Velvet

Velvet Elvis lives a lowdown life, stuck in cheesy motel rooms, smoky barrooms, swap-meet sales. Velvet Jesus gets hawked by the highway, sold from the backs of pickups with Velvet Sinatra and Velvet John Wayne.For sheer kitsch value, black velvet paintings have always had fans. But respect for the highbrow variety -- yes, there is such a thing -- has been hard to come by until recently.But in places such as chic, white-walled Huntington Beach Arts Center in Southern California, an art form generally scorned and reviled in museum circles is now being celebrated.

When it's not quite 9 a.m. on a Sunday and there's a crowd gathering on the sidewalk, there's a good chance something special is happening. When that crowd is gathering outside the funky facade of Blue Moon Cafe in Fells Point, breakfast is that something special. Here's how breakfast at Blue Moon works: Upon arrival, head inside to track down a waiter and add your name to the ever-growing list. During our visit, at a quarter to 9, the wait was 30 minutes; an hour later when we left, it had swelled to a full hour and a half.

Editor's note: One girl shows her classmates the value of accepting someone who does things differently from them. On the first day of school, Velvet's classmates brought their teacher cinnamon tea, lace handkerchiefs and heart-shaped boxes of potpourri. Velvet handed her teacher an egg carton filled with seven rocks, her favorite red shoelaces and half a sparrow's egg. Velvet was odd. At lunchtime, Velvet not only carried a used brown paper bag, but inside of it were things like carrots and a butter sandwich.

The Maryland State Fair begins on Friday, and the Midway will again be the place for perennial favorites such as funnel cake and Italian sausage. But there are a few new twists for 2012, according to Jim Ingram of Deggeller Attractions, the Stuart, Fla.-based carnival company that stocks the Midway with rides, amusements and food. Making their Timonium debut will be two new chicken booths, one selling a variety of wings with fresh-cut fries and the other chicken-on-a-stick with ribbon fries.

Leaping lizards! Velvet is back for men this fall. No, not lounge-lizard wear, but beautiful silk- and cotton-based velvet blazers in colors like black, chocolate brown and garnet. "Velvet blazers are being tipped as one of the season's hottest items for men -- for fashion-conscious men, that is," says David Wolfe of the Doneger Group, which forecasts fashion trends. In New York, velvet blazers are selling like crazy, in spite of the warm weather. Stephen Cardino, men's fashion director for Macy's East, says most of the store's stock is being bought at this point by 16- to 24-year-olds who wear them clubbing.

One day in 1968 when Juan and Abel Velazquez were 15 years old, their father sat them down and placed before them canvases of black velvet. Jose Velazquez had been a boxer in Mexico City. Later, he taught himself cartooning and, from there, to paint on velvet, which is how he was supporting his family. "Time for playing is over," he told them. "It's time to make money." He took up a brush, dabbed it in pink paint and handed down to his sons the one craft he knew. Starting with a simple classic of Tijuana velvet, he taught them to paint the Pink Panther.

It is no coincidence that plush and velvet are synonymous with richness. Velvet, the traditional fabric of the holiday season, is the stuff of welcoming evenings and formal portraits before the fireplace.Even earliest memories of special dress-ups were the red, velvet dresses with white lace collar that were de rigueur attire for the annual studio photo that was sent off to grandparents and doting aunts.This season, velvet is everywhere, cut into everything, and it is almost impossible to shop without running a hand over something luxurious and soft.

Put on your woolly slippers and snuggle down: 1999 may be the most comfortable year of the century.At least that's the prediction of the trend watchers, futurists, magazine editors, consultants and book authors we questioned to see what was in store for us as the 20th century ends - not with a bang or a whimper, say our experts, but with a soft "aaahh."We'll eat comfort foods like mashed potatoes. We'll wrap up in cashmere sweaters. We'll buy recliners that do everything but walk the dog. If we get any more relaxed, we may not be awake to welcome in 2000.

Realism in modern art was kicked off more than a century ago when Charles Baudelaire called for pictures that depicted "the heroism of modern life." One wonders what the poet would have made of the paintings of Tony Shore, whose acrylic-on-black-velvet images of family and friends in inner-city Baltimore are on display at Gomez Gallery through Aug. 27. Shore is a storyteller and heir to a long tradition of naturalistic painting about the lives of ordinary...

On South Stricker Street, where outsiders are unwelcome unless they have drugs or money to share, Tony Shore has neither. He pulls up in his teal Ford Escort and, like a traveling street vendor, pulls a few unframed paintings from the trunk and props them against the car. His casually hip clothes and Yale sticker in the car window go little noticed by the people who spend every sweltering afternoon on these streets like it's their living room. They have known him all 28 years of his life, since before his clothes were cool, before he could hold a paint brush.

My friend and I both saw a bright red fuzzy insect on the ground. Never saw anything like it before! She thinks it's an ant, but I think it's a wasp. What say you? Red velvet ants are wasps, but the females are wingless and that's why they look like ants darting about on the ground. The adult males have wings but no red hair like the females. Males also can't sting, but the females pack quite a wallop, earning them the nicknames of "cow-killer" and "mule-killer. " Most of the body is black, but in the insect world red coloring means danger, and they aren't kidding.

Slash (feat. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators) performed at Rams Head Live on Thursday night. Contributor Jay Trucker has this review: The banner atop the stage during Thursday night's tour-opening performance said it all. In size-72 font was the billboard for monosyllabic lead guitarist Slash, followed by a colorful size-48 font promo for his current lead singer-collaborator, Myles Kennedy. Below Kennedy's name, in 12-point font was the name of their touring rhythm section, the Conspirators.  For their part, the Conspirators were a capable and enthusiastic group, tearing through a 19-song set that showcased Slash's solo material and his work withGuns N' Rosesand Velvet Revolver equally.

From the moment you get engaged, immediately after showering you with excitement and congratulations, everyone wants to know where and when the wedding will be. The dust hasn't even settled in your brain but you quickly realize that this wedding isn't going to plan itself. Before you can even consider the pretty little details, you must settle on a date. And you certainly can't set a date until you know where this massive event is going to take place. Fortunately, being as familiar with our fair city as we are, my fiancé I had a pretty short list of potential wedding venues.

Rita's Italian Ice is debuting its newest flavor, Red Velvet Cake Cream Ice, on Friday. The new "rich and creams" flavor is a limited time offering. That's not the only news out of Trevose, Pa. Beginning next Wednesday, Rita's is offering 50 percent off Blendinis from 5 to 7 p.m. The Red Velvet Cake Cream Ice offer and the “Great Blendini” event will both continue through April 29.        

I've never been one for flowers. I don't want to smell like them, don't want to receive them, don't even want to take care of them. But leave it to Pazo in Harbor East to make me want to drink them. The Blue Velvet is the stylish restaurant's standout violet-infused cocktail. Crème de violette, a brandy liqueur made from the actual flower, is the sweet star of the show. "It's unlike anything you've ever had," said bartender Carmen Motto. She's right. Though the Blue Velvet consists of only three ingredients, its creamy blue tint and intoxicating, floral aroma is entirely unique.

Red velvet is huge at weddings but it's a big deal for Valentine's Day. You can line your sweetheart's Valentine's Day with red velvet from sunup to sunset. Red velvet waffles and pancakes make a striking appearance on the breakfast table. Treat someone to breakfast at the Blue Moon Cafe in Fells Point, where Sarah Simington's red velvet pancakes, studded with white chocolate chips, are making their annual Valentine's Day appearance. For cocktail hour, head to Morton's the Steakhouse, which is serving its red velvet cocktail, a pretty potion of prosecco, raspberry lambic and Chambord, garnished with a raspberry.

The shapes are familiar, but the fabrics make the differenc this season. Old favorites like the motorcycle jacket get refinished in metallics, denim, silk, vinyl and even velvet.

The vest has achieved new status. No longer the third wheel of a three-piece suit, it now makes itself known in bright colors, lavish fabrics and ornate details. It can come in tweed, brocade ++ or velvet. It can be knitted, embroidered or patched. It may be finished with fancy leathers, applique or precious buttons.The one thing it can't be, is dull.

Jackie of Baltimore wants the recipe for a red velvet cake: "Two years ago at Christmas, I had the chance to taste this cake but I can't find a recipe anywhere. " — Baltimore Sun recipe finder, 1990 Hang in there, Jackie. If you managed to wait 20 years or so, thousands and thousands of red velvet recipes are now yours for the clicking. But why bake? You can now to grab a red velvet cake in the bakery of your favorite supermarket. And while you're there, you can load up your cart with Ben & Jerry's Red Velvet Cake Ice Cream and red velvet tea from Republic of Tea. Red velvet is thriving on restaurant menus, on and off the dessert page.

Cupcakes Gourmet, a Philadelphia-area "couture cupcake shop," is selling a $55,000 red velvet cupcake. The new Sparkling Red Velvet Cupcake features an eight-carat diamond engagement ring from Warwick Jewelers, based in nearby Exton, Pa. The very special cupcake will be available for year-round order. And cheaper smaller variations of the Sparkling Red Velvet Cupcake are available year round, starting at a carat and a half. Individuals interested in ordering the cupcake must call any of the three Cupcakes Gourmet locations at least three days in advance to schedule a viewing with the participating jeweler.