arts and culture : Buzz

Wonder what's going on with Baltimore's popular country band Wye Oak? The duo sits down for a Q&A with the DCist.

Here's an excerpt:

"The best thing about the explosion of Baltimore music on a national level is that it's really easy to catch very good bands and catch them regularly since the trip isn't hard for fans or band. Although it's really easy to point to neon green skulls or noisy art-rock when looking at Baltimore bands, one of the Charm City's best acts plays more straightforward yet more nuanced rock-and-roll.

Wye Oak's onstage energy is undeniable. Even when they've slowed from intense shredding to a downtempo with a dash of swirling ambience, they're never boring. Jenn Wasner's voice is as expressive as her lyrics, which is saying something if you've ever read Wye Oak liner notes. Plus, we will never lose our amazement with the fact that Andy Stack is playing drums with three limbs (two legs and an arm) but still playing another instrument (usually the keyboard) with hand number two. That impresses us every single time. Oh, and he sings some of the harmonies, too. We talked to Jenn Wasner about the best parts of the Baltimore music scene, touring with a living legend and playing on the new Titus Andronicus record."

Read the entire article here.

Baltimore's own Bengie's Drive-in will be featured in an upcoming episode of PBS' My Generation that will show the film Going Attractions about the slow demise of the drive-in theater.

Watch the preview:

Cartoonist and writer, Tom Chalkley, provided the sketch and oversight as more than 40 artists volunteered to paint the mural at Greenmount and 33rd street in the Waverly Village of Baltimore. Watch the mural come to life in the video.

Here's an excerpt

"Over two steamy summer months, dozens of volunteer artists helped paint a design by cartoonist and writer Tom Chalkley. Chalkley is a long-time friend and cartoonist-in-residence at Welcome To Baltimore, Hon!

The 485-square-foot mural depicts a "slightly idealized" vision of Waverly Village. It features a parade, the farmers' market, a circle of friends playing music, a mother reading to her two children at the library, community activists, and the new Waverly playground."

Read the entire article and see the video here

Forget the corny camp songs, At Opera Summer Camp gives Baltimore tweens a broader playbook taken from opera's masters.

Here's an excerpt:

"On a bright summer morning in Baltimore, camp is in full swing. A few dozen youngsters run through their daily exercises � vocal exercises, that is. Forget the bug spray and sleeping bags. At Opera Camp, the kids need only bring talent and a desire to sing.

Five days a week, from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., camp is held inside a sprawling concert hall. The four-week session aims to introduce the texting generation to opera. Students receive instruction in music, acting, dance, lighting, set design, and makeup and wigs. Thanks to private donors, everything from field trips to lunch is free."

Listen to the entire report here.

Peter Allen, a screenwriter born and raised in Baltimore, hits the big time with his new film featuring some of Hollywood's and the rap world's top stars.

"Veteran filmmaker Peter Allen is living the life many screenwriters dream about: his movie, "Takers" seems destined to be a bona fide 2010 summer blockbuster.

The movie stars red-hot actors Idris Elba and Zoe Saldana, hip-hop superstar Tip "T.I." Harris and controversial crooner Chris Brown, and is about a group of slick bank robbers who go all out to pull off a $20 million heist. The movie is scheduled to be released nationwide Aug. 27.

Allen, one of the film's co-writers, says he wanted to present a different vision of high stakes criminals. "Why can't they be gentlemen, why can't they be slick, why can't they be smart like some of the guys I have read about and know about," Allen told the AFRO in a phone interview from Los Angeles."

Read the entire article here.

It's hard to imagine, but there are actually people out there who haven't experienced Baltimore's wonders. This blogger finally made the trek and left planning to return.

Here's an excerpt of her travels:

"Baltimore has always been a dream destination for me, and this past weekend I finally made it there. It has a reputation as a quirky city, and it did not disappoint. Soon after we pulled into the downtown area, the streets were full of really strange characters, all dressed up in outrageous costumes. It took us a while but we finally figured it out�an anime convention was taking place that weekend.

We drove to Fells Point and one of the first things we spotted was this little beauty:

Read the entire post here.

Traveling to distant locations, either overseas or in the U.S.,  is always the best way to spend a summer vacation. But, if money is tight there are many places in Maryland worth a trip that won't break the bank.

Here's an exerpt:

"Stay: Harris Cove Cottages Bed N' Boat is a unique waterfront cottage village (five minutes from downtown) in the heart of a shallow and serene cove of Harris Creek. Explore 100 miles of Chesapeake Bay shoreline, take out a kayak or pedal boat (complimentary) or cook up some fresh crabs on the grill. Eight modern cottages sleep up to a family of four and have expansive waterfront views. Boat and motor rentals available. A two-night stay in a stateroom is..."

Read the entire article here.

The Senator Theatre showed its final fiilm Wednesday. The historic art deco theater had been in operation since 1939. Redevelopment plans are underway between the City and Buzz Cusack, owner of The Charles Theatre.

Here's an excerpt:

"Fans filled the house for the last movie--the original Star Wars.

"The Senator, as we know it, is gone with the wind. Hopefully, it will be better but a family tradition--it's the end of an era," said Saray Israel.

After Wednesday, the projector will go dark.

"When the key goes in the lock tonight--that's a question you're going to have to ask someone else," Kiefaber said."

Read the entire article here.

Welcome Kerry, a new Baltimore resident who moved here from New York City. To ease the transition, the self-styled bookworm has found a few good blogs by Charm City locals...more would always help though.

Here's an excerpt:

"I am now an official resident of Maryland! I even bought a car. So long, NYC. Hello, suburbs and water and boats and driving to the grocery store.

In honor of my move, I naturally looked around for good MD-area blogs to follow... and HOW EXCITED WAS I to discover..."

Read the entire post here.

Living in Baltimore, it's easy to see that the arts play a huge role in the city. As with eveyrthing that's created here our artists do it with a flair found only in Charm City. The Washington Post captures the style in a series of articles focusing on everything from art to theater.

Here's an excerpt:

"Baltimore brews its own arts scene, with a taste of what America was and what it will be."

Read the entire series of articles here.

Baltimore's twitterati were busy last week. So, even though we were on vacation, we saw a few we knew had to be on this week's TOTW list.

BRAC is coming and so are the jobs, hopefully this tweet from @MDBiz  will help you land a new gig! "A primer for BRAC job-seekers: MD's Mike Hayes on security clearances, timing & whether you need a college degree. http://bit.ly/c3Lf3K"

We're sooo looking forward to Artscape and this makes it even better! @WeightlessOne tweets, "There's a stoop storytelling workshop and performance for free on Saturday at #Artscape. http://bit.ly/d47peW."

@OpenSociety tweeted two really good questions, "How would you define "open society"? We often talk about the idea, but what does it mean to you?" and "Audacious Idea: What would Baltimore look like if everyone had a home? http://bit.ly/djyENV"  Send us your answers on Twitter!

Have you heard? @ABC2NEWS needs volunteers! "Top Stories: Extreme Home Makeover volunteers needed - The Extreme Home Makeover crew is calling on Baltimore area r... http://ow.ly/184Znd"

Dogs are always a winner! @BaltimoreMD "Doggies playing in the fountain outside our Visitor Center. #HappyPlace http://twitpic.com/23vfk0"

Want a chance for your tweet to make our list? Follow us @bmoremedia and @bmoremediame! You can also send us your favorite tweets on Twitter or via email.

Ever wonder why Baltimore has so many murals and where they are? This blogger answers the why and points the way to the where.

Here's an excerpt:

"I'm starting a regular feature to highlight them and this will allow me to mention other aspects of art in the process. Baltimore, Maryland has a Mural Painting Program that I did not know about. Evidently, this has been ongoing for 30 years! In 2008, through the program, CityPaint, there was a push to get 20 murals painted."

Read the entire post here.

It's taken two years, but the bust of Frank Zappa is finally on its way to the city of the quirky rock icon's birth. The statue, a replica of a bust located in Lithuania, was gifted to the city by fans in that country in May 2008.

Here's an excerpt:

"The copy of the original bust, which is standing in central Vilnius, was made two years ago with the thought of bringing it to Baltimore. Zappa, weighing more than a tone, will be taken to US by a sea transport by UPS company. "Our mission is simple � this is not even close to the risks that were taken by French, when they presented the Liberty sculpture to US," said UPS representative to Lithuania Vladas Lasas.

It is planned that Zappa will reach its hometown within a month. The opening of the bust will take place in Baltimore on 18 of September..."

Read the entire article here.

If you haven't been able to cop a ticket to a Stew dinner, here's a peek at a recent dinner and the trend that is spreading across the country.

"A Stew meal is not elaborate. The main course is soup; tonight it's a choice between vegan spring onion and rabbit with dumplings. Tickets to the event are $10 each. But there's more to this meal than the composition of a plate of radishes, or of the next course: spears of roasted asparagus, pleasantly salted, arranged to form squares that overlap at the corners.

Stew is the brainchild of the Baltimore Development Cooperative (not to be confused with the Baltimore Development Corp.), which was started in 2007 by three recent MICA graduates, all artists now in their late 20s: Scott Berzofsky, Nicholas Wisniewski and Nester. They wanted to use food to foster community and stimulate activism."

Read the entire article here.

The all volunteer organized and operated music festival happens in Baltimore July 22-25. The four-day event, presented by Wham City and devoid of corporate sponsorship, takes place at various locations throughout the city with music, theater, and video performances from hundreds of artists and bands from the Baltimore area and beyond.

Here's an excerpt:

' *Sniffle* Whartscape has really grown up, guys. This year the Baltimore music fest celebrates its fifth birthday with a sprawling lineup of approximately 435 bands over three days. See the almost complete lineup..."

Read the entire post (scroll down to the bottom of the page) here.