Barclay

Barclay is located in the eastern part of Baltimore City. It is bordered on the west by Barclay St and on the east by Greenmount Ave. It is a small neighborhood consisting mostly of 22nd St as far as I can tell. There wasn't a much information to be found, unfortunately.

22nd Street is primarily a historic district. The homes here are three story, swell front rowhomes. They were built in the late 19th century. They feature three full stories and full basements. Every third house has a decorative, Victorian style, third floor porch.

St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church was built of Jones Falls blue

stone in 1874. It was built in the Gothic Revival style and designed

by two nationally renowned architects, Francis Baldwin and Bruce Price. Baldwin designed 150 buildings for the B&O Railroad and Price designed many of the Stick & Shingle style houses in Tuxedo Park, New York.

The neighborhood is blighted by boarded up houses and others falling into disrepair. It is easy to see how grand these homes once were and what they still could be if they were properly rehabilitated.

Born in Baltimore

Bill Frisell was born in Baltimore on March 18, 1951, but he was raised in Denver, Colorado. He attended the University of Northern Colorado where he studied music and then went to Berklee School of Music in Boston to study with Jim Hall.

He got his big break when Pat Metheny couldn't make a session with Paul Motian and recommended Bill Frisell. He has regularly played with Paul Motian ever since, even recording a few albums together. Bill was active in the New York City music scene in the 80's.

In 2005 he won a Grammy Award for best contemporary jazz album for Unspeakable. My favorite albums so far, not having heard them all, are Have a Little Faith and Nashville. Have a Little Faith features Gershwin and others. It has the complete Billy the Kid.

Nashville is, well,

like what I think wonderful

country music could be.

The best way to enjoy Bill though is live and in person. He is a man of few words. When NJG and I saw him in Annapolis over the summer, NJG bet me that he wouldn't say more than 20 words the whole night. I think the count was 13. He does all his talking with the guitar. He looks like he just loves to play and I really enjoy watching someone who enjoys performing. You have your chance to join me tonight and see him at An Die Musik he is playing at 8 pm and again at 9:30 pm. Yes, we will be at both. He is that good. He is also performing at the same venue tomorrow. An Die Musik is a very small, intimate venue, you will be lucky if it isn't sold out already.

B'more Sports

Ok, so the Ravens had a bye week and not even they can screw that up. Unfortunately, the Browns and the Steelers both won, so the pressure is on for next week. I don't expect the Ravens to really do anything for the rest of the season. I think they are done.

The Orioles fired Andy Etchebarren who was the 3 year coach of the Aberdeen Ironbirds and had spent most of his 45 year career with the Orioles organization. Way to go. Why don't you just throw Boog Powell and his BBQ stand out of Oriole Park while you're at it.

A-Rod is a free agent. I don't think anyone dares to dream that he would come here to play, but I sure would love to see it. I think he would like playing in Baltimore and enjoy being appreciated. But he will most likely move on to the Red Sox, who just won the World Series in a four game sweep (yawn) of the Colorado Rockies. Who didn't see that coming?

The Baltimore Blasts defeated the Milwaukee Wave (do they surf there?) 13-8 in Baltimore on Saturday. This makes them 2-0 for the season so far. Way to go Blasts.

Places to go, People to see

The National Aquarium in Baltimore is a must see if you are coming to town. Baltimore has been the home of the national aquarium for more than 20 years. The design of the aquarium is interesting and inviting. I took my son there last year when he was 9. We spent hours there and he was interested enough to read every sign at every exhibit.

They will let you know when the dolphin shows are when you arrive. It is up to you to decide whether you want to see the exhibits first or go to the dolphin show first. I must admit, I have never been to Sea World or anything, so I don't know how the dolphin show in Baltimore compares to others, but it looks to me like everyone is having a good time. I really like the way the auarium is laid out. You walk up in a spiral, stopping at informative exhibits along the way.

At the top is a rain forest area with exotic birds and a nice view of the inner harbor area.

You get a whole new experience on the way down. It is as if you are going under the sea in a cage because you are surrounded on all sides by the glass walls of the aquarium. The big fish, the various sharks, are swimming right by. Sometimes you can see the workers in their wetsuits feeding the fish. There is a children's area where the kids can actually touch some of the exhibits and then there is an Australia exhibit which was not quite open when I was last there.

The aquarium was a vital part of the revitalization of the inner harbor area. It has been expanded several times and there have been many other attractions added nearby such as the ESPN Zone and the Hard Rock Cafe.

Be There or Be Square, Hon

Creative Alliance is hosting the annual Great Halloween Lantern Parade on Saturday October 27th at 7:30 pm. This is a parade featuring handmade lanterns, floats, bands, stilt walkers, etc. Sounds like alot of fun. I have never been and will not be able to make it this year either. It conflicts with my brother's annual Halloween party which is a can't miss event on my calendar. I guess there's always next year... or a rain date, which is the very next evening.

There is an Urban Pumpkin Patch at the First and Franklin Street Presbyterian Church on Madison St. There is a large selection of pumpkins, indian corn and gourds for you fall decorating needs. There are also baked goods available. They have daily hours through the season.

The real can't miss event of the week will be Bill Frisell Trio at An Die Musik. Bill Frisell is a wonderful guitarist. He quietly and magically plays on the stage as if he is playing solely for himself and is delighted that eveyone else seems to like it too. He will hardly say a word but he will speak volumes with his guitar. It's a real treat and I will be there for the Tuesday evening show. Go to the An Die website now and buy your tickets. It is a small, intimate venue and this event will sell out.

Baltimore Highlands

Baltimore Highlands is located in southeast Baltimore, just north of Canton, Fells Point, and Patterson Park. The homes were constructed from 1926-1938. They are mostly two or three story brick or formstone row homes with marble steps. Some homes do have front porches and front and rear lawns. Some feature stained glass transoms and windows and second floor bay windows.

The neighborhood was where Eskay originated. It was started by an German immigrant and at one time was the largest meat packing plant on the east coast. The neighborhood is home to Santoni's Supermarket which is open 24 hours a day and will deliver to your door. Also, home to Pasquale's grocery and deli which is owned and operated by a third generation Italian family.

Average sales for a home in this neighborhood was $113,851 in 2006.

Born in Baltimore

There is some controversy as to his true birth date but it looks as though Eubie Blake was born James Hubert Blake on February 7, 1887 to former slaves on Forrest Street in Baltimore. He was the only surviving child of 8. The other children never made it out of infancy. His father worked as a stevedore on the Baltimore docks for $9.00 a week. It was very important to him that his son learned how to read. Eubie's mother was a God fearing woman who subsidized the family income by taking in wash.

Eubie's musical talent was discovered when he was 4 or 5 years old. He was shopping with his mother when he wandered away into a music store. He sat down at the organ and started just playing around on it. The store manager recognized the young boy's talent and encouraged his mother to nurture it. The family managed to buy a $75.00 pump organ for Eubie, paying .25 a week for it. He started receiving lessons from a church organist when he was 7 years old.

He was always attracted to ragtime music. His mother heard him practicing one day and yelled," Get that ragtime music out of my house!" She wanted him to only play sacred music. He was drawn to the music which they played in bordellos and funeral marches. He was soon following funeral marches so he could study the music. His mother tried to put an end to that.

By the time he was 15 he was secretly playing the piano at Aggie Shelton's bordello. He claimed he actually wrote the Charlestown Rag in 1899 but had to wait to put it on paper until he learned how to write musical notation in 1915. He became the best known ragtime paino player ever. His most popular tune was Shuffle Along in 1921.

He came along way from the bordello in Baltimore, he played with the Boston Pops and Dr. Arthur Fiedler, he performed at the White House. He was a modest man and was always surprised when people knew him and his music. In 1979 there was a musical made about his life, Eubie.

Eubie Blake passed away shortly after celebrating his 100th birhtday in 1983. Some official records list his birthday as February 12, 1883. He is buried at Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn.