The company, based in Rockville, had a ribbon cutting ceremony on their 56,000 square foot facility on Lombard Street in Downtown Baltimore on Friday.

Emergent is the maker of the only FDA approved anthrax vaccine. The Washington Post reports that they are hoping that this location near Johns Hopkins Bayview will help them get into more commercial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

This is great for Baltimore residents because there will be more job opportunities opening in the area, which could also help the Baltimore real estate market, especially Canton house values, since it is so close by and right on public transportation routes!

This year marks the 29th anniversary of the festival, and it is expected that over 350,000 people will attend. Why so many people? Artscape is free!

Artscape is located right in the heart of the Arts District in Downtown Baltimore, right near the Lyric Opera House.

Each day begins at noon, Friday & Saturday run until 10 pm, Sunday it ends at 8 pm.

What is Artscape? From the website:

America’s largest free arts festival, Artscape features 150+artists, fashion designers and craftspeople, including DIY/new wave crafters; visual art exhibits on and off site, such as outdoor sculpture, art cars, photography and the Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize; incredible live concerts on four outdoor stages; a full schedule of performing arts including dance, opera, theater, fashion, film, experimental music and performances by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; family events such as hands-on projects, demonstrations, jazz vocal and combo competitions, children’s entertainers and multiple street theater locations; and a delicious, international menu of food and beverages available throughout the site.

There is a kids art area for hands on fun, exhibits, live performances, entertainers, exhibits and food.

So this weekend, head to downtown Baltimore to enjoy the free Artscape festival!

The main campus is located on Broadway past Fells Point and Canton in Downtown Baltimore.

The chief operating officer, Judy Reitz, states that this does not include openings some of its’ other campuses.

They are also building new patient towers to be opening in January 2012, which could bring as many as 1,000 new jobs to the area.

Johns Hopkins Hospital employs over 6,000 people.

The Baltimore Business Journal reports that the jobs listed as open include:

rehabilitation specialists; administrative assistants; nurse managers; lab technicians; pharmacists; computer programmers; and equipment managers. Reitz said the hospital also is always looking for registered nurses, housekeepers, security guards and cafeteria workers.

This is great news for the Baltimore real estate market, because this could mean people moving into the area and possibly buying houses to take advantage of the incredibly low interest rates and low housing prices.

The Purple Route runs from Penn Station to Federal Hill.

It runs through Mount Vernon, and goes through the Inner Harbor at Light Street. It runs down St. Paul Street, has multiple stops in Federal Hill and turns around at Key Highway, coming back up Charles Street.

The Charm City Circulator Orange Route, which was the first one open in March, 2010, runs an east-west route along Lombard and Pratt Streets. Now the Purple Route adds a North-South connection. The Green Route is due to open soon.

The Charm City Circulator is free bus transportation service provided by the City of Baltimore. It is designed to provide transportation around Downtown Baltimore for residents, workers, and visitors.

Enjoy Greek food while celebrating traditional Greek folk dancing from a number of troops. The schedule of events is jam-packed!

There will be live music, face painting, crafts, and more so it is fun for the whole family!

Hours are until 11 pm all nights except Sunday, which ends at 10 pm.

The Greek Folk Festival is a very popular event in Downtown Baltimore. Join in this year!

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is located at 520 South Ponca Street, Baltimore, MD 21224.

Timothy Dean will be competing for the title in Washington, DC beginning next month, according to the Baltimore Business Journal.

Fells Point’s Prime Steakhouse has become a popular place in its’ short time in business.

Having national attention from Bravo’s Top Chef could bring even greater things for the Fells Point and Downtown Baltimore areas with visitors coming to try Chef Dean’s food, and getting to experience what our great city has to offer.

Coupled with the “Find Your Happy Place in Baltimore” campaign for the summer, Baltimore’s economy could see a great boost in resolving its’ current deficit.

So visit Prime Steakhouse in Fells Point and judge Chef Dean’s creations yourself!

On May 13, 2010, outside the Maryland Science Center, 261 people gathered in orange and black ponchos to create the big smiley face.

The World Records Academy reported on the new world record, giving Baltimore props for its’ Happy Place campaign.

The goal is to show how happy you can be when you visit Baltimore and to garner more tourism for the great city.

Tom Noonan, the President and CEO of Visit Baltimore stated that:

“Baltimore makes us happy everyday, and we think the world’s largest smiley face is the perfect symbol to kick off our summer travel season,”

“No matter what makes you smile, we encourage travelers from all over the country to come and find their happy place in Baltimore this summer.”

Baltimore is also a wonderful place to live for many of its’ residents.

Contact me to learn more about living in Baltimore.

What do you have to do to qualify for the $3,000 award?

First, you must visit 4 of the 16 homes featured on the tour. These are just samples of homes on the market that would qualify for the award. Meet and begin at the Polytechnic Institute at 1400 West Coldspring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21209. (As a side note, the East Side Buying Into Baltimore 2010 Homebuyer Fair and Neighborhood Tour will be September 11, 2010).

More details to qualify and receive the award from the LiveBaltimore.com site:

Bring your validated/stamped ticket, signed contract of sale & photo ID to Baltimore Housing, Office of Homeownership (417 E. Fayette St. Suite 1125 – contact info will be on ticket). You will be eligible for the award funds if all of the following conditions are met:

• A housing counseling certificate is required before a commitment letter for award funds will be issued. Counseling must be completed prior to signing a contract of sale. We urge you to get this housing counseling as soon as you can; it must be completed BEFORE signing the sales contract. Click here for a list of housing counseling agencies.
• You are one of the first 50 people to submit the validated home tour ticket, valid homeownership counseling certificate, and signed contract of sale to the City’s Homeownership Office.
• You must use this home as your primary residence.
• You close on your new home within 90 days from the event date. Contracts signed prior to the event will not be eligible for the award funds.
• Your property is within the fair boundaries.
• Your mortgage amount cannot exceed $417,000.
• You are encouraged to use a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac approved lender.
• You must invest a minimum of $1,000 from personal funds/resources.
• The award is secured by a Deed of Trust written for a five-year term; the payback obligation reduces 20% for each year of occupancy and is released after the five year period.

Purchase contracts must be signed and dated after the “Buying into Baltimore” event, not before. Contracts signed prior to the event date will not be accepted.

So here you have a great opportunity to buy a home in Baltimore City and receive a reward for doing so!

Contact me for more information on the West Side Buying into Baltimore 2010 Homebuyer Fair and Neighborhood Tour.

WHICH MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS? Well, it includes Port Discovery, the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland Science Center and the B&O Railroad Museum, to name a few. Phillips Seafood Restaurant is offering free crab dip with coupon and two entree purchase, and Mex, across from Port Discovery has a coupon too. View the visitbaltimore.com site for more details and information.

Visit Baltimore put this event together to attract Baltimore residents to enjoy their own town. It may just happen to fall on Mother’s Day weekend, but I think it may be a partially planned coincidence.

The weather looks to be mid 60’s – possible thunderstorms on Saturday morning, but Mother’s Day, Sunday, looks to be about 66 and sunny.

There are family activities and special events planned for the weekend along with the museums and attractions – there is the Mount Vernon FlowerMart on Friday & Saturday as well as free family fun on Saturday from 12-4 pm at the Baltimore Visitor Center right on the harbor including a scavenger hunt, obstacle course, face painting, and more.

So come to Downtown Baltimore for BaltiMORE for Less weekend — and treat your mother if you are able, and enjoy the cool, breezy weather and great museums.

An exciting time with filmmakers from all over coming to Downtown Baltimore to show their films, and view others, while also partaking in a conference and classes.

The mission of the Maryland Film Festival is:

Mission
The Maryland Film Festival, funded by an unusual public/private partnership in Maryland, has two practical economic development goals: 1) to create a world class film festival centered in Baltimore, and 2) to bring filmmakers to Maryland as a way to encourage future production in the state.

This is a great chance for Baltimore to showcase what our great city has to offer visitors and residents alike. Living in Baltimore gets you quick access to some great films and people from all over the world!