Local Artists

Marie Trinite Whittie, an artist who affectionately depicted Baltimore in her paintings of its rowhouses and street scenes, died Saturday of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at Mercy Medical Center. The Bolton Hill resident was a day short of her 87th birthday. Born Marie Elizabeth Trinite in Pikesville, she grew up on Madison Street and attended the Cathedral School before graduating from Eastern High School in 1938. She earned a fine arts degree at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Mrs. Whittie worked while smoking a cigarette, and - during baseball season - listening to broadcasts of Orioles games that she played loudly on two radios, neighbors said.

An exhibit at Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center explores the color blue and the feelings it evokes. Titled Into the Blue, it features paintings, photography and three-dimensional works by local artists. Into the Blue runs through Jan. 28 at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center, 40 S. Carroll St. in Frederick. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Sundays. Call 301-663-4641 or go to delaplaine.org.

Baltimore: East side Man acquitted in fatal stabbing A Baltimore jury on Monday acquitted a man of murder in a fatal stabbing March 14 in the 1100 block of Webb Court in East Baltimore. William Fuller, 44, of the 4000 block of Oswego Court was accused of killing Kiam Moody, 37. Fuller was arrested after detectives learned that he, too, had been stabbed March 14 near where the body was found. Witnesses to the killing had identified Fuller as Moody's killer, according to police reports.

Warm up -- Diane Wieder, artist, illustrator and designer and a member of the Howard County Art Guild, will show her acrylic paintings of warmer climes next month at the Glenwood library, 2350 Route 97, Cooksville. The show, Tropical Escapes, runs from Jan. 3-31. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Local artists and artisans interested in exhibiting at the Glenwood library should contact Emma Pope, 410-313-5577.

Dr. George William Benedict, a retired Baltimore endocrinologist and longtime volunteer at Joseph Richey Hospice, died there Monday of cancer. The Bolton Hill resident was 69. Dr. Benedict was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, and was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1959. At 16, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and given a discouraging prognosis, including a shortened life expectancy. "Very few knew that he was insulin-dependent for 54 years and had carcinoma of the pancreas for the last 13 years," said Dr. John W. Payne, Richey Hospice medical director and a semi-retired Baltimore ophthalmologist.

846 W. 36th St., Hampden 410-889-4025 botani846.com Like other Hampden shops, Botani is a classic example of Baltimore chic. That means in spite of its exotic name (pronounced botany), it has an old-fashioned, almost frumpy charm. The plants, cut flowers and gifts are anything but. All three of the owners were at Whole Foods before they decided to open their own store, and the same eco-philosophy is at work here. There are unusual plants like Madagascar palms and button ferns. Cut flowers range from what's in season and traditional (such as chrysanthemums)

The Mount Royal Tavern has been a neighborhood watering hole for decades. The bar, at 1204 W. Mount Royal Ave. in Bolton Hill, attracts a diverse crowd, including students from the nearby Maryland Institute College of Art. In summer, the tavern is host to Foodscape, an annual exhibit organized by local artists to spoof Artscape.

Tomorrow and Sunday, Ballet Theatre of Maryland will present a new ballet, Excalibur, based on Arthurian legend and choreographed by BTM artistic director Dianna Cuatto. From what I saw at rehearsal, this show is filled with spirit, romance, chivalry, sensuality and swordplay. Ballet rehearsals provide an opportunity to witness dance art being created and are also a revelation for anyone who seriously works out. Intense ballet rehearsals demand a fitness level beyond merely extraordinary.