Doughnut

Baltimore prosecutors have dropped murder and robbery charges that had been lodged against an 18-year-old South Baltimore man in the death of a popular Brooklyn-area doughnut salesman.Charges against David Lee Schwartzman were dropped for lack of evidence, Baltimore State's Attorney Stuart O. Simms said last night.Mr. Schwartzman of the 1400 block of Elmtree St. in Curtis Bay had been held in the Baltimore Detention Center since his Nov. 10."They should have investigated me before they locked me up, not after," Mr. Schwartzman said last night at his house, where family members had strung 38 red bows along the stair banister and television stand -- one for each day he was jailed.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc., known for its hot glazed doughnuts, said yesterday that its first-quarter profit climbed 48 percent after sales surged and the company opened more stores. The doughnut maker also raised its full-year earnings forecast. Net income increased to $13.1 million, or 22 cents a share, from $8.86 million, or 15 cents, a year earlier. Sales rose 34 percent to $148.7 million in the period that ended May 4, the company said. Krispy Kreme opened six stores in the quarter for a total of 282 U.S. locations.

WASHINGTON - When cultural historians reflect on Southern food, they think about grits and fried chicken and chitlins and, of course, Krispy Kreme doughnuts.From Biloxi, Miss., to Charlotte, N.C., and invading the Midwest as far north as Fort Wayne, Ind., these deep-fried sugar- and fat-filled miracles have defined breakfast for millions of Americans.Now, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is honoring this culinary icon with an exhibit that illuminates its importance. In the age of the bagel, the old-fashioned donut - as American as peanut butter and jelly - is getting a nod.The museum last week accepted a donation of doughnut artifacts including equipment, memorabilia and documents from Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corp.

CROFTON - It's quiet out here. Too quiet. At 7 in the morning, a light mist still covers the most famous pond in America, and not one unsuspecting poodle has been snatched from the shore and dragged under by whatever's lurking in that murky, weed-choked water. Now maybe you think that "most famous pond" stuff is a little over the top. Maybe you think Walden Pond, where Thoreau derived his inspiration, is better known. But Walden Pond doesn't have killer fish roaming around like the Bloods and the Crips and the national media all over the story, and we got that here, baby.

Viewpoint Twixt optimist and pessimist The difference is quite droll; The optimist sees the whole doughnut 7+ While the pessimist sees only the hole.

Fractured Prune Dunkin' Donuts 840 Guilford Ave., Baltimore -- 410-332-4260 Hours --24 hours daily In and out in --2 minutes Here, we knew what we were in for. This doughnut, 75 cents, was covered in a thin, sweet glaze. But it tasted the least fresh of the four, and was drier than the others on the inside. Though acceptable in a pinch, we would definitely grab a doughnut from the others first. Know of a good carryout place? Let us hear about it. Write to sam.sessa@baltsun.com.

Even before you get to the barn, you know things are going to be different. How could they not be different when the horse in the stall is named Casual Lies?Horses usually are named Eternally Majestic or Majestically Eternal. Names that could make a tough man cry. Black Beauty. Velvet. Casual Lies? It could be the name of a miniseries starring Valerie Bertinelli as the temptress. Whatever the story behind the name, you figure there has to be a murder or messy divorce in there somewhere.It turns out there is neither, but anyway, the point is you know things are going to be different long before you get to the barn.

Dunkin' Donuts, the world's biggest doughnut chain, intends to add 172 locations in the Baltimore-Washington area as part of a push to open 776 new outlets across the country, the company said this week.The chain said it will recruit local franchisees for the operations, which are expected to open over the next three years. Eighty-three of the new locations, which will include stores and pushcarts, will be in the Baltimore area. Dunkin' has 86 outlets in Baltimore-Washington now.Adding new stores and pushcarts will give the company better )

NEW YORK -- The homonym was not lost on the Police Department: The man arrested Tuesday night in the robbery of eight Dunkin' Donuts shops in Manhattan over the last two months was named Douglas Duncan.Duncan was arrested as he and an accomplice tried to rob another Manhattan Dunkin' Donuts shop, said Detective Mark Patterson, a police spokesman. As Duncan pulled out a knife and announced a robbery, he was stopped by two officers, police said.Police took pains to point out that the arresting officers were staking out the doughnut shop in the hopes of preventing a robbery, not filling up on Boston Kremes.