Thursday, May 23, 2013
You can use this gas price widget to always find the lowest price of the moment. Pro tip: Gas up early this week to save money.
Click here for a full-screen view of the gas price map. If you don't see a map of our local area, click the magnifying glass in the upper right to enter your address. Nationwide, gas prices were predicted to be lower this summer compared to the last three years, but that won't translate into savings at the pump this Memorial Day weekend, experts said. "Motorists this year are facing rising gas prices heading into the Memorial Day holiday," said Michael Green, a AAA spokesman, adding that Memorial Day 2013 would probably be the most expensive since 2011. In past years, prices have declined heading into early summer as oil refineries produced more gasoline to meet expected summer driving demand. This year, though, Midwest refineries haven't …
From Memorial Day parades to holiday fender benders, this live map shows delays and diversions on North Baltimore area roads right now.
If you're on a mobile device, click here to view the map. When you're done getting gas and packing the car, check out the live results from MapQuest above to see what's standing between you and the start of your three-day weekend. Mapquest scans for parade routes, ongoing construction, block parties and traffic jams. If your route is green, your good. If it's red, you may be headed into a line of rubbernecking fools. Good luck if your leaving Baltimore!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
A portion of the road will be closed on Thursday.
A section of West University Parkway will be closed due to Johns Hopkins University’s commencement ceremony. The southbound section of the road between San Martin Drive and Canterbury Road will be closed from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday., according to an alert from the Department of Transportation. Parking will also be restricted in that area. The ceremony will begin at 8:40 a.m. with the procession of degree candidates onto Homewood Field, according to a news release from the university.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Forty-two percent of people asked have an unfavorable view of the very hip, says a new poll.
Despite penchant for helping to reinvigorate urban neighborhoods, especially here in North Baltimore, the nebulous hipster is apparently a target for scorn in the United States. A poll released by Public Policy Polling shows that a large percentage of Americans (42 percent) have an unfavorable opinion of "hipsters," a group of men and women "unusually aware of and interested in new and unconventional patterns," according to Merriam Webster. The Urban Dictionary says members of this subculture are "typically in their 20s and 30s" and "value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, indie-rock" and "witty banter." In the PPP poll, only 16 percent of American have a favorable opinion of hipsters, with Democrats twice as …
Monday, May 20, 2013
The Department of Public Works has requested a meeting with the city spending board to increase rates by 15 percent.
The Baltimore Department of Public Works has requested a hearing with the city spending board to increase water and sewer rates 15 percent. The hearing is requested for the Board of Estimates 9 a.m. meeting Wednesday at City Hall, 100 N. Holiday St. If the boost in rates is eventually approved by the City Council it would raise the average customer’s bill by $94.50, according to a news release. The agency claims the increase is needed to offset unfunded mandates that require improvements to city infrastructure, as well as to improve a much maligned billing system. Issues with the current billing system came to light last year when residents started to receive bills they said were artificially high, and in some cases had liens placed on …
The council will also be giving a hearing to a proposal to keep the parking tax at its current rate on Thursday.
A Baltimore City Council committee will hear Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s proposals for a new tax and preventing the rate from dropping on another. The Taxation Finance and Economic Development Committee will meet starting at 10 a.m., Thursday at City Hall, 100 N. Holiday St. on a proposal to charge a 25 cent excise tax on “passenger-for-hire” services as well as keeping the parking tax rate at 20 percent, according to the council’s website. Both of the proposals were included in a plan released by the mayor earlier this year to offset a predicted $745 million operating budget deficit in the next decade. The so called "taxi tax" and parking tax are also part of the Rawlings-Blake’s proposed fiscal year 2014 budget. The budget has …
Saturday, May 18, 2013
From A to Z, a wild, fun time at the 138th Preakness Stakes.
What was your favorite thing about the Preakness? Were you there? Show us by adding your photos to our Neighborhood Gallery. Can you think of other letters emblematic of Baltimore premier sporting event? Tell us in the comments section below. — See all of our Preakness stories here.
The Baltimore tradition means many things to those who attend the race.
Preakness day is a Baltimore tradition, but it means different things to those who attend the race. Jeff Burdick grew up in Saratoga, NY, and now calls Baltimore home, so he’s no stranger to the track. "It’s kind of in my blood," Burdick said. Burdick, adorned in a black hat with horses attached to the brim, reviewed his choices in the upcoming races in relative peace in the infield—something that used to be a rare commodity on Preakness day. "It’s a lot different since they banned coolers," Burdick said. While those around him may have been there more for the concerts than horse racing, Burdick was focused on the time-honored tradition of gambling, and was still considering whether or not he would even bet on the Preakness Stakes. Orb’…
Friday, May 17, 2013
See what alternatives to driving to Pimlico Race Course are available on Saturday.
The Maryland Transit Administratrion listed on its website the following methods for getting to Pimlico Race Course, and recommended which methods race fans should use if coming from several areas in and around Baltimore City. Local Bus Service to Pimlico Metro Subway Service To Pimlico Light Rail Service To Pimlico Best Transit Options To The Preakness From Towson-Lutherville-Timonium-Hunt Valley-Southern PA Take Light Rail to Cold Spring Lane Stop. Take connecting Shuttle Bus to Pimlico. ($3.50 Day Pass required) From Glen Burnie-BWI Marshall Airport-Linthicum-Severna Park-Annapolis Take Light Rail to Cold Spring Lane Stop. Take connecting Shuttle Bus to Pimlico. ($3.50 Day Pass required) From Downtown Baltimore Take Metro Subway from …
See how these changes may impact your plans for getting to Pimlico Race Course.
The Baltimore City Department of Transportation released the following list of closures and traffic moderations in and around Pimlico Race Course on Preakness day. Saturday, May 18—6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2013—5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 16, 2013 starting at 10 p.m. until Saturday, May 18, 2013 at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 16, 2013 starting at 10 p.m. to Saturday, May 18, 2013 at 9 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2013 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2013 from 3 to 8 p.m.
Charles Village Miss
12:54 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
ARRGGGH!!! Not "pensions" for reinvigorating downtown neighborhoods, "penchants". Better yet, "a penchant". more ›