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somebodyisfromhere.com
The destination destination.
| In the Land of Natty Boh's and the O's: Somebodyisfromhere.com spends a part of Preakness weekend in Baltimore. |
<<< The Mount Vernon section of Baltimore offers access to the
Downtown area while boasting the University of Baltimore, The Lyric
Opera House, and the (Baltimore's) Washington Monument.
All of this and more can be seen from the bar called the 13th Floor at the
Belvedere Hotel which is located, you know, on the 13th floor of the
Belvedere Hotel about 6 miles from the Preakness at Pimlico Racetrack.
While probably one of the city's better locations in terms of property, the
13th Floor is full of contradictions.
Downtown area while boasting the University of Baltimore, The Lyric
Opera House, and the (Baltimore's) Washington Monument.
All of this and more can be seen from the bar called the 13th Floor at the
Belvedere Hotel which is located, you know, on the 13th floor of the
Belvedere Hotel about 6 miles from the Preakness at Pimlico Racetrack.
While probably one of the city's better locations in terms of property, the
13th Floor is full of contradictions.
The lighting is dark for mood but also covers for the fact that if there were lights on the place would have no personality. On one
hand they don't allow patrons to wear hats, on the other hand the divider in the bathroom separating the stall from the urinal is a
sheet held up by what can only be described as jumper cable clamps. It's important to note that it's the view that makes the 13th
Floor worth the trip and it's the contradictions that make it affordable ($3 Harp during happy hour).
Speaking of affordable, The Owl Bar and Grill is on the ground floor. The Owl, a former speakeasy, states on its website, "The
good news was that prohibition with all its priggish intentions did not work." They got that right. Today, there are brick ovens and
solid bar food. Somebodyisfromhere.com's bill for three (without alcohol) was in the $30 range.
A few blocks away is The Brewer's Art. The main floor has a nice restaurant but the fun is had in the basement where one can
drink house beers in catacombs that have a feel of an Edgar Allen Poe story. Locals, meanwhile, pridefully point out that The
Brewer's Art is among Esquire magazine's best bars in America.
If the house beers are too delicious for the consumer, Natty Boh's can be found just about anywhere in the city. Natural
Bohemian, a blue collar alternative, has been around since 1885 and boasts on its website to be the first brand to sell the six
pack.
Somebodyisfromhere.com decided to get his Natty Boh's on at Dionysus, a hipster bar with comfortable living room type chairs,
board games, and the type of people who wear a shirt with the word "Illuminati" on it on the same day Angels & Demons hit
theaters.
Mt. Vernon offers an alternate version of Baltimore than its perception often displays. It can feel sometimes, that there isn't much
more to the city than cop shows and the Inner Harbor.
Both Homicide: Life on the Street and The Wire were shot in Charm City. Homicide continues to be Somebodyisfromhere.com's
favorite show of all time and he maintains that Andre Braugher's Frank Pembleton is one of the most watchable characters to
have inhabited the small screen. Meanwhile, The Wire is also often considered brilliant (and it had one of the best introduction
scenes Somebodyisfromhere.com has seen).
The Inner Harbor, close to Camden Yards, still remains one of the most successful revitalization projects in history. It has
seemingly gone from nothing, to Hooter's, to Ritz Carlton residences in a matter of years.
So Somebodyisfromhere.com doesn't know what your perception of Baltimore is, but he wants you to know, there's more to it
than meets the eye.
hand they don't allow patrons to wear hats, on the other hand the divider in the bathroom separating the stall from the urinal is a
sheet held up by what can only be described as jumper cable clamps. It's important to note that it's the view that makes the 13th
Floor worth the trip and it's the contradictions that make it affordable ($3 Harp during happy hour).
Speaking of affordable, The Owl Bar and Grill is on the ground floor. The Owl, a former speakeasy, states on its website, "The
good news was that prohibition with all its priggish intentions did not work." They got that right. Today, there are brick ovens and
solid bar food. Somebodyisfromhere.com's bill for three (without alcohol) was in the $30 range.
A few blocks away is The Brewer's Art. The main floor has a nice restaurant but the fun is had in the basement where one can
drink house beers in catacombs that have a feel of an Edgar Allen Poe story. Locals, meanwhile, pridefully point out that The
Brewer's Art is among Esquire magazine's best bars in America.
If the house beers are too delicious for the consumer, Natty Boh's can be found just about anywhere in the city. Natural
Bohemian, a blue collar alternative, has been around since 1885 and boasts on its website to be the first brand to sell the six
pack.
Somebodyisfromhere.com decided to get his Natty Boh's on at Dionysus, a hipster bar with comfortable living room type chairs,
board games, and the type of people who wear a shirt with the word "Illuminati" on it on the same day Angels & Demons hit
theaters.
Mt. Vernon offers an alternate version of Baltimore than its perception often displays. It can feel sometimes, that there isn't much
more to the city than cop shows and the Inner Harbor.
Both Homicide: Life on the Street and The Wire were shot in Charm City. Homicide continues to be Somebodyisfromhere.com's
favorite show of all time and he maintains that Andre Braugher's Frank Pembleton is one of the most watchable characters to
have inhabited the small screen. Meanwhile, The Wire is also often considered brilliant (and it had one of the best introduction
scenes Somebodyisfromhere.com has seen).
The Inner Harbor, close to Camden Yards, still remains one of the most successful revitalization projects in history. It has
seemingly gone from nothing, to Hooter's, to Ritz Carlton residences in a matter of years.
So Somebodyisfromhere.com doesn't know what your perception of Baltimore is, but he wants you to know, there's more to it
than meets the eye.
Is it Time to Take the Horse (racing) out to Pasture?
>>> Some might say horse racing is on the decline, but on fan appreciation day,
the people's eyes were glued to the tracks.
One shouldn't need too much convincing to get talked into the combination of sun,
suds, and gambling. At the track they all feed into each other. In fact, the 20
minutes in between races kind of serves as a drinking timer.
It was Somebodyisfromhere.com's first day at a track in years and he wasn't sure
what to expect
Things got off to a remarkably good start when he learned that at Monmouth Park
that parking is (always) free and that (due to fan appreciation day) admission was
free as well. Tickets are usually $2.
Full Page: Ponies.
the people's eyes were glued to the tracks.
One shouldn't need too much convincing to get talked into the combination of sun,
suds, and gambling. At the track they all feed into each other. In fact, the 20
minutes in between races kind of serves as a drinking timer.
It was Somebodyisfromhere.com's first day at a track in years and he wasn't sure
what to expect
Things got off to a remarkably good start when he learned that at Monmouth Park
that parking is (always) free and that (due to fan appreciation day) admission was
free as well. Tickets are usually $2.
Full Page: Ponies.
Similar. Kind of.
Charles Street, Baltimore