Shop Late on "First Thursday" in Federal Hill

It's Federal Hill's "First Thursday" again! Many shops are staying open late on July 1, from 6-8 pm. Come on down for specials, refreshments, and fun at participating galleries, shops, and boutiques along South Charles and Light streets. Here are the places that will be open:

Alexandra Webb Artisan Jewelry
Amy's Boutique
Artesanos don Bosco
Babe. (a boutique)
The Book Escape
Crystal Moll Gallery
Honey's Treasure Chest
Jordan Faye Contemporary
Ladybugs & Fireflies
Lucinda Gallery
Pandora's Box
Phina's for the Home
Tradestone Gallery
Vanessa's Vintage Treasures
Whimsy

Riverside Park Concerts Begin Sunday Night

The Riverside Concerts in the Park series returns this Sunday, June 27, with the first of a great summer-long line-up! The free concerts begin at 6 pm (rain or shine) at the Riverside Park pavilion at the corner of Riverside Ave. and E. Randall St. Bring a picnic dinner and some chairs and enjoy a fun night out with your neighbors.

Here's the music line-up:

June 27 - Nelly’s Echo (soulful pop, pictured)
July 18 - ilyAIMY (percussive folk-rock)
August 1 - Captain Jack (popular cover songs)
August 15 - ellen cherry trio (literate original pop)
August 29 - Rumba Club (hot Latin jazz)

The concert series is organized by several of your hard-working neighbors with the help of many local businesses, including the Federal Hill Hospitality Association, the Steve Murphy Real Estate Team at Prudential Carruthers, Port Networks, A.J. Billig & Co., Ladybugs & Fireflies, the UPS Store at Southside Market, Bumper Globe Collision Center, Abbey Burger Bistro, Porters of Federal Hill, New Renaissance Architects & Builders, Federal Hill Fitness, and Downtown Dog Resort & Spa.

Hope to see you at the park on Sunday!

Circulator "Rider Appreciation Day" in Fed Hill Park

This Friday, June 25, from noon to 4 p.m., the Charm City Circulator is celebrating "Rider Appreciation Day" in our very own Federal Hill Park.

The event is free and open to the public. The celebration will feature games and entertainment for the children, raffle drawings throughout the day, and more. The city opened its latest free Circulator bus route - the Purple Line from Federal Hill to Penn Station - earlier this month.

Main Street Pushes for Small Business Solutions

Direct government loans and establishment of microlenders were among the suggestions for increasing access to working capital for small businesses at a roundtable discussion at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond in Otterbein on Monday, June 14. Federal Hill Main Street participated in the discussion along with elected officials, banking industry representatives and federal regulators, government officials, and small business owners.

U.S. Representative John Sarbanes said his discussions with Federal Hill Main Street helped him understand that current programs designed to help "were not reaching those that need it." Lack of access to financing for inventory purchases and other critical activities are choking small businesses.

Meetings such as this one that bring regulators, bankers, and small businesses together are being held nationwide to help identify solutions to the credit crunch.

Circulator Purple Line Launches with Fanfare!

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and other city officials listening to remarks by Federal Hill Main Street's Jane Seebold at today's ceremony. Main Street volunteer Erin Hopkins shows off the new "Welcome to Federal Hill" purple banners that will soon line neighborhood streets. (Photo by Lauren Marks)

An impressive crowd showed up this morning at Federal Hill's Cross Street Market to kick off the long-awaited Purple Line of the Charm City Circulator. The "fast, friendly, FREE" bus service now runs north-south between Penn Station and Federal Hill, stopping along Light Street turning on Ostend Street, and traveling back up South Charles.

Before cutting the ribbon on the eco-friendly bus, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake thanked Federal Hill Main Street and city and elected officials for helping to make the service a reality. Federal Hill Main Street and Federal Hill Business Association were instrumental in extending the route beyond Montgomery Street and past Cross Street Market to serve all of the community.

"We are thrilled to be standing here today, in the heart of Federal Hill, to celebrate this launch," said Main Street Executive Director Jane Seebold. With the route expanded into Federal Hill, "visitors will now be able to see all we have to offer in this great business district."

The Mayor touted the service as a means for reducing traffic congestion and greenhouse gases. In addition, "it will play a significant role in helping us build stronger neighborhoods and businesses within the city."

Residents, visitors, workers, tourists, and sports fans can now travel for free back and forth between Federal Hill, downtown, Mt. Vernon, and Penn Station. Buses run every 10 minutes.

Sunday's Jazz & Blues Festival: The Bands

We've got another great music line-up for Federal Hill's free Jazz & Blues Festival on Sunday, June 6. The party starts at 11am and doesn't quit till 7pm. Our 2 music stages are on S. Charles St.

West Street Stage
11:30-12:15 - Matt Wigler
12:30-1:20 - Ruben Montoya
1:40-2:30 - Lower Case Blues
2:50-3:50 - Funk Daddy G
4:20-5:30 - Kelly Bell Band
5:50-7 - Eric Lindell

Hamburg Street Stage
11:45-12:30 - Blue Collar Band
12:45-1:30 - Tom Laguna Band
1:45-2:40 - Higher Hands
2:55-4 - Honey Island Swamp Band
4:20-5:10 - Greg Hatza Organization
5:40-7 - Lafayette Gilchrist

There will also be lots of great food & drink to keep you going all day, plus arts & crafts, Little One's Lane for the kids, and the brand new Wine & Art Alley on E. Cross St. We've even added some extra parking. See you there!

Extra Parking Added for Sunday's Jazz & Blues Fest

There's an Orioles-Red Sox game June 6 during Federal Hill Main Street's Jazz & Blues Festival so we've arranged for additional parking in the neighborhood. Parking will be available at 139 West Ostend St. in the lot across from the Post Office. All day parking is $10 starting at 11am.

We're expecting increased traffic Sunday so if you can take public transportation to the festival, please do! And with the home O's game, "stadium event" parking restrictions will be in effect in Federal Hill's residential areas, which can mean a $75 ticket or towing.

These are the streets that will be closed for the festival, which runs from 11am to 7pm: S. Charles from West to Hamburg streets, and E. Cross between Light and Hanover streets.

Hope to see you Sunday. It's going to be a lot of fun!

The Wine & Art at Sunday's Jazz & Blues Festival

This year's Federal Hill Jazz & Blues Festival features two additions to a great day: wine tastings & art. Here's what you'll find on Sunday, June 6, at the "Wine & Art Alley" on E. Cross St. ...

Artists
Crystal Moll Gallery, Elizabeth O’Hara, Erin Erb, Halcyon Studios: Nick Aumiller, Jordan Faye Contemporary Gallery (several artists), Paul Marks and Cissy Smith Marks, and Stephen Kishel

Wine Sampling
There will also be informal wine seminars at 3 & 5 pm at the Wine Station on E. Cross St. at Light St. Here are just some of the wines you can try ...
BV (Beaulieu Vineyards), Sterling, New Harbor, Dynamite, Edna Valley, Sagelands, Rosenblum, Snap Dragon, Terrazas, San Telmo, Casa Lapostolle, Stellina di Notte, Archetype, Green Point, Chalone Monterey, A by Acacia, Navarro Correas, Wily Jack

Federal Hill's free street festival starts at 11am and runs to 7pm with two stages of music, arts & craft vendors, Little One's Lane for the kids, food & drink, and lots of neighbors & fun. Don't miss it!