OK, OK, I admit it -- sometimes, I Google my own name. Yes, I know, it's super lame. I like seeing where my stories end up online, that's all.
Anyway, you know when you start to type something into Google's search bar and it gives you suggestions? Well, as I was typing my name in, the words "Sam Seltzer's Restaurant" popped up. Intrigued, I clicked on it ...
Several months ago, dozens of dancers began training to zombie walk and booty swim their way through a mass synchronized performance of Michael Jackson's thriller.
The celebration, called "Thrill the World" will take place in the Inner Harbor at 8 p.m. Saturday.
As of today, about 275 have registered to perform the dance.
At the exact same time, thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) will join them around the world, in an effort to set a record for the largest synchronized dance routine at various venues ...
Continue reading "Dancers are gearing up for Saturday's mass "Thriller" performance" »
I loved your suggestions for where to put the Frank Zappa statue.
Today, I read where the Baltimore Development Corp. is taking a hard look at the shabby (but long-standing) carousel on the South side of the Inner Harbor, near the Science Center.
You don't need to spend much time near the carousel to notice that it's not used much and in need of some pretty major repairs.
The question is, should the carousel be restored? Or removed altogether and replaced with something else?
The Inner Harbor "has to be re-energized," said Jim Seay, president of Premier Rides of Baltimore, who presented ideas yesterday. "We have to return some of the magic of the Inner Harbor."
I'm with you, Jim ...
Continue reading "Fix up the Inner Harbor carousel? Or put something new there?" »
More than a year ago, Baltimore accepted a bust of Baltimore native Frank Zappa. Valued at $50,000, the bust was a gift from a Lithuanian Zappa fan club.
Since then, officials have been debating where to put it.
For a while, it looked like the statue would be placed at Fleet Street and Broadway in Fells Point. But the Fells Point location wasn't suitable for the statue, officials said.
Tomorrow, officials from the Baltimore Public Art Commission will scout two new locations: The intersection of South Conkling Street and Eastern Avenue in Highlandtown and a Patterson Park annex.
"They want to have more room so people would be able to interact and congregate around the sculpture," said Tracy Baskerville, spokeswoman for the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts.
"That's what the Fells Point location lacked. These two locations have that. More than one person can be next to it."
Personally, I think neither of these new locations are appealing.
Where would you like to see the bust? I have a suggestion ...
Continue reading "Where would you like to see the Frank Zappa statue?" »
Tonight, enigmatic singer/songwriter Ray LaMontagne will play the first of two sold-out shows with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
The first is at Strathmore, and the second is tomorrow at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.
I talked to Ray for an article which ran in today's paper (here's a link). I was shocked to find out he's never played one of his songs for his wife, and that, at first, he didn't like his voice.
This is the second time Ray has played with an orchestra. The first time was this past July at the Hollywood Bowl.
Ray had a funny perspective on what it's like to be backed by an orchestra:
"When you play with an orchestra, you have to go back and re-learn all the songs," he said. "It's just a pain in the ass."
Hee hee ...
Looks like today is all about the grand openings.
The new Alliance Comics in South Baltimore is celebrating its grand opening 8 p.m.-10 p.m. tonight with a celebration at Illusions Magic Bar (1025 S. Charles St.).
According to Alliance's owner Amy McNeal, there will be drink specials, snacks, and of course, a live magic show.
She writes:
If you're looking for some relaxation at a beautiful art deco style bar with delicious drinks and an awesome magic show , come and join us!
(Photo by me)
This post might just put a permanent dent in my manliness. But that's OK.
Last week, Amie saw an ad for Michaelob Ultra Pomegranate Raspberry beer (think they could have made the name any longer?).
When she asked me to pick her up a six-pack at the local liquor store, I cringed to myself.
I figured she would try one, not like it, and I'd be stuck drinking the other five bottles of fruit-tastic beer.
Oh boy!
Turns out, it's not actually that bad ...
Continue reading "Sipping Michelob Ultra Pomegranate Raspberry beer" »
Loooook! It's the Skittles car! How awesome is that?!?!?
I was walking around on the West Side when I encountered the Skittles car. It stopped me in my tracks.
I wanted to lick the side of the car, and see if it tasted like the rainbow.
What prompts someone to paint Skittles all over their car? Is it the Official Skittles Company Car? Or just the family car?
How awesomely bad would it be if it was a gift from a set of parents to their 16-year-old daughter?
Mom! Mom! I want to go to the movies! Can I go to the movies?
Sure, but you have to take the Skittles car.
But, Moooooom I don't wanna take the Skittles car.
YOU'LL TAKE THE SKITTLES CAR AND YOU'LL LIKE IT YOUNG LADY! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PACKS OF SKITTLES YOUR FATHER AND I HAD TO EAT TO EARN ENOUGH RAINBOW POINTS TO GET THE SKITTLES CAR?!?! I HAVE TYPE 2 DIABETES NOW!
Hee hee.
Anyway, I really enjoyed witnessing the Skittles car.
(Photo by me)
Bruce Springsteen's show at the 1st Mariner Arena sold out in a mere 20 minutes -- about 15 minutes quicker than teen pop star Hannah Montana, officials said.Continue reading "Bruce Springsteen tickets sell out in 20 minutes" »
Oh man oh man, it's almost time -- tickets for Bruce Springsteen's 1st Mariner Arena gig go on sale at 10 a.m.
This is the first time the Boss has played in Baltimore proper since 1973, when he performed at -- you guessed it -- the 1st Mariner Arena (then known as the Baltimore Civic Center). I wonder if Bruuuce remembers that gig.
The Nov. 20 gig will probably be a nostalgia trip for Springsteen, considering the venue has barely changed in the past 36 years. Heh.
If you end up getting tickets or have problems getting tickets, this is the place to share your experience. Let me know how it goes, and, of course, good luck!
(AP photo)
Do you ever listen to music and suddenly start to choke up?
I do.
Sometimes I can feel it coming, and sometimes it takes me by surprise. I get chills, choke up, and occasionally, cry. Depends on the song and my mood.
The first few times I heard Emmylou Harris' "Red Dirt Girl," I had to try hard not to cry. I know girls like the one in the song, and I'm from a place like the one Harris describes, so it really resonates with me.
A couple days ago, I choked up when I watched this clip of Marvin Gaye singing short, solo versions of the songs he used to do with Tammi Terrell. It's so sad, and so uplifting at the same time. And as always, Gaye makes singing from the heart seem effortless.
I almost had to turn off "On and On and On" by Wilco the first time I heard it ...
I'm a little snowed under with stories for tomorrow's weekend section, so instead of blogging about something important or controversial, I'm going to post one of the zaniest interviews I've ever seen ...
Continue reading "One of the wackiest interviews I've ever seen" »
Yesterday, I traded e-mails with a reader named Charlotte, who saw Bruce Springsteen at the Capital Centre in 1980. She was even able to find her old ticket stub.
Can you believe it only cost $11 for floor seats? If you want to get floor seats for Springsteen's Nov. 20 show at 1st Mariner, they're going to run you $100.
I asked Charlotte what she remembers from the show, and she sent me this:
I was working at McDonald's making about $2.90-$3.05/hr. and going to school at Villa Julie College (now Stevenson University) in the Medical Technician program. One of my classmates either gave me the ticket or sold it to me ...
Continue reading "Seen Springsteen before? How was the show?" »
Hey everybody, check out this piece by Elizabeth Large.
There. I have just officially posted about her post, which is about my post, which was based on a comment left under her other post.
The circle is complete. I feel dizzy.
If you write about anything long enough, you tend to use the same old words over and over again.
To help me fight the urge to use the same old words over and over again (see? I just did it again), I started a list ofg words that I need to use on Midnight Sun more often. If you have a favorite word you'd like to see on here, I'd love to try and use it. Here's my little list ...
Kia, as in the car company, is throwing a pretty sweet free concert series this weekend. We're talking about free performances by MGMT, Dan Deacon, Wale and the Creepers. More info here.
From what I hear, the venue is pretty small, too -- about 400 capacity. To get into most of the shows, you just need to show up. However, to get into the MGMT show, you have to test drive a Kia. That's not so bad.
If you're a fan of the indie rock group My Morning Jacket, you will have noticed that lead singer Jim James has started calling himself Yim Yames.
Some people, like WTMD's AmyWoo, find this ridiculous.
I too find it ridiculous. Ridiculously AWESOME.
If I were a rock star like Mr. Yames, I would do the same thing.
In fact, I'd take it a step further: I'd insist that everyone who spoke to me pronounced all their Js as Ys ...
Snicker snicker.
Got this receipt at Turp's last night. I'll write more about Turp's later.
For now, enjoy this receipt.
Lord knows how this came to be. But it's pretty funny.
I wonder if the server (who was female) knew about it?
Woo hoo! Midnight Sun is on a roll, gang: We just won Best Local Blog in City Paper's Best of Baltimore 2009 readers' poll.
Man, and to think -- I didn't even vote for myself! Thanks, everybody who did vote for me. Before I could even make a Kanye West comment, someone beat me to it. Awesome!
Please join me in a cubicle victory dance to "True Skool" by Coldcut. "Cooler than cooler than cool."
Poor taste be damned: Until 10 p.m. tonight, Video Americain in Charles Village is renting all samurai flicks for a mere $2. This is, of course, a timely response to the burglar who was killed by a samurai sword-welding Johns Hopkins student early this morning.
Thanks to jmgiordano for the tip.
Drink, Drank, drunk.
Dude. I just, like, pounded a 16-ounce can of the "extreme relaxation beverage" Drank.
My roll has officially been slowed.
According to the can, I consumed 20 mg of Valerian root extract, 20 mg of rose hips extract, 2 mg of melatonin and, like, 220 calories(!).
I pounded it, too, in 15 minutes.
How was it? Sweet.
Literally -- sweet. I think my teeth just disintegrated. Maybe it's just the melatonin. I don't know ...
I do! I do!
I'm not talking about drinking just anything, either. I'm talking about drinking Drank.
Have you heard of Drank? It's the new anti-energy drink. It's a relaxation drink. Or so I hear.
I haven't tried Drank myself -- yet. But the name is pretty awesome. And I'll bet all the kids are gettin' their Drank on. Those kids and their Drank. Gee, what will they think of next?
Here's what Drank's publicist had to say:
Comprised of melatonin, rose hips, and valerian root, drank is intended to chill you out, or “slow your roll” as it says on the can. drank is currently slowing rolls throughout the country (including Delaware, D.C., and Virginia), and is now turning to Baltimore.
And here I've been wondering why traffic on 495 has been so sluggish lately. I'll bet it's because everybody's roll has been slowed by Drank!
I remember melatonin having something to do with sleep and relaxation. But rose hips? Valerian root? What? ...
Yesterday, I grabbed Virgin Mobile FreeFest producer Seth Hurwitz for a quick interview.
I asked him about the difference between Pimlico Race Course and Merriweather Post Pavilion.
Merriweather might have a less storied history than Pimlico, but its sprawling grounds suited this year’s scaled-back festival, Hurwitz said.
"[Merriweather] is not an exotic site, but it has its own ambiance," he said.
Just then, a yellow jacket wasp flew onto Hurwitz’s face and stung him on the forehead ...
How about some good news?
The Charm City Roller Girls raised more than $2,000 at their bout this past Saturday, through beer sales and private donations. The money will go to James Privott, a 76-year-old victim of a hate crime.
The Roller Girls will also give Privott a $100 gift card to Rusty Scupper and a $250 gift certificate to Dick's Sporting Goods, which he can use to buy more fishing equipment (Privott had just finished fishing when he was attacked by a group of white men).
If you missed the bout but still want to make a contribution, the Roller Girls have set up a PayPal button on their Web site, which goes directly to the Privott donation fund.
They're going to keep the button up on their site until Friday, according to league member Tara Gebhardt. They hope to hit $3,000 by the end of the week ...
Continue reading "Charm City Roller Girls raise thousands for hate crime victim" »
At today's bout, the Charm City Roller Girls are raising money to help James Privott, the 76-year-old man who was beaten by three white supremacists while fishing earlier this week.
Five percent of the beer sales from the bout will be donated to Privott, as well as any donations from audience members.
The roller girls are also going to give Privott a gift card for $150 to Dick's Sporting Goods so he can buy new fishing equipment ...
Continue reading "Go see the Charm City Roller Girls today and help the victim of a hate crime" »
A new comic store called Alliance Comics is opening in Federal Hill Sept. 2.
The store, at 904 Light St., will be the third location for Alliance Comics, which also has stores in Bowie and Silver Spring.
I wasn't able to get a hold of the owner(s) of the store, but according to the Web site, Alliance Comics will offer graphic novels, toys, cards and, of course, comics. The site also lists a number, 410-685-0021, but I called it a couple times today and nobody answered.
The space formerly housed Theodore's Cleaners and Tailors, is about halfway between the Maryland Science Center and the Cross Street Market.
(Photo by me)
At this point, I've mailed out, like, 50-some Midnight Sun magnets. And I have another dozen or so that I need to send out soon.
But I've only gotten a handful of funny photos of Midnight Sun magnets in action.
Come on, people! Surprise me! Tickle my funny bone!
The place to email photos is sam.sessa@baltsun.com
(Photo by me)
Everybody's entitled to their own opinion, of course. And regular commenters are gonna disagree pretty regularly.
But both Elizabeth Large and I have seen more and more pointlessly negative comments in the past month or so, and we're getting tired of it.
If you're sniping at another commenter or me, that's fine -- as long as you're making a point. I rarely refuse to publish comments, and only edit comments for profanity.
But from now on out, pointless, nasty attacks on other posters or myself aren't going to get published.
Thanks,
Management
How was everyone's weekend? I made the rounds Friday, sampling some drinks for a piece about cocktails with weird herbs in them. More on that later. Then I hit up the Beach House/Celebration show at the Metro Gallery (review here) and closed out the night at the Idle Hour (201 E. Fort Ave.). Busy night ...
The results are in: Alizee (4 W. University Pkwy) and Brightons (550 Light St. in the Intercontinental Harbor Court Hotel) won the judge's award for best Maryland crab soup and best cream of crab soup, respectively, at the Crab Soup Stakes.
The winners of the people's choice awards were: Cafe Hon (for Maryland crab) and Brightons (for cream of crab).
Way to go, Brightons!
Held in the Inner Harbor amphitheater, the Crab Soup Stakes featured soups from 10 local restaurants (five had Maryland crab soups and five had cream of crab soups).
Three "celebrity" judges (pictured) -- WJZ weekend sports anchor Stan Saunders, Porkchop from 92Q and yours truly -- sampled all 10 soups, and picked the winners based on taste, consistency and presentation ...
Continue reading "Alizee, Brightons, Cafe Hon win Crab Soup Stakes" »
Guess who one of the "celebrity" judges at the Crab Soup Stakes at the Harborplace Amphitheater is?
I'll bet I don't even have to tell you. (It's me.)
That's right, folks. From 11 a.m.-1 p.m. today, I'll be judging crab soup made from several Baltimore restaurants. The event celebrates the official kickoff of Baltimore Restaurant Week ...
One of the smoothest gangsta rappers on the planet, Snoop Dogg comes to Merriweather Post Pavilion tomorrow on the Blazed and Confused Tour.
Midnight Sun and Baltimore Metromix contributor Mark Gross e-mailed Snoop some questions.
Snoop, why do you only do e-mail interviews?
Because generally reporters ask tha same questions, manage to piss me off with a smartass remark and I'm in tha studio wrappin up "Malice In Wonderland" when I'm not on tour.
Where's your mind? Where's your money?
Example A of what I was jus talkn about. Jus jokin. U know I got my mind on my money and my money on my mind.
The Snoop Dogg iFizzle iPhone app features several of your most iconic phrases. If you could record common phrases from your every day life, which ones would be most useful for you?
Chuuuch!!!
Recently, Pope Benedict signed to Geffen Records. If you produced an album for the pontiff, what would his gangsta name be and what's his first single?
"Is There Heaven for a Gangsta?" - and his name would be Chuuuuch! ...
OM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM!
That's the sound of me devouring a long, rubbery piece of gummy bacon.
Turns out, I read the packaging wrong. It's not strawberry gum shaped like bacon -- it's gummy bacon, as in, gummy bears.
For what it was, gummy bacon wasn't half bad.
But I was kind of disappointed to find out it was gummy -- not gum.
Oh well.
I've got three strips left. Anybody want one?
(Photo by me)
I must admit -- at first, I was a little leery of interviewing Mark McGrath, the lead singer and front man of Sugar Ray.
You remember Sugar Ray, right? With hits like "Fly," "Every Morning" and "Someday," they were huge in the '90s. Even though they just released a new album, these days, people look at them as has-beens and lightweights.
But McGrath is actually a hard core music nerd. He's really unpretentious and modest about the band's success. Here's a link to the centerpiece I did on them, which ran in today's paper.
McGrath talked really, really fast and gave me so many good quotes, I couldn't use them all in the piece. Here are some of the passages I didn't use in the article ...
Continue reading "Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray -- a surprisingly awesome interview" »
When it comes to all things bacon, I'm like that dog in those Beggin Strips commercials.
Well, maybe I should say most things bacon.
So when Former Roommate Patchen brought me a box of Uncle Oinker's Gummy Bacon, I was beside myself.
Bacon gum? I'm kind of morbidly fascinated with it.
Thankfully, this gum doesn't try to taste like bacon -- at least, according to the box, it's strawberry-flavored. I haven't tried it yet (because I'm milking it for two blog entries).
There are four "slices" of the stuff in the box. It certainly ain't sugar free, either. Each slice has more than 50 calories. But, if Uncle Oinker eats it, so will I ...
... All 50-some of them.
Each one of them came with a hand-written Post-It note in an official Baltimore Sun envelope. As you can imagine, this process took several hours.
And my handwriting degenerated into a nearly un-readable scrawl by the end of the stack. Sorry, last few letter-getters.
Now comes the cool part: I want you to put your Midnight Sun magnet somewhere funny, and take a picture of it. You don't have to leave it there permanently -- just long enough to snap a photo.
Then, e-mail me the photo (sam.sessa@baltsun.com). I'll go through them all, and the funniest one wins a Midnight Sun Prize Pack ...
Continue reading "So I mailed the first batch of Midnight Sun magnets ..." »
It's been more than a year since the city accepted a statue of eccentric composer and Baltimore native Frank Zappa, and city officials are still not sure exactly where to put it.
The statue, valued at roughly $50,000, was a gift from a Lithuanian Zappa fan club. And officials are looking to place it in Fells Point.
Fells Point community groups approved a location at Fleet Street and South Broadway, according to Tracy Baskerville, director of communications for the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts. But the location is being reconsidered, she said.
"We're looking for a place where people will congregate," said Baskerville.
It could be another few months before the statue finds a permanent home in Fells Point, Baskerville said.
(Pictured is a Zappa statue in Lithuania, similiar to the Baltimore statue. AP photo.)
Who's got a spot on their fridge for a lovely little Midnight Sun magnet?
I know you do.
A box of super sweet Midnight Sun magnets landed on my desk today, compliments of the Baltimore Sun marketing department and our crew of community coordinators.
I don't have an exact figure, but there are a ton of these things in this box. I can't count them all. There are just too many.
That's why, if you e-mail me (sam.sessa@baltsun.com) your home address, I'll mail you one ASAP. Because, I mean, everybody could use a little Midnight Sun in their kitchen.
I'm going to carry some in my pockets and hand-deliver them to bars around town ...
Continue reading "Oh snap -- the Midnight Sun magnets are in!" »
It just keep getting better for singer/songwriter Jason Mraz.
Each of his three albums has charted higher and sold more copies than the one before it. "I'm Yours," the first single from his latest album, We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things, is still on the Billboard Hot 100 chart -- 66 weeks after its release.
Only one song has spent more time on the chart: "How Do I Live" by LeAnn Rimes, which stayed on the chart for 69 weeks.
Earlier today, I checked in with Mraz, who performs at Merriweather Post Pavilion tomorrow.
Congrats on this Billboard 100 thing, Jason. You're four weeks away from toppling LeAnn Rimes. That's gotta be big.
Yeah, I understand that that is happening. It's very exciting. I can't believe the world has taken to that song the way they have. I'm really, really stoked.
You think she'll call you and congratulate you if you break her record?
Jewel did. So maybe LeAnn will. Jewel was last week -- I tied with her last week. LeAnn shows up in two weeks. We'll see what happens.
What did Jewel say when she called you?
It was through texting, but we're supposed to speak this weekend. At first she was funny -- she was like, 'Oooh, it seems we're at war.' But now it's like, 'Congrats for doing it.' She was with me right when my career began. She gave me a couple of gigs and was really a big support. It was almost as if she was checking in. ...
Yeeeee-hooo!
That's what I said after finding out Midnight Sun won Best Blog in Baltimore Magazine's Best of Baltimore 2009: Reader's Poll. Dining@Large took second place, and foodandwineblog.com came in third.
I'd like to thank God and my beautiful wife and my parents (Dad, note how I didn't just say 'Mom'), and all of the little people I stepped on to get here. ...
Sorry it took me a few days to get to blogging about Artscape.
These days, I'm kind of the de facto music/nightlife/local entertainment reporter, which means I've been writing up a storm lately. And that, unfortunately, has kept me from blogging as much as I'd like.
Last Friday afternoon, I took a few hours and strolled around the sprawling Artscape festival grounds.
For me, some of the most interesting, innovative stuff was on Charles Street between Mount Royal Avenue and Lanvale Street ...
In case you (gasp!) didn't see today's print edition, it featured my centerpiece on alt-rock group Cake. Here's a link.
It was, perhaps, one of the more depressing -- but open -- interviews I've done recently. I spoke with front man and lead singer John McCrea (pictured, second from the left), who founded the band back in the early '90s.
McCrea sounded really downbeat and grumpy for some reason. I don't know why. Maybe that's just how he is. I played devil's advocate a bit and he got pretty riled up. Here are a couple quotes that didn't end up in the article.
"It wouldn't take much to push us off the edge, just the edge of being able to exist, being able to continue to exist as a band. ... It's getting easier and easier to be a big star on YouTube. But in terms of being able to eat food, that's getting almost impossible for all but a very, very few bands."
(The band sold out the 4,200-capacity Pier Six Pavilion in 2007 and sold out a two-night stand at the 9:30 Club in late May) ...
This is one of the wilder Baltimore music videos I've seen in a while. And though it starts to get a little monotonous after a while, the first few minutes are pretty funny.
Last night, when Tommy Tucker and the Supernaturals were in studio for a Baltimore Unsigned taping, Tucker told me he stripped naked in an abandoned countryside house to record the song. So it makes sense that he would head to The Block for the music video. Dig it:
After I wrote about Romulan Ale last week, Alexander D. Mitchell IV sent me this shot of "real" Romulan Ale.
No, not a "shot" as in a shot of liquor -- a "shot" as in a photograph.
From the way he describes it, Romulan Ale seems like pale ale dyed blue. And eventually, the dye stained the glass blue. Wonder what your stomach would look like if you drank it.
Yuck.
Apparently, this stuff was made in El Salvador. If I wrote a book called Drinks That Never Should Have Been, this would be in it.
Any other nominees?
Oh. My. Goodness.
A little while back, a dude dropped by the monthly Bar Bacon open mike comedy night at the Golden West Cafe (1105 W. 36th St.) dressed in full Dr. Doom costume. (Dr. Doom is the villain from the Fantastic Four). His routine was a stroke of genius: He told these corny "man walks into a bar" type jokes, but inserted members of the Fantastic Four into them ...
Since January 2008, Erik Spangler and Brian Sacawa have been organizing off-kilter shows as part of the Contemporary Museum's Mobtown Modern concert series.
But this Saturday, they're going to take it to a new level.
Spangler and Sacawa have put together a performance of Mauricio Kagel's "Eine Brise (A Breeze)," a performance art piece that involves no less than 111 cyclists whooshing, whistling and ringing bells as they ride by.
They're not disclosing the route they'll take, but they're gathering outside the Metro Gallery (1700 N. Charles St.) at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Here's a link to a piece I wrote about the event, with more details.
(Baltimore Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr.)
You've already heard about Fumbles: The Sports Bar for Losers. Now, witness my latest wickedly awesome bar concept: Big Kidz Sports Bar.
It's like Dave and Busters. But not lame. Or, maybe, awesomely lame -- like, lame dipped in chocolate.
Basically this bar would take everything we enjoyed as kids (and possibly early teens*) and bring them into a bar setting.
I'm talking about a giant indoor dodgeball court. A swing set. Those springy things (pictured). Monkey bars. A big slide (wax paper costs $.50 a sheet). An Activity Zone. Possibly mini-golf. Possibly.
There would be a sandbox, complete with miniature John Deere tractors and an adult-sized, semi-mechanized digger (like this).
And then of course, standard games like corn hole, beer pong, shuffleboard and the like.
When I compiled the list of the best places to watch the fireworks tonight, outside of the crowded Inner Harbor pavilion scene, I left one great spot out: Tabrizi's, (500 Harborview Dr.). I don't know why I didn't include Tabrizi's in the list ...
Continue reading "Another place to watch the fireworks tonight" »
As a journalist, I get all sorts of weird e-mails from attention-seeking press agents. But I think this has to be one of the most random ones I've gotten in a while:
BEE GEES HONORED WITH POSTAGE STAMPS IN THEIR BIRTHPLACE
Issued Today, Isle Of Man's Eight-Stamp Set Salutes Hitmaking Native Sons
Umm ... OK ...
Thanks again for posting your suggestions for offbeat places to catch Saturday's downtown fireworks display.
I came up with about a dozen options outside of the Inner Harbor.
They include (but aren't limited to) Bo Brooks, Tide Point Waterfront Park, Canton Waterfront Park, Shuckers, the Bay Cafe and more.
Here's a link to the piece, which ran in today's paper.
(Baltimore Sun archive photo)
Why? Because it's my blog and I'll write about Lady Gaga if I want to.
Lady Gaga makes me giggle.
She's saturated with sexuality. Her wardrobes are so over the top. Her image is pure plastic.
But I can't imagine that she takes herself seriously. She's got to be in on the joke. Right?
Look at this photo of her. She's wearing some kind of cyborg spacesuit dress, she's got what appears to be a cutesy blonde wig draped over one eye, and then the kicker: She's rocking a keytar.
Awesome!
Unfamiliar with the keytar? Witness this.
Awesome!
...
Continue reading "Let's talk about Lady Gaga for a second" »
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 ...
Continue reading "Some news, some notes, some whatnots" »
The wave of Michael Jackson tributes isn't over yet.
Last night, radio station 92Q held a Jackson candlelight vigil outside its offices. Hundreds of MJ fans turned out to show their support for the late pop star.
Here are some photos from the vigil.
Thursday, Bourbon Street (316 Guilford Ave.) is throwing a College Night Thriller party, complete with Jackson videos and music.
Anyone that shows up wearing a white glove will be eligible to win door prizes, bar tabs, etc. ...
Continue reading "More Michael Jackson tributes planned in Baltimore" »
Take a look at this painting.
It took me a few seconds to even notice that Jesus is holding a small frying pan with an egg in it.
The name of the piece? "Eggs Benedict." Hee hee.
"Eggs Benedict" was done by a Baltimore-based artist named Emily Uchytil (dig her site).
I first saw Emily's work hanging in the Idle Hour (201 E. Fort Ave.) a couple months ago. I sent her an e-mail asking her more about her work, but never heard back.
Either way, I really like this piece.
Great stuff, Emily.
At first, it seems like another innocent stretch of sidewalk.
But when you hoof it on Fleet Street by the Maryland Athletic Club, the smell suddenly smacks you right in the face: popcorn.
Not just any popcorn, either.
I'm talking about rich, buttery movie theater popcorn -- the kind they serve in big paper bags and charge an arm and a leg for, but if you're a popcorn fanatic like me, you pay it anyway.
The source of this awesome scent is the Landmark Theatre around the corner on President Street. There must be some kind of vent that goes straight from popcorn booth at the concession stand to the sidewalk on Fleet Street ...
Before I became a city slicker, I was a backwoods hick.
And as a backwoods hick, I've always liked plants. It's in my blood. My great-grandfather was a farmer, my grandfather was a farmer, my father was a farmer, and, for a time, I was a farmer too. Spinach, if you care to know.
If you're like me and you dig greenery, I highly recommend checking out the U.S. Botanical Garden in Washington.
It's free (which, as we all know, makes everything better), and has a ton of wild, beautiful plants.
I think my personal favorite was the pitcher plant, a carnivorous species which grows large pitcher-shaped jugs with a saliva-like substance inside. Flies and other small creatures slip into the jugs and are digested. Yum. In the jungle, these bad boys get so big they catch rats and snakes. Dig it.
I also enjoyed the bull's horn acacia ...
Sorry about not posting as much as normal today, gang. Michael Jackson's death has thrown all my plans for today out the window.
A little while ago, I finished this roundup of Jackson-related events at bars and clubs around town. If you know of any more stuff like this going on, let me know.
I also just added a few thoughts to a great MJ remembrance by Sun writer Jill Rosen (of OC bar roundup fame), which should be out in print this weekend.
(AP photo)
Michael Jackson didn't just leave his stamp on pop music -- he irreversibly changed it.
From his early days as the pint-sized, Afro-sporting lead singer of the Jackson 5 to his astronomical success as a solo artist in the 1980s, Michael Jackson undeniably earned his title as the King of Pop.
If you listened to top 40 radio in the '70s, '80s or '90s, Jackson was inescapable. His album sales topped 750 million worldwide, and his 13 No. 1 singles and Grammy awards made him into a global celebrity.
In 1983, Jackson stunned audiences with the moonwalk, which, to this day, remains one of pop culture's most famous and enduring dance moves.
But as Jackson's popularity grew, his eccentric behavior and ever-changing physical appearance began to overshadow his many musical achievements. A chilling 2003 documentary with Martin Bashir titled Living With Michael Jackson foreshadowed a trial for child molestation. Jackson was later found not guilty, but the negative perception would plague him for the rest of his life.
In recent years, Jackson struggled financially, and was said to be on the brink of bankruptcy. His death today at age 50 is an abrupt end to a brilliant but bizarre life.
(AP photo)
What musicians made the most money in the past year?
Forbes just released its annual list of the top-earning musicians (from June 2008 to June 2009), and the top three spots are:
1. Madonna (pictured), $110 million
2. Celine Dion, $100 million
3. Beyonce, $87 million
Forbes estimated the musicians' gross earnings by tallying album sales, publishing rights and endorsements from Billboard, Pollstar and Nielsen SoundScan.
According to Forbes, the top 10 highest-grossing musicians piled up just about $719 million this past year, compared with $500 million the year before.
The reasons for the surge? Ticket prices are up $5 on average, which is the largest price hike in years, Forbes reports.
(AP photo)
Think back ten years. Heck, maybe 15 years.
Back then, if a new band had a hit single, people went to the record store and bought the CD. That's how I ended up with Tubthumper by Chumbawamba and Fush Yu Mang by Smash Mouth. I probably paid $17.99 each for those CDs. When I realized that both of those albums kind of stunk (except for the singles), I grumbled a bit. But what could I do?
When the Internet blew up, everything was turned upside down ...
I read news like this and it reminds me of Marvin Gaye's incredible album What's Going On. Believe it or not, I had never sat down and listened to the entire album in one sitting until a few weeks ago ...
Midnight Sun and bacon vodka go back. Way back.
And it was only a matter of time before a mainstream (legal) bacon vodka hit the market.
If there ever was a time for bacon vodka, that time was now.
So, without further delay, ladies and gents, I give you: Bakon Vodka.
oooooooooooooooooh SNAP!
As you see, it's not just Bacon Vodka. Oh no. It's Bacon with a "K"!
Edgy stuff, man. Hee hee.
I seriously am game to try it. Has anybody else tried this particular brand of it? ...
Continue reading "Bacon vodka lives!" »
This is a much less funny version of the Overhead section* of Mobtown Shank. If you've never read the Shank's roundup of wacky Overheards, you should.
The setting: Rams Head Live, about an hour before the Beastie Boys are to take the stage.
The players: A blonde woman walks up to a security staffer at Rams Head Live
Woman: Hey, what's the deal with seating here?
Security staffer: We don't have seating.
Woman, in a Legally Blonde voice: Seriously?!?!?!?
*Careful, there is some profanity in the Overheard section. Just a heads up.
When Midnight Sun reader Allan first told me about Bad Luck 13, I was shocked, appalled and wildly interested in the group.
DISCLAIMER: I, Allan, do not endorse, nor condone, some of the things I’m about to write about.
That said, let me introduce you to the Bad Luck 13 Riot Extravaganza. It’s a name that strikes terror and salivation into avid hardcore fans and sends bar and club owners scrambling for better property insurance.
If, for some crazy reason, you found yourself at show with these guys and didn’t know what was coming, you might as well write your last will and testament on the nearest bar napkin.
To start it off, Bad Luck 13, is a hardcore/metal act from Philly, comprised of 13 members. They’re notorious for having the most absurd, brutal, and dangerous stage shows in recent history. Violence, pyrotechnics, and sometimes unwilling audience participation are often the norm.
And before you go thinking to yourself, "I saw Metallica/Seether/Papa Roach at Hammerjacks, and I was fine," think again. These shows are absolute war zones. Words can barely describe them, but I’ll try ...
For years, I've been meaning to post a photo of my growler. I don't know why it's taken me this long, but here it is.
Ain't she a beauty? Heh.
Honestly, I don't care too much what it looks like, as long as it holds beer.
I picked up this growler a couple years ago at DuClaw Brewing Co. in Fells Point. If I remember corretly, it cost $15.
I had the option of paying an additional $10 to fill it with DuClaw beer, but I'm not a huge fan of DuClaw's stuff.
This made for a rather awkward moment when I bought the growler ...
By way of popdirt:
Robbie Williams (pictured) says he's still embarrassed about a drugged-out chat he had with U2 frontman Bono a while back.
"I was at this party and completely and totally off my face -- mushrooms, Ecstasy ... And I was staring at this painting for ages," Williams tells Stuff magazine.
"I was just mesmerized by it. And Bono comes up and asks, 'Robbie, what are you doing?' And I said, 'Bono, man, this [bleeping] painting is incredible.'
And he went, 'Robbie, that’s the window.'"
(AP photo)
Here's a look at that chicken I was telling you about. It's about 15 feet tall and weighs 7,500 lbs.
It's called the Great Key West Chicken, and was made by Maryland artist Derek Arnold.
This is one chicken you don't wanna mess with.
What does it have to do with music? Not much, really. But it certainly helps spruce up Merriweather.
I got a peak at Merriweather's new Music Pinball Hall of Fame yesterday, which is also pretty cool ...
Continue reading "The Merriweather chicken statue" »
Read Street Dave's timely, tasty comment about drinking moonshine got me thinking about the backyard brew I scored in college. I think it may have saved my life. Or almost killed me. I'm still not sure.
My freshman year, I went to the Sunshine Daydream Festival in Terra Alta, West Virginia.
Ever been up that way? It's good country. But I was totally unprepared. I brought one blanket and one change of clothes. It snowed.
I vividly remember huddling around a fire at 4:30 a.m. in the mountains as snow fell, afraid I might freeze if I fell asleep.
Someone was selling Mason jars full of fruit-flavored moonshine, and my buddy bought a whole bunch of it and passed it around. Each jar had little chunks of fruit floating near the top.
We could tell it was good stuff because even though it was freezing outside, none of the moonshine froze. That was probably the only good thing about it ...
The June issue of Baltimore Magazine has a lovely little shout out to Baltimore Unsigned, the local music show I host on WTMD. The show is No. 69 on B-Mag's list of 101 Things To Eat, See & Do Before You Die.
Since the list isn't online yet (probably because it's not June), here is what the blurb says ...
Frequent Midnight Sun commenter Jason has stepped up to the plate to produce this questionnaire of local entertainment happenings:
A lot of things happen in Baltimore which make people either happy or mad one day and then they disappear the next.
By the end of the year, Baltimore will see a few more changes that we can either look forward to or blog against. I was wondering if anybody has any updates on the following:
1. Bar openings: The Reserve (in the old Charlottes) should be opening soon -- I have been told within the next month. The Rowhouse Grille is still being worked on and The Hill should open next week.
Whatever happened to The Fed on Light Street next to Dunkin Donuts? The owner of Rub is opening a place in Silo Point this summer and Sam reported on work at Bar.
We also have to look forward to Avery's Pearl where the old Vine used to be on Hanover Street ...
The coincidence of economic collapse and spring in Baltimore has led to a spate of stay-at-home drinking among my circle of friends.
And thanks to my porch, the home everyone’s drinking at is mine. Which, mostly, is a good thing.
I’ve lived in a few towns with traditions of boozing on porches, so I fully support the cause.
Here are a few guidelines for those who participate in the Sport of King’s Cabin, N.C.:
And just like that, I'm off on my honeymoon. Whoosh! Don't worry, though -- I've left you some great guest posts from some delightful guest commenters. Remember Owl Meat Gravy? Here he is:
I was sitting at my desk squirting Purell directly into my mouth on Monday morning when I caught my reflection in the computer monitor. "What am I doing?" I said to myself.
Like a message from God, a voice inside me said, "This would be better if it tasted like tequila instead of potpourri." If only there was a way to sanitize my hands and get my gel swerve crankin' too. Reason number 637 of why America is great: PocketShots.
PocketShots are 50 ml (1.7 oz.) squeeze packets of alcohol gel preferred by discerning ladies in ill-fitting tube tops everywhere. The container looks like the worst (best) tiny IV bag ever. They contain 80 proof alcohol as gin, vodka, rum, tequila or "Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged Four Years."...
Continue reading "Pocketshots: My new squeeze" »
Sunny beaches and various adventures await.
I'll be back May 27.
Don't worry though -- I've lined up about 20 guest posts from old friends and new favorites.
Oh, and before I forget, The Hill will have its soft opening this time next week.
Elizabeth Large should have more details between now and then.
See ya!
(AP photo)
As an entertainment writer/editor, I get some pretty weird stuff in the mail.
Most of it, I either throw away, give away or award as prizes to loyal Midnight Sun commenters.
But I've just got to post a bit about Vapor Water. It's some new brand of water from a company named Arizona.
Side note: Why would you name your company after a state, which (I thought) didn't have much water to begin with?
Anyway, on the back of the sizable (33.8 oz.) bottle, it says:
A perfectly balanced blend of electrolytes in every thirst-quenching sip.
If every sip is thirst-quenching, why does it come in such a big bottle?
(Photo by me)
By now, you had better know what that means.
But, for posterity's sake, I'll say it again: Who so ever posteth the 12,000th comment shall win cool stuff. Need something to discuss? How about this: Besides the mojito and the gin and tonic, what is the best summer cocktail?
Go!
A colleague of mine, Michael Dresser, wants to know if you're going to (or avoiding) Preakness because of the new anti-BYOB policies.
He's working on a piece from the paper, and needs to hear from you.
Call him at 410.332.6175 or e-mail him at michael.dresser@baltsun.com
Michael is curious if more or fewer people will hit up Pimlico on Saturday. Remember -- it's now illegal to bring your own wine and beer, and there will be live music from ZZ Top, Buckcherry and the Charm City Devils.
Hit him up and tell him what you think.
(Sun photo by Karl Merton Ferron)
Two years ago today, ladies and gentlemen, I wrote the very first post on Midnight Sun.
At the time, I had no idea that Midnight Sun would eventually consume my life. And I could have never guessed that I would have as much fun writing a blog as writing a story or column for the paper.
Since there are (almost) no rules on Midnight Sun, I have this incredible amount of freedom in terms of style and voice. I've grown so much as a writer since Midnight Sun started.
Anyhow, enough of the boring stuff.
When Midnight Sun first launched, it was supposed to be an outlet for Baltimore Sun LIVE writers and editors. Heh, well, that didn't quite pan out like we planned. And the LIVE section itself ate the dust some months back.
But Midnight Sun continues to grow. Back in the day, I used to average about 1,000 page views a week. These days, it's more like 25,000 page views a week. In two years, I have written more than 1,600 entries and gotten almost 12,000 comments.
I love the community of commenters that has come together over the years. I remember thinking, "Wow, somebody actually reads my stuff." Because before Midnight Sun, I rarely ever got feedback on my writing.
And who could forget some of the wilder threads we've had on here ...
Are nightmares contagious?
One day after Sun restaurant critic/blogger Elizabeth Large had a nightmare about being recognized in the Milton Inn, I too had a vivid, terrible nightmare. Mine was much more intense, though.
I was a child, and my friend and I had snuck up to the house of a certain Baltimore nightlife/entertainment/real estate mogul who shall remain nameless. Let's call him Bob for the sake of this story.
So there we are, crouching by Bob's house, trying to see what's going on inside, when we hear someone coming. We scatter into the nearby trees, as Bob comes out of the house with another guy. I run a little ahead of my friend, so that we are separated by about 50 yards.
Here is where it gets wild ...
And believe me, I can't wait. It's been a crazy week.
I took off next week to move into Amie's place and help with the last-minute details for the wedding. Thankfully, a number of Midnight Sun commenters came through with guests posts to cover me while I'm gone.
I'll be back May 6, but will be on vacation again May 18-27 for our honeymoon. So I still need guest posts from people. If you have an idea, e-mail a 300-400 word nightlife-related blog item to me, and I'll toss it up on Midnight Sun. My e-mail is sam.sessa@baltsun.com
I think the best covers give you a new appreciation for the original songs.
I've always liked Blondie's "Heart of Glass," probably because I like disco funk. But I never paid too much attention to the lyrics, until I heard this cover. It's by a Charlottesville-based Americana group called Old School Freight Train.
Take a couple of minutes and watch this music video. The best part comes about 3:40 minutes into it.
Continue reading "A cover song that's better than the original" »
I've put the call out before, and I'm putting it out again: Who out there wants to write for me ... for free?!?!? I'm gettin' hitched next month, and I'm sure as heck not blogging on my honeymoon.
Come on, gang! Elizabeth Large's band of pranksters come up with tons of stuff every week. I'm just trying to be a freeloader here. Holler at me 410-332-6689 or, uh, e-mail at me sam.sessa@baltsun.com.
"I've got my swim trunks and my flippy-floppys. I'm flipping burgers. You're at Kinko's straight flipping copies."
Hee hee.
Midnight Sun commenter Allan sent me this e-mail:
This Web site is devoted to sending aid to children affected by war, in various parts of the world. It provides education, food, shelter, and other basic living needs.
As if that wasn't cool enough, they put out an album of covers of some of the biggest acts in the music biz. Now, the neat part is the original artists got to choose who they wanted to cover their songs.
The results are actually pretty cool, and worth a good listen to on youtube. Case in point: The Hold Steady (pictured) covering Bruce Springsteen's "Atlantic City."
(Getty Images for the Tribeca Film Festival)
Last year's best single was Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" according to Washington Post humor columnist Gene Weingarten.
Why? The phrase "shouldaputa."
I'll second that.
And though it's still too early to tell, I think this year's best phrase could very well be "steppin' on leprechauns" from "Boom Boom Pow" by the Black Eyed Peas (pictured).
Think about it: Steppin' on leprechauns!
I love it! It just rolls right off your tongue.
(AP photo)
That's what Editor Sarah calls the retail chain store Bed Bath and Beyond. I mentioned this to Midnight Sun commenter Allan, who said Bloodbath and Beyond would be a great name for a metal band.
Looks like someone had the very same thought. and as far as metal bands go, these guys aren't half bad, either. Weird.
Sun Food Empress Elizabeth Large, who sits near me at work, just asked,
"Sam, do you know what Snoop Dogg calls himself these days?"
I'm particularly proud of this piece in today's paper.
Several Baltimore-based artists, musicians and photographers have started using the economic downturn as inspiration for their art.
They've made some really interesting stuff. The article is worth a read, if I do say so myself.
Pictured is Andres Zapata, a Web designer who chopped up his old credit cards to make this sinister-looking piece called Plastic. Check out the project he started, called Recession Nation.
(Sun photo by Chiaki Kawajiri)
Last week, Midnight Sun scribe Lindsey Citron did a little digging and came up with a pretty extensive list of totally different songs that share the same name.
There are some pretty wild ones, and I'm sure Lindsey just scratched the tip of the iceberg. So feel free to add yours to the list. Here goes:
"[Female Dog]" -- The Rolling Stones vs. Meredith Brooks
The figurative versus the literal.
"Vienna" -- Billy Joel (pictured) vs. The Fray
The Fray takes on the lonely aspect of a foreign city, while Billy Joel romanticizes the idea of leaving it all behind. ...
Continue reading "Same name, different song. Which one wins?" »
"Early to rise and early to bed makes a man healthy, wealthy and socially dead."
"It's the ultimate Socialist conspiracy."
That's what one of my coworkers said when I told him about the closing of Record and Tape Traders in Catonsville.
Backstory here.
Basically, it all boils down to this: There is now a generation of young adults who believe music, movies, art, photography and news should be free. Gee, thanks, Internet.
There are many other factors at play here, of course, but this is a big reason why thousands of people in the journalism and music businesses are losing their jobs.
And though I'm no political idealist, when I think about it, it really seems to be cultural socialism at its finest ...
Continue reading "I've seen the future and I'm not sure I like it." »
I secretly write for the Wall Street Journal using an alias.
(And thanks to Patchen for the link.)
I was at the University of Maryland School of Medicine's annual Match Day to see what future awaited Amie, my fiancee. She's going to graduate in May, and was hoping to get into a dermatology program ...
This photo is from Patrick Smith (check out his site), a buddy of mine who interned at The Sun a while back and is now a freelancer. He covered the Senator Theatre conference last night for the Associated Press, and this was one of the leftovers ...