Nobody asked me, but ...
The prospect of a "Baltimore Grand Prix," with race cars zooming through downtown at 190 miles per hour, a la Monaco or Long Beach, is certainly exciting. And if Mayor Sheila Dixon is concerned that such an event conflicts with her goal of a "cleaner, greener Baltimore," please note: The 650-horse power IndyCar vehicles use 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol, and IndyCar fans have become really good about recycling their beer cans. No, really.
Nobody asked me, but ...
When a politician wants to be your "friend" on Facebook, it's time to log off and take your dog for a walk. Facebook needs to establish at least three other levels of familiarity for users who aren't exactly "friends." I suggest, "acquaintance," "professional colleague" and "stalker." There are a lot of wonderful things about this age of e-mail, but my favorite remains the delete key. Twitter is great. Those of us who never deigned to be leaders now have "followers," and among them porn stars we didn't even know before.
Nobody asked me, but ...
We are seeing the long, happy future of the Orioles unfold this season, and for once it doesn't feel like wishful thinking to say that. The Birds are going to make a run in the second half. Of course, whether it's a run for the American League wild card or for Rita's Italian ice remains to be seen. The Orioles should take that option on manager Dave Trembley sooner rather than later; he's the right man for this job, and fans have a good feeling about the guy. Jeremy Guthrie threw all his 2009 home run pitches in the first half of the season; he had to, it was in his contract. No, really. Nolan Reimold looks like he could have been Cal's nephew, and his batting stance and swing reminds me of one of the hundreds No. 8 used during his career. I enjoy Orioles' games on MASN, but the commercials are getting repetitive and annoying. I've about had it with the Geico gecko, for instance. The Geico gecko gotta go. Gotta get Gebco.
Nobody asked me, but ...
If Attman's Deli expands into a big space and becomes all new, fine. But they must keep the sign: "Corned beef, rye, mustard, period" and continue to refuse service to anyone who asks for mayo. Martick's Restaurant Francais, the old bistro in the 200 block of West Mulberry Street, has been offered for lease on craigslist by its owner, 87-year-old Morris Martick. You can lease the building, maybe the pots and the pans, maybe the table and chairs. But you can't lease what made Martick's Martick's, and that was Mr. Martick. So, end of story. The fact that Velleggia's restaurant didn't sell at foreclosure auction could mean that we have too many Italian restaurants in this town - or too many trying to sell variations on a plate of spaghetti for $30.
