Updates on Pigtown Development: Pre-2010

You don’t leave your house for a year and then walk down the street to find that everything has changed.  For the better!!!

First of all, I’d like to welcome Daryl Landry, the new executive director of Pigtown Main Streets to the neighborhood.  Daryl has been living in Pigtown longer than I have and has been a welcome breath of fresh air and energy to the neighborhood.

Secondly, because of Daryl’s hard work, we’re going to have a holiday art festival, Artdromeda, Dec. 3-6th.  I have to admit, I’m pretty excited about this because I love any kind of holiday festival/art bazaar.  It’s a great way of getting unique Christmas gifts for those who are hard to get gifts for.  They will also have a tot lot Holiday Bazaar with Santa Claus and cocoa, Dec. 5th from 11-3pm.

Thirdly, the observations on Washington Blvd so far are good.  We have an art museum at 788 Washington Blvd, which looks more than just promising, it looks really cool.  We’re getting a new coffeehouse, Perfecto, at the former Evelyn’s Cafe, set to open Dec. 12, 2009.  We’re also getting a new restaurant at the former building of Szherezad’s, a BBQ/Bar place, a wine store, and another upscale restaurant and bar.  It’s looking promising– and I hope my neighbors in Pigtown take the time to stroll down the street, say hi to Daryl, and watch for the new businesses coming soon to our area.  Sure, it’s taking a long time, but like all good things, they are worth the wait.  Hopefully.

In waaaay over my head.

So, like most nubile young things in Baltimore City, I got knocked up.  Although, I will say that I am married to someone gainfully employed and am employed myself.

So, the Pigtowner Blog is on permanent hiatus.  You can read about the rest of my life at tizinu.

Save the Lot Dreams – Mmm…. Donuts

Well, I haven’t posted in a while, but that’s mostly due to work– once again.  But there have been lots of other people writing about the Pigtown, like Baltimore Slumlord and  Baltimore John Watch to amuse yourselves with so in a way, it’s ok.  And they keep me in the loop.

Today I learned that on April 16th, there will a court hearing for the Save A Lot  space,  and I’m thinking about going, just to check it out, see what’s going on and what will be done to improve the space.  Because of this train of thought, I was thinking about what stores would be successful in that space.  And I thought of one.

Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin Robbins.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, that this an awful idea.  I mean, why do we need donuts and ice cream when there is so much crap being eaten by people in this neighborhood anyway?  On the surface, it sounds like it would be a cop out, a way to get just something in that space because people in our neighborhood would love to have ANYTHING at all to patronize.

But there are some key reasons to open a DD/BR.  First of all, it would be successful because there isn’t a decent donut place west of the MLK (I know about Ann’s but I don’t know of anyone who has gone there for donuts!)  In fact, the MLK corridor desperately needs a donut place because it’s extremely conveniently located for commuters of all types– those going into the city and those going out of the city– and it has great visibility.  There’s plenty of parking for said commuters to drive into/out of the city, get some donuts, and disperse to their jobs. 

Secondly, it would serve the community as something for adults and children to look forward to in the summer– it’s not egregiously expensive and would be a local hangout for kids to do something instead of just loitering.  I know that it might be problematic if they just hang out around there, but it would also attract something else.

Cops.

Now, I know that I’m playing on a horrible stereotype, but seriously, have you ever seen the Mt. Vernon DD?  There is always a cop car at that parking lot.  And where there’s a cop car, there’s a cop.  And where there’s a cop, there is care… as in people being careful of what they say or do.  And that’s something we need at 701 Washington Blvd.

And lastly, damnit, if I’m craving an ice cream sundae, I can walk over and get one and not have to drive to Federal Hill in the hopes of that one ice cream place being open.

A Tree Grows in Pigtown

I’ve always wondered why we don’t grow fruit trees in urban spaces and always concluded that there must have been some fatal flaw in the combination of city life and fruit trees.  So it was quite a surprise to walk home this week and stumble upon an apple tree near the sidewalk behind the former Save-A-Lot.

Believe it or not, the apples are not only edible, they’re sweet. Get them while they last: they’re falling off the branches as I type.

Welcome Erica Christoph!

Pigtown has a new Main Streets Manager: Erica Christoph!  She hails from Georgia and comes with lots of energy!  There will be an open house for her July 31st, 4:30-7:30 pm at 784 Washington Blvd.

Welcome to Pigtown Erica!

You don’t blog for a couple of weeks and then…

…you find out one of your neighbors was mugged. Damnit.

From Carol:

This morning, a neighbor who lives on McHenry (between Otterbein and Scott) was mugged. The mugger was described as a black male, 50-55 years old, 5′8″ or 9″ tall, dark skin and short hair. He was also walking with a fake limp and used a cane…which he then used to hit the victim before snatching her purse. This happened at approximately 9 AM.

Typically this doesn’t happen in our neighborhood, but we’ll have to be on high alert now.  Be careful walking the streets!

Fourth of July in the City

It’s hot.  It’s humid.  it’s time for beer, BBQ, and fireworks.

I’m going down south to see family but I’m going to miss the fireworks in the City.  And I’m not talking about the ones by the water, I mean the ones on the rooftops. 

If you are still in the city, get onto your roof this 4th and check out the illegal fireworks extravaganza that the residents of our fine city set off.  And though Baltimore’s finest will be out in full force to fine those who have the fireworks, I doubt they’ll be fining those who will be enjoying them.

Be safe this weekend and have some Natty Boh!

Pig Hook

I actually already have this pig hook in my house.  Just after we moved in, it was apparent that I was losing my keys in the morning because I couldn’t keep them in the same place.  Or something.  Anyhow, I have this right by the front door now and I keep my keys there all the time. It should be available again at Restoration Hardware for $14 27JUN08.

It’s super piggy cute.

I want mine in pink.

While stuck in the lounge of a Mr. Tire the other day, I was forced to watch FoxNews with my fellow tire-consumers and I was amazed to see this.

It intrigued me.  Instead of tupperware, you could have a taser party?  I’ve always wondered how to use a taser and I can’t deny the appeal of being able to defend myself at night with a plastic shiny pink electrical pistol.  So I googled “taser party” and found this site, which helps you host parties in MD.  And guess what?

Stun guns are banned from Baltimore City.  

I should’ve known.

Piggy Corn Holders

When you live in Pigtown, anything piggy becomes a ridiculous consumer obsession. You start noticing porcine products everywhere and suddenly you realize that you have to exercise a little self control. Because when you start buying piggy stuff for yourself, piggy stuff comes to you in the form of gifts– and you only have so much space in a rowhouse.

My personal philosophy is to not seek the pigs, but let the pigs come to you. So when I noticed piggy corn holders while shopping for bathroom storage, I couldn’t help myself. I had to get them. 

Oh, piggies! You will make my corn taste so much better!