Federal Hill

Only a few Federal Hill neighbors knew Kenneth Munzert's idiosyncrasies. He owned a silver-blue Bentley but preferred to walk in Baltimore. He sailed on the Queen Mary 2 but collected soap from hotels he visited. He lived in a $1 million house but wrote numerous letters on old fliers. Munzert, who died last year at age 88, had no close family and left his principal asset, his home overlooking the harbor, to an animal charity pledged to protect his German shepherd, Beauregard, a former stray with whom he sometimes slept on the floor.

Black educators A news clipping from the Nov. 2, 1888, Harford Democrat serves to bring to life a portion of the history of schools for African Americans in Harford County. The newspaper that day stated: "Colored Teachers Appointed. - As the result of the examination of colored teachers, held on the 4th and 5th inst., certificates and schools were awarded as follows: Abingdon, M.E. Draper; McComas Institute, Samuel A. Jones; Gunpowder Neck, Rachel Morris; Michaelsville, R.E. Sadler; Sidney Park, E.D. Thomas; Gravelly Hill, Alice S. Beason; Bel Air, E.D. Bassett; Asbury, W.T. Freeman; Clark's Chapel, A.E. Brown; Fairview, Annie Goodwin; Federal Hill, Mamie V. Hubert; Hosanna, A.L. Presbury; Colara, H.R. Nelson; Havre de Grace, Samantha Green and E.V. Frazier."

LE PETIT COCHON 1030 S. Charles St., Federal Hill / 410-528-6001 / Open Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. If you're looking for that perfect gift with a distinctive European flair, there's no need to hop on a plane. Instead, head to Federal Hill's latest au courant gift shop, the lovely and lively Le Petit Cochon. "I love pigs and wanted something with whimsy," says owner Liz Perkins about the name, which means "the little pig" in French. But don't expect to find a store full of merchandise peppered with pigs (although there was an adorable pink pig pillbox)

Thwarted in an attempt to lift height restrictions on new construction around historic Federal Hill, a Florida developer now intends to redesign a Ritz-Carlton hotel proposed for south of the Inner Harbor to comply with existing limitations.Developer Neil Fisher said the redesigned $100 million luxury lodging and condominium project will meet the 71-foot height limitation that is in place for a parcel adjacent to the Rusty Scupper restaurant."We're taking one last look to see if something can be designed to meet the height restrictions," Fisher said.

Mission: To promote and emphasize the historical and architectural significance of Federal Hill and Fells Point; to foster further preservation of the communities' architectural heritage and historic legacy; and to ensure that present and future development within the area is compatible and worthy of inclusion in a historic district. The Preservation Society restored, maintains and operates the 18th-century Robert Long House and Garden as a museum at 812 S. Ann St. -- the oldest surviving urban residence in Baltimore.

JUST AS the campaigns for mayor and City Council are about to begin, Baltimore is on the verge of a major real-estate take-off. Consider:Construction in the empty Key Highway area of the Inner Harbor is turning vacant land into townhouses. Developers are studying a nearby parcel for a luxury hotel and the HarborView condominium complex is exploring expansion.A $100 million capital commitment by NationsBank, bolstered by the Weinberg Foundation's $71 million redevelopment proposal, shows the long-awaited renewal of the Howard Street corridor no longer is a pipe dream.

The Florida developer proposing a Ritz-Carlton hotel at the base of Federal Hill pledged yesterday to give 5 percent of the profits from the luxury lodging project to local charities.Neil Fisher, who faced considerable community opposition after proposing the $100 million hotel rise 16 stories above the historic hill south of the Inner Harbor, said the contributions to Sandtown Habitat for Humanity and others could total $3 million over the next decade.Fisher, who said he has faced hard times and been forced into bankruptcy in the past, said the philanthropic support for the nonprofit and other groups was a "logical connection."

EIGHT YEARS after Baltimore taxpayers spent $2 million to reconstruct Federal Hill, the city is about to steady the crumbling Inner Harbor overlook once more."

The Florida developer working to construct a Ritz-Carlton or other luxury hotel at the Inner Harbor intends to shave off nearly one-third of the rooms planned for the $80 million project to meet height requirements and appease neighbors' concerns.Developer Neil Fisher's decision to chop the number of rooms being planned from 350 to 250 was announced during a private meeting with community leaders and residents Wednesday evening."I thought it was a thoughtful proposal that would try and incorporate the neighborhood's concerns," said David Marshall, president of the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association.

South Baltimore residents, chaffing at what they claim are "hardball" tactics by a Florida developer, are vowing to fight a two-towered Ritz-Carlton hotel planned near Federal Hill if the proposed project exceeds the existing 71-foot height limitation.Developer Neil Fisher said yesterday in response to the residents' declarations that he isn't optimistic that the $85 million project will proceed, but intends to "give it one more shot" to fashion a compromise."I have tried to be reasonable and compromising from the beginning," Fisher said in response to a Tuesday evening meeting of the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association (FHNA)

Azul 17 (9400 Snowden River Parkway, Columbia, 410-309-9717) isn't Howard County's only Mexican restaurant, but it's certainly the one with the coolest vibe. The restaurant, which had its grand opening a couple of weeks ago, is as much a tequila lounge as eating place, with 17 signature margaritas (at what point do they stop being "signature," I wonder) and 17 signature cocktails. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Azul has a DJ playing international music. The decor is contemporary, with white leather booths, murals on the walls, and red and yellow glass light fixtures.

Police Maj. Scott L. Bloodsworth stands on Charles Street in Federal Hill as the crowd of revelers swells. It's Friday, just before midnight, and already many patrons have had too much to drink. Outside Noble's Bar, a giddy young woman screams and runs into the open arms of a friend, sending both crashing to the pavement. Bloodsworth, who commands the Southern District, watches his officers watch the partyers. He has officers strategically placed along Charles and Cross streets, on blocks dominated by the biggest and most popular taverns, and near a bank machine and a parking garage.

It has been nearly a year since Baltimore's police commissioner prohibited bar owners from hiring off-duty officers to help keep order, and in the weeks and months that followed the ban, some proprietors in Federal Hill complained that nuisance crimes spiked. In the spring, tavern owners banded together to form the Federal Hill Hospitality Association, and they're collectively contributing to a pool to hire six off-duty city officers to police the neighborhood during peak hours. It's the reaction the city's police commissioner wanted when he urged bar owners to take more responsibility but didn't want his officers tethered to bars like private doormen.

Edwin George "Ed" Smith, a popular Fells Point bartender during the 1980s and 1990s, died of sepsis Sept. 21 at Good Samaritan Hospital. He was 60. Born and raised on Diller Avenue in Northeast Baltimore, Mr. Smith was a 1967 graduate of Polytechnic Institute. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1971 in accounting from the University of Baltimore. During the 1980s and 1990s, Mr. Smith tended bar at the Dead End Saloon in Fells Point. Earlier, he owned and operated a home remodeling business during the 1970s.

These days it's cause to celebrate when a restaurant more ambitious than a pub or pizza place opens in Baltimore. Scary times usually produce eateries that offer sure bets in the way of food - sure bets that don't cost much. When I first heard about the Reserve (1542 Light St., TheReserveBaltimore.com), a new Federal Hill bar, I figured when it got around to serving food, the kitchen would produce the usual nachos, wings and burgers. Instead, the offerings include tuna tataki, shrimp and tropical fruit ceviche, cornmeal-crusted red grouper in a smoked salmon caper beurre blanc, Buffalo strip steak with parsnip puree and pan-roasted boneless quail.

Landis "Mac" MacIntosh, a retired information technologist and a former Federal Hill resident, died of kidney cancer Aug. 11 at his Claremont, Calif., home. He was 76. Mr. MacIntosh was born in Ashland, Ohio, and raised in Clifton, N.J. After graduating from Montclair State University in 1956 with a degree in business administration, he was commissioned an officer in the Marine Corps and served until 1958. He remained active in the reserves until 1963. He started his business career with Penn Mutual Insurance Co. in Philadelphia, and later was vice president of information technology from 1960 to 1980 at Scott Paper Co., also in Philadelphia.

Christine Simeone describes her style as "preppy eclectic." Certainly seersucker is a preppy mainstay. But, the 33-year-old architectural representative for Pella Windows makes that fabric look anything but stodgy in the miniskirt she wore to a Federal Hill pub crawl. How does this Federal Hill resident create her classically chic look? It's all about mixing it up. "With anything professional, like suits, I've tended toward more neutral colors, but I can add a bit of flair with a trendy top underneath, like Bebe.

Peering into the front window of their future home, all that AMY Grace and Karen Blood could see was a center spiral staircase. They were hooked. The couple's friends thought they were crazy to leave their lush, suburban environs north of the city for a building that was broken up into office space and needed a total rehab. But the two women wanted both the Federal Hill neighborhood and the challenge of renovation. They purchased the 16-foot-wide by 70-foot-deep two-story rowhouse on a 120-foot deep lot for $72,000.

SUNDAY Federal Hill Jazz and Blues Festival: Enjoy performances by such groups as the Lower Case Blues, J and B Blues Project, the New Volcanoes, Lafayette Gilchrist and more 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday in Federal Hill. The free event also features food and children's activities and takes place at East Cross and South Charles streets. For more information, go to historicfederalhill.org. 311 and Ziggy Marley: This concert, taking place at Nissan Pavilion at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, features the musical stylings of 311, which fuses such genres as reggae, rap and rock, and Ziggy Marley, the Grammy-winning son of Bob Marley.

Antoine Petteway likes Federal Hill so much he decided to name his new restaurant after it. Petteway was the chef at the Metropolitan Coffee House and Wine Bar, where he developed a loyal following before he struck out on his own and opened The Hill (1017 S. Charles St., 443-708-5653) a few doors down from it. This is the space that was Banjara. The inside has undergone major renovations, although the oak floors, exposed brick wall and pressed tin ceiling were preserved. The Hill has a handsome horseshoe-shaped bar, display kitchen and new, larger windows.