Baltimore Traditions: The Blue Crab

I come from the land of crabs: Maryland. Chesapeake Bay country.

A heaping of crabs is considered a special dining event for most around the country, but for us, it’s a Saturday afternoon gathering of family. Dining is all about steaming up a bushel of Maryland Blue Crab
covered in Rock Salt and Olde Bay Seasoning.

I thought everyone understood the beauty of the crab, until I started traveling. I saw crab cakes on all the menus at restaurants, but not one came close to what any local pub will sell you in Maryland.

And yes, there are Alaskan King crabs, Snow Crabs and many more varieties. Still, in my neck of the woods, the Maryland Blue Crab reigns king.

To read the whole article, go to Associated Content.

Baltimore Traditions: The Baltimore Album Quilt

Quilts are the same no matter where you go. Some are meant to keep you warm. Others, like cave hieroglyphics, tell of history and lives long after the passing of the original artisans.

The Baltimore Album Quilt provides a great example of the latter. According to historians, the women who produced Baltimore Album Quilts produced them with a sort of fervor not known in quilting. They had a story to tell.

The Baltimore Album Quilt is one categorized almost instantly by its bold themes and strong color patterns. Relatives of most quilt makers from the northeast can spot the motifs and influences of Germanic artistry in Baltimore Album Quilts. That's not an accident, but a real description of the history of the creators. These colors and themes are signs of the stronghold the Methodist church had on the area at the time. Many of Baltimore's Album Quilts, colorful and ornate, are thought to have Methodist influences.

Baltimore, home to both a port and a fort, has always been regarded by outsiders as a city of scrappers, not artists. The chilly air off the Baltimore port gave life to a sturdy, strong breed. Baltimoreans were raised a very serious people. We had art, but for years we were taught to make our art useful, as well as beautiful.

Long before the Inner Harbor took over the tourist set, people mistook the genetic make up of the people who settled these dock areas as a collective set of hardbacks who could unload the never-ending crates arriving daily by boat from ports unknown. But, hon, Baltimoreans found a way to bring a sort of genteel nature to the harsh environment they had to endure. Pioneers found a way to showcase their artwork: The Baltimore Album Quilt. Like Williamsburg, much of the artwork from this era has a sort of folk art charm that reflects the struggles of the people who lived through it.

It all started when friends gathered to create paper albums full of pithy quotes, inspirational sayings, and sometimes, just autographs. Then someone discovered an indelible ink that couldn't ruin fabric. Baltimoreans began duplicating their paper ideas onto squares of fabric to create quilts of memories.

Along the way, the indelible inks became prominent parts of the album quilts, and quilt makers started making squares that included special quotes, sayings, etc. The use of indelible ink had become part of Baltimore's legacy to quilt making. Still, it remained a sort of insider secret, as it was seen as prideful, sinful or boastful to take credit for it-even if you did it. Thankfully, we've outgrown that over the years. It wasn't until it started making a comeback in the 1970s that the Baltimore Album Quilt finally gained the recognition it deserved. And that recognition has come from artisans, quilt makers and museum curators alike. Elly Sienkiewicz kept the art alive by authoring a series of books on the subject giving credit to the women who started the trend.

Let's get to the nuts and bolts of it all. How different is the Baltimore Album Quilt from other quilts? It starts out much like other types of quilts. Basically, the overall format was designed from the start. Then, to make it individual, the square's creator took responsibility for a portion of the final product.

Flowers are a main theme of Baltimore Album Quilts, with lots of appliqued pieces in decorative pots. Other famous components are patriotic themes, as well as animal pieces. Probably where Baltimore began, and lost, its home in the process is when so many quilters from around the country had begun using the applique process, particularly for the flowers used in the blocks.

Where you'll see Maryland set apart from others is in the pattern of the quilt. For example, it's not unusual to find a Maryland home or two in the design mix. The Maryland Manor home is but one of the designs set forth in Elly Sienkiewicz's book The Best of Baltimore Beauties. She has done a series devoted solely to these Baltimore beauties. And she's had a lot to write about over the years. If you're interested in recreating some of these treasures, some of her books include patterns for these blocks and borders. Look closely at the designs and you're apt to find Baltimore landmarks scattered throughout quilt. There's the real giveaway!

One of the most interesting parts of the whole album quilting process is that it went against the grain of the traditional quilt in a way. Most quilts were formulated from pieces of scrap materials for the main purpose of keeping warm, though, of course, the women tried to infuse their art, if only by signing their names in some extravagant embroidered fashion. The Album Quilt, on the other hand, was made quite differently.

The quilters chose their materials judiciously, opting only for the best pieces. In quilts meant to keep warm (such as crazy quilts, for example), it was a clip of an old velvet dress here, the tie with the husband's ketchup stain cut out there, etc. The Album Quilt started and ended with the best. Add to that, the whole concept of the memory album whereby the quilters could add emblazon their signatures with the indelible ink. Other times, they would write words of wisdoms for the bride to be, the neighbor moving cross country, or the sailor going off to war-whatever the case may be.

Check out the roots of the names embroidered or sketched on these patchwork beauties and you'll find that these women were not those necessarily in need. Many, if not most, came from the middle class or lower upper class elements. So many of the patterns are based on high-end china and the like not readily accessible to the masses.

The most telling point of the Baltimore Album Quilt is that most have only a thin batting, if any. These quilts were meant to be displayed in a household or kept to be passed down to future generations. The Baltimore quilters created memories to pay tribute to sons, brothers or friends lost in a war. Families had a lasting reminder that their neighbors remembered both the family and the deceased loved one. Quilts have always been a way of bringing people together.

TV's Extreme Home Makeover Comes to Baltimore to Help Local Organization

Extreme Makeover: Home Addition has descended on Baltimore to construct a house for "at risk" girls in Northeast Baltimore. The recipient is Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore. The team started construction on Saturday, July 10, but they're looking for all the help and volunteers they can get throughout the week.

For information, see this ABC-TV News clips:


http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/region/baltimore_city/extreme-makeover-crews-begin-laying-foundation-for-girls-hope-home

Good Guys Gone Bad…or Bad Guys All Along

 The FBI has announced that a former Prince George’s County Police Officer has pleaded guilty in connection with a bank break in. Eddie Smith, 42, pleaded guilty July 6, in his attempt to commit felony bank larceny.

The Chief of Police for Prince George’s County was on hand when the guilty plea was announced. He said, “I absolutely will not tolerate wrongdoing by any member of this agency. Bad cops have no place in our profession; they tarnish the good work that is being done by the rest of our employees. I am very appreciative of the hard work that the United States Attorney’s office did to ensure the swift prosecution of Mr. Eddie Smith.”

The guilty plea dates back to a June 9 event when Smith, then a uniformed PG Police Officer met with Earl Blake, 53, in PG County. Smith told Blake he had a job for him, and drove Blake, in his marked police cruiser to a local SunTrust bank located in Temple Hills.

Smith didn’t just supply the job and information. He also gave an electric grinder/saw and other materials, then told black how to break into the ATM safe. Smith left Blake to do the heavy lifting. It was a matter of Blake going through the unlocked front door at SunTrust.

An alarm went off, but because Smith stayed in the area, when the PG Fire Department responded to the alarm, it saw the police cruiser and assumed the situation was being dealt with. Smith explained to the firefighters that he check out the building, and it was secured.

It didn’t end there as the firemen smelled something burning. A firefighter spotted Earl Blake inside the building.

Blake fled through a back door, and Smith followed to make it look like he was pursuing a suspect. He came back with no Blake and no information.

Other PG officers arrested Blake, and they also found the grinder. They found a damaged ATM that contained $40,540.

Former PG Police Officer Smith will be sentenced on Oct. 18 in U.S. District Court. He faces 20 years in prison. Earl Blake also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on Aug. 12.

Baltimore Mariners Set for Playoffs

The Baltimore Mariners Indoor Football Team is headed for the playoffs on July 10, 7 p.m. at the First Mariner Arena. This is going to be a short post. Fans have seen little to no coverage/support of this team in the Baltimore Sunpapers, and that’s truly sad. Pennsylvania gets behinds its teams, but in Baltimore, unless it’s the Orioles or Ravens, fuggetaboutit.

Baltimore goes into the playoffs at Baltimore’s First Mariner Arena on Sat., July 10, with a 14-0 record. They’re the first team in the league to go undefeated, and it was a fight getting there. The last game against Reading pitted Baltimore against the defending champions. More than that, if Reading lost the game, they lost any chance they had to go to the playoffs.

And Baltimore won against the Reading Express 69-35 on June 26. The Express had won four straight regular season titles.

Following their bye, the Baltimore Mariners will host either Harrisburg or Erie for the Eastern Conference Championship at 7 p.m.

After the July 10 game, I’m sure I’ll have a lot more to say. It’s a shame, the Sunpapers won’t.

For information:
www.baltimoremariners.com

For ticket information
www.baltimorearena.com

Stop Snitching Producer Going to Prison...Again

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles sentenced Ronnie Thomas, 36, the Baltimore gang leader known for producing and appearing in controversial Stop Snitchin’ Videos to 235 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Thomas, leader of the TTP Bloods (Tree Top Piru Bloods), was hit with the racketeering charge for narcotics trafficking, conspiracy to commit murder and robbery.

Thomas is best known for producing a series of DVDs that causes a public outcry in Baltimore. The Stop Snitchin’ videos gained prominence in 2004 when Thomas produced a DVD warning criminal informants to stop snitchin’ (informing) to the police department. The DVD which  met with outrage, as community activists complained that the sole aim of the home-made DVD was to scare people with threatened violence if they went to law enforcement about criminal activity. 

Two years after the release of the video, Thomas, known as Skinny Suge among other aliases, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for first degree assault. All but three years of that sentence were suspended. 

 

The Stop Snitchin’ DVD which gained momentum in the hip hop world, came on the heels of the horrific, mass murder of a Baltimore family in 2002. Angela Dawson, her husband Carnell and 5 children were hit by an arsonist, a young man who retaliated because Angela Dawson repeatedly called police to report drug dealing in her neighborhood. In the end Angela and her five children died in the fire. Only Carnell survived. 

Darrell L. Brooks, a former page in City Council Chamber Council, pleaded guilty the day the trial was to start. Members of the Dawson family sued the City,  unsuccessfully. At the crux was the Mayor's "Believe" program. Many contend that it was unreasonable to expect those in drug-infested neighborhoods to take on drug dealers. 

At the time of the Dawson murders, then Mayor Martin O’Malley urged citizens to take back their streets. Dawson took those words to heart, and called the police no less than 50 times. While police responded each time, they could do little but watch the family until they could catch Brooks in the act. The Dawson murders brought national attention with the likes of Jesse Jackson and Dick Gregory attending the funeral. Dulaney Memorial Gardens, the spot were fallen police officers are buried, donated spots for the Dawson family.

Thomas served as leader of the TTP Bloods, a violent gang, an offshoot of the original “Bloods,” a street gang prominent in Los Angeles in the ‘70s. TTP is an offshoot of that gang. Its Maryland roots stem from about 1999 at the Washington County Detention Center in Hagerstown.