By Mya K. Douglas

It can be hard to impress friends when they come over for dinner. Many end up ordering food for dinner, instead of attempting a test session with an easy dish. Pizza is one of the number one foods ordered on a regular basis, but can cost a pretty penny after delivery charges and a tip. Buy the ingredients to make a pizza from home and save money for beverages. Here’s a simple recipe that can be adjusted when making a homemade pizza, dough and all. All ingredients can be bought for under $20.

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Ingredients

2 cups warm water
2 Tbsp. yeast
2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. oil
5-6 cups of flour

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Preparation

1)   Combine water and yeast in a large bowl and let sit for 5 minutes.

2)   Stir in the sugar, salt, and oil. Add half the flour and mix.

3)   Add remaining flour and knead until smooth.

4)   Place to the side and let rise for 25 minutes.

5)   Punch the dough down and split into 2-3 pieces.

6)   Press onto a greased cookie sheet or pizza pan making the dough as thick or thin.

7)   Spread your favorite sauce, sprinkle on grated mozzarella, add toppings, and bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Recipe courtesy of www.cheapcooking.com

Monday

Need a good laugh after the start of the work-week? Check out the free Screening of “She’s out of my League” at 7:30.  Go to www.atomicpopcorn.net keyword Baltimore and follow the steps to get your free pass!

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Tuesday

Enjoy DJ tunes and two-for-one drinks upstairs at the Ottobar. Also enter for a chance to win tickets for “The Hot Tub Time Machine.” www.ottobar.com

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Wednesday

Take in the city views and $3 imports, rail drinks, and drafts at the 13th floor of the historic Belvedere Hotel.  www.myspace.com/13thfloorbaltimore

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Thursday

Bin 604 partnered with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to present Wine Nights at the Meyerhoff. $10 for five samples of fine wine and cheeses. www.bsomusic.org

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Friday

Corks offers great deals every night of the week but you can’t beat the Friday Two Happy Hour Special from 4-6pm and 11-1pm featuring two-for-one Sushi Rolls and two-for-one Miller Lights, Clipper City Gold, and Kirin Beers. www.corksrestaurant.com

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Saturday

The Maryland Zoo opens its gates and offers all zoogoers an admission price of $5 and free Rita’s Italian Ice samples from 11-2pm. www.marylandzoo.org

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Sunday

What’s better to do on Sundays than eat and drink?  Head to Koopers Tavern in Fells Point for delicious brunch and $10 dollar bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Marys. www.koopers.com

By Summer Robinson

Claddagh’s Pub in downtown Canton has an Irish tavern feel to it with great drink specials and a menu to match. They have weekly drink specials, something different each weeknight. Drink specials are for the bar only and run from 7pm until close. The best night of the week is Thursday night, which offers $1.00 Miller Lite and Bud Light bottles. Other nightly specials include:

Monday – $3.00 Blue Moon drafts

Tuesday -$2.00 Corona and Corona Light

Wednesday -$3.50 Guinness $3.00 Harp/Smithnicks with Live Music 10pm – close

The bar serves a full menu–some of the best items include:

Chicken tenders -Lightly breaded chicken served with honey mustard- $6.95

Sweet Vidalia onion straws – Mound of crispy onions served with a zesty Cajun sauce – $5.95

Buffalo wings – Served with our special hot sauce, Cajun, BBQ, or Old Bay – $6.95

Crispy calamari – Lightly dusted calamari served with marinara – $8.95
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Claddagh’s Pub is open Monday-Friday 11am until 2am; Saturday and Sunday 9am until 2am.

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By: Elysa Vreeland

Start and finish your St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl at Rodeo Bar & Grill.  This Third Avenue hot spot is known for its great drink specials, live music, and some of NYC’s best Tex-Mex cuisine.  On the day where Guinness endlessly flows, Rodeo has decided to go green!

Join the party on March 17 with ALL NIGHT drink specials, such as the signature shamrock margarita, and live music.

While enjoying a green beer, don’t forget about the menu and regular drink specials that make Rodeo Bar & Grill a hot spot to stop on St. Patty’s Day.  Take advantage of the many recession specials, one of which offers a can of PBR and a shot of whisky for $7. Lunch specials start at $9.95 and feature some of the best dishes at Rodeo, while the Burger and draft deal is also a steal at $8.95.

Rodeo Bar & Grill is also surrounded by several Irish pubs and other drinking establishments, making your St. Patty’s Day stumble fun as well as convenient. With festivities going all day, Rodeo is a must on the St. Patty’s Day route to oblivion!

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By Jackie Cular

Power-pop band Hotspur continues to be a band on the rise to the stratosphere. Those that experienced their recent headlining concert at DC’s 9:30 Club surely witnessed a local band that keeps finding success in new and unique ways. Joe Mach, Evan Anderson, Coop Cooper, Scott Robinson, and Dave Trichter give readers an update while enjoying some melons.

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ChangeUpMag: “When I asked if I could bring a treat, Evan asked for watermelons and everyone got excited. What is SO great about watermelons?”

Hotspur, Evan: “Well they’re nature’s candy; they’re moist, delicious, and sweet, and well, they are round and shaped like a certain part of the female anatomy that I enjoy. I wanted something healthy.”

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CM: “And melons may remind some of us of spring time, which seems so far away; after the 2/5 show was postponed until tonight because of Snowpocalypse.  Is there anything good about snowfall?”

Hotspur, Joe: “Sure there was finally time to get some song writing done.”

Hotspur, Cooper: “And we got to go snowboarding off the roof. We made a ramp.”

Hotspur, Scott: “Peeing `Hotspur’ in the snow, sledding, and jumping face-first into fresh snow.”

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CM: “Well now that the snow fun is over, you’re back to the 9:30 Club in front of a hometown crowd. Who do you prefer to perform for: a far away land or a home audience?”

Hotspur, Joe: “The hometown crowd though it’s ten times more stressful because you want to give them your best. There’s tons more people and you want to make them happy.”

Hotspur, Evan: “It’s great because [at home] they bring us trays or cookies and cupcakes—I think our fans are trying to make us fat. That’s why I just wanted fruit, something healthy for once. Even the 9:30 Club gives us cupcakes—it’s just too much sugar.”

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CM: “Well you’re home only for a minute before your tour continues. What are some local spots that you just have to visit when you come to the DC area?”

Hotspur, Dave: “My bed.”

Hotspur, Joe: “It’s true. We’re from DC but we’re all from the suburbs but we all agree that sometimes it’s just great to go home, chill out, and enjoy a warm bed. When we’re on tour we’re out every night in bars so it’s just not that special. So when we come home it’s just nice to do nothing… long, hot showers are also a plus…. Dupont Circle, I like the area but I can’t bring myself to go there because I use to work there. Current Bar, it has that swanky club vibe without the over-baring bard staff. DC9 is real cool, too; the whole V Street area.”

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CM: “You just finished making your video for your next single “Heads/Tails” at the Recher Theater in Towson. How was that experience?

Hotspur, Scott: “There’s a white player piano in the video—we had to move it like eight times—in and out of a box truck and such. Evan broke his back doing it, and Dave was actually crushed under the piano several times, which is part of why he has so much emotional attachment to it—they’ve become intimate. Dave has the piano in his house now!”

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CM: “You just performed at the Wammines, the Washington Area Music Association Awards. I suggested covering Hall & Oates, but how did it go?”

Hotspur, Scott: “I think we might have gotten `Best Artist Ever…Ever.’ We chose to do a medley of heavy metal renditions of Michael Jackson songs. We had `We Are the World’ right into `Black or White.’ You wouldn’t believe it if you saw it. We would make a great heavy metal band.”

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CM: “What’s up next for Hotspur?”

Hotspur, Scott: “We are working on new music! We are doing some shows here and there though, like Shamrock Fest on March 13 [at RFK Stadium], SxSW [South by South West festival in Austin, TX] in the middle of March, and a couple Rock for Autism benefits in Chicago.”

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For an exclusive peek at the acoustic version of Hotspur’s latest “Heads/Tails” click here. Visit www.myspace.com/hotspur for more tour information.

By: Marisa Polansky

If it weren’t for the tall tour buses lining the dumpster alley beside the “Ottobar,” it would be easy to keep driving passed its red and black awning. Though, then you would be missing the bands stepping off those buses and into the Ottobar, bands like Mayer Hawthorne and the County, TV on the Radio, and Maroon 5.

The Ottobar doesn’t look like much from the outside, and really nothing much changes on the inside. Old concert posters serve as patchy wallpaper, covering graffitied black walls. A wounded disco ball spins above the dance floor and the bathrooms house a sea of bumper stickers and bathroom beatniks’ sharpie poetry. If you’re looking for swanky couches, Appletinis, or you can’t stand standin’ up, Ottobar is not the place for you.

What Ottobar does offer is cheap beer and mixed drinks, ($3 draft beers, $4 mixed drinks) an eclectic crowd, and the chance to touch the shoes of your favorite band member.

The perks of a smaller venue mean a greater chance you’ll spot your headliner smoking a cigarette before the show, and often behind the merch table after the show. The staff is very friendly and the tickets are fairly cheap, boasting a $15 charge for a nationally touring artist. On nights lacking national acts, Ottobar is known as a platform for local musicians and as a quirky retreat from boring bars, featuring special events like “Moustache Party, The Hairball, and Two For One Drink Tuesdays.”

Looking around the Ottobar at 2549 N. Howard Street, it is clear why Mayer Hawthorne shouted “Baltimore is Grimy as F*** between songs last Friday night. Even more clear though, is why he followed up with “and I’m likin’ it.” Head to the Ottobar to see an upcoming act and undoubtedly you will too.

Coming up soon: Dam Funk (3/14), The Ataris (3/16), The Donnas (3/26)

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By Jackie Cular

Cars cost money, gas costs money, buses cost money, a cab costs money—but the Charm City Circulator provides travel around downtown Baltimore for free.  With three routes that visit a stop every ten minutes every day of the week, this new source of transportation fits everyone’s budget.

Charm City Circulator buses are hybrid vehicles that connect to the cheaper parking lots along the outskirts of the downtown area. It features stops to Amtrak, subway and Light Rail systems, as well as the updated Water Taxi connector.

With fast, bus-friendly routes, free travel is simple on these buses that are clean inside and out. Routes are convenient, relaxing, and make frequent stops at museums and other points of interest. Riders can use their cell phones to get updates and information on the next Circulator to come by.

The orange route features stops between Hollins Market and Harbor East; this route is currently fully operational. The purple route travels from Penn Station to Federal hill; while the green route features service from City Hall, Fells Point, and Johns Hopkins. Maps can be found here.

With connections to museums, shops, sporting venues, and more, the Charm City Circulator is a fast, easy, and free option for traveling downtown. Baltimore-native, Adam Van Bavel, takes viewers on board for preview.

For more information on events and routes, visit the website www.charmcitycirculator.com.

By Mya K. Douglas

Looking for a stylish sneaker that’s not only comfortable on the foot but on the wallet as well can be a hassle. Sneakers endorsed by famous names such as Kobe, Lebron, and D-Wade can cost up to $150, especially for men with a larger shoe size. Kicks should be something to enjoy without contemplating the cost whenever they are slipped on, without having to wait for a sale. Catch some of these fly kicks under $50 at Foot Locker, Finish Line, and other sneaker stores.

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Puma S

Puma has been a trailblazing sneaker for years. From gear to footwear, when anyone sees the Puma symbol, style is a given. With great colors, this sneaker can make any pair of jeans or a sweat suit look hot. With a suede upper part and rubber outsole, this shoe is one of the most popular amongst the Puma footwear.

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Adidas ZX 750

Adidas brand has been a leading brand in sneakers since the early 1960’s. This comfy sneaker has nylon and suede accents and can be a great running shoe or a fashion asset for a night out.

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Converse Chuck Taylor

Mr. Chuck has become a favorite amongst the guys and gals. Leaving no room for another sneaker of its kind to come in and create a hype, Converse’s, also known as Chucks, carry a nice modern day look that appeals to every age group. A canvas sneaker, these are easy to maintain and come in a variety of colors.

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These sneakers and other great deals can be found at www.footlocker.com or www.finishline.com.

By Christa Bramante

Brooklyn pop five-piece band, Xylos, took the stage at The Studio at Webster Hall on Friday Feb 19; the audience turned their heads to listen, and music flooded the air.

Xylos enjoys playing in their hometown of NYC, “there is always a palpable energy at the shows. We have a great, supportive fan base here and it makes every show really special for us,” says Eric Zeiler.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Starting off the night with their latest single “Not Enough” combining vocal harmonies and light percussions to create an electrifying sound, “It’s a song that we’re very excited about, so are happy to share it with the world. It’s just a “soft” release at this point,” adds Zeiler.   Other songs include “When Summer Comes,” and “Sunday (Paint my Walls).”

Xylos is a calm, collective, and cool band that is rising to the top; recently featured on MTV where they performed an acoustic version of “Not Enough.” It has gained popularity across the NY airwaves courtesy of KEXP and John in the Morning.

A unique ear catching band with male and female singers, catchy keyboards, light drums that create an orchestra phenomenon. Their music sends out positive vibes and is an outlet for fans, “music offer fans something to focus their energy on,” says Zeiler. Music creates a personal connection between the artist and the fans, “It can either jive with the emotions one is feeling or be an intentional counter to one’s emotions.  It’s really powerful.”

Stay tuned for Xylos latest LP is set to be released late spring in 2010 and they plan to begin touring in April.  Xylos discussed the importance of keeping a budget while touring, “We’re definitely stripping things down, and allocating a certain amount of money daily for food, hotels, etc” says Zeiler.

They will be playing in NY, PA, ME, MA, NC, GA, and VA. Xylos is a brand new band that is already planning for the future, “it’s important for a young band like us to get in the habit of being thrifty, because even in later stages that mentality will help,” Zeiler adds.

To find more about this totally hip band go to www.myspace.com/xylos, www.facebook.com/xylosmusic, www.twitter.com/xylosmusic, and www.xylosmusic.com.

By Elysa Vreeland

Instead of wasting money on boxes of microwavable popcorn which can cost anywhere between $4-$6, buy a single container of kernels that costs no more than $3. The containers of kernels are not only cheaper, but they offer thirty-two servings opposed to the twelve in most boxes of microwavable popcorn.

The best part about a container is that there are endless options for different popcorn toppings.  Just follow the recipe on the back and once it’s popped add some sugar and salt for a sweet and salty treat.

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½ cup popcorn kernels

3 tbsp cooking oil

1 tbsp sugar or Splenda (Splenda sticks to the popcorn better)

1 tbsp salt

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Layer a large pan with the oil.  Turn heat on high and leave one kernel in the pot to test for oil temperature.  After the single kernel pops, add the rest, close the lid and lower heat to medium.  Using gloves, shake the pot with the top on, so that the kernels distribute evenly.  After all is popped, let stand and sprinkle on the sugar and salt for cheap kettle corn treat.