The HCSA is pleased to present our monthly "E-News" with information on news and upcoming events taking place in the Charles Street district. May 2010 1st Thursdays in Mount Vernon Park Thursday, May 6 5:30pm  This year's concert series kicks off in West Mount Vernon Park with performances by Goldspot and Can't Hang brought to you by WTMD http://www.wtmd.org/. Beer, wine and food served by some of the neighborhood's best establishments.  Contact michele@charlesstreet.net for more information. Let's Eat! Charles Street Saturday, May 22                                                                                      Noon to 5pm                                                                                        300 block of N. Charles Street                                                         The 300 block of N. Charles Street between Saratoga and Mulberry Streets will be closed to traffic for a festival with fabulous food, refreshments, retail items, live music, dancing performances and children's activities.  This event is FREE and open to anyone who wants to sample the cuisines of the finest restaurants in the Charles Street district. Food prices vary. Featured vendors include: A People United http://www.apeopleunited.com/, Abacrombie http://www.abacrombie.net, BanThai http://www.banthai.us/, Brewer's Art http://www.thebrewersart.com, Caribou Coffee http://www.cariboucoffee.com/, Cazbar http://www.cazbarbaltimore.com/, Cyclops Books and Music http://www.facebook.com/cyclopsbmore,  David and Dad's http://www.davidanddads.com/, El Guapito http://www.elguapitomexicanrestaurant.com/, Grand Cafe http://www.tremonts.com/, Howard's of Mount Vernon http://www.howardsofmountvernon.com/, Lumbini http://www.lumbinirestaurant.com/, Maisy's http://www.maisysbaltimore.com/, Mick O'Shea's http://www.mickosheas.com/, MV Fitness http://www.mvfit.com, Sammy's Trattoria http://www.sammystrattoria.com/,  Sascha's http://www.saschas.com/, Spirits of Mount Vernon http://www.spiritsofmtvernon.com/, The Helmand http://helmand.com, The Woman's Industrial Exchange http://womansindustrialexchange.org/. For more information, contact michele@charlesstreet.net or call HCSA at 410-332-4144 Other Things to do in the Area May 2 11:00am  Olympia Brown at First Unitarian Church!  Suffragist, Militant, women's rights pioneer, Olympia Brown lived in Baltimore. A national champion in the struggle for the rights of women, Brown was one of the only early suffragists to vote in the election of 1920. Actress Janet Bowering recreates this historic figure and asks what a free-thinking, liberating, non-creedal religion should challenge, with boldness, today. Drama - Readings from the World's Religions - Mass Choir - Interreligious Prayer. ALL ARE WELCOME! For more information on this event, call 410-685-2330 or email office@firstunitarian.net or visit http://tinyurl.com/OlympiaBrown    May 7-8  Flower Mart 2010: Sunflower Splendor Shines Still on Charles Street.  Visit http://www.flowermart.org/ May 7-9  Maryland Film Festival.  For more information on this event that brings over 200 film makers to our area, visit http://md-filmfest.com/   May 7 5:30-8:30pm  Salsa! Salsa! Salsa! Get your salsa groove on at this fiery First Fridays at the Walters.  FREE. Mix, mingle, and entertainment, cocktails, art tours, Salsa dancing before heading out to any one of the neighboring restaurants.  Go to  http://www.thewalters.org/  for more information. May 9 Treat Mom to a special Mother's Day brunch buffet at Tug's in The Tremont Plaza Hotel, 222 St. Paul Street.  Includes traditional breakfast favorites including omelet station, waffles, shrimp, salmon, carving station, pastries and more!  Sit back, relax and enjoy live music from a solo guitarist whil dining.  Complimentary mimosa for all the Moms!  $29.95 for adults, $19.95 for kids 6-12 and free for kids 5 and under.  3 seating times available: 11am, 1pm, 3pm and prix fixe menu available after 5pm.  Reservations required. Call 443.524.1347 for more information or visit the website at http://www.tremonts.com/ May 22 2pm CLASSICAL JAM with Maryland Classical Youth Orchestras at An die Musik LIVE! A vibrant ensemble of flute, percussion, violin, viola and cello, brings five of the most highly demanded soloists and chamber musicians together. CJ is best known for its engaging and lively presentations for today's contemporary audiences, thought provoking concert themes, and wide-ranging repertoire from Renaissance dance music, traditional classical works, CJ's very own arrangements from Gershwin to Piazzolla, to original compositions. Since 1946, Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras (MCYO), has been the region's largest, leading orchestra program for talented young musicians. Serving over 400 selected students in grades 4-12 annually. Visit http://www.mcyo.org/  to learn more about this organization.  A wine reception will follow the concert which will take place at An die Musik.Tickets: $15 general/$5 students.  An die Musik is a Classical, Jazz & World Music Concert Venue located at 409 N. Charles Street.  Go to http://www.andiemusiklive.com/  to learn about other events this month or call (410) 385-2638. Other May Events To find out about other activities in the Downtown Baltimore area, visit http://www.innerharbornetwork.com/ Special Member to Member Discount HCSA Members receive a 15% discount with CNM Systems.   CNM Systems provides full computer and networking needs to businesses of all sizes in the Charles Street area. HCSA would be happy to make the introduction.  For more information about CNM, contact Mike Nutter at 443-829-3656 or visit http://www.cnmsystems.com/.    Member News Please Welcome to HCSA!  Charles Plaza Child Care & Development is a state-of-the-art licensed facility at 309 North Charles Street.  For more information, go to http://www.charlesplazaccd.com/ CNM Systems provides full computer and networking needs to businesses of all sizes in the Charles Street area.  For more information, contact Mike Nutter at 443-829-3656 or visit http://www.cnmsystems.com/. HCSA members receive a 15% discount!  El Guapito Mexican Restaurant offers authentic mexican cuisine located at 110 West Mulberry Street, just steps away from the Enoch Pratt Central Library. Visit http://www.elguapitomexicanrestaurant.com/ Sugar Associates, LLC is an interior architectural firm providing space programming, space planning, interior design and facility planning to a wide variety of clients - government, corporate, healthcare, institutional, financial, food service and hospitality. The firm, established in1991, is WBE/MBE certified small business. President is a LEED-accredited professional, certified interior designer and certified facility manager.  For more information call 410-602-2909 or visit http://www.sugarassociates.com/. Welcome Back A People United, a Baltimore Boutique and Indo-Asian Gallery, is located at 516 N. Charles Street, just one block south of the Walters Art Gallery.  For more information, call 410-727-4471 or go to http://www.apeopleunited.com/. A Special Thanks to Tug's for hosting our Happy Hour on April 29 for HCSA members.  Andre Batista at the bar mixed some wicked mojitos while guests were treated to tasty hors d'oeuvres and pastries from Chef Kevin Scheuing.  It was a great setting for members to get together, courtesy of The Tremont Hotel http://www.tremonts.com/. Eric Masterton-Mott of Visit Baltimore and Andrew Johnson of Veolia Transportation who successfully coordinated Discovery Day for the new Charm City Circulator drivers.  On April 29, representatives from businesses and attractions along the purple route were invited to educate the drivers on what there is to see and do in our area.  Each presenter gave a short presentation and distributed promotional items and brochures. The Free Circulator's purple line will serve Federal Hill, the Inner Harbor and the Historic Charles Street District up to Penn Station.  The Circulator drivers are very enthusiastic about serving this route and ready to bring people UP the hill . . . all for FREE. Please visit http://www.charmcitycirculator.org/ for more information. HCSA VIP Discount Card Program HCSA wants to encourage people who live and work in the area to buy locally.  The VIP Discount Card Program is designed to promote members of our association and compel people to utilize HCSA member establishments!  Single-use cards are distributed to the Visitor's Center, hotels, universities, fellow members and their employees, tenants and guests. If you would like to obtain these cards to take advantage of special discounts in the area, or if you would like to be listed as a participating vendor, please contact michele@charlesstreet.net or call 410-332-4144. For a current list of vendors offering discounts, go to http://www.charlesstreet.net/vipdiscounts. HCSA Quarterly Strategic Partner Meetings  HCSA hosts quarterly business meetings with representatives from organizations with whom we share common boundaries to exchange information on issues, events and news that impact our community.  Our partner organizations include Live Baltimore, The Charles Street Development Corporation, The Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, The Midtown Community Benefits District, The Mount Vernon/Belvedere Association, The Mount Vernon Cultural District, Station North and Visit Baltimore. Should you have any comments or suggestions for HCSA to add to agenda topics, please contact michele@charlesstreet.net or call 410-332-4144. 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.  The Historic Charles Street Association is located at 312 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD  21201.  For more information about our organization, please contact Michele Coiron, Executive Director, at 410-332-4144 or michele@charlesstreet.net.