CERTAINLY YOU CAN SAY THAT BALTImore's architecture is a mix of old and new, and the Baltimore Architecture Foundation created a party reflecting that aesthetic: the Groundhog Day Party.
"We try to mix high art and low art," explained BAF executive director Adam Blumenthal. "We try to find a raw space and throw a nice party inside it and see what we can do with some of Baltimore's unknown gems."
This year's structural jewel was the Bottle Building at Brewers Hill. Halfway through renovation, the huge space presented concrete floors, concrete block and brick walls, with exposed pipes hanging overhead. A Latin jazz band performed in one corner while formally dressed folks -- many in the evening's black- and-white theme -- helped themselves to a buffet or settled in on several sofas sprinkled throughout the area.
The crowd went through a few changes as the night progressed.
"It starts at 7, and we don't have an ending time. At 10, we drop the price ... in an effort to get some of the younger crowd. Then we switch over an hour later from the band to a DJ. ... The demographic shift's pretty noticeable around 10," said BAF president Eric Lowe.
Sure enough. By 11 p.m., the energy level had ratcheted up a few points, as a more -- ahem -- energetic crowd jammed the space.
"It's fun," said later arrival Tracy Kwiatkowski, an Insurance Inc. agent, yelling over the din. She said this party "is true to the architecture of Baltimore and it's the whole reason to party."
A DRINK WITH SID MEIER
SID MEIER, A LOW-KEY 53-YEAR-OLD, is known as "the father of computer games." He began creating them back in the prehistoric year of 1981, when he started the MicroProse company. After selling it in 1996, Meier founded Hunt Valley-based Firaxis Games, where he continues as its director of creative development. Meier lives in Hunt Valley with his wife, Susan, and his son, Ryan, 17.
How did this whole computer game idea begin?
I've been playing games since I was a kid. It's one of my hobbies. ... I got into trouble in college for using money for a science project to invent a tic-tac-toe game. They caught me ... and [that's when] I knew I was onto something. ... When computers came along, it was a natural thing for me to say, "Let's use 'em for games."
You like to do a lot of things by yourself?
I think that's true. I'm pretty introverted.
You're this huge star in the computer game industry, but it doesn't seem like you've let it go to your head.
I think what I really want to focus on is creating games. And there are a lot of distractions. A lot of designers maybe get into management or become a celebrity or a consultant. But, for me, the fun is creating games. ... I didn't become a game designer to be famous or rich. When I started, it was a tiny little hobby. I just like making games. And doing that, for 25 years and counting, I can't ask for anything more.
ONLINE Read more of the
conversation with Sid Meier at baltimore sun.com / drink
ONLINE Sloane Brown takes you to the party with a calendar of coming events and video reports at baltimoresun.com / scene