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!

New at Jazz&Blues Fest: Wine & Art Alley

To celebrate the 10th year of Main Street's Jazz & Blues Festival in Federal Hill, we're spicing things up with a new "Wine & Art Alley." There will be wine sampling, wine seminars, and a whole collection of local artists on E. Cross St., north of Cross Street Market.

And of course we'll have all the things that make Jazz & Blues so much fun: two stages of live music, food & drink and arts & crafts vendors, and Little One's Lane for the kids. It's all happening on S. Charles and E. Cross streets on Sunday, June 6 from 11am to 7pm. Free admission!

The festival is part of Federal Hill Main Street's ongoing program to promote and improve the neighborhood's central business district. If you're interested in volunteering for the festival, call 410-727-4500.

Just 4 Weeks Till Jazz & Blues Fest

Mark your calendars for Federal Hill's 10th annual Jazz & Blues Festival on Sunday, June 6. This year the free street festival features Eric Lindell from New Orleans and Baltimore's own Kelly Bell Band. There will be music all day (11-7) on two stages, arts & crafts, and Little One's Lane for the kids. Don't miss it!

1111 Light St. Set to Begin Construction this Fall

The new building proposed for 1111 Light St. will improve nearly an acre of real estate in Federal Hill when it is completed in late 2011 and will offer many new business development opportunities to the neighborhood.

The design is close to completion and requires the demolition and reconstruction of current buildings because major defects were found in existing structures. A Traffic Impact Study has been completed showing that the project will create only a marginal impact on traffic in the area. Utility line relocation efforts (BGE, Verizon, and Comcast) will begin this month and will take a large number of existing overhead power lines and place them underground.

Replacing buildings at 1105-1117 Light St. and all of Weber St., the new structure will offer 6,000 square feet of retail space on Light Street and 22,000 square feet of office space on the second, third, and fourth floors. Retail space is already two-thirds leased. The rest of the new project will include 93 condominiums, a parking garage, an entertainment lounge with an indoor/outdoor fireplace, a gym, and a landscaped courtyard.

As all parts of the project come together – design, permits, and financing – construction should begin in the third quarter of 2010 and last approximately 12-15 months – with a goal of 13 months to completion.

Watch for marketing-related updates on the project’s web site http://www.1111lightstreet.com/, as well as a forthcoming construction update page that will be regularly maintained by the developer and the general contractor.

Federal Hill Stars in New Art Exhibit

Five artists put their views of Federal Hill on display at the Crystal Moll Gallery (1030 S. Charles St.) with an opening reception Saturday, May 1. Crystal Moll and Bill Tamburrino (above) were joined by Will Williams, Stewart White, and Bill Wilson in the show that continues through May 23 at the gallery in Federal Hill. Don't miss this great exhibit!