SoBoBlog: Goings on around the peninsula
by Colleen Wolfe
soboblog@baltimoreguide.com
Summer is now in full swing in South Baltimore and there is lots going on. Haven’t figured how to occupy the kids’ free time yet? Let me do a run down of things to do around our neighborhoods this summer.
Opening day for city pools is this Saturday. And we’re lucky enough to have one right in Riverside Park. Admission is $1.50 per person or $25 for a season membership. For more information on all of the city pools you can call 410-396-7900.
Tomorrow is the start of the Flicks from the Hill Outdoor Film series, presented by the American Visionary Arts Museum. This year’s theme is “Home and Beast.” So pack a picnic, bring a blanket, and find a great spot on Federal Hill. Also, the museum is open and free between 5 and 9 p.m. on flick nights. Here’s the full schedule: June 21: “Young Frankenstein,” June 28: Hitchcock’s “The Birds,” July 5: “Apollo 13,” July 12: “ET: The Extra-Terrestrial,” July 19: “Seabiscuit,” July 26: “Edward Scissorhands,” Aug 2: “The Freshman,” Aug 9: “Field of Dreams.”
The Light Street Library will be having lots of summer activities going on. First up is “Super Terp to the Rescue” on Tuesday, July 3 at 11 a.m. Learn about pollution threats to the Chesapeake Bay, visit the hands-on Discovery Lab, and meet a few live bay animals. Presented by the Aquarium on Wheels. Light Street will also continue its regular “Mother Goose on the Loose” program on Wednesdays at 10 a.m.
School 33 Art Center is holding summer art camps for kids. The next 5-7-year-old program runs the week of June 25. The 7-11-year-old program runs the weeks of July 9 and 16. Both programs run from 9:30 to 11 a.m. For more information call 410-396-4641.
And now for the neighborhood business news.
Nancy McMullen is the new owner of Lucky Lucy’s Canine Café, 1126 S. Charles Street in Federal Hill. You will still find the same homemade dog treats and custom birthday cakes. But new to the store are custom tag engraving and a quaint backyard to hang with other dog lovers and their four-legged friends. Nancy has also added vitamins, supplements for joint health and flea and tick repellant and dog food. You’ll also find an expanded selection of collars, leashes, bowls and toys. And she doesn’t leave out the cats either. There are plenty of cat toys and accessories. Nancy has also expanded her hours. Lucky Lucy’s is now open Monday through Friday from 1 to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stop by and you can sign up for her email newsletter.
Penn Street Tavern is now open in Ridgely’s Delight at 213 Penn Street where Ras Doobie used to be. For those who were fans of the Jamaican menu at Ras Doobie the new menu will look familiar. But Penn Street has a larger selection of beer and wine. It is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday and will deliver in Ridgely’s Delight.
I just wanted to give a quick garden update. Several people were kind enough to email me over the last month me with lots of advice for this novice gardener. I just wanted to say thanks and let everyone know that all my hard work has begun to pay off. I have quite a lot of leaf and romaine lettuce up, enough that I have been able to share with family and friends. My basil is doing great and the zucchini is bursting. And just last Saturday I spotted the first tomatoes growing on the vine. The peppers, celery and cauliflower shouldn’t be far off.
I got so much great advice from neighbors; maybe we can all share a bit of wisdom. If you have a gardening question or some advice you’d like to share, go to www.baltimoreguide.com and click on SOBOBlog and post your thoughts. I’d like to find out more on controlling pests organically.
Last week I mentioned that I would have a new book recommendation at the end of every column for the rest of the summer. This week I am recommending “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen. Several people actually have recommended this book.
The novel is told in flashback by the main character Jacob Jankowski. He recounts the time he dropped out of veterinary school and joined a traveling circus as an animal caretaker during the Great Depression. He also falls in love with Marlena, one of the show’s star performers and the wife of the sadistic circus boss who beats both his wife and the animals Jankowski cares for.
