The HCSA is pleased to present our monthly "E-News" with  information on news and upcoming events taking place in the Charles Street district. February 2010 Discount Opportunities for Members More Snow?  It's not too late to order your snow melt!  Magnesium Chloride outperforms Calcium Chloride and Salt (Sodium Chloride) because it is 1) Less damaging to masonry, concrete and metal and will not leave the white residue on our new brick sidewalks; 2) More Green or environmentally friendly; 3) Less toxic to pets and trees and 4) A better melting performer. This discount purchasing opportunity is available through a joint partnership of CSDC (Charles Street Development Corporation), MCBD (Midtown Community Benefits District) and (MVBA) Mount Vernon/Belvedere Association and HCSA.  For your contribution of $15, MCBD will deliver a six-gallon bucket to your door.  One bucket should be enough to get an average property owner (30 foot frontage) through a typical winter.  If you'd like to place an order, please contact michele@charlesstreet.net or call 410-332-4144. Discount Parking Coupons  For the Franklin Street Garage (on Franklin between Charles and Cathedral) HCSA can provide $2 discount parking coupons for you to distribute to some of your valued retail customers.  When applied to the already discounted off-peak rate of $4, people who come to the area on evenings or weekends park for only $2.  To obtain your coupons, please contact michele@charlesstreet.net. Member News Please welcome Bruce Luchansky Esq. of Luchansky P.A. to HCSA!  Bruce and his firm recently moved to the area. He enjoys conducting legal seminars, and is looking forward to working with business members in our community.  For information on his firm, please visit http://www.luchanskylaw.com/. A special thanks goes to George's on Mount Vernon Square for hosting HCSA's January Happy Hour.  Guests were treated to some of Chef Tom Hamrick's yummy hors d'oeuvres while networking with other members.  Great bar! Go to http://www.peabodycourthotel.com. Events and Promotions along Charles Street  Baltimore's Tremonts, 222 St. Paul Place February 13 Celebrate Valentine's with a special romantic package! *Overnight accommodations in one of our spacious suites *A four-course dinner served in our newly remodeled Tug's Restaurant *In-room delivery of a half bottle of house champagne and a plate of chocolate covered strawberries *Live entertainment in Tug's 6-10 p.m. *Overnight valet parking for 1 car *All taxes & gratuities are included *$225 for a Studio Suite, or $250 for a Premier One Bedroom Suite! This package is available for double occupancy only.  Visit http://www.tremonts.com. Beadazzled, 501 N. Charles Street February 12-15  Gem trunk show!   We're bringing in a great selection of 8 inch gem strands. At least 25 different stone varieties in at least 11 different shapes each! This is an excellent opportunity to expand your supply of interesting gems at bargain prices. Explore new design ideas mixing these smooth and faceted shapes with chain for the latest looks.  Visit http://www.beadazzled.net/. For Eyes, 330 N. Charles Street Learn about the Perks for Eyes Vision Benefit Program for employers or groups in our area!  As a participant, you will enjoy discounts on eye exams, eyeglasses, contact lenses and more. There is no charge for participation, and registration is simple.  Just visit http://www.foreyes.com/perks/, or call Bill Cheakalos at 410-727-2027 to get further information.  Luchansky P.A.,  911 N. Charles Street February 23 9-11am  "Five Legal Landmines that Can Seriously Damange Your Business"  This seminar, conducted by Bruce Luchansky Esq, highlights the most common legal pitfalls overlooked by business owners.  Attendees will learn how to identify these legal landmines before they accidentally step on them, a time-consuming and costly move.  Free for HCSA members. Coffee and pastries served.  For more information, call 410-522-1020 or visit http://www.luchanskylaw.com/. Member Profiles of the Month The Baltimore Basilica @ Cathedral & Mulberry Streets The Baltimore Basilica was the first Roman Catholic Cathedral built in the United States, having been constructed from 1806 to 1821. It was designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe - America's first professionally trained architect and Thomas Jefferson's Architect of the U.S. Capitol - under the guidance of America's first Bishop, John Carroll. Come tour this National Historic Landmark, which include visits to the undercroft and crypt!  For more information, please go to http://www.baltimorebasilica.org/ MV Fitness @ 1016 N. Charles Street MV Fitness is a full service health club located in the heart of Mount Vernon, directly in front of the Belvedere Hotel on Charles Street.  Offering world class Personal Training programs and individual sessions, excellent Group Fitness classes and an unrivaled environment, with chandeliers, hard wood floors and original mantles contrasting top of the line Cybex equipment.  Fitness is right around the corner....  http://www.mvfit.com/   The University of Baltimore Steve Cassard, VP for Facilities Management and Capital Planning, hosted a community briefing last month to provide an update on campus projects.  Did you know that UB has led the University System of Maryland in enrollment growth for the third year in a row.....now nearly 6300 students?  There are 150 new students this year alone that are now in the neighborhood, bringing more residents to our area and feet to the street.  In the design stage is a campus-wide streetscape/landscape project that will result in over 60 new trees lining the streets.  A presentation of the new UB Law School was also made by Stefan Behnisch (internationall acclaimed architect from Stuttgart, Germany) who has partnered with Ayers Saint Gross to design this state-of-the-art building.  Scheduled for construction this summer, it will be located at the northeast corner of Mt. Royal Avenue and Charles Street.  An update was also presented on the Fitzgerald which will have a 20,000 sq.ft. Barnes and Noble.  For more information, go to http://www.ubalt.edu.   Neighborhood News New 1,245-space public parking garage is open at UB Midtown!   The Fitzgerald at UB Midtown - a $76 million luxury apartment and retail building currently under construction - has already opened their garage which provides public parking for the entire Mt. Vernon neighborhood.  950 spaces are available to UB, with the balance serving the Lyric Opera House, Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, Penn Station, and MICA, as well as local businesses, commuters, and residents. Monthly parking leases are already being signed by residents in the area, so this should signficantly help with street parking problems that had become more of an issue.  The entrance is located on W. Oliver Street, in close proximity to Mt. Royal Avenue, and can be accessed from the Maryland Avenue exit of I-83.  The UB-Mount Royal Light Rail Station is located at its doorstep and Penn Station is just two blocks away.  For more information, please visit http://www.bozzuto.com/. Salamander Books at 519 N. Charles Street is settling in at their new location and loves the neighborhood!  They are always on the lookout for used books in the arts (photography, sculpture, painting, architecture, etc.), mythology & folklore, martial arts, spirituality, or any other material that feeds the creative spirit. Current store hours are Monday thru Saturday 11-6, Sunday 12-4, Else by chance or by appointment. Tel: 410-366-7171.  For more information, go to http://www.salamanderbookseller.com/.  About HCSA The Historic Charles Street Association (HCSA) is a non-profit organization 501 (c) (3), whose mission is to support and promote the businesses, cultural attractions, entertainment venues, restaurants and retail establishments along the Charles Street corridor.  HCSA serves as a problem solving and information resource for its members, as well as provides a forum for networking, communication and collaboration.  Resources  Who to call? Broken Glass on the street or sidewalk: From Pratt Street to Centre Street - contact LaToya Staten at the Downtown Partnership (DPOB) at 410-244-1030, or lstaten@dpob.org. Above Centre Street - contact the Midtown Community Benefits District at 410-528-1512 City Services - 311 is Baltimore's number to call for all city services. All calls to 311 go through a One Call Center, a 75-agent in-bound call and dispatch center manned 24 hours a day every day of the year. Exterior Building Signs or Banners - to begin the approval process for any exterior building sign or banner, a permit application needs to be filed at the permit counter, 417 E. Fayette Street, room 100. For more information call 410-396-3360 Facade Improvement Program - contact LaToya Staten (DPOB) at 410-244-1030 or lstaten@dpob.org Liquor Licenses - for assistance with all liquor license issues contact Bob Dengler (DPOB) at 410-605-0451 Malfunctioning Easy Park Meters - contact Michele Coiron (HCSA) at 410-332-4144 Safety Escorts - anyone wishing to receive an escort while walking to their car or bus, or waiting for a taxi after dark should contact 410-244-8778 during business hours or 410-802.9631 after hours. Downtown Partnerships Public Safety Guides are available within the DMA District from 10:00 AM to 10:30 PM seven days a week. Safety and Security Issues - for non-emergency situations in the Charles Street district, contact Deputy Major Avon Mackel at 410-396-2410 or email avon.mackel@baltimorepolice.org The Homeless - for assistance with all issues regarding the homeless from Pratt Street to Centre Street contact Tom Yeager or Bertina Silver (DPOB) at 410-244-1030. Above Centre Street - contact the Midtown Community Benefits District at 410-528-1512