1

Orioles Advance to the American League Championship Series for the First Time in 17 Years

In what felt like a “team of destiny” sort of season (until the bitter end, of course), the Baltimore Orioles overcame all odds to accomplish a feat they hadn’t achieved in nearly 20 years. Despite losing All-Stars Manny Machado, Matt Wieters, and Chris Davis to injuries and some negligent paperwork, the Orioles prevailed, clinching the American League East Division and sweeping the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS. Yes, we all know how the season ended, with some other “team of destiny” (I think they were from Missouri?) surpassing us and advancing to the World Series (only to lose to the San Francisco Giants). But it was too late. Baltimore had already fallen head over heels for the 2014 Orioles, as our skyline glowed orange, the bird logo was plastered on every surface, and a new generation got a taste of Orioles Magic. Job well done, boys.

“We reminded the country what a great baseball city, and city in general, Baltimore is. I feel good about that.” — Buck Showalter, Orioles manager

2

Hogan Defeats Brown for Governor

As a two-term Lieutenant Governor with the backing of the Democratic Party establishment, Anthony Brown was supposed to win in a walk. But Marylanders flipped the script on election night when Republican Larry Hogan was elected governor in a state where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1. And while the results — Hogan won by five percentage points — stunned political prognosticators, in retrospect, the signs were there to be read. Hogan shrewdly framed the election as a referendum on outgoing Gov. Martin O’Malley’s often-divisive, tax-heavy policies, saying a vote for Anthony Brown would be tantamount to a third O’Malley term. Then, there was June’s Democratic primary, which revealed weak support for Brown in some areas of the state. In contrast, voters were receptive to Hogan, an Anne Arundel County businessman, who promised lower taxes and fewer regulations on free enterprise. Though both sides hustled at the end (Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama appeared for Brown, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie stumped for Hogan), the race was already over — we just didn’t know it yet.

“Wow, what a historic night in Maryland. They said it couldn’t be done here in Maryland. But together, we did it.” — Governor-elect Larry Hogan at his victory party

3

Ray Rice Scandal Starts National Conversation about the NFL and Domestic Abuse

The first video, released by TMZ on February 19, was damning enough. It showed Ravens running back Ray Rice dragging the unconscious body of his then-fiancée, now wife, Janay, from a casino elevator in Atlantic City. Ravens fans hoped against hope that our eyes were lying to us: Maybe he had struck her by accident? Maybe she was unconscious from alcohol? The NFL suspended Rice for two games, which most agreed seemed too slight. Then, the bombshell: On September 8, TMZ released the footage from inside the elevator and it was the worst-case scenario: a punch to the face that instantly knocked Janay out cold. The Ravens terminated Rice’s contract almost immediately, and, shortly thereafter, the league suspended Rice indefinitely. But the saga was far from over: ESPN’s Outside the Lines wrote a blockbuster story that implied that both the Ravens and the league knew much more than they had let on and were essentially involved in a cover-up. Many called for the resignation of league commissioner Roger Goodell. In a press conference, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti denied all charges. The league stiffened its penalties for domestic violence to a mandatory six-game suspension and vowed to take the problem more seriously going forward. Meanwhile, Ray and Janay remain married. At press time, Rice was appealing the suspension.

4

Baltimore Throws a Really Big “Shew”

Charm City never looked better on national TV than it did in mid-September, when we threw what might have been our biggest bash ever, Star-Spangled Spectacular, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the defense of Baltimore against the British and the penning of the words to the national anthem by a little-known Georgetown lawyer named Francis Scott Key. The final reports on attendance and economic impact aren’t available yet, but earlier tallies counted more than 1 million visitors during the event’s week of Blue Angels acrobatics, visiting tall ships, concerts, battle re-enactments, and epic fireworks displays. Even Vice President Joe Biden stopped by for the climatic (and televised) Saturday night ceremony at Fort McHenry. It’ll be a long time before there’s another event the size of Star-Spangled Spectacular, which was a follow-up to 2012’s equally successful Sailabration. The only downside to a party that successful? Wondering how we’ll ever top it.

“We’re obviously looking for the next great thing that we can promote.”— Tom Noonan, CEO of Visit Baltimore

5

Horseshoe Casino Opens Big

Regardless of whether you voted for or against gaming in Maryland, the long-awaited opening of the $442-million behemoth Horseshoe Casino Baltimore was proof positive that the folks at Caesars Entertainment know how to make an entrance. With sexy showgirls and death-defying aerial artists, as well as pop star Iggy Azalea and celebrity chefs Duff Goldman, Aarón Sánchez, John Besh, and Guy Fieri, the August 26 kicff celebration for Baltimore City’s first casino was an affair to remember. And though, days later, a fight broke out between two patrons waiting in the food court’s pizza line, that didn’t seem to deter anyone’s appetite for staying — and playing. In its first weekend, more than 50,000 guests came to visit, and throughout September — the casino’s first full month of operation — Horseshoe raked in $22,390,602.91, helping boost statewide casino revenue to a record $82.4 million. So far at least, it seems like Lady Luck is on Horseshoe’s side.

“Thank you to everyone waiting so patiently, we have reached capacity but are working efficiently and diligently to get people in quickly.” — Horseshoe Casino Twitter post on opening night

6

Shooting at The Mall in Columbia Terrifies

January 25 was an unexceptional mid-winter day until news broke just before noon that a shooting was underway at The Mall in Columbia. There were reports of people sheltering in the food court, police and SWAT teams on the scene, and families desperately trying to contact loved ones inside. The day’s grim tally: three dead (the shooter, 19-year old Darion Marcus Aguilar; 21-year-old Brianna Benlolo; and 25-year-old Tyler Johnson), plus five injured. In the days and weeks that followed, a fuller picture emerged, and it was a sadly familiar one. Aguilar, a College Park resident, had not known his victims; was obsessed with mass shootings, especially the 1999 Columbine massacre; and had been hearing voices. The incident recalled any number of recent tragedies——from the Aurora, CO, movie-theater and Sandy Hook school shootings of 2012 to the D.C. Navy Yard shooting of 2013. Still, disbelief reigned. “I truly never thought something like this would ever happen here,” one mall employee told CBS News. “It’s really, really shocking.”

“I swear everyone is running.” — Tweet from mall employee Rachel Hunter during the shooting

7

The Landslide Brings 26th Street Down

On a rainy late-April afternoon, stunned residents in Charles Village watched as their parked cars, streetlights, and sidewalk — slowly at first, then all at once — collapsed, landing atop the CSX railroad tracks below. Naturally, one of the neighbors caught the entire scene on video, which went viral, racking up more than 10 million views. In addition to the spectacle, the landslide (to be clear, it was not a sinkhole) became a rallying point for those tired of city government’s seemingly laissez-faire attitude toward infrastructure maintenance. It turned out residents had been complaining about the block’s instability to both the city and CSX for several years but to little effect. Fortunately, no one was injured, but some residents were forced to leave their homes for weeks until gas and water lines could be restored. And though rebuilding is now underway, the costs keep mounting. In addition to the $18.5 million the city says it will take to reconstruct the block, some residents are considering legal action.

8

Michael Phelps Busted for DUI, Enters Rehab

Watching Michael Phelps exceed limits in the pool is one thing, but on the road and behind the wheel? Quite another. But that was the situation when the Olympic champ was pulled over after driving erratically when returning from the Horseshoe Casino on September 30. He failed field sobriety tests, registered a blood-alcohol level of .14 (well over the state’s .08 limit), and was subsequently charged with DUI, excessive speed, and crossing double lane lines in the Fort McHenry Tunnel. Of course, this is not the first time Phelps’s golden boy reputation has been tarnished. He pleaded guilty to driving while impaired in 2004, and a photo was released of him smoking pot in 2009. Banned from competition for six months by USA Swimming as a result of the arrest, Phelps checked himself into a six-week in-patient substance-abuse program at the beginning of October. Let’s hope he got the help he needed — or at least instructions for how to download Uber.

“I recognize that this is not my first lapse in judgment, and I am extremely disappointed with myself.” — Michael Phelps

9

Baltimore Confronts Police Conduct

Maybe it was just a coincidence that the Baltimore Police Department’s years-long struggle with excessive-force and misconduct cases came to a head when it did — against the backdrop of the Ferguson, MO, shooting by a white police officer of Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old. Or maybe the coverage just heightened public awareness of police-misconduct cases. In any case, after fresh charges of misconduct hit the news in September — including bystander video of an officer beating a man at a North Avenue bus stop — Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and police commissioner Anthony W. Batts asked the U.S. Justice Department to investigate the police department’s history of — and response to — use-of-force cases that over the past several years have resulted in millions of dollars in legal settlements. At the same time, such incidents have renewed the call for officers to wear body cameras, an idea both the mayor and city council profess to support, though they differ on the details of implementation. Batts also recommended increasing staff in the Internal Affairs Division, which handles misconduct cases, as well as more training of street officers and increased openness regarding such incidents.

“It’s pretty terrible. People act like it doesn’t happen daily and quite often. It does happen daily and quite often.” — City Councilman Carl Stokes, who represents the area where the North Avenue incident occurred, to The Baltimore Sun

10

Amazon and Maryland Make it Official

Though Amazon’s two new Baltimore processing plants are undoubtedly net wins for the area, they do come with one sizable string attached: sales tax. The 1-million-square-foot distribution center scheduled to open in early 2015 at the old General Motors site on Broening Highway will support more than 1,000 jobs and improve delivery times. The smaller (only 345,000-square-feet) “sortation” center on Holabird Avenue in Dundalk is already open, supporting more than 300 part- and full-time staffers. So what’s the catch? Amazon’s physical presence in the state requires the company to begin collecting Maryland sales tax on all purchases, which it did as of October 1. From now on, all Amazon transactions made by Marylanders will be subject to the 6 percent levy, regardless of where a shipment originates, a practice the state expects to add an extra $50 million to its coffers this fiscal year. We suppose it is, quite literally, a small price to pay for getting the electric toothbrush we ordered online that much faster.

“It will have what’s the equivalent of 28 foot-ball fields of space.” — Kelly Cheeseman, Amazon spokeswoman about the new distribution center.

11

Molly Shattuck Accused of Raping 15-Year-Old Boy

The rumors began circulating, particularly among the families of the prestigious McDonogh School, long before the arrest was made. Then, on November 5, the shocking news became public: Molly Shattuck, the now ex-wife of former Constellation Energy CEO Mayo Shattuck and a former Ravens cheerleader, was indicted in Delaware for two counts of third-degree rape, four counts of unlawful sexual conduct in the second degree, and three counts of providing alcohol to a minor. According to the indictment, Shattuck first contacted the 15-year-old, who attended McDonogh with her eldest son, via messages on Instagram. Then, while on vacation in Bethany Beach, she gave the boy alcohol and performed oral sex on him. Shattuck’s prim mug shot barely resembled the bubbly woman known around town for her philanthropic work, lifestyle ventures (a book, an exercise DVD), and the celebrity she achieved as both the oldest NFL cheerleader and a participant on the reality show Secret Millionaire. Shattuck pleaded not guilty at her November arraignment. If convicted on all charges, she faces up to 28 years in prison.

12

Maryland Decriminalizes Small Amounts of Pot

This year, Maryland joined the national trend toward minimizing or eliminating penalties for marijuana usage and possession with the passage of three bills. Two of the bills altered Maryland’s already-existing medicinal marijuana laws, which allowed for prescriptive usage but made obtaining the drug difficult. On June 1, licensed dispensaries became legal and a maximum of 15 growers were allowed to cultivate the crop, though that number could rise if demand warrants. Then, as of October 1, the third bill went into effect, reducing the penalty for a first offense of possession of less than 10 grams of pot to a civil fine of up to $100 and no jail time. Penalties are stiffer for subsequent offenses and for those under 21 years of age, but none involve jail. But don’t spark that joint just yet. Possession of pot paraphernalia, such as bongs and pipes, remains criminalized, though many — both for and against — think decriminalization is merely a pit stop on the road to full legalization, regulation, and taxation of the substance. We know, it blows our mind, too.

“Decriminalizing possession of marijuana is a key step on the road to saner drug policy in Maryland.” — Sara Love, public policy director for the ACLU of Maryland

13

City Paper Bought by The Sun

City Paper was founded in 1977 as a brash, editorially adventurous alternative to The Baltimore Sun. Over the course of the next 37 years, it developed into a crucial and critical outlet that didn’t hesitate to question authority or speak truth to power. So when City Paper was put up for sale last summer, its readership worried that new ownership might severely curtail its independence. Those concerns were exacerbated in February when The Sun bought City Paper, a once-unfathomable scenario that sparked all sorts of doomsday speculation about the alt-weekly’s future. “We want the paper to remain a valued alternative, independent voice in Baltimore,” Sun Media Group CEO Tim Ryan said at the time. After a rocky transition, that certainly seems to be the case. In fact, CP staffers noted in its recent “Best of Baltimore” issue that “our worst fears were not realized” and pointed to the fact that the new regime didn’t object to April’s “Guide to the High Life” weed issue.

“A Horseshoe up my Ass” — City Paper headline to a November story about the new Horshoe Casino, proving they’ve still got it

14

Mosby Defeats Bernstein

In hindsight, you could see the seeds of new Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s campaign in the “Enough is Enough” peace walks that she and her husband, 7th District City Councilman Nick Mosby, organized in the months before she announced her candidacy. Still, despite the increased name recognition, the 34-year-old former prosecutor-turned-insurance litigator remained a significant underdog against well-funded incumbent Gregg Bernstein in the Democratic primary. But Bernstein was vulnerable. Though citywide homicides dropped below 200 for the first time since the 1970s during his first year, killings ticked back up in 2012 and 2013. Mosby, a Tuskegee University graduate, capitalized on this with an energetic campaign, driving home a theme that the status quo wasn’t good enough, while questioning Bernstein’s priorities. She also touted her family’s law-enforcement background and won endorsements from key African-American leaders, including former congressman and former NAACP head Kweisi Mfume and former mayor Kurt Schmoke, putting her over the top in a close race.

“This is about our homes and our communities. And at its root, this is about our peace of mind.” — City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby in the Baltimore Afro-American

15

Dolphins Get Their Freedom

The National Aquarium made waves in May by announcing that its hugely popular dolphin exhibit may close. Aquarium CEO John Racanelli, who halted dolphin shows in 2012 after two newborn calves died at the facility, said the remaining dolphins might be transferred to some sort of sanctuary. Because most of the aquarium’s dolphins were born in captivity, it’s unclear if they would survive in the wild. The proposed move, which was widely hailed by marine mammal experts, reflects Racanelli’s overall goal of focusing less on tourism and more on conservation. It also reflects the public’s unease about keeping such animals in captivity, an awareness that has increased with the popularity of documentaries like The Cove and Blackfish. Though no such sanctuary exists at present, Racanelli continues to explore possibilities for such a site because this dolphin’s tale hasn’t had its happy ending yet.

“There are chimp sanctuaries, orangutan sanctuaries, gorilla sanctuaries, elephant sanctuaries, bird sanctuaries. . . . And there’s not yet a dolphin sanctuary. What’s that about?” — John Racanelli in The New Yorker

16

Oprah Cracks Crabs at Captain James Landing

When Oprah Winfrey last spoke with us about her Baltimore days as a WJZ anchor and co-host of People Are Talking in 2011, her favorite Charm City “things” included The Prime Rib and Tio Pepe. These days, she’s added Captain James Landing to her Baltimore hit list. On an August 6 visit, the media magnate and her longtime steady, Stedman Graham, cracked crabs for two hours at the Canton restaurant. According to Captain James’s owner Bill Tserkis (who told The Baltimore Sun that Winfrey “was great to deal with”), the talk-show titan dined on crab cakes, mussels, and boiled crabs seasoned with Old Bay, while seated on an outdoor balcony overlooking the harbor. (Word has it she knows how to crack a crab.) Winfrey proudly posted her adventures on Instagram, with a caption that read: “Crab feast in Baltimore! #CaptainJames,” then hit the town the next day when she was equally enthusiastic about the development of our downtown. It’s always nice to have the Oprah stamp of approval.

“Loving Baltimore today OMG has this city grown. I hardly recognize downtown. #CharmCity.” — Oprah Winfrey on Twitter

17

Don Scott Retires After 40 Years at WJZ

For 40 years, Don Scott’s hirsute visage and rumbling baritone were sources of comfort. Just 24 years old when he joined the station as a weekend anchor and general assignment reporter in 1974, Scott really found his niche when he and Marty Bass were paired as morning co-anchors in 1984. Over the course of his career, he covered events ranging from Three Mile Island’s partial nuclear meltdown in 1979 to Pope John Paul II’s 1995 Baltimore visit, but it was his early-hours double-act with Bass that really endeared, a fact reflected by their consistent No. 1 market share. So when Scott, surrounded by his family and colleagues, signed off for the last time in July, there was a not a dry eye in the house. Subsequent cameo appearances and voiceover work have eased the sting of separation, but we still miss his unflappable, paternal presence with our morning joe. After all, old habits die hard.

18

Podcast About 1999 Baltimore Murder Piques Global Interest

Most Baltimoreans had never heard of Hae Min Lee until early October. That’s when Serial, the new podcast from the team behind This American Life debuted. In each weekly installment, host (and former Baltimore Sun reporter) Sarah Keonig leads listeners through a reexamination of the 1999 murder of Lee, a bright, cheerful Woodlawn High School senior. The central question is this: Did Lee’s ex-boyfriend — another Woodlawn High School senior named Adnan Syed — murder her? But within that, an almost infinite number of other questions about the nature of truth and identity arise. Who is telling the truth? How do you know? Is the truth even knowable at this point? Listeners are left to judge for themselves — and they have. From Australia to Canada, fans of the show follow each new episode with an obsessive fervor usually reserved for the best fictive mysteries, such as True Detective or Lost. (Visit the show’s sub-Reddit board and you’ll find JFK-conspiracy-theorist-levels of obsession.) How the podcast will end is uncertain at this point, but one thing is for sure: We’ll be listening.

19

Under Armour Wills What It Wants After Sochi Snafu

Under Armour had a worldwide stage this February at the Sochi Winter Olympics, where it outfitted the U.S. men’s speedskating squad in what one skater promised would prove the “fastest speedskating suit ever made.” But the team didn’t even medal, and some blamed the suits. That the U.S. Speedskating organization later determined the suits weren’t to blame hardly mattered. The damage to Under Armour’s image was done. Or was it? The company rebounded in July with the release of its “I Will What I Want” women’s campaign featuring a commercial with ballerina Misty Copeland. The video, which celebrated female strength and self-empowerment, went viral, garnering over 6 million YouTube views, a full-page spread in The New York Times, and the approval of supermodel Gisele Bündchen, who became a UA ambassador herself. The $15-million campaign was also the first major step in expanding UA’s women’s division, a move that has boosted total revenue by 30 percent in the third quarter. Where there’s a will, there is definitely a way.

“Big tough Under Armour decided to launch a women’s campaign, with a ballerina, no less.” — Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank to The Baltimore Sun

20

The So-Called “Baltimore Bull” Stages a Jailbreak

“Nothing to see here. Just a bull running in the streets of Baltimore” read a sample tweet. “Save the Baltimore bull,” wrote journalist Spencer Ackerman. Yes, on June 13, a 780-pound bull (actually a steer; but forever to be affectionately known as The Baltimore Bull) escaped from a local slaughterhouse. It traveled down North Avenue and onto Eutaw Street and Druid Hill Avenue before it was shot dead by Baltimore police in Mt. Vernon. In response, Baltimore served up a bunch of jokes (“Baltimore goes vegan!”), hashtags (#BaltimoreBull; #Bulltimore), and even a video of the bull trotting past a lake trout joint. But one question lingered: Did the police really have to kill it? A statement issued by the Baltimore Police Department said that the steer grew “increasingly aggressive” and that “officers made numerous attempts to trap it” before they killed it. But the Baltimore Bull got a second life on T-shirts, mugs, and, briefly, a hilarious (fake) chalk outline of the dead steer’s corpse. Only in Baltimore, folks.

“There’s, believe it or not, a bull—B-U-L-L—running east on North Avenue.” — call to 911

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21

Future Islands Grabs the Spotlight

On March 3, the rest of the country discovered what Baltimore has known for years—Future Islands rocks. That night, the band made its national TV debut with a thrilling version of “Seasons (Waiting on You)” on Late Show with David Letterman, a performance that launched a thousand GIFs of frontman Samuel Herring’s spirited dance moves, garnered millions of YouTube views, and impressed the host. Major buzz ensued, and the band drew huge crowds at South By Southwest, charted on Billboard for the first time, and played major festivals like Coachella and Primavera Sound. Like true locals though, the band seemed unfazed by all the attention. “We’ve been doing this for so long that we just keep our heads down and work at what we do,” Herring told Baltimore, sounding like a certain baseball manager we know. Herring stayed true to his word—Future Islands is still touring, with dates scheduled in Australia and England for early 2015.

“I’ll take all of that you got! That was wonderful!”—David Letterman to Future Islands after the band’s performance

22

Transgender Student Named Prom Queen at Digital Harbor High School

Resplendent in a teal dress, tiara, and sash, Destiny Hartis made history on May 15 by becoming Digital Harbor High School’s first transgender prom queen (at least to the knowledge of current faculty). With the unwavering support of her mother and grandmother, and her cousin, Kerstin Jones, on her arm, the then-20-year-old high-school senior became the belle of the ball. “It was my day,” Hartis told The Baltimore Sun. “I was going to win.” Victory was sweet. Despite a few jeers, there were mostly cheers, a sure sign of changing attitudes toward transgender people in a year that also saw Orange is the New Black actress Laverne Cox become the first openly transgender person on the cover of Time magazine. One dream already fulfilled in her young life, Hartis currently is pursing a degree at Anne Arundel Community College.

“People are going to have their opinions, but I know who I am. I’m not here for you. I’m here for myself.”—Destiny Hartis to The Baltimore Sun

23

Shooting of 3-year-old McKenzie Elliott Inspires Outrage, but No Arrest

Each year, Baltimore experiences no shortage of senseless killings. But even among those, the fatal shooting of 3-year-old McKenzie Elliott this summer seemed particularly tragic. The bubbly tot was sitting on her front porch in Waverly when she was caught in the crossfire of a sudden gunfight. Elliott’s death, part of a spike in violence that saw 36 people shot over the course of 8 days, inspired plenty of media coverage, pleas from Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake for information, and vows of a speedy arrest from the police department. Though police zeroed in on a “person of interest” who turned himself in on an unrelated parole violation in the days following the shooting, they never charged him, and he was released in early October. That move incited more outrage, but police would only say that the investigation had “shifted” and that “substantial leads” remain.

“It’s been several months since this incident. The longer it goes on, the harder it is to push the case.”—City Councilman Nick Mosby to WJZ

24

Simon and O’Malley Convene Beer Summit

The most unlikely selfie of the year hit the Internet in July, when David Simon posted a shot of himself and Martin O’Malley sitting side-by-side, smiling for the camera. The Wire creator and the governor had been famously antagonistic ever since O’Malley, when he was mayor, criticized the show for its unflattering portrayal of the city and threatened to hold up its film permits (which Simon recounted in a 2008 essay for Baltimore). But when they found themselves on a southbound Acela and Simon alerted his son, via text, that O’Malley was sitting nearby, his son suggested that his dad buy the governor a beer. Simon listened. Over Coronas, the two men buried the hatchet and bonded over their mutual love of The Pogues. Simon, at one point, even suggested that O’Malley might watch The Wire “some years from now, when there was less at stake,” but that didn’t go over so well. Still, Simon ultimately concluded that “the two of us did okay, too, considering.”

“Come on, Dave. We’re getting to be old men at this point. Sit, talk.” —Gov. Martin O’Malley to David Simon on the Acela

25

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Douses Baltimore

A good gimmick is worth its weight in gold. That’s what the ALS Association learned this summer when the Ice Bucket Challenge went viral. Though the origins of the stunt are disputed, by mid-July the rules had codified and public figures ranging from Justin Beiber to former President George W. Bush had gotten behind the cause. Baltimoreans joined in, including one very fitting participant: former Raven O.J. Brigance who suffers from ALS (aka Lou Gehrig’s disease) and runs his own Brigance Brigade foundation, which supports sufferers of the degenerative physical condition. Many Baltimore sports figures took the plunge in honor of Brigance, including Orioles Adam Jones and Buck Showalter, and Ravens Joe Flacco and Jacoby Jones. Brigance himself accepted the challenge on August 22 with his wife, Chanda, dousing her wheelchair-bound husband. It’s all in good fun, of course, but the $260,000 and $115 million the challenge raised for the Brigance Brigade and ALS Association, respectively, is the real reason to smile.

“We feel that encouraging people throughout the country to learn more about ALS and create a dialogue around it is a real victory.” —statement from O.J. and Chanda Brigance

26

Baltimore Welcomes New Faces in High Places

The face of higher education in Baltimore underwent a major transformation in 2014, as no less than four major institutions changed leadership. Maryland Institute College of Art chose Samuel Hoi, president of Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, to succeed Fred Lazarus; Peabody Institute tapped St. Louis Symphony CEO Fred Bronstein to replace outgoing dean Jeff Sharkey; former mayor Kurt Schmoke took over as University of Baltimore president after Robert Bogomolny retired; and José Antonio Bowen, dean of Southern Methodist University’s arts school, took over for Sanford Ungar at Goucher College. Though it remains to be seen what impact the new hires will have on their schools and the city at large, they all face formidable challenges, including rising tuition, adapting to new technology, and competing with free Internet courses. But there is already evidence that at least one of them is not afraid to shake things up: In September, Bowen garnered national attention for implementing a new policy in which Goucher will accept video applications in lieu of traditional transcripts and achievement test results.

“We’re doing this because higher education should be about potential and not about privilege. We’re also doing this to demonstrate to students what’s different about Goucher.” —José Antonio Bowen

27

Towson Comes of Age

When Baltimore County historians look back generations from now, they’ll most likely view 2014 as the year of The Great Towson Revival. This summer, Towson Square, an $85-million, 15-screen Cinemark Theatre entertainment-and-restaurant complex, got its ribbon-cutting, but it’s not the only project remaking the skyline of the county seat. There is the upcoming $300-million mixed-use Towson Row project in the heart of downtown. And, already completed and going great guns is the $27-million renovation of the once-vacant 12-story City Center Building, just above Towson Circle and now fully leased, serving as home to both Cunningham’s, a brand new foodie-favorite Bagby Group restaurant, and WTMD’s new studios. (La Cakerie’s famous cupcakes can be had across the street, too.) New townhome and apartment complexes remain in various stages of completion and plans also call for a new $60-million student-housing-and-retail project closer to Towson University, adding up to $770 million in recent private investments. Not bad for a sleepy Beltway bedroom community.

“Towson has always ranked very high in demographics—its income and education levels—it just did not have a great, corresponding ‘quality of life,’” Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz to Baltimore in June 2014

28

From Superfund Site to Swank HQ with a View

After years of sitting empty to remediate a century’s worth of industrial chemical contamination, a prime harbor-front peninsula got a new life in May when Harbor Point developer Beatty Development Company broke ground on Exelon Corp.’s 648,000-square-foot regional headquarters tower. However, environmental monitoring of the 27-acre site by the Environmental Protection Agency will continue to make sure it doesn’t spew dangerous levels of carcinogenic hexavalent chromium dust into the air as construction workers drive building-support pilings through a protective cap laid years ago. When fully built out, the project may cover 6 million-square-feet, consisting of nine buildings and 9.5 acres of parks, but Job One for the developers is completing the headquarters, which Exelon hopes to occupy by fall 2016. The project faced opposition both on environmental grounds and from some city officials, who opposed the $107 million in tax breaks requested. But after a contentious approval process, the first phase of the $1.8-billion project got the go-ahead from the city and environmental agencies in March, clearing the way for construction of the tower that will contain Exelon’s headquarters, a 103-unit apartment building, and 40,000 square feet of street-level retail.

“I don’t think everyone can be happy. Time will show this will be a fantastic project for the city, and I think there were a lot of people who were against the Inner Harbor and thought it was a disaster but it turned out to be good for the city.” — Michael Beatty, president of Beatty Development to the Baltimore Business Journal.

29

You Know We’re All ’Bout That BUS

In August, we heralded it as “the coolest bus stop ever” and months later we stand by that assessment. That’s because the Creative Alliance B-U-S sculpture at the corner of S. East and Eastern avenues is a perfect marriage of form and function. Each 14-by-7-foot, wood-and-steel letter was built to be used—sat upon, laid on, stood next to, sheltered beneath, what have you—and that’s the best kind of design. To be fair, we’re not the only ones who noticed the ingenuity of the piece created by Spanish artist collective “mmmm…” in collaboration with local and international organizations. Slate, The Los Angeles Times, and numerous design and urban lifestyle blogs admired the sculpture, too, but only we get the privilege of actually using it.

“The world’s most obvious bus stop is pure design genius.”—Slate