Scenes Of Fells Point In Baltimore, Md

Scenes Of Fells Point In Baltimore, MD

This is where the water taxis bring tourists to Fell Point from the Inner Harbor

The old cobblestone streets are still there.

So are the old street car lines that are no longer used.

A nice looking brick building in Fells Point.

The Menu From Duda's Tavern In Baltimore

The Menu From Duda's Tavern in Baltimore

Eating In Fells Point In Baltimore, MD

Eating In Fells Point In Baltimore, MD

Jack and I spent two days last week in Baltimore, MD. It seems like every time we go go Baltimore we have seafood---crab cakes or oysters. This time we also had them. The oysters were at the Oyster House where Jack had a great oyster soup. We usually have the crab cakes at Phillips Restaurant at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore. The Inner Harbor is where a lot of museums are and it caters to tourists as well as locals. But on this most recent trip we had the crab cakes at the Tremont Hotel where we shared a meal. I think these were the best crab cakes I have ever eaten. All crab, no filler with a just a hint of Old Bay Chesapeake seasoning. Yum,yum!

Now I want to tell you about a restaurant that we discovered on a corner in Fells Point. The place has been in business for over 6o years in the same location. It is called Duda's Tavern and it was founded way back in 1949 by Walter and Pauline Duda to cater to blue color workers. In the 1980's when the Inner Harbor was developed the owners added a small kitchen to the tavern. Well, to make a long story short Jack and I discovered a fall lunch special on the menu that got us very excited. Sausages (brats and other types) served with mild sauerkraut and hot potato salad. Weordered that lunch special and were pleasantly surprised. The sausages were were good, the sauerkraut was good but the star on the plate was the hot potato salad. It was the best hot potato salad that I have ever tasted. Yum, yum!!!

The food at this simple tavern was so good that I had to ask our waitress for a menu to add to my large menu collection. The waitress obliged us and even gave us a golden sticker to add to the top of the menu. The sticker was for the tavern's 60 years of being in business in Fells Point.

Come back tomorrow and I'll show you a photo of my latest collected menu.

The Tremont Plaza Hotel, Baltimore, Md

The Tremont Plaza Hotel

Baltimore, Md

This is where Jack and I stayed in downtown Baltimore last week. This hotel building for 130 years was the home of the Masons of Baltimore. This is just one of about six or seven grand rooms created for the Masons. In the 1990's the Masons left; the building was remodeled and turned into a boutique hotel. We had fun staying here and seeing all the lights of the city from our room.

And Baltimore is a nice quick getaway for D.C. folks. There is lots to do there too. On past excursions to Baltimore with our two daughters we have enjoyed the inner harbor, the aquarium, the science center, the power plant, cruises to the Chesapeake, watching the Baltimore Orioles play baseball, etc.
And our favorite place to eat is in a section of Baltimore call Little Italy where we like to go to Sabatinis Restaurant. Here's Jack having a glass of of vino.
And here I am saluting Jack back. Salute!

Last Week We Spent Two Nights in Baltimore

Last Week We Spent Two Nights in Baltimore

I've been so busy this week.

I will write about it tomorrow.

Did You Watch The Preakness?

Did You Watch The Preakness?

Since I just got out of the hospital on Thursday from complications of my leukemia I should have said no when Jack volunteered to find the ingredients and make us Black Eyed Susans to drink while we watched the horse race on TV. Shhhhhh! Don't let my doctors at the Cancer Center at Lake Manassas hear about this.

P.S. I'll post the traditional recipe after I go eat breakfast.

Black Eyed Susan

Over a blend of pineapple juice and orange juice in a glass add equal parts of :

Vodka

Mt Gay Rum from Barbados

Cointreau which is an orange liqueur from Angiers, France

Finish with a slice of lime or orange on the glass rim.

My opinion of this drink. I would prefer a mint julep! But if making it, go very lightly on the booze and let the taste of pineapple and orange juice dominate this drink. It is a strong drink for he-men.

My Leukemia Has Kept Me From Blogging

My Leukemia Has Kept Me From Blogging

I'm now out of the hospital after having a scare with low vital signs that came after having on Tuesday of this week a bone marrow biopsy done for my anemia and general weakness. It is great to be out of the hospital and enjoying this beautiful warm Virginia weather. This afternoon Jack and I watched on TV the Preakness horse race from Baltimore's Pimlico Racetrack. Hard to believe that I last posted something on this blog two weeks ago when the Kentucky Derby was happening. Signing off now. Will write more tomorrow and share some pics.

Skywatch Friday = Mormon Temple in Kensington, Maryland

As you are driving the beltway that circles Washinton D.C. you come to a point in the road when you see this gigantic white six spired building ahead of you up on a very tall clift. It looks a lot like King Ludvig's castle in Germany. The first time our family encounted this sight I think the girls thought it was a castle.

We had to explain that is was the first Mormon temple built on the east coast and that it opened in December of 1968. This particular temple is larger than the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City. One year when the girls were preteens we visited the temple during the Christmas season to see it up close. That particular year the mormons had a live nativity scene on the 52 acre grounds of this temple.

Here's a shot I got from the beltway. The spire to the right has a golden angel at the top. For mormons this is the Angel Maroni statue holding the gold plates. These two pics were taken on Sunday, January 24'th before we had our first blizzard in the metro area. If you want a better view click on each pic to bring it upclose to you.

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The Ordination of William J. (Bill) Davis

The social room of the First Presbyterian Church of Howard County was the scene of a lovely post ordination ceremony for Bill Davis. Blue and gold balloons and a blue and gold decorated sheet cake with a raspberry filling greeted us as we entered the room.

I wonder how long it will take Bill Davis to answer when called Reverend Bill?

There was a nice spread of food at this afternoon tea celebration. I liked the various tea sandwiches and the chicken nuggets and the pigs in a blanket.

I liked the wonderful selection of fresh fruit and little French bakery desserts.

Ok, I admit it. I liked it all and went back for seconds.

My plate----round two.

Jack who has a better handwriting than me signed a special card and book for

Reverend Bill Davis.

My World Tuesday = The Ordination Service of William J. Davis

My World Tuesday = The Ordination Service of William J. Davis

to the

Ministry of Word and Sacrament

The First Presbyterian Church

of

Howard County, Maryland

January 31, 2010

3:00 P.M.

Inspite of 6 inches of snow on the ground in Haymarket, VA Jack and I bundled up Sunday morning and headed north via route 66, the beltway and 95 to the planned community of Columbia, MD to observe the ordination ceremony of William (Bill) J. Davis as an minister of the First Presbyterian Church. Above is a photo of the church in the snow and a photo of the sanctuary.

Here are grouped the ministers and others who traveled from Chicago; Atlanta; New York City;Boone, NC;and Fredericksburg, VA to witness the ordination ceremony.

Here is the laying on of the hands inordination and blessing.

This is the moment when Bill's parents and our very good old time friends, Mary and Phil Davis, as elders in the Presbyterian Church get to present Bill with his first stole and to place it over his shoulders. A very nice reception for Bill followed this ceremony in the church hall. I will share photos of that tomorrow.

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Sky Watch Friday Nov. 14, 2008

Sky Watch Friday

for November 14, 2008

The New National Harbor

South of the New Wilson Bridge

Across the Potomac River

From Alexandria, VA.

Remember to click on each photo in this series to get more details of this sculture.

This sculpture is entitled

The Awakening.

It Used to be at Haines Point in D.C.

It was moved to the New National Harbor

In Maryland That is Being Developed

By The Gaylord Resort Corporation

Whose Flagship Resort is a Five Acre Atrium

Under Glass in New Orleans Style

In Nashville, TN.

When I Look At This Sculpture I Think of This:

The Presidential Election Is Behind Us and Barack Obama Is Getting Ready to Become Our New American President. I Remember All the Southern Plantations I Have Toured. I Think of How the Owners Had Fancy Fenced Grave Sites With Fancy Tombstones While the Graves of the Slaves on the Plantations Are Lost in Unmarked Clay Dirt.

It is November, 2008

This Surely Is

The Awakening!These Photos Were Taken This Past Sunday.

Lots of Puffy Clouds and Blue Skies

Above The New Spans of the Wilson Bridge.

This is a Complete New Little City:

Shops, Restaurants, Apartments, Condos,Etc.

One Fun Thing About the D.C. Area
Is the Great Ethnic Mix of Folks Living Here Which I Just Love!
These Folks Look Like They Hail From India.
Maybe Shiks Since They Are All Wearing Turbans.
Now Here Are The Colorful Circus Tents
And
The Reason for the Journey to National Harbor:
Cirque du Soleil is in Town
Performing the Show
Kooza!
Here We Go Thru the Entrance.Someone Has Described Cirque du Soleil as a Theatrical Show That Borders On Opera! I Think That Fits Perfectly.
And Here Is Our Daughter, Jeanine, With Her Good Buddies:
Boyfriend, Bryan, and Roommate, Maria.
Maria Was So Excited! Her First Circus Experience Since She Was Ten Years Old! We Were Excited Too!
Another Cirque du Soleil Show to See
And Our Daughter Gave Us The Tickets
For Mother's Day and Father's Day.
Thank You, Jeanine!
This Photo Says It All.

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Jeanine and Bryan

Jeanine and Bryan at the RenFest 2008
Knife Throwing Jeanine
Into the Stocks for Double Trouble

Our younger daughter and her boyfriend Bryan took in the Renaissance Fair that is going on this fall up in Maryland on the weekends. Looks like they had a real good time. My neighbor Dickie goes every year dressed up in a costume. I think you would have a lot more fun at one of these historical fairs than at a Civil War Re-Enactment which we also have in great supply here in Virginia and Maryland.

Can you believe this is the first day of October? Tomorrow I will walk you round the yard to see how it looks at the beginning of October. Came back to add that we had a terrific storm last night. Dickie has more details on her blog. But we were under a tornado watch and we got wind, rain and hail pounding the house and gardens. I will probably spend time today picking up blown leaves and dirt outside.

What Happened at the Baltimore Aquarium

I must tell you all what happened to us, particularly Jim, when we toured the Baltimore Aquarium. First, we discovered that several school classes from Baltimore public/private? schools were visiting the aquarium on a school trip. I spoke to one teacher and learned that one group was 125 kindergarten students who were accompanied by 25 assorted teachers and mothers. Second, it was fun to watch the adults trying to keep up with all these active and curious little bodies. And it really was a hoot to watch four or five kindergartners try to maneuver thru a rotating door or turnstile. But then it became a sad tale when we went to see the 3-D movie that was about not only fish but African safari animals as well as animals from the poles. The movie was a series of short movies. But all were in 3-D and we had to wear 3-D glasses to watch them.

Now here is the sad part. This theater had "effects" like they do in Disneyworld when you watch the It's Not Easy Being a Bug movie at the Animal Kingdom. Water squirts you, things poke you in the back, the seat shakes, the lightening flashes in the theater, and little creatures run across your feet as you watch these short movies. Well, this was a great movie for adults to watch. We loved it! The problem was that for one little kindergarten boy this movie was just downright frightening! He was sitting next to Jim and started crying softly. Then the next thing I know Jim is holding him and trying to comfort him but to no avail. I kept looking at the teachers and adult chaperons and wondering when they were going to rescue this frightened child. Soon this poor little boy is sobbing out loud and Jim is doing his darnest to comfort him but to no avail---even when the happy and pretty water bubbles emerged from the ceiling of the theater. I thought about taking him out but was afraid that someone would mistake me for a child kidnapper with the boy sobbing so I just sat tight and hoped one of the adults would turn around and notice what was happening. Well, wouldn't you know it, just one minute before this 20 minute movie was over; one of the adult chaperons notices Jim and the sobbing boy and removes the boy from the theater to the lobby. When we left the theater this frightened child had finally stopped crying but still had very wet cheeks from all the tears that he had shed. The message I want to get across is this: this movie is not suitable for little kids and the aquarium staff should do a better job of screening the movie goers by age.

The House at the Naval Academy

The head of the Naval Academy lives in this home on the campus. It was still decorated for the Christmas season. Here is an interesting bit of info: this home is next to the White House in the number of official government social events that it hosts. It has around 38 rooms.

Navy Wins

This display case shows some of the winning footballs from the annual Army Navy Football Game. We took the guided walking tour of the Naval Academy on Monday and learned a lot. Bancroft Hall holds all 4000 midshipman and we were shown an example of what a midshipman's room looks like. Very austere. We also saw the crypt where John Paul Jones is buried. He is like "the father of the Naval Academy. Our walking tour guide was the wife of a retired naval officer. Chatting with her we learned that her son graduated from Lee High School in 2000 and continued the family naval tradition by attending the naval academy although he was ready to quit after the first day of boot camp in the summer of 2000!

Baltimore and Annapolis

Jack and I picked up our close friends, Jim and Nancy Freauff at the Baltimore Airport on Sunday and took them to Baltimore's Inner Harbor to see the sights. We took a water taxi to Fells Point and we ate a wonderful dinner in "Little Italy" at Sabatinos. Monday we toured the Baltimore Aquarium and then drove to Annapolis to take a guided tour of the United State Naval Academy. Then we headed home in rush hour traffic to our home in Virginia. I served beef fondue and chocolate fondue for dinner. Today we will show Jim and Nancy some attractions in D.C. and then have dinner in Arlington. Here are some photos of Baltimore and the Naval Academy in Annapolis.