Sun reviews DuClaw BWI

See the review here.  Positive, overall.

(Sun photo by Karl Merton Ferron)

Coming to Max's Belgian? DON'T DRIVE!

Here's Fells Point this evening:

Let me tell you all you need to know:

THERE IS NO PLACE TO PARK.

What parking lots and garages exist down there are/were full of the cars of locals, and will probably be thus full tomorrow.

What streets are open are BADLY rutted slabs of five-inch-thick ice.  They are challenging even to Jeep 4X4 drivers.  The residential streets--Lancaster, Shakespeare, etc.--are still completely impassable unless you have a snowmobile.

Plan to take transit.  Or a taxi.  Or walk.  Heck, is the Water Taxi running?

The MTA's website is supposed to be http://mta.maryland.gov , but it appears to be down for the moment.  Many bus lines are NOT running as I type this.  The easiest thing to do is get yourself downtown (via Metro, Light Rail, MARC, bus, or whatever), then take a #10 bus from downtown to the intersection of Eastern Avenue and Broadway, two short blocks or so north of Max's.  The new (and free) Charm City Circulator shuttle buses will get you from downtown to Harbor East, but it's still several blocks' walk from there to Max's.  Note that the MTA is NOT YET running the Metro on the above-ground portion between Mondawmin Station and Owings Mills, and may not be doing so until Monday; substitute shuttle buses are being run between the Metro's above-ground stations (Old Court to Mondawmin--Owings Mills folks are out of luck), with substantial delays on the underground portion.  See HERE for MTA bus route updates.  The #10 bus line eastbound is running through downtown on Baltimore Street and President Street to Eastern Avenue, not Pratt Street.

See y'all inside for breakfast at 11, MTA willing.

Tonight's Federal Hill Firkin

From Metropolitan's e-mail:

Does anyone still want a beer after the mess of the last week?

If you do, we have a great one on cask tonight as we tap a delicious firkin of Arcadia London Porter from Arcadia Brewing Co. in Battle Creek, Michigan. London Porter is a 7.2% porter brewed in an 18th Century Style: "This is our version of an 18th Century “Smoked Porter”. Our London Porter has a subtle accent of beechwood smoked malt, which comes through nicely in the aroma and the flavor. Brewed using seven varieties of premium European malted barley, this full-bodied beer is characterized by hints of chocolate and coffee, and balanced by a  long-lingering hoppy bitterness. In a style that generally focuses on malt alone, our London Porter is unique in its rich, smoky, peaty characteristics. It has earthy, grassy notes as
well, courtesy of UK Goldings hops."

Almost makes up for missing out on SPBW and Lures tonight............  (still thinking of the sad, lonely snowman there....)

Should we move Valentine's Day?

A reader at the Baltimore Sun blog of food critic Elizabeth Large (who, incidentally, is retiring after thirty years later this month) makes the folowing suggestion:

I think that we/you need to start a campaign to move V-Day this year. Call it V-Day 2.0 or V-Day+5 and make it next Friday night. Otherwise lots of restaurants, shops, florists, etc. will take a big hit.  But I need someone with a bull horn, a soapbox- someone like you!  I'm sure many of your advertisers and readers- restaurants and erstwhile diners- would embrace this. So please consider my modest proposal. ...

Sounds good to me. Besides, some of us would then get to enjoy the Max's Belgian Fest  guilt-free on Sunday.

This Is When We REALLY Worry......

They're coming.

Be ready.

Still Open?!?!?!?!

At least four seven ten Baltimore good-beer bars are reported as open in this storm:

Mahaffey's, Canton
Ale Mary's, Canton/Fells Point
Baltimore Taphouse, Highlandtown/Canton
Duda's and John Steven Ltd., Fells Point
Max's Taphouse, Fells Point
Brewers Art, downstairs bar reported as opening @ 5 pm.
Metropolitan, Muggsy's Mug House, and Abbey Burger Bistro in Federal Hill

Anyone else?  Can anyone send me pictures of the crowds there?

Max's Belgian Fest STILL ON

From Max's Taphouse:

MAX'S IS STILL HAVING THE BELGIAN FEST, THIS WEEKEND. FEB 12-14, 2010.

 

We are still having the fest, all the same times (11am-2am each day)

 

Snow or no Snow this Festival is going to happen.

 

There are 2 garages in fells point on Thames street that you can use.

Hope to see you all this weekend. Cheers

Proposed Md. Booze Tax Increases: Up to OVER 1,200% INCREASE in Beer Tax!!!

Straight and to the point:

Md. Senate Bill 717

Md. House Bill 832

Increasing the State tax rates for alcoholic beverages sold in Maryland from $1.50 to $10.03 per gallon for distilled spirits, from 40 cents to $2.96 per gallon for wine, and from 9 cents to $1.16 per gallon for beer; providing for the distribution of the additional revenue to special funds to be used only for the purpose of providing additional funding for specified health services; etc.

According to Duclaw brewer (and former attorney) William "Bo" Lenck's Facebook page:

Beer - From $0.09 to $1.16 - Increase, 1,280% ($2.25/case)
Wine - $0.40 to $2.96 - Increase, 740% ($0.50/750 ml)
Liquor - $1.50 to $10.03 - Increase 687% ($1.70/750 ml)

Go to it, all you political wonks.  Comment away, and let your legislators know your thoughts--that is, if you're still deluded enough to believe they'll actually listen to you.

Sadder, Lonelier Snowman..........

The official word in from Rick Bloemke, SPBW Chesapeake Bay Branch President :

With the aptly named Ultra-Kahuna winter storm rearing its ugly head, the prudent and responsible decision is to cancel the meeting scheduled for this Thursday at Lures Bar and Grille in Crownsville, MD.  I appreciate that is no small thing to regroup, especially with the hectic schedules we all carry today. If, however, the 22" of snow hits Baltimore as expected by Wednesday evening, no one will be able nor wish to risk driving in the immediate aftermath.  It is a shame, as we were all looking forward to adding a new venue to our list of favorites, but Mother Nature wins this round.  Depending upon your willingness and Lures' schedule in the next week or two, we may move the meeting to a "calmer" day.  

Poor, sad, lonely snowman.  Let's hope we get to cheer him up with cask-conditioned Loose Cannon really soon, huh?

Weather Map Update

 

(Click on the map for a larger view.)

(Wouldn't it be easier, at this point, for the TV and radio stations to just stop telling us everything that is closed, and just tell us about who, if anybody, is still OPEN or operating?!?!?!?     Ironic cancellation of the week: "Disney on Ice"........)