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Ben Cardin held off about as long as possible for a modern politician, but he finally caved to intense pressure. He launched a Facebook page. "Back in 1966, when I first ran for the Maryland House of Delegates, there was no Facebook, no Twitter, no YouTube -- not even the Internet," he writes in an e-mail that just popped up on my computer. "All we had to get our message out were yard signs, fliers, volunteers and a whole lot of determination. "But while the way we communicate has changed a lot, my dedication to improving the lives of the people of Maryland hasn't.

The Belvedere's 13th Floor bar has closed for renovations and will re-open in July. The news was posted on the bar's Facebook page. A front-desk manager at the hotel confirmed the news and said the bar would re-open in July; he declined to be named. Calls to the bar and its management group, Truffles Catering, have not been returned. Will update when they do. It seems the renovation will strip the bar's trademark leopard-print carpeting, according to a Facebook status update from Wednesday.

Mother's Federal Hill Tavern has announced the date for what it's calling the First Annual Charm City BACON Wars. It's Sunday, Feb. 10, 2-6 p.m., and in case you were wondering, that's the Sunday following Super Bowl Sunday. The challenge is out to any restaurant in Maryland to come up with its "most creative, most tantalizing bacon dish. " The announcement was posted on the restaurant's Facebook page . The public will be the judge. Restaurants interested in participating should email Mother's Federal Hill Grille at colleen@mothersgrille.com Follow Baltimore Diner on Twitter @gorelickingood

In the movies, Gotham City police required a giant spotlight to find Batman. Montgomery County police didn't have to go quite so far, finding him cruising around in a Lamborghini Wednesday in Silver Spring and pulling the unidentified man over for not having proper tags. The bizarre picture was posted to the department's official Twitter page today, followed by a note clarifying that the "Batmobile" wasn't towed.  Officer Janelle Smith, a police spokeswoman, said the driver is a Good Samaritan who dresses up as Batman and visits sick children at local hospitals.

The new food truck Philly Mignon , a cheese steak specialist, made its downtown Baltimore debut on Monday. So did Darua. Darua, owned and operated by Marcellos Salles, sells Brazilian street food. On the menu are things like feijoda , a stew of black beans and meat; espetinho , skewered meats; and pastels , which are like flattened-out stuffed won-tons. The truck has a website and a Facebook page . You can also follow it on Twitter @daruafoodtruck.

The two-alarm fire that hit the Mt. Washington Tavern early Monday morning has left the landmark tavern looking "devastated," according to an eyewitness. Follow the Baltimore Sun's coverage of the fire here . The multi-level restaurant, which opened in 1979, gained some early notoriety from its mention in The Official Preppy Handbook (1980). When the tavern was purchased for $175,000 by Theodore Bauer and William H. Shriver in 1979, it had been closed for nearly two years.

City police have identified a 24-year-old man who was fatally shot Friday afternoon in Northwest Baltimore.  Travis Spencer was found suffering from gunshot wounds in the 4400 block of Park Heights Ave. at about 3:15 p.m. Friday. Detectives believe the shooting actually occurred around the corner, in the 2700 block of W. Coldspring Lane.  Spencer, who according to court records had lived in North Baltimore's Woodbourne Heights neighborhood, was transported to Sinai Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.  According to postings from friends on Facebook, Spencer, who was known as "Trey," had played running back for a semi-pro football team called the Arbutus Big Red, which after his death posted an image of Spencer's uniform number, 9, over a red ribbon on their Facebook page.

Who wouldn't want a little plush version of their very own dog? Enter GUND's "Top Dog" contest for a chance to have that little dream come true. Categories to enter include: Most Beautiful Dog; Ugliest Dog; Best Dressed Dog and Dog that Resembles Its Owner. Submit your entries on the toy company's Facebook page between July 16 and Aug. 15. They're also running a "Most Pinteresting Dog" contest. Catch the details at GUND's website .

Mango Grove has announced that its new location will be on Stanford Road. Mango Grove and its sister restaurant Mirchi Wok will be re-built at 8865 Stanford Blvd., just a few minutes from the restaurants' original Columbia location. The announcement was made on Mango Grove's Facebook page . Mango Grove, a vegetarian mainstay in Columbia, known best for its dhosa, a kind of Indian crepe, closed in late August after 15 years to make way for new development. It was not immediately clear when the new restaurants(s)

Baltimore's newest food truck is debuting today. It's a gourmet food truck named GrrChe. The basic menu includes "plain and simple" sandwiches on white or wheat. Specialty sandwiches include the Lobster Grill and the Crab Delight. GrrChe also will be selling gourmet breakfast sandwiches and desserts. The truck's website is here . The Facebook page is here . The Twitter page is here .