SoBoBlog.com: news, rumors and oddments by and of the citizens of South Baltimore

by Colleen Wolfe
soboblog@baltimoreguide.com

Things are really bustling in Federal Hill these days. I spent last Wednesday morning running errands all over the neighborhood and couldn’t believe how the place was humming. Charles Street alone has several new businesses that have opened within the last four weeks. And Cross Street is more crowded than usual with so many work crews transforming old businesses into new.

Life Smells Good has set up shop in new digs at 1130 S. Charles Street and is now calling itself Sobotanical. You can still find all those great smelling aromatherapy and body products there. And when the website, www.sobotanical.com, gets up and running, you’ll be able to buy them online as well. But one thing you won’t find any more is massage therapy services. Owner Theresa Cangialosi said she wanted to focus more on selling the products and decided to get away from offering massage. Store hours change seasonally. Spring and summer hours just started and are Tuesday from noon to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
If you want to literally wrap yourself in luxury Phina’s Luxury Linen Collective, 919 S. Charles Street, probably has what you need. Store manager Marybeth Robson can help you pick out everything you need to outfit your bedroom and bath in high-end European linens, towels, bathrobes and toiletries. Right now she’s put together sumptuous packages of Egyptian cotton towels and bath products for spring that she said would be perfect for Mother’s Day.
Le Petit Cochon, a new boutique, opened at 1030 S. Charles Street. Owner Liz Perkins said her store with the quirky name—it means “the little pig”—offers an unusual mix of British, French and American home décor products.

Young’s Cleaners and Tailors just opened at 935 S. Charles Street in the building formerly occupied by Life Smells Good. They offer a full line of dry cleaning and alteration services.

Federal Hill Main Street Inc. is sure to have their hands full keeping up with all of the new businesses in the neighborhood. Good thing they are working on new offices at 42-44 E. Cross Street, the building that was once the old public comfort station. Before being closed in 2001, the comfort station had become a hangout for vagrants and a shelter for stray animals. Since closing, its status in the vibrant business district hadn’t improved any, becoming just a vacant eyesore.

Federal Hill Main Street is transforming the old building within historic guidelines into the Historic Federal Hill Visitors Center and Main Street office. They have already signed a lease with the city for 25 years with two additional 20-year renewal periods. Half of the first floor will house the Visitors Center, while the other half will house the Main Street office. There will also be public restrooms on the first floor. The second floor will be completely renovated with an income-producing rental property. The rental income will be used to offset operating costs and pay for the construction that wasn’t otherwise covered by a $50,000 grant from Neighborhood BusinessWorks.

Federal Hill Main Street executive director Bonnie Crockett has her fingers crossed that they will be open by June 1. Check back here for news on an official ribbon cutting ceremony to take place around that date.

While the comfort station is being renovated, Federal Hill Main Street is moving ahead with its plans for its Spring Block Party on Sunday, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. It will be on Cross Street on the north side of the market. Admission is $5. But before any of the fun can begin, volunteers are needed for a variety of jobs. You can get involved by pouring beer, selling tickets and greeting people at the gate. All your hard work won’t be for nothing. Volunteers get free admission, free drinks and a festival t-shirt. To volunteer call 410-727-500 or email volunteers@historicfederalhill.org.

On the artistic front, School 33 Art Center has a few things going on right now. First, you can now buy tickets to Lotta Art, School 33’s largest fundraiser. More than 100 local artists donate their work for a lottery-style drawing at the event. And each ticket holder brings home a piece of art that night. Tickets are $150 and the proceeds help support School 33’s exhibition and education programs. You can preview the works for free April 10-20 at School 33, 1427 Light Street). Special gallery hours for the preview will be Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, noon- 4 p.m. For tickets to Lotta Art call 410-396-4641.

Also, due to building renovations, School 33 is not offering spring classes. Keep your fingers crossed that the renovations finish on time so that summer classes can begin in May. Keep checking their website (www.school33.org) for the summer schedule and start date.

Friends of Riverside Park are also in fundraising gear to raise money for its summer Concert-in-the-Park series. The fundraiser will be April 28 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at 101 Wells Street. Over 30 raffle prizes will be given away. Rub Authentic Texas Barbeque will be catering and Marc Nall will be providing the music. Tickets are $30 and you can get them by calling Joelle Woolston at 410-727-3968. The Friends of Riverside Park is a volunteer group committed to the upkeep and beautification of Leone Riverside Park. The summer Concert-in-the-Park series is a fun family-oriented event and a great opportunity to get out and meet your neighbors and friends while enjoying good music.

On a public safety note, Baltimore’s Department of Public Works is warning all city residents to be aware of people posing as Public Works employees trying to gain access to your house. An East Baltimore resident reported recently that two people knocked on his door and identified himself as a DPW employee working on a water problem in the neighborhood. The imposter asked to come inside the man’s house to check the water pressure. Once inside he robbed the resident and took off.

DPW wants residents to be aware that its employees will never come to your home and ask to get inside unless you have specifically reported a problem and have set up an appointment. They are cautioning everyone to ask to see a Baltimore City identification card, which includes a photograph, if someone claiming to be a city employee knocks on your door and asks to get inside. But keep in mind that some criminals may have fake identification. Report any suspicious activity to police by dialing 911 immediately.

One last thing, The Guide has finally rolled out its new website. So now you can get SOBOBlog two ways, here in print and online at www.baltimoreguide.com. You can post any comments right online. We absolutely want to hear from you. And let me know if there are any topics you want me to tackle. I’m game for anything.