Bill and Amy in Baltimore (was RE: [SunRescue] List Administrivia)

[Loomis, Rip]

Baltimore/DC area folks--
So is anyone trying to set up the "East Coast
SunHelp party" for Bill and Amy?  I know
there are enough of us here...although they
probably would prefer to spend a couple of
days *not* surrounded by us random geeks.

Bill--
You probably didn't just pick Baltimore by
throwing darts, so you likely already know
of some places to go/things to do.  However,
here's my $0.02 with a few other suggestions
for Baltimore things you might not have
stumbled across:

Food and Drink:
Since you're staying at the Admiral Fell, there
are plenty of bars within a quick walk, and John
Stevens' has good food right there...but
if you feel like venturing a little farther:
1.  Best inexpensive Italian food - Chiapparelli's
	in Little Italy.  Outstanding garlicky house
	salad.  Don't have dessert there, though...
	go down the street to Vaccaro's and have
	a cannoli or gelato.
2.  Best wings - Kistlings in Canton (they also
	have a good selection of beers).  A slightly
	higher quality of bar food otherwise.
3.  More expensive but outstanding food - "Charleston"
	
http://www.baltimoremag.com/search_main/archives/98_05/dining/dining.html
4.  German beers (and beer-friendly food) - Baltimore
	Brewing Company!
 
http://www.baltimoremag.com/search_main/archives/97_08/serious_suds4.html
5.  Cheap-but-good beer - The Wharf Rat (any three
	12 ounce drafts for $3 during happy hour
	prices...the only catch is that all three
	beers have to be different...but with a
	wide selection, it's fun to expand your
	taste horizons)  The house-brewed beers are
	primarily English-style ales (including
	at least one hand-pumped), but their guest
	beers are from all over and generally great.
	The Wharf Rat is also profiled in the
	Baltimore magazine story above.

If you're up for Sushi, I recommend Matsuri, by
the Cross Street Market (when I met my wife, she
was living just a drunken stumble away, at
123 East West Street... and yes that's a real
address).  The Market itself is interesting on
Friday/Saturday nights, when the regular stalls shut
down and it turns into a bar...the sushi inside is
pretty good as well.  It can get sort of crowded
and loud, though.

If you want *really* good seafood with more selection
than some of the locally focused touristy places
in the Inner Harbor, check out Legal Seafoods
(yep, imported the chain from Boston).  Their
restaurant is just up from the Inner Harbor.  Some
of our friends prefer McCormick and Schmick's for
seafood, also pretty much in the Inner Harbor.

As for things to do in Baltimore itself other
than eat or drink, the ESPNZone in the Inner
Harbor is interesting if you're into sports-related
video games and simulators.  You can also come
down to Fort Meade and check out the National
Cryptology Museum...ooh, ahh, ENIGMA...  If
it's a nice day, then either go up to the top
of Federal Hill for a nice view down into the
harbor (and then wander over to Porter's [just
changed names from Ransome's] for a quick bite
and a drink), or go out to Fort Mc Henry.  The
Water Taxi is a great way to get around while
enjoying the scenery...but you probably already
knew that.

If you have any other requests for specific food
types etc., just ask.

	--Rip (living 30 minutes south of B'more)

P.S. Yeah, this probably should go over to "geeks@".

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ken Hansen [mailto:n2vip at bellatlantic.net]
> Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2001 11:04 PM
> To: rescue at sunhelp.org
> Subject: RE: [SunRescue] List Administrivia
> 
> 
> I live a few hours away from Baltimore, so I have been there 
> a few times. I wanted to make a few suggestions:
> 
> Inner Harbor - There is a Hard Rock Cafe, right next to a 
> large bookstore (Borders or Barnes & Noble) just off the harbor.
> 
> Somewhere in Baltimore - Great "dress-up" restaurant called 
> Prime Rib - beef a speciality, but a sport coat (maybe suit) 
> is required - expensive, but worth it IMHO.
> 
> If you have a car, the B & O Railroad museum is 
> interesting/fun, assuming you appreciate model trains (and 
> the big ones) - esp. good for inclement weather, as all the 
> old locomotives are in a HUGE roundhouse.
> 
> There is also a firetruck museum, but it was closed when we 
> were there - I suspect it was decent.
> 
> And, I am not sure if they are in your area in Texas, but 
> Krispy Kreme doughnuts are always a treat.
> 
> Also, Diners abound (just like North Jersey), I always wanted 
> to go to the Fells Point Diner, but that may be because I 
> watched the movie "Diner" *way* too many times. That was the 
> first movie I paid to see more than once, I suspect I have 
> seen that movie nearly 2 dozen times... ;^)
> 
> Baltimore is a nice place to visit, even if it is/was the 
> murder capital of the USA...
> 
> Enjoy,
> 
> Ken