Vendors

Imean Shaheed was working last Sunday when federal agents rushed into the Patapsco Flea Market, announced over the loudspeaker that the bazaar was closed for business and shut down vendors selling knockoff Nikes, Louis Vuitton bags and Tiffany & Co. jewelry. "It was like the movies," the 20-year-old Shaheed said Saturday after the Cherry Hill flea market re-opened. Some booths were empty, but the parking lot was full and customers flocked to vendors such as Shaheed who were open for business.

The Pikesville Chamber of Commerce is throwing a tasting event on May 3 at the Hilton Baltimore North/Pkesville. Participating vendors include Marin Luna Latin Grille, Mari Luna Latin Grille, Pikes Diner, Island Quizine, Suburban House and Quarry Bagel. Taste Pikesville , "a night of food, festivitiy and fun," costs $30 in advance, $35 at the door. For information call 410-484-2337 or email the chamber at info@pikesvillechamber.org Other vendors include Mt. Washington Tavern, Ledo Pizza, Pasta & Pub, Sofi's Crepes, Simply Elegant Catering, Van Gogh Vodka, The Wild Pea, Gourmet Again, Boordy Wines, Quarry Wine & Spirits, North Oaks, Innovative Gourmet, Original Fish & Chips, Vernisage, Coffee with T, The Fresh Market, Royal Wines, Many Mini Cakes and Marb, LLC A portion of proceeds are headed to the Baltimore County Community Relations Council.

The Baltimore city school system will host its first-ever spring food festival, an event desgined to showcase the strides the system has made in offering new, nutritious options in student meals.  The event will take place Saturday, April 14 at the Polytechnic Institute/Western High complex from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., according to a release from the system. More than 40 vendors that are either currently providing food services, or intend to, will be featured at the event including the school system's own Great Kids Farm.

For her debut at the Baltimore Farmers' Market, vendor Eula McDowell brought what she figured was more than enough black-eyed pea, lentil and navy bean soup to last through the day — and sold out in two hours. "I was really proud of myself," McDowell said about her early market success with Savory Bean Soups. "At first I was satisfied with just being at the farmers' market, but customers told me they wanted to see me throughout the week. " McDowell listened. Her market fare has now grown into The Big Bean Theory, a full-time operation she opened last November at Owings Mills Mall.

The Baltimore County Bar Association will host its annual Technology Fair on Friday, March 30, 11 a..m.-2 p.m. at the Baltimore County Public Library's Towson branch, 320 York Road. Some 1,600 attorneys, as well as sponsors and affiliates, have been invited to attend the fair. The event's keynote speaker will be Chief Judge Ben Cyburn of the District Court of Maryland, who will discuss the Maryland Electronic Courts project, designed to help all court levels file and store records electronically.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said Wednesday that drafting a new contract to continue the Baltimore Grand Prix was the city's smartest move, even as others questioned why the deal didn't do more to recover losses to vendors and taxpayers from the 2011 race. "It's in the best interest for our local economy, and the best interest of the city, that we move forward, but not move forward with any risk to taxpayers," Rawlings-Blake said during brief comments at City Hall. Some were quick to agree with the mayor, portraying the five-year deal with new operator Downforce Racing Inc. as an economic boon for Baltimore.

The 38th East Coast Commercial Fishermen's & Aquaculture Trade Exposition will be held Friday through next Sunday at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City . More than 50 vendors are expected to have their wares on display during the weekend event, which is expected to attract commercial fishermen, charter boat captains, aquaculturists, scientists and educators. Among the events held during the weekend will be seminars for aquaculturists and commercial fishing.

Forget cheap televisions, laptops and clothes. On Saturday, shoppers at the annual Bazaart holiday market at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore snatched up handmade bird houses, hand-printed s hirts and handblown glass jewelry. The event, in its seventh year, was billed as an alternative to Black Friday, which marks the start of the holiday shopping season and often creates a frenzy of discount-seeking consumers. This year, many big-box retailers and department stores opened earlier than ever – just hours after families finished their Thanksgiving meals.

Maryland's Republican Party is once again in the red and plans to move its party headquarters to cut costs, according to financial reports discussed Saturday at the party's annual convention. The party owes $122,000, most of it to two vendors, and has $48,000 in its bank accounts, GOP Treasurer R. Christopher Rosenthal told delegates meeting at the Sheraton Annapolis Hotel. The party also has access to a $33,000 line of credit, which he says adds flexibility. "I'd like to see it better than that," Rosenthal said.

Dance concert The Misako Ballet Company will hold a free dance concert from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 17 at 5485 Harper's Farm Road, Suite 203 in the Harper's Choice Village Center. This concert, tailored to the young audience, will feature ballet with Japanese and classical themes and contemporary dances. Information: 410-884-9690, 443-805-1350, or go to misakoballet.comhttp://misakoballet.com/. Art classes The Columbia Art Center will offer landscape painting classes from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept.