ADVENTURES IN BALTIMORE

Until its demise in the spring of 1999, Homicide: Life on the Street (H:LotS) was one of my favorite shows of all time. Gloriously, it is being resurrected, if ever so briefly, for a television movie slated to run in the Spring of 2000. Now some feel that the show declined in later years and the movie won't be as high of caliber as the first few seasons, but I still feel any H:LOTS is great H:LOTS. With that in mind and with filming set to run over the course of the Thanksgiving week, I decided to make a once in a lifetime trip to Charm City on my way to visit family in Virginia for the holiday.

My husband and I set out from Rhode Island early (5:00am) the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. We didn't get into Baltimore until about 1:30/2:00. Since we were planning on spending the night in DC with friends, we needed to leave Baltimore about 3:45. That gave us only a brief 2 hours for site (read "star") seeing. We made plans to meet up with Robin and Leslie from alt.tv.homicide, and they graciously showed us around.

When we first got there, I saw Clark Johnson in full Meldrick mode complete with hat and trenchcoat, but he was quite a distance so I didn't get to meet him or get his picture. After walking around for about 15 minutes, we met up with Robin and Leslie. We chatted in front of the Stationhouse for a bit hoping for a sighting of one of the actors, but no such luck. Since no one was around, we decided to go to Koopers for something to eat.

On our way across the street, Robin and Leslie saw Welby, a cameraperson, and Jim Babb, a reporter, from the NBC station in Richmond. Robin and Leslie had previously spoken with Welby and Jim and mentioned that they were meeting up with a native Richmonder (me) later in the afternoon. Since they were doing a piece on the Homicide movie, they wanted to get a local human interest type feel. I consented to be interviewed. I don't remember much of what was asked and answered, but I tried to make the point that my interest in Homicide and alt.tv.homicide was akin to a sports enthusiast waiting outside the stadium to get an autograph from and meet the players and that those of us on the internet weren't nuts or stalkers or anything of the like. I haven't seen the interview, but my dad said they didn't use the sports analogy bit in the broadcast, but they did use the part where I said we weren't nuts, which probably made me sound nuts. After that bit, they showed a scene of Jim Babb, Robin, Leslie, Ron (my husband) and me walking down the street in front of the stationhouse. (Always glad to share my 15 minutes of fame).

After the interview, we went to Koopers and had something to eat. Inside Koopers I got to see the Board, but unfortunately I didn't have the presence of mind to take a picture of it. I'm kicking myself now. While inside, we saw James Yoshimura. Generally I am a pretty shy person so I didn't go over and say anything to him. I'm still amazed that I gave that interview. I must have really been in a not giving a damn mood. I guess I was just enjoying being in the area and soaking up the atmosphere of Fells Point enjoying viewing what little I saw of the cast and crew from afar.

As my husband and I still had to go to DC and didn't want to get stuck in rush hour traffic, we went into the Admiral T, and I got a Homicide postcard. We walked back to say goodbye to Robin and Leslie, and Ron took my picture on "The Stairs."

We walked down the street a bit toward our car and were just talking and saying our goodbyes when all of a sudden Max Perlich walks out with his daughter. He came over to us (we didn't have to approach him) and started talking to us. He mostly talked about his beautiful daughter and then took off. I was a bit disappointed that I didn't get to see anyone else. My husband really wanted to see Andre, and I, as I am sure everyone knows, wanted to see Reed. We were told he hadn't even gotten to town yet. Any way, we were saying good bye to Robin and Leslie when Leslie told me to turn around. I did, and there he was. REED. I was dumbfounded. He was talking to someone, so I waited till he finished. I was just going to say something like I was a fan, but my husband said why don't you get his autograph. Now, I have never asked anyone for their autograph before, so I felt kind of silly (remember my comment about being shy), but I figured what the hell. Anyway, after he finished speaking to the guy, a girl he knew came up and gave him a hug. I was patient, and after he finished with her, I went up to him and said I was a fan and could I get his autograph. He said yes and signed my postcard.

I also asked if I could get his picture. He put his arm around me, and my husband took our picture. Robin also took two.

After that I thanked him and went back to where Leslie and Robin were. The first guy Reed was speaking with before I approached him said something like, you were worried no one would care, and you haven't even gotten in the door and they are already coming up to you. That wasn't exactly it, but the general idea. Robin may have also said something to him, I don't remember. He did make the comment that he had never met Ned Beatty before and was looking forward to it (kind of like I was looking forward to meeting Reed). After that, we said goodbye to Leslie, Robin and Baltimore, and I left with a huge smile on my face.

Well, that's my brush with fame. I want to thank Robin and Leslie for showing us the sites!! I also want to thank my husband for tolerating my small indulgence.

Ashley

arpotvin@mindspring.com

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

The next three pictures were taken by Robin while she and Leslie were traipsing around Baltimore looking for some action. They came upon some of the crew preparing the Waterfront for its featured shots. Out with the new, in with the beloved old.

And Robin writes:

After the very cool former owners, Gene and Chet, sold the Waterfront, the misguided new owner changed the decor to a kind of parrot/tropical theme, hoping to draw a "better class of customers." Feh, says I. The "painted lady" treatment, formerly consistent over the facade, has given way to solid burgundy on the ground floor. (And the old Waterfront sign has been repainted as well, perhaps to better coordinate with the new paint job on the building. The lettering used to be a kind of cranberry color, but is now dark green.)

Inside, in the back room, near the pool table, the mural of Fell's Point waterfront scenes has been painted over. You can still see similar murals by the same artist (whose name escapes me now), in several other local establishments, including Kooper's, the Wharf Rat, and Bertha's. And the latticed wall parallel to the bar itself has been torn down.

Later in our visit, Leslie and I saw the crew unloading various props from the familiar Hadad's truck, including the pool table and jukebox. The old-fashioned beer taps were already in place at the bar, so they may be part of the new permanent decor. It was good to see the Waterfront again, even though it wasn't quite the same.

Robin, RC Trixie