Soul

Nick Prevas is truly an “artist of all trades.” The 30-year-old Charles Village resident writes and directs films, works on graphic design projects, plays guitar and sings in the band White Lodge. He even handles communications and media for the American Visionary Arts Museum. Originally from Highland, Prevas tells b that there's no place he'd rather be than Baltimore: “There's just an energy to our city like no place else. I lived in L.A. for a few years and couldn't ever get the vibe there like I can in Charm City.

Adam Eagan, managing partner at the Empire Brewing Co. in Syracuse, N.Y., knows a thing or two about good food and beer. It is, after all, what he does for a living. At least four or five times during the football season he packs up his car and makes the 51/2-hour trek from upstate New York to Baltimore, where he lived for 28 years, to join some of his buddies for a "killer" tailgate in Lot H1 at M&T Bank Stadium. He was introduced to this group of foodie fans some years ago by his best friend from high school, Mark Maloney, and was impressed with what they were putting together for food and beverage at their tailgate.

The Hippodrome Theatre is largely defined by marquee Broadway shows, from "The Lion King" to "South Pacific. " But starting Monday, the theater aims to be a hub for local arts groups, becoming much more than just a stopping-off spot for touring artists and productions. With the Hippodrome Art Fund, the theater envisions being able to offer a bigger stage and financial support for nonprofit dance companies, music ensembles and more. Broadway Across America, the leaseholder of the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, which houses the Hippodrome , has contributed $300,000 to launch the effort.

In 1906, as the world's farmers began streaming into the cities, Jules Meline - former prime minister and twice minister of agriculture of France - wrote "The Return to the Land," to "convince the world that the return to the land, and to the work which the land still offers" was the surest way to mitigate the troubles that increased technology, and increased consumer desire, were bringing. Coincidentally, in 1909, Bolton Hall, a New York lawyer, social activist and the father of the "back-to-the-land" movement in the United States, published "The Garden Yard," a beginner's guide for the urban gardener.

The Marnie/Antonia battle was over for five glorious minutes. Then, uh, not so much. Oh, you tricky "True Blood. " I've been more than ready to see Marntonia vacate Moon Goddess Emporium for good. I mean, I was worried about who would take over Louisiana's most evil witch-potion mart, naturally. But I've been waiting patiently to see things get back to (semi-) normal in Bon Temps. There was an epic battle here, which I will summarize thusly: Antonia tries to leave Marnie's body after she levitates a knife and kills one of her minions (or, as Lafayette puts it, "Marnie just puked a bitch out. ")

Sunday marks the penultimate episode of the season for "True Blood. " Will the season go out with a bang? Or, um, a grenade launch? Here's three new preview clips for the weekend's new episode, "Soul of Fire" (FYI: There's some NSFW language here) In the first clip, Sam (in badass mode) and Alcide (in mediator mode) are still on the hunt for Marcus. Maybe they should ask Debbie about that. Ep. 47 Clip - Where's Marcus? In the second clip, Marnie is having some issues dealing with Antonia in her body.

"There is no guarantee that when a middle-aged man enters the dark forest where the black dog is waiting, he will come out healed. It is possible to be broken there beyond hope of repair. " -- Howell Raines, from "Fly Fishing Through The Midlife Crisis" Mike Flanagan and I became friends after his major league pitching career ended and most of his old teammates and fishing buddies from the glory years of the Baltimore Orioles had scattered across the country. We were transplanted New Englanders, rooted in Maryland and approaching middle age with fly rods in our hands -- mine in my right, Mike's in his left.

Note: Due to weather, this year's Silopanna Music Festival has been canceled. Judging by the charts in recent years, it seems as though America has rediscovered soul and funk. Cee Lo Green, Janelle Monae, Bruno Mars — even Grace Potter and Fitz and the Tantrums — have found mainstream success with music inspired, occasionally lifted from and mostly in debt to the sounds that dominated the '60s and early '70s. To Sharon Jones, the indefatigable lead singer of the Dap-Kings, it just seems like the world has caught up with her and her band.

Granny's Restaurant may be right next to the food court in Owings Mills Mall, but it's far from your typical mall food. Soul food is Granny's specialty — served with a smile. Named after Chef Valerie Dorsey's 106-year-old grandmother, Granny's moved from its old home down the street to a space three times bigger at the mall. Granny's has been at its new digs for eight months now, and its staff is beginning to feel at home. While the owners have done some renovation, the ghost of the previous tenant, a Chinese restaurant, still haunts the place.