Ron Matz reports it’s all the creation of a talented producer from right here in Baltimore.

The UniverSoul Circus is an eye-popping big top thrill ride. Now in its 19th year, founder Cedric Walker is from Baltimore.

“I looked around the tent last night and I saw the people and it’s just a feeling that this is where I come from. This is where I gathered my inspiration,” Walker said. “I grew up in the Edmondson Village area and all of my inspiration came from my childhood in West Baltimore. There was a lot of enthusiasm in the community and I took that into the world.”

You’ll be inspired when you see the Bonebreakers from West Africa doing things most of us can’t even think about.

“We have a lot of brand new acts this year. Our founder Cedric Walker goes around the world searching out the most unique talent. We have talent from Russia, China, the Carribean and the good old USA,” said Zeke, ringmaster’s sidekick.

We’re timely and global,” Walker said. “This whole hip hop culture evolves in a global perspective. We have all these young performers from around the world intermingling with the digital realm of the internet, all these cultures are coming together.”

Robert Dunn, aka Onionhead, has been clowning around under the big top for 14 years and loves every minute.

“I’ve been clowning since 1983. I’ve been with UniverSoul since 1998. It’s not a job. It’s excitement and entertainment. It’s something I’m very passionate about, and when you’re passionate about something it eliminates work,” Dunn said.

UniverSoul travels to about 30 cities a year during a 10.5 month period. It’s the joy of the children that keeps the performers going.

“You look at kids in the audience, 3 or 4 years old. They come and give you hugs or a high five or want your autograph. That’s priceless,” Zeke said.

“When you see the joy of a child, this is what it’s all about. This is what you’re here for, to see a child smile and laugh,” Dunn said.  “We are different. This is what brings people out. Our music includes gospel, jazz, rhythm and blues, hip-hop. There’s no other show like UniverSoul.”

It’s hip hop under the big top from Asia, Africa, Europe and the USA delivered with pride from a hometown guy.

“The idea of an urban circus was an idea whose time had come. It reflects the energy, the music, the tempo and the interaction of the times,” Walker said.

The UniverSoul Circus is here through Sunday. For more information, click here.

Candy Spelling filed the lawsuit against Annapolis-based Theriault’s at the end of April. The lawsuit, which was filed in California, claims that the auction house didn’t live up to its contract because it failed to give her a timely accounting of the sold items and pay her for them.

The president of Theriault’s says the lawsuit does not represent an accurate description of the events surrounding the collection’s sale and that Spelling has been paid for the items.

Spelling’s lawyer declined to comment.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

It’s the 10th annual Vehicle Appreciation Day at Beth Tfiloh School, a chance to get up close and personal with all kinds of emergency vehicles.

Baltimore County brought police cars, ambulances and other official cars and trucks to the school’s parking lot.

Even Batman made a special appearance in his Lamborghini, no doubt one of the most popular vehicles among the children.

Monique Griego has more on how you can experience it all for one very low price.

The big day is almost here.

“I’m jazzed about it! I mean, it only comes around every 200 years,” Vince Vaise from Fort McHenry said.

Vaise can hardly contain his excitement thinking about all the upcoming events surrounding the bicentennial of the War of 1812.

“It’s going to bring a lot of people to Baltimore, especially people who do not even recognize the treasure in their own backyard,” he said.

To offer visitors an all out historical experience, Fort McHenry is teaming up with other sites, like the Flag House, to offer a new Star-Spangled Banner pass.

“To really get your full 1812 on, to get in full spirit of the bicentennial of the War of 1812, you want to go to Maryland Historical Society, you want to go to the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House,” Vaise said.

For the low price of $18.12, you can visit all three sites.

In addition to the Star-Spangled Banner pass, there are also National Anthem tours by sea and land. One will get you a trolley tour of historic sites in the city, the other will take you around the Harbor on a Watermark cruise.

“Everybody teamed up to create a whole lot of new programs,” Sam Rogers of Visit Baltimore said.

It’s all leading up to the Sail-abration on June 18.

“We got more than 40 ships, great hulls as well as tall ships coming to Baltimore from around the world as well as an air show featuring the Blue Angels,” Rogers said.

But if you can’t wait to start celebrating, you can always practice your 1812 battle cry. Vaise shows how.

“1 2 3… Hazaaaa!”

You can purchase tickets at the Baltimore Visitor Center at the Inner Harbor, by clicking here, or by calling 1-877-BALTIMORE.

The Daily Times of Salisbury

OCEAN CITY, Md. (AP) — The Boardwalk has been a tourism nucleus for decades. And while it stays relatively the same year after year, with a multitude of stores, eateries and other attractions, each season brings a few changes.

This season, visitors will notice the actual Boardwalk has received a facelift. During the off-season, some portions of the
2.5-mile span were reconstructed. It’s easy to tell where upgrades were made, as the new boards are a lighter shade of brown.

Brent Ashley, an Ocean City councilman who walks about five miles a day, usually on the Boardwalk, said the new boards feel good, that he can “feel it in his feet.”

Just off the Boardwalk in the beach area of North Division Street, new free events will soon be rolled out. On Sundays
starting May 27, three light shows will be put on every night using a five-story inflatable sphere with aerial lasers. On Tuesday nights, from May 29 through Sept. 4, Ocean City will host a beach fireworks show.

“Those are our two biggest new events, and they’re occurring just off the Boardwalk,” said Ocean City spokeswoman Donna Abbott.

At the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum at the southern tip of the Boardwalk, two new exhibits will be offered to patrons.

Through the end of May, a nostalgic exhibit is open that features swimwear, memorabilia, postcards and other items from 1940s Ocean City. Starting June 20, an exhibit chronicling the history of surfing in the resort is slated to open. It’ll cover the earliest days of surfing in town to current surf culture, shops and tournaments.

“The surfing exhibit I think is really going to be something people want to see,” Abbott said. “It’s part of our culture,
really.”

There’s at least one new restaurant on or near the Boardwalk — that’s Kim’s Cafe & Marketplace at 1503 Philadelphia Ave. Owner Kim Smith said she will offer a variety of foods that are healthier than your traditional Boardwalk choices of fries, pizza and the like.

Smith’s restaurant specializes in wraps, salads, smoothies and fresh-squeezed juices for patrons who are trying to maintain their beach bodies. Smith opened the restaurant, she said, because she was looking for healthier options for her family to eat.

“There’s really nowhere to get something healthy (down here),” she said. “We’re trying to do some healthy things.”

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

There were more fights than races. Drunken youths sprinted over the portable toilets. Twelve-ounce cans were tossed like hand grenades.

That was before Pimlico Race Course stopped allowing fans to bring in their own beer.

Now the infield is a place where music fills the air, and where Mom and Dad can bring the kids. That might sound horrific to veterans of Preakness past, but it’s precisely what Pimlico wanted to achieve.

“When we changed this after 2008, the Maryland Jockey Club and myself knew it would take three or four years to fix it,” said Tom Chuckas, president and CEO of the MJC. “And we have fixed it. The crowd is upscale. They’re there to have a party, they’re there to have fun and not cause mayhem and harm.

“That’s exactly what we want. It’s still the people’s party, it’s a great day, and it’s a lot safer than it ever was before.”

There’s still plenty of beer, but it’s being consumed in a far friendlier environment.

Such was the case Saturday, when thousands assembled under a gorgeous, blue sky to enjoy a party that happened to coincide with the running of the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

Janelle O’Donnell, 20, was set up in front of the two available stages at noon, waiting for performances by Maroon 5 and Wiz Khalifa. She got two tickets as a birthday gift and didn’t find out until late Friday night that the event included a pretty important horse race called the Preakness.

“That’s like the whole idea, apparently,” she said.

O’Donnell wasn’t old enough to drink alcohol, so she was gripping a bottle of water. Most everyone walking through the infield, however, was carrying a neon yellow mug that could be used to get unlimited refills of beer. It was a very worthwhile $20 investment on top of the $50 ticket, but it appeared that no one was abusing the privilege.

Nick Euculano, 28, was spraying on some No. 15 suntan lotion while soaking up the scene of his second Preakness.

“I heard a lot of stories and saw the videos of those guys running on the portable toilets,” he said. “I’m a little sad I didn’t get down here (from York, Pa.) for those years, but a lot happier to be here under these conditions. That looked a little crazy.”

Glen Strigle was wearing a shirt that read “PARTY, BET, REPEAT.”

“I came in college, and it was like Animal House,” Strigle said. “Now that I’m in my 40s, this is what I want.”

His wife, Vanessa, made her infield debut in 2011.

“After I saw what it was like last year, I knew I could bring my kids,” she said. “They’re 17 and 18. They’re here for the concerts.”

A few of the patrons were actually there to watch the horses and place a few bets.

Bill Riley, 66, was sitting within a roped-off section at the fence with a program in his lap. He watched the horses run at the head of the stretch before viewing the finish on a huge screen.

“I got here at 7 a.m. so I could get this spot,” said the New Jersey resident, who also went to the Kentucky Derby and planned on attending the Belmont.

Tim Smyth was part of a group of guys who made the trip to the Preakness part of a weekend-long bachelor party.

“Someone wanted me to go a few years ago, but I said, ‘Dude, I’m not into that scene,”‘ Smyth said. “We heard it got a lot better the last couple years, and now that we’re in our 30s, we decided to come. It’s great. It’s smart what they did.”

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Kai Jackson has more on the excitement building all over Charm City.

Preakness week has given Baltimore and Maryland a big boost economically, and it’s not over yet.

With summer-like weather and thousands of people, Preakness week is off to a big start.

“There’s just so much energy in the air. It’s so cool, especially to see all the female jockeys who are so talented,” Doug O’Neill, trainer for the horse I’ll Have Another, said. “Kind of getting the shine today. It’s cool. Having a wonderful time.”

Gamblers may look forward to the race in Northwest Baltimore but business owners say the sure bet is the steady stream of revenue. The 137th running of the Preakness Stakes puts Baltimore in the national spotlight.

And so do events leading up to the day like the massive VIP party at Power Plant Live.

“This is an invaluable piece of Maryland’s history but it’s also an invaluable piece of our ongoing promotion the city,” Mike Evitts of Downtown Partnership said.

Hotels are booked. The new Four Seasons in Harbor East says it’s 90 percent full.

In recent years, the future of the Preakness in Maryland has been on shaky ground. Business owners admit they count on receipts from this weekend and say if the race left, it would be devastating.

Aldo’s in Little Italy says Preakness weekend is the business trifecta with the race, graduations and proms.

“I think without a doubt, without Preakness in Maryland, it would be devastating both personally and professionally,” Sergio Vitale of Aldo’s said.

The Downtown Partnership says while many restaurants and hotels are booked, they believe there will be plenty of places to dine before and after the race.

Now, as Mike Schuh reports, that’s exactly what’s happening on a national level to a small town in Southern Maryland.

Just when you can’t drive any farther in Calvert County, a boardwalk appears– a perfect place for families of all sorts.

Dave Brown, Solomons Island Visitor: “What do you girls like about the boardwalk?”
Brown’s Daughters: “Duckies. Feeding duckies.”

Solomons Island is a place where watermen deliver crab meat directly to the restaurants. It’s a place with a laid-back vibe, a place where we learn about what made Maryland great.

“Right now, just sitting and enjoying the breeze,” Jane Swiegert, who is visiting Solomons Island for the day, said.

It’s a place generational bookends can relax in the gazebo.

“And I think that’s what’s nice about it. You can be a pedestrian. You don’t have to be in the car,” Swiegert said.

It’s such a nice, relaxed place that you might think by now, someone might have spread the word.

Schuh: “So this was named one of the friendliest coastal towns in America by a national magazine. What do you think?”
Lauren Kessler, a tourist from Virginia: “So far so good. I made it on the news and I just got out of the car.”

More than a dozen restaurants are here, most– like Stoney’s Seafood House on the Solomon Pier– are on the water. They figure this accolade by Coastal Living magazine will help.

“Hopefully, it will bring more people down to the area and have a good time and check out the sights,” one Solomons Island resident said.

Solomons is located about an hour south of Annapolis.

Jessica Kartalija has more from the historic hilltop.

“It’s delicious! I don’t know what’s in it.”

The drink of choice for race-goers, the Black-Eyed Susan, is a Baltimore tradition.

“The official drink of Preakness Stakes, folks!”

On the eve of the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes, racing fans place their bets.

“My mom just passed away in 2010 and they called her MeMom. And a horse that’s running in this race is called ‘It’s Me Mom,’” one attendee said.

Kartalija: “I go by names. How do you guys choose?”
Preakness Attendee: “I go by colors.”

It’s the People’s Pink Party at Pimlico with Lady Legends for a Cure– retired jockeys riding in support of Susan G. Komen.

And there’s a $30,000 female jockey challenge with Rosie Napravnik, the first female jockey to win the Kentucky Oaks.

“I’m really happy because it is my home turf and I love coming to ride here and seeing my old friends and all the people who got me started. It means a lot,” she said.

Black-Eyed Susan Day is a first for Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill.

“There’s just so much energy in the air, and especially to see all the female jockeys who are so talented,” he said.

It was a beautiful day to enjoy a Charm City tradition.

“My husband loves the races. So what better thing to do then come and do what he loves to do. So he can’t complain,” Michelle Jones of Baltimore said.

Baltimore’s Sagamore Farms owned by UnderArmour CEO Kevin Plank has a horse running in the Preakness Stakes called Tiger Walk.

The Library of Congress on Thursday announced the authors and poets who will appear at the festival Sept. 22 and Sept. 23. The weekend festival features speeches and book talks by featured authors, book signings and a chance to meet favorite writers.

Steve Inskeep of NPR’s “Morning Edition” is joining the lineup of authors as well, along with Walter Isaacson, Thomas Friedman of the New York Times, and Chris Matthews of MSNBC.

Songwriter Jewel also is scheduled to appear. She reached a deal this year to publish her first picture book about her newborn son.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Kai Jackson looks at her legacy in Baltimore and across the country.

Donna Summer’s music touched generations of fans around the world. Now, they and the world of music are remembering her.

Summer was an icon in the world of music, a superstar whose big voice and mega hits defined the era known as disco.

She died Thursday morning at the age of 63– reportedly from lung cancer– at her Naples, Fla. home.

Her family released a statement saying that they are “at peace celebrating her extraordinary life, and her continued legacy.”

“I began to tell everybody, ‘God said I’m going to be famous,’” Summer once said.

She was born LaDonna Adrian Gaines in Boston in 1948. She sang in the church choir and formed several musical groups. Her breakout hit came in 1975 when the song “Love to Love You, Baby” became a disco anthem.

Legendary Baltimore DJ Randy Dennis remembers meeting Summer when he was a DJ in Boston.

“Very nice, very humble. That’s what struck me about her, you know. She seemed very grateful for all the success she was starting to achieve,” Dennis said.

Summer won five Grammys for her iconic hits including “Last Dance,” “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls.” Her songs like “She Works Hard for the Money” defined the dance music era of the 70s influencing acts like Duran Duran and Madonna.

“Her songs were well-crafted pop songs and they have staying power to this day,” Fran Lane, a radio host at 101.9 Lite FM, said.

At WJZ‘s sister station in Mount Washington– CBS Radio’s 101.9 Lite FM– fans were anxious to talk about Summer’s life and music.

Lane: “Did you get into her music?”
Radio Caller: “I did. I remember roller skating to her songs in the roller rink.”

At the height of her career, Summer admitted in a memoir that she suffered from depression and at one point, tried to commit suicide. But her family and friends are not remembering her trials but her triumphs.

Summer had 19 No. 1 dance hits. That’s second only to Madonna.

That’s the word from David Cordish, whose company is opening a huge new casino next month in Maryland.

Yet Cordish warns that the expansion of casino gambling can’t go on unchecked forever. A big problem is the attitude of politicians across the country who view casinos as free money.

“I don’t know how we can control the politicians; they certainly don’t understand the word `oversaturation,”‘ Cordish
said. “They think you can have casinos like Starbucks.”

If that attitude continues, Cordish said, “it’s going to implode on them.”

The expansion of casino gambling has continued rapidly over the last several years, nowhere more fiercely than in the Northeast.

There is serious disagreement within the industry as to whether the market is oversaturated or whether there is room for further growth. But most agree it is tougher to do business in the Northeast casino market than it ever has been before.

The Cordish Company’s Maryland Live!, opening on June 6, will have 4,750 slot machines and cost $500 million.

“Thanks, David, for bringing 4,700 new slots to this market,” joked Don Marrandino, eastern division president of Caesars Entertainment, which owns casinos in Atlantic City and Pennsylvania. “That’s great news for us.”

Cordish said the casino market needs the stability of knowing how many operators there are going to be, particularly with the 67 percent tax Maryland imposes on its casinos.

He said the state will have four casinos with more slot machines “than anything in Las Vegas. It’s an experiment that nobody knows how it’s going to turn out. A contest I don’t want to win is Maryland will probably be the king of the oversaturated market with the highest tax rate. It’s a real problem.

“What happens when you put mega-casinos close together is they generally not only oversaturate the market, they don’t work,” Cordish said. In the Washington D.C. region soon, he added, “you’ll have four of the largest casinos in the country operating within a short drive of one another.”

But new casinos keep coming. Timothy Wilmott, president of Penn National Gaming, which has 26 casinos nationwide, said the company is interested in new markets in Massachusetts and Texas, and is opening new casinos in Ohio soon.

And Virginia McDowell, CEO of St. Louis-based Isle of Capri Casinos, which owns 15 casinos in six states, said there are
excellent new markets that don’t yet have casino gambling. The company plans two more, including one in Pittsburgh.

She listed Massachusetts, Texas and Florida as prime spots for new casinos, and said even traditionally hostile states such as Georgia, the Carolinas and Kentucky are considering legalizing them.

“Frankly, some of these opportunities are the best untapped gambling markets in the United States,” she said. But, McDowell said, “the industry lets its best growth opportunities die on the vine, choosing instead to fight each other.”

Mitchell Etess, CEO of Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, said the state’s two Indian-run casinos once had few competitors.

“It used to be just Atlantic City and Connecticut” that offered casino gambling on the East Coast. “The Northeast is going
to get a little more crowded.”

And part of that will be due to Mohegan Sun, which is also seeking a casino license in Massachusetts.

At the East Coast Gaming Congress, held at the newly opened Revel casino, executives from Atlantic City casinos said offering non-gambling amenities is key to surviving the cutthroat market, particularly in the northeast.

Tony Rodio, CEO of Tropicana Entertainment Inc., said the industry, and especially Atlantic City, needs to play up the other offerings that don’t involve gambling. He said the Tropicana in Atlantic City is fiercely going after mid-week meeting and  convention business.

Marrandino cited the new $20 million “Do AC!” advertising campaign that Atlantic City recently launched, noting it
deliberately did not show any gambling activities. That was to stress all the other things there are to do in the resort, he said.

But Revel, which many here are hoping will turn around Atlantic City’s five-year losing streak, might instead hurt the city’s casino market, according to Andrew Zarnett, managing director of Deutsche Bank Securities.

“Everybody’s a loser; when you add supply to a market that’s not growing very much, everybody gets cannibalized,” he said. “We need some of this capacity to close and go away. I would have thought that would have happened two years ago, but the properties are still here.”

Zarnett said he doubts any Atlantic City casino will close until they see whether or not New Jersey will approve Internet gambling and throw the struggling properties a lifeline. He also predicted New York will approve a casino in Manhattan within five years.

Scott Butera is president of the Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprise, which owns the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, which also has been hurt by expanded competition in the northeast.

“There’s a feeling you just want to click your ruby slippers together and say, `There’s no place like home,’ and things will go back to the way they were,” Butera said. “That’s never going to happen.” The solution is to “create a sense of urgency. When survival is the issue, people will rally.”

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Brown, widely acclaimed as the “Godfather of go-go” for his pioneering sound, died Wednesday at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore. Hospital spokesman Gary Stephenson confirmed Brown had died after a hospital stay that began April 18.

Thanks to Brown and his deep, gravelly voice, go-go music was uniquely identified with Washington. That’s where he continued to play the city’s club circuit to a loyal audience late in life.

Mayor Vincent Gray said the nation’s capital will be a different place without him. Mournful admirers of the musician were called Wednesday evening to an impromptu candlelight vigil in Washington, where a sound truck was to blast a special Chuck Brown music mix to the crowd before a prayer session for him.

“Go-go is D.C.’s very own unique contribution to the world of pop music,” he said. “Today is a very sad day for music lovers the world over.”

In 2007 Brown told The Associated Press that go-go was influenced by sounds and fast beats he heard early in life, growing up in North Carolina and Virginia, combined with his experience later, playing with a Latin band.

“Go-go is a music that continues on and on, and it’s a call and response communication with the audience,” Brown said.

Go-go was heavy on percussion with drummers as lead players, accented by guitar riffs, keyboards and horns. Sometimes the musicians would play for two or three hours without stopping. In between tunes, Brown would keep the thunk of percussion going and talk to the crowd.

Brown’s hit “Bustin’ Loose” with his group, the Soul Searchers, helped define go-go’s sound. It spent several weeks atop
the R&B chart in 1979. Rapper Nelly later sampled Brown’s “Bustin’ Loose” in 2002 for his massive hit “Hot in Herre,” which won Nelly a Grammy.

Brown didn’t get credit at first, though, and “had to go through some legalities to get it right, but we knew, once we heard
the song, that’s Chuck Brown,” said Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliott, lead singer of the go-go band EU (Experience Unlimited.)

In 2007, rapper Eve sampled Brown’s song, “Blow Your Whistle,” in her hit single “Tambourine.”

Brown told the AP he admired such artists.

“Go-Go had some influence on rap because a lot of rap musicians come to my shows,” he said. “Some of them were students at Howard University. People like Puff Daddy, he’s been to see us when he was a young Howard University student.”

Spike Lee, a fan of Brown’s, used go-go for his movie “School Daze.”

“Chuck Brown Will Always Be `Bustin’ Loose’ — the Godfather of Go-Go,” Lee said through a spokeswoman.

Elliot said Brown had been a father figure since he was a teen when he aspired to be a rocker like Jimi Hendrix but realized he wouldn’t make it that way as a young black man. When he saw Brown perform, he said he “instantly knew” what he wanted to do.

“Chuck Brown is going to live on forever. I’m going to make sure of that,” Elliott said. “When they see me, I want them to
see a reflection of Chuck because he inspired me so much.”

He added: “The go-go sound is still going strong.”

When Brown was younger, he spent some time in jail. While behind bars, he traded five cartons of cigarettes for his first guitar.
After he was freed in 1962, Brown played with several bands and then formed the Soul Searchers. To comply with terms of his parole, they couldn’t play where alcohol was served, so they went to churches, recreation halls and youth centers.

Brown’s daughter, Cherita Whiting, said he had died from complications with pneumonia and was gone too soon.

“I just want to tell all his fans, thank you, for lovin’ our dad,” she said. “He had the best fans in the world.”

During the crack epidemic of the 1980s, violence in some clubs affected go-go’s reputation. Brown said “we can’t blame the go-go for that,” though.

More recently, he said he had seen more grandparents at his shows, with an audience ranging in age from 18 to 60.
In 2005, he was named a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Washington was always his most loyal fan base, Brown told the AP, and he was happy to play here the rest of his life.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

This woman has priorities. First stop is the Smithsonian Institution, followed by the National Zoo to see the pandas, harmonica-playing elephant and other animals.

On Thursday, the 90-year-old actress visits the Smithsonian Associates, an educational division of the museum complex, to discuss her career and longtime passion for animals. She will be signing copies of her book, “Betty and Friends: My Life at the Zoo.”

White says her interest in animals started in the womb. She says her parents were animal nuts long before she was born.

Then on Friday, White will have a private tour of the National Zoo to see their research efforts behind the scenes.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

It’s here, Baltimore, one of the most exciting weeks of the year. Let’s hope this weather improves, and the forecast says it will. I visited Pimlico on Saturday for a few races, and excitement was already in the air and tents were already set up for this weekend. I hope to see you around town this week…perhaps at Black-Eyed Susan Day Friday. Make it a special week!

People’s Pink Party
Friday, May 18

The day before Preakness is the 3rd Annual Legends for the Cure Race and Female Jockey Championship. Also it’s the Black-Eyed Susan Race and a full day of fun to benefit the local Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Preakness Stakes & Infieldfest
Saturday, May 19

The people’s race…the people’s party. It’s an exciting day in Baltimore!

Wine in the Woods
May 19 & 20 Symphony Woods Columbia

A celebration of Maryland wine
Live music…Plenty of food…Arts vendors & so much more.
http://www.wineinthewoods.com/

Brew at the Zoo
May 26-27

Sample 50+ brews, enjoy live music, plenty of food and there’s even a kid zone if you want to bring the kiddies.
Full details and tickets http://www.marylandzoo.org/2012/02/brew-at-the-zoo/

Great Grapes! Wine Fest
June 2 & 3 Noon-6 p.m. Oregon Ridge Hunt Valley

Sample Maryland wines* Enjoy demos*Live music* Arts vendors* Food *Specialty pavilions
Visit www.UncorkTheFun.com for tickets and schedule of events

Lardarius Webb Charity Softball Game
Ripken Stadium June 3

Here’s your chance to play ball with some of your favorite Ravens!
Open to all ages!
Fun benefit for The Lardarius Webb Foundation.
Visit http://www.lardariuswebb21.com/  for info on attending, playing or sponsoring.

Maryland Wine Week
June 8-17

Maryland area restaurants, bars & wineries participate in a wide variety of wine-related events.
Visit http://www.marylandwine.org/ww-2012/ for full schedule of events.

Rappel For Kidney Health
Down the Marriott Waterfront Saturday, June 9

Do you want to make an impact on kidney disease in an extraordinary way? Join the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland for their 3rd annual RAPPEL for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rappel down the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront. Visit http://www.kidneymd.org/news/rappelforkidneyhealth.html to register or for further info.

Save Date!

Artscape
July 20-22

America’s largest free arts festival is here in Baltimore! With more than 150+ fine artists, visual art exhibits, live concerts on the outdoor stages, performing arts, family events, street theater, delectable food and beverages + SO much more. Visit www.Artscape.org for entire schedule of events and full details.

Downtown Diane is a Baltimore area food, travel & entertainment reporter, appearing Fridays on 105.7 The Fan Norris & Davis Show with her entertainment report. Follow her for Daily Dish on Twitter @DowntownDiane & check out upcoming events at www.DowntownDiane.net.

Norman Chaney was part the Hal Roach movies from 1929 to 1931.

The series later became known as “The Little Rascals” on television.

The Baltimore Sun reports that Michigan musician Mikal C.G. and California high school activities director Bob Satterfield are collecting funds to buy Chaney a headstone.

Satterfield has already helped get headstones made for four other “Our Gang” members.

Chaney died in 1936. Although his time on the series was short, it was memorable. One famous episode depicted his crush on the teacher, “Miss Crabtree,” and his line: “Call me Chubsy Ubsy.”

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Tickets for the chart-topping singer-songwriter’s concert will go on sale on Saturday, May 19 at 10 a.m. at the 1st Mariner Box Office and on Ticketmaster’s website and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Prices of the tickets will range from $19.99 to $129.99.

Manilow’s latest album “Live in London,” released in April 2011, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Internet Albums charts and has become the highest-charting live album since 1977.

His “15 Minutes” CD, released in June 2011, debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard Top 200 and No. 1 on the Independent Chart.

Manilow has sold more than 80 million records worldwide and is labeled as the top adult contemporary chart artist of all time by R&R and Billboard magazines.

Kai Jackson shows us how Oriole Park is cracking down on out-of-control fans.

The message from the Orioles to their fans is enjoy the game– just do it responsibly.

The Baltimore Orioles would like to close the book on this chapter of Opening Day.

The fan– who called himself Batman– ran out on the field and disrupted the game. It’s not a prank. The Orioles and police say it’s a crime.

“You get a couple of beers in people. They’re not always the most logical people,” Hope Birchfield, an Orioles fan, said.

The Orioles are fighting back against people looking for fame on the field.

Baltimore City Police already patrol the park, but now the O’s have hired a private security detail.

“We’re doing what we need to do to protect our field, protect our players and protect the entertainment that folks come here to see at Oriole Park,” Kevin Cummings, the ballpark operations director, said.

The Orioles tell WJZ in a perfect world, their new security team will never have to chase anyone on the field or do anything else similar. However, if needed, they’re in place.

“I think it’s a disgrace that someone’s gonna try and ruin the integrity of the game,” Jared Auchey, an Orioles fan, said.

The club won’t say how many people are on the detail. WJZ‘s media partner The Baltimore Sun reports they wear white t-shirts and khaki pants.

They won’t be armed but will target trespassers and public disruptions.

“We have to take anyone who wants to jump on the field as a serious security risk. You know, the players are out there, the umpires, the managers, the coaches,” Cummings said.

“I think it’s a good idea to keep people out of trouble, to keep the fans safe,” Jermuke Evans, an Orioles fan, said.

Those who run onto the field can be charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Orioles outfielder Adam Jones has been vocal about trespassers, saying police should do whatever necessary to get them off the field.

On Friday evening, dancers from San Francisco-based Project Bandaloop will perform on the face of the Old Post Office Pavilion’s 315-foot clock tower. Pennsylvania Avenue will be closed to traffic for the show from 8 to 10 p.m.

The Romanesque revival structure was completed in 1899 to house the U.S. Post Office headquarters and the city’s post office. It’s the second-tallest structure in the nation’s capital, after the Washington Monument.

The building houses the National Endowment for the Arts and other government offices. But Donald Trump plans to make it a luxury hotel.

Organizers recommend visitors bring mats or folding chairs to sit on.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Meghan McCorkell was there for all the action.

Nik Wallenda walked high above the Inner Harbor on a tightrope that was just one inch wide for the length of a football field. That walk definitely had some shaky moments.

From Nik Wallenda’s first step, the crowd held its breath.

“I thought he was going to fall in the water,” said one observer.

“If you make a mistake, you die,” said another.

Halfway through, he waved to the crowd.

“I was over here sweating like, `Oh my God, I hope he don’t fall,’” said an observer.

But seconds later, there was a near tragedy.

“I looked up and I was talking to a friend of mine who was in the basket and I slipped and he turned pale white and freaked out, saying, `Are you OK? Are you OK?’” Nik Wallenda said.

But after just seven minutes, he made it to the top.

“My favorite part was when he was done, because I was scared,” an observer said.

Watch Nik Wallenda cross the Inner Harbor:

The walk was to celebrate the opening of Ripley’s Believe It or Not at the Inner Harbor. For this daredevil, it’s just a warmup act. This was his final walk before he attempts to cross Niagara Falls on a high wire.

“Here, a boat or something could grab him. God forbid; hope they would never. But Niagara Falls, that’s a little different,” said former circus worker Ronnie King.

“There is extreme amounts of mist at times. It will be live in prime time, so I have a lot of things to contend with for that one,” Wallenda said.

Wallenda is headed straight to Niagara Falls Thursday to begin practicing for that walk. It will happen June 15.

Gigi Barnett explains the crew started setting up before daybreak.

An army of performers from 15 different countries bring the magic of Michael Jackson to the 1st Mariner Arena in the latest Cirque du Soleil tour. But before the audience packs in for two shows only this weekend, the stage must be set.

More than 200 crew members rolled in on Saturday at 4 a.m.

“They have it down to a science. They’re just putting together a piece of a puzzle,” said Cirque du Soleil spokeswoman Laura Silverman.

It takes about 12 hours to set the stage for this weekend’s show. Cirque says an easy setup and a fast breakdown is what allows the show to visit 65 cities before the North American tour is over.

“If you’ve seen a Cirque du Soleil show before, don’t expect to see the same thing,” Silverman said.

Silverman says the crew did away with the big tent and this arena-style show may cause some audience members to think they’re at a concert.

“This one is definitely different than some of the other arena tours. It’s very rock concert meets Cirque du Soleil,” Silverman said.

The show “Michael Jackson: The Immortal Tour” blends the pop icon’s sounds to the moves of Cirque acrobats, dancers and contortionists. Some of Jackson’s former band members are in the show, a performance for the eyes and ears.

“It’s really a tribute to his life,” Silverman said. “Because this is very different than some of the other shows, it’s exciting. You want to get up and dance.”

After this weekend’s shows, Cirque goes to Hampton, Va. next.

Cirque du Soleil is the largest touring production in the world. The first of two shows starts Saturday night.

Jessica Kartalija has a look at this year’s theme.

For Celia Rose Gieszl and her dad, FlowerMart is an annual tradition.

“She gets a new hat every year at Easter and then, little by little, we decorate it,” Leo Gieszl of Baltimore City said.

The free event in Mount Vernon is Baltimore’s rite of spring. About 130 vendors display food, flowers and, of course, hats.

Last year, Celia Rose Gieszl took first place for her hats. This year, it’s tough competition.

Kartalija: “What is on your hat?”
Celia Rose Gieszl: “Flowers, lady bugs, butterflies and bumblebees and hummingbirds.”

This year’s theme is a cornucopia of rainbows, flowers, lemon pepper sticks and sweet melodies. FlowerMart 2012 charms all generations.

The two-day event is packed with activity, including a pet parade and wildflower costume and dance contests.

Kartalija: “How excited are you to be in FlowerMart this year?”
FlowerMart Vendor: “This is our first year here so we’re super excited to be here.”

FlowerMart is open until 8 p.m. on Friday and will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday.

The aquarium says that beginning Friday dolphin programs will be open all day. Visitors can spend as much time as they want watching the dolphins play, eat and work with trainers.

Previously, visitors paid extra to watch dolphins during scheduled shows, limiting public access. Aquarium officials say the shows could only serve 50 percent of guests on peak summer days.

The Baltimore Sun reports that while visitors will no longer have to pay more to see dolphin shows, the
aquarium’s regular admission price is rising from $24.95 to $29.95 for adults and from $19.95 to $20.95 for children.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Ron Matz reports the annual gathering gets underway Thursday night.

The Charles Theater and nearby streets are ready for the film frenzy. The Maryland Film Festival is in its 14th year.

“We’re always picking the best movies we can get. The film community here is growing beautifully and that’s what gets reflected every year. These are films that will play many festivals and probably emerge in the market many different ways,” said Jed Dietz, Maryland Film Festival director.

And one of those movies is “See You Soon Again.” It’s about Baltimore Holocaust survivors Leo Bretholz and Bluma Shapiro, sharing their story with area school children. It’s the work of Baltimore filmmaker Bernadette Wegenstein.

“It means a lot to be here. It was important to me to bring it out where Leo and Bluma are at home and where I am at home right now,” Wegenstein said. “It was financed in Austria. It’s an international production, but I really wanted it to premiere here in Baltimore. The Maryland Film Festival is a great festival. I couldn’t think of a better place for this film.”

The tents are up on Charles Street. That’s where the festival goers can meet the movie makers.

“We’ll have over 120 movies during this weekend playing all day long. We take over all five screens at the Charles Theater, at MICA and the wind up space on North Avenue,” Dietz said. “The art form is just exploding.  The quality and variety of films being made now has grown so tremendously and I think we select well. We’re very much a spot on the festival circuit. It’s great.”

“We’ve got filmmakers coming in from 15 different countries,” he continued. “The filmmakers love coming to Baltimore. We do a special conference for them on Friday which is just for them.”

It’s exciting for one Johns Hopkins University professor and her movie about suffering and survival.

“My movie will be shown Sunday at 11:30 a.m. at the MICA Brown Center. I think will be very emotional. Some of the survivors have been calling me. Leo has seen the film and he loves it. That’s a great compliment to get from your lead character,” Wegenstein said.

For a complete list of the movies at this year’s Maryland Film Festival, click here.

The ensemble Abraham Inc. opens the festival Thursday at the Music center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Md. The group’s sound is a mash-up of traditional Jewish music, funk and hip-hop.

One of the festival’s highlights will be the Israeli band Hadag Nahash performing May 10 at the Fillmore in Silver Spring.

It’s the first time the festival is holding performances at the restored Fillmore and at the downtown Washington nightclub Eden.

The festival runs May 3 to 21. It concludes with the silent film, “The Yellow Ticket,” with a special musical score
commissioned for the performance.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Jessica Kartalija has the details on this high-flying stunt.

He comes from a long line of extraordinary stunt performers.  Now, Nik Wallenda, a seventh generation member of the Flying Wallenda Family wants to shock Charm City with another incredible stunt.

He says he will walk over the Inner Harbor, literally.

“That’s like, so cool,” said Federal Hill resident Adam Pashkevich.

Wallenda’s tightrope walk over the Inner Harbor will start at the new Ripley’s Believe It Or Not “Odditorium” and will end on a crane 300 feet into the water.  He will perform the stunt without a safety net or harness.

“I think it’s awesome daredevils are making a comeback,” said Mark Pashkevich. “Evil Knieval is from when we are kids and you don’t see it again anymore.  I’m totally stoked.”

Wallenda’s Inner Harbor walk on May 9 comes one month before he plans to cross a tightrope over Niagara Falls.

“We look at life totally differently,” said Nik Wallenda. “At 6 years old I remember thinking ‘Man, I’d like to be the first person to ever do that.’”

Wallenda holds five Guinness World Records.

The walk should take 15 to 20 minutes and will begin at 5:15 p.m. on May 9.

Several of Wallenda’s family members have died while performing. Wallenda’s great grandfather, Karl, was a tight rope walker who fell to his death in 1978.

(Photo Credit: Thinkstock)

Strong female characters in movies have come a long way, but there are still some things that we just don’t see very often. A young heroine can be thoughtful, fight crime or both, but she’s usually single, or at the very least childless. The mothers and grandmothers usually just get to be thoughtful, go soul-searching or get rescued. It’s the rare female character who performs the impossible task of saving the world AND raising a kid — as if both of them weren’t feats of heroism already! In honor of Mother’s Day, we take a look at movie moms who get it done.

Find great Mother’s Day gift ideas.

(Photo Credit: Walt Disney Home Entertainment)

Helen Parr (Elastigirl) – The Incredibles

Pixar has received some flack in the past for not making movies with a female lead. But they definitely didn’t make Helen Parr, the supermom in The Incredibles, anything less than amazing. While raising three kids and fighting to keep a marriage together, Helen does detective work and pulls off a daring rescue. And all the while, she keeps her fingers crossed that the babysitter knows what she’s doing.

(Photo Credit: Live / Artisan)

Sarah Connor – Terminator 2: Judgement Day

Poor Sarah Connor has a rough start in Terminator 2. Committed to an asylum, she is thought to be crazy, even by her son. All she was trying to do was stop the evil computer network that would eventually try to kill him — hardly helicopter parenting! Once she’s finally out and the Terminators start appearing, this mom fights tooth and nail for her son (even when he’s kind of a brat).

(Photo Credit: Miramax)

The Bride – Kill Bill

It’s safe to say that Uma Thurman played one of the most powerful women on screen in cinema history. If you haven’t seen Kill Bill: Volume 1 and 2, you might want to skip ahead right here. If you have or don’t mind plot spoilers, then it’s safe to say that it was all just for vengeance… at first. Beatrix Kiddo (The Bride) only found out about her child as she was preparing to get her final revenge — which just happened to be against her baby’s father. Sometimes, love is complicated…

(Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox)

Ellen Ripley – Aliens

Lieutenant Ellen Ripley, in Aliens, may not be the biological mother of the young girl she encounters on LV-426. But that doesn’t stop her maternal instincts from kicking into overdrive when young Newt is the last survivor of the doomed space colony. And Sigourney Weaver’s rescue of the girl — along with her exo-suit fight with the Alien Queen — is one of the most powerful scenes of maternal love you’ll ever see in a mainstream science fiction movie, or any movie, period.

Dan Morgridge is a writer from Chicago and a momma’s boy.

Have a wonderful week. There’s LOTS going on Baltimore!

Upcoming Free Events at Baltimore Parks & Plazas

Check out the schedule of upcoming FREE events downtown from yoga to live music, there’s something for everyone. http://tinyurl.com/bu8xlco Presented  by Downtown Partnership.

Taste of Pikesville
Thursday, May 3 5-8 p.m.
Pikesville Hilton
Enjoy a sampling of food and drink from area restaurants.
Visit www.PikesvilleChamber.org  for full details of event and tickets.
Tickets: $30 advance / $35 at the door

Blues at the Brewery
May 5 7:30-11 p.m.
Heavy Seas Brewery
Enjoy the music of Deanna Bogart while enjoying Heavy Seas beer & food at the Brewery. Visit http://www.hsbeer.com/blues-brewery  for more info and tickets.

Flowermart
May 4 & 5
Mt Vernon
Enjoy more than 130 vendors selling flowers, garden accessories and unique gifts just in time for Mother’s Day.
Live entertainment ..food..demos..contests & LEMON STICKS! http://www.flowermart.org/

Towsontown Spring Festival
May 5 & 6
Located in Downtown Towson
This huge fest features food, crafts, live music and so much more.Visit www.towsontownspringfestival.com for full schedule of events.

Cinco de Mayo LatinoFest
May 5 & 6
Broadway/Fells Point
Plenty of food, drinks, music & dancing www.latinofest.org.

BarBAYq & Music Festival
May 4-5 Friday 4-10 p.m.,  Saturday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds
Proceeds benefit Anne Arundel Medical Center Pediatrics Emergency Inpatient Unit & Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County
*Food & drink *Cooking competitions and demonstrations & plenty of entertainment for all ages – more than 25 bands on two stages www.barbayq.com

Fiesta 5K
Saturday, May 5
6:30 a.m. registration opens
8 a.m. race begins Power Plant Live
Benefits Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins.
Visit www.fiesta5k.com for more information and to register.

Cinco de Mayo
Power Plant LIVE
Evening of May 5
Open bar, entertainment  http://www.powerplantlive.com/index.cfm?page=calendar#/events/46.

National Harbor Food & Wine Fest
May 5 & 6
National Harbor Waterfront
Sample more than 150 wines, beer, spirits. Enjoy celebrity chefs..Demos..Tasting theatre..Live music…so much more http://wineandfoodnh.com/show-info  for full schedule of events.
Make it a weekend getaway w/ a VIP Package at The Gaylord National Hotel http://tinyurl.com/7re4xac

Fashion Fever
Sunday, May 6 11:30-3 p.m.
Grand Lodge Hunt Valley
Proceeds benefit Mt Washington Pediatric Hospital
Fashions provided by some of Baltimore’s finest boutiques. There will be shopping, a fashion show, silent auction & array of delicious food. For further info and tickets visit http://www.mwph.org/events/fashion-fever.htm.

20th Annual Culinary Extravaganza
Monday, May 7 6-9 p.m.
Grand Lodge Hunt Valley
Benefits Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland
Fine cuisine from more than 20 top Baltimore restaurants & caterers…Live music..Fine wine & spirits..Auction. Visit http://www.mealsonwheelsmd.org/  for tickets and further details.

Dine on the B&O Event at Baldwin’s Station
Wednesday, May 9 6:30 p.m.
Chef Derrick Granai creates the evening’s menu from the original renown B &O recipes. Experience this unique evening inclusive of food, drinks, tax & gratuity. http://www.baldwinsstation.com/specials/Dining%20on%20the%20B&O%202012.pdf

Coming to The Lyric Opera House…

*Colin Machrie & Brad Sherwood
May 11
Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, stars of the Emmy-nominated “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” have teamed up to present an evening of extraordinary improvisational comedy.

*The Mel Brooks musical “Young Frankenstein” comes to life in Baltimore
May 12-13
Follow me on Twitter for your chance to win tickets to upcoming shows @DowntownDiane. Visit www.TheLyricOperaHouse.com for more details, more upcoming events and tickets.

Art with a Heart ..Home is Where the Heart Is
Saturday, May 12 7-10:30 p.m.
Castle at Keswick
Enjoy fabulous food & cocktails at this fun-filled benefit. Evening will be filled with art activities, silent auction & MUCH more. Read all about Art with a Heart www.ArtwithaHeart.net.

Cylburn Market Day
Saturday, May 12 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Gorgeous setting to purchase your spring flowers and plants. Enjoy food trucks, entertainment and more http://cylburnassociation.org/marketday2012/market-day/ Preview Party is Friday, May 11!

Paws On Parade
Baltimore Humane Society
Saturday, May 12 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
1601 Nicodemus Road Reisterstown
Enjoy either a 1-mile or 1.6-mile trail through a beautiful 365-acre wildlife sanctuary, plus other fun and educational activities for you, your family and your furry friends. For further info and to register, visit http://bmorehumane.org/.

Tour Historic Homes of Fells Point
Mother’s Day May 13 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Benefits the Preservation Society
http://www.preservationsociety.com/Site/House%20Tour.html

Women’s Housing Coalition Celebrates 32 Years
Caribbean-Style Fundraiser at Nick’s Fish House
Monday, May 14
6-9 p.m.
Enjoy a silent auction, performances by steel drum band T&T Steel, beer, wine, specialty drinks & lavish food stations.          
For further info, visit www.womenshousing.org.

Eastern Inspiration..Western Flair
Culinary class w/ Chef’s Expressions
May 23 6-8 p.m.
Gramercy Mansion
Experience traditional Asian ingredients as they are used to inspire Western cuisine. Learn to create delectable dishes and enjoy wine pairings. Take home the recipes. Visit http://chefsexpressions.com/may-culinary-class for further info and to register.

Brew at the Zoo
May 26-27
Sample 50+ brews, enjoy live music, plenty of food and there’s even a kid zone if you want to bring the kiddies.
Full details and tickets http://www.marylandzoo.org/2012/02/brew-at-the-zoo/

Great Grapes! Wine Fest
June 2 & 3 Noon-6 p.m.
Oregon Ridge Hunt Valley
Sample Maryland wines* Enjoy demos*Live music* Arts vendors* Food *Specialty pavilions
Visit www.UncorkTheFun.com for tickets and schedule of events.

Lardarius Webb Charity Softball Game
Ripken Stadium
June 3
Here’s your chance to play ball with some of your favorite Ravens!
Open to all ages
Fun benefit for The Lardarius Webb Foundation.
Visit http://www.lardariuswebb21.com for info on attending, playing or sponsoring.

Rappel for Kidney Health
Down the Marriott Waterfront
Saturday, June 9
Do you want to make an impact on kidney disease in an extraordinary way? Join the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland for their 3rd annual RAPPEL for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rappel down the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront.
Visit http://www.kidneymd.org/news/rappelforkidneyhealth.html to register or for further info.

Save Date!
Artscape
July 20-22
America’s largest free arts festival is here in Baltimore! More than 150 fine artists, visual art exhibits, live concerts on the outdoor stages, performing arts, family events, street theater, delectable food and beverages + SO much more. Visit www.Artscape.org for entire schedule of events and full details.

Fun Events Leading Up To Preakness Day!

Derby Day Infield Concert & Food Truck Fest
May 5 Noon-6 p.m.

Infield concert with alternative rock sensation Safetysuit. Bottomless beer for those 21+ & soda & water for all inclusive with $30 ticket. Best of Baltimore Food Trucks will be onsite selling their delicacies. www.Ticketmaster.com

People’s Pink Party Friday
May 18

The day before Preakness, the 3rd Annual Legends for the Cure Race and Female Jockey Championship. Also the Black-Eyed Susan Race and a full day of fun to benefit the local Susan G Komen for the Cure.

Preakness Stakes & Infieldfest
Saturday, May 19
The people’s race..The people’s party…An exciting day in Baltimore!

Downtown Diane is a Baltimore area food, travel & entertainment reporter, appearing Fridays on 105.7 The Fan Norris & Davis Show with her entertainment report. Follow her for Daily Dish on Twitter @DowntownDiane & check out upcoming events at www.DowntownDiane.net.

Adam May has the story.

Thousands braved the weather for a glimpse of a new statue at Camden Yards honoring Hall of Famer Frank Robinson. He spent 19 seasons with the Orioles, starting back in 1966.

“When I was traded here to Baltimore, I was really crushed,” Robinson said. “But I tell you, it took me a week to get over it. And I was happy to come here and be part of this organization. This ball club, this organization and I came together, and we became recognized over the country.”

That trade from the Reds, blamed on age, has become one of the worst in baseball history.

“A Red executive said he was an old 30. He wasn’t an old 30 because when he got here, he won the Triple Crown and the MVP,” explained Len Coleman, former President of the National League.

Robinson shared the moment with some of his former teammates.

“We had fun playing the game. We played the game the Oriole way. The Oriole way is the correct way of playing the game,” he said.

The Orioles will also unveil five more statues later this season.

The recording is being played Friday at the National Press Club in Washington where it was created in January 1971. Armstrong was a featured performer celebrating the inauguration of fellow Louisiana native Vernon Louviere as president of the club.

The performance was a comeback of sorts. Armstrong had been in poor health and didn’t play for much of 1970. But he felt strong enough to play in Washington and surprised the crowd with tunes like “Hello Dolly.”

Armstrong died five months later.

Smithsonian Folkway Recordings is releasing Armstrong’s music on CD and digital download after collaborating with the press club and Louis Armstrong Foundation.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

The landmark 1939 movie house on York Road closed Thursday for the work. James “Buzz” Cusack, who runs the theater with his daughter, tells The Baltimore Sun that the theater will be closed for six to nine months.

Cusack says the theater will reopen with three screens and a restaurant.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Kai Jackson gives us a special inside look inside Maryland Live! at Arundel Mills.

The expectations are high and the deadline for the opening is fast approaching.

When construction is finished, managers say Maryland Live! Casino at Arundel Mills will be one of the largest casinos in the country.

WJZ is the first station to get video of the machines turned on, showing this stage of construction.

It opens June 6– a day fast approaching– and looking around, it appears there’s still a lot of work to do.

“We’re working around the clock. We’re going to be open June 6 at 10 p.m.,” Robert Norton, the general manager of Maryland Live! Casino, said.

Initially, 3,200 slot machines will fill 160,000 square feet of space, located next to Arundel Mills Mall in Hanover.

There will be six restaurants and live entertainment every night.

Opponents tried to stop the casino. They feared crime and worried the casino would prey on the poor.

In the end, those who bet on slots won.

By fall of this year, there will be 4,750 machines operating at Maryland Live! Casino costing anywhere between one penny and $100 to play.

“Anybody who’s just looking for that escape. What we’re building here is the Las Vegas or Atlantic City experience right here in Maryland,” Norton said.

It cost an estimated $500 million to build the casino. The state expects to take in about $400 million in tax revenue annually.

An 1,500 machine casino is already open in Perryville in Cecil County and an 800 machine casino is open in Berlin in Worcester County near Ocean City.

As Mary Bubala reports, the costume designers are allowing another Mary to fill her shoes.

“Mary Poppins,” the hit Broadway musical, brings to life a vibrant tale of a nanny who ushers change into the lives of the Banks family.

Can you imagine filling her shoes even for a day?

It all starts in hair and makeup.

Show makeup and hair stylist Hailei Call says the magic of Mary Poppins’ hair is that it’s a practically perfect wig secured in place by many bobby pins.

The other touch is Mary Poppins’ signature lip color.

With the help of costume designers, WJZ’s Mary Bubala transformed into Mary Poppins.

“From the little black boots, the umbrella, the bright blue outfit with a bow tie and hat to top it off. If only I could sing and dance,” Bubala said.

The real star, Rachel Wallace, makes the perfect Mary Poppins because she brings the costume to life.

“I am in several layers of tights. I am in a corset. I am in bloomers. I am in two different skirts, three different shirts, coats over it,” Wallace said. “It’s both wonderful and challenging for me, and I love sharing the story. I love sharing it with kids in the audience, but I also love sharing it with adults.”

“Mary Poppins” is at the Hippodrome for two weeks through Sunday, May 6. Tickets are still available.

Arena Stage announced Wednesday that Luke MacFarlane of TV’s “Brothers & Sisters” and Patrick Breen from “The Good Wife” will return to the show after it closed last year on Broadway. They are joined by Christopher Hanke, whose credits include “Big Love” and “Brothers & Sisters.”

The Tony Award-winning play runs June 8 to July 29 at Arena Stage. It’s set at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic when a group of gay men turned into activists grappling with the disease and public denial.

The Washington production coincides with the international AIDS 2012 conference, returning to the U.S. for the first time in 22 years.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Kai Jackson has more on that young man’s lucky moment in Annapolis.

Midshipman Nicholas “Tanner” Beasley got more than he’d hoped for when Perry performed at the Naval Academy Friday night.

“I’m a little older than you, but I can be your Mrs. Robinson,” Perry said to Beasley.

Perry pulled him up on stage and kissed him right on the lips! Video of the kiss has been posted on YouTube and has already gotten 77,000 hits.

Midshipman Beasley got a chance to “kiss and tell” on Entertainment Tonight.

The pop star was reportedly sick with a cold in the days before her Annapolis concert. She asked Beasley if he was all right with that, but he didn’t seem to mind at all.

“She was a great kisser and I only hope it will happen again sometime,” Beasley said.

Katy said that the kiss was meant to recreate the iconic photo of a World War II sailor kissing his sweetheart.

Ron Matz reports that at the Sip & Bite, they’re getting ready for prime time.

At Sip & Bite, good home cooking and more keeps customers coming back.

“I come for the home cooking, the people, the atmosphere, and the food’s good. That’s all you need. I feel at home here,” said Rita Branagan, of Canton.

Monday night, Sip & Bite is ready for its close up with Guy Fieri on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

“It’s a very big night. We’re very excited. We’re very proud of the Sip & Bite and showcasing Baltimore and showing the nation how awesome we really are,” said Sofia Vasiliades, co-owner of the Sip & Bite restaurant.

The show was filmed in November.

“It was everything anybody would ever think it would be. It was amazing. Guy Fieri was funny and very personable. It was just a dream come true being able to cook with such a famous chef,” Vasiliades said.

Waitress Pat Dermatis has been serving up the good food and seeing celebrities for more than four decades.

“I’m doing great. I’ve been here for 45 years. We have very nice customers. I’ve met Barbara Mikulski, Michael Phelps, and former Governor Schaefer was my baby,” Dermatis said.

“A lot of celebrities come in,” Vasiliades said. “Michael Phelps is a regular. We had him here a couple of weeks ago. He gets at least a thousand calories a meal.”

It’s family here, a third generation making the Sip & Bite a Baltimore favorite.

“My husband Tony and I took over about five years ago. We’ve been remodeling and revamping but trying to keep the same heart of the Sip & Bite and the same feel,” Vasiliades said.

“It feels great. I’m so proud. I want to thank all my customers. We give them good food, good service and good prices. All the cooking is done from scratch. Our crab cakes are famous. We’ve even had an article in the New York Times,” said George Vasiliades.

Other famous customers at the Sip & Bite include actor George Clooney, who filmed part of his movie “Syriana” there several years ago.