International Floor

Friday night, as the tropical storm rolled in outside, I found myself sitting on the floor in a crowded circle around a box of sugared wheat crackers (in "lightbulb" packaging covered in Chinese letters) and a steaming plate of Chapagetti (champagne spagetti). 

Our shoes were spread outside the open-door apartment, and as an American, I was in the minority.

We all kicked back on the carpet, and let our hustling, bustling, jolly hosts run to and from the kitchen, with plates of champagetti and solo cups. While one party-goer kept running from the cat, and everyone shared in hugging goodbye. "Sharing is caring", "Incredibly!"

And I had forgotten....there's an entire population of Baltimoreans out there who, at one point, will grab their passport, hop on a plane, and fly on home. 

They're changing faces of Charm City. They're changing under the native noses. 

What is Baltimore to them? 

And where along the way do we all swap customs and car rides, lemonades and language, and all the comings&goings through BWI and 695?

This weekend (lots to cover): 

• Thurs, 9.11 - TU Art Faculty Exhibit opening reception in CFA gallery 7:30-9pm

• Fri, 9.12 - the weekly Revel Dance Party (21+, hosted by Jeff Hurn & Uber Pat, @ Fletchers) has an unknown fate this week...?

• Sat, 9.13 - Fools & Horses, Hotspur, the Lake Effect(TU guys?) and the Perfect Excuse @ the Recher. You may have heard F&H on Starbuck's "Off the Clock" CD, but Hotspur may just be the odd-man-out group worth coming early for, Dave the keyboard player can even play while hopping up on the stand! ((got my ticket weeks ago)) 
• Sat, 9.13 - Apathy Eulogy (TU guys) Silent Film, Coast to Coast, and Cities (a newly begun band, from the members of Boy Crazy and the more recent Mir&the Moon) @ Fletchers. It's always cool to see a new band at its beginning, & this one is an evolution of members' pasts.
• Sat, 9.13 - Sonar's TAXLO (18+, drink specials for 21+)

• Sun, 9.14 - the Raven's game on TV @ 4:15

Daily headphones:  Mika's "Erase", proves that this fun cartoon-pop-singing Brit ("Relax, take it Easy", "Grace Kelly"), can also spin a slow mournful song. Put it on blast, and maybe reevaluate that long contact list. And for anyone away and missing Baltimore this fall, check out Bleed the Dream's version of "Streets of Baltimore", you might be quoting it in an away message within one listen.