Category Archives: Vices

Former Burlesque Dancer Reminisces

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Scott Huffines

Ex-Stripper’s Days Are Now Quiet Ones By Rafael Alvarez (The Baltimore Sun, 2/2/1993) It isn’t right for Jean Honus to be all alone on Barney Street. The house is quiet; hours are long. And there’s no action. Not like the … Continue reading →


Posted in "The Block", 1990s, Booze, Burlesque, Nightlife, Strip Clubs, Vices | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Jolly Four Park: Essex’s Secret African-American 1930s Nightclub

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Scott Huffines

One of those Essex urban legends that my late mother Jackie Nickel was never able to verify concerned the existence of a secret African-American speakeasy/nightclub/picnic pavilion/swim club off of Back River Neck Road in Essex. There’s the remnants of a … Continue reading →


Posted in 1930s, Deaths, Essex / Middle River, Roadside Attractions, Vices | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Bar Odyssey: Dundalk to Fells Point

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Scott Huffines
bar-odyssey-thumb

By Tom Nugent (The Baltimore Sun, 3/10/1978) Friday night, Marie’s Tavern, and Shotgun Hank is getting into the Pabst. “Listen here,” says Shotgun, swiveling around on his bar stool, grinning wide as an Oklahoma freeway beneath his blue, Peterbilt trucker’s … Continue reading →


Posted in 1970s, Baltimore Babylon, Baltimorons, Beer, Booze, Dundalk, Fells Point, Highlandtown, Neighborhoods, Nightlife, Nightspots, Strip Clubs, Vices | Tagged | 1 Comment

The Peabody Book Shop: One for the books… Or Not.

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Scott Huffines
peabody-thumb

The Peabody Book Shop was ‘a place where respectable people could come for a sandwich and a glass of beer.’ By Mary K. Zajac (Style Magazine, Sept/Oct 2009) Come in,” the sign above the basement door at 913 N. Charles … Continue reading →


Posted in Baltimore Babylon, Baltimorons, Beer, Dining, Nightspots, Uncategorized, Vices | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Bar with a View

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Tom Warner
Club Charles

Unflappable Esther Martin Has Run the Club Charles Since 1951. Who Better to Tell of Her Block’s Boom, Bust, and Possible Rebirth? By Brennen Jensen (Baltimore City Paper, 2/16/2000) “There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man by … Continue reading →


Posted in Booze, Club Charles, Nightspots, Roadside Attractions | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Club Charles History: Esther W. Martin

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Tom Warner
esther_martin_tee_thumb

From the Club Charles web site: Esther W. Martin, longtime owner of a well-known Charles Street bar that evolved from Tenderloin to trendy, died Sunday at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center of complications after surgery. She was 80. She retired … Continue reading →


Posted in Baltimorons, Booze, Club Charles, Nightspots, Roadside Attractions | Tagged | Leave a comment

Like Bluefins from the Bay, Nobles of the Hardshells Survive

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Scott Huffines

By Jackie Nickel (10/28/1982) The day was hot, the beer was cold, and the steamed crabs were large and well-seasoned on an August afternoon in 1935 when the first gathering of the Ancient and Honorable Nobles of the Hardshells took … Continue reading →


Posted in 1930s, 1940s, Baltimore Babylon, Baltimorons, Beer, Crabs, Essex / Middle River, Gayety | Tagged | 1 Comment

National Premium Set To Return

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Scott Huffines
boh-darki

By Benn Ray (The Mobtown Shank, 9/25/2011) One of my all time favorite beers was National Premium. Specifically, National Premium Dark (but I’m also fond of the regular National Premium as well). Sure, locally, National Bohemian gets all the love. … Continue reading →


Posted in Beer | Tagged , | Leave a comment

A Tribute to Bubba ‘Hightower’ Smith

Posted on August 5, 2011 by Scott Huffines

Gawker.com: “For many sports fans, Bubba Smith, who died yesterday at the age of 66, was the legendary defensive end for the Baltimore Colts. But for movie buffs, he’ll always be remembered as Moses Hightower, the most badass member of … Continue reading →


Posted in 2010s, Beer, Colts, Obituaries, Sports | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

2011 Natty Boh Film Festival

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Tom Warner

The inaugural 2011 Natty Boh Film Festival was held this past Saturday night at Fraziers on The Avenue in Hampden and featured 16mm prints of vintage Natty Boh commercials (courtesy of Sam Fitzsimmons) – not to mention some Natty Boh DVD rarities from Atomic TV and the excellent documentary Mr. Boh’s Brewery by Alex Castro, Harry Connelly and Lyle Hein – as well as live music about Natty Boh (and other quality-of-life essentials in the Land of Pleasant Living) by the Motor Morons, TT Tucker, The Beatoes (a special reunion for the former Baltimore eccentrics whose leader Chris Dennstaedt now resides up I-95 in Philadelphia), Mongolodian Glow, and some related songs by guest artists . Continue reading →


Posted in Atomic TV, Beer, Entertainment, Festivals, Films, Hampden, Media, Music, Natty Boh, Neighborhoods, Nightlife, Punk / New Wave, TV Commercials, Vices | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Flags and Beer: A Baltimore Tradition

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Scott Huffines
banner

Our view: The kindness of a Baltimore brewer plays a small part in the story of America’s national anthem By Rob Kasper (The Baltimore Sun, 7/3/2011) During the Fourth of July weekend in Baltimore, there will be plenty of flags … Continue reading →


Posted in Beer, Holidays, July 4th, Vices | Tagged , | Leave a comment

At Preakness, Not Everybody’s Idea of Fun

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Scott Huffines
The message of Kegasus, Lord of the Infieldfest: “A 10-hour party to celebrate a two-minute race.”

By Joe Drape (The New York Times, 5/17/2011) Excessive drinking at the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown, reached its nadir in 2007 when videos of young men racing atop portable toilets in the Pimlico Race … Continue reading →


Posted in 2010s, Baltimorons, Beer, Booze, Events, Horseracing, Sports, Vices | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment