Clarion Newsletter March 2014

THE MONUMENT RESTORATION IS UNDERWAY

This is truly monumental for Mount Vernon.  Our 200 year-old Washington Monument, the center of a National Historic Landmark District, is being fully restored over the next 18 months. Incredible. Here is a fantastic perspective on the work that is happening on the monument. Thank you to the volunteers at the Mount Vernon Place Conservancy for investing years of time and expertise to make this possible.  If you are not already a member of the Conservancy, isn’t it time to get on board?
Sign up at MVPConservancy.org. Let’s also help them go over 3,000 on their Facebook likes at Facebook/mountvernonplace.

Midtown Benefits District Spring Town Hall Meeting

Midtown Benefits District will be holding its annual Spring Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, March 26, beginning at 7pm with light refreshments.  Location is 131 W North Avenue at the MICA Graduate Center.
The purpose of the spring meeting is to present the District’s 2015 budget as required by law.  Attendees are invited to comment on the budget.

Midtown Benefits District office is Moving!

Ever since its creation, the University of Baltimore has provided space for the offices of both the Midtown Benefits District and MVBA.  However, the University has plans for the building and Midtown and MVBA must re-locate.
Midtown just recently purchased a building at 815 N Howard Street and is in the early stages of planning the necessary repairs and improvements to the building that was once the former home of a window shade manufacturer.  The suggested move-in date will be sometime during the summer months.

NEW! This Week in Mount Vernon

Watch your mailboxes on Wednesdays for great business deals and cultural events.  Business members, create some special deals or events and we’ll get the word out to thousands of residents and visitors every week. This service is completely free to MVBA business members. Questions? Contact marketing@mvba.org

Business News

Trinacria Cafe is OPEN at the corner of Centre and Park. Let’s welcome them with lots of purchases this coming month — and spread the word.
And the incredibly cool and happening For Rent Shoes is open at 515 Cathedral Street. Yes, we now have a great shoe store in Mount Vernon!
There IS a great coffee shop below Mount Vernon Place. Stop into the Peabody Bookstore on Centre Street to find Maestro’s Cafebrewing high quality coffees and teas. It is easy to miss, but a great little find.
Despite the lousy weather, Spring is around the corner and that means refreshing that tired old winter look. Start with a great haircut at Beatnik Barber and the Baltimore Barber Lounge, both fantastic MVBA members. Or go for some pampering along with a new ‘do at Neals or Zena’s, also MVBA members. Their nail services, facials, and massages will put a kick in everyone’s step.
Still not getting a kick in the step? That’s why we have MV Fitness. Their inexpensive memberships mean there’s no excuse for the winter hibernation pounds to linger. MV has facilities for independent work outs as well as every class imaginable — spinning, boot camp, yoga, and more — and it all happens in two beautiful Mount Vernon townhouses.
PetValue at 1209 North Charles is becoming the go-to for high quality pet supplies and services among Mount Vernon pet owners. They have vet clinics for vaccinations and ID chips almost every Saturday. And don’t miss the self-service doggie baths. Your pet needs a spring spruce up, too.

Liquor License Update

Tavern on the Hill, Mount Vernon’s ever increasingly popular dining spot, applied for and has been granted permission to add live entertainment to their liquor license.  Generally, their live entertainment will consist of 2 performers or less.  No dancing, no DJ’s, and no live performances by 3 or more performers.  Live entertainment will not take place beyond 1am.
MVBA greatly appreciates the cooperation of the owners, Lee Cohen and Steve Mooreman, in crafting an MOU that outlines the various restrictions that will allow them to provide the entertainment they would like to provide, but also place limits so as to operate harmoniously with their neighbors and the community.
Trinacria, one of Baltimore’s oldest and favorite Italian store and carry out on Paca Street, has opened a restaurant in the Gallery Towers where the former Two Guys Restaurant was located.  They have applied for a Class “B” liquor license and permission for off-premise catering.  MVBA will be working with the owners to assure minimum impact to the neighborhood.  The hearing date at the Liquor Board has not been set as of this writing.

Mt. Vernon Belvedere Area Trash Collection Hours Change

Baltimore City is changing collections in the Mt. Vernon area fromnight to day beginning March 25, 2014.  The Bureau of Solid Waste will be moving collections to regular day operations.  Pick-up days will not change. Starting Tuesday, March 25, Mt. Vernon trash and recycling will have to be out by 10:00 a.m. on regularly scheduled day of collection. Curbside Collection DAY is NOT changing. It will still be Tuesday for recycling and Friday for mixed refuse.
Please use trash cans with tight-fitting lids – it’s required by law.  Trash is limited to three 32-gallon containers (or 96 gallons total) Recycling is unlimited – Please recycle all paper, plastic bottles and jars, and aluminum cans. You do not need a yellow promotional bin to put your recycling in. You can use a cardboard box, paper bags or any container marked “RECYCLE.” Please DO NOT USE PLASTIC BAGS to contain recycling.
For more information about your curbside service please call 311 or visit www.baltimorecity.gov

Come join MICA’s Rivals of the West Theatre Company for a dark twist

Little Shop of Horrors is a dark musical comedy that takes place in a Skid Row flower shop, where Seymour, a well-meaning but unlucky and naive clerk spends his days doing menial tasks and day-dreaming about Audrey, the shop assistant and secret love of his life. Seymour’s luck begins to change when he encounters a mysterious plant that he names Audrey II. Soon, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s unique appetite, and he has to decide how far he is willing to go to get out of Skid Row.
Come join MICA’s Rivals of the West Theatre Company for a dark twist on this cult classic. Shows on April 3-6, and 10-13 at 8pm in MICA’s BBOX located at 1600 W Mount Royal Ave. Tickets can be purchased at
http://littleshophorrors.brownpapertickets.com. More information about the  shww.rivalsofthewest.org

First Unitarian Church of Baltimore presents Chamber Music from Peabody

DATE/TIME: Friday, April 11, 2014   8 p.m.
PLACE: Charles & Franklin Sts. in downtown Baltimore
ADMISSION:  $10  Students  $5  Family maximum $25
DETAILS: This program includes two masterworks by Ludwig van Beethoven:  his dramatic early String Quartet in c minor (Op. 18#4) and the towering late String Quartet in C# minor (Op. 131).  Performers will include faculty members Michael Kannen and Maria Lambros, as well as students Nikita Borisevich, Orin Laursen and the Atlas String Quartet.
MORE INFORMATION: music@firstunitarian.net, or (410) 685-2330

Advisory: Maryland Capitol Police offers tips to help prevent Cell Phone Theft.

Due to their necessity and high dollar value, cell phones are fast becoming a favorite target of thieves. To reduce your chances of becoming the victim of a cell phone theft or robbery, Maryland Capitol Police offers the following safety tips:
• Always be aware of your surroundings. Thieves may be watching you.
• Ensure your cell phone is enabled with a security password.
• Avoid becoming distrracted by your cell phone conversation/texting when walking on the street.
• Keep your cell phone out of sight. Don’t hang it from youur purse or jacket.
• Switch the ringer off to avoid attraccting the attention of thieves.
• Never loan your cell phonne to a stranger. In case of an
emergency, offer to make the call for them.
• Consider using hands-free technology.
• Avoid labeling phone numbers, addresses; “Home,” “Wife/Husband,” etc.
• Never leave your cell phone unattended.
For more crime prevention tips: mcp.maryland.gov

Safety Camera Network Expands

The Midtown Community Benefits District, in partnership with the Baltimore City Police Department, will be expanding its network of Citi-Watch cameras in the area of Mount Vernon Square.  The new cameras are a result of collaboration and financial support from many institutions and residents of that immediate area under a leadership initiative by the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and the Mount Vernon Place Conservancy. Midtown was successful in obtaining a grant from the Governor’s Office on Crime Control and Prevention to underwrite this effort.
When Midtown installed cameras in the Charles Street corridor two years ago, the cost of running fiber optic cable under the cobble stones in the square was way beyond the funding available.  The advances in wireless technology has mitigated much of those costs to make it feasible to provide cameras to monitor the four parks around the monument.
Our thanks go to the donors who have supplemented the grant funding to make this project possible:
 

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