Baltimore Grows

Fortunately this one won’t require a trip to Vietnam, this Vietnamese Restaurant is right here in Baltimore.  Mekong Delta Cafe, which recently opened up at 105 W Saratoga St just West of Mt. Vernon has been serving up some delicious food and making some very big waves with local foodies.

The Cafe itself is very small and simple and the decor and furnishings are modest.  It’s obvious that it is a family owned establishment.  There is no liquor license, so BYOB.  Because of the small size it’s probably not a good place to bring a large group.  Because it’s family operated, the service is friendly and gracious, but somewhat slow, so don’t come if you’re in a hurry.

The food, however, is unbelievable. I started with a summer roll that came with some type of peanut sauce.  The vegetables in the summer roll were incredibly fresh and the shrimp were plump and perfectly cooked.  The presentation was simple but beautiful.  As an entree, I had the crab and shrimp fried rice.  It had a real nice flavor and spice to it…not overpowering….delicious.  I think I ate every last kernel of rice on the plate.  My fellow diner had the Pho which was also reported to be delicious and fresh.  Best of all, the place is very affordable.  The bill came to $20.85 for two people, and for what you get, Mekong Delta offers a great bang for the buck.  Don’t forget to bring cash…credit cards are not accepted.

Mekong Delta Cafe

105 W Saratoga St
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 244-8677

Click Here to Read the Review in the Baltimore Sun

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

Film crews have swarmed Baltimore’s Mt. Vernon neighborhood recently, working on a pilot for a new prime time drama on Fox.  While there is no guarantee that the show would be picked for Fox’s new lineup, the general thought is that it has a pretty good chance. 

The show, called “The Reincarnationist” is based on a novel by M.J. Rose and is about a group of investigators that solve present-day mysteries based on past life experiences.  It’s unclear why Baltimore was chosen or whether Baltimore will play itself or be a stand-in for Washington D.C. or New York as it often does for movies on the Silver Screen. 

The filming will likely build excitement for those who like seeing the buzz of film crews around, but will also cause headaches and traffic jams for some that are trying to get around quickly.  Undoubtedly, if the show is picked up, it would be a plus for Baltimore and a boon to the economy.  Baltimore hasn’t seen a film crew since “He’s Just Not That Into You” (which was based in Baltimore) filmed a few scenes here.  No television show has been filmed in Baltimore since HBO’s “The Wire”, but hopefully “The Reincarnationist” will show Baltimore in a better light.

To learn more, follow the link below:

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/zontv/2009/03/reincarnation_pilot_fox_baltim.html

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

It all started with Pinkberry in California.  Recently similar yogurt stores that offer frozen treats mixed with fresh fruit or other toppings have been popping up across the country.  Think of it as a Coldstone or Maggie Moos but with yogurt instead of ice cream.  Now it’s Baltimore’s turn…with the opening of Mr. Yogato in Fells Point where Eclectic Elements used to be (723 S. Broadway).  This will be Mr. Yogato’s second store…the other one is in DC.  No info yet on when the shop will open, but lets hope that we’ll be enjoying some frozen treats before the heat of the summer arrives. 

Visit their website:  http://www.mryogato.com/

It was recently announced that two crown jewels of Baltimore, Pimlico Race Track and Harbor Place are being put up for sale.  Magna (Owner of Pimlico) and General Growth Properties(Owner of Harbor Place) are both in financial straights and in desperate need of cash. 

The fear is that the prominent properties might be bought out by a developer that might ultimately drive the them into the ground, however, I would argue that this has already happened by the current proprietors.  For instance, when General Growth bought Harbor Place, about the only improvement was the addition of Urban Outfitters where the Discovery Store used to be….compare this to several restaurants and other tenants that have left and are yet to be replaced.  And lets face it…Pimlico is in desperate need of a face lift and a breath of new life if it expects to make money any day of the year other than Preakness. 

Both properties have incredible potential for the right buyer, and frankly, I don’t think anyone need to be concerned about either properties getting any worse.  I don’t particularly see Preakness leaving Baltimore, because I sincerely doubt it would be profitable anywhere else. 

Rumor has it that Cordish Company, which apparently has expendable cash, is eying Harbor Place, and could revitalize it as an all around entertainment venue.  If we’re lucky, perhaps profitable Churchill Downs will make a bid for Pimlico.  They lost the bid to Magna the last time the track was sold.

Let’s hope whoever buys these properties will help them regain their true potential.

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

The MTA recently announced the addition of approximately 400 additional parking spaces at the West Baltimore MARC station in what might be the first step in a massive planned transit oriented redevelopment of the area.

Part of the plan uses some of the federal stimulus money to demolish a portion of US-40 to build the lots. The lots will be temporary until the West Baltimore redevelopment begins.

Follow this link to view the West Baltimore Master Plan: http://www.ci.baltimore.md.us/government/planning/westBaltimoreMasterPlan.php

Follow this link to read the article in the Baltimore Business Journal: http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2009/02/23/daily53.html

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com