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Guess who came to visit?

2020-05-02T15:56:00.000-04:00

Baltimore Grand Prix - Congratulations Will Power!

2011-09-04T21:16:00.008-04:00

Will Power wins inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix

Will Power's #12 Verizon Team Penske Dallara/Honda/Firestone

BALTIMORE (AP) – Will Power wrapped his hand around a big bottle of champagne, shook it up, let the bubbly fly and took a long drink. What better way to celebrate an absolutely perfect weekend?

Power put on a masterful performance Sunday over a difficult street course to win the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix. The Australian deftly negotiated hairpin turns and confidently gripped the wheel over bumpy roads to earn his second straight win and career-high sixth of the season.

Power had the best time in Friday's practice session, captured the pole Saturday, then led in 70 of the 75 laps to earn the $35,000 top prize. "I'm just exhausted," Power said, "but that was a championship run."

Spain's Oriol Servia finished second, 10.2096 seconds back, and Tony Kanaan of Brazil was third. Kanaan lost his brakes during a practice run Sunday morning, soared over Helio Castroneves' car and had to drive a backup. Read the rest here and other news here.

Baltimore Grand Prix, continued again

2011-09-04T21:09:00.002-04:00

Check out the Firestone Fast 6 from Baltimore at --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=d3pObViiY3g

and here are Will Power and Dario Franchitti on Baltimore Quals --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0SEBy4gwE8&feature=relmfu

Baltimore Grand Prix, continued

2011-09-02T16:36:00.003-04:00

The practice runs have begun -- vroom, vroom --

The Inaugural 2011 Baltimore Grand Prix

2011-09-01T19:42:00.012-04:00

Bleachers along Light Street

Light Street facing north

Indy 500 Rookie of the Year Simona De Silvestro's newly sponsored Entergy Nuclear Unites/HVM Racing car. Check out how she demos it in front of Camden Yards at --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlFtg2YLZ9k&feature=related

Excitement is in the air -- the Grand Prix will be taking place this Labor Day weekend on the streets of Charm City.

Check out the virtual lap of the new Baltimore Grand Prix Circuit at --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbDXDT7Ykzg&feature=player_embedded

Also --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=963TzAaLu9I&feature=related

and the schedule --
http://www.baltimoregrandprix.com/schedule.cfm

FDA Okays Shingles Vaccine for Younger Age Group

2011-03-25T11:43:00.012-04:00

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/FDAGeneral/25532

By Cole Petrochko, Staff Writer, MedPage Today
Published: March 24, 2011
WASHINGTON -- The FDA has approved use of the varicella zoster vaccine Zostavax in patients ages 50 to 59 for prevention of shingles.

The vaccine was approved in 2006 for prevention of shingles in patients 60 and older.

Approval for the new indication was based on a 22,000-patient multicenter study in the U.S. and four other countries. Patients ages 50 to 59 were randomized equally to the vaccine or placebo and were followed for a year.

Shingles risk was 70% lower in the treatment group than in the placebo group.

Adverse events in the study included injection site redness, pain, and swelling, as well as headache.

Shingles affects some 200,000 healthy patients in the newly approved younger age group each year in the U.S., an FDA statement said.

"The likelihood of shingles increases with age. The availability of Zostavax to a younger age group provides an additional opportunity to prevent this often painful and debilitating disease," Karen Midthun, MD, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research said in the statement.

The vaccine is manufactured by Merck.

*******************************************************************************************************

Late-breaking news: FDA expands approval of shingles vaccinehttp://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/FDA+Approvals/Late-breaking-news-FDA-expands-approval-of-shingle/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/713419?contextCategoryId=40152

Publish date: 3.25.2011
By: Formulary staff

... Zostavax is the only shingles vaccine licensed for use in the United States.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 3 people will experience shingles in their lifetime and nearly 1 million cases of shingles occur each year. The incidence and severity of shingles increase with age. Once a person has had chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus stays inside the body and can resurface later as shingles.

Zostavax is not indicated for the treatment of shingles or postherpetic neuralgia, or for the prevention of chickenpox. Zostavax is contraindicated for individuals who are allergic to any of its ingredients, including gelatin or neomycin; have a weakened immune system; or take high doses of steroids. It is also contraindicated for individuals who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Vaccination with Zostavax may not result in protection of all vaccine recipients.

Zostavax is currently on back order. Merck will continue to release doses of Zostavax as supply becomes available, but as inventory is building, back orders will still occur. Timely information about the shipping schedule for ZOSTAVAX can be found at MerckVaccines.com.

My Phalaenopsis hybrid

2010-10-27T00:32:00.005-04:00

It was the only one of the ones I entered in the SOS orchid show which won an individual award. It was placed second and won a red ribbon. I'm as pleased as Punch.

Update: Upon checking the official printed results later, not only did my Phalaenopsis hybrid win an individual award, all the other three orchids I entered in the 2010 Susquehanna Orchid Society (SOS) 27th Annual Show also won individual awards. The Psychopsis Memoria Bill Carter and the Aliceara Pacific Nova also placed second. The Odontobrassia FANGtastic Bob Henley came in third in its category. Hurray!

2010 Susquehanna Orchid Society (SOS) 27th Annual Show

2010-10-22T23:33:00.004-04:00

I entered four of my orchids in the SOS show. Can you guess which ones ... in the photo below?

Okay, below are the four. A ribbon for any of them? I shall let you know when I find out.

Odontobrassia FANGtastic Bob Henley

Aliceara Pacific Nova

Phalaenopsis hybrid

Psychopsis Memoria Bill Carter

and a close-up of the Psychopsis Memoria Bill Carter bloom.
.

Nicole aftermath

2010-10-01T10:49:00.013-04:00

According to the Denver Post Wire Report

POSTED: Friday 10/01/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT

"RALEIGH, N.C. — A massive rainstorm drenched the East Coast from the Carolinas to Maine on Thursday, causing at least four deaths, flooding roads and washing away months of dry weather. The rain was part of a system moving ahead of the remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole, which dissipated over the Straits of Florida on Wednesday."

What a difference a few hours make! The water has now receded from the esplanade along the Pratt Street Pavilion in Harborplace.

USS Constellation, Pratt Street Pavilion (with green roof) & Baltimore World Trade Center (top right)

Remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole

2010-10-01T03:52:00.012-04:00

Notice the masts of the partially obscured USS Constellation in the background

Baltimore World Trade Center (top left) & to the right of it(?) -- yes, the National Aquarium in Baltimore

See what Nicole did to the Inner Harbor yesterday (Thursday September 30, 2010) -- flooding the esplanade along the Pratt Street Pavilion at Harborplace!

How about in Baltimore County? Read it here.

Roasted Broccoli per Michael Schulson

2010-09-30T16:05:00.003-04:00

Let him show you how he prepares it here. Yum...

The Summer Baltimore Restaurant Week draws to a close tonight...

2010-08-22T22:28:00.021-04:00

... however, several participating restaurants have extended their Restaurant Week specials but not all of them, for example, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar has not. The latter was where we enjoyed dinner on this official final 2010 Summer Restaurant Week day.

THE MENU

EXECUTIVE CHEF RUSSELL SKALL
The Master of the Menu

THE TABLE IS SET

ROSEMARY BREAD
Chardonay-infused feta cheese and tomato basil butter

FLEMING'S SALAD
seasonal greens, candied walnuts, dried cranberries, tomatoes and croutons

BARBECUE SCOTTISH SALMON FtILLET
Three mushroom salad, barbecue glaze

6 OZ PETITE FILET MIGNON

CREAMED SPINACH

MASHED POTATOES

CRÈME BRÛLÉE
creamy tahitian vanilla bean custard served with fresh seasonal berries

"NEW YORK" STYLE CHEESECAKE

AND SOME EYE-CATCHING PENDANT LIGHTS

Lebanese cuisine for dinner tonight -

2010-08-21T22:12:00.008-04:00

at the Lebanese Taverna Baltimore restaurant which says that it is "a part of the most exciting urban development project in all of Baltimore, the new Baltimore East Harbor. Surrounded by great hotels and retail stores, and near attractions of the Inner Harbor such as the Baltimore Aquarium, Baltimore Maritime Museum, and the Maryland Science Center, this convenient location will soon become one of your favorites!"

"Our story" by Tanios Abi-Najm

The Abi-Najm Family

The menu

Indoor or outdoor seating

Fresh pita bread with sesame seeds olive oil dip

Fried Artichokes
Crisp fried whole artichoke hearts with lemon-garlic butter

Kibbeh Nayeh
Lamb tartar with mint and onion and drizzled with olive oil

Lamb Three Ways Featuring Elysian Fields Premium Lamb
Grilled double chop rack of lamb with lamb reduction; T-bone with three herb sauce; and braised Lamb over spiced rice. Served with roasted vegetables

Whole Broiled Bronzino
Mediterranean seabass over saffron cous cous and chick pea pilaf, crispy onions and lemon cilantro sauce

Awamet
Lebanese donuts with honey-saffron syrup and yogurt milk pudding

Coffee & Baklava
Chocolate Arabic coffee custard with marshmallow cream and baklava

Dinner at Kali's Court in Charm City

2010-08-21T01:26:00.003-04:00

"Our menus are based on market-fresh, seasonal ingredients. They change daily. " Kali's Court Restaurant says. "Impeccable seafood with a Mediterranean flair"!

The entrance

Here we come

Inside and out

Catch of the Day display case

Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and company on display

Dinner is being served

Albino Anchovy Salad Fennel, organic greens, red onions, endive, toasted almonds and truffled vinaigrette

Pear and Walnut Salad Organic baby greens, goat cheese, apple cider vinaigrette, and port wine syrup

Bouillabaisse Cold water lobster, shrimp, mussels, and seasonal fish, braised in a saffron-tomato broth. Served with fresh toasted bread

Wild Halibut with Yuzu-Ginger Relish Vegetable stir fry, sticky rice, green curry-coconut sauce

Kataifi, Baklava, Galaktaboureko with fresh strawberries

Fun day in Lititz [in Pennsylvania]...

2010-08-19T13:48:00.014-04:00

... whose sister city is Kunvald [a village north of Žamberk in the Ústí nad Orlicí Distric t, in the Pardubice Region in the Czech Republic] established on June 11, 2006. Lititz is also the home of the Wilbur Chocolate Company. Remember the Wilbur bud? Yum! Guess what I came home with? Yes, you guessed it, Wilbur buds

Dark chocolate Wilbur Buds

and, sigh, I could not resist acquiring this handmade fountain. Alas, the creator was not there to explain what inspired him to create this piece.

Cat and mouse fountain - one of a kind

Gotcha!

Lunch at Thaiwat

2010-08-19T01:06:00.005-04:00

Located in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania - our favorite Thai restaurant in the area and we recommend it very highly. Thaiwat serves delicious authentic traditional Thai cuisine, has a professional friendly staff and is beautifully decorated. Check it out!

Welcome letter from Jamie

Restaurant review featured in Berks County Living September 2009

Welcoming statue

Menu cover

Another menu cover

Lunch menu

Pineapple fried rice

Mussamam curry with chicken

Latest acquisition from Thailand - a fountain

Monday dinner at Meli American Bistro

2010-08-17T00:53:00.007-04:00

Here we are

Inside Meli

Look who's out there

Seared Diver Scallops
Honey Powder & Pancetta Crusted w/
Green Apple Polenta, Acacia Honey

"Maryland Style" Crab Cakes
Petite Greens, Smoked Paprika Aioli

Duo of Duck
Braised Confit Leg, Honey Wine Poached Pears, Duck Bread Pudding, Orange Segment

Lavender Honey Glazed Salmon
Peruvian Potatoes, Baby Bok Choy, Sauterne Reduction

Galaktaboureko

Kataifi

Sunday dinner at Pazo

2010-08-16T12:09:00.010-04:00

Pazo Sunflower Seed Tuile

recipe here

Pugliese bread served with grilled local veggies with Greek yoghurt & fresh herbs dip

Calamari A La Planxa, Arbequina olive oil, Meyer lemon

Wood Grilled Mushrooms

Heirloom Tomatoes, La Peral blue cheese, Basil

Broccoli a la Plancha, Pecorino, Chili Oil

Heads on shrimps

Tapas Pizza "Siciliana", roasted red peppers, oil-cured olives & oregano

Wood Grilled Lamb Chop, Pomegranate, Arugula

Arroz con Leche, cardamom rice pudding, bitter orange, dates, pistachio tuile

and a beautiful painting

Pazo writes..."Pazo ('a Galician word meaning "grand house"') is located in a rustic yet chic two-floor venue with an open kitchen, plush booths, mezzanine dining and a posh-meets-earthy bar/lounge. The hedonistic Western Mediterranean peasant cuisine includes the classic tables of Sicily, Sardinia, Campania and Catalonia."

Upstairs and downstairs

Mezzanine dining

Bar upstairs

and bar downstairs

Dinner at the B&O American Brasserie

2010-08-15T14:55:00.004-04:00

...located at the Hotel Monaco during the Baltimore Summer Restaurant Week.

The kitchen

Wall hanging

Citrus Poached Shrimp with chili cocktail sauce

Meatball Flatbread with mozzarella and torn basil

Creekstone Farms Hanger Steak Frites with duck fat fries, pickled red onion, mizuna and chimmichurri

Braised "Buffalo" Duck Leg with seared watermelon, Napa "slaw" and tater tots

Mixed Berry Cobbler with whipped crème fraiche

Another wall hanging!

Baltimore Summer Restaurant Week has begun

2010-08-15T14:40:00.001-04:00

Check the details here.

"It's been a long time since Baltimore's Inner Harbor had wetlands and it would take a long time to bring them back." CBS

2010-08-13T22:58:00.002-04:00

Read about it here and here.

Near Baltimore's World Trade Center

Close-up of above floating islands of rooting marsh grasses

Another location of floating marsh grasses - across from the Hard Rock Cafe

Harborplace at the Inner Harbor in Charm City celebrating 30 years

2010-08-13T22:22:00.008-04:00

Crab sculpture - front design

Crab sculpture - back design

Daniel Scocco's list of best online flash games

2010-08-10T10:44:00.001-04:00

Check them out here.

Dinner in Charm City ...

2010-08-09T22:35:00.004-04:00

... at Thai Yum, formerly known as the Ten-O-Six restaurant

Menu cover

Steamed dumplings

Chicken satay

Vegetarian spring roll

Beef massaman curry

Orange roughy in ginger sauce

Baked meringue Thai tea ice cream

Thai coconut crème brûlée

And last, but not least, a wall decoration

Psychopsis Mendenhall 'Hildos', continuing saga

2010-08-09T15:46:00.004-04:00

Bud here has now become a bloom...

...and it will soon open up to look like this again.