Buzz

Philanthropist William Polk Carey, who donated millions to Maryland universities, died Jan. 2 in West Palm Beach, Fla. Newspapers around the country remembered the investment firm owner who managed an $11.8 billion investment portfolio.
That includes the Wall Street Journal, which ran an Associated Press story remembering the late entrepreneur.

Last year, Carey gave $30 million to the University of Maryland law school and gave $50 million to found the Johns Hopkins University Carey School of Business in 2006.

First Mariner has remained true to its name.

Billboard magazine has named it the top-grossing arena of its size. It grossed nearly $16 million this year, making it No. 1 among arenas that seat between 10,000 and 15,000 people, writes the Baltimore Sun. It's the second year in a row that First Mariner has been first.

Recent acts at the arena include Sade, Kanye West and Jay-Z. You can read the rest of the story here.

U.S. News & World Report has included three Baltimore hotels in its annual list of Best Hotels in the USA. The honored properties include the Hyatt Regency Baltimore, Baltimore Marriott Waterfront and the InterContinental Harbor Court Baltimore.

You can read reviews of the hotels here.

People in Vermont are the most healthful in the nation while those in Mississippi rank at the bottom. That's according to America's Health Ranking, a report that assesses residents' smoking, obesity, homicide and infant mortality rates, among other factors.

Maryland ranked No. 22 on the list. It scored favorably for a reduction in its smoking rate and a decrease in its violent crime rate. But it has a high infant mortality rate and levels of air pollution, according to the report.

You can read the rest of the analysis here.

PR News has recognized Jamie Watt Arnold of Baltimore's Profiles among its 15 to Watch. The weekly publication bestowed the honor on budding public relations professionals under 30.

"To promote client Freshii, a quick-service restaurant, Jamie Watt Arnold coordinated a grand-opening celebration that attracted Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and secured nearly 70 media hits in outlets such as the Baltimore Sun and Style Magazine," PR News writes.

You can read more about the recognition here.

George Soros' Open Society Foundations has tapped John F. Kennedy School of Government Professor Christopher Stone to take the helm, the New York Time writes.

The foundation works to create vibrant democracies by shaping public policy in more than three dozen cities around the world, including Baltimore.

Stone will succeed Aryeh Neier in July. You can read more about the transition here.

Darcie Chan is a 37-year-old attorney who has sold 400,000 copies of her self-published book "The Mill River Recluse," writes the Wall Street Journal.

And Chan got her law degree from the University of Baltimore. Numerous literary agents and publishers rejected the book before Chan decided to publish it herself, she tells the newspaper. You can read more about Chan's literary success here. (Registration is required).

What do Urban Pirates, Marine Steel Wire Products, aMuse Toys and Union Box Co. have in common?

Leaders from all of these Greater Baltimore firms were invited to the White House to share their thoughts on health care reform, the economy and other business concerns, according to the Baltimore Business Journal.

You can read more about the meeting and see a complete list of businesses that participated here.

Rapper Common is starring in a new movie that is set in Baltimore.

"LUV" is one of the 110 feature-length films that will screen at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, Jan. 19-29.

It tells the story of an 11-year-old boy who learns the truth about his uncle on the streets of Baltimore, the Wall Street Journal writes. You can see a complete list of films here.

Oriole Park: It's not just for baseball anymore.

Planned renovations to the Baltimore Orioles' home will make Oriole Park at Camden Yards a year-round destination, stadium officials told the Baltimore Sun. A picnic area behind the center field will be turned into a park where visitors can stroll, even when there isn't a game playing.

The plan also includes more concessions and a rooftop viewing area, according to the Sun article.

Aerial artist Mara Neimanis will perform her new solo show at the Creative Alliance next year.

"Naomi's Flight" tells the story of the artist's personal experience caring for her elderly parents. "This one-hour aerial performance combines text and choreography on three steel suspended apparatus sculpted by Baltimore sculptor, Tim Scofield," writes Broadway World.

You can learn more about the Feb. 2 performance here.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's most recent performance at Carnegie Hall tells the story of French heroine Joan of Arc and gets a nice review in the New York Times.

The newspaper writes that BSO Music Director Marin Alsop led a "tightly wrought performance" of "Jeanne d'Arc au Bucher," or Joan of Arc at the Stake, by Swiss composer Arthur Honegger.

Musicians from the Peabody Children’s Chorus, the Morgan State University Choir, the Peabody-Hopkins Chorus and the Concert Artists of Baltimore also took the stage. You can read the whole review here.

Getting tired of your usual Thanksgiving repertoire? Well it's too late to turn back the clock, but there's always next year.

And here to help is Sergio Vitale, co-owner of Aldo's Italian Restaurant and pizza place Chazz: A Bronx Original. The Wall Street Journal recently featured his brussel sprouts' recipe, made with sriracha and pancetta, among other ingredients.

Actor-turned-restaurant partner Chazz Palminteri, co-owner of the Harbor East pizza joint, shares the recipe with the Journal's readers.

When the public got word that Café Hon owner Denise Whiting had trademarked the word "Hon," the Hampen business owner faced a backlash that affected sales of her restaurant.

But she told several media outlets that she is dropping her trademark of the term of the uniquely Baltimore term of endearment. 

She also apologized for stirring up such controversy.

Thanks, Hon.

You can read more about it here.

It's been five years since the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in two season games.

And it's not just folks in Charm City and the 'Burgh who have noticed.

The 23-20 Nov. 6 victory drew interest from national media, including the New York Times and Huffington Post. The New York Times notes that the game dominated the ratings.

The Huffington Post notes that Joe Flacco's 26-yard pass allowed the Ravens to come from behind to win the game.