Honfest

Come down and join the festivities, hon. Probably Baltimore's most unusual celebration, the HonFest, is today in Hampden."Big hair, bowling shirts, Lycra and leopard prints are always encouraged," says Denise Whiting, owner of Cafe Hon restaurant and an organizer of the sixth-annual tribute to hair spray-toting, frosted blue eye shadow-wearing divas who have mastered that unmistakable Baltimorean (or Bawlmerean) style, right down to the accent.The HonFest -- sponsored by Cafe Hon, Hometown Girl and Oh, Said Rose -- will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will feature a workshop on big hair, book signings by local authors such as Bert Smith ("Down the Ocean: Postcards From Maryland and Delaware Beaches")

Eats Park Avenue Cafe, near the newly reopened Hippodrome, offers three distinct but connected areas -- a deli, a spacious bistro and a bar area where food is also served -- as well as careful attention to details. page 13 Trips Philadelphia's Old City neighborhood isn't quite SoHo, but it's closer and more convenient, and in the past five years, the area has seen an influx of chic shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. page 24 PICK OF THE WEEK What: The 11th Annual HonFest When: Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Where: The Avenue, otherwise known as 36th Street in Hampden Why: Because you can spend the day celebrating all things Baltimore.

Hampden has become center stage — again — for debate about the image of Baltimore. In 2009 we had "flamingo-gate," and now, in the waning days of 2010, everyone is talking about the Hon trademark controversy. Denise Whiting, owner of Café Hon and the HonBar and creator of Hampden's annual HonFest, has decided to trademark the word "Hon," to limit and control its public, commercial use. Many people are angry, feeling that Ms. Whiting is laying claim to something that she has no right to own. (Others argue that while "hon" is a popular term in Baltimore, it's hardly unique to Charm City.

Fox television's "Kitchen Nightmares," featuring celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and his decidedly tough-love approach to restaurant rehab, will be filming at Hampden's Cafe Hon next week, the network confirmed Tuesday. The show's producers were unavailable for further comment. In a statement, Café Hon owner Denise Whiting said she'd be willing to speak after the program aired. "Kitchen Nightmares," in its fourth season on Fox, generally focuses on restaurants that are failing or in deep trouble, and affords the ceaselessly blunt Ramsay the chance to come in, do what needs to be done and - hopefully - save the business from plunging into the abyss.

THEATER WITCH CRAFT The Witches of Eastwick first cast its spell as a novel by John Updike. In 1987, it was made into a movie starring Jack Nicholson. In 2000, it worked its magic on London, when the musical adaptation opened on the West End. Now that musical -- book and lyrics by John Dempsey, music by Dana P. Rowe -- is making its American premiere at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Va. Direction is by Signature's Eric Schaeffer, who also staged the London production. Emily Skinner, Christiane Noll and Jacquelyn Piro Donovan play the witchly trio who summon up a handsome devil (literally)

Adorned in an Amy Winehouse-inspired black wig and dressed in a neon pink mermaid skirt, a matching feather boa, a pink-sequinedT-shirt and dusty pink house slippers, Robert Glick stood out yesterday among the thousands of people crowding The Avenue for the 15th annual Honfest in Hampden. Glick, a 43-year-old nurse from Pikesville, ditched his usual hospital garb for the over-the-top outfit in an attempt to be crowned Baltimore's Best Hon, a main staple of the festival where contestants dress in authentic "Hon" attire.

NOW OR NEVER Politically divided husband-and-wife team James Carville and Mary Matalin speak Wednesday at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation (7401 Park Heights Ave.). Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. presentation are $35-$125 each and are available by calling 410-764-1587, Ext. 403, or visiting www.bhcong.org. COMING UP Get ready to laugh for a good cause. Throughout the summer, Ladies of Laughter will perform several shows to benefit the Maryland affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The comedy presentations take place at 8 p.m. at the White Cap Tavern at Inner Harbor Marriott.

Martin O?Malley demonstrated as a great mayor of Baltimore that he will be a great governor of California ? ahh! ? I do feel as if I am at home! A great governor of Maryland, let?s hear it for that.? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat Cut her some slack already. During the governor?s swearing-in ceremony in Annapolis yesterday, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi referred to Martin O?Malley as the new governor of California. It?s a common mistake, confusing Maryland and California.

How quickly can a seemingly non-violent protest escalate to a threat to public safety and personal property? A recent controversy revolving around Baltimore's iconic Café Hon has made it apparent how easily that line can be crossed ("Café Hon owner Denise Whiting gets a restraining order against protester," June 28). Cafe Hon owner Denise Whiting's decision to trademark the word "Hon" to protect her business and brand caused an uproar when some felt she was capitalizing on a Baltimore tradition as well as trying to create proprietary rights around the city's colloquialisms.

This weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer vacation season. In this economy, for many travelers that means camping treks, beach getaways and weekend road trips more than it means busy airports, luggage fees and overseas flights. Either way, there are more than 100 days ahead of us when having fun will be the rule of thumb. And what's more fun than a party? Well, nothing. Just ask Michael Guerriero. When the 32-year-old Fort Collins, Colo., resident lost his job in pharmaceutical sales and marketing in 2007, he loaded up the car and hit the road in search of some raging celebrations, using his severance pay to ease the way. Out of that trip and many others he had taken before came his recent book, Party Across America!