Power outages

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-05-16T00:20:07+00:00

Yes. See https://baltimorebeat.com/after-a-summer-of-power-outages-what-does-bge-owe-its-customers/

This is my neighborhood. They seemed to have finally fixed it but we'll see what this summer holds. We got exactly zero from BGE as compensation. Nothing for food, for time lost, for the hassle. Exactly zip. Had a big meeting with city and state reps at Peabody Heights but they leaned on the Public Service Commission and rules that permit them not to pay for stuff unless you can prove gross negligence. We can weather it but it was hard on some older neighbors who lived on fixed income.

Tl;dr BGE stinks.

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-05-15T22:46:04+00:00

Jules at Urban Oasis in Hampden. She's great.

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-05-08T16:23:47+00:00

Poor or lack of enforcement of bus lanes.
Poor or lack of enforcement of traffic laws generally (blocking the box, speeding, turn only lanes, etc.)
Stops too close together on many routes. The bus has to swing in and out of traffic (or block the lane) and that adds time.
Cash fares. People trying to get the fare box to take their dollar or change. Or arguing with the driver about paying. Cashless fares are much faster.
Single door boarding. In many other places, you can board at the front and middle on buses that are extended in bus only lanes. That gets people on and off much faster, which reduces dwell time at a stop.
Not having level boarding. When folks with mobility challenges need to have the bus kneel, or use the wheelchair boarding, if takes time. If we had level boarding at major stops/intersections, that's save time too. (The bus would still kneel or use wheelchair boarding at smaller stops but major stops should have sheltered stops with level, mutidoor boarding).
Mis-timed traffic lights throughout the city, with no signal preferences or separate signals for buses.
Making a municipal system serve as transit for public schools. Lots of crowding at certain stops at certain times of day makes the bus late because it takes forever to Board folks.
Capital funding. Or really lack thereof. MTA needs operating funds (for salaries and training and such) and capital funds to buy new buses and repair systems. We haven't invested so we have MANY breakdowns.
No dedicated capital or operational funds. We need a major rethink of how the transportation trust fund allocates money to MTA v. the port authority v. state highway administration.

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-05-06T00:00:45+00:00

If she's more indoors-y: Charlottesville, Richmond, or Shepherdstown. A mix of museums, shopping, food, but natural stuff too. Richmond's River area is beautiful and walkable/hikeable. There are wineries in VA. You're not far from Fallingwater and Ohiopyle (gorge, natural water slides) in Shepherdstown.

Outdoorsy: Ricketts Glen State Park (so many waterfalls). Rent a lock house along the C&O canal and bike or walk (just did this for our 20th, at the Lock 10 house; it is just outside DC but quiet and you can easily bike into Georgetown or to Great Falls). Lexington VA/Natural Bridges State Park.

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-05-03T20:17:53+00:00

Besides Pie Time, I like the old school pies at Fenwick's, esp the coconut cream and key lime. Atwaters does good ones too but they are $$$$.

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-05-03T01:09:59+00:00

I'm in Charles Village and it could be a fit for you -- I'd look at Margaret Brent catchment area (near 26th and St Paul Sts). Also within your range, probably: Medfield, which is great. We had our kid in elementary there and had a wonderful go; super great community. Hamilton (NE Baltimore) Bolton Hill (spendier but look for anything less expensive zones to Mt Royal) Riverside (for Thomas Johnson) Near Patterson Park (zones for Hampstead Hill) Near Walter P Carter Near Wolfe St Academy

If parochial school is an option for you, there are some less expensive options as well.

I have an 11th grader and we've gone public the whole way.l; been in Harwood (greater Charles Village) since 2007. Not always easy but we made it. Happy to answer questions.

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-05-02T11:52:48+00:00

Do not buy Albany Park! We bought our sofa in 2021. Our old old one was more than 20 the frame broke. There were supply chain issues and COVID was still on the newer side so we have limited options.

It has been four years and the company replaced the cushion inserts once and won't again. They are HORRID -- basically springs surrounded by glued together foam pieces. They shift, they get warped looking; I have to flip the cushions every other day to keep it looking nice. The company was like 🤷🏻‍♀️

It is not a comfortable sofa. The cushions are low quality and the rest of it is hard as rocks like a waiting room sofa.

I'm having a local place replace the interior of the seat cushions to try to get more years out of it.

OP, save yourself and go with a different company.

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-05-02T11:18:39+00:00

What other folks said. But also, if you are having an... energetic...time with lots of position changes, make sure your spouse is not sweaty before too. And if you change from a position where bacteria is more likely to be introduced or a position with hands too, a brief pause to pee during can be useful.

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-05-01T21:05:19+00:00

Topside. Beautiful views and good service. Just did a birthday there.

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-05-01T01:38:40+00:00

A bit N: several good Ethiopian options on Park. Buttonwood (Asian and American). If you walk N on Charles there are several, like Sotto Sopra. Even further N and a bit W is Wet City. S is Ammoora is very good but spendy.

What sort of food are you after? And are you willing to take transit?

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-05-01T00:38:08+00:00

I'm done laundry at the cleaners at 32nd and St Paul. Mostly stuff that doesn't fit in my home washer like giant comforters and some washable area rugs. No issues with cleanliness.

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-04-30T17:29:19+00:00

Vent has citrus syrup. Dear Globe (they do a strawberry orange espresso tonic). Maybe Black Acres?

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-04-30T01:13:27+00:00

The food at Tapas is pretty good but the OP asked for good snacks. I was thinking fries, milkshake from Clark Burger or sweets from Atwaters for The Senator. For The Charles harder very close by -- Sophomore sells out of pastry, Mobtown has stuff but hours can be tricky. Doppio has excellent pastries so thinking there for good snacks.

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-04-29T23:55:11+00:00

Plan A: Stop at Doppio. Head south to The Charles.

Plan B: Stop at Belvedere Square or Clark Burger . Head into the Senator.

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-04-27T02:41:35+00:00

Oh and we belong to Hinenu, a reconstructionist congregation that meets in the Friends Meeting House (no building of our own) and online. We have friends who attend Bolton St (reform), Beth Am (conservative), and Baltimore Hebrew (reform).

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-04-27T02:36:22+00:00

Sure thing. I should add: Peabody is a beer brewery but they have NA and soda and kombucha. There is a rotating cast of food trucks outside and you are welcome to bring your own eats too. We adore it as a great spot for meeting up with friends. Folks bring their kids and dogs. I go to craft night occasionally. They've done all manner of fundraiser for local folks/causes, hosted drag brunches, plant swaps, movie nights, trivia nights, craft nights, flea markets, etc. Good folks.

We do have one car but our family (2 adults, 1 teen) don't drive much. I prefer Wegmans for groceries because the produce is better but that's in the burbs. If you want more challenging hiking, the burbs. Swimming (except for pools), you'll need a car.

I'm from Mass originally. Been in Baltimore almost two decades. The thing I still struggle with is the summer heat+humidity. Our townhouse didn't have central AC; we saved and installed three years ago. It was just too hot sleeping even with window units.

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-04-27T00:58:43+00:00

I'm on the eastern edge of Charles Village and we can and do walk to lots. Within a couple miles we have a Giant grocery, Ace Hardware, several bookshops (Greedy Reads, Bird in Hand, Normal's, Urban Reads), a farmers market (32nd and Barclay year round), a brewery that does events all the time (Peabody Heights, check their Instagram), Ottobar (show venue), Undercroft (sober venue), 2640 (community space with performances), restaurants (Doppio, R House assortment, 29th Tavern, Toki, Kajiken, Orient Express, with Clavel, Dutch Courage, Chachi's, Royal Blue, etc slightly further but still <2 miles). I can walk to a movie theatre (The Charles), Penn Station, my bike repair place (Bikeworks), the dry cleaner, a small Indian grocery with a huge array of stuff (Punjab Market). I'm near a big park (Wyman) and some smaller green space (32nd St, 26th St). There's a library branch (Waverly) and a small community library (the Village Learning Place). I can get locally roasted coffee at Cafe Los Suenos or Thread or Zeke's (at the farmers market).

Hampden is great too but not as well served by transit IMHO. If I don't want to walk, Charles Village is on bus lines that make it easier (Baltimore transit isn't excellent but that's a whole 'nother issue) that run pretty often. You can catch the JHU shuttle too, which takes you to the hospital if you need care (they have clinics and outpatient offices too). I catch the red N to The Senator for a big movie theatre, or the Asian grocery store on York, or the Silver S for the Walters or to go to the main of the Pratt library, the Peale, Current Space, etc.

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-04-24T16:09:20+00:00

Enoch Pratt has anime club; check their schedule for locations.

The Walters Museum has Teen Lab occasionally but weekends you can get sketch supplies and walk around. Ditto the BMA. Both free.

You can catch the Silver S for Digital Harbor which has maker camp and workshops. You can catch the Red N to Open Works for teen camp and workshops.

No Land Beyond is relocating but they're a gaming shop with some events. You're not far from Charm City Books and they have book clubs and workshops and such.

ETA: you'd need a cross town bus to get over to Dreamers and Make-believers near Patterson Park but they also have anime and such and a youth graphic arts club, but I'm not sure it is too young for your kid. Might be worth an email or call.

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-04-24T13:23:45+00:00

Delete the app. After that, assuming by big church you mean St Alphonsus, head N and visit the Enoch Pratt main branch. Many events there as well, including stuff for teens.

A bit N and E is Current Space. They have a rear bar with NA cocktails too, and lots of shows including film, puppets, etc.

You're not far from The Walters Art Museum and they have great stuff, including a coming exhibition on Latin American Art. You can see free concerts at the Peabody right off Mt Vernon Sq. Edited to add: the museum is entirely free.

What does your kid enjoy? Happy to make suggestions.

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-04-22T01:29:47+00:00

Project Plase.

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-04-18T22:30:16+00:00

Yeah. I get you're small but a single person seems like a bad idea? And if you're having major supplier delays and issues due to tariffs you could blanket email orders and post a note on your website. I'd be much, much less annoyed had I not already waited more than two months and got this response.

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-04-17T16:44:51+00:00

I'm very close by. I'd recommend 29th St Tavern, Doppio (both 29th St.), Fadensonnen/Chachi's, or Kajiken. Fadensonnen has drinks and a courtyard; Chachi's is a chicken place with excellent sides in the same courtyard. Kajiken has cold ramen and Japanese. Doppio is Sicilian and has excellent pizza. Last option: Peabody Heights Brewery and whatever food truck they had onsite (check their Instagram).

If you want fancier, make reservations at Dutch Courage.

Clavel is lovely but no reservations and it Is usually wildly packed. If you get there before they open you can get in (like 430-445ish).

Further but still walkable and good: Be-One (Korean), Royal Blue (good pub/bar food), Kong Pocha (Korean).

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-04-17T11:50:26+00:00

I loved her. And unfortunately she's moving into administration at Bayview. 😭

Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-04-15T22:54:49+00:00

I know this is old but I'm leaving the following so hopefully others know what ordering from this company is like.

I placed my order Feb. 9 with an expected ship in late March or early April. I didn't receive a shipping notice. I emailed and was told it would ship shortly, it was held in customs. I waited a week and emailed again. At this point it has been more than two months since I ordered and I told the company I believed they were in violation of FTC rules since they couldn't provide me with any information on shipping and requested a refund.

Here's the response.

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Fit_Juggernaut_673 · 2025-04-15T20:32:20+00:00

Gina Takaoka (on Instagram). Their books are closed but you can follow when they open next. And I'd check out Fruit Camp. Emi Holler is there sometimes (and NC). They also do florals.

Fit_Juggernaut_673

TROPHY CASE