A Dear John Letter to Hampden

Dear Hampden:

I loved you. I hated you. Then, I loved you even more. Now, I miss you.

Hawker's radio silence is because she moved. As I said to all my friends, "I'm not dying; I'm just moving to New Jersey." I've been without Internet for a while and then there was that whole unpacking thing.

And although New Jersey made Hawker & her family an offer they couldn't refuse, you should know two things: a) I miss you and b) I'll be back.

Hawker would like to offer some personalized parting words (without links, because I'm sad):

To The Hon Bar: Thanks for kicking me out that one time. I deserved it.
To the bathroom at R2V: I'm sorry. I'm very, very sorry.
To Frazier's: Thanks for every night that ended in madness that began with the sentence, "Hey, let's go to Frazier's for one more!"
To Oh! Said Rose: Thanks for letting every woman in my family get the coolest Christmas gifts for a few years.
To The Wine Source: Thanks for all the free booze!
To Atomic Books: I think I'm going to miss you most of all.
To The Golden West: You have the best pancakes in the world, and for the last time: your service is FINE. Damn the whiners.
To Budget TV: Shine on, you crazy diamond.
To Form: I was too scared ever to talk to you. You intimidate me.
To Hampdenfest: For one shining moment every year, Keyboard Man united us. This gives me hope for the human race.
To the junkies on Falls Road: I hope with all of my being that you get some help. I know someone somewhere loves you and misses the person you were and could be.

I could go on and on, but these are the parting thoughts that come to mind this morning.

You know, now that I've moved to a new place, I remember when my best friend first came from the midwest to visit me in Hampden. We spent an afternoon shopping on the Avenue & at just about every place we entered, I either knew someone else in the store and/or new the store owner. She asked me if I was super popular in Baltimore. "No," I said, "that's just Hampden. Everybody knows everybody." I miss that already.

What's to happen with Hawker is still up in the air.

Be nice to each other while I'm gone, ok?

Sincerely,
Hawker

Come home, Bam!

I just received the following from a tipster. Please contact Aaron if you have any leads, and let's try to get this dog back without anyone getting punched in the face, ok?

"My neighbor (12) had his puppy stolen from his yard last night on 37th and Buena Vista. He is distraught, and we are heartbroken for him. Can you put the word out for people to keep their eyes peeled? He is a 5-month old white pit bull with tiny brown spots on his ears. He is unaltered and answers to "Bam". If the thief was brazen or stupid, he may still have his rabies tag and a name tag with "Bam" on it on a studded collar. He is a well-known pup around here, and I'm hoping some of his friends may help him get back home. The last time he was stolen, a helpful neighbor traded the thief a punch in the face for the dog. We will just settle for getting the dog back this time.

Tipsters can email me or call 443.627.3048. Reward offered on return, no questions asked.

Thanks!

-Aaron"

Old News: Now with Mice!

Apparently, Angelo's has mice. ABC 2's "Dirty Dining" segment recently featured the Hampden pizzeria at Falls & Keswick. To be fair, most Hampden homes I know have mice too.

From the story:

"The owner says, "I hate it. I can't stand it. We clean. We're spotless. We do everything we can." Angelo let us take a look for ourselves and we agree. It doesn't seem like a lack of cleanliness in the kitchen is the cause of those unwanted diners. Angelo says he's tried nearly a dozen pest companies in the past three decades but he believes the aging building and the neighborhood itself may be just too inviting for pests."

Is this news?

More on the Church Fire

The steeple of Mount Vernon United Methodist is set to be taken down tomorrow morning at 8 a.m.

A Brief News Round-Up

1. fotopopART is featured in today's Sun--with a super cute picture of owner Lauren Preller. Stop in and tell how great she looks!

2. Atomic Books/Pop co-owner Benn Ray weighs in on the tree attacks in Hampden, and he asks a good question: Why the hell do people around here hate trees so much?

3. Hampden once again has plenty to offer Baltimore Magazine's Best of Baltimore. Here's a sampling:
Best Kids' Menu: Golden West
Best New Restaurant: Woodberry Kitchen
Eco Gifts: Earth Alley
Organic Salon: Sprout
Sustainable Restaurant: The Dogwood
Accessories: Shine Collective
Fun Shoes: doubledutch
New York Shopping Experience: Form
Stationers: Chelle Paperie
Window Display: Red Tree
Window Treatments: Palette
Pet Store: Howl (formerly Chow, Baby!)
Estrogen Heaven: Ma Petite Shoe
Massage: ReNew Organic Day Spa
Personal Trainer: Jon A. Kaplan at Meadow Mill
Balti-centric Blog: The Mobtown Shank

Upgraded from Comments

A resident on Chestnut took this video of today's church fire while the steeple was still ablaze. It is frightening.

Unbelievable!

Photo from The Sun

The storm last night was truly stunning. I don't know anyone in Hampden who wasn't awaken by it. The thunder was some of the loudest I've ever heard--and Hawker is from the midwest.

There was also a tragic consequence, and you could smell the smoke all morning.

The Mount Vernon United Methodist Church at 33rd and Chestnut burned to the ground. Damages of the three-alarm fire are estimated at 5.5 million! Details here in The Sun. WJZ has video and more images here. The church building was built in 1878 according to The Sun, in the 1850's according to WJZ.

Thankfully, no one was injured. More than thirty homes were evacuated as a precaution, however.

Hawker is deeply, deeply sorry for all of the parishioners and for Hampden's loss of this historic building.

So Many Ways to Get Trashed Tonight

Hawker's been slacking this week, and she shouldn't have been because there's tons o' news to report!

Tonight is First Friday, so get out and get your sales and wine tastings on!

However, you could also try something a little different. . . you could get trashed!

(Ok, enough with the exclamation points.)

The Clean & Green Committee will be organizing a quick clean up around the neighborhood followed by a happy hour tonight. Meet up at Royal Farms (at the corner of 36th & Roland) at 7:00 p.m. (Hawker can't make it because it's her 10th wedding anniversary.)

Also, on August 11 at 7:00 p.m. there will be a Clean & Green Committee meeting. If you’d like to be part of the committee, please come out to discuss Clean & Green actions. That meting will be held at 3506 Ash Street. If you’d like to be on the committee but can’t make it to that meeting, drop a line to Kat Feuerstein at:

kat@gilahpress.com

And, seriously, why don't we all just pick up trash around our hood when we see it? Keep Hampden tidy, hon!