Molly Shattuck – Baltimore Magazine

2015: Year in Review

Jess Mayhugh — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 08:30:00 +0000

1. The Death of Freddie Gray Sparks Citywide Unrest

–Lara Davidson

– Sean Scheidt

We have to go back nearly 50 years to another April, in 1968–after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.–to find a time when the city dealt with a crisis comparable to the one it faced this past spring. The riots and public uprising that followed the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray from injuries endured while in police custody shook Baltimore to its core and changed the way the world saw us–and we saw ourselves. Gray’s death–ruled a homicide by the state medical examiner’s office–lit a fuse that continued to burn for days, fueled by decades of social and economic injustice in many of the city’s poorest African-American neighborhoods.

Gray’s death on April 19, following a week in a coma after suffering a severe spinal-cord injury–allegedly during a so-called “rough ride” in a police transport van–sparked two weeks of unrest, including the violent night of Monday, April 27, that culminated in hundreds of arrests, injuries to numerous Baltimore police officers, and the destruction of dozens of local businesses. During the surreal aftermath, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake implemented a citywide curfew and Gov. Larry Hogan deployed heavily armed Maryland National Guard troops and armored vehicles to patrol downtown.

Of course, Gray’s death hadn’t occurred in a vacuum, but came on the heels of the widely publicized deaths of black men at the hands of police officers in Ferguson, MO; Staten Island, NY; Cleveland, OH; and elsewhere. In the months leading up to the unrest, alarming local police-brutality issues also were raised in compelling reporting by The Sun’s Mark Puente. Subsequent protests ultimately led to the firing of Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts and likely influenced Rawlings-Blake’s decision not to seek re-election.

One difference in Baltimore, as opposed to the aforementioned cities, is that six police officers–whose trials remain in various stages–were quickly charged for their alleged roles in Gray’s death by then-newly elected city state’s attorney Marilyn Mosby.

Kevin Davis, the city’s new Police Commissioner, recently told Baltimore that he hopes 2015 will mark a turning point in relations between the police department and aggrieved communities–and the city as a whole.

“This is a transformative moment for the City of Baltimore, and I will continue to urge my neighbors to remain peaceful while continuing to seek justice for Freddie Gray.”U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings, 5/1

2. Marilyn Mosby’s Star Turn

–Alex Brandon/AP

It’s not every day that a city state’s attorney becomes a national celebrity. But Marilyn Mosby’s speedy indictments of six police officers in the death of Freddie Gray and her self-assured announcement of those charges at a frenzied press conference in front of the city’s War Memorial Building, thrust the attractive, 35-year-old mother of two into the limelight just months into her tenure. For better or worse, Mosby subsequently appeared in the pages of Vogue in a shoot by famed fashion and art photographer Annie Leibovitz, and gave interviews to Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire. She also took the stage alongside her husband, City Councilman and now-mayoral candidate Nick Mosby, during Prince’s Rally 4 Peace concert at Royal Farms Arena. Whether Marilyn Mosby is ultimately viewed as a heroine or another ambitious, over-reaching politician will likely depend on how her office handles the cases against the officers.

“To the people of Baltimore and the demonstrators across America: I heard your call for ‘no justice, no peace.’”Marilyn Mosby, 5/1

3. Homicides Spike Following Freddie Gray Unrest

–Patrick Semansky/AP

After the death of Freddie Gray from injuries suffered while in police custody, Baltimore saw a surge in homicides the likes of which it hasn’t witnessed since the 1990s. Almost inconceivably, the city matched 2014’s homicide total of 211 on August 19 when a man with a bullet wound was found inside a vacant house not far from the Pennsylvania Avenue CVS store that burned in the riots. While it’s impossible to say with certainty what has driven the increased violence–also witnessed in other cities across the U.S. this year–Baltimore had recorded a typical number of homicides (65) prior to the unrest. Afterward, however, a four-decade high of 43 murders in May was followed with 45 killed in July. By November, the tally was 285, putting the city close to the record pace of 1993 when 353 people were murdered, and once again placing Baltimore among the most dangerous cities in the country.

“It’s the toughest job in the United States at the moment.” Eugene O’Donnell, John Jay College of Criminal Justice professor and a former New York City police officer, on the challenge facing then-interim Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, AP, 7/9

4. Mayoral Race Thrown Wide Open as Rawlings-Blake Forgoes Re-election Campaign

In a stunning turn of events, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced in September that she would not seek re-election in the 2016 mayoral race, saying that she would dedicate the remainder of her term to helping the city recover from the Freddie Gray unrest. Many suggested that she was simply bowing out of a race she could no longer win. But whatever her motives, the announcement threw already-announced candidates–including former Mayor Sheila Dixon, State Senator Catherine Pugh, and City Councilman Carl Stokes–into overdrive and opened the door for other hopefuls. In late October, City Councilman Nick Mosby (also the husband of city state’s attorney Marilyn Mosby) entered the race. Then, in November, David Warnock, a venture capitalist and the chairman of the Greater Baltimore Committee, declared his candidacy. It’s impossible to tell who will prevail in the April 26 Democratic primary, which, in heavily Democratic Baltimore, amounts to the general election–but we’ve sure got ourselves a horserace.

“It is a more wide open race today than it was yesterday.” State Delegate Sandy Rosenberg to The New York Times on 9/11, the day Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced she would not seek reelection.

5. Red Line to Nowhere

Anyone who followed Gov. Larry Hogan’s campaign shouldn’t have been surprised when he canceled Baltimore’s planned, $2.9 billion mass-transit project in June. Hogan had said all along that he didn’t support the decade-in-the-making, 14-mile, east-west Red Line effort. When he hired Pete Rahn, a road builder from New Mexico, as his transportation secretary, the die was cast. Still, Hogan’s official rejection of $900 million in approved federal funding for the light rail system seemed to catch Baltimore’s elected leaders off guard, while delivering a crushing blow to a city in need of good news and economic development. When the Hogan administration later released its state road and highway improvement plans–in large part funded from Red Line savings–and Baltimore was left off the map, it seemed a telling slip that revealed the governor’s political agenda.

“Every other county shows investments being made, and Baltimore is literally and figuratively a gaping hole.”State Senator Bill Ferguson, a Baltimore Democrat, to The Sun, 6/25

6. Orioles Play to an Empty Stadium

–Meredith Herzing

Baseball has been played professionally in this country since the 1800s, so it’s rare to hear about any unprecedented event in the sport. But 2015 was a year of firsts for Baltimore. After canceling two previous Orioles games, the league announced that the April 29 game against the Chicago White Sox would be played in a closed stadium–a first in MLB history. This was, of course, days after protests and riots damaged businesses surrounding Camden Yards, and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said, “these decisions are in the best interests of fan safety and the deployment of city resources.” Closed to the public, the only people inside the stadium were players, staff, and media (more national media than we’ve ever seen at Camden Yards, including during a playoff series). The entire experience was surreal, but the strangest thing was what you suddenly could hear: players cheering from the dugouts, outfielders calling for balls, umps making third-strike calls, and balls smacking into fielders’ gloves. Not surprisingly, Birdland couldn’t be tamed completely that day, as fans–just outside the left-center field gates–chanted “O-R-I-O-L-E-S” and steadily cheered their team to an 8 to 2 win.

“It’s not an easy time for anybody right now. It doesn’t matter what race you are. We need this game to be played, but we need this city to heal first.”Orioles center fielder Adam Jones, 8/29

7. Gov. Hogan Diagnosed with Cancer

Only months after his upset victory over then-sitting Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Gov. Larry Hogan announced he had been diagnosed with a “very aggressive” cancer. In a June press conference, Hogan said he was told by doctors that the B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma had spread quickly to his neck, chest, groin, and abdomen. He also had been told, however, that he had a “strong chance of survival,” and he vowed to continue his duties while undergoing treatment. And he has, winning the admiration of the public: A Goucher College poll released in October found 54 percent of those surveyed felt favorably about Hogan, a 21 point increase from the college’s previous poll in February. Those are pretty good numbers in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1. The former real-estate executive, 59, who was elected on a promise to curb spending and roll back tax increases, recently completed his last round of chemotherapy, and now hopes to regain his strength–and his hair.

“All of the experts tell me that they believe that I’ll come out of that completely clear. They also tell me it’s gonna beat the hell out of me.” Gov. Larry Hogan at a press conference, 6/22

8. Senator Barbara Mikulski Retires

In a move that shocked many Marylanders, long-serving Democratic U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski announced on March 2 that she would not be seeking a sixth term. The Highlandtown native, a social worker-turned-U.S.-Representative-turned-Senator, has served in Congress longer than any other woman in history, and is beloved for her unpretentious, dogged, and feisty ways. Known as the Dean of the Women, she serves as a mentor to other women in the Senate and was also the first woman to chair the prestigious Senate Appropriations Committee, where she is now the ranking member. Her announcement left local politicos scrambling and, so far, only two candidates–U.S. Representatives Donna Edwards and Chris Van Hollen–have thrown their hats into the ring. (U.S. Representative Elijah Cumming also hasn’t ruled it out.) In a way, this makes sense. The diminutive Mikulski may have small feet, but she has enormous shoes to fill.

“Do I spend my time raising money, or do I spend my time raising hell? Remember, for the next two years I will be here, working the way that I do.” Senator Barbara Mikulski, at the press conference announcing her retirement, 3/2

9. American Pharoah Wins Preakness En Route to Triple Crown

–Meredith Herzing

The rain streaked down that mid-May afternoon–and then, so did American Pharoah. Baltimore watched with baited breath as the Kentucky Derby-winning colt took an almost immediate lead and barreled down a swampy Pimlico track toward the 140th Preakness Stakes’ winner’s circle–and eventually the Belmont Stakes and the elusive Triple Crown. Forgetting the weather, the record-setting crowd went wild and jockey Victor Espinoza beamed as he slowed to a canter, thrusting his crop triumphantly in the air. In a time of speculation that the race might move to Laurel Park and just a few weeks after the social upheaval that followed the death of Freddie Gray, it was, despite the torrents, a bright moment in an otherwise gloomy spring.

“What a day for Baltimore. They really needed this after all they’ve been through.”American Pharoah trainer Bob Baffert, The Sun, 5/16

10. Kevin Plank Buys Port Covington

–Courtesy of Under Armour

The days of easy parking in Port Covington are numbered. Sagamore Development, the real-estate investment firm controlled by Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank, purchased the 128-acre industrial area in early 2015 and has announced big plans for the under-utilized commercial/industrial hub. These include a new campus for Plank’s booming sportswear company, which last year earned revenues in excess of $3 billion and is outgrowing its Tide Point headquarters. Eventually, the project will include mixed-use development as well, such as an Under Armour retail store and residential units, but first Plank will be mixing up some good hooch: A whiskey distillery slated to open in late 2016 will produce Sagamore Spirit whiskey brand. The distillery complex also will include a 10,000-square-foot restaurant and a barn that will house the city’s mounted police unit. Public records say Plank paid about $90 million for the tract, which is off Interstate 95 on the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River. Currently, it is the site of a Walmart. We call this an upgrade.

“People said, ‘You should look at the county or Pennsylvania.' That’s not really our bag. We’re of this city, from this city, and we’re going to build something great in this city.” Kevin Plank in the Baltimore Business Journal , 3/2

11. Gov. Hogan Closes Jail

–Office of the Governor

“Today, I have instructed Secretary [of Public Safety & Correctional Services, Stephen T.] Moyer to immediately shut down the Baltimore City Men’s Detention Center,” Gov. Hogan said in a July 30 press conference outside the turreted jail that towers ominously over East Baltimore. And with that, a corruption-plagued, vermin-infested chapter in Baltimore’s history came to an abrupt end. By late August, the remaining inmates at the state-run jail had been moved to other facilities. Though Hogan’s announcement ruffled a few feathers–Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was caught unaware and Hogan wasn’t shy about blaming the jail’s failures on previous administrations–few quibbled with the act. Some parts of the jail pre-date the Civil War, and it showed. Plus, it was a hive of corruption. Most recently, the leader of the Black Guerilla Family gang had impregnated guards and run a drug-smuggling operation while incarcerated. For most, closing the jail wasn’t a matter of good-bye so much as it was good riddance.

“I could barely stomach it.” Stephen T. Moyer in The Sun, 8/27

12. Washington Monument Renovation Unearths Two Time Capsules

–Mount Vernon Place Conservancy

The past was very much present during the renovation of Baltimore’s Washington Monument. The 18-month, $5.5 million project involved painstaking restoration work on the 200-year-old column and culminated in a grand reopening celebration on the Fourth of July. But the journey to that point was equally momentous. In October 2014, workers discovered a time capsule dating to 1915. Then, in February of this year, crews found a second capsule that had been laid in the monument’s cornerstone in 1815. Naturally, the public was fascinated. And while the contents of the capsules proved prosaic–coins, newspaper clippings, likenesses of historical figures such as Francis Scott Key and, naturally, George Washington–the discoveries provided a link to our collective past and prompted reflection on what we can leave for future generations.

“You just felt these people in 1815 taking those [newspapers] and putting them in this container and burying them.Lance Humphries of Mount Vernon Place Conservancy to WBAL, 2/18

13. Martin O’Malley and Dr. Ben Carson Mount Presidential Campaigns

– Justin Sullivan/Getty Images, Joe Raedle/Getty Images

To us, they’re just Marty and Ben, a city councilman-turned-mayor-turned-governor and a world-famous Johns Hopkins pediatric neurosurgeon, respectively. For decades, their blandly handsome mugs have been staring out at us from billboards, TV commercials, and the covers of countless magazines (including this one). But now the rest of the country is meeting them as presidential candidates–and responding with varying degrees of interest. Carson, who is vying for the Republican nomination, is, as of this writing, surging in the polls in Iowa in advance of that state’s influential January caucuses. O’Malley, on the other hand, seems stuck in the back of the Democratic pack, overshadowed by the fame of Hillary Clinton and the populist momentum of Bernie Sanders. But that hasn’t stopped him from using every weapon in his political arsenal–including his, um, guitar. He covered Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” on The View in October, and yet his poll numbers remain in the single digits. Maybe try “Shake It Off” next time, Marty!

“Whatever the polling is today never reflects what they ultimately decide.”Martin O’Malley, Bloomberg Politics, 10/27

14. Molly Shattuck sentenced

–Algerina Perna/The Baltimore Sun/AP

Even before the news broke late last year, it was the worst-kept secret in Baltimore: Forty-eight-year-old Molly Shattuck, the ex-wife of former Constellation Energy CEO Mayo Shattuck, had performed oral sex on a 15-year-old boy, a schoolmate of her son’s at an exclusive private school in Baltimore County. The ugly truth was confirmed in June when she pleaded guilty to fourth-degree rape. Then in August, a judge sentenced the former Ravens cheerleader to 15 years in prison, with all but two years suspended. She was ordered to spend 48 alternating weekends in a detention facility in Delaware, the state in which the rape occurred. Many saw the sentence as a mere slap on her tiny wrist, but by September, Shattuck was dividing her days between a no-frills cell in jail and her well-heeled home in Baltimore. “I take full responsibility for what I did,” Shattuck sobbed in court. “I was the adult.”

“Miss Shattuck is a criminal. She admits to being a rapist. . . . She must be held responsible.”The victim’s mother, The Sun, 8/21

15. Doreen Bolger Bids Farewell to the BMA

–David Colwell

She was known throughout Baltimore for attending fancy galas and Station North warehouse shows alike. She championed free admission at The Baltimore Museum of Art, and it was under her direction that the museum re-opened its historic doors to the public–both literally and figuratively. Bolger oversaw an unprecedented $28 million renovation that aimed, in part, to make art more accessible to everyone. When she announced she was retiring after 17 years, there was plenty of sadness in the arts community. But she went out with a bang at a party at the BMA in June, seated on a flaming throne as members of the Baltimore Rock Opera Society performed and revelers helped paint a mural designed by renowned street artist Gaia. Better still, Bolger assures us she intends to remain here and continue to advise the BMA as it attempts to find her successor.

“Doreen has transformed The Baltimore Museum of Art into one of the most dynamic and innovating cultural institutions in the country. . . . Her wisdom and experience will be missed.” Christine Anagnos, executive director of the Association for Art Museum Directors, 4/8

16. Spike Gjerde wins James Beard Award

–Galdones Photography/James Beard Foundation

For Woodberry Kitchen owner Spike Gjerde, who in May won the coveted James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid Atlantic, the third time was the charm. Going toque-to-toque against Charleston’s Cindy Wolf, this was the farm-to-table chef’s third consecutive year as a finalist. And his win was the first James Beard Award ever given to a Baltimore chef. Speaking by phone from Chicago, where the awards were doled out, he told us that when his category was called, “I just closed my eyes–it was a magical moment.” The ensuing months have been a little less magical, however. In June, two Woodberry Kitchen pastry chefs slapped a suit against Watershed LLC (the parent company of Woodberry Kitchen, Artifact, and Parts & Labor) over unfair wages. Turns out, most medals tarnish with time.

“I just felt it was really great validation for Woodberry and for Baltimore as a city.”Spike Gjerde, The Sun, 5/6

17. Millennial Media Acquired by AOL

Millennial Media, one of Baltimore’s better-known homegrown tech startups, got swallowed up by AOL in September in a $238 million deal that could turn around the mobile advertising firm’s plummeting profitability. AOL, which itself was acquired by Verizon in June for $4.4 billion, could also benefit from the deal by being better able to compete with other big media companies, such as Google and Facebook, on mobile platforms. Notably, the $238 million was about one-eighth of Millennial’s market value on the day of its IPO in 2012. Since then, the stock price has slid downward with the company losing $149 million last year and $35 million in the first half of this year. It also remains to be seen what the acquisition means for the combined 450 staffers in the local AOL and Millennial Media offices.

“I think the deal was great for AOL/Verizon and probably viewed [as] so-so for Millennial.”John Ferber, co-founder of Advertising.com, the former Baltimore startup also acquired by AOL, The Sun, 9/3

18. Veep Vacates Maryland

– Pat Gavin

No more Julia Louis-Dreyfus sightings at Whole Foods. No more trying to suss out when Baltimore is standing in for D.C. No more moments of “Hey, that’s my favorite bar on TV!” On June 18, HBO announced that it would be moving production of Veep, the Emmy-award-winning political comedy, from Maryland to Los Angeles for the show’s fifth season. As is so often the case, money was the deciding factor. Veep was granted $6.5 million in tax credits by the California Film Commission. After the show won Outstanding Comedy Series at the 2015 Emmys, Veep cast member Timothy Simons tweeted: “Love to our Baltimore crew. We love and miss you. This is impossible without you. Thanks for everything.” No Veep, thank you.

“The producers and HBO would like to thank Maryland for making the last four seasons of Veep such a success. We look forward to returning with another production in the future.”statement from HBO announcing Veep was leaving Maryland, 6/18

19. CLUB Hippo Closes

–Mike Morgan

In what was arguably one of the best years for the LGBTQ community, Baltimore suffered a loss when the news broke in May that Club Hippo would close. After more than four decades as an anchor of Baltimore’s gay scene, owner Chuck Bowers decided it was time to retire, and, in early October, he shut the iconic nightclub’s doors for good. Opened in 1972, the Hippo served as a safe haven for all walks of life through times of adversity, including the AIDS epidemic. It was a comfort zone, where people could be themselves without fear or judgment. And sometimes that meant howling “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes with a bunch of your closest friends in its beloved karaoke room, or catching the latest drag show on the dance floor. Of course, the Hippo couldn’t go out without one last big party, which it held on September 26 as a packed dance floor boogied to one last song (“It’s Raining Men” by The Weather Girls, of course). After 43 years of acceptance, enlightenment, and pure entertainment, the Hippo is now gone, but not forgotten.

“Chuck Bowers, the staff and management of the Hippo want to thank everyone who supported us over the past 43 years! Just remember, ‘The enchantment has ended but the SPELL remains.’”Club Hippo Facebook page, 10/5

20. Episcopal Bishop Kills Cyclist

On New Year’s Day, more than 1,000 cyclists gathered for a silent memorial ride up Roland Avenue in honor of popular Baltimore bike builder Tom Palermo, who had been killed in a drunken hit-and-run accident just days prior. Per cycling community tradition, a white-painted “ghost bike” was chained to a pole near the crash location, with flowers and candles placed around the makeshift memorial. The driver of the car that killed Palermo, Episcopal Bishop Heather Elizabeth Cook, pleaded guilty to automobile manslaughter in September and was sentenced to seven years in prison in October. Meanwhile, organizations such as Bikemore, the city’s nonprofit bicycling advocacy organization, and Bike Maryland continue to press for tougher penalties for negligent drivers and safer roads for cyclists.

“Last Saturday was a beautiful day and Rachel [Palermo’s wife], realizing how busy they had been, suggested to Tom that he do what he loved and go out for a ride.”Jeff Hulting, at brother-in-law Tom Palermo’s memorial ride, talking about the day Palermo died, Baltimoremagazine.net , 1/2

Honorable Mentions: More Moments That Mattered

In January, President Obama used Charmington’s coffeehouse in Remington as the backdrop for an appearance promoting paid sick leave. His appearance thrilled onlookers and staff, especially when a presidential aide left a $30 tip on a $60 bill.

West Baltimore photographer Devin Allen landed the cover of Time magazine in April with his snap of a young black man fleeing a horde of police officers during the unrest following the death of Freddie Gray.

Buck hated it, but everyone else recognized the brilliance of the O’s promotional Buck Showalter garden gnome. #SHOWtheGnome, indeed.

In July, several cast members from The Wire reconvened at Artscape to discuss the Freddie Gray unrest and honor community leaders. It was great to see that Omar, Kima, Bubbles, Dukie, Snoop et al. hadn’t forgotten from whence they came.

One Direction minus one (fare thee well, Zayn!) rolled into M&T Bank Stadium in August for the teenybopper concert of the year.

A man in a crowd outside the Republican presidential debate in Cleveland in August waved a sign asking, “Is Joe Flacco A Elite Quarterback?” for MSNBC cameras. The image went viral and inspired a new round of earnest philosophizing on Flacco’s eliteness.

In July, 8-year-old Zion Harvey of Owings Mills became the first pediatric patient to receive a double hand transplant.

Baltimore’s fecund indie-rock scene—including Future Islands, Beach House, and Dan Deacon—proved its drawing power with a sold-out concert at Pier Six Pavilion in August.

In October, one of two blimp-like surveillance crafts floating above Aberdeen Proving Ground came unmoored and drifted into Pennsylvania. The absurd, slow-motion chase—and the memes it spawned—had the Internet ROFLMAOing.

Union Memorial orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lew Schon got to live out his rock star fantasy this July when he joined the Foo Fighters on stage in Boston to perform The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.” He got the gig through his patient—Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl.

Source

Former Ravens Cheerleader Molly Shattuck Sentenced in Rape Case

Jess Mayhugh — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 10:59:22 +0000

Molly Shattuck, ex-wife of former Constellation Energy CEO Mayo Shattuck and a former Ravens cheerleader, was sentenced to 48 non-consecutive weekends in jail after being indicted in Delaware for rape in the sexual assault of a teenage boy.

After pleading guilty to one count of fourth-degree rape as a part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, Shattuck will now spend every other weekend in jail for two years. The maximum sentence for the charges is 15 years.

Back in November, news broke that Shattuck was indicted with third-degree rape, four counts of unlawful sexual conduct in the second degree, and three counts of providing alcohol to a minor. The charges stated that Shattuck performed oral sex on a 15-year-old boy, who attended McDonogh School with her eldest son, while on vacation in Bethany Beach last summer.

In addition to the jail time, Shattuck is required to register as a sex offender in Delaware for 25 years and cannot be around anyone under the age of 18, besides her children.

Shattuck first gained prominence in the public eye because of 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.

Source

Top Baltimore Moments in 2014

Jess Mayhugh — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 09:00:00 +0000

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

Online Exclusive! Click to see even more top moments from 2014.

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

The Unsinkable Molly Shattuck

Jess Mayhugh — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

This article was originally published in December 2011.

As if on cue at the sound of a knock, Molly Shattuck’s children appear at the front door of the palatial Roland Park 1926 brick home she shares with her husband, Mayo Shattuck III, chairman, president, and CEO of Constellation Energy.

“Hi, I’m Spencer,” says their 13-year-old son, greeting a visitor with his bright smile. “And I’m Lillian,” says her 8-year-old daughter, wearing a pink-and-green Lilly Pulitzer sheath.

“This is Lizzie Mae,” says Spencer, introducing the family Maltipoo. And within moments, the middle son, Wyatt, 10, emerges, and offers a handshake befitting the son of a Fortune 500 CEO. Then, with another touch of perfect stage timing, Shattuck herself, a diminutive dynamo with the most boffo body in Baltimore, stands bare foot in the dramatic brick-red foyer in a form-fitting periwinkle dress. “Hi, I’m Molly,” she says simply.

With her luggage ready to roll out the front door as the family prepares to leave within hours for the San Francisco wedding of Mayo’s oldest son (from his first marriage), Shattuck herself is on a roll these days. She’s juggling a new exercise DVD (in which she and her kids demonstrate waist twists and proper jump-rope technique) called The Vibrant Living Workout, as well as an eponymous website (mollyshattuck.com) offering fitness and nutrition tips, recipes, and thoughts on volunteer work.

“The reason I created ‘Vibrant Living’ is because, for years, people would say, ‘What is it you do?'” says the 5-foot, 4-inch, 110-pound Molly, who’s now curled up on a pink and white chair in her cheery sunroom, a blue Molly Shattuck-brand, BPA-free water bottle at her side.

“What’s the secret? I tell people you have to be well hydrated—I don’t drink coffee, tea, or soda,” she says. “You have to move your body every day and eat right, but deprivation is not realistic. You have to have a balance of vegetables, proteins, and carbohydrates.”

Though she loves being active, Shattuck is a homebody at heart. “I love to be home,” she says. “I love to cook, I love to bake, I love to do crafts, and I’d much rather have a dinner party at home than go to a restaurant.”

With her storybook home—okay, make that a storybook, five-bedroom, 5.5-bathroom manse with a pool and new exercise room—three kids straight out of central casting (all of whom profess to eat their vegetables!), a milestone career as the oldest cheerleader in NFL history (at the ripe old age of 38), a one-episode stint on Fox’s Secret Millionaire, and a husband who happens to be one of the wealthiest men in Baltimore (reported compensation of $15.7 million in 2010, according to The Sun), is it any wonder that everyone wants in on the secrets of the former homecoming queen?

Though she is blonde and beautiful, the real secret behind Molly Shattuck (a ringer for actress Kristin Chenoweth) is that she’s not just another pretty face. Growing up in a modest house down the road from her grandparents’ farm in Kittanning, PA, she was far from being born with a silver spoon in her mouth. In fact, her parents, married at 18 and 19, probably didn’t even own one. “It was nothing fancy,” she says, laughing.

“My parents instilled the idea of hard work in us,” says the now-44-year-old Shattuck, who was the middle child of three girls. “My mother had a beauty shop for 40 years—it was like Steel Magnolias. I literally grew up in the beauty shop and played with ‘curlies’—that’s what I called curlers. When I was a newborn baby, my mom went back to work a week later. I grew up running the register at my Dad’s gas station and worked in my aunt and uncle’s restaurant as a waitress.”

Shattuck’s childhood was a happy and uncomplicated one. “We rode our bikes every day,” says Shattuck. “We played in the creek.” And she has always loved to exercise. “We couldn’t afford dance lessons,” she recalls, “but I taught myself to tap and, in grade school, because tennis and cheerleading were the only options for girls, I was a cheerleader.”

By high school, Shattuck had become captain of the cheerleading squad, but even more life-altering, while on a trip to the Grand Canyon in her senior year, she made a vow to herself that she still honors every year—she wrote a bucket list. “I came up with the idea of making a list of 10 things I wanted to do with my life,” says Shattuck, “and I still have that list and keep a list to this day. It’s like my road map.” Among her goals: “I wanted to get married and have a family” (she married Mayo in 1997 and gave birth to Spencer the following year); “I wanted to go to college” (she attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in marketing and business administration); “I wanted to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro” (she completed her ascent in October 2007); “I wanted to be a Dallas Cowboy’s cheerleader” (she made the Ravens’ team in 2005—close enough).

“I had been pregnant or nursing, pregnant or nursing,” says Shattuck. “Right after I stopped nursing Lillian, I said, ‘I want to be a Ravens cheerleader.'” When Shattuck first heard about the auditions, she was in Florida. “Mayo called me and said, ‘The auditions are on Saturday.’ I flew back, but I needed photos, and I didn’t even own a bikini. Mayo took pictures of me in a bra and underwear. I was literally standing in our bathroom for them.”

After five cuts, Shattuck (she used the name “Molly S.” to audition) got her pom poms the old-fashioned way: by earning them. “I didn’t want to make it because of his influence,” says Shattuck. “I wanted to make it legitimately.”

Though she still coaches part-time, ultimately, she hung up her uniform for more time with her moppets. “There’s nothing better than looking out at 70,000 fans,” says Shattuck, “but it was an easy decision. My kids were 4, 6, and 8 at the time, and I needed to be there for them.”

Relics of Shattuck’s cheerleading glory days are still on view in her home: Until recently, the walls of Mayo’s first-floor bar area were adorned with publicity shots framed from the pages of Sports Illustrated, USA Today, and People. Years ago, when the bar was being built, Shattuck surprised her husband by having glass-topped drawers made to exhibit his collection of golf balls. “Mayo likes to golf,” says Shattuck. “He collects golf balls from every course he has ever played—from Augusta to Pebble Beach—and I had these drawers made to display them. He was thrilled when he saw them.”

The Shattuck home is a study in contrasts. A Lalique vase given as a weding present is displayed in the living room near her children’s teething rattles; precious oil paintings and heavy gold damask curtains are hung next to Wyatt’s Jackson Pollack-style abstract oil paintings in the music room; in the living room, a glass case displays a pair of hand-painted sand dollars from the couple’s wedding on Maine’s Chebeague Island.

Throughout the space, family heirlooms from both sides are also added to the mix. Shattuck’s beloved grandparents handed-down porcelain dishes are on display in the dining room, and an inherited settee is perched on the upstairs landing in the hallway. Heirlooms from Mayo’s childhood (spent in tony Hinghan and Cohasset, Massachusetts) are also there, including a coffee table and side tables.

Despite the prevalence of priceless antiques and formal furniture, no room is off limits to the Shattuck brood (“We sit everywhere,” offers Spencer), and, nearly every room is peppered with charitable projects and handmade goods, from cookies for a homeless shelter on the kitchen counter to handmade welcome bags for Mayo’s son’s wedding on the foyer floor.

The heart of the home is the charming, surprisingly old-fashioned kitchen that has undergone a few facelifts. “We renovated when we first moved in 1997,” recounts Molly, “and then nine years ago, we did an expansion so that we could all fit around the kitchen table. At the same time, we converted the garage into a family room. We really spend all of our time in these rooms.”

During the course of the kitchen updates, many elements of the old kitchen were retained, including the original, white flat-front cabinets. “The quality of the cabinets is better than anything you could get today,” says Shattuck. “And I love the character of the old. When we bought this, it wasn’t ‘cool’ to buy these old houses, but I love their charm. We wanted to preserve what we could. We love the history of the house.”

Shattuck and her husband tend to agree in their approach to decorating. “Our taste is so similar,” she says. “He’ll be in a store and say, ‘I saw this great piece,’ and I will have already taken a picture of it. I’ll say, ‘You mean this?'”

Shattuck, who met her husband as a marketing associate when she literally bumped into him at Alex. Brown & Sons while walking backwards out of a colleague’s office, fills her hours with charity work and volunteers with her children, whether building hoop houses at Real Food Farm or making sandwiches for local soup kitchens. One of her more recent projects: orchestrating a partnership between United Way of Central Maryland and Baltimore City and environs to focus on making affordable, fresh food available to underserved communities in Baltimore.

“It’s about raising awareness,” says Shattuck, who is donating part of the proceeds from her fitness video to the project. “There’s nothing more basic than healthy food, and it’s what people aren’t putting into their bodies that is making them sick.”

Though Shattuck could certainly be living a life of idle luxury, she instead contributes to the community nearly every waking hour, not just with money, but with her time, too. She and Mayo are co-chairs of the United Way of Central Maryland. She’s a member of the Board of Overseers at the Baltimore School for the Arts and is on the national advisory board for the The Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, to name just a couple of causes. In fact, her extensive involvement has earned her several awards for her charitable work.

Shattuck sees volunteer work as something that should be an integral part of raising a family. “You have to teach your kids to volunteer at a young age and make it part of their lives,” she believes. “It teaches them to be nice to everyone. It teaches them values in a real sense and not just the words.”

It’s a lesson the down-to-earth Shattuck learned firsthand from her own childhood. “I never would have dreamed any of this,” says Shattuck standing next to an exquisite inlaid buffet in the dining room. “Things make people temporarily happy, but it’s really all about who you are and how you live your life and doing things with a purpose.”

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