So maybe it was just a coincidence.
Maybe it was just a fluke.
A few short days after my last column went to press, where I discussed chasing kids who beat on the windows of businesses, I walked out to my car after work and discovered an unfortunate new expense — the rear window of my car had been smashed out.
This wasn't a theft. Nothing was stolen. It was nothing like that. It was either just a random act of a window giving way, or someone committed vehicular vandalism.
I didn't even notice it at first, when I walked up to the car. But when I opened my door to get in, I heard the clatter of glass falling to the ground. I walked around to the back of and saw a hole where a part of the window used to be. That meant I spend the evening duct-taping up the window (since my car is so old, I couldn't get immediate glass service repair) and then I had to take it in to a local garage, which promptly found $2,000 worth of things wrong with my vehicle.
Man, that was one expensive broken window.
So thank you, Hampden. Living in Baltimore City for 20 years, and the first smashed window I get is on your streets. Well, 20 years is a pretty good streak in Baltimore City.
Meanwhile, here are some events to roll your windows down for.
Everyone seems to want to talk grocery stores around here lately, with Fresh & Green's closing and Giant leaving the Rotunda and moving into the old Fresh & Green's location. For the foreseeable future, Hampden will be losing one of its large, full-service grocery stores. So I thought it might be a good time to remind you about the Baltimore Food Co-Op, 2800 Sisson St. I am, after all, a member. Are you?
On Feb. 18, Zero Balancing & Acupuncture Consult will be there to give you consultations about acupuncture and, um, balancing, I guess. And on Saturday, Feb. 25 (and again on March 3), from noon to 2 p.m., you can enjoy samples from Dirty Carrots Vegan Bakery — cookies, muffins and cupcakes, along with equal exchange, fair rade and organic coffee.
On Friday, Feb. 25, famed international artist Derek Hess will be returning to Baltimore. He'll be at Atomic Books, 3620 Falls Road from 7-9 p.m., signing copies of his new book, "Black Lines, White Lies."