Espn Zone

Before Jon Favreau sits down for his 4 p.m. "breakfast" at the ESPN Zone, he's got to dash next door for coffee."If there's one thing wrong with this city, it's that there aren't enough Starbucks," says the 32-year-old actor who's co-starring with Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman in "The Replacements." The fictional account of the misfits who replaced the Washington Redskins during the 1987 strike is being filmed in Baltimore -- currently from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.Favreau, best known for writing and producing 1996's surprise hit "Swingers," buys a pound of ground house blend and a cup of black coffee with ice.He heads out of the store, looking like a tired football player with his shaved head, drab sweats and Adidas sandals.

No city revels in its past, or wallows in it, depending on your perspective, like Baltimore. So it's a given that television sets around town will be punched in to ESPN in the early hours of Monday morning.That's when a lovely tribute to Memorial Stadium, the great lady at the corner of East 33rd Street and Ellerslie Avenue, airs as a segment of "NFL Films Presents."The piece isn't long -- only about 10 minutes -- but it will give old-timers a reminder of how things here used to be and provide the younger generation a primer on the traditions of one of the venerable facilities in American sports.

When the ESPN Zone opened in the Power Plant last summer, people sometimes waited in line for three hours to get in.More than a year later, lines -- though shorter -- still snake out the door of Baltimore's Inner Harbor attraction.The sports entertainment complex has done twice the business expected, according to its creators, Walt Disney Co. -- more than 1 million visitors."It's really surprised us at every level," said Art Levitt, president of Disney Regional Entertainment Inc. "From the tourist to the local level, it's been well received.

Maybe Orioles slugger Rafael Palmeiro was able to offer "Misery" star Kathy Bates a few tips for the next time she has to swing a sledgehammer. Perhaps basketball star Mike Bibby and "Pulp Fiction" hit man Samuel L. Jackson chatted about shooting techniques.These and other celebrities converged on the Inner Harbor last weekend for the unveiling of a new restaurant, and it wasn't Planet Hollywood. What other force in the show-biz universe could have aligned such stars? ESPN, of course.It's been seven years since former baseball commissioner Fay Vincent dismissed the country's first all-sports cable channel as the home of "tractor pulls and billiard matches."

Three months after Walt Disney Co. launched its first ESPN Zone at the Inner Harbor, the company said yesterday that it will take the concept to Times Square next summer."

Social calendarFor the first time in 16 years, Baltimore will play host to the World Lacrosse Championships at Johns Hopkins Homewood field, which is why most of this week's calendar is lacrosse-oriented. A private opening reception was held at the Living Classrooms Foundation last week to kick off this 10-day event, considered by many to be the Olympics of lacrosse.July 19: South Baltimore Learning Center's seventh annual So-Bo-Q at the Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Highway. Ted and Patty Rouse, honorees.

Just as Baltimore's Harborplace was a leader in the wave of festival marketplaces that swept the country in the '80s, the Inner Harbor again will serve as proving ground for a new dimension in family entertainment.Opening in the Power Plant this summer will be the ESPN Zone, Walt Disney Co.'s latest entertainment concept, a production that's part high-tech dining room, part sports arena.If the idea of using Disney wizardry succeeds during its high-profile trial run here, the company will expand the restaurant-playground idea nationwide.

A one-day, wildcat strike of technicians and other off-camera personnel forced ABC to relocate its fledgling "Monday Night Blast" football pre-game show, as well as the halftime segment, from its usual place at the ESPN Zone here last night.Instead, a scaled-down version of those "Monday Night Football" program elements aired from Philadelphia, the site of last night's Eagles-Dallas Cowboys game, and without regular hosts Chris Berman and Frank Gifford.Berman's halftime highlights were done from New York, while the pre-game feature that is normally introduced by Gifford was instead set up by Al Michaels.

WALT DISNEY CO. and ESPN haven't opened their first sports-theme dining and entertainment complex, but already they're fine-tuning the concept.The name has been changed from ESPN Grill to ESPN Zone. A new logo is in the works. The interior design is undergoing revisions as well.One element that will definitely stay, planners say, is a giant flaming "sports kebab" that will mark the entrance to the Inner Harbor attraction, which is scheduled to open this summer in the Pier 4 Power Plant."That's an integral part of the concept," said Scott Dickey, director of sales and marketing for Disney Regional Entertainment Inc., the Disney affiliate that is working on the project.

When ABC officials told Frank Gifford about their plans to take the new "Monday Night Football" pre-game show to Baltimore, he was a bit skeptical, mostly because he had finally managed to get out of the grind of weekly travel from one city to the other.But it only took last night's visit to the ESPN Zone for last night's premiere of "Monday Night Blast" to sell Gifford on the show, the city and the restaurant.Thinking back to his playing days with the New York football Giants, Gifford said: "Baltimore hasn't been a great place for me, but it's an easy trip [from his Connecticut home]

FRIDAY EGG BABIES ORCHESTRA: Baltimore's most lovable cover band is back with another themed show. This time they take on Halloween. The Mike Roy Show featuring J. Roddy Walston, Your Imaginary Friend and a Gary B. & The Notions listening party are also part of the lineup. The show takes place at 8 p.m. at Metro Gallery, 1700 N. Charles St. Tickets are $8. Go to themetrogallery.net. FREE FALL COMMUNITY ART PROJECT: The Strand Theater, 1823 N. Charles St., doles out the smocks, paint brushes and paints for a hands-on art project.

Sixth-graders at Mayfield Woods Middle School will be vying for the opportunity to dine with Ravens players at ESPN Zone in the spring and for tickets to a game in November as a reward for improving their physical fitness. The reward is part of Play 60 Challenge, a four-week contest where students are encouraged to engage in physical activity for 60 minutes during the day. Organizers hope the added incentive of meeting professional athletes will increase motivation for the students. "They are pretty pumped about it," said Danielle L. King, a physical education teacher at the school and organizer of the activity.

FRIDAY KARAOKE AT THE SENATOR: This is your big chance to perform in the spotlight on a historic stage. The Senator, 5904 York Road, offers touch-screen song selection of more than 65,000 songs accompanied by the theater's impressive sound system. Video of the performances will also be projected live on the screen. Doors open at 7 p.m. Karaoke starts at 8 p.m. The karaoke contest is free and culminates in costume karaoke on Oct. 30. Call 410-435-8338 or go to senator.com. TEQUILA TASTING: The opportunity to taste a brand-new tequila doesn't come along every day, which is why you should get to Morton's the Steakhouse, 300 S. Charles St., from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Don Roberto Tequila Experience includes samplings of three Don Roberto cocktails, three tequilas and several of Morton's hors d'oeuvres.

Et cetera 'An Evening with Brooks' set for Meyerhoff Oct. 26 The Babe Ruth Museum's fall gala will celebrate Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson. "An Evening with Brooks" will take place Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. There will be a cocktail reception, tributes to Robinson from special guests and a silent auction. Tickets are $105 for the cocktail reception and program or $55 for the program only. For more information, call 410-727-1539, ext. 3033, or go to www.BabeRuthMuseum.

Orioles Q&A session with Wigginton set for ESPN Zone Thursday Infielder Ty Wigginton will participate in a free question-and-answer session at the ESPN Zone at noon Thursday. He also will sign autographs. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. Colleges UMBC men's basketball team to open at home vs. Morgan The UMBC men's basketball team will open its 2009-10 season by hosting 2009 NCAA tournament participant Morgan State Nov. 15 at 3:30 p.m. at the RAC Arena. The 25th all-time meeting between the Retrievers and the Bears will begin UMBC's 13-game nonconference schedule.

1 Huggy Bear: Bob Huggins returns to his old stomping grounds as West Virginia travels to Cincinnati (7 p.m., ESPN). So he'll be stomping on the sideline. 2 In the Zone: Harlem Globetrotter Hot Shot Branch will meet fans and answer questions at ESPN Zone from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is free. 3 It could help: Terps fans: Root for Michigan to beat No. 16 Purdue (9 p.m., ESPN), thus making Maryland's December win over the Wolverines more impressive. You hope. 4 Defense optional: The Suns have scored 140 in three of five games since their coaching change.

Zevi Daniel Purchasing manager, anthem singer Baltimore native Zevi Daniel won ESPN Zone's Star-Spangled Sing-Off on July 8 at the Baltimore ESPN Zone after he impressed judges with his rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Although he is nervous about starting on the proper key, Daniel will open the Aug. 26 Orioles versus Chicago White Sox game in Baltimore by singing the national anthem. Daniel is a purchasing manager for Advanced Defense Technologies. He lives in Pikesville with his wife, Shoshy, son Eli, 3, and daughter Kayla, 1. 1. Day out with my little boy "Maybe Ravens training camp.

The hiring practices in college football got yet another lousy grade from the Black Coaches and Administrators (formerly known as the Black Coaches Association) in the group's latest report card, released this month. The bad marks on the fourth annual report were accompanied by the strongest implication yet, from executive director Floyd Keith, that the only way to resolve this sorry situation is in court. Yet last week at ESPN Zone at the Inner Harbor, there was evidence that fairness in hiring might be achieved without lawsuits.

While the latest angry storm to thrash across Maryland revealed a few more of its dirty tricks last night, property owners in the state's low-lying areas tried to keep their spirits high. Even as people across the state watched weather reports and hoped that this wouldn't be another Isabel or Ivan, in a matter of seconds the storm showed it had just that kind of furious potential. Water burst from a rushing creek, quickly trapping a Mount Airy woman inside her home with her granddaughter.

Super Bowl at ESPN Zone ESPN Zone expects major traffic on Sunday for the Super Bowl. They've got 150 TVs, including a 16-foot projection television, ensuring the game will be bigger-than-life. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m., but they suggest you start lining up by 11:30 a.m. to secure a reservation. If you get in, pace yourself -- they require that you consume food and beverages at the rate of $10 per hour per person. Reservations are free but are first- come, first-served. The ESPN Zone is at 601 E. Pratt St. Call 410-685-3776 or visit www.espnzone.