Downstairs

Police logWilde Lake: 10300 block of Faulkner Ridge Circle: A resident on the upstairs floor of a home heard a burglar walking downstairs Monday afternoon. Police said the intruder, who had pried open a side door for entry, fled through the door when the resident came downstairs.Hickory Ridge: 5700 block of Cedar Lane: A construction trailer at Howard County General Hospital was pried open early Monday morning, but police said nothing was taken.Wilde Lake: 5200 block of West Running Brook Road: A maroon 1995 Ford Escort station wagon with Maryland tags CPL-014 was stolen Wednesday or Thursday, police said.

OK, I admit it. While the rest of the civilized world was glued to the Super Bowl, the TV in our house was emanating the glow of period drama -- the irresistible "Downton Abbey" on PBS. (I still think the Most Valuable Player Sunday night was Mrs. Hughes, the housekeeper who managed to tackle sexism, anti-Catholicism and smug-ism all in one fabulous game.) For the benefit of those who have not yet caught onto the Downton phenomenon -- and even more for the benefit of those who have -- Midweek Madness offers this unique introduction/recap/documentary:

POLICE LOG* Elkridge: 5500 Levering Ave.: A resident heard someone enter his house through a downstairs door Friday afternoon. The intruder called for the resident, who did not answer. When the resident checked the downstairs area, he found his wallet missing, police said.7200 block of Route 1: A lawn mower was stolen from a storage shed at Bonheur Memorial Park Sunday evening or early Monday. Police said a shed had been pried open.6700 block of Dorsey Road: A maroon 1989 Chevy Cavalier with Pennsylvania tags ADP5233 was stolen late Sunday or early Monday from a Best Western motel.

You can eat upstairs or downstairs at Shapiro's Cafe, at 7 W. Preston St., near the University of Baltimore in Mount Vernon. The fare — deli sandwiches and Middle Eastern wraps — is the same in both areas, but the downstairs caters to the carry-out crowd and the upstairs is aimed at the sit-down set. The upstairs, a space once occupied by Sylvan Beach ice cream shop, seems to be a spot designed to attract faculty members....

Sky Lounge Tango Tapas Situated in a charming alley off Federal Hill's Cross Street strip, this lounge features Spanish-inspired tapas, homemade sangria and creative cocktails in its plush downstairs seating area. If the urge to let loose hits you a few drinks later, head upstairs to do your thing on a clear, springy Plexiglas dance floor. Where --1041 Marshall St. Call --410-625-1615 Notable --The drink list includes a host of imaginative favorites, including the watermelon-tini and the oatmeal cookie.

POLICE LOG* Harper's Choice: 5400 block of Bearverkill Road: A maintenance man at Harper's Choice Middle School prevented a would-be thief from taking computer equipment when he confronted the person in a classroom Tuesday.* Wilde Lake: 10100 block of Placid Lake Court: A resident returned home Thursday and heard noises in the basement, only to find an open window downstairs. Police said nothing appeared to have been taken.

Fletcher's has two faces: a pool bar and lounge downstairs with flat-screen TVs and an upstairs concert hall that holds about 150. The place has three bars total -- two downstairs and one upstairs. Where -- 701 S. Bond St., 410-558-1889 Web site -- fletchersbar.com. Notable -- A series of defaced black-and-white pictures of celebrities (Elvis, Charlie Chaplin, etc.) lines the walls of one of the downstairs lounge areas. Most have pitchforks and goatees scribbled on them in Sharpie. Vibe -- A little devilish, the colors of Fletcher's walls, stools, booths and tables are mostly black and red. One wall has a strip of fake flames stretching across it. What to wear -- Jeans and a T-shirt goes for both men and women, with the occasional button-down.

You can eat upstairs or downstairs at Shapiro's Cafe, at 7 W. Preston St., near the University of Baltimore in Mount Vernon. The fare — deli sandwiches and Middle Eastern wraps — is the same in both areas, but the downstairs caters to the carry-out crowd and the upstairs is aimed at the sit-down set. The upstairs, a space once occupied by Sylvan Beach ice cream shop, seems to be a spot designed to attract faculty members....

Willy D'sWhere: 504 Winters Lane, Catonsville.Hours: Downstairs nightclub open 4 p.m.-2 a.m. daily; upstairs restaurant open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, noon-9 p.m. Sundays.Menu: Mostly Mexican, with crab soup and light fare also available.Credit cards: All major cards accepted except Discover.Call: 744-7458. On hearing there's a new restaurant and nightclub called Willy D's, you can't help wondering if Gov. William Donald Schaefer has a little business on the side.

A PARAPLEGIC man is suing a Florida strip joint for being in violation of his civil rights because there is no wheelchair access to upstairs private rooms where he could get a "lap dance." The club owner said he could use a private room downstairs. But the plaintiff's lawyer replied that "separate but equal is not good enough." Sometimes, on controversial issues, we're conflicted as to whether this or that "constitutional right" can possibly be what the Founding Fathers intended. On this one, we're sure.

You may member Miss Irene's as a singularly louche Fells Point dive bar. It closed a few years ago and was bought and renovated by the chef and management team from the Waterfront Hotel, just down the block. In part because of the mare's nest of pipes and tubes under the cobblestones of Fells Point, this renovation took a long, long time. (Disclosure: At one early point, I was following the renovations at Miss Irene's with the intention of writing about the million little things that go into opening a restaurant.

At 6 o'clock every evening, the Dandie Dinmont terriers are let out of the back room, Greg Sullivan turns the key to close up his antique shop, and - that quickly - he's home. Situated on the corner of Baltimore and High streets in Funkstown, Washington County, the stately Colonial is both home and place of business for Sullivan and his wife, Vicki. The mansion dates from the 1770s. Two wings were added in 1835, and another in 1960. A solarium was built in the 1920s. The Sullivans, looking for a larger property to accommodate their expanding business, bought the 7,800-square-foot mansion in 1982.

Carlos O'Charlie's Carlos O'Charlie's, a huge new bar and restaurant, opened in Highlandtown this summer. It consists of a long, wide main floor with a bar along one side and an equal-sized downstairs lounge. Where -- 3508 Eastern Ave. Call -- 410-675-1485 Web site -- carlosocharlies .com Notable -- Upstairs is divided into a couple of sections, one of which has couches facing a large stone fountain. Tall black metal chairs sit at the main bar. There are pool tables downstairs, a tiki bar and plenty of TVs. Vibe -- Clean.

Let's say you're going to see a play at the Hippodrome Theatre. The Hipp Cafe inside the building is jampacked, and you're in the mood for something more casual than Maggie Moore's, the Irish restaurant and bar across the street. Until a few weeks ago, you didn't have another nearby bar to hang out pre-show. But now that Bedrock Billiards is open, there's a more colorful, casual member of the growing west side nightlife family. Think of Bedrock Billiards as the laid-back uncle who wore suits with wild colors to weddings but somehow pulled it off. It was probably his attitude - constant, utter coolness - that let him get away with almost anything.

Halfway through a set at Simon's of Butchers Hill, the drummer of the David Wells Trio was onstage tapping and grinning with his mouth shut. Anyone sitting in the upstairs dining room with him could read his mind: "Man, this is some smooooth jazz." And if owner Eugene Jones can lock down a consistently solid lineup four nights a week, Simon's upstairs room will be a routine stop for local jazz lovers. Jones is pretty close right now but still has a kink or two to work out. Jones, formerly the manager of Fat Lulu's, opened the upstairs in November.

Sky Lounge Tango Tapas Situated in a charming alley off Federal Hill's Cross Street strip, this lounge features Spanish-inspired tapas, homemade sangria and creative cocktails in its plush downstairs seating area. If the urge to let loose hits you a few drinks later, head upstairs to do your thing on a clear, springy Plexiglas dance floor. Where --1041 Marshall St. Call --410-625-1615 Notable --The drink list includes a host of imaginative favorites, including the watermelon-tini and the oatmeal cookie.

"House Arrest" couldn't get itself arrested if it tried.A somewhat clotted comedy, it never manages to decide what kind of movie it wants to be or what it wants to say; it just spins its wheels fecklessly for the longest time until, finally, helpfully, it ends.It plays, somewhat trivially, on America's warped tradition of dysfunctional, disintegrating family life, but at the same time mates this topic with a heavy-handed fantasy of child empowerment, all while squandering a terrific cast.

Now that winter's (finally) here, having a cigar on the deck out back sounds a lot less relaxing. You bundle up like an Eskimo, totter outdoors, dig through your jacket for the smoke, try to light the matches with gloves on, drop them and curse the cold. By the time the darn thing's lit, you're shivering and asking yourself if it was worth all that. It's not. If you can't light up indoors but still crave a stogie, try one of these cigar bars downtown. The first spot, Max's on Broadway (737 S. Broadway, 410-675-6297)

On Nightlife No, Club X Ultra Lounge is not a strip joint. Though its name (actually pronounced Club Ten), location (10 S. Calvert St.) and facade (bright purple lights) might suggest otherwise, the place has a solid mix of style, attitude and class. I wouldn't be surprised to see the month-old lounge turn into a regular weekend hangout for the city's high-rolling 30-something set. Parking is free on most of Calvert Street late at night, but if you can't find a spot less than a block or two away, it is safer to use the valet service.