Midnight Sun

Big Boi, All Time Low, etc.

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:11:00 -0500

I'd like to take a moment and humbly steer your attention to two music stories I wrote this week. I talked to Big Boi of rap duo OutKast about his solo album (it still doesn't have a release date), and local pop rockers All Time Low about their new album (which was released on Tuesday). Both stories are, in my opinion, quite diggable.

Concert review: Wilco at Wolf Trap last night

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:20:00 -0500

Baltimore Sun social networking guru Mary Hartney was at last night's Wilco show at Wolf Trap in Virginia. Here are her thoughts:

My favorite band (Wilco) at my favorite venue (Wolf Trap) on a gorgeous summer night: What could possibly go wrong?

Traffic and lawn seats, that's what.

We arrived at Wolf Trap about an hour before the show, which Conor Oberst opened, and the lawn was blanket-to-blanket packed. We wound up sitting on the farthest, highest hill, with no view of the stage.

But that's my problem, not yours, right? I can at least tell you how Wilco sounded. In a word: Incredible. ...

Video: Monkee Micky Dolenz performs at the Dundalk Heritage Fair

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:00:00 -0500

Micky Dolenz of the Monkees was in the area recently for a show at the Dundalk Hertiage Fair. Ring Posts blogger Kevin Eck was right -- Mick's voice is still really strong. Check out this medly of tunes from the show, courtesy of Kevin's friend Chris ...

Big Kidz Sports Bar

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:27:00 -0500

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.

The recipe for Romulan Ale, a la Landmark Theatres

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:30:00 -0500

One of the best parts about the fancy new(ish) Landmark Theatres Harbor East is its liquor license.

Not only can you order a drink (wine, beer, liquor) at the lobby bar, you can actually take the drink into the theater with you.

Yesterday, the paper had a great piece by John-John Williams IV about the bar's snazzy mixed drink menu, which is updated as the movies change. We're talking a drink for each of the four main characters of Sex and the City. We're talking James Bond martinis.

And, most importantly, we're talking Romulan Ale. Yes, the theater did make its own (legal) version of the highly illegal liquor featured on the Star Trek movie series. Set phasers to stun ...

Owner: Iguana Cantina will reopen as upscale rum bar

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:29:00 -0500

Iguana Cantina isn't going away -- it's just getting a facelift, according to owner Tim Bennett.

Bennett, who closed the large club at 124 Market Place this week, said he plans to turn it into an upscale rum bar in the next three to four months.

Tentatively called Mojito's Rum Bar, the 10,000-square foot building would be split into two spaces, which would give it a more intimate feel. Right now, a crowd smaller than 500 people makes the place look empty, Bennett said.

Five years ago, when Bennett opened Iguana Cantina in the space formerly occupied by the Culture Club, crowds flocked to the spot. But business has died off in the past four to six months, Bennett said. ...

Iguana Cantina is closed

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:20:00 -0500

Iguana Cantina, the giant club at 124 Market Place, is closed, according to security coordinator Dave Adams.

Adams said the party zone will be shut down for the next couple months to reorganize and reconcept the place.

"It's been five years and a good run," Adams told Sun reporter Justin Fenton.

Adams said the closing was not violence-related.

(Baltimore Sun archive photo of patrons standing outside Iguana Cantina)

The mark of death for new bars and clubs

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:41:00 -0500

When a new bar or club opens in this city, the worst way they can advertise themselves is with this catchphrase:

"We're bringing Miami/D.C./New York/L.A. to Baltimore!"

I don't know about you, but when I go out to a bar or club, the last thing I think is, 'Gee, this place could use a little Miami.' ...

Recap: Michael Jackson dance party at Bourbon Street

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:56:00 -0500

Last week, Bourbon Street hosted a Michael Jackson tribute dance party.

When general manager Sam Chaney sent me a recap of the night, he didn't think I would publish it. He just wanted me to know how the night went. But I think Chaney's account of the night is well-written and worth reading. Check it out:

At first, I was worried that the night wouldn't be what I had hoped for. The staff had fun with it and wore gloves, hats, mirrored sun glasses, sequenced pants & socks.

But the vibe was off for the first half of the night.

Not many customers wore the glove, my dancers weren't there and we didn't play a lot of Michael (I had never met most of the dancers and didn't know what they planned to dance to so I didn't want to replay music) ...

Wow. Nobody guessed the mystery bar.

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:17:00 -0500

Ha! Alexander D. Mitchell IV and I finally stumped ya.

Despite multiple clues and several days of guessing time, nobody could figure out the identity of the mystery bar in the latest Name That Bar contest.

So, you wanna know what it was? ...

Big Poppa's replaces Horsefeathers Pub near Patterson Park

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:40:00 -0500

A new spot named Big Poppa's Bar & Grill has replaced the old dive Horsefeathers Pub at 40 N. Streeper St. near Patterson Park.

While the new owners, Shannon Lanier and Rico Amero (pictured), are following a familiar blueprint, the renovation process is surprisingly transparent.

Lanier and Amero, who are leasing the building, have uploaded floor plans and a detailed business plan to the bar's Web site. Check 'em out. You don't see behind-the-scenes stuff like this too often.

Their reasoning seems to be two-fold. First, they want investors. Second, they want the community to know what they're about.

"It's probably not the normal mode of business," Lanier said. "It gives everyone the idea that we're not just some corporation coming in."

Even though the wave of renovations and development in Patterson Park seems to have abated, they think they are enough young professionals to keep this place afloat.

Lanier and Amero have a six-month plan for the space. Already, renovations are underway ...

Thoughts on ex-Monkee Micky Dolenz's Dundalk show

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:00:00 -0500

Kevin Eck (of Ring Posts fame) was at the Dundalk Heritage Fair Sunday for Monkee Mick Dolenz's show. Here's what Kevin thought of it:

I'm sure there are a lot of people who consider The Monkees to be a guilty pleasure, but I’m not one of them.

Despite plenty of ribbing from friends and co-workers over the years, I have never felt guilty about being a fan of the 1960s made-for-TV band.

So what if The Monkees did not write the lyrics or play the instruments on their early hits? The undeniable fact is that The Monkees have an extensive catalog of great pop songs that have stood the test of time.

That's why I was so excited to see my favorite Monkee, Mick Dolenz (pictured), play Sunday night at the Dundalk Heritage Fair.

Dolenz is now 64, so I didn’t know what to expect, but he and his band performed with verve and put on a fun show.

Remarkably, Dolenz’s voice didn’t sound much different than it did during The Monkees' heyday more than 40 years ago. ...

Resurrecting Merriweather Post Pavilion

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:15:00 -0500

I had a piece in yesterday's paper about the remarkable turnaround at Merriweather Post Pavilion.

This is an amphitheater that was on its last legs a few years ago.

Since then, promoter Seth Hurwitz has led a remarkable comeback, topped by the Virgin Mobile FreeFest, which Merriweather hosts Aug. 30.

Check out the piece.

Besides the bit about the turnaround, it has some interesting history about the venue ...

As per your votes, Federal Hill's best neighborhood bar is ...

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:07:00 -0500

Captain Larry's (601 E. Fort Ave.)!

Ivars and the gang beat out a bunch of other South Baltimore bars to win the Midnight Sun Commenters' Choice Award for Federal Hill's Best Neighborhood Bar.

People seemed to gloss over (or dispute) my description of the physical boundaries of Federal Hill as defined by this contest.

To them, I say: Pbth.

Here are the runner-ups ...

The Blue Hill Tavern is open

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:17:33 -0500

Last week, I people started e-mailing me about the Blue Hill Tavern in Brewer's Hill (938 S. Conkling St.). They wanted to know if I'd been there yet. I e-mailed them back, and they told me it hadn't opened yet. I guess I'm supposed to be able to walk through walls.

Anyhow, my pal Evan and I made the trip out there last Thursday. My jaw dropped as we drove by. If I'm not mistaken, this building used to be a scruffy-looking little lesbian bar called Gallagher's. These days, you'd never know ...