Save the Date: Jazz & Blues Fest is June 28

Check out the bands for this year's Jazz & Blues Festival on Sunday, June 28, from 11 am to 7 pm: Lafayette Gilchrist and the New Volcanoes, Honey Island Swamp Band, Lower Case Blues, J and B Blues Project, JMB, Big Daddy Stalings, Blues Therapy, Funk Daddy G Band, and more.

Music is just the beginning. You won't want to miss the Arts & Crafts, great variety of food and drink, and, back by popular demand, Little One's Lane with live entertainment and games for kids.

For more information, call 410-727-4500.

Geocachers Come to Federal Hill

Federal Hill is cashing in on the geocache craze. Federal Hill Main Street is one of three locations in Baltimore where participants can pick up passports and coins for the Maryland Municipal League (MML) Geocache Trail. The game is bringing new visitors to the neighborhood, and many are staying to explore our great shops and restaurants.

Anyone with a hand-held GPS and a sense of adventure can participate. The geocacher first picks up an official MML passport, then plots coordinates found on the MML geocaching Web site, uses their GPS to locate a treasure or "cache" (usually a trinket or unique item from the locale), and then enters the code word for the site in their passport. There are 78 locations along the statewide trail, including two in Baltimore. The first 500 geocachers to discover at least 2 caches in each of the 11 districts across Maryland will be awarded a collectible coin (also available at Federal Hill Main Street).

So far, 20 geocachers have come to Federal Hill from neighboring counties to collect passports. Five others have completed the trail and collected the coveted coins. Many are families who want their children to learn first-hand about Maryland's unique cities and towns, but adults enjoy it, too. "We enjoy learning about different places and their history," said Chris Ryan of Annapolis, the first person to collect a coin at Federal Hill Main Street.

Spring Fever Sidewalk Sale on Saturday

Get on down to Federal Hill's shopping district for the Sidewalk Sale this Saturday, from 11 am to 6 pm. Lots of bargains from participating stores in the 800-1200 blocks of both Light St. and S. Charles St. (and along Cross St. too!) Don't miss it!

So How Did You Like the Block Party?

Well, another Federal Hill Spring Block Party has come to an end -- 0n a beautiful and hot April afternoon. The music was great, with Baltimore favorites like the Kelly Bell Band (right). Hope you made it down to Cross St. to enjoy the day.

We'd like to hear how you liked the Block Party this year. Please post a Comment here if you've got something to say. Or drop us a note (or stop by) the office on Cross St.

And thanks to all the volunteers that helped out this year. We couldn't have done it without you. You all are GREAT!

Block Party Off to a Great Start!

A beautiful, hot Baltimore day to kick off the Spring Block Party. Come on down!

Music Line-Up for Sunday's Block Party

Come on down to Cross Street on Sunday for a day full of music and so much more! All for just $5. (Now how can you beat that?) The Spring Block Party starts at 11 am and ends at 7 pm.

Here's the music line-up at the two stages on opposite ends of the street:

LIGHT STREET STAGE
11:45 -- Bouijion
12:45 -- Mad Sweet Pangs

1:45 -- Jamie McLean Band

3:00 -- Kelly Bell Band

4:20 -- Stones Throw

5:45 -- Spit Hot Fire

CHARLES STREET STAGE
11:30 -- The Rez
12:30 -- Skip Hop and Go Naked
1:35 -- Down Goes Fraizer
2:55 -- The Reserves
4:15 -- 3 Fifths
5:35 -- Can't Hang

Blue Sky Factory Launches TV Show

Every Thursday at 4 p.m. you can find Federal Hill resident and business owner Greg Cangialosi on TV. Tune into Blue Sky Factory TV (www.blueskyfactor.com/tv/), broadcasting live from 40 E. Cross Street.

Greg, the CEO of the successful technology company nationally known for its innovative email service platform, hosts the weekly show featuring industry experts discussing current trends. Last month, Barry Werner of Scarborough Fair Bed & Breakfast talked about use of Twitter and other social media tools for effective business promotion.

Marketing professionals from the Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors’ Association and private firms, large and small have also participated. Guests of the show enjoy coffee from Spoons Coffee Café. Tune in Thursdays from 4 to 4:15 pm and catch the “e-mail marketing tip of the week.”

Celebrating New Library Computers & Wireless

Rain didn’t stop Enoch Pratt Light Street Branch librarians from kicking off Library Week in style on April 12. Pictured are (left to right) Lynne Parks, Melanie Jacobs, Caitlin Huddleston and library manager Mary Triandafilou parading to the Dixieland jazz band Sac Au Lait. They were also celebrating the installation of 19 new computers and wireless access for library patrons. (Photo by Helen Huriaux)