The Newest Bar in Hampden

Yes, the Atomic Books blog scooped Hawker, but nonetheless. . .

Dogwood now has a bar! They've added a carefully selected wine list (overseen by sommelier Matt Carroll,) house-made cocktails (not sure what that one means--I mean, gin and tonics I make at home are "house-made," right?) They've also added a small plate menu. Bar and small plates available weekdays until 10 p.m. and Fridays & Saturdays until midnight.

Hawker can't wait to try it. It will be nice to have an upscale bar with a nice wine list as an evening option.

Man Down

This morning at about 9:05 a.m., police, the fire department and paramedics converged at Falls & 36th to assist a fallen man laying in the middle of the road. He was on his back on 36th right at the intersection of Falls.

It was unclear what caused him to be there, but it looked serious. Hawker's sending him all the good thoughts she's got.

Fishing Yard Sale!

Spotted on The Avenue

Just Overheard at Common Ground

Young Woman says. . .

"If you can find me an anonymous Mexican sperm donor, please, go ahead."

Long pause.

"I'm not even joking."

Monday Restaurant Round-Up!

Be kind, Hawker's not a food writer, and as her current reading is Ruth Reichl's Garlic and Sapphires, this is becoming even clearer to her.

1. GRANO
Hawker tried Grano (the new pasta bar at 1030 W. 36th a while back.) They were just getting started, so things still seemed earnest, but in need of some tweaking. The final verdict is good, but not great. The place looks adorable. The simple paint job out front and the spruce-up inside make Grano cozy and welcoming. There's a bar with maybe 10 seats or so, and a few high tables laid out around the edges of the restaurant; the window table, FYI, is the bomb for Hampden peoplewatching. The service was friendly, and the prices are reasonable. (See the menu above.) However, the pasta is dried (not fresh,) and the sauces are good, but not great. The garlic bread was indeed garlicky, but more like my midwestern Mom would make (again, still good,) but not like you might expect from a real Italian. My dining companion did enjoy the meatballs.

Grano seems perfectly poised for takeout though, and for under four dollars, you can get some of their sauce for takeout. Add a couple of extras, go home and boil your own dried pasta, and you've got a quick dinner that's far cheaper than going out (Total: $10-$15) and can fool anyone you're cooking for into thinking you're actually cooking.

2. DOGWOOD
Hawker also hit the Dogwood on Friday night, and once again, the place failed to disappoint. The food there is truly inspired and after two fantastic and fresh meals in a row, I'm convinced this place is one of Baltimore's gems. (My dining companion finds the decor a little 1970's California and prefers the Woodberry Kitchen, but Hawker respectfully disagrees.) Things that sound odd (beet and cabbage risotto) taste new and perfect in Galen Sampson's hands. The honey-graham Sylvan Beach ice cream is also Hawker's new favorite flavor. The service is exemplary and honest, and Sampson was recently featured on CNN because of his commitment to his other venture: Chefs in the Making, a culinary training program that offers jobs and education to people who've been homeless, incarcerated or have struggled with addiction.

3. ROCKET TO VENUS
Then, Hawker dined at Rocket to Venus Saturday night. Hawker loves this place, and a recently received break-down of VISA expenses from 2007 will serve as evidence to prove this, but the food hasn't inspired her the way it has others. Salad was good, Dangerously Delicious Pie was fine, but vegetarian entrees there leave her cold. The Szechuan Noodles felt like they'd been sitting for a while, and the tofu was way overcooked. My dining companion, however, had a shrimp linguine that was so delicious, however, that she was tempted to drink the broth left in her bowl after she'd eaten everything practically edible. I feel like I just don't get R2V's food like everyone else does, but I'll keep trying. What I do like about R2V, however, is when the waitress came back to take my hardly eaten entree away, I did say that I didn't like the dish. I was nice, and I expected nothing. I think I said that it just wasn't to my taste, and not only did she offer to bring me something else, when the bill came, I saw that she hadn't charged me for the dish. So R2V gets a nod for thoughtful service.

4. MCCABE'S
Elizabeth Large likes McCabe's a lot, though she's concerned about prices.

Ok, Hampdenites, discuss!

A Query and Real News

Does it freak out any other Hampdenites that seagulls hang out in the Falls Road Rite-Aid parking lot and fight over findings from the trash?

In real Hampden News, the Falls Road shortcut (Falls Road south of 33rd) is open again! For Hampdenites who miss getting to The Charles in 5 minutes, rejoice!

NHBA: Mama Cucina

A tipster sent in this photo of a notice placed in the window of the old Allissa's in the stripmall next to the Superfresh.



It's hard to read from the reflection, but Hawker went by yesterday to check it out. Mama Cucina is nearly set to open, and the place was buzzing. Plus the notice indicates an application for outdoor seating--not the most scenic spot, but still outdoor dining (to Hawker) is part of keeping street life vibrant and Hawker welcomes it (even in front of strip mall.)

If you're a Northern cop, please plan to be in Hampden Wednesday morning.

So Hampden has recently been targeted for new (selective) enforcement of loitering laws. Some folks have spoken out on this issue--not necessarily criticizing the loitering law itself, but rather, questioning the populations targeted by the new enforcement. Of particular concern is the real loitering problem in Hampden that still is not being addressed, and the police's continued message that they don't have the people-power to beef up presence around the holidays, at neighborhood street fairs, in response to the recent crime wave, etc.

Everyone knows that there have been EIGHT recent Hampden business break-ins, right?

Don't misinterpret here: Hawker does not disrespect the police. Police officers have the hardest jobs in Baltimore. However, we should be able to talk openly about community issues.

Well, apparently, during First Friday two nights ago, several Hampden establishments were treated to surprise health inspections! Hawker understands (and totally supports!) health inspections, but I understand from a reliable source that inspections on a Friday night and having inspectors accompanied by police is quite unusual (and was intimidating to many business owners.)

Let's hope there are some city and police representatives at the Hampden Village Merchants Association meeting this Wednesday. All key folks have been invited (or are welcome to send representatives.) It seems like honest and direct communication is needed here in order to balance police and community concerns.

Some Reasons to Haul Out the Umbrella and Plastic Booties Tonight

What's shakin' tonight, Hampden?

It's raining, but unless, you're lame: Get out! There's a ton of things a-happenin'.

1. Check out this nice article in the City Paper about the Vinylmore exhibition at Atomic Pop. It opens tonight at 8 p.m.!

2. If that's not enough art, you can catch an opening reception for a new show at Antreasian Gallery tonight from 6-9 p.m. "Deviant Artists," which runs through March 28th, features the work of new works by "punk rocker Steven Archer and New York Artist Adam Collison.

3. You could get started with a beer tasting at The Wine Source from 4:30-7:30 p.m.

4. Hungry? Oysters are just $3 a plate tonight after 5 pm at Hon Bar.

Why were you going to stay in again?

Watch it Frazier's Patrons!

This story in today's Examiner was also picked up by NPR this morning (though NPR referred to comments made by Benn Ray, president of the Hampden Village Merchants Association, they oddly didn't mention him by name.)

From the article: "Hampden bar owners said they were shocked last week when police began warning patrons to move 150 feet away from the entrance of bars they were patronizing or face loitering charges."

The issue, of course, is that Hampden has a legitimate loitering problem--but folks who are grabbing five minutes to have a cigarette outside a bar or restaurant are not the problem.

What about the drug addicts & dealers and the prostitutes that loiter around the 7-11 or up Falls Road to 38th? What about the folks waiting for the drug taxi to pick them up in front of THE LIBRARY? If you live, work or frequently travel through this area of Hampden, you know exactly what I'm talking about, and most of us familiar with that area can even offer license plate numbers of the drug taxis and describe disturbing violent incidents caused by these folks.

Hawker's not saying loitering laws are bad, but Hawker does question the choice of who is targeted under these laws.

The Mayor, The Baltimore City Police Department and City Council representatives have been invited to the next Hampden Village Merchants Association Meeting on Wednesday, March 12 to discuss this issue. We'll see how that conversation goes.

Feel free to discuss the issue now here.

Hawkered!

Today in van news: Cats Rule!

Hawkered at 37th & Roland: 1:45 p.m. today.

Yuca came home!

From Yuca's owners & upgraded from comments:

"Everyone...

Yuca was returned this morning!

She was found on Roland ave., being almost hit by a car. She was taken in for the night. And the SPCA was called this moring where we got Yuca returned home.

Thanks to everyone in Hampden who listened, looked and helped. In the last 24 hours, I got to see that amazing side of Hampden's community that we forget about from time to time...And special thanks to the girl who returned her today from Roland ave!... (I forgot her name in all the confusion of seeing yuca again..)

I appreciate everones concerns and help. My 2 Weimaraners are reunited and we'll be back for our daily trips to Wyman park every morning!

Vic & Erin"

Lost Dog!

From a reader:

"Hi, Our dog Yuca, a full-bred weimaraner, female, about 60 lbs., got out of our backyard yesterday and has been missing since 5:30 pm. We live in Hampden--she was last seen near Hampden Elementary School. We take her and our other dog, her brother, to Wyman Park every single morning so she may be around that area."

Details:
All-gray weimaraner, female, about 60 lbs.
Last seen Wednesday, March 5th, near Hampden Elementary at 5:15 p.m.
Answers to "Yuca" (pronounced You-ca)
She is well-loved, very friendly and extremely missed!

Please call Vic or Erin ASAP with any information.
410-889-1758
443-610-6979
829 Union Ave. Hampden

Erin can also be emailed at: erinmaryg@gmail.com

Spread the word!

REWARD

Hawker has a photo, but Blogger won't let her upload any right now--I'll try again later.

Vinylmore at Atomic Pop

Tomorrow night is the opening night of Atomic Pop's new exhibition: Vinylmore--and the first art toy show in Baltimore!

The premise is the bomb. Atomic Pop asked area artists to take blank, vinyl toys, and use them as a sort of 3D template to create their own artwork on. Over 50 artists (including illustrators, sculptors, photographers, painters, graphic designers, tattooists, graffiti artists, fine artists, and more) responded to the challenge.

Join the opening celebration tomorrow night!

Friday, March 7
Vinylmore
Atomic Pop
3620 Falls Road
8:00 p.m.
FREE
Show runs through March 31.

Participants include: JUSTIN BLEMLY, STEPHEN BLICKENSTAFF, MICHAEL BRACCO, MELVIN BRADLEY, CATHLEEN BROOKS, BEN CLAASSEN III, DATEK, SEAN DAVIDSON, MING DOYLE, TY FINOCCHIARO, SCOTT FISHPAW, JIMMY FOO, MARIAH GILLIS, JOSHUA GRIFFIN, BRANDON HILL, SAM HOLMES, JORDAN JEFFRIES, JEREMINUS, CHRIS KEATON, DANIEL KRALL, HAWK KRALL, JIM LASHER, JOE LATHE-VITALE, THE LOTUS ASSASSIN, JOE MEYER, SHI MONSTA, STEVE MORRIS, CARL NEILSON, NOS4A2, STEPHEN JOHN PHILLIPS, JOEY POTTS, MARC RALEY, BRIAN RALPH, MICHAEL SACHSE, JONATHAN Z. SEDER, WHITNEY SHERMAN, KEVIN SHERRY, TONY SHORE, DAVE SOBEL, STUART SPENGLER, NOLEN STRALS, S4NDM4N, SCOTT SUGIUCHI, RYAN CECIL SMITH, SIMONE THORNTON, TODDFATHER, SARA TOMKO, TWIT©H, ANDREA VITALE-LATHE, BRUCE WILLEN, AYUMI YASUDA, YOINK, JEREMY ZOMBIE... and others still TBA!

(Photo of work by Whitney Sherman taken by Rachel Whang)

Hawker bobs up out of the water.

Hawker's been tired. Very, very tired. If you know her, you know why. If you don't, just know that you'd get a free pass too for being lazy if you were her.

Hawker's trying to resurface. So look today for a triumphant return with loads of posts--just like real gossip blogs!