Spring into Spring with SoBo Café!

SoBo Café is excited and ready for spring with a multitude of new events and specials to help you blossom into the season!

The Café has expanded its popular brunch to Saturdays, too. Every Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 until 3, enjoy SoBo’s brunch menu, which includes house-made biscuits and breads and house-smoked salmon.

Monday through Friday, 5-7 pm, check out “SoBo Hour.” You get $1 off drafts and glasses of wine and selected appetizers are just $4.

Monday is pasta day at SoBo! For just $20, you can indulge in house-made pasta, a side salad, and house wine or draft beer.  On select Tuesdays, SoBo has live music, from Cuban to jazz and everything in between.  Join them April 2^nd for the jazz sounds of Paul Snyder and April 23^rd for the acoustic sounds of Russ Causey. Wednesday is now all about wine at SoBo. From blind tastings to pairings, there will be different features every week, so come taste and learn about your favorite wine.

To celebrate the beautiful weather that’s headed our way, SoBo will soon be breaking out the outdoor tables and chairs. Enjoy delicious food and beautiful weather for brunch, lunch or dinner!

Can’t visit SoBo on Cross Street? They offer catering, and their sandwich platters will be a hit at your next party or event. SoBo will also make an appearance at select farmers’ markets this year selling baked goods, jams, and spreads.

No matter what day you visit SoBo Café this spring, you can be sure that something exciting is happening.

Elizabeth Nelson, Intern

New Banners Welcome All to Federal Hill!

The streets of Federal Hill just got a little more colorful with the installation of 48 new banners last night.

Main Street volunteer and graphic artist Erin Nelson, who recently moved to Toronto for a new job, designed the banners.

A joint project by Federal Hill Main Street and the Federal Hill Business Association, which shared the cost of printing and installation, the banners are red on one side, blue on the other, and encourage visitors and residents alike to “Shop, Dine, and Explore.”

"We wanted something bright, fresh, and easy to read, something that reflects historic Federal Hill and that would create a visual border around our business district," said Cathy Hammond, Federal Hill Main Street Board president.

Coming soon will be a new map-brochure of the Federal Hill business district that incorporates the banner design. These will be distributed to area hotels and the Visitors Center in the Inner Harbor. You'll also be able to see the design reflected in the new Federal Hill ad coming out in the 2013 Charm City Circulator purple line map and on the video screen in the buses themselves.

Elizabeth Nelson, Intern

Do Your Part: One Piece Initiative

One Piece, a neighborhood cleanup initiative, has arrived in Federal Hill, thanks to Federal Hill Neighborhood Association treasurer Gayle McClure and City Councilor Bill Cole.

Begun with some success in District 7, it is hoped that One Piece will be spread citywide. The initial focus of the project is on awareness.

“People who move here think the gutters magically get cleaned up,” said Gayle. “The city doesn’t do that – neighbors do that.”

The first One Piece meeting was held March 11, with representatives of Federal Hill Neighborhood Association, South Baltimore Neighborhood Association, Federal Hill South Neighborhood Association, and Digital Harbor High School.  Attendees brainstormed ideas for how to get the message out, tailor it to specific audiences, and even create rewards programs for those who sign the “One Piece pledge” to pick up and dispose of a piece of trash each day.

“If every resident in the city of Baltimore picked up one piece of trash, think how clean the Inner Harbor would be,” Gayle said.

She hopes to gain support from the Federal Hill Hospitality Association and the Business Association, as well as schools. She says this isn’t a short-term endeavor. Instead, she hopes it will become a long-term, sustained effort.

According to Gayle, there hasn’t been a trash program in the city of Baltimore since the 1980s. The city isn’t responsible for trash clean-up. That job falls on the individual neighborhoods. She has faith that the Federal Hill neighborhood is up to the task. “I think as a community, we can do it.”

The next One Piece meeting is Monday, March 25, 6 pm, at Federal Hill Main Street, 42 E. Cross Street.

Elizabeth Nelson, Intern

Collaborative Project Designed to Green Federal Hill!

A new greening initiative is underway in Federal Hill. The project, dubbed Federal Hill Thinking Green, is a cooperative effort of the business community, the residents, and the city to keep the neighborhood looking its best.

The Federal Hill Neighborhood Association, the Federal Hill Business Association, the Federal Hill Hospitality Association, and Federal Hill Main Street are funding the effort which will result in planting of scores of new trees throughout the community.

Federal Hill Thinking Green broke ground on February 18 with an official tree planting ceremony (see photo) at the new Digital Harbor Foundation Tech Center (former South Baltimore Rec Center). The tree map, designed by Richard Polan of Richard Polan Associate Architects, who initiated the project, can be viewed here and includes everything from spots requested for tree planting to sites of previous efforts.

The expansive project includes grinding out existing tree stumps; planting replacement trees; creating new pits in designated sidewalk areas; installing gator bags; regular maintenance including cleaning, aerating, and watering; and education through emails and a hotline for questions.

More information about Federal Hill Thinking Green can be found on the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association web site here.

Elizabeth Nelson, intern

New Board Takes the Helm at Main Street

Congratulations to our new Federal Hill Main Street Board of Directors! We are so excited to have such a superb group of people working hard to keep both our organization and our projects running smoothly.

As stated in the by-laws, the board includes three business directors, two resident directors, two at-large seats, and four committee chairs.

Serving in 2013:

Business Directors: Dave Rather, owner of Mother’s Federal Hill Grille; Mark Cottman, artist and owner of Mark Cottman Gallery; and Sonny Morstein, owner or Morstein’s Jewelers.

Resident Directors: Anne Nelson and Cathy Strodel

At-Large Directors: Christine Cochrum, co-owner of Apothecary Wellness Holistic Wellness Spa & Boutique, and Mike Schollaert, an attorney with Ober Kaler law firm

Committee Chairs:

-Business Development: David Sivak, Federal Hill resident and festival volunteer

-Design: Mike Burton, AIA, Federal hill resident and architect, president of Urban Design Group

-Organization: Cathy Hammond, Riverside resident and long-time volunteer

-Promotion: Chris Riehl, Federal Hill resident and owner of Baltimore Rent-a-Tour

Officers: Cathy Hammond, President; Sonny Morstein, Vice President; Chris Riehl, Secretary; and Cathy Strodel, Treasurer

The board meets bi-monthly, and committees meet on alternate months. All meetings are open to the public. Volunteers are needed to serve on committees, contribute new ideas, and help strengthen our program and our business district. Email admin@historicfederalhill.org for information.

2013 Meeting Schedule:

6:30 pm at Federal Hill Main Street, 42 E. Cross Street

Tuesday, March 19

Thursday, May 16

Tuesday, July 16

Thursday, Sept. 19

Tuesday, Nov. 19

Elizabeth Nelson, intern

Check Out the Fest-of-All Photos!

An event as successful as the 6th Annual Fest-of-All has to have some amazing pictures to go along with it, and it did not disappoint!

Re-live all the excitement and celebration from Saturday February 23 with Isabell Triemer’s beautiful photographs now posted on the Federal Hill Main Street web site!

Featuring shots of all things Fest-of-All from the Fashion Show to the Real Geniuses to food, magic, and much more, these photographs will surely make party-goers smile with the memories of such a lively night.

Many thanks to Isabell for all her hard work in documenting this fantastic event. These pictures definitely help show off the best of Federal Hill’s fashion, food, drinks, and music.

See all of Isabell Triemer’s official Fest-of-All photography here. Mark your calendars for our next fantastic event: Spring Block Party on April 28!

Elizabeth Nelson, Intern

FEST-OF-ALL: A Huge Success!

A big "Thank You!" to everyone who attended the 6th Annual Fest-of-All this year, held on February 23rd at the Baltimore Museum of Industry!  You helped make it a great success.  We had an incredible turn-out, a packed dance floor, and lots of positive feedback about the event.  And of course, the food, drinks, music, and friends were all amazing – just as promised!

Thank you, also, to over 65 local businesses that contributed in some way to the event, bringing the best of Federal Hill to the party.  The celebration wouldn’t have been the same with out their contributions! We also thank our sponsors, 1111 Light Street who supported The Real Geniuses sets and Cindy Conklin and Bob Merbler for the Fashion Show runway. 

Sloane Brown of the Baltimore Sun was in attendance, along with a photographer snapping pictures for her "Glimpsed" column.  She chose six "dressed to impress" women, one of whom was featured in the print column on Thursday. The other five were posted in the online Glimpsed feature.  You can see all six photos at www.baltimoresun.com/glimpsed. 

The first of the official pictures from Fest-of-All, taken by Isabell Triemer, is shown here and most will be posted on the Federal Hill Main Street web site soon!

By Alex Marie Schmidt