separate incident which occurred on Oct. 1.
(Photo from the club's MySpace page)
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 "
Comments
I'll watch the video if Fogleman won't.
Posted by: Anon | January 8, 2010 12:49 PM
Does anyone really believe (a) Fogleman didn't watch the video, or (b) that he didn't enjoy it? Pulh-leeeeeeeeze!!!!......
Posted by: Mike | January 8, 2010 2:23 PM
boobies bad!
stealing gift cards from the poor children.. worth millions!
Priceless!
Posted by: Voters Ignorance | January 8, 2010 2:23 PM
This liquor baord is a joke, if this happened at any of the adult night clubs in balto. (who by the way have a license for adult entertainment) they would have paid severely with a fine and suspension. I guess if you have a enough money or travel in the right circle in this town you get off easy. If an adult bar would have been found to serve a minor thay would have had at least a $5000 fine and a closure for 10 days.
Posted by: MikeB | January 8, 2010 3:18 PM
Fogleman for Mayor!
Tata's?...Steve don't need to see no stinkin tata's
Posted by: Dominic Cantalupo | January 8, 2010 4:32 PM
I'm with Dominic. Fogleman for Mayor!
Posted by: jason z | January 8, 2010 4:52 PM
Fogleman for Mayor!
Posted by: Josh | January 8, 2010 5:23 PM
You are right... if a club was caught serving a minor the would be hit with a large fine and a closure. Bourbon Street was not charged with serving a minor.
Posted by: the Truth | January 9, 2010 1:20 AM
thats a joke the liquor board is a joke baltimore is a joke if that was any other club they would have been shut down or had a big fine fogleman is a joke how much is he getting paid from the onwer of the club
Posted by: mickey | January 9, 2010 10:46 AM
I don't think you'd want to watch that video either if Fox45 was filming you as you watched it.
Underage possession means the bar didn't serve it to them, and in this case, the underaged individuals admitted they got the cups from friends inside the club. It is a lesser offense than underage service. 1 point to the Truth.
Mickey--You keep running your mouth. I'll keep running the Board.
Posted by: LiquorBoarding | January 9, 2010 1:30 PM
Applause to the board. Sometimes they manage to get it right.
Posted by: Rich B | January 10, 2010 9:27 PM