The HCSA is pleased to present our monthly "E-News" with information on news and upcoming events taking place in the Charles Street district.

August 2010

HCSA Sponsored Events

1st Thursday Concert in Mount Vernon Park

Thursday, August 5th  5:30 to 8pm  Atlanta-based band The Villains is touring in support of their debut album Just a Saturday Night, featuring 'Let's Forget About It Tonight' and 'Going Deaf for a Living.'  Fresh from her surprise acoustic set at July's First Thursday, Victoria Vox returns with her full band to kick off the night by performing songs from her new album Exact Change,  featuring the TMD favorite 'Oh I Wonder.'  Just look for the monument and listen for the music!  Go to http://www.wtmd.org/. Beer, wine and food served by several great neighborhood establishments. Contact michele@charlesstreet.net for more information about vendors.

Review of Trolley Meeting  On June 30, HCSA members were invited to the Tremont Grand to hear a presentation from Trolley Committee officials on the proposed fixed rail Trolley for the Charles Street area.  HCSA has been asked to endorse the Trolley project and we appreciate the input from those who attended.  Following the meeting, an informal survey of the membership was done with an equal number of members in three camps: those who were in favor of the trolley, those who were opposed and those who needed more information. Due to the wide discrepancy of opinions, the HCSA Board of Directors chose not to take a position at the July Board meeting. The Board hopes to hear more from the membership concerning the Trolley project so that a more directed position may be taken in the future.  Members should continue to contact HCSA by calling 410-332-4144 or writing michele@charlesstreet.net to provide feedback.

Save the Date - Fall Let's Eat! Charles Street

Saturday, October 23rd 12 noon to 5pm  Read Street will be closed between Charles and Cathedral Streets for a community festival featuring great food and retail items from neighborhood businesses.  Music and children's activities too.  Please call 410-332-4144 or contact michele@charlesstreet.net for vendor information.

HCSA Happy Hours

Thank You Dave Derewicz at The Prime Rib for hosting a delightful Happy Hour for HCSA members on July 20.  Guests were treated to delicious appetizers and spirits.  The PR crabcakes team up particularly well with PR's homemade pineapple-infused vodka! 

Our next Happy Hour will be hosted at Sammy's Trattoria in September - date to be announced.  Watch for the signature napkin e-vite designed by Danny Jones of Ashton Designhttp://www.ashton-design.com/.

For member establishments who are interesting in hosting a happy hour event, please contact michele@charlesstreet.net. 

Member Benefits

Special Member to Member Free Seminar

Tuesday, August 31  9am to 11am  Free seminar for HCSA members  entitled  "5 Legal Landmines that Can Seriously Damage Your Business" Conducted by Bruce Luchansky Esq. at Luchansky PA, 911 N. Charles Street, this presentation highlights for business owners some of the most common legal pitfalls that business owners overlook at their peril.  The seminar is designed to help businesses identify these legal landmines before they accidentally step on them.  Once identified, the problems are relatively simple to avoid.  But once a legal landmine explodes, the clean-up process is usually time-consuming and costly. 

HCSA members who have attended this seminar have called it "an informative presentation", "clear and concise", as well as "informal, interactive, and entertaining". The seminar is free for HCSA members.  Coffee and danish will be served. Seating is limited, so for more information or to reserve a seat, please contact Bruce Luchansky at 410-522-1020 or lucky@luchanskylaw.com, or visit http://www.luchanskylaw.com/.

Special Member to Member Discount

CNM Systems  Mike Nutter is offering a 15% discount to HCSA Members for his computer services.  CNM Systems provides full computer and networking needs to businesses of all sizes in the Charles Street area. HCSA would be happy to make the introduction.  For more information about CNM, contact Mike Nutter at 443-829-3656 or visit http://www.cnmsystems.com/.

HCSA VIP Discount Card Program

HCSA wants to encourage people who live and work in the area to buy locally.  The VIP Discount Card Program is designed to promote members of our association and compel people to utilize HCSA member establishments!  Single-use cards are distributed to the Visitor's Center, hotels, universities and fellow members. HCSA will also be distributing these cards to First Thursday attendees to promote HCSA establishments in the neighborhood.  If you would like to obtain these cards to take advantage of special discounts in the area, or if you would like to be listed as a participating vendor, please contact michele@charlesstreet.net or call 410-332-4144. For a current list of vendors offering discounts, go to http://www.charlesstreet.net/vipdiscounts 

HCSA in Search of a Web Designer! 

As we undergo a re-branding and overhaul of our electronic and print communications, we are looking for someone to help us design a new website.  This will be a terrific opportunity for someone to work with professional graphic and web designers at the prestigious Ashton Design located in our area at 16 W. Hamilton Street.  For more information, please contact michele@charlesstreet.net or call 410-332-4144.

Other Things to do in the Area

Baltimore Restaurant Week   

August 13 through 22  Enjoy three-course prix-fixe dinner for $35.10 and lunch for $20.10 at restaurants around the city.  Be sure to check out the special offerings at our member restaurants who are participating in Restaurant Week: 
Brewer's Art http://www.thebrewersart.com/  
Cazbar http://www.cazbarbaltimore.com/
Sascha's http://www.saschas.com/
The Helmand http://www.helmand.com/
The Prime Rib http://www.theprimerib.com/
Tapas Teatro http://www.tapasteatro.com/
Tug's http://www.tremonts.com/   
For more details, please visit http://www.baltimorerestaurantweek.com/.

August 4 5:30pm to 8:30pm   The Brewer's Art  (1106 N. Charles Street)  Beer Dinner  5-course Prixe Fixe Dinner available to groups of 2 to 8 people. Have fun at these Wednesday Dinners for $55 per person.  Check out the menu and make reservations on line at http://www.thebrewersart.com

August 15 5 and 7pm  An die Musik LIVE! (409 N. Charles) LatinBird: The Music of Charlie Parker   Join T.K. Blue and this talented ensemble for a commemoration of Charlie Parker's 90th birthday. Tickets: $15. For more information on events at this Classical, Jazz & World Music Concert Venue, call 410-385-2638 or go to http://www.andiemusiklive.com/

Throughout August Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5:30 to 9:30pm  
Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament at The Belvedere (1 E. Chase St) Held in the grand ballroom, this tournament is a unique dining and culinary experience. It is a single-elimination tournament designed to showcase some of the Baltimore-Metropolitan area's finest executive chefs and restaurants, while providing the audience a complete evening of dining and entertainment. At the end of this tournament only one of the 32 competing chefs will emerge as THE Mason Dixon Master Chef!  Guests attending this exciting event will be more than just spectators. In addition to enjoying their choice of a gourmet four-course meal provided by Truffles Catering at The Belvedere, guests will also have the unique experience of witnessing two spectacular area chefs battle it out in the prep kitchen right on the main dining room floor. For more info go to http://www.masondixonmasterchef.com/.  Also, from The Belvedere - book your holiday party before September 1st and get FREE space rental at The Belvedere!  Visit http://www.trufflescatering.com for more details.

August 14 7am to noon The Woman's Industrial Exchange (333 N. Charles Street) WIE will be staffing a booth at the Waverly Farmer's Market (near 32nd Street and Greenmount Avenue).  Please stop by and meet some of the craft artists whom make the shop on North Charles Street so unique.  They sell both local, hand-made items.  Great for gift giving or treating yourself!  For more information, call 410-685-4388 or go to http://www.womansindustrialexchange.org/

August 14 5:00pm to 12:00 midnight   Second Saturday in Station North
Free events at nine various venues all within two block of the intersection of N. Charles Street and North Avenue.  This is a great way to see what is happening in the Arts & Entertainment District. For information, go to http://www.stationnorth.org/

Throughout August  For a listing of other events in the Charles Street area and beyond, go to http://www.innerharbornetwork.com/

Restaurant and Other Retail Specials

Hot Summer Deals at A People United (516 N.Charles Street)
Anglo-Indian Furniture Gallery, Indian Teak & Marble, Thai Temple Artifacts, Exotic Jewelry, Textiles  & Embroideries. Tibetan Carpets.  Featured Clothing Lines:  Tribe  APU  HOT Summer Deals Prices as low as $5! Up to 80% off!  Visit http://www.apeopleunited.com/

$5 Mondays thru August at David and Dad's(334 N. Charles Street)
Any sandwich or wrapper from the Deli, Any specialty burger or grilled chicken sandwich from the Grill - all only $5!  For people who might not know, David and Dad's has been a local lunch institution on N. Charles Street since 1993.  They serve about 250 lunches per day; both dine in and carry out, and specialize in corporate catering all around the city.  Locals particularly love their cheesesteaks, pot pies and lasagna.  Portions are ample and great for dinner as well. Their super fresh salads, fresh fruit smoothies and lemonade are also very addictive.  There is something for every taste!  Please call 410/547-0550 or visit http://www.davidanddads.com/

Weekly at The Prime Rib  (1101 N. Calvert Street)
Sundays Evenings - Special Half Priced Wine List featuring great values and end of vintages at cost pricing!
Thursday Evenings - Lite Fare Menu with items of $20 or less.
*Restaurant Weeks (3 courses for $35.10) available though Labor Day Sunday (except Saturdays).  Live music every night with Brad Collins and The Prime Rib Jazz Trio on Fridays.  For more information call 410-539-1804 or visit http://www.theprimerib.com/

Community Events

August 3 6:30pm to 8:30pmMidtown's National Night Out Festival Come to a local celebration of Public Safety and Crime Fighting Initiatives, sponsored by Midtown Public Safety Committee.  Lots of personal safety materials, music, refreshments, children's activities, city leaders, Citizens on Patrol information, child ID kits and segway rides!  A great way to enjoy your neighbors.  Held in Pearlstone Park (across from the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall)  Contact info@midtowncommunity.org or 410-528-1512.  Also visit http://www.midtowncommunity.org/

Member News 

Heath Design Group has announced that Lauren Dalrymple, CID, IIDA, has joined their firm as Senior Interior Designer.  Lauren is a NCIDQ licensed designer with an extensive background in senior living, hospitality, corporate office, healthcare and country club design.  Heath Design Group, Inc. is one of the Mid- Atlantic region's leaders in providing the full spectrum of architectural and interior design services. Our mission is to help our clients succeed by providing creative and professional design solutions in a timely and thorough manner. For more information please visit http://www.heathdesigngroup.com/

What's Cooking on Charles? 

Cordito's, a mexican restaurant, is scheduled to open some time in the fall at 336 N. Charles Street (between Saratoga and Mulberry). Stay tuned!

Word has it an Italian restaurant is opening this fall near the new Barnes and Noble at The Fitzgerald near UB.

About HCSA

The Historic Charles Street Association (HCSA) is a non-profit organization 501 (c) (3), whose mission is to support and promote the businesses, cultural attractions, entertainment venues, restaurants and retail establishments along the Charles Street corridor.  HCSA serves as a problem solving and information resource for its members, as well as provides a forum for networking, communication and collaboration.