Chicago

A Chicago-based real estate investment trust that wants to rehab up to 3,000 apartments in Baltimore has made its first acquisitions in the city, the company said Wednesday. Pangea Properties has purchased 42 rental units in three apartment buildings in the Walbrook neighborhood of West Baltimore, according to a statement. The company declined to provide the purchase price or the buildings' addresses. Pangea would like to keep the locations of the properties confidential until they are ready to rent, said Lizzie Souza, a spokeswoman for the company.

When the Ravens signed Corey Graham on March 23, the team thought it was getting a special-teams ace who had gone to the Pro Bowl in 2011 as a member of the Chicago Bears. The Ravens also got a capable cornerback who started a total of 10 games in 2008 and 2009 for the Bears. So it's not a surprise that with starter Cary Williams limited to individual drills after undergoing surgery in February to repair a torn labrum in his hip, Graham joined Lardarius Webb and Jimmy Smith when the defense went with its nickel package during the team's mandatory, three-day minicamp.

Manekin LLC, a Columbia-based real estate firm, has formed a partnership with Chicago-based Brennan Investment Group to acquire, develop and manage industrial properties in the Mid-Atlantic region. Manekin, a commercial real estate company with expertise in the Mid-Atlantic, will find and evaluate potential deals, while Brennan will provide capital, the companies said Tuesday. The alliance allows Manekin to work with a nationally focused company with access to capital at a time when a "wealth of opportunities" exists in the mid-Atlantic region, said Owen Rouse, Manekin senior vice president.

His throwing arm wrapped in a huge bag of ice, he and his Orioles teammates taken through a roller coaster of a night, catcher Matt Wieters put it perfectly. “This year nothing's really come easy so far,” he said. On a night when the Orioles nearly gift-wrapped a win to the White Sox on a chilly Chicago night at U.S. Cellular Field, frustration and elation merged within a matter of innings. The Orioles went into the eighth inning down three runs, unable to give starter Jake Arrieta the run support he deserved while committing three errors in the field.

So the Orioles lost three straight to the Yankees and suddenly the 3-0 start against the Minnesota Twins doesn't mean much. For fans who have had this record on constant spin for 14 seasons, there is no discernible difference from this start opposed to many of the others in recent Aprils. Because right now the Orioles are 3-3 and are headed on a brutal, 10-game, three-city, three-time-zone road trip to three very tough places to play: Toronto, Chicago and Los Angeles. Last year, the Orioles were 3-6 in Toronto against the Blue Jays, 3-1 in Chicago against the White Sox and 0-3 against an Angels team that didn't have Albert Pujols or C.J. Wilson.

Townhouse Kitchen & Bar is coming to Harbor East. "Proudly serv(ing) great gastro-pub food in an elegant yet casual setting," Townhouse is in the portfolio of the Chicago-area Restaurants America group, a multi-concept restaurant operator with about 20 locations, mostly in Florida and Illinois, encompassing uscale dining brands, including the Grillroom Chophouse & Winebar, Bluepoint, One North and Primebar. Townhouse Kitchen & Bar, the first foray into Maryland for Restaurants America, is projected for a late March or early April opening in the Eden Building, next to Ra Sushi Bar Restaurant.

As Dan Duquette prepared to leave the Hilton Anatole on Tuesday evening for a staff dinner at manager Buck Showalter's Dallas-area home, he had yet to land the pitchers and outfielder he is seeking at the annual winter meetings. But the club's new executive vice president of baseball operations apparently is trying, confirming Tuesday that he has made several trade and free-agent offers in attempt to acquire pitchers and hitters. Two players the Orioles are interested in, according to multiple sources, are Chicago White Sox: right-handed pitcher Gavin Floyd, who grew up in Severna Park and attended Mount St. Joseph, and outfielder Carlos Quentin, who three years ago was an American League Most Valuable Player candidate.

As Exelon Corp. continues to pursue Constellation Energy Group, the Chicago energy giant is pointing to a decade-old deal with a Philadelphia utility as a success that should reassure wary Marylanders — and regulators — about its intentions toward Baltimore's last Fortune 500 company. Maryland officials, consumer advocates and others are not convinced that the proposed $7.9 billion Exelon-Constellation deal would benefit consumers and preserve local control of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. On Monday, Maryland regulators will begin their review of the deal and hear from critics concerned about a range of issues from service levels to charitable contributions.

It was Monday, after work, and Deborah Robertson had chased her sister, Nellie, out onto the front porch of the house in Edmondson Village that they share. "She smokes and I don't, so she has to go outside," said Robertson. But soon enough, her sister was tapping on the window and motioning Robertson outside. There was a television crew coming down the street toward their house. "I said, "Oh my, I think they are here for me,'" said Robertson. "She didn't believe me. " It was interior designer Vern Yip and a crew from HGTV's Urban Oasis contest, a sweepstakes that offers a dream home as the grand prize.

One Baltimore woman has found her urban oasis — in Chicago. Deborah Robertson, 57, is the winner of the 2011 HGTV Urban Oasis, a luxurious, furnished one-bedroom residence on the 35th floor of Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago. The home, designed by Vern Yip — a judge on HGTV Design Star, offers views of the city skyline and a contemporary look with eclectic furnishings. It has one and a half baths, a gourmet kitchen and floor-to-ceiling windows. Amenities for Trump residents include a spa, fitness center, indoor pool, restaurants and 24-hour concierge.