Whatever Happened to Chef James of Bay View Inn?

Dear Bay Weekly:

There used to be a restaurant in Shady Side called the Bay View Inn. It closed down years ago, probably around 1996. When I had my boat in Deale, friends and I would go there almost every weekend. I was sad to see it go, but I suppose that’s business.

Anyway, I remember that the name of the chef there was James, but I don’t recall his last name. Would you happen to have that information buried somewhere in your archives? Even Google couldn’t help me on this one. I think he might have moved on to Baltimore, but I really don’t know.

This was just one of those “whatever happened to …?” moments. Thanks for you help.

P.S. I’ve always enjoyed reading the Bay Weekly. Keep up the good work!!

–Jean Trump, via email

Editor’s Note: Bay View Inn has gone through several reincarnations. First, back in the late ’90s it went French as Restaurant Peninsule. For several years now, it’s been Brick House.

Perhaps readers will help us find Chef James.

Contrasting Exotic and Erotic

Dear Bay Weekly:

In keeping with Websters and Roget, your writer did indeed use the correct word, exotic, to describe bellydancers [Letters: Vol. xv, No. 26: Jun 28]. This type of dance is “foreign in origin, or from another part of the world.” Done well, it is “strikingly and intriguingly unusual or beautiful.”

Unfortunately dancers of a different persuasion, as cited by your critic, have borrowed this lovely word exotic in place of erotic, which more properly describes their dance form. Many tribal bellydancers adorn their hair, headwraps, and clothes with exotic flowers and pins to enhance their quality of being “alluring in effect.”

I know I would take it as a compliment and a confirmation that I put together a pretty good dance outfit, if I got a compliment saying how exotic I looked. Another perfect example of exotic is the colorful pollinator stamp series, which you featured on the page opposite the letters of the same issue. They are beautiful and exotic. Being a wordsmith and a bellydancer myself, I really appreciated Diana Beechener’s explanation.   Kudos!

–S. Oliver/aka Odonata, Port Republic

The Art of Jerry Wachter

Dear Bay Weekly:

Greg Schwalenberg of the Sports Legends Museum shared with me Diana Beechener’s article [Cal Steps into Focus: Vol. xv, No 30: July 26] about the exhibit of my late husband’s photos of Cal Ripken on display at the museum. I want to thank you for the sensitive review of Jerry’s work. What a wonderful article! I appreciate how much care she put into studying and thinking about his art.

I have been saving things to put into a scrapbook about Jerry for our one-year-old grandson. Your article will definitely be included.

–Jo Wachter, via email

Just Peachy

Dear Bay Weekly:

Thank you very much for including Eastport United Methodist Church’s Peach Festival in Bay Weekly’s 8 Day’s a Week [Vol. xv, No. 31]. Loved the “Just Peachy” header and peach photos. Thanks again for helping us get the word out.

–Joyce Conley, Annapolis