Kenilworth Summer Film Series 2011

Kenilworth Mall in Towson has free Friday night movies to bring people out & enjoy time together!

Put on by the Fells Point Surf Shop, these events are happening twice a month.

The first movie will be The Social Network on June 3rd. Movies will be held in the lower level parking lot, and will begin when it gets dark (the plan is 8:45pm).

June 17 will be Despicable Me, July 8 – The Tourist, July 22 – Inception, August 5 – Toy Story 3, and August 19 – Pirates of the Caribbean.

Bring your own chair & come out to relax & enjoy some popular movies this summer. Another great reason to live in Towson!

The Shops at Kenilworth mall is located at 800 Kenilworth Drive, Towson, MD 21204.

Memorial Day Thank You

Thank you to our servicemen and servicewomen who protect our country day in and day out. On this Memorial Day, I think of and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us.

Many thoughts, gratefulness, and pride for our country are with all members, past and present, of our Armed Forces.

THANK YOU.

Photo courtesy of eddiecoyote via Flickr CC

Baltimore Memorial Day Weekend 2011

Staying in Baltimore for Memorial Day Weekend in 2011? You’re joining a large number who take advantage of the great things our city has to offer.

So, if you’re not traveling, and looking for some fun, what do you do?

Here are some Memorial Day weekend events in Baltimore:

• Brew at the Zoo and Wine Too is Saturday and Sunday at the Baltimore Zoo. Beer and wine tastings, plus animals, exhibits, and a kids play area!
• Visit Fort McHenry in Downtown Baltimore on Monday from 10am-4:30pm for a day long observance for Memorial Day. There will be wreath laying, a flag demonstration at noon, the National Moment of Silence at 3pm, plus speeches and information about the history of Memorial Day. Here is the Fort’s website with more information.
• The pools are open! If you don’t have a membership, you can sometimes get a day pass, or find a public pool to visit!
• The Oregon Ridge beach in Hunt Valley opens this weekend. The beach at Oregon Ridge is a well kept secret, so many people don’t even know about it! Admission this holiday weekend is $8 for adults (over age 12) and $4 for children under 12. They will be open all weekend from 10am-either 6 or 7pm. The water closes 1/2 hour earlier. Here is more information from the Baltimore County Government site.
• CANSTRUCTION at Harborplace in Downtown Baltimore sculptures are on display until Tuesday. See what the artists designed and built!
• Memorial Day is a time to remember those servicemen and women who have died while serving our country. Locally, you can visit Dulaney Valley Memorial Garden in Timonium where many local heroes have been laid to rest. Monday there is a ceremony at 10am with a performance by the 229th Maryland Army National Guard Band and a keynote speaker to honor those fallen heroes.

We must not forget the true spirit behind the holiday. Without our servicemen and servicewomen, our country would not be safe.

THANK YOU to our servicemen and servicewomen, current, past, alive, and fallen. We appreciate you.

Belvedere Christian Church in Hampton Still on Market

The Belvedere Christian Church in Hampton Gardens is still on the market after a possible buyer, First Mt. Olive Freewill Baptist Church decided the location was not the right one for their 2,500 member church.

The Hampton Gardens community became very upset upon learning that the potential buyer had a congregation so large. Belvedere Christian Church was built to accommodate 250 members.

The Pastor of the potential buyer church did not want to enter the community in a manner that would hurt either side.

The Hampton Gardens Community Association, according to a press release, felt that the extra large church would put too much extra stress on the streets, and effect the aging water systems, as well as the septic systems in the neighborhood. They state:

The neighborhood, a small Towson community adjacent to the protected, critical forest preservation areas of Loch Raven Reservoir and Cromwell Valley Park, is located just north of beltway, and is made up of 150 homes with only one road in and out.

Belvedere Christian Church is on the market for $6.9 Million as is located at 1301 Cheverly Road, Towson, MD 21286.

Contact me for more information on homes in the Hampton Gardens neighborhood!

Brew at the Zoo and Wine Too 2011

Brew at the Zoo and Wine Too 2011 is this Memorial Day weekend!

The Baltimore Zoo’s biggest fundraiser is back, and for the second year, it’s not just beer, it’s wine too!

The Brew at the Zoo offers unlimited wine samples and beer samples, food and other vendors, as well as live music, a kids zone with activities for them, and admission to the zoo from 10-4 each day.

Hours for Brew at the Zoo and Wine too is 1pm – 7pm Saturday, May 28 & Sunday, May 29. For more details and tickets, visit their site.

Bands playing are: Saturday: 1pm The 8-Balls, 3pm Fools & Horses, 5pm Kelly Bell Band. Sunday: 1pm King Street, 3pm Old Man Brown, 5pm The Reagan Years.

Food choices include:

Grilled Cheese & Co. (one of my favorites — have you been to their eatery in Catonsville?)

Sherri’s Crab Cakes (can’t have a Baltimore event without crabcakes!)

Wood Fire Pizza
Nutcracker Treats (Located right in Glen Arm!)
London Court Beverage Company (a traveling Tiki bar!)
Ostrowski’s Famous Polish Sausage
Tim’s Treats (Popcorn or cotton candy, anyone?)

If you’re in Baltimore for Memorial Day Weekend, come on down and support the Baltimore Zoo and have some fun too!

Preakness 2011

Preakness 2011 is here, and the excitement is Baltimore is palpable!

The big name that everyone has their eyes on is Animal Kingdom, who drew the 11th slot for the race. Apparently it’s very rare that a horse in the double digit spot wins the Preakness, but odds are still very much in this horse’s favor!

Right now there are 13 races scheduled for Saturday, beginning at 10:45am. The 136th Running of the Preakness is scheduled for 6:19pm.

Friday was the Black Eyed Susan race, which always ushers in the big race here in Baltimore. With 13 races Friday as well, the big one scheduled for 4:46pm (so leave work a little early!).

The Preakness Infield is *the* place to be on Saturday, with Bruno Mars and Train on the main stage. and other Puddle of Mudd, Mr Greengenes, and other bands playing on the Beer Garden stage for “Infield Fest”.

The Preakness website has all of the details to join in or follow along!

Belvedere Square Summer Sounds 2011 Concert Series

The Belvedere Square Summer Concert Series has begun again for the 2011 season!

It runs Friday nights through September 16 from 6-9pm.

The music is free, and this year, East Belvedere Ave from the 500-600 block will be closed off. You can enjoy delicious food and drinks from the Belvedere Square restaurants and market while listening to great live music!

Local Baltimore bands will be playing each Friday. Here is the schedule from the Belvedere Square website:

May 13 – The Crawdaddies, zydeco roots music/ www.thecrawdaddies.com

May 20 – The Rovers, irish rock http://roversmusic.com/The_Rovers/Home.html

May 27 – Junkyard Saints, roots party music/ www.junkyardsaints.com

June 3 - Mambo Combo, soca and samba sounds

June 10 – Moonshine Society, Blues http://www.moonshinesociety.com/

June 17 – Nelly’s Echo, soul, reggae and blues http://nellysecho.com

June 24 – Donegal Xpress, celtic rook www.dxplive.com/

July 1 – The Jenny Leigh Freeman Band, country http://www.jennyleighfreeman.com/

July 8 – Swingin’ Swamis, jazz and latin http://www.theswinginswamis.com/

July 15 – The Apple Scruffs, beatles tribute band  http://www.theapplescruffs.com/

July 22 – Sons of Pirates, rock n roll

July 29 - Mambo Combo, soca and samba sounds

Aug 5 – The New Romance, 80s tribute www.thenewromance.com

Aug 12 – The Remainders, classic and alternative rock

Aug 19 – Teachers for Sale, rock n roll www.teachersforsale.com

Aug 26 - Rob Byer Band, modern country http://www.robbyer.com/

Sept 2 – Sons of Pirates, rock n roll

Sept 9 – Donegal Xpress, celtic rook www.dxplive.com/

Sept 16 – Crazy Fish, rolling stones tribute www.crazyfish.it/

Friday nights have become lively in the Baltimore Belvedere neighborhood. Come join in!

Why Wire Funds in Baltimore Real Estate Transactions

Why should you have funds wired in your real estate transaction?

Alison Noger, title representative and branch manager from North American Title Company in Towson shares why in this guest post. Thank you, Alison!

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WHY WIRED FUNDS MAKE SENSE?

“Good funds” is primarily a title and escrow term.  “Good funds” requirements are the minimum state-imposed requirements relating to escrow practices.  In Maryland, lender’s “good funds” refer to the following:

1.    Cash

2.    Wired funds

3.    Certified check

4.    Check issued by  a political subdivision

5.    A teller’s check issued by a depository institution and drawn on another depository institution

6.    A cashier’s check, or

7.    A check drawn on a financial institution that is insured by FDIC, FSLIC, or MDIF (MD Insurance Fund) and which is located in the 5^th Federal Reserve District. (RP 7-109)

“Available Funds” refers to funds your bank makes available to you when a deposit is made.  Deposited funds are made conditionally available by your bank to you as a provisional credit to your account, based upon the likelihood that the funds will eventually be collected.   If the paying bank ultimately declines to pay a check, your bank will eventually reverse the provisional credit and the “available” funds will be deducted from your account.

“Collected Funds” are actual funds, not provisionally “available” funds.  A check has been presented to the paying bank and actual payment of the funds (by the paying bank) has been received.  This can take days and potentially weeks to be completed.

So even if lender or Buyer brings a certified/cashier’s check to closing, your escrow agent may have difficulty disbursing immediately (thus potentially delaying settlement).  The agent may have “available funds”, but not “collected funds.”  Hence, it is always wise to strongly encourage all parties to deposit funds to escrow through federal wire. A Federal Wire received is “collected funds.”

*Note also, beware if a party attempts an ACH (automated clearing house) wire.  An ACH is subject to reversal by the originator.

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Thank you to Alison Noger from North American Title! You can find information on Alison and North American Title Company at www.nat.com . Alison’s office is right on Kenilworth Drive in Towson!

Towson Feet on the Street 2011

Towson Feet on the Street for 2011 kicked off last Friday and will continue through September 30 this year!

Each Friday is a block party ready to have neighbors, friends, and families come along to enjoy!

The block party known as Towson Feet on the Street is located on Allegheny Avenue (map) between Washington Ave & York Rd near the Towson Olympian Park in the heart of Towson.

Each Friday from 6-9:30pm, there are live bands, wine & beer, food, prizes, and kids’ activities.

The Towson Feet on the Street block parties are sponsored by the Towson Chamber of Commerce and Lite 101.9 FM.

To especially enjoy the evenings, make sure to bring your beach chairs (and blankets until it’s warmer!) to sit & enjoy the music with your friends, neighbors and visitors.

The part is located on Allegheny Avenue (map) between Washington Ave & York Rd near the new Towson Olympian Park.

Come on to Downtown Towson on Friday nights through September and join in on the good times!

Towson Roundabout Construction

The Towson Roundabout will be undergoing some construction, and it may cause some delays as you travel through Downtown Towson over the next few months.

Construction has begun but it is just the first phase, which doesn’t affect traffic as much, since the first five phases only have closures overnight from 9pm to 5am, and will not have closures over the weekend.

The last phase, six, is due to come late summer, with the project due to end at the end of the summer.

Here are the phases as they are scheduled.

Thank you to Delegate Susan Aumann for sharing this information and photo of the construction site with her Towson constituents!

Phase 1: Close right lane on westbound East Joppa Road to right lane northbound Dulaney Valley Road (MD 146)

Phase 2: Close right lane on southbound Dulaney Valley Road and detour northbound York Road (MD 45) north of roundabout
Phase 3: Close right lane on southbound York Road (north of roundabout) and detour westbound Allegheny Avenue and West Joppa Road (one-way section)
Phase 4: Close right lane on northbound York Road south of roundabout; close left lane on southbound York Road south of roundabout; close left lane on northbound Dulaney Valley Road; and detour northbound York Road north of the roundabout
Phase 5: Close right lane northbound York Road south of the roundabout, detour eastbound East Joppa Road; and close left lane of westbound East Joppa Road
Phase 6: Weekend Roundabout Closures: Close and Detour Entire Roundabout on one or two weekends for final paving work and installation of new pavement markings – projected to occur late summer 2011

So every night, it appears there will be lane closures in Towson, which can cause traffic backups. Your best bet is to avoid the area from 9pm-5am Sunday-Thursday, and as it gets closer to the end of the project, to avoid the area on the weekends.

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