Deal

Potential buyers for the Brass Elephant, who failed to come up with a deposit Monday, still want to go ahead with the deal, an owner of the shuttered Mount Vernon restaurant said Tuesday. Randy Stahl and the other owners closed the fine-dining establishment in August and put the building that housed it up for sale. An investment group planning to put a restaurant in the location signed a contract on the building a month ago and had until Monday to put down a deposit. The money never came.

A federal bankruptcy judge agreed Wednesday to hear arguments Jan 5. on whether to reject a profit-sharing agreement related to Maryland's two thoroughbred tracks slated to be auctioned early next year. The hearing will be three days before the auction of Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park. The racetracks' bankrupt owner, Magna Entertainment Corp., wants to terminate the deal that would split any potential slots proceeds with Joseph De Francis and other former owners of the tracks. De Francis initiated an adversary proceeding - the bankruptcy court equivalent of a civil lawsuit - to fight Magna's efforts.

Rock & Shop Tour Package at Jersey Shore Premium Outlets What's the deal? Groups of 12 or more can book this package, which offers a rock 'n' roll tour of the shore, a tour book valued at $25 and a coupon book. Guests will also receive a $50 gift card to Jersey Shore Premium Outlets, which has stores that offer savings of 25 percent to 65 percent on designer merchandise. What are the savings? The package covers the highlights of the shore and gives you some cash to buy a souvenir from the outlets.

Maryland residents save at Lorien Hotel and Spa What's the deal?: Maryland residents will receive a discount on their stay when they visit Kimpton's Lorien Hotel and Spa in Alexandria, Va. The new boutique hotel is in the heart of Old Town Alexandria on King Street. What's the savings?: Receive 20 percent off by presenting your driver's license. After taxes, a room that totaled $492.60 was $392.25 with discount. What's the catch?: You must be a Maryland resident and stay a minimum of two nights to receive the deal.

Right till the very end of the General Assembly session, after a daylong drama of harried consultations, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., House Speaker Michael E. Busch and Constellation Energy Group executives believed they had clinched a deal to stave off 72 percent electricity-bill increases for Baltimore Gas and Electric customers. Instead, the deal was dashed minutes before adjournment - in the state Senate, where hardly anything happens absent the hand of Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller.