Interning the summer away

There are loads of good reasons why you should intern. It helps you build contacts in a professional network; it provides you with valuable industry work experience; it looks good on your resume; if you’re lucky, you can get paid; you can get class credit; you can build your resume. And these reasons make sense. You might have spent the first 19 years of your life dying to become a professional Purple-People-Eater breeder, and then you intern for a summer on a Purple-People-Eater farm and hate it. Never want to see a Purple-People-Eater again. Good thing you know before you invest your life savings into a farm.

Just kidding.

But in all honesty, being a summer (or semester intern, for that matter) is a vitally important part of the college experience. It certainly was for me.

As I finished up my undergraduate career, I began searching for a full-time job position. But with the economy, interning in the field I want to work seemed like a great option. Rather than taking some time off to laze around the pool in between job applications, I decided that becoming the Marketing Intern at the Baltimore Collegetown Network would be a nice way for me gain useful skills and spend some time in a professional work environment. Plus, it would be fun.

As the marketing intern at BCN, I was responsible for a wide array of different things, from handling website maintenance to going to campuses to speak directly with incoming students about what services the Collegetown Network can offer them. I even helped to give a bus tour of Baltimore to a group of incoming freshmen’s parents. I would never have thought to send my parents on a bus tour of Baltimore.

Probably one of the coolest opportunities I had at Collegetown was when we attended the unveiling of the new Charm City Circulator. The fact that the city was showing its new bus line for the first time was exciting enough: the bus was all new and shiny, and had that “new car smell” (I actually blogged about this earlier in the summer). Adding to the cool factor was seeing Mayor Dixon holding the press conference in person. As a former editor on my college newspaper, I loved seeing the T.V. crews and reporters conducting interviews. I was very tempted to grab a notepad and start following around the cameraman myself. A second really cool meeting that I attended was the BACVA Town Hall meeting (BACVA is the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitor’s Association, which is essentially the tourism organization). Turns out, tourism is one of Baltimore’s biggest industries. After hearing Mayor Dixon give a very dynamic speech, there were some awards and then a surprise announcement: BACVA will now be called “Visit Baltimore.” The event was a great opportunity to network and get to know other people at local Baltimore businesses.

We also had our Downtown 101 event, with the Downtown Partnership. This event was a great opportunity to collaborate with another group working within Baltimore and to meet other young professionals in the area.

I also manned our table at one of Goucher’s orientation open houses. That was a nice opportunity to tell both students and their parents about the different activities that Baltimore has to offer (other than merely the aquarium). Many people aren’t aware of the vast number of things to do in Baltimore on any given day. If you know the right places to look, there is no reason to ever be bored in Baltimore.

Interning this summer was a great experience. I was able (on more than one occasion) to apply a fair amount of what I learned in my business classes while doing completing my marketing duties, such as reading an analytics dashboard or creating a media kit for inquires. I also shadowed BCN’s executive director, Kristen Campbell, to a couple of meetings. It was interesting to attend these meetings and watch how different organizations make their decisions and conduct their daily tasks.

Plus, I’ve meet a lot of new people that I would not have met if I stayed solely in my “Hopkins bubble.” Luckily, the College of Notre Dame (where BCN has its offices) has a lot of young employees and with them I was able to go to new places and events in Baltimore I would not have known about otherwise (like the Beer Flight I blogged about earlier).

Overall, it was a very interesting and productive summer. Granted, with most internships they are what you make of them. I tried to make the most of my experience with the Baltimore Collegetown Network by making suggestions for new ways to do things, asking questions about why certain things work the way they do, and taking every opportunity to expand my skill base.

Hope you all have a great fall! Maybe one of you all will be writing here next!

Many more adventures to come.

Signing off,

Heather

Tackling the King of Cheese and other yummy treats at Petit Louis

In order from lightest to darkest, the beers are the Southern Tier 422, Wachbeyer Zotten, Censored, and Milk Stout

When we heard that one of Baltimore’s nicest French Bistros, Petit Louis, held weekly Beer Flights the question quickly became: when can we go? And go we did. On July 28, a group of us headed over to the darling French restaurant. When we arrived at 5pm, the restaurant was empty. No matter — all the more attention that could be lavished upon us. Gathering around the ceramic-tiled bar, we listened patiently as the bartender explained how a Beer Flight worked: tasters get 3oz. to sample of all four beers. After tasting, smelling, lingering and challenging each other to see who can identify all the “tasting notes” correctly, you get to choose which beer you would like to drink a whole bottle of. The evening’s favorites were the Zotten and Milk Stout. Those participating would have the four beers of the month (then July’s) poured out in 3 oz. snippets with information about each brew’s name, producer, style and tasting notes. The four we tried were:

Southern Tier 422, an American Pale Wheat Ale. This beer was very light and had a hint of banana to its taste.
Weyerbacher Zotten, a Belgium Pale Ale. Darker than the Southern Tier, the Zotten tasted “very Belgium” and floral.
Lagunitas Censored, a Red Ale. The darkest brew so far, the Censored had a fruity smoothness to it.
and
Lancaster Milk Stout, a sweet stout. This was popular dark brew had notes of coffee to match its color.

Don’t think the evening was all about the beer because, as always at Petit Louie, the food was a hit. We ate off the bar menu, but the regular dinner menu was available too. From the pommes frites to the batter-dipped zucchini slices, at only $5 the little plates were a great complement to the beer. But the crowning jewel of the bar menu was the cheese cart. Having to select 2 cheese off of a cart containing at least 15 different types of cheese made from goat’s, sheep’s and cow’s milk. The fromagerie described the tastes, textures and procedures for each individual type, which ranged from the “King of Cheeses” brie to one so smelly it was stored in a special box.

Overall, the night was a gastronomical success!

Petit Louie holds Beer Flights Mon-Fri from 5-9pm each week. The beers rotate each month; August is a selection of local beers. For more information, see the restaurant’s website at: http://www.petitlouis.com/

More adventures to come,

Heather

Livin’ La Vida Loca at Latino Fest

It seems that come summer time, every culture in Baltimore wants to celebrate with a festival to call their very own. And lucky for me, I have friends who are willing to explore around town with me. One such friend suggested “Latino Fest” and we were off to the east side with little more than a sense of adventure.

Neither of us had never been to Paterson Park, where the festival was being held, but someone had told us that it was in Fells Point. So we drove down through the Harbor and across Little Italy to Fells. Here, the New Yorker in us (we’re both from the same state) told us to grab any available parking spot we saw. Which, of course, we did without realizing that Paterson Park is about 10 blocks east of where we were parked. So in addition to attending Latino Fest, we gave ourselves a little walking tour of Fells Point. It’s a lot nicer when you don’t attend during the hullabaloo of Halloween.

Anyway, we finally made it to the park, and after paying the entrance fee of $5 we were free to roam the fair. The air was filled with a mix of funnel cake, fried plantains and grilled meat. Ahh, the smells of summer! We did a tour around the festival to get our bearings; it was decently sized, with a mixture of food stands, handmade crafts and two stages. One stage was more kid-oriented, with Dora the Explorer and her cousin Diego the main attractions. The other stage had live dancers and a band playing
Latino music from a variety of Latin American countries. There was meringue, mariachi and more, including an Ecuadorian form of dance I don’t know the name of. But it was cool to watch. As they performed and the emcee spoke in rapid-fire Spanish, I realized that high school Spanish was an extremely long time ago. I was still able to understand snippets of all the conversations around me, but it all seemed like eons ago.

After our sweep of the town, we decided food was the way to go. My friend’s vegetarian, so our decision of where to eat was determined by which stand looked the most meat-free friendly. I had a beef-empanada for the first time. It was good, saltier than I expected. My friend had a fried- mozzarella cheese and corn bread patty (that she assured me was delicious) and fried plantains, which I tried for the first time.

Then, sitting in the grass of the grass of the park, listening to a cover of a Celia Cruz song — recognizable by the cries of “Azucar!” peppered throughout — everyone just started to dance. It was subtle, some bobbing and swaying to the beat. And then in women began to salsa. Old women, young women. Maybe they knew each other, maybe they didn’t. But that didn’t stop everyone sitting around the amphitheater from shaking their hips to the beat.

The vendors were nothing out of the ordinary — the same sorts of crafts and bags and sunglasses at all of these fairs. However, McDonalds and Goya each had booths, which was fitting because they were sponsors. It was so nice to see bilingual signs across the entire fair and see flags from different Latino countries waving.

Walking back meant trying to beat the foreboding rain clouds, but there was time to stop at Rita’s. It was my first time going to one — I’d recommend the mango.

Hurray for another day of exploring Baltimore.

Many more adventures ahead,
Heather

A Charming new way to ride

It was a beautiful day last Wednesday, when members of the Baltimore community, media outlets, contest finalists, and Mayor Shelia Dixon gathered in front of City Hall for the great unveil of the newest, greenest and cheapest way to get around downtown. Baltimore was getting a new bus line that would run (for free) across downtown and then up north to Penn Station. When I heard about this, the first thought that came to my mind was “Yahoo!” A free, easy and green way to get from one side of town to the other? Sign me up. And what was even cooler was that I would be there for the moment when the city revealed the name of the new line and what the buses would look like. I was stoked.

Behind the podium and a sizable crowd of spectators, there it was, covered in a sheet, waiting for the word from Madam Mayor herself. There were some speeches, describing the usefulness of this addition to Baltimore’s public transportation, how the parking tax had been raised to pay for it (but hey, now Bmore drivers only need to pay to park downtown once!) and how after combing through the 2700 entries to the “name the bus” contest held this winter, ten finalists were chosen.

With a 1, 2, and 3 off came the sheet and there the bus was in all of its hybrid- gas efficient, purple glory.

Covered by the sheet, the new bus awaited its big moment.

The Charm City Circulator, name courtesy of 24 year-old Michelle Brand. It looked like a combination of a spaceship and some weird bug with bright colors and a cute little city design on its side. The futuristic vibe was fitting, considering its eco-friendly nature and the seeming need for car companies to make earth-friendly rides look sort of like they’re about to blast into space. The bus’s interior was clean and streamlined, the seats were plush with plenty of leg room. I took a deep breathe in. Ahh — eau de new bus. I have a feeling that the new car smell won’t last long; the 21 buses begin their maiden voyage from University of Maryland Biopark to the Inner Harbor East, starting in mid-August. Promising to come every ten minutes to take you on your way, guaranteed.

Introducing, the Charm City Circulator!

And with two more routes slotted to make the rounds — if you’ll pardon the pun — after Labor Day, all I’ve got to say is, I’m charmed to meet you, Charm City Circulator.

More adventures next time,

Heather

An afternoon of fun: the Charles Village Festival 2009

The Wyman Park Dell was full of music, food, artists and locals.

For my second summer in Baltimore, I am determined to do all the things that I missed the first time around. This included, of course, walking the extra two blocks past 33rd and N. Charles Streets toward the music blasting in the Wyman Park Dell to visit the Charles Village Festival (June 7-8). Coming from Hopkins, my two friends and I imagined a summer-version of Spring Fair: fried oreos and carnival food galore, artsy vendors selling their wares, a soundtrack courtesy of local bands and maybe some harsh words between Planned Parenthood and some Pro-Life protesters. And having experienced Hampden’s Honfest last year, I was excited for what sort of “Charles Village Flair” I’d see. But what I saw was, well, small.

Granted, I don’t expect the small Charles Village Association to pull off a street fair the size of Artscape, but I was expecting there to be more to it. After a stroll down N. Charles towards 29th and the Dell, we had essentially seen all of it. Not to say that bigger is always necessarily better, but with the exception of watching the live bands playing on the stage, there wasn’t really a whole day’s worth of activities. The band performing was pretty good, but due to the heat my friends and I weren’t really in the mood to sit and listen for long. We pretty much felt that after one walk through, we had seen all there was to see.

For kids, there was the requisite moonbounce and, judging from the screams coming from inside, the Charles Village Kiddie Citizens were having a ball. Interesting and unexplained were the dozen or so hula-hoops scattered on the park grass. We took full advantage of them, pulling out all the stops. Truly challenging was the oversized hula-hoop that must have been over 5 feet in diameter. Locals with circus tricks, like juggling, up their sleeves joined the kids on the grassy knoll giving it a bit of whimsical flair.

Everyone who came upon the grass near the statue had to give this enormous hula-hoop a twirl.

The vendors and booths were a combination of local artisans and non-profit organizations. Among the handmade scarves, fork jewelery, and buttons were booths sponsored by Greenpeace, the Maryland Ethics Society, Friends of Druid Hill Park and the Charles Village Civic Association (and a few others). While the promise of funnel cake and gyros typically makes my mouth water, the idea of eating such heavy food in the heat sort of turned me off. However, the SnoBalls looked great.

The Friends of Druid Hill were one of the many local and national non-profit organizations at the festival.

Visitors were a mixture of families, students, older couples and local hipsters — a fair sampling of Charles Village’s usual population; an eclectic mix that made people watching almost as amusing as the festival itself.

Cute and a little kitschy, the Charles Village Festival was well-worth an afternoon spent but probably no more.

More adventures next time,
Heather

The Great American Cake Show takes over Westminster!

The Great American Cake Show and Wedding Cake Competition, the Mid-Atlantic’s premiere cake show and wedding cake competition hit Westminster this weekend, taking over the Carroll County Agricultural Center and Shipley Arena. We at Collegetown love cake decorating, and watch all the competition cake shows on Food Network. So we were super excited to hear about this great event coming to town. So this past weekend, we braved the rain and headed out to Westminster to take in the show!

The Carroll County Agricultural Center grounds are great, because they are large enough to house several different types of events all at the same time. Primarily serving as a great place for horse shows and auctions, the Shipley Arena also is a great venue for more formal gatherings and large-scale fairs and festivals. The wide open set-up was perfect for the Great American Cake Show, as it allowed for plenty of display space for completed cakes, separate cordoned off areas for classes and demonstrations, ample space to set-up a children’s corner, and rows and rows of vendors selling their wares. The venue also provides a full on kitchen, so the show was able to provide tons of food for the event, including hot dogs, turkey sandwiches, and tons of baked goods. (Satisfying your sweet tooth was a definite theme for the day.)

The Cake Show brought in competitive cake decorators from all over the country, and even featured international competitors. There were separate categories for professionals, amateurs, and even younger novice divisions. The theme for this year’s competition was to create a wedding cake inspired by a greeting card. All the cakes were beautifully constructed, and though we got to vote for a “People’s Choice” cake, we found it hard to figure out which one was our favorite. We spent a lot of our time looking at all the beautifully constructed pieces, and admiring the detail work that went in to each cake. (For cake enthusiasts, you’d find piping, string work, gum paste figurines, and exquisite flowers adorning these cakes.) Unfortunately, the weather didn’t make for the best environment for the cakes’ delicate structures and several of them fell victim to the humidity and broke or wilted.

We also were able to see some demonstrations while at the event. Here we learned how to construct some of the pieces required to make our own cakes look like the ones in the competition. We learned frosting techniques, how to work with gum paste, and even ways to make our cakes taste better! The kids area was constantly full, and we were kind of jealous we weren’t allowed to participate. The activities included creating gum paste figurines and decorations in fondant, and creating gingerbread houses complete with candy decorations. We personally spent a lot of time in the vendor area of the show. Here we could pick up any cake decorating tool we could imagine. From books, to videos, to gum paste, to cake toppers, to molding tools, to cake stands – there was nothing for the amateur or professional cake maker to leave the show needing. Some vendors were also putting on their own demonstrations, teaching people how to roll fondant properly, how to create gelatin flowers, and even showing off their flavorings by letting us sample their own baked goods.

Overall, we’d have to say we were impressed with both the atmosphere and the entire show. It was exciting to see such a premiere event (even in a world so unique as cake decorating) make its home right here in Westminster. After the day, we’d have to say we are already looking forward to next year’s show!

Annapolis – A Great Day-Trip Locale

If you’re looking for a great place to get away for the day, look no further than Annapolis. We recently ventured to our waterfront neighbor in Southern Maryland on the first seemingly warm day of spring and thoroughly enjoyed our visit. If you’re looking for quirky shops and eateries and food shops located at enough frequency to break anyone’s diet, then Annapolis is the place to go.

 

With its cobblestone brick streets, and brick buildings lined with grandiose white columns, Annapolis is a picturesque city on its waterfront location. Seriously any building or street makes for a great photo op. After parking near the Visitor Center and taking a scenic walk around to see the State House and its many corresponding buildings, we headed down Main Street Annapolis to take in a great afternoon of sunshine.

 

If you walk the entire length of Main Street you can actually walk right up to the water’s edge. This little inlet welcomes boaters who bring their boats right up to the sidewalk and land-lubbers can talk to these sea-faring folks. There is a large patio-like feel to the water’s edge as well, as there is plenty of room to walk around and sit by the water and relax.

 

What’s great about Main Street Annapolis is that it is like a more posh version of the beach’s Boardwalk. The streets are lined with quirky shops, and little boutiques, featuring the unusual to the trendy. You’ll also find dozens of restaurants and eateries, each with their own unique flare. From sushi, to Italian, to American, and all with a heavy dose of seafood, you won’t go hungry no matter what kind of food you’re craving. Plus, many of these restaurants included bar areas that lit up once the sun started to dip, making this a great place to spend not only a great sunny afternoon, but a nightcap as well. (Not to mention Annapolis features its very own Ram’s Head complete with a Ram’s Head On Stage that features live music and draws celebrity performers.) One of the things we loved about Main Street was all the home-made food shops. There were ice cream parlors and fudge shops, and a chocolate store featuring every kind of snack you could imagine dipped in chocolate.

 

Overall, our day in Annapolis was great. The outdoor stroll along the waterfront, the quick stops at the ice cream store and trendy boutique, dining along the waterfront while enjoying delicious seafood – it was all wonderful. We highly recommend checking out our neighbors to the Southeast on the next Spring-like day. We’re sure you’re bound to find this your new favorite getaway locale.

Meet and Greet the Active Way!

Hello my fellow Baltimoreans!

At the begining of the year, I did a something little different – I actually set a new year’s resolution!  Aside from the typical, maintain a healthy lifestyle line item that people put on their resolutions, I added something a little different:  Be less afraid to try new things and meet new people.  I definitely have a core group of close buds that I hang out with, but I’ve noticed lately, to my detriment, that I don’t really branch out and mix with other people.  I started dissecting why this was and I arrived at some conclusions about it.  I finally decided to do something about it, so I thought I’d sign up for Baltimore Sports and Social Club, herein known as BSSC.   I’ve always thought about signing up before, but I was a little self-conscious about my lackluster athletic skills.  That coupled with laziness to find a team just deterred from being a part of the organization.  This time around, I was recruited by one of my friends at MICA.  I was a little apprehensive at first, but I decided to overcome my skepticism and go for the gold! 

BSSC was founded by Mike Cray, former construction contractor, back in 1996.  The purpose/mission of BSSC is to create year-round opportunities for people to engage in athletic activities and at the same time build social connections that go beyond the playing field.  BSSC has lots of partnership with local bars and venues, so participants are able to take advantage of different specials – it’s great!  The BSSC caters to people with all athletic abilities – in fact, they have three different leagues:  Social, Super Social, and Super Extra Social.  You can play Volleyball, Broomball, Softball, Football, and so much  more!  

I’ve been playing volleyball for about three weeks now (and I actually have a game tonight GO CRAY”S ANATOMY!), and I’m so glad I joined.  Instead of watching TV on a Wednesday night and goofing off on the Internet, I’m playing a sport that I truly enjoy, I’m interacting with different types of  people, and staying active!  I’m pretty pro BSSC, but at the same time, I like to offer our readers various options.  If you don’t find BSSC fits you, then try Play Baltimore. 

Whatever is your cup of tea, get out there and try something new Baltimore!  Click on the links below and hopefully you find something you like!

www.baltssc.com
www.playbaltimore.com

For now, this is Ankur…

Signing off…

Cirque du Soleil Pitches a Nearly Perfect Tent in Baltimore!

From the first strum of music, the awe-inspiring theatrical and acrobatic production that is Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA, captivates the audience and transports them into a magical world unlike any that’s ever hit Baltimore before.

As has been advertised for weeks now, the International power house that is Cirque du Soleil, has brought its KOOZA production to Baltimore. Known for producing shows full of acrobatic feats, and visually stunning performances, Cirque du Soleil has a reputation for being one of those things to put on your “Bucket List.” So this Thursday, when the Grand Chapiteau (their version of a Big Top tent) opened its curtains, we were there to see if it really lived up to the hype. The final verdict from both our veteran Cirque-viewers and rookies was a unanimous YES!

When you arrive at the tent you are greeted by stilt-walkers, jugglers, photographers, and balloon-makers, all painted in clown make-up (which for the Cirque shows look more like mimes than the big red-lipped clowns you see at the regular circus.) You are instantly overwhelmed with the atmosphere of the Cirque world. Once inside the lobby area of the tent the festivities continue. The gift shop takes over the whole front of the lobby, and though the merchandise might be too pricey for most college students, everything is so beautiful to look at, that you find yourself perusing all the aisles just to get a closer look. The lobby also has an area where you can view the souvenir photos that were just taken of your party outside the tent. Plus, there are multiple concession stands where everything from popcorn and pretzels, to paninis and chocolate mousse are served. (Trust us – the food is amazing!) Plus, you can bring your food and drink inside the main tent area to enjoy while you watch the show. There are high-def screens everywhere previewing the show and the music from the night plays overhead.

Once it reached a half hour before show time we were ushered inside the main tent to where the performance would be seen. As you walk up the stairs to get to your seat, you can’t see the stage. But once at the top, you realize that this venue is unlike any you’ve ever seen before. The stage comes out into the audience in a circle, meaning there truly is no bad seat in the house as everyone is facing the “front.” The seating is somewhat like ball-game seating, but there are cushions and so you are more comfortable then you would be watching the O’s. The tent, while claiming to be heated, was a bit too cold for our liking, so bring a sweater, but it’s nothing like being outside.

The show starts with some entertaining clown routines. This allows stragglers time to get to their seats before the real action begins. (The clown routines are disbursed throughout the show – and they really are funny. Not stupid gag humor that you would find at many other circuses, but actually laugh out loud humor. Though we do caution that it can get raunchy at times so just be aware.) Then the real show gets started. With a brief introduction to the story behind KOOZA, you are then transported into a different world.

Once the music starts, you know you are in for a good show. And don’t let the simple scenery at the beginning fool you – pretty soon the stage transforms itself, literally, as pieces move out towards the audience and flaps of the tent that once hid the entire set-up are peeled away. (This stage transformation was truly one of the most surprising and visually awesome moments of the entire night.) Then one by one, acts take to the stage, performing feats of acrobatic marvel that will literally have you saying things like “oh my god,” “wow,” and “no way” in your seats. From contortionists who bend their bodies in ways they were never meant to, to high-wire artists who are so high in the sky you have to bend your neck back to take it all in, to a unicycle act that revolves around a love story (something you have to see to understand). And that’s just the first half! After a 30-minute intermission (bring some extra tissues because the bathrooms run out of paper fast) where you can enjoy some dessert or refill your drinks, you are thrust back into the magical world of KOOZA. The second-half opens with a much darker routine, and if you don’t like drumming, then this part might not be for you. But then once again you are entertained by routine after routine of gymnastic skill, and technical superiority. Now, we have to admit that the second half of KOOZA is not quite as good as the first half. Though the acts are equally adept at their talents, and no one can question the amazing visual and daring routines they perform, the routines did not pack the same punch as those in the first half.

With both Cirque veterans (those who have seen more a Cirque show before – in this case a party member had seen two other versions of Cirque productions) and rookies amongst our group, we were able to get a sense of what everyone thought about the production. Our Cirque veteran was impressed with the show, though noting that some of the routines were very similar to the ones at the other tent Cirque shows they had seen. They also noted that there is a limit to how “daring” the acts can be because of the nature that the “Grand Chapiteau” is a temporary structure. But, our veteran spent the whole time with mouth ajar and uttering “wow” through the show, so you can see that they were still very impressed. Our Cirque rookies were even more impressed and were amazed at the acrobatic tricks they saw. They could not stop chatting about how “crazy” or how “amazing” the show was at intermission and after the show. The rookies kept saying that they were “so glad they came” and were overwhelmed by how the entire “tent” transports you into the Cirque world, noting that the ambience of the event is almost equally as impressive as the show itself.

Overall, we have to agree with all the hype and call Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA a definite “not-to-miss” show! If you’re lucky enough to be able to go see a Cirque show, you should definitely take advantage of it, because it’s one of those shows that everyone talks about, and keeps talking about, for months. And let’s face it – not everyone can get to the permanent Cirque shows in Orlando, New York, or Vegas. So with this amazing acrobatic production right here in Baltimore, it is an opportunity that can’t be missed!

* And on a special note – we at Collegetown are also excited to add that we can offer students a great discounted price to this show at http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/special/koozapromo/BaltimoreStudents.htm

Delighted by Indigma

Last year when I celebrated my birthday with my Collegetown colleagues, I ventured out into Harbor East and ate at Taco Fiesta.  This year, I wanted another solid experience but in a different part of town.  I’ve really enjoyed my culinary experiences in Mt. Vernon, so I selected something in that area:  Indigma.  I was actually going to have dinne there with my friends, but I was a little hesitant since I read some mixed reviews. 

I decided to not listen to other reviews and make my own.  We ventured out on a cold Wednesday afternoon to Indigma and I must say it was worth the trip.  Indigma is locataed in the same building as Donna’s and Thairish.  For those of you who are familiar with that area, Indigma used to be known as Saffron.  I was instantly impressed with the decor of the restaurant.  The decor stayed true to the Indian culture with its rich, vibrant colors, but at the same time, infused contemporary Western influences. 

Indigma, which sounds damn cool to begin with, offers a table side lunch buffet.  You have the option of going the vegetarian route, non-veg, or combo.  While we were waiting for our buffet to arrive , we were encouraged to check out the appetzier table.  The appetizer table featured a leafy green salad, a garbanzo bean salad, pickled onion relish, a spicy coriander chutney, a sweet tamarind chutney, and papad. 

As we were slurping down the last bit of our salads, our entrees arrived.  The tableside buffet was brought out in this long rectangular plate with six adequate samplings of each the dishes they offered.  I truly got a well-rounded experience:  daal, cashew chicken, chicken masala, aloo gobi (cauliflower and potatoes), rice, and an eggplant curry.  Now of course, this delectable meal came with piping hot plain naan with a glaze of butter for taste. 

At first I was a little skeptical of the conept of a tableside buffet – I mean what if you don’t like the kind of things they have.  When I picture a buffet, I picture this big table with trays of food and people standing in a line waiting to get their share.  This concept is better because it allows you to really try everything, stay in your seat, and converse with whoever you’re eating with.  There was also a nice balance to the food – dry vs. curried vegetables, light vs heavy texture, and savory/spicy vs. sweet. 

I was most impressed with the chicken dishes, which I would absolutely get if I went there for dinner.  I wasn’t the only one who left with a smile on their face and their appetites fulfilled – my coworkers had a pleasant time as well.  So, if you’re in the neighborhood next time, I highly encourage you to check out this place.  Don’t listen to other reviews – I’m Indian…I know good Indian food when  I taste it!

For now, this is Ankur…

Signing off….