Baltimore Skyline

photo by Baltimore Business Journal Collapse of section of 26th Street between St. Paul and N. Charles spilling mud, debris, and cars down on to the CSX (old B&O Belt Line) tracks in Charles Village. The Jones Falls has also flooded in Mt Washington and along Falls Rd near Penn Station and the Streetcar Museum.

S equence lights on Howard Street so trains can move between stations without having to stop at red lights. This would significantly cut down on the travel time between Mt. Royal/UB and Camden Yards. The technology is there, it just needs to be implemented in a more sensible way.  Improve passenger information at each station. This would include updating the maps to reflect the current light rail operation. The maps at most stations outside of downtown are poorly designed and show the light rail configuration when the extensions to Penn Station and BWI first opened in 1997. Way-finding and neighborhood maps showing immediate transit connections and local attractions are a must. Posted schedules should be updated immediately whenever a new version of the timetable is made. Newer Light Rail map at downtown stations. Update signs at all stations. A few years back the downtown stations had new signs that replaced the originals from 1992. In addition the stations feature a sy...

photo by blogger Things are moving along at the apartment renovation at 301 N. Charles Street. The developers even added two new flags to the poles that have stood devoid of ensigns for far too long. Except there is just one little problem, they flags are one the wrong poles! If I remember one thing from the flag etiquette it's that the US flag is always to the left when hanging from a building when there are two poles. It's the same rule the the flag is always to the right of a speaker when on the stage (that is, the left of the stage when viewing from the audience). The other helpful giveaway on this particular building (and we have the state of Maryland to thank for this) is the finial on the right hand flag pole is in the shape of a bottony cross; which denotes that this is the pole that the Maryland state flag is supposed to fly from. Really, it's not that complicated. I will now step down from my soapbox rostrum.

Hopefully this picture will help everyone get over the Winter Blues. Spring Training is in full force down in Sarasota. Baseball will be at Camden Yards in no time!

Loyola University Maryland, for the longest time known as Loyola College, was founded in 1852 and moved to it's present North Baltimore campus in 1921. The view of the corner of N. Charles Street and Cold Spring Lane has changed a lot over 93 years, just take a look at the signage on the corner.  circa 1920s 2006 2009 2014

We had a lot of fun in 2013. The Ravens won the Super Bowl, Canton Crossing opened, old offices downtown started to be turned into apartments, weekend MARC service, and a whole lot more.  With 2014 the Orioles will be soon back at Camden Yards, 10 Light Street will turn from offices to apartments, Harbor Point should break ground, the city will celebrate the bicentennial of the Star Spangled Banner, and hopefully be one year closer to construction of the Red Line. As you can see there is a lot to look forward to. Here's to a great year for Baltimore and a continued renaissance in 2014. 

Have you ever been downtown and left a 7-Eleven forgetting something that you needed to go to another 7-Eleven for and thought to yourself "This is an outrage, there really needs to be a 7-Eleven every couple of blocks." Well you're in luck! A new one is opening at 300 N Charles Street, only 3 blocks from a location at 100 West Lexington Street and 4 blocks from one at 529 N. Charles Street. Luckily there is that one on Lexington Street or you would have to walk all the way like a schmuck from the 7-Eleven at 301 N. Howard St. 6 whole blocks to the location at 300 E. Baltimore St, but that one is a midway point. I know what you're thinking, three blocks that's a ridiculously long walk when you need to be at a 7-Eleven immediately. No fear, because if you happen to be at the 7-Eleven at 10. N Calvert St  you don't need to walk the 2/10's of a mile to the 7-Eleven at 22 Light Street, no buddy, you're only 580 feet away from the next closest 7-Eleven...