Second City Does Baltimore is winding up a very successful 8-week run at Center Stage this Sunday. All of the remaining performances are sold out.
I had lunch at Iggies last week with ensemble members Dana Quercioli (front row, left), Megan Wilkins (front row, second from right) and Tim Sniffen (back row, second from left) and stage manager Josh Miller.
I had been thinking lately about how restaurants have been the source for so much memorable sketch comedy, and I wanted to talk with experts about that. I'll tell you what I learned in part 2.
We talked, too, about where the ensemble has been eating and drinking during their long stay in Baltimore, one of the longest in Center Stage's history. They've had a chance to do a lot of exploring but not as much as they'd have liked. A few of the cast members, Baltimore will be flattered to hear, are extending their stays a week beyond this Sunday's closing date so they can do all the things they haven't had time to.
Hands down, their Baltimore food hero is Cindy Wolf, of Charleston, who appeared as one of the six celebrity walk-on guests that joined the ensemble during their Baltimore run. As thanks, Wolf hosted and treated,the ensemble to dinner at Pazo, guiding them through their meal. They loved it and her.
Iggies is just across the street from Center Stage's artist housing, and the ensembles have become regulars. (When Wilkins' father was visiting and stopped in, for the first time, the counter person said, "oh, you must be Megan's dad!")
They've come to like City Cafe, too, and the Owl Bar but they're more likely to turn up at the Midtown Yacht Club and the Mt. Vernon Stable, which have long been haunts of Center Stage's visiting cast and crews, in large part because of their late serving hours.
When we were talking about waiter's dreams and nightmares, Wilkens said, "I just realized, I dreamed last night of the polenta at Sotto Sopra!!!" (She was talking about the polenta, sprinkled with truffled sea salt, served with lemon-caper aioli. I love it, too.)
Still on their list -- Woodberry Kitchen and G&M. The ensemble is free tonight -- Mondays are dark at Center Stage. So, if you've got room in your restaurant, and would like them to stop by, let them know here.