Stop by Federal Hill CBD Shop ‘Patorco’ for Great Black Friday Weekend Discounts

Sponsored post from Patorco:

3 Reasons to Try CBD 

If you haven’t been living under a rock for the past year, you’ve definitely heard something about it. Cannabidiol, or CBD as it’s colloquially known, has taken America by storm. According to a Gallup poll, 1 in 7 Americans has already tried it.

Here at Patorco (www.pator.co), we’re specialists in hemp. Come visit us at 1132 S. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 or shop online!

CBD can be used in a variety of formats, and you can rest assured that our helpful team will find the solution that is best for you!

Patorco (www.pator.co) carries a wide array of lab-tested and all-natural tinctures, edibles, topicals and smokeables to make sure you have the best experience.

This Black Friday weekend, come into our store on 1132 S. Charles Street to get the following discounts (or use code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout on our website):

• CBD Products: 25% Off

• Glass: 15% Off
• Skincare: 30% Off

What is CBD?

CBD is a non-psychoactive part of the hemp and cannabis plants. People claim mood-altering, pain-relieving and stress-reducing properties from the molecule. Aside from its calming properties, CBD also provides anti-inflammation effects.

So, why should you try CBD?

• To Treat Inflammation & Pain Relief

CBD is naturally anti-inflammatory. It interacts with receptors in your body known as the endocannabinoid system, providing both topical pain relief and nerve pain relief. This has been known to help deal with arthritis and post-workout pain relief. If you don’t want to take chemical painkillers and instead want to try a natural solution, non-addictive CBD may be the right product for you.

• Stress and Anxiety

CBD, through its interaction with the endocannabinoid system, has been shown to reduce levels of stress in the body and the mind without providing psychoactive side effects.

• Insomnia

Insomnia has a lot of root causes, some of which may not react to CBD. However, we’ve found that CBD can help many people enjoy a good night’s sleep without the need for addictive drugs.

The post Stop by Federal Hill CBD Shop ‘Patorco’ for Great Black Friday Weekend Discounts first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/11/26/stop-by-federal-hill-cbd-shop-patorco-for-great-black-friday-weekend-discounts/

‘Baltimore Small Business Stories’ Launches with Photo Essays of Local Entrepreneurs

A new website called Baltimore Small Business Stories (BaltimoreSmall.com) recently launched to highlight the unique stories of small business owners in the area. Baltimore Small Business Stories is a photo essay project by Federal Hill resident Jon Bregel and New York resident Rocco Campenelli.

Bregel, who is a documentary filmmaker and a business owner, wanted to start the website to share the stories of small business owners, but also to learn more about how these individuals run successful and sustainable businesses while also remaining grounded and maintaining their humanity in the process.

For the project, he brought in Campenelli who also comes from the film industry as a producer. He too has a passion for community, small business, and nonprofits.

Bregel previously owned a production company in New York City and described the experience as a “hell of a roller coaster.” He ended up walking away from the business because he was “becoming a workaholic” and needed some “personal restoration.”

Part of that restoration was moving back to his hometown of Baltimore. He said New York City is “very overstimulating with sounds and people and buildings everywhere.” He added it “feels like there’s never really a break. Being in my 20s and not having good routes of mediation or getting out in nature, I felt trapped.”

“The difference with Baltimore is it’s more of a down-to-earth place, not as much of a hustle,” Bregel said. He added that Baltimore is a place where you can have personal conversions less focused around “what you do for work.”

Baltimore Small Business Stories is like a “big research project” for Bregel. “I’m connecting with the small business community through these shared experiences about the highs and lows and what makes it worth it. What are the struggles and what do they love the most about their jobs?”

Bregel also wants to build a community of these small business owners, in part so they are “not feeling alone in these trying times.”

Bregel said Humans of New York has been a huge inspiration for him, not only the attention it brings to personal stories in New York, but because the platform it has built has allowed it to raise a lot of money for causes. Bregel is also inspired by the book “Working” by Studs Terkel and the “What I’ve Learned” series on Esquire.

Baltimore Small Business Stories currently has 14 photo essays on the site and the initial goal is to get to 50 stories. Bregel and Campenelli have launched a GoFundMe to make this possible with the goal of raising $18,000 to pay for expenses. Bregel said Baltimore Small Business Stories will be funded by donations and potentially grants in the future.

Each photo essay shows portraits of the small business owners on the job and tells personal stories about their life and the challenges of business.

Nunez Hernandez of H&C Quality Upholstering in Pigtown talks about being an immigrant and the work he did in the White House.

Spencer Horsman of Illusions Magic Bar in Federal Hill discusses growing up in a clown and entertainment family, performing on America’s Got Talent, and starting the business with his late-father Ken Horsman.

Colian Liang of Water Song Yunnan Kitchen talks about using the money he made opening two restaurants in Shanghai, China to continue his education in the United States. He discussed how when he was finally able to open Water Song, stay-at-home orders due the COVID-19 pandemic started the next day.

Abdul Al Akhfash of EzHut Smoke Shop in Federal Hill talks about leaving Yemen, where he is a famous musician, to try and create a better life for his family in the United States. He discusses the struggles of not immediately knowing English or how to run a business.

Stephen J. Tant of Stephen J. Tant Plumbing in Locust Point talks about the stigma of working a blue collar job, the risk he took starting a business, and the importance of plumbers in our society.

Andy Hahn of Afters Café in Federal Hill talks about staying home to run his business while his wife went South Korea for a couple of years to take care of family. He discusses how running his business has taught him that it’s important to hire enough employees so he can spend more time with his family.

Cookie Carroll of Cookie Caroll Salon & Boutique Downtown talks about how her daredevil spirit as the middle child prevents her from ever having an office job and the discrimination she faced as an African American woman in her former career of traveling sales.

Bregel said he was really blown away by the vulnerability of Aaron Jones of Bushelers in Mount Vernon who spoke about the “culture shock” attending art school in the south after growing up in Baltimore.

These are just a handful of the stories currently featured on Baltimore Small Business Stories. Bregel said more will be published soon.

Bregel said he wants to grow the platform, build their social media, and maybe do some events in the future.

Baltimore Small Business Stories

Nunez Hernandez

Spencer Horsman

Stephen J. Tant

Colian Liang

Andy Hahn

Abdul Al Akhfash

Cookie Carroll 

Aaron Jones

The post 'Baltimore Small Business Stories' Launches with Photo Essays of Local Entrepreneurs first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/11/24/baltimore-small-business-stories-launches-with-photo-essays-of-local-entrepreneurs/

‘Baltimore Small Business Stories’ Launches with Photo Essays of Local Entrepreneurs

A new website called Baltimore Small Business Stories (BaltimoreSmall.com) recently launched to highlight the unique stories of small business owners in the area. Baltimore Small Business Stories is a photo essay project by Federal Hill resident Jon Bregel and New York resident Rocco Campenelli.

Bregel, who is a documentary filmmaker and a business owner, wanted to start the website to share the stories of small business owners, but also to learn more about how these individuals run successful and sustainable businesses while also remaining grounded and maintaining their humanity in the process.

For the project, he brought in Campenelli who also comes from the film industry as a producer. He too has a passion for community, small business, and nonprofits.

Bregel previously owned a production company in New York City and described the experience as a “hell of a roller coaster.” He ended up walking away from the business because he was “becoming a workaholic” and needed some “personal restoration.”

Part of that restoration was moving back to his hometown of Baltimore. He said New York City is “very overstimulating with sounds and people and buildings everywhere.” He added it “feels like there’s never really a break. Being in my 20s and not having good routes of mediation or getting out in nature, I felt trapped.”

“The difference with Baltimore is it’s more of a down-to-earth place, not as much of a hustle,” Bregel said. He added that Baltimore is a place where you can have personal conversions less focused around “what you do for work.”

Baltimore Small Business Stories is like a “big research project” for Bregel. “I’m connecting with the small business community through these shared experiences about the highs and lows and what makes it worth it. What are the struggles and what do they love the most about their jobs?”

Bregel also wants to build a community of these small business owners, in part so they are “not feeling alone in these trying times.”

Bregel said Humans of New York has been a huge inspiration for him, not only the attention it brings to personal stories in New York, but because the platform it has built has allowed it to raise a lot of money for causes. Bregel is also inspired by the book “Working” by Studs Terkel and the “What I’ve Learned” series on Esquire.

Baltimore Small Business Stories currently has 14 photo essays on the site and the initial goal is to get to 50 stories. Bregel and Campenelli have launched a GoFundMe to make this possible with the goal of raising $18,000 to pay for expenses. Bregel said Baltimore Small Business Stories will be funded by donations and potentially grants in the future.

Each photo essay shows portraits of the small business owners on the job and tells personal stories about their life and the challenges of business.

Nunez Hernandez of H&C Quality Upholstering in Pigtown talks about being an immigrant and the work he did in the White House.

Spencer Horsman of Illusions Magic Bar in Federal Hill discusses growing up in a clown and entertainment family, performing on America’s Got Talent, and starting the business with his late-father Ken Horsman.

Colian Liang of Water Song Yunnan Kitchen talks about using the money he made opening two restaurants in Shanghai, China to continue his education in the United States. He discussed how when he was finally able to open Water Song, stay-at-home orders due the COVID-19 pandemic started the next day.

Abdul Al Akhfash of EzHut Smoke Shop in Federal Hill talks about leaving Yemen, where he is a famous musician, to try and create a better life for his family in the United States. He discusses the struggles of not immediately knowing English or how to run a business.

Stephen J. Tant of Stephen J. Tant Plumbing in Locust Point talks about the stigma of working a blue collar job, the risk he took starting a business, and the importance of plumbers in our society.

Andy Hahn of Afters Café in Federal Hill talks about staying home to run his business while his wife went South Korea for a couple of years to take care of family. He discusses how running his business has taught him that it’s important to hire enough employees so he can spend more time with his family.

Cookie Carroll of Cookie Caroll Salon & Boutique Downtown talks about how her daredevil spirit as the middle child prevents her from ever having an office job and the discrimination she faced as an African American woman in her former career of traveling sales.

Bregel said he was really blown away by the vulnerability of Aaron Jones of Bushelers in Mount Vernon who spoke about the “culture shock” attending art school in the south after growing up in Baltimore.

These are just a handful of the stories currently featured on Baltimore Small Business Stories. Bregel said more will be published soon.

Bregel said he wants to grow the platform, build their social media, and maybe do some events in the future.

Baltimore Small Business Stories

Nunez Hernandez

Spencer Horsman

Stephen J. Tant

Colian Liang

Andy Hahn

Abdul Al Akhfash

Cookie Carroll 

Aaron Jones

The post 'Baltimore Small Business Stories' Launches with Photo Essays of Local Entrepreneurs first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/11/24/baltimore-small-business-stories-launches-with-photo-essays-of-local-entrepreneurs/

Pet Shop and Groomer ‘D’Luxurious Paws’ Opens in Federal Hill

D’Luxurious Paws has opened at 924 Light St. in Federal Hill. The new pet shop, which offers pet grooming, dog daycare, and dog obedience school, takes over a space that was formerly home to pet shop Pawtimore before it closed in January.

D’Luxurious Paws is owned by D’Andre Lewis who has been a pet groomer for 12 years and previously worked at Pawtimore, PetSmart, and Downtown Dog Resort. He started a mobile grooming business in recent months and has been working since March to get the storefront open as he dealt with delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lewis is a native of Baltimore and has always been an animal lover. He has two dogs, a cat, and a lizard at home. He said it’s a surreal feeling to have his own business.

The shop offers grooming for all breeds of dogs as well as cats and rabbits. The shop’s room for doggy daycare and boarding has flat screen televisions for the dogs, synthetic turf, murals of trees and plants, and antique-style ages. The retail space sells collars, leashes, shampoos, dog clothing, dog-themed human clothing, treats, and toys, and will soon offer Nulo pet foods as well. D’Luxurious Paws has a backdrop set up for dog photos and will host events such as pet pictures with Santa.

D’Luxurious Paws is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

The post Pet Shop and Groomer 'D'Luxurious Paws' Opens in Federal Hill first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/11/23/pet-shop-and-groomer-dluxurious-paws-opens-in-federal-hill/

BMORE LICKS Now Open in Federal Hill

Popular Canton ice cream shop BMORE LICKS opened its second location at 901 Light St. in Federal Hill over the weekend. The 1,000 sq. ft. storefront was the former home of Pitilis Cleaners which closed earlier this year.

The business owners and married couple Barbara Maloney and Kimberly Proctor bought the three-story building, which also includes three apartments, earlier this year. They renovated the retail space into the ice cream shop with a small area for customers and added multiple walk-up windows along Light St. The building is freshly painted with a large ice cream mural and red and blue colors on the brick storefront.

Ice cream is a family business for Maloney who grew up in Massachusetts. Her family has served ice cream for 20 years and all three of her brothers have ice cream shops. BMORE LICKS uses some of the family ice cream recipes as well as comes up with its own new creations. Maloney joked she can now talk business when she gets together with her brothers.

BMORE LICKS has more than 100 flavors of hard ice cream, soft serve, sundaes, milkshakes, flurries, cookiewiches, and more.

BMORE Licks is open everyday from 12pm to 9pm. It is a cashless, credit- and debit-only business.

Maloney and Proctor had been eyeing Federal Hill for expansion for a while. Proctor grew up in South Baltimore and they both like the tight-knit, walkable neighborhood that reminds them of Canton and Patterson Park. They also like being a couple blocks from Federal Hill Park as the Canton location is adjacent to Patterson Park. Maloney said the community has felt “warm and inviting.”

“We are really excited to be in the Federal Hill community and to expand in Baltimore,” said Maloney.

Maloney said they were hoping to open earlier, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the project.

Maloney said with the building purchase they are in it for the long haul and hope to have deep roots in Federal Hill. They are already looking to get involved in local programs that support youth and the arts.

BMORE LICKS is the fourth new ice cream shop to open in Federal Hill in recent months joining The Charmery, Taharka Brothers, and Moo Moo Cows.

The post BMORE LICKS Now Open in Federal Hill first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/11/23/bmore-licks-now-open-in-federal-hill/

‘On Brazilian Time’ Food Truck Patio Coming Soon to Key Highway in Federal Hill

Brothers David Braun and Alexandre Silva are opening the On Brazilian Time food truck which will stay parked at 1302 Key Hwy. in Federal Hill. Braun and Silva built an attached patio with picnic tables, bar tops, and string lighting for patrons to enjoy on the former gas station property.

Braun and Silva were already tenants at 1302 Key Hwy. as they are part of a family business that contracts for electric scooter company Spin and uses the garage on the property. The brothers have worked in the restaurant business and always wanted to launch a food truck. And, with some extra space on the property that faces all the vehicular traffic of Key Hwy., they thought it would be a good spot to launch their first food truck.

Braun and Silva both grew up in Brazil between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Braun said Brazilian food is a mix of the diverse culture in the South American country with a lot of Portuguese, Italian, and African influences. Braun has struggled to find a lot of good Brazilian food since moving to the United States more than 20 years ago. They are hoping On Brazilian Time will bring in Brazilians looking for a taste of home, as well as introduce people in Federal Hill and commuters on Key Hwy. to the food of their home country.

While a lot of Mexican foods are topped with pico de gallo and a lot of Argentinian foods are topped with chimichurri, Braun said many Brazilian foods are typically topped with molho, which is a vinaigrette with olive oil, vinegar, parsley, cilantro, onions, and tomatoes.

Menu items will include Feijoada, which is black beans, dry beef, pork, sausage, and smoked meat served with farofa, collard greens, fresh vinaigrette and a slice of orange; Feijão Tropeiro which is meat, bacon, and pinto beans served with rice, torresmo, and collard greens; Picanha, which is sirloin steak served with rice and beans; Churrasquinhos which are Brazilian meat skewers; Aipim Com Calabresa, which is Brazilian sausage served with fried yuca; Joelho which are savory pastries available in ham and cheese or pizza; different fried croquettes and codfish cakes; and Briagadeiro which is a chocolate cake made with condensed milk.

Drinks will include soda and a Brazilian coffee blend they are partnering with Vagrant Coffee to create. On Brazilian Time will also prep its food at Vagrant Coffee’s Milk & Honey Market in Pigtown.

Everything on the menu is less than $14. On Brazilian Time will offer free delivery to customers on the South Baltimore Peninsula and to MedStar Harbor Hospital, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and University if Maryland Medical Center. First responders, active military/veterans, and healthcare workers will get a 10 percent discount. On Brazilian Time will also offer a discount to au pairs.

On Brazilian Time is waiting on one permit to open and Braun said they hope to open either this weekend or next Thursday. It will be open Monday to Thursday from 11am to 3pm and 3pm to 8pm, and Friday to Sunday from 11am to 8pm.

Next year Braun said they hope to have Brazilian live music and televisions to show Orioles, Ravens, and Brazilian soccer games.

On Brazilian Time is looking to grow the business as Braun and Silva are planning another food truck patio in Alexandria and hope to get a mobile food truck next year.

The post 'On Brazilian Time' Food Truck Patio Coming Soon to Key Highway in Federal Hill first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/11/20/on-brazilian-time-food-truck-patio-coming-soon-to-key-highway-in-federal-hill/

Shofer’s Furniture Closing in 2021, Properties Listed for Redevelopment

After 106 years in business, Shofer’s Furniture will be closing its shop at 930 S. Charles St. in Federal Hill next February or March. Shofer’s will begin a close-out sale right after Christmas.

Henry Shofer, who is the third generation owner of the business, said his kids aren’t interested in taking over the business and he’s ready to step away. “I’m killing myself doing this and it’s not as fun as it used to be,” he said. Shofer said business has been very good during the COVID-19 pandemic and its been a challenge keeping up with demand and getting customers their furniture quickly.

Even before the recent boom in sales, Shofer thought selling the business would be tough and noted that many younger people are buying furniture online. He figured this was a good time to exit. Real estate investment has always been a hobby of his and will be his main focus once Shofer’s closes.

Shofer’s closing will leave a portfolio of properties vacant. Shofer’s occupies a three- and four-story, 70,000 sq. ft. building with a 100-car parking lot in the heart of the Federal Hill Business District. Shofer’s also has a two-story, 80,000 sq. ft. warehouse at 836 Leadenhall St. on an acre which is partially-leased by Protean Books & Records. Shofer additionally has other properties in Federal Hill including many storefronts with apartments above and the former Shofer’s Clearance Center at 1007 S. Charles St. which has been eyed for redevelopment in the past.

Shofer said he has listed the furniture store and warehouse with broker Cushman Wakefield to gauge interest. He said he could develop them, lease them, sell them, and/or partner with a developer.

“This area is very vibrant, there are a lot of people living down here and a lot of people want to be residents,” said Shofer. “Anything located in this area is gold and the future is very bright. It’s a hidden gem in Baltimore City.”

Shofer, who is president of the Federal Hill Business Association and on the board of Federal Hill Main Street, noted how a lot more businesses have opened versus closed in Federal Hill during the pandemic. He said businesses are “hanging out, waiting for this thing to end.”

Shofer thinks apartments could work for the Charles St. furniture store and has heard the ideas for a hotel or grocery store. He said he is open to different ideas and added that “a lot of people want to invest” and “a lot of people would like to walk to a grocery store.”

Federal Hill does not have any grocery stores, but there are two approximately a mile away in Locust Point.

Shofer said it’s “bitter sweet” to close as this has been a part of his life for so long, and that he’s sad for his employees who want to continue working. He said he never took pictures as to protect their privacy, but talked about how the store attracted television and movie stars, politicians, and athletes, in addition to the many community members throughout the area.

This was first reported by the Baltimore Business Journal 

The post Shofer's Furniture Closing in 2021, Properties Listed for Redevelopment first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/11/20/shofers-furniture-closing-in-2021-properties-listed-for-redevelopment/

Electrolyte-Enhanced Vodka ‘Lytos’ Launches in Baltimore

A new electrolyte-enhanced vodka called Lytos launched this week in Baltimore. Lytos was started by South Baltimore resident Bill Fanshawe and former South Baltimore residents Nicholas DiSanti and Andrew Jones, who both now live in Canton. All three of the founders grew up in the Baltimore area and graduated from Towson University.

Lytos is distilled with a contract brewer in Florida, but the team hopes to eventually open a distillery in Baltimore. It is distributed by NorthStar Distribution in East Baltimore. The founders are currently running the company out of their apartments.

Lytos is now available in Anne Arundel County and Baltimore City. It is on the shelves in South Baltimore at S K Hanover Liquors, JP’s Liquors, Old Federal Hill Liquors, and Federal Hill Wine & Spirits. The MSRP is $22.99.

It is also behind the bar at Don’t Know Tavern, Wayward Smokehouse, and One Star Country Club.

Lytos is the first electrolyte-enhanced vodka on the market, according to the founders. DiSanti, Fanshawe, and Jones modeled it after other electrolyte-enhanced drinks like Pedialyte, Revitalyte, and Gatorade which are popular for rehydrating after drinking. Lytos is a domestically-sourced corn vodka with an electorate blend of potassium, sodium, and phosphorus.

“We are excited about the benefits it can have,” said Fanshawe.

The team also noted the electrolytes give the vodka a “very smooth” taste and said they are excited to bring a “cool product” to the market that is rooted in Baltimore.

Lytos currently just has a plain line of vodka, but the team will look to add different flavors of Lytos to the market in the coming years.

In 2013, DiSanti, Fanshawe, and Jones discussed their dream of starting a business together while at Towson University. Five years later they reconnected over a few drinks and came up with the idea for Lytos.

The name Lytos was picked as it’s the Greek origin of the word electrolyte. The team was looking at “about 1,000 different names,” but loved the name Lytos when a friend stumbled upon the connection.

Lytos will work with local bartenders to develop drinks with the vodka. Its website features a recipe for the Lytos Lagoon with Lytos vodka, blue curacao, simple syrup, a lemon garnish, a mint leaf, and club soda.

In the coming months, DiSanti, Fanshawe, and Jones will be making appearances around the Baltimore area at liquor stores and farmers markets offering tastings of Lytos.

Photos courtesy of Lytos

Bill Fanshawe, Andrew Jones, and Nicholas DiSanti at Don’t Know Tavern 

The post Electrolyte-Enhanced Vodka 'Lytos' Launches in Baltimore first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/11/19/electrolyte-enhanced-vodka-lytos-launches-in-baltimore/

Car Crashes into Blue Agave’s Parklet Dining Space

On Tuesday morning around 430am, a speeding car crashed into Blue Agave’s outdoor dining parklet on Light St. and destroyed it. No one was injured.

The driver, who has not been identified according to Baltimore Police Department, was driving a white Chevy Cobalt. Six propane heaters were damaged in the crash.

The crash was recorded by Diablo Doughnuts’ cameras located across the street.

Staff from Blue Agave cleaned up the mess on Tuesday morning, rebuilt the space, and had it open and operating for dinner hours.

This is the second parklet destroyed by a car in recent weeks. SoBo Cafe’s parklet was damaged on October 18th, but also quickly rebuilt and reopened.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Diablo Doughnuts (@diablo_doughnuts)

Photo of the Blue Agave crew cleaning up on Tuesday morning

The post Car Crashes into Blue Agave's Parklet Dining Space first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/11/18/car-crashes-into-blue-agaves-parklet-dining-space/

Afters Café to Reopen on Friday Following Renovation

Afters Café owner Andy Hahn spent the last three weeks taking on a renovation of his frozen yogurt and coffee shop. Afters has been closed, but will reopen on Friday.

Afters will have the same layout, but Hahn completely rebuilt the inside of the space by tearing out the existing flooring and replacing it, building new counters, and painting the walls. It will soon have a defined kids area with games and an adults section as well.

Hahn said that after nine years of wear and tear it was time to make some improvements.

The interior renovation follows a renovation Hahn made to the exterior of the building a few years ago.

Along with coffee and frozen yogurt, Afters sells a variety of steam buns and pastries, and will add to its fish waffles menu, which are waffles shaped like fish. Additional new menu items will be added before Afters reopens on Fridays.

“Afters is not only going to look different, it’s going to taste different, too,” said Hahn. He noted business has been slow during the COVID-19 pandemic, but he is very excited to reopen in the improved space.

Afters will be hiring new employees as it reopens. It will be expanding its hours and be open Tuesday to Friday from 11am to 9pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 9pm.

The post Afters Café to Reopen on Friday Following Renovation first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/11/17/afters-cafe-to-reopen-on-friday-following-renovation/

Baltimore-Themed Shirts for Sale to Benefit the Tim Moriconi Endowment Scholarship Fund

The family of Tim Moriconi, who was tragically murdered in Federal Hill in 2018, has launched new shirts, bottle openers, and stickers to raise money for the Tim Moriconi Endowment Scholarship Fund at Fishburne Military School in Virginia.

The shirts say Baltimore with ‘TIM’ in bold Maryland flag-themed letters and also give a nod to the Ravens and Orioles. Tim Moriconi was an avid fan of the sports teams and attended most Ravens games with his father Andrew Moriconi.

A car decal with the ‘TIM’ font can be purchased along with a bottle opener featuring an image of Tim Moriconi.

The items are available at timmoriconi.com.

The scholarship fund has raised more than $32,000 to date, boosted in large part by a crab feast fundraiser held on August 23, 2019 which would’ve been Tim Moriconi’s 26th birthday. A second crab feast was planned for 2020, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The family is planning another crab feast in 2021.

The Tim Moriconi Endowment Scholarship Fund awards $2,000 per year to a student seeking financial aid at Fishburne Military School. Andrew Moriconi said he hopes the scholarship lives on for at least 20 years.

A Baltimore man was convicted of first-degree murder of Tim Moriconi and was given a life sentence in March. An accomplice accepted a plea bargain for a 15-year sentence.

The post Baltimore-Themed Shirts for Sale to Benefit the Tim Moriconi Endowment Scholarship Fund first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/11/17/baltimore-themed-shirts-for-sale-to-benefit-the-tim-moriconi-endowment-scholarship-fund/

The Late Tom Clancy’s 12,000 Sq. Ft. Condo at The Ritz-Carlton Residences Heads to Auction

The late Tom Clancy’s former 12,000 sq. ft. condo at The Ritz-Carlton Residences will be offered at auction on December 12th at 11am by Angel Stevens of Cummings & Co Realtors. There is not a minimum reserve price.

Clancy was the author of popular novels such as The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, and Clear and Present Danger. Clancy and his wife’s condo first hit the market in 2015 for $12 million.

The condo features a 1,500 sq. ft. living room; a white kitchen with Viking and Sub-Zero appliances; a home theater; four bedrooms including a large master bedroom; five and a half bathrooms; a gym; an office with custom book shelves; six garage parking spaces; and six balconies overlooking the Inner Harbor.

This was first reported by Baltimore Business Journal.

The post The Late Tom Clancy's 12,000 Sq. Ft. Condo at The Ritz-Carlton Residences Heads to Auction first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/11/12/the-late-tom-clancys-12000-sq-ft-condo-at-the-ritz-carlton-residences-heads-to-auction/

Cielo Verde Opens for Catering Events at American Visionary Art Museum

Cielo Verde, a cafe and event space at American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM), has opened for catering events. Cielo Verde was first announced in February, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its café has not yet opened. The third-story space was previously occupied by Encantada which closed in January 2019.

Cielo Verde is a concept from Alma Cocina Latina and Alkimiah owner Irena Stein. Cielo Verde will eventually be a cafe serving lunch and brunch Tuesday to Sunday and become an event space on evenings and Mondays. Stein is waiting for activity to pick up at AVAM to open the cafe, but the space is now hosting events at 25 percent capacity, according to Baltimore City guidelines, and following CDC rules for safety.

The space has a capacity of 100 people, but events are now being limited to 25 to 30 people inside or up to 45 if the outdoor terrace can be used. Stein said they are doing a lot of Latin and Mediterranean small plates combined with cocktails. The food and drinks at Cielo Verde are locally-sourced.

The space has been redesigned with warm colors and lots of plants, taking after its name of Cielo Verde which means green sky in Spanish.

At normal capacity, Cielo Verde will host many rehearsal dinners for bigger weddings at AVAM, as well as smaller weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, happy hours, and corporate events.

When the cafe opens it will offer casual order-at-the-counter service. The menu will feature coffee from Philadelphia’s Elixr Coffee Roasters and quick counter items including quiches, empanadas, pastries and muffins from Hawthorne, macarons and sweets from Sacre Sucre, Middle Eastern sweets from Mera Kitchen, and sweets from Bramble Bakes Co.

Cielo Verde will have a salad menu offering a variety of greens and toppings, and hot sandwiches that include grilled chicken, prosciutto, avocado toast, grilled cheeses, and a vegan banh mi.

Menu items will be marked if they are vegan or gluten free.

The weekend brunch will offer empanadas; tequenos, which are a crispy pastry dough; cachapas, which are a Venezuelan corn pancake; eggs benedict; breakfast platters; quinoa bowls; granola; a chicken sandwich; and more.

Cielo Verde will offer local beers, wine from small wineries, and artisan spirits.

Stein has been busy in recent months as Alma Cocina Latina is relocating from Canton to Station North. Alkimiah, which is a partnership between Mera Kitchen Collective & Alma Cocina Latina, has also produced 85,000 meals for the community since March by partnering with World Central Kitchen. It offers healthy free meals to the community, which are funded through donations and grants, as well as catering and meal subscriptions.

Photos courtesy of Cielo Verde

The post Cielo Verde Opens for Catering Events at American Visionary Art Museum first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/11/12/cielo-verde-opens-for-catering-events-at-american-visionary-art-museum/

Federal Hill Prep’s ‘Fling in the Fall’ Virtual Auction This Weekend

Federal Hill Preparatory School PTO press release: 

Register Now for Fling in the Fall! 

Don’t miss Fling in the Fall: the Federal Hill Preparatory School PTO’s virtual auction, running from Friday, November 13^th at 6pm to Sunday, November 15^th at 8pm. Open to the entire community, the fundraising auction will feature more than 50 fantastic items, including beach and Disney vacation packages, dining gift cards, beauty and fashion items, sports memorabilia, holiday gift ideas, and more. All proceeds will benefit the students and teachers of Federal Hill Prep, a Baltimore City Public School.

Like all nonprofits, the Federal Hill Prep PTO has had to adapt its fundraising plans to fit these socially distanced times. In May, it was forced to cancel its largest annual fundraising event, the Spring Fling carnival. Fling in the Fall—the PTO’s first-ever virtual auction—was created in order to raise critical funds for the school during the pandemic.

To get a sneak preview of the items up for grabs, you’re encouraged to register now at BiddingOwl.com/FederalHillPrep. You can also register at any time once the auction opens on November 13^th. The families and teachers of Federal Hill Prep thank the SoBo community for its continued support! 

The post Federal Hill Prep's 'Fling in the Fall' Virtual Auction This Weekend first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/11/11/federal-hill-preps-fling-in-the-fall-virtual-auction-this-weekend/

Veteran-Owned Businesses in South Baltimore

Happy Veterans Day to all the veterans and active duty military members in South Baltimore and beyond.

Here’s a list of some of the veteran-owned businesses in the area (note: please let us know if any are missing):

A&C Pack and Ship – Union Square: This shipping store is co-owned by United States Army Veteran C. Nicole Orr.

Elseworlds Emporium – Federal Hill: This new collectors shop is owned by United States Army Veteran Jason Petrini. The online shop is open and the store reopens on Friday.

Espirt de Couture – Federal Hill: This thrift shop is owned by United States Air Force Veteran Amy Karpan and United States Army Veteran Tom Strazza. Espirt de Couture is a nonprofit that donates its profits to veteran organizations.

Milk & Honey Market by Vagrant Coffee – Pigtown: This business is co-owned by Joshua Dew who is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

Pizza di Joey – Federal Hill: Pizza di Joey is owned by United States Navy Veteran Joey Vanoni.

Photo from Pizza di Joey’s Facebook Page

Riverside Taphouse – Riverside/South Baltimore: Riverside Taphouse is owned by United States Navy Veteran Ryan Kehoe.

Suspended Brewing Company – Pigtown: The Pigtown brewery is co-owned by Amir Karimian who is in the United States Army.

The Baltimore Station – Sharp Leadenhall: The Baltimore Station is an innovative therapeutic residential and outpatient treatment program supporting veterans who are overcoming obstacles to regain self-sufficiency.

Tinybrickoven – Federal Hill: Tinybrickoven is owned by United States Navy Veteran Will Fagg. Tinybrickoven is closed for Veterans Day but will reopen on Thursday.

Vagrant Coffee – Federal Hill: Formerly known as 3 Bean Coffee, this business is also co-owned by Dew.

The post Veteran-Owned Businesses in South Baltimore first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/11/11/veteran-owned-businesses-in-south-baltimore/

Collectors Shop ‘Elseworlds Emporium’ Opens in Federal Hill

Collectors shop Elseworlds Emporium opened at 921 S. Charles St. in Federal Hill. The first-floor retail space was previously an automobile tag and title business.

Elseworlds Emporium is a new business from Jason Petrini, who lives in the area and is a veteran of the United States Army. It specializes in a “wide range of product lines which cater to collectors, table-top/RPG gamers, hobbyists, pop-culture aficionados, and geek-chique enthusiasts.”

Elseworlds Emporium is a buy/sell/trade shop with new and used product lines such as Transformers, Gundam, Robotech/Macross, Voltron, G.I. Joe, Masters of the Universe, Mythic Legions, Mighty Morphing Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel Legends, Star Wars, Dungeons and Dragons, Warhammer 40K, Age of Sigmar, and more. It also has a limited selection of books, comic books, graphic novels, art prints, posters, statues, movie props, memorabilia, and “occasional” antiques and vintage items.

Customers can make an appointment to visit the shop Fridays from 6pm to 9pm, Saturdays from 12pm to 5pm and 6pm to 9pm, and Sundays from 12pm to 5pm. Customers can also shop Elseworlds on eBay.

Elseworlds Emporium offers a 5 percent discount to law enforcement, military, veterans, and emergency response personnel.

Petrini said minimal renovation was needed to set up the shop and that he chose Federal Hill because it “seemed like a safe, affordable neighborhood with zero similar offerings.”

The post Collectors Shop 'Elseworlds Emporium' Opens in Federal Hill first appeared on SouthBMore.com.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/11/10/collectors-shop-elseworlds-emporium-opens-in-federal-hill/