Baltimore Checkbook

Valentine's Day is here: These are the most...

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Love is in the air. Or is that just the smell of good food? Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Yelp has released a list of the most romantic restaurants in Baltimore. Using a formula taking into account a restaurant’s overall rating, and the number of times the word “romantic” or a similar word is used in a review, the website compiled a list of the 15 best date spots. If you’re hoping to land a reservation at one of these restaurants for Feb. 14, you better move quickly. The Charleston, which…

After four years, Federal Hill's Crossbar gets...

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Crossbar der Biergarten finally has its liquor license. A four-year journey for the ownership team culminated Thursday when the Baltimore City Board of Liquor License Commissioners unanimously approved a liquor license transfer for the beer garden at 18 E. Cross St in Federal Hill. The license comes from 1015-1019 S. Charles St. and the former Joey B’s Bar & Grille. The plan is to now have the location open by March 11 in time for St. Patrick’s Day. “We are happy to be at the end of the road,…

Maryland lawmakers scrap plans for large Cross...

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Baltimore legislators poised to introduce a bill to grant a large liquor license to the Cross Street Market are also walking away from that quest. The action was announced in the wake of Cross Street Market developer Caves Valley Partners nixing a $6.5 million deal with the city to redevelop the market in Federal Hill on Wednesday. “The need for a unique liquor license for the newly envisioned market was a critical piece for the project,” according to a Facebook statement by state Sen. Bill…

Phillips Seafood moving out of BWI's Southwest...

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Passengers flying on Southwest Airlines out of Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport will no longer have the chance to grab a bite to eat at Phillips Seafood beginning this spring when the restaurant closes to move to a different concourse. The seafood restaurant will move out of concourse A, which services Southwest exclusively as BWI’s biggest airline, and into concourse D. The new concourse services seven airlines, including Delta, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines. Philips…

Maryland's new Black Chamber of Commerce ready 'to...

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Ron Busby held captivated the audience Wednesday night in the Silver Spring Civic Center as he told the story of how he grew his father’s cleaning company from $150,000 in annual revenue, to $15 million, over 10 years. He sprinkled in details on the challenges black-owned entrepreneurs often face when trying to start a business. Limited access to capital, a lack of advocacy and poor credit, were just a few that he mentioned. As president and CEO of U.S. Black Chambers Inc., Busby’s presence at…

Nationals to play three exhibition games at Naval...

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The Washington Nationals have signed a deal to play three exhibition games at the Naval Academy in Annapolis through 2019, starting with a game on April 1 against the Boston Red Sox. All three games, one each year, will be played at Navy’s Max Bishop Stadium. The opponents and dates for the games in 2018 and 2019 will be decided at a later date. Tickets for April’s game at 2 p.m. against the Red Sox will not be available to the public, and will instead be distributed to midshipmen, as well as select…

How this immigration attorney says businesses...

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To say well-known immigration attorney Sheela Murthy has been busy the last few weeks would be an understatement. Murthy, president of the Murthy Law Firm in Owings Mills, said her phone has been ringing off the hook since Donald Trump became president less than three weeks ago. Companies have been seeking Murthy’s advice on how to deal with Trump’s executive order banning travel from seven majority-Muslim countries and other regulations that could be coming. The order has been temporarily blocked…

Downtown Baltimore office tower sells at auction...

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The 19-story Wells Fargo tower at St. Paul and Baltimore streets downtown was sold back to its lender in a foreclosure auction Thursday for $15 million. An auction for the 32-year-old Class A office tower was held on the steps of the Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. Courthouse at 11 a.m. by Alex Cooper Real Estate Division. 7 St. Paul Street Holdings LLC, a special entity formed by the undisclosed lender, was the buyer, said Laura S. Bouyea, of Baltimore law firm Venable LLP, who is listed as substitute…

Cordish expanding to Cleveland with Live...

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The Cordish Cos. is bringing its entertainment concept to Cleveland. Cleveland Live, piggybacking off other venues the Baltimore developer has delivered across the U.S., will encompass nearly 48,000 square feet in a new project proposed in downtown Cleveland’s Gateway District. The entertainment district will be part of the mixed-use nuCLEus development planned by Cleveland-based Stark Enterprises. Cleveland Live will sit across from the Quicken Loans Arena, home of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. Cordish…

Maryland Comptroller Franchot suspends 20 tax...

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Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot suspended 20 tax preparers indefinitely on Thursday after receiving a high volume of questionable returns. The businesses have been sent written notices of the action, and they are suspended from filing electronic returns. Of the 20 tax preparers, 12 are located in Greater Baltimore. The suspensions come as Franchot has become increasingly outspoken over the last year about tax fraud and identity theft. The 20 tax preparers facing suspension: Vasquez Tax Services…