Blog updates

Capital Kennel Club show concludes [Mutts]

2008-07-07T07:34:00-05:00

I'ts the Miss USA of dog shows -- a canine competition in which talents take a back seat and beauty and "conformation" rule.

You'll find no demonstrations of agility, no displays of obedience. It doesn't matter if contestants can catch a Frisbee or track a fox.

Yesterday's National Capital Kennel Club conformation show at the Howard County Fairgrounds was the equivalent of a beauty pageant for dogs, Sun reporter Laura Barnhardt writes in today's paper, "a very big beauty pageant."

More than 1,500 canines representing more than 150 breeds too their turns prancing before judges and admirers for a chance to win the coveted "Best in Show" ribbon.

The event used to be held on the National Mall and was a social event in Washington, attended by ambassadors and senators.

The competition was the last in four days of dog shows at the suburban fairgrounds. The back-to-back events draw breeders from across the country, and each day's competition offers the dogs a chance to earn points toward "champion" titles.

What a weekend... [The Beach Life]

2008-07-07T07:15:42-05:00

This holiday weekend had a little bit of everything. Crowds, fireworks, rain, lightning and endless sirens. The storm that nearly canceled the fireworks on Friday was more spectacular than the show itself. After a line of thunderstorms approached Ocean City, officials bumped up the start time to 8:30 p.m. I'm sure a lot of people got caught on the walk to their favorite location when they starting hearing the explosions. Normally, fireworks at 8:30 don't work too well, but the dark clouds that approached made for an interesting backdrop. The storm that they contained was amazing. There were countless lightning strikes and thunder so loud that it shook windows and doors. I'm talking about the kind of thunder that sets off car alarms. Hundreds of people were soaked in the downpour as they hurried home. I heard sirens from fire engines and ambulances flying up and down Coastal Highway all night. I haven't heard exactly how many calls they went on just yet, but I bet a lot of them were due to fireworks mishaps or lightning strikes. Saturday was windy and chilly, and it kept me off the beach. Every store in town was packed as people struggled to find things to do (of course, Beach Life readers know what to do on a rainy OC day). As promised, I spent Saturday night at Fish Tales, which has easily earned my approval as one of the top bars in the area. Sunday was nice, after the early morning thunderstorm moved out. Around 5 a.m., huge booms of thunder woke me up, and apparently the rain flooded parts of Route 1 in Delaware. The day was fine until an early afternoon rain shower forced a lot of people off the beaches. For those that stayed, the evening was beautiful.

More acccidental euthanasia [Mutts]

2008-07-07T07:13:40-05:00

Two workers at an animal shelter in Denton, Texas, have been suspended without pay after a dog was mistakenly euthanized there. The city had picked up a 3-year-old black Labrador mix named Amicus on May 8 after the dog escaped from the yard of its owners, according to an Associated Press report in the Houston Chronicle. When the couple arrived to pick the dog up May 15, they learned Amicus had been killed that morning. Police officials say a shelter worker apparently didn't notice the entry on the dog's records saying the couple had made arrangements to reclaim it. One employee was suspended for two days for the euthanasia error. Another was suspended for three days for "poor customer service." "We had good policies and procedures in place," said Police Chief Roy Minter, whose department oversees the city-run shelter. "But this has given us the opportunity to say that we can enhance those policies and procedures." The dog's owners, Shawn Snider and Beth Bayless-Snider, are asking the city for $206,000 for the loss of the dog and future breeding opportunities, along with "emotional pain and stress." An analysis by the Denton Record-Chronicle found that the dog mistakenly euthanized May 15 wasn't the first such mistake at the shelter. In 2006, an Australian shepherd was mistaken for another dog and accidentally euthanized. after an employee "failed to follow the established procedures," according to internal records.

Monday Morning Quarterbacking [Dining@Large]

2008-07-07T07:11:52-05:00

My review of the Oregon Grille in Cockeysville appeared in yesterday's paper.

I went there because there's a new executive chef after many years, and I was curious to see if I would notice any changes.

But coincidentally, the review appeared a week after Dan Thanh's consumer column about one customer's disagreement with the management.

Most readers took the customer's side, although I thought the discussion here was thoughtful and entertaining.

Anyway, the following comment appeared, for some reason, under yesterday's entry Looking for Lunch in All the Right Places: ...

Nelson Gives His Talent Away [Gospelrama]

2008-07-07T07:10:54-05:00

Gospel artist Jonathan Nelson featuring Purpose is willing to give a free concert to any church in the United States. This is not a gimmick!!! Click here for more information. The contest ends July 15. The Stellar Award wining artist and Baltimore native is enjoying huge success with "My Name Is Victory,'' which is steadily climbing the Radio Gospel Charts at No.13. This hit song appears on his latest CD, Right Now Praise. In Baltimore, you can see Nelson with Purpose and other local gospel artists July 11 at New Psalmist Baptist Church. Click here for more information.

Stopping thumb-sucking: The Monday Consult [Charm City Moms]

2008-07-07T05:22:36-05:00

I was going to look into my mosquito-bite question this week, when I spotted this question-and-answer exchange on the web site of the American Academy of Pediatrics. (Look for the link under "early childhood.") While it's not a question any of you suggested, I think the answer might be helpful to some of you:

The question is how to get a child to stop sucking his thumb. The answer, the experts at the AAP say, is basically to ignore it. Harsh words and punishment, they say, won't work.

What will? Praise and star charts for when the child does leave his thumb alone. And distraction is also recommended, especially for a child who sucks him thumb while he's bored in the car, watching TV, etc.

The AAP says that if you notice changes in the roof of your child's mouth or in the way his teeth are lining up because of thumb-sucking, you should talk to your pediatrician or pediatric dentist. There may be a device he can wear to help him stop.

New releases: 'American Idol' and thrillers [Read Street]

2008-07-07T04:10:23-05:00

Coming on Thursday:

Heart Full of Soul, by Taylor Hicks (Crown, $24.95). American Idol winner Hicks recounts his childhood, his passion for soul music and his years of playing to nearly nonexistent roadhouse audiences.

Killer Weekend, by Ridley Pearson (Putnam, $24.95). The best-selling author’s new thriller series begins with a weekend business conference at an Idaho resort and a sense of impending danger in the form of a threat on the life of a politician who’s about to announce her candidacy for U.S. president.

The Dark River: Book Two of the Fourth Realm, by John Twelve Hawks (Doubleday, $24.95). The Brethren continue to control civilization through a computerized information system, the Vast Machine, and a host of offshoot surveillance technologies.

Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise, by Kate DiCamillo, illustrations by Chris Van Dusen (Candlewick, $12.99, ages 4 to 8). The glistening pig isn’t interested in learning about Halloween; and she becomes downright skeptical when Mrs. Watson shows her a pink princess dress she has purchased as a costume.

The World Without Us, by Alan Weisman (St. Martin’s/Dunne, $24.95). If a virulent virus — or even the Rapture — depopulated Earth overnight, how long before all trace of humankind vanished? That’s the provocative, and occasionally puckish, question posed in this imaginative hybrid of solid science reporting and morbid speculation.

Publisher’s Weekly and Amazon.com

Thanks, Patrick, for the poem [Read Street]

2008-07-06T15:38:34-05:00

A reader named Patrick noticed my column about blogging in today's Ideas section and sent a poem for Read Street. I probably would published it simply because it was from a book lover, but he also invoked the Boston Celtics, whose championship I am still savoring, and I was hooked. We all know the feelings that he writes about -- reading for duty vs. reading for joy.

Here's Patrick's intro: At a bookstore, a friend had stumbled onto a book about the Boston Celtics. Knowing I loved the team, he told me, "You should buy this." I heard myself respond, "Ah, I'd just read it." I was going through a lengthy period of buying books that were chores to finish. They were books I wanted to have read. Realizing how stupid I was not to buy a book that I would immediately sit down and read front to back, I wrote this poem.

BOOKSTORE EYES

My bookstore eyes are bigger than my brain.

They gravitate to gray tomes that explain,

with gnarled abstractions and legerdemain,

all that is known of the human terrain,

or would if my mind could make the words plain.

Next Sunday's review [Dining@Large]

2008-07-06T15:09:57-05:00

Next Sunday I review Clementine (5402 Harford Road) in Hamilton. As the Chameleon Cafe down the street did, it started off as a neighborhood dining spot.

But also like Chameleon, I won't be surprised if Clementine ends up having citywide appeal.

(Andre Chung/Sun photographer)

Rev. Timothy Wright in critical, wife and grandson dies after weekend accident [Gospelrama]

2008-07-06T13:19:49-05:00

Newsday reports that famed gospel artist Rev. Timothy Wright is in critical condition, and his wife Betty Wright and grandson D.J. Wright have died after a wrong way accident in upstate Pennsylvania. To get the details, click here. Wright's most recent gospel hit is "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus," a song dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

'Since I Left You' [Midnight Sun]

2008-07-06T11:38:24-05:00

Oh man, a friend showed me this video to "Since I Left You" by The Avalanches, and I had to share it.

I really like the song, and this video takes it to new levels of awesomeness.

Looking for lunch in all the right places [Dining@Large]

2008-07-06T08:46:24-05:00

Realbaltimorefan posted this comment this morning under Next Tuesday's Top Ten:

I would like to see the "Top Ten Places You Probably Haven't Thought of to Eat LUNCH Outdoors (That Are Also Baltimore Finds)". I'm not sure if there are Ten places that fit this description, but Gertrude's at the BMA should certainly be considered. Personally, I prefer dining "alfresco" at lunch (hopefully sitting in the shade with the sun shining) rather than dinner.

While I'm not sure I could come up with 10 good candidates, especially that you haven't thought of, it's a topic worth discussing. My votes would go to spaces that have a lot of plants/flowers/trees around them. Art sculpture gets them bonus points. ...

Still drawn to dogs [Mutts]

2008-07-06T07:38:00-05:00

Gil Jawetz, the painter of dogs whose work was the first to be featured at Canton's Yellow Dog Tavern when it opened last year, is back for another round.

To celebrate their first anniversary, the tavern, at 700 S. Potomac St., is presenting a new collection of work by Jawetz. The show, "Human(e) Beings," explores the relationships between people and animals from a variety of emotions and perspectives."

While the earlier exhibit by Jawetz focused on big dogs, the paintings featured in the new one are personal images of people with dogs, cats and other animals.

Jawetz, in return for the inspiration they bring him, will give 5% of the sales from the show back to the animals, through a donation to the Baltimore animal rescue group Recycled Love.

The show will be on display from July 1 - 28, with an wine reception on July 15 from 6 to 8 p.m.

"Some of the paintings are funny, some are melancholy, and some are ambiguous. Many of the paintings are very personal," Jawetz said.

"I used my love of Impressionist art and of contemporary painters like Lucian Freud and Malcolm Liepke to try out new things with poses, colors and atmosphere."

Jawetz studied at the Art Students League of New York and currently works out of his studio in Baltimore.

He was showcasing his work at this weekend's Parade of Pets at the American Visionary Arts Museum, when we ran into him again and snapped a photo of him at work on a painting of his own dog, Pete.

Jawetz, when he wasn't watching the antics on stage -- where dozens of dogs displayed their talents or lack thereof -- worked on the painting throughout the event.

The finished product -- or at least the point it was at when the event concluded -- is to the right.

"There are things about it that I would normally develop further and fix," Jawetz said in the email in which he sent the picture along to us.

"But I decided that since my goal was to paint for the two hours that the festivities took place that I wouldn't make any changes after the fact.

"So this is the finished piece: Two hours worth of noisy, crazy, distracted painting. Definitely a memorable experience -- and one that I hope to have again in the future."

To see more of his work, visit his website: www.buskerdog.com.

Girls' night out [Dining@Large]

2008-07-05T21:09:51-05:00

Gailor and I are just back from a girls' night out. My husband is away, and I offered to take her out to dinner wherever she wanted. She chose Pazo. (She'd never been there.)

We went early; 6:30 p.m. was the last opening they had. I was glad we had dressed up a bit because there was a sign that said, "Proper attire required."

I'm not sure what that meant. Everyone else was in a) jeans, and not designer, b) T-shirt, c) flip-flops, or d) shorts. Maybe if you wore your pajamas you'd be turned away.

We had some good tapas, and the waitress suggested we get a bottle of wine rather than two glasses because it was only $17. I bring this up because of last weekend's discussion about the Oregon Grille. When I got the check, the price had gone up to $19. For some reason, I didn't think to ask the waitress about it until after I paid.

"It was $17 yesterday," she said. What I liked was that she went back and checked, and then said, "We're adjusting your bill accordingly." No discussion. ...

It's prize time! [Read Street]

2008-07-05T16:35:56-05:00

Congratulations, Hokku Kireji! Your entry has won you this week's prize. I particularly enjoyed the invocation of our blog, which wasn't too over the top (see Dave's shameless pandering to the judge). As a bonus, I believe you'll find your haiku printed in the pages of The Sun in tomorrow's Ideas section.

You can now claim one of these tech-related books as your prize:

Leonard Susskind's The Black Hole War: My Battle with Stephen Hawking to Make the World Safe for Quantum Mechanics; Greg Melville's Greasy Rider: Two Dudes, One Fry-oil-powered Car and a Cross-country Search for a Greener Future; Christian Lander's Stuff White People Like; or Fritjof Capra's The Science of Leonardo: Inside the Mind of the Great Genius of the Renaissance. Just e-mail me with your address, and the chosen tome is yours.

Man, book titles are getting long! Anyway, thanks for all of the inspired entries, and to those who weren't so lucky, fear not! Next week, (and hopefully every week hereafter) you could win your very own Read Street prize. No, I'm not above bribing you people to continue paying attention to us.

Beastly Baltimore: Urbanite looks at animals [Mutts]

2008-07-05T14:15:00-05:00

Urbanite goes to the dogs, cats, horses, cows and several other species -- tamed and untamed -- in its newest issue.

July's issue of the local magazine is dedicated to urban animals, and a few of those who live on the edges of Baltimore -- from the pets we invite into our homes to the wild species in our backyards and beyond.

The issue includes an interview with the amazing Temple Grandin, a professor of animal science at Colorado State University and the author of the bestseller Animals in Translation, who credits her insights into the way animals think to her autism.

Like animals, says Grandin,"I think in pictures ...As soon as you start thinking in words, you lose details. It’s the price we pay for abstract thought.”

In the issue's lead feature story, “Year of the Horse,” writer Charles Cohen chronicles the century-plus history and troubled future of the arabbers, Baltimore’s celebrated horse-and-cart produce merchants.

The closing of the arabbers’ largest stable in August 2007 and new regulations have all but eliminated the carts from the streets. Cohen followed the efforts of the arabber community to save the dying trade, and he supplemented his in-depth portrait with accompanying documentary videos posted to the Urbanite website.

Also in the issue are a feature on local dog painter Gil Jawetz, and senior editor Greg Hanscom’s “Where the Wild Things Are,” a look at the Baltimore Ecosystem Study. There's useful information about what to do when your pet dies, when you find a stray, and how to adopt a pet. And former Sun reporter Richard O'Mara reflects on his childhood cat. Bingo was his name.

Urbanite is a free monthly magazine about cities and city life as seen through the distinctive lens of Baltimore. Each issue revolves around a central theme and offers a range of perspectives to illuminate urban living.

Joe Cocker interpreted [Midnight Sun]

2008-07-05T12:54:00-05:00

Ever wonder what he's really saying? I did too, until I saw this video.

Name the Brangelina twins! [Charm City Moms]

2008-07-05T10:22:04-05:00

So the word is that Angelina Jolie's twins are due....sometime soon. She's checked into a French hospital, as we all already know, but her doctor is mum on exactly how soon she's due. So all that's left for us is to name her new babies.

Here's your chance to suggest that perfect name you never got to use for the girl you never had, or the boy's name your sister took first. Nobody seems to have a firm bead on the sex of the babies, so feel free not to let gender limit your suggestions.

Just so there's no duplication, here are the names of the four other Brangelina kids: Maddox, Pax, Zahara and Shiloh.

(AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

Of mint chocolate KitKat bar ice cream and other things [Dining@Large]

2008-07-05T06:20:31-05:00

I just had my first Cold Stone Creamery ice cream. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back, but the people sure were nice.

My problem is with the consistency. I haven't quite thought out my philosophy about this; but it's something like there are two kinds of ice cream in the world, soft ice cream (as in Dairy Queen) and hard ice cream (as in Baskin-Robbins or one of the premium brands).

Homemade ice creams that start off hard and melt in the blink of an eye because they have no preservatives are so far above this discussion we won't even go there.

Anyway...

In Sunday's Sun: Manil Suri [Read Street]

2008-07-05T05:26:03-05:00

In Sunday's Arts & life section, read a profile of Manil Suri, whose recently published second novel, The Age of Shiva, has received laudatory notices as far away as China, India and Britain. The native of India leads a double life -- he also is a tenured professor of math at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Writing seems to come naturally to Suri. As a Ph.D. student at Carnegie Mellon University, he began writing frequently (that's an understatement) to his mother in India. Prem Suri asked the Guinness Book of World Records to add a category for the most words written by a man to his mother. She said that from 1979 to 2001, he wrote her "2,411 letters with a total of 1,324,996 words."

His new novel is the second in a planned trilogy based on the three major Hindu gods. The Death of Vishnu was published in 2001.

Pets make a spectacle of themselves [Mutts]

2008-07-04T22:40:00-05:00

The pug to your left came disguised as a crab cake. The toupeed fellow above was channeling Elvis. A turtle jumped, or at least crawled, through a hoop, and a snake made an "S" out of himself.

It was as wacky as always at today's annual Parade of Pets at the American Visionary Arts Museum.

Club soda [Midnight Sun]

2008-07-04T15:01:04-05:00

not seals.

'So You Think You Can Dance': Kourtni L. and Matt eliminated [Reality Check]

2008-07-04T11:29:07-05:00

The episode starts with a Tyce DiOrio Broadway routine to "Money, Money" from Cabaret. By now, I think you know how I feel about Broadway routines. This one is no exception. It's lame.

After the five minutes of bad theater are over, host Cat Deeley gets right down to business. Deeley, who has redeemed herself with a stunning red dress and gold necklace that looks like something Cleopatra would have worn, announces the first two couples: Kherington and Twitch and Joshua and Katee.

Deeley announces that both are safe. The two teams freak out and jump around with enthusiasm. (I wonder how they would act if they won the competition?)

CeCe Winans goes to the Mountain [Gospelrama]

2008-07-04T10:40:55-05:00

Award-winning gospel artist CeCe Winans will perform 7 p.m. Saturday at Mountain Christian Church in Joppa. Winans, who hails from a family of gospel greats, recently recently released Thy Kingdom Come, her eighth solo CD.. Tickets are $37.50 in advance and $45 at the door. Call 866-926-3921 for information. The concert at 1824 Mountain Road is part of a weekend of Independence Day events held in Harford County. For more information, click here. CeCe Winans' brothers, who are known as The Winans, were honored for their legendary work in gospel at the Grammy Salute to Gospel last month. She participated in that program. See Grammy Salute to Gospel, click here .

We are not amused [Dining@Large]

2008-07-04T08:44:31-05:00

Is this ugly or what? However, I'm going to give you the recipe that came with this photo because I love sangria. And what with the weather and all, maybe you need something to cheer yourself up. I know I do. I've just found out that the Wimbledon men's semifinals, which are going on right now, have been embargoed on ESPN2 so they can be shown not live on NBC later. Excellent move, NBC. I'm sure there are many exciting features and lots of important news on the Today Show today.

Note: even on a holiday it's not good to start drinking before 11 a.m.

I hadn't heard of the book the recipe is from, and I never thought of the concept of "pitcher drinks" before, although I like it. Let's see how many we can name.

Well, sangria, of course, and martinis. Mmmm. I think I'm stuck. I guess there are 99 others, though. ...

Fab Five Friday [Midnight Sun]

2008-07-04T08:30:39-05:00

Happy 4th!

And thanks for your list of fake bar names.

Here are my five favorites ...

Do's and Don'ts for OC holidays [The Beach Life]

2008-07-04T08:26:00-05:00

Whether you're already in Ocean City or coming down today (or tomorrow), follow these tips for a lower stress holiday weekend. DO: Walk. If you're going to the fireworks displays, you simply must walk there. The weather will be nice and the walk will help burn off those Thrasher's calories. DON'T: Drive. If you refuse to walk, don't even think about driving. It can take more than an hour to drive 10 streets after the fireworks. Just don't do it. DO: Make reservations at a restaurant. It's the busiest weekend of the year, so if you expect to get a walk-in table, you're fooling yourself. Call ahead and put your name on the list wherever you want to go. DON'T: Set off your own fireworks. The police crawl the beach at night waiting for people to light explosives on the sand. If you don't blow your hand off, you'll probably get ticketed or arrested. DO: Stay in the crosswalks. There's no need to spend the weekend, month or year in a hospital bed recovering from your injuries, or worse, lose your life over a dash across the street. Wait for the white crossing signal and take your time. DON'T: Drink and drive. The bus costs $2 and taxis are cheap because there just isn't that far to go from one end to another in OC. This is another risk that you just don't need to take. DO: Enjoy yourself. Have fun, relax, go to the beach, swim in the ocean and spend your vacation time doing interesting things. DON'T: Do anything stupid. That pretty much sums up all of the don'ts, but for the love of god, don't end up in jail down here for something stupid. Use some common sense. It'll be good for all of us. Hopefully this is of some help to you. I love the Fourth of July and it should be a lot of fun down here. If you like parades, you're going to have to go up to Bethany or Rehoboth to catch one. One last DO: Meet me at Fish Tales sometime soon. Enjoy.

Have a safe Fourth of July [Charm City Moms]

2008-07-04T06:44:56-05:00

Hope you're enjoying your Fourth so far, and that you've scoped out yesterday's Tip Sheet for some places to watch the fireworks with your kids.

That's the happy part. The not-so-great part is that kids are often injured by fireworks on the Fourth of July. I was surprised to learn that for kids under the age of 5, a third of all fireworks injuries come from ordinary sparklers, which can burn at nearly 2,000 degrees.

That information comes from the American Academy of Opthalmology, which has released an information sheet with safety tips for the Fourth. I hope they'll help you and yours stay injury-free.

Happy Fourth [Dining@Large]

2008-07-04T05:33:34-05:00

This is the first time in a decade we've been here for the Fourth of July, and I'm not sure what to do with myself. I could clean my closets. (No kidding. That's one of the items on my list for this weekend.)

I don't even know what restaurants are open tonight, and I'm sure not cooking.

In past years we've spent the holiday in a small town in Tennessee, starting with a flag raising in the woods at 8 a.m. And then the fun just keeps coming: the dog and cat show, the cake contest, the cloggers and, of course, the parade. One year it had tanks, I'm not sure why.

For those more inured to crowds than I am (the population is, after all, 2,361), there are fireworks and a barbecue at the lake when it gets dark.

I'm very sad.

Or not. Wimbledon is on today, and for once I won't have to watch it on a screen the size of a postage stamp.

(Mauricio Rubio/Sun photographer)

J.K. Rowling hits kids book ratings [Read Street]

2008-07-03T21:55:10-05:00

A battle is brewing in Great Britain over publishers' plans to label children's books with "appropriate" age ratings, and opponents have been joined by a formidable author, J.K. Rowling. She signed an online petition of the No to Age Banding campaign, according to a story in the Guardian.

The petition argues that imposing such age recommendations is "ill-conceived, damaging to the interests of young readers and highly unlikely to make the slightest difference to sales." But publishers cite research suggesting that most consumers want the recommendations. Beginning this fall, book covers of participating publishers will bear a logo indicating they are suitable for readers aged 5+, 7+, 9+, 11+ and 13+/teen.

Some companies are exempt, and others are seeking guidance from their authors, the article says. Rowling's publisher, Bloomsbury, has no plans to introduce the labels, but has not ruled out the idea. What's next, R and PG-13?

Bad timing: leaving Portland just as Oregon craft beer month begins [Kasper on Tap]

2008-07-03T16:48:05-05:00

I was sitting in the Portland airport Tuesday, putting my clothes back on after going through security, when a paid advertising supplement fell out of my copy of The Oregonian, Portland's daily newspaper. That was how I learned that July was Oregon craft beer month, and that the beer drinking community there had planned a bucket load of activities, including one called puckerfest, a celebration of sour beers.

I wanted to cash in my airplane ticket and spend the month there, but duty and the mortgage called me home.

On the plane ride back to Baltimore I read several articles in the 20-page tabloid supplement devoted to Oregon craft beer. It was surprisingly well-written. An article written by Lisa Morrison, whom I learned later is known as the beer goddess, talked about three trends in Oregon brewing --- Belgians, barrel-aging and blending. It seems Oregon brewers are experimenting with Belgian-style beers because they have gone about as far as they can go experimenting with hops. "We have reached the ceiling on the hops arm race," Cascade brewmaster Ron Gansberg told Morrison. "People are looking for an intense sensory experience other than hops," he said.

On another front, so many Oregon brewers are trying to barrel-age their beers that wooden barrels are hard to come by, Morrison reported. Finally, once these beers come out of the barrels, an increasing number of them, Morrison wrote, are being blended with other beers -- some from barrrels, some from stainless steel tanks.

For example, Morrison said that the Abyss imperial stout made by Deschutes is a blend of beer aged in a bourbon barrel, and a portion of the same beer is fermented in stainless steel tanks.

It seems to me that back here on the East Coast we have had plenty of the first B -- brewing Belgians -- but not too much of the other Bs. I know Dogfish does age some beers in wood barrels. Any others come to mind?

Hows about blending? Do we do that here?

By the way, if you have good timing, and are going to Oregon in July, here are some details on the beer festivities.

Next Tuesday's Top Ten [Dining@Large]

2008-07-03T15:22:46-05:00

When I think about ideas for Top Ten lists I go back and forth about choosing something I would find quirky and fun to write about or topics that we've done to death here but people keep e-mailing and calling and stopping me in the street to ask me about. I'm thinking of crab houses, for instance. Ha ha. Just kidding. No, wait. Please keep reading.

Anyway, the question I keep getting almost as much as where to eat in the Inner Harbor is where to eat outdoors. I know I have a separate category about this to the right, but it still feels like I should update the list this summer. So that's one option for next Tuesday's Top Ten: Top Ten Places You Probably Haven't Thought of to Eat Outdoors.

I was particularly inspired by this when I learned that...

Dave's book club [Read Street]

2008-07-03T15:19:26-05:00

Don't get the wrong idea ... I'm not claiming ownership of the club. I wasn't even there when it was created by some members of Har Sinai congregation. My wife and I have been members for several years, though, joining friends every six weeks or so for great dinners and conversation about books with a Jewish theme.

Now Reading: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne

Liked a lot: The Fixer, by Bernard Malamud, Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, by Michael Chabon

Not so much: Heir to the Glimmering World, by Cynthia Ozick, God Knows, by Joseph Heller

Baltimore's Hybrid Groove Project releases anthem [Critical Mass]

2008-07-03T15:12:36-05:00

One of the coolest things to emerge in Baltimore last season was Mobtown Music at the Contemporary Museum, a series of concerts featuring hotshot players and the kind of repertoire you'd usually have to travel to Lower Manhattan to hear.

Two of the guys behind Mobtown, brilliant saxophonist Brian Sacawa and unbridled turntablist/composer Erik Spangler (or DJ Dubble8), also collaborate under the name Hybrid Groove Project, and, in that guise, recently produced a wry, hip-hoppy track called HGP Anthem, which is well worth a spin.

The lyrics, filled with references to the contemporary music scene, describe Baltimore as "a city that's too gritty for the New York set" and hail the Mobtown/Hybrid ventures as "chamber music insurgents with an urgence to earn it." There's even a sly allusion to The Rest is Noise, the title of the blog and stunning, best-selling history of 20th century music by New Yorker critic Alex Ross, guaranteeing some mutually satisfying cyber cross-referencing.

Give this heavy-beat, amusing track a listen. It should get you in the mood for Hybrid Groove Project's performance July 20 as part of Artscape, and for the 2008-2009 Mobtown Music series, which opens Sept. 9 at the Contemporary Museum.

4th of July in the Sky [Midnight Sun]

2008-07-03T14:41:00-05:00

Of all the 4th of July celebrations going on around town, this one really stuck out.

It's called the 4th of July in the Sky, and it's sponsored by Lindy Promotions, 98Rock and Miller Lite.

For $50, you get to party on the roof of the Maryland Science Center, complete with open bar, a picnic buffet (potato salad, burgers, hot dogs, etc.), DJ Jason Cruz and dancing.

The party runs 7 p.m.-11 p.m.

Not bad. Not bad at all. You can get tickets here.

(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Sun Photographer)

Teacher suspended over Freedom Writers [Read Street]

2008-07-03T14:17:21-05:00

The case of an Indiana teacher who got in trouble for assigning Freedom Writers Diary to her class is getting renewed attention these days. Connie Heermann of Perry Meridian High School bucked the wishes of the school board, which objected to the book's strong language, and was suspended earlier this year. Even though she had overwhelming support from parents of her students, and the book was available in the school library.

Now, thanks to a CNN report and a spirited defense by screemwriter and director Richard LaGravenese, who made the movie adaptation starring Hillary Swank, people are learning about the bureaucratic injustice and the clumsy classroom ban. Seems like school boards always step in it when they confront a controversial book, don't they?

Freedom Writers photo from Paramount

As Independence Day nears, it's a good time to reflect on our freedoms. You won't find "freedom to read" in the Constitution, but it's vital for an informed nation. Yet we still endure challenges to books such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Color Purple and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings -- all among the Top 10 Most Challenged Books last year, according to the American Library Association.

Win a chance to open for Martha Munizzi at Powerfest [Gospelrama]

2008-07-03T14:13:15-05:00

American Gospel.tv returns this weekend looking for a Baltimore talent that will be one of several opening acts for headliner Martha Munizzi at Powerfest in Orlando later this year. Louis Thomas, president of American Gospel and Powerfest, said 35 semi-finalists here will take the stage at the Crowne Plaza in Timonium on Saturday. The field will be narrowed down to three finalists who will compete for the top prize of winning an all expense trip to Orlando, including spending money, and the opportunity to open the show. There are three shows, 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m and 5:30 p.m. For more information, call Thomas at 321-663-5515 or email him at info@powerfestorlando.org Thomas has taken his American-Idol like show case to Orlando (its base), Jacksonville, Charlotte, Atlanta and Baltimore to find acts of all kinds -- from gospel musicians to Christian comedians, from gospel dancers to mimes. A winner from each area will perform on Oct. 11 at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Munizzi, a judge on Gospel Music Channel's Gospel Dream 2008, was recently here in the Baltimore-Washington area for the Grammy Salute to Gospel. She recently released her latest CD, Change The World. More than 200 participated in Baltimore auditions earlier this year. To learn more about American Gospel, click here. You'll also find Powerfest information here .

A fireworks tip sheet [Charm City Moms]

2008-07-03T13:56:05-05:00

Every kid loves fireworks, right? In theory. Sometimes it's late, it's loud, and it's not so much fun. Then you just want to beat it home, only you might be stuck in downtown traffic. And that's when the real fireworks might begin....

That said, here's a list of fireworks shows with some activities that the kids might enjoy. And if you're braving the harbor show, look for my tips on that at the end.

--If the family's up for the big show in D.C., a friend suggests renting a kayak from Jack's Boathouse and watching on the Potomac. The web site indicates they have a few boats left.

--Robert likes the Fullerton fireworks located just off Belair Road at the athletic fields at Fullerton Elementary.

--Several parents enjoy taking their kids to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra concert and fireworks at Oregon Ridge, partly because of the nice playground on the premises.

--Columbia hosts a Fourth of July festival on the Columbia lakefront from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. with a children's area, food vendors and fireworks.

--Catonsville hosts a full day of events, including children’s games and races, live music, a parade, a pre-fireworks musical salute, color-guard tribute and fireworks. Events start at 9:30 a.m., and the fireworks show begins at 9:15 p.m. at Catonsville High School, 421 Bloomsbury Ave. Call 410-744-9655. Free.

--The Dundalk Heritage Fair is a 3-day festival with live entertainment, carnival rides, a rock-climbing wall, a beer garden, a fireworks display, arts and crafts for sale and more. Hours are noon-10 p.m. Friday through Sunday at Dundalk Heritage Park, 2700 Playfield St., Dundalk. Call 410-284-0591. $5. Free for children 12 and younger with adult.

--Another family hikes to the University of Maryland College Park, where you can take advantage of plentiful campus parking to see the fireworks.

And, if you're planning on braving the Inner Harbor fireworks....

(Photo by Candus Thomson)

1. Know someone with a deck and a parking place.

2. Consider getting there at the crack of dawn, and having a sleepover.

3. Can't sleep over? Bring pajamas and toothbrushes. The kids will have fun watching the fireworks in their jammies, and they can fall asleep in the car on the long ride home.

Got more suggestions/strategies? Please share.

Free taxis home this weekend [Midnight Sun]

2008-07-03T13:25:32-05:00

Check it.

Great foodie books at Read Street [Dining@Large]

2008-07-03T12:17:29-05:00

I missed the entry on foodie books yesterday over at the Read Street blog. (However, I noticed Dahlink didn't.) The photo with Dave's entry is of one of my favorite foodie books of all time, Alice, Let's Eat, by Calvin Trillin.

Trillin is near and dear to my heart because he once said to food critics (I'm paraphrasing here): WAS IT GOOD? I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF IT TASTED GOOD. It reminds me not to get too creative in my descriptions.

Of course, my editor would have a heart attack if that's all I said in my review of a restaurant: The fish was good, the steak wasn't good, the salad was very good, the dessert was terrible.

But sometimes I'm tempted.

(Photo of Trillin by Albert Ferreira/Startraks)

'So You Think You Can Dance': Seven couples perform twice [Reality Check]

2008-07-03T11:58:39-05:00

The seven couples will perform twice. So host Cat Deeley, who was dreadfully adorned in this horrible black and white dress -- gets right to work.

Jessica and Will are first with the jive choreographed by Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin to "Choo Choo Ch' Boogie" from Five Guys Named Moe. Will is much more polished than Jessica. Judge Mary Murphy says there are a lot of missed connections. Overall a good performance, she says. Judge Nigel Lythgoe agrees with the other judges and basically says Jessica is the weaker of the two.

Tila Tequila opens Palma tonight [Midnight Sun]

2008-07-03T11:48:39-05:00

Reality TV starlet Tila Tequila (pictured) will host the grand opening of the massive new club Palma tonight.

The club, formerly the Redwood Trust, sits at the corner of Calvert and Redwood streets.

Investor Jon Han (who founded Club Ibiza in Washington) oversaw the $2.5 million renovation of the building.

The 80,000 watt sound system is imported from England, the lighting rig cost $600,000 and there will be a dozen bars scattered throughout the three-story venue.

Whew. Got all that? Wait, there's more.

The Palma Management Group is also planning a sister club called Dubai right across the street.

I'm waiting to hear back from the management group. When I do, I'll fill you in on more details.

(AP Photo)

Disney's Pleasure Island getting a makeover [What's the Deal?]

2008-07-03T11:14:00-05:00

The party stops on Sept. 27, when Disney plans to close all of the nightclubs at Pleasure Island in the Downtown Disney complex. This is sad news to those of us who loved the rotating dance floor at Mannequins or the '70s disco scene at 8 Trax. After spending all day with screaming kids, the adults need a place to escape and Pleasure Island was it.

Now, Disney plans to replace the party atmosphere with a mix of family friendly shopping and dining. Great. More places to buy stuff with ears.

"Lift Every Voice" Raises City's Ire [Gospelrama]

2008-07-03T11:05:03-05:00

Jazz singer Rene Marie earlier this week made a statement in song when she sang the Negro spiritual "Lift Every Voice and Sing" instead of the National Anthem at the Denver mayor's State of the City address. The audience was aghast. Marie sang the song, commonly known as the Black National Anthem, to the melody of the National Anthem. According to the Rocky Mountain News, she was following her own artistic expression. Click here to read more about Marie's solo, city officials' reaction and to see the video of her performance. CHIME IN: Do you think the song was appropriate for this event?

Oh, behave! dear travelers [What's the Deal?]

2008-07-03T11:03:06-05:00

When you're headed abroad, it's a good idea to follow Mom's advice: be on your best behavior. But sometimes, depending on which country you're visiting, it's not easy to know what is proper. The Chicago Tribune reports that a recent survey by a travel Web site found about half of U.S. travelers admit to behaving badly overseas. (Oh, the horreur!)

The site, Vayama.com, wants to help by offering a few etiquette tips, including:

- Don’t kiss the hand of an Austrian woman unless you are Austrian

- In Brazil, don’t make the “OK” sign with your hand. It’s considered a rude gesture.

- In Egypt, don’t use your left hand to eat.

- In Ghana, don’t blow your nose at the dinner table. (probably doesn't apply in Germany; gunzeheit!)

- In India, do leave a small amount of food on your plate to show you are satisfied. Eating everything off your plate means you’re still hungry.

- But in Kenya, finish everything on your plate. It's the polite thing to do.

- Don’t give a Chinese person a clock as a gift. Clocks are associated with death and funerals, and a clock as a gift can be seen as a sinister action. (I guess the Beijing Olympic swag won't include any clocks. Darn.)

Is Helmsley's fortune doggie bound? [Mutts]

2008-07-03T11:02:45-05:00

Animal welfare groups are lining up, maybe even tripping over themselves, in hopes of getting their paws on a major hunk of Leona Helmsley’s $8 billion fortune after a New York Times report that ”The Queen of Mean” left instructions that her estate be spent on the care and welfare of dogs.

The real estate baroness died in August, and although the instructions weren’t part of her official will they are considered “expressions of intent.” As such, according to the Times, the trustees of her estate can take them into account in deciding how to dole out the fortune.

Both People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) have expressed interest –- well, much more than interest, this is downright droolworthy –- in putting the money to good use, according to an Associated Press report.

Both organizations, and a multitude of other local animal welfare organizations, will be be suggesting programs and applying for funds if Helmsley's billions really end up funding dog welfare.

Helmsley's will named her own dog, Trouble, as a beneficiary. Her two grandchildren, meanwhile, got nothing. In April, though, a Manhattan judge reduced the trust fund for the 9-year-old Maltese from the specified $12 million Helmsley specified to $2 million. The judge ruled the grandkids could split $6 million.

That means plenty is still left over.