Grand Opening

Sports are a religion in Maryland. The Colts, the Orioles, the Ravens, the Bullets, the Blast - people are passionate about all the state sports and always have been. And, indeed, Maryland has a rich sports heritage. So as the Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation and the Maryland Stadium Authority prepare for the grand opening Saturday of the new Sports Legends at Camden Yards museum, so, too, do Maryland sports fans. The 22,000-square-foot museum in the restored Camden Station railway terminal at the gateway to Oriole Park will store and display more than 10,000 Maryland sports artifacts.

The teller windows have given way to a walnut-grain registration desk. The former president's office has become a conference room. One of the vaults is now a storage area for sheets and towels. Just about every corner of the former Old Town National Bank building has been put to use in its $11.5 million transformation into Baltimore's newest extended-stay hotel, the Holiday Inn Express. The seven-level, 70-room building at 221 N. Gay St. reopened this fall as part of a wave of hotels planned for Baltimore, and a two-day grand opening has been scheduled for Jan. 13 and 14. According to the developers, this is one of the first times that a Holiday Inn Express has been created inside a historic structure instead of being built from the ground up. "We were able to utilize the entire building, which was a big bonus," said Nicholas Piscatelli, the Baltimore developer who started the project.

Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke stood inside the gaping mouth of a gigantic striped bass at the Columbus Center's exhibit hall yesterday, then borrowed a line from his political ally in Washington, Bill Clinton."

The Rev. Rick Bauer thinks the vows might go something like this: "To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part or the food coupons run out."Bauer will officiate at a 14-couple wedding on a red carpeted stage in front of Metro Food Market Nov. 5 at 8: 45 a.m. as part of the Middlesex store's grand opening -- an unusual promotional gimmick that lured the couples down the aisles with $1,000 in groceries and a free honeymoon.

After nearly five years of foam parties and college nights, Bohager's shut its doors yesterday for the last time. And though the club is closed for good, its loyal crowd needn't lament: Nightlife at the Eden Street location hasn't come to a halt just yet. The 30,000-square-foot space, which housed a tropics-themed bar known as Parrot Island in the late '90s, will officially re-open tomorrow as Parrot Island at Bohager's. But don't get too fond of this laid-back, Jimmy Buffett-style nightclub either - it, too, will be closing.

Bank within food store has grand opening FridayFarmers & Merchants Bank of Hampstead will have a ribbon-cutting and grand opening of a branch in Festival Foods, 2205 Hanover Pike, at 10 a.m. Friday.The full-service, in-store bank is the first of its kind in the county, offering complete banking services in a food store.Refreshments will be served as the bank's employees are introduced to the community.Information: 239-4448.Pub Date: 7/07/96

Looks Salon and Spa is scheduled to hold a grand opening event July 22, from 7 to 9 p.m., at its new location, 6822 Oak Hall Lane, near Snowden River Pkwy. The grand opening will feature hors d'oeuvres, wine, refreshments and a fashion show. The new, 10,000-square-foot location will feature 25 stations. According to a news release, the space was designed by architect Rob Hoffman, with input from owner Marilyn Petersen and salon manager Briagh Strott, Petersen's daughter. The mother-and-daughter team opened Looks in 1999, on Old Columbia Road.

Anne Arundel Conflict Resolution Center will conduct a grand opening of its new offices at 4: 30 p.m. Wednesday in Suite 130 of the Heritage Center on Riva Road. Guests will meet County Executive John G. Gary and learn more about AACRC.Information: 266-9033.Pub Date: 4/29/96

April Events, 1984 April 3: An Amtrak passenger train going from New York to Washington struck and killed a 2-year-old from Edgewater in Perryman. April 3: Robert F. Kahoe was named people's counsel for Harford County. April 5: Lee's Sports held its grand opening at Harford Mall.

The Della Rose's Tavern at Canton Crossing has closed. Its last night was last Friday. The closing announcement was made on the tavern's Facebook page. Written by Tony DellaRose, it's one of the best closing notices I've seen, absent of self-pity, just honest. And funny. DellaRose told me that he wrote the notice the same night he broke the news to his staff. "It was from the heart," he said. The Della Rose's on The Avenue in White Marsh remains open. "I'm looking at things from this day forward, DellaRose said.