Events : Buzz

Julie Scharper and Justin Fenton at the Baltimore Sun take a deep, engaging, well-reported dive behind the scenes into the Baltimore Grand Prix and how one man's idea eventually became a reality.

From the story:

With the drop of the green flag in three weeks, Wehner's dream will roar to life.

Glossy race cars are set to dart down newly paved roads alongside the Inner Harbor, bearing on their sleek frames the aspirations of city and state officials who are betting on the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix to draw tens of thousands of race fans, pump tens of millions of dollars into the local economy and burnish the image of the city.


Read the whole thing here.

Baltimore residents are understandably concerned about the logistical impact of the upcoming Grand Prix, and last week the city sought to allay some of the fear.

From the Sun:

The city's transportation director, Khalil Zaied, and his aides outlined a detailed plan for gradually shutting down streets in the area between the Inner Harbor and Camden Yards in the days leading up to the series of races from Sept. 2 to Sept. 4.

The event, the first of its kind in Baltimore, has involved the extensive reconstruction of some downtown streets � much to the chagrin of many residents and commuters. But city officials say the event, which they expect will draw more than 100,000 visitors during a normally slow weekend, will more than make up for whatever aggravation it has caused.

Read the full story here.

A Maryland dog made national news recently by escaping from home...and joining a marathon.

From the source:

"A Maryland dog is raising money for cancer after escaping from his yard and running part of a charity half marathon.

The 3-year-old golden retriever-poodle mix named Dozer joined runners near his home, at mile five of the 13-mile race in Howard County near Baltimore on May 15.

Runners reported seeing him at several points and there's video of him crossing the finish line at 2 hours and 14 minutes. He then found his way home."

Read the full story here.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors descended on Baltimore this past weekend and they made some national news while they were here, including a call for reduced spending on foreign wars.

From the source:

"When asked to respond to those who argue military efforts overseas have made American cities safer from foreign terrorists, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa pointed to the cost of the wars.

"How did we get to a deficit and a debt larger than at any time not only in U.S. history but in human history? We got involved in two wars that, no matter what you think about those wars, we haven't paid for," Villaraigosa said.

"That we would build bridges in Baghdad and Kandahar and not Baltimore and Kansas City, absolutely boggles the mind."

Read the full story here.

X Games icon and local hero Travis Pastrana is coming back to Baltimore -- in a monster truck.

From the source:

"Pastrana will be driving the Nitro Circus truck named after his MTV reality show. His good friend, Cam McQueen usually drives the truck, but Pastrana takes over for McQueen several times a year.

"Honestly, though, I just want to get as much experience as I can and try to do my best every time I am in the truck," Pastrana said.

Pastrana finished fifth in freestyle at the 2009 Monster Jam World Finals. Sixteen trucks will compete in the event at M&T Bank Stadium."

Read the full story here.