Pickett's Charge

Below is an HD video of one of the performances I saw at tonight's Puppet Slam at the Strathmore Mansion. This is a crankie created by Katherine Fahey—essentially a long cloth/paper scroll that is wound from one side of the scroll to the other, with a light and shadow puppets behind. I am guessing the display of this one is roughly 2' x 4'. This one was created to illustrate Baltimore musician ellen cherry's song "Pickett's Charge".  If I had know about this last month, I would have posted this on July 3, which was the 150th anniversary of Pickett's Charge. 

 

Best Commencement Speech Ever

Ira Glass' commencement speech at Goucher College in Baltimore.

150 Years Ago in Baltimore

Today marks 150 years since four Baltimore Police Commissioners were arrested, and the city put under Federal Control, in order to suppress seditious activity by the always unruly citizens of Mobtown.

From Abraham Lincoln's papers:

Balto July 1st 1861.

Major Gen'l Banks this morning caused to be arrested Howard Gatchell Hinks and Davis four of the Police Commissioners and they are now confined in Fort McHenry-- The cause of their arrest as stated in proclamation just issued is that the Head Quarters under the charge of the Board when abandoned by the officers resembled in some respects a concealed arsenal. They continued their sessions daily after public recognition and protest against the suspension of their functions. After a forced and unwarrantable construction of former proclamation they declared the Police law suspended and the Police officers put off duty intending to leave the City without any police protection. Refused to recognize the officers appointed by the Provost Marshal and held subject to their orders the old police armed for same some purpose not known to the Government and in consistinconsistent with its peace and security. The military were ordered into the City and now occupy some of the most prominent points. The ordinary municipal affairs are not to be interfered with. The news from Fortress Monroe is unimportant four secession pickets were arrested and are detained at the Fort.

Marriot Boswell

This eventually resulted in the federal occupation of Federal Hill with cannons trained on the city, as shown in this photograph.

Norman McGrath's Architecture Photographs

From the Lens on the New York Times site, a set of black & white architectural photographs by Norman McGrath. Included is this photograph of Mies van der Rohe's One Charles Center in Baltimore. This must be an older photograph, because I don't think these stairs are there anymore.

This building was the last headquarter of the Chessie System, before it was subsumed into CXS. It now is the worldwide headquarters of Peter Angelos.

When Everything Moves
but the Subject

Pratt Street Riot

I know that there were some deaths at Fort Sumter due to misfiring of cannons and such, but, as anyone from Baltimore knows, the first blood shed of the Civil War happened 150 years ago today at the Pratt Street Riot. During the riot, which took place at the Inner Harbor around where the Power Plant is today, four soldiers and twelve civilians where killed. Here are a couple videos to commemorate the event.

I think Baltimore may have been referred to as "Mobtown" even before this Riot, but this event nailed that epithet down for good.





Here is another video. The Baltimore Sun put this up today.

 

Abandoned Movie Theaters

From BuzzFeed, photographs of seventy-five abandoned movie theaters from across the U.S. Included is this picture of Baltimore's Mayfair. One of the worst films I ever saw was shown in this theater. The sight of Richard Gere dancing around in a diaper, in the film King David, is definitely one of those movie moments that I could have done without. The only film about royalty that could possibly have been worse than this one was Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette.

As is obvious from this photograph, the theater has since suffered the wrath of God.

75 Abandoned Theaters From Around The USA

Bright Lights, Big City

A couple videos featuring Christmas light traditions in Baltimore. I also have a Baltimore related music post today: A Baltimore Christmas

From 34th Street in Hampden, the annual Christmas decorations extravaganza.



From Mount Vernon Square, the annual lighting of the Washington Monument.



From the harbor, the annual parade of lighted boats.

Picture ot the Day - 12/11/2010

I am just wondering if drinks are served during the service here. That would probably warm the welcome.

Pictures of the Day - 2010

Picture ot the Day - 12/7/2010

The remains of the two burned out buildings on the west side of the 800 block of Charles Street. I believe the very first Donna's was the one in this building. I would go take pictures of the buildings that burned on the Block, but it is too cold, and I need a nap. Note the icicles that froze on the stop light.

Pictures of the Day - 2010

Picture ot the Day - 12/02/2010

I missed the holiday lighting of the Washington Monument in Baltimore tonight. After it was over I did get this photograph. The lights are LED, and in various shades of blue, from greenish to light blue, even though that does not really show up in this photograph.

See related photographs at the Baltimore Sun.

Pictures of the Day - 2010

Picture ot the Day -11/13/11

Scarlett Place condo building at 250 South President Street, Baltimore, MD.
Architect: Meyers & D'Aleo, Inc.

Built at the Inner Harbor on the site of the former Scarlett Seed Factory. One of the most prominent works of postmodern architecture in downtown Baltimore. This is not really one of my favorite buildings, but from this angle, in this light it is not too bad.

The Shot Tower appears in the background on the left.

Pictures of the Day - 2010

Picture ot the Day - 10/26/2010

This is one of the cornices at the top of the United States Appraisers' Stores Building in downtown Baltimore. Built in 1932.

Pictures of the Day - 2010

Picture ot the Day - 10/22/2010

I took this photograph last night from Federal Hill after the O'Malley Rally ended. Sunset over the Ravens' stadium.

Pictures of the Day - 2010

Baltimore Reflections

Here is a set of photographs that I took today. Every photograph in this set is a reflection, most in glass, but a couple in the water. The photograph below is the clock face of the Bromo Seltzer Tower reflected in a window of a hotel across the street, but it almost looks like the clock is on the wall of the hotel.

Actually these pictures are all dependent on chance, based on where you can stand in relationship to the angle of the sun. Some of them look almost like the actual image, and some appear to be abstract.

Note: Once the slide show opens, if you click at the top where it says "Show Info" the descriptions should appear with the photographs.

Baltimore Reflections - 10/17/10

Out of the Mud

The Maryland State Department of Transportation has produced some good videos, Including this two part video. It has a lot of historic photographs and film.

Picture ot the Day - 9/12/2010

Another picture from Friday night. This is Federal Hill from the Inner Harbor.

Pictures of the Day - 2010

Picture ot the Day - 9/10/2010

Another iPhone picture of the Inner Harbor, opposite side from last yesterday's. I think maybe this should be called "Study in Blue". I took this on the was to Pier Six to see the Prairie Home Companion Summer Love Show. Appearing were Garrison Keillor, Robin and Linda Williams, Nickel Creek’s Sara Watkins, the Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band, and sound-effects man Fred Newman. All did a spectacular job.

Pictures of the Day - 2010

Picture ot the Day - 9/9/2010

Since Viccaro's has closed at both the Inner Harbor and Union Station, I had to walk to Little Italy to get a cannoli this evening. I took this twilight picture with my iPhone as I walked home.

Pictures of the Day - 2010

A Bodine for Labor Day

I am trying to get caught up on some back issues of Smithsonian Magazine, and ran across this piece about Aubrey Bodine in the April issue. I thought this photograph of Baltimore Longshoremen was appropriate to post on Labor Day weekend.

For more photographs by Bodine see my March 4, 2010 post.

Photographing Baltimore's Working Class

Groundbreaking for UB Law Center

Some photographs from the ground breaking ceremony for the new John and Frances Angelos Law Center at the University of Baltimore.

UB Law Center Ground Breaking