THE CONE COLLECTION AT THE BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART

THE CONE COLLECTION

THE BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

THE BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART

10 ART MUSEUM DRIVE

BALTIMORE, MD 21218-3898

443-573-1700

443-573-1582 FAX

www.artbma.org/collection/overview/cone.html

www.artbma.org

The best thing about having this blog is being able to share experiences that people would not have seen if it were not posted.  One such experience is the Cone Collection of Art housed at The Baltimore Museum of Art in Maryland.  I had never heard of the Cone Sisters, their collection or The Baltimore Museum of Art.   As luck would have it I grabbed the local "things to do" magazine when I arrived at my hotel.  Took up camp on the porcelain and began to read about what was in and around Baltimore.  A museum caught my eye as they claimed the largest collection of paintings from Henri Matisse in the world.  Wow...I thought.  If I get time this is tops on my list to visit.  Well the rain storm hit Baltimore that day and our outdoor plans were quickly abandoned.  Headed to The Baltimore Museum of Art to see the Cone Collection.  Upon arrival in pouring rain we were happily greeted by a smiling employee who handed us a brochure and said the exhibit and Museum were free.  I asked about the Matisse Collection and she informed me that most of the collection was out on the road in various museums.  There were a few however upstairs on the second floor she said.  While a bit bummed out that I would not see a hundred paintings by Matisse, my bummer soon faded to joy as I was surrounded by works from Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Gauguin, Renoir, Pissarro, Suerat and Degas.  My goodness...all of my favorite French Impressionist were here and this is a fucking private collection.  These gals from Baltimore enjoyed this collection in their home!  I was totally blown away.  Click links below to view posts of French Impressionists:

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2012/01/art-institute-of-chicago.html

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2014/01/metropolitan-museum-of-art-new-york.html

CAN YOU IMAGINE ENJOYING A GLASS OF WINE IN YOUR LIVING ROOM SURROUNDED
BY THESE INCREDIBLE MASTER PAINTINGS

THE CONE SISTERS OF BALTIMORE

REPLICA OF THE CONE SISTERS APARTMENT WITH ORIGINAL ARTWORK

LIST OF ORIGINAL PAINTINGS HANGING IN THE CONE SISTERS APARTMENT 

CONE SISTERS APARTMENT WITH SOME OF THE FINEST ART IN THE WORLD

PHILLIPS SEAFOOD - BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

PHILLIPS SEAFOOD

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

PHILLIPS SEAFOOD

601 E. PRATT STREET

BALTIMORE, MD 21202

410-685-6600

HOURS:  Monday thru Thursday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

                 Friday and Saturday 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

                 Sunday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

www.phillipsseafood.com

Phillips Seafood is the first restaurant on the Inner Harbor coming off Pratt Street.  It was cold and pouring buckets of rain so we went no further down the harbor.  Entered to find a busy bar on the right side filled with Happy Hour guests doubling up before the specials ended.  The hostess told us that there would be a 15 minute wait so we grabbed a drink at the bar.  There was a guy playing music in the bar that was amazing.  He was playing old standards from the Beatles, Monkeys, Rolling Stones and Neil Diamond to name a few.  Song after song he was hitting it out of the park.  We decided to sit at a table inside the bar and enjoy the music.  Our waitress was a little local gal from the City.  Brought us over some menus and we fired away with Oysters, Clams and Crab Cakes.  When in Maryland we said, "eat local".  Started with a half dozen Oysters and after one bite it turned into a few dozen.  These babies were fresh and went down like candy.  Ohh...how I wish we could get these in Hawaii.  Last Oysters I had in Hawaii were pale and milky.  Tasted like crap.   These were the exact opposite.  Fresh as the Sea and delicious.  The Steamed Clams also did not disappoint.  Large, meaty clams in a light broth.  Could have eaten 10 dozen of these myself.  The Crab Cakes were pretty basic.  Not the "wow" factor taste I was expecting to have in Maryland.  Not bad though.  The best part of this dinner was listening to Bobby play songs.  Whenever the audience requested an artist or song he played it.  Nothing seemed to stump him.  I requested something from Cheap Trick and he laughed.  "One of my favorite bands" he said and then played a rendition of Surrender that was really good with just a guitar.  Bobby was amazing.  We spoke over a glass of wine after his set and he explained his musical history.  Guy has played with dozens of the worlds greatest artists and bands.  What a great time in Baltimore!

PHILLIPS SEAFOOD

PHILLIPS SEAFOOD ON BALTIMORE INNER HARBOR

THERE WAS A WAIT FOR TABLES SO WE ENDED UP IN THE BAR

SAT INSIDE THE BAR AND WERE TREATED TO A GREAT CONCERT BY BOBBY B
(WEARING WHITE SHIRT ON LEFT HOLDING GUITAR BELOW THE GIANT CRAB)

PHILLIPS MENU

PHILLIPS SIGNATURES, FRESH FISH AND SIDES 

SEASIDE FAVORITES - LAND AND SEA

FRESH OYSTERS WERE AMAZING

LOVED THE STEAMED CLAMS

CLAMS WERE LARGE AND FULL OF FLAVOR

HAD TO TRY A MARYLAND CRAB CAKE

CRAB CAKES FULL OF CRAB AND NOT MUCH FILLER

HUNG OUT A BIT WITH SINGER BOBBY B.  THIS GUY CAN SING ANYTHING AND HAS
PLAYED WITH OF THE COUNTRIES FINEST BANDS.  GREAT SINGER AND MUSICIAN

PICKLES PUB - BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

 PICKLES PUB

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

PICKLES PUB

520 WASHINGTON BLVD

BALTIMORE, MD  21230

410-752-1784

HOURS: Open Daily 11:00 AM - 2:00 AM

www.picklespub.com

We hit Pickles Pub prior to a Baltimore Orioles Baseball game.  After one beer here we found out that the game was rained out.   Rather than drink a few more rounds we decided to order some food and asked the waitress what she would suggest.  The Beer Battered Pickles of course she said and then the Crab Pretzel.  We went for both and added some Hot Chicken Wings and Fried Clams to the mix.  The Beer Battered Pickles ($6.99) were good but there was more batter than pickle.  Loved the pickle taste and wanted more of it and less batter.  The Fried Clam Strips ($8.99) were my favorite dish on the table.  Thick pieces of Clam with just enough breading so that the Clam flavor was not lost.  The Crab Pretzel ($10.99) was one of those things that I tried once and probably would not eat again.  This is a Stadium style Soft Pretzel covered in Cheddar Cheese and warm Crab Dip.  The Hot Chicken Wings ($12.99) were both hot and flavorful.  Liked them and would eat these many more times.  Cold beer and Hot Wings at Pickles.  That is good enough for me.  

FRIED PICKLES AT PICKLES PUB

PICKLES PUB IN BALTIMORE IS LOCATED NEXT TO CAMDEN YARDS BASEBALL STADIUM 

VOTED BEST SPORTS BAR IN THE CITY

PICKLES PUB STARTING TO FILL UP BEFORE ORIOLES BASEBALL GAME

YOU CAN SIT BEHIND THE FENCE IN SECTION 200

PICKLES PUB HAS SEVERAL BARS, EATING AREAS AND UPSTAIRS DINING/BA

IF YOU LIKE "FRIED" THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE 

FRIES, BASKETS OF FRIED STUFF AND A FEW SALADS

SALADS, CRAB SOUP AND CHILI

SANDWICH MENU

GAME DAY DRINK MENU

ORIOLES ORANGE LABLED COORS LIGHT 

FRIED PICKLES WERE MORE BATTER THAN PICKLES

FRIED CLAMS WERE DELICIOUS

BALTIMORES CRAB PRETZEL

SOFT PRETZEL WITH CHEESE AND CRAB DIP ON TOP

HOT CHICKEN WINGS

HILTON BALTIMORE

HILTON BALTIMORE

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

HILTON BALTIMORE

401 WEST PRATT STREET

BALTIMORE, MD  21201

443-573-8700

443-683-8841 FAX

www.baltimore.hilton.com

The Hilton Baltimore served its purpose as I was attending a convention in the hotel.  The hotel is conveniently located directly across the street from Camden Yards where the Baltimore Orioles play baseball.  There is a deck on the fourth floor of the hotel that overlooks center field and you can actually watch the games from there for free.  If you want to go into Camden Yards it is only a few feet away from the hotel entrance.  Great location to catch a Oriole Baseball game or Ravens Football game as both stadiums are close.  Valet parking here will set you back $40 per day and Self Parking is close to $30 per day.  Getting in and out of the hotel during game days can be rough as they close down some of the streets next to the hotel.  No complaints about the hotel.  Rooms were pretty standard.  Mine had an odd smell as you walk in but after a few minutes you got used to it.  Did not get Maid service until 4:00 pm on one day.  I had just returned to my room and the Maid was at the door.  I explained that I needed 15 minutes to clean up and then would leave the room for service.  The Maid could not speak English and summoned another person working the floor.  I explained to the second lady that they could make up my room now.  To my surprise they never returned.  Room was not cleaned on this day.  

BALTIMORE HILTON

LOCATED NEXT TO CAMDEN YARDS BASEBALL STADIUM

BALTIMORE HILTON LOBBY

STANDARD GUEST ROOM 

WORK AREA WITH SINGLE ELECTRICAL OUTLET

COFFEE MACHINE BUT NO REFRIGERATOR

SMALL BATH WAS FINE FOR ONE PERSON STAY

SHOWER HEAD WAS WAY UP THERE

UNITED CLUB - HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

UNITED CLUB

HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

UNITED CLUB

2ND FLOOR GATE 10

HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

300 RODGERS BLVD

HONOLULU, HI  96819

Having to hit the United Club now that one of my credit cards no longer allows access to the American Admirals Club at Honolulu Airport.  The United Club located above Gate 10 on the far Diamond Head side of the airport is a little bit out of the way when you are not flying on United but it does provide a nice quiet place to hang out if you have a layover.  The place is kind of dated with 70's style rattan furniture and palm tree etched windows.  The complimentary wine, cheese and crackers was good enough for my pre-flight stay here.  

ENJOYED COMPLIMENTARY GLASS OF WINE AND SOME CHEESE AND CRACKERS

BAR AT THE UNITED CLUB NEAR GATE 10

SMALL SNACK AND BEVERAGE AREA

SEATING AREA