Herald-Mail Forums > Dance parties at The Hamilton

CleverNameGoesHere

Oct 29 2007, 03:58 PM

A friend of a friend recently found a flyer advertising for a dance party in the ballroom of The Hamilton, which is an old hotel on the corner of Washington & Jonathan downtown. I looked it up on myspace and found a link to the same flyer he got:

It looks legit, and I'm sure would be something lots of people would be interested in. On the other hand, that building was in baaaaad shape structurally the last time I was inside and on the second floor. Does anyone know if they finally fixed it up inside? Have you been to a rave there? Is it cool? Why hasn't this been advertised, or have I just been under a rock?

Years ago under previous owners, another promoter started looking into the logistics of using that ballroom for concerts but it was a no go, due to things like fire exits, bathrooms, and the fact that people had small businesses on that floor. I'm curious as to what has been changed to upgrade the space for codes. The idea of hundreds of people falling through that floor and landing in Atomic Comics gives me the chills. I can see the CNN vans out front now!

communityhagerstown

Oct 29 2007, 04:02 PM

[quote name='CleverNameGoesHere' date='Oct 29 2007, 04:58 PM' post='90362']
A friend of a friend recently found a flyer advertising for a dance party in the ballroom of The Hamilton, which is an old hotel on the corner of Washington & Jonathan downtown. I looked it up on myspace and found a link to the same flyer he got:

I am doing a mental map in my head. Trying to recall what that corner looked like when I last passed it. I was unaware it had been renovated. Always good to see change. Especially in different areas. Hope it has been upgraded. If not, I would not know what to expect. The second floor would scare me. Also, Ms Parson-McBean was so talkative last council meeting about that area, I would of expected a shout out by her. She did not refer to any renovations, but mentioned some of that area. So who knows? Let us know how it is. Could be an ok event or could be "weird alert". Hope the building is structurally sound.

hagopinion

Oct 30 2007, 06:03 AM

I just enlarged the flyer; something strange I noticed, women 18 and men 21 to enter; is this normal (or even legal)?

christine_dixon

Oct 30 2007, 07:35 AM

QUOTE (hagopinion @ Oct 30 2007, 06:03 AM)

I just enlarged the flyer; something strange I noticed, women 18 and men 21 to enter; is this normal (or even legal)?

yes, that is very normal. also legal.

hagopinion

Oct 30 2007, 07:47 AM

Wow that is amazing. I think that I just realized that I am getting old (32) because I see many things wrong with this. Lets bring in a bunch of underage (legal drinking age) girls and have the 21 year old men sneak them drinks, get them drunk, slip them drugs, and take them home for sex slaves. A little dramatic yes but this does truly amaze me.

Where else does this occur, as in what other bars in the area do this sort of thing? I know that many bars in the Myrtle Beach will have rules that 18 to get in and 21 to drink but I have never seen a difference for the sexes before.

christine_dixon

Oct 30 2007, 07:57 AM

QUOTE (hagopinion @ Oct 30 2007, 07:47 AM)

Wow that is amazing. I think that I just realized that I am getting old (32) because I see many things wrong with this. Lets bring in a bunch of underage (legal drinking age) girls and have the 21 year old men sneak them drinks, get them drunk, slip them drugs, and take them home for sex slaves. A little dramatic yes but this does truly amaze me.

Where else does this occur, as in what other bars in the area do this sort of thing? I know that many bars in the Myrtle Beach will have rules that 18 to get in and 21 to drink but I have never seen a difference for the sexes before.

i'm pretty sure they do it because more men date younger women ( at that age) than ones that are the same age as themselves or older. they don't want to just make it 18 all around because then the event will be filled with all these random 18 year old thug-wannabees with their loser friends "tryin'a go out to da club", but spend no money on drinks. i guess they figure that if they make it 18 for ladies, then the guys who are 21 will come, with a date, so thats $20 right there, plus drinks for at least one of them. they say it also helps discourgae fake id's as girls are more prone to fake id's than boys. they figure if they at least let them in at 18, maybe they won't feel the need to illegally "sneak" in.

i'm not sure if any of the other bars etc in this area do that... not that i've noticed, but you'll see it in some less fashionable places in baltimore and dc and surrounding, and like you said, Myrtle beach, etc.

i think it's stupid, but i see the strategy behind it.

i know that these sort of events in the hamilton building have been planned for quite some time, but i personally have stayed away... i'm not a big fan of "and then the cops showed up" stories. lol.

who is sponsoring these thinsg anyways?

CleverNameGoesHere

Oct 30 2007, 03:52 PM

QUOTE (christine_dixon @ Oct 30 2007, 08:35 AM)

QUOTE (hagopinion @ Oct 30 2007, 06:03 AM)

I just enlarged the flyer; something strange I noticed, women 18 and men 21 to enter; is this normal (or even legal)?

yes, that is very normal. also legal.

I also am feeling VERY old. I don't remember being able to get into any bars before I was 21, except for DC and that was only because they changed the drinking age to 21 AFTER I'd already turned 18. So those of us over 18 but under 21 were permitted to drink there...ah, the good old days!

How on earth would this "normal" setup work? Couldn't the guys over 21 just buy drinks for the girls under 21? I'm sure it wouldn't be easy to tell just by looking at the girls that they were underage, if a security guy across the room saw some girl drinking alcohol. Do they usually put a different color wristband on underage girls?

communityhagerstown

Oct 30 2007, 05:59 PM

Cool, I am there, sounding better and better. Hope they have glow sticks and the hole nine yards. Lets party at The Hamilton. Heather, what do you think?

Idiot

Oct 30 2007, 06:02 PM

QUOTE (communityhagerstown @ Oct 30 2007, 05:59 PM)

Cool, I am there, sounding better and better. Hope they have glow sticks and the hole nine yards. Lets party at The Hamilton. Heather, what do you think?

Did I miss something?

sweetliberty2u

Oct 30 2007, 07:57 PM

Yes, one time of day about 20 to 25 years ago, the legal drinking age was 18 years old.
You could go into any bar in the area and drink. I should know I was 18 one time of day.

Yes, they have a stamp or band to indicate that the 18 year old girl is underage.

Just wondering, If this strickly for 18 year old girl's and 21 year old guy's

Idiot, I think communityhagerstown was just joking around.
So don't think you miss anything.

Yossarian

Oct 30 2007, 07:58 PM

Legal drinking in MD at 18 was only for beer and wine, not hard liquor. I think that only lasted a year or two before they rescinded it.

sweetliberty2u

Oct 30 2007, 08:06 PM

QUOTE (Yossarian @ Oct 30 2007, 08:58 PM)

Legal drinking in MD at 18 was only for beer and wine, not hard liquor. I think that only lasted a year or two before they rescinded it.

I believe it last longer then a 2 years.
I use to drink quite a bit in my youngers days. I know shame on me.

I don't think the drinking age was 21 until the pass 10 or 15 years.
Of course I'll have to do a little research on the subject.

Research done, Here it is

Yes, the proportion of the American population who drink (including young people) has been going down since about 1980. That was long before the states were required to raise the drinking age in 1987. And of course legislation wouldn't have limited consumption among those aged 21 or older.

Got the information from this web site.
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/YouthIssues/1053520190.html

It's been 20 years since the drinking age went from 18 to 21. Wow, I was off a few years.
Darn how time flys.

Heather

Oct 30 2007, 08:07 PM

QUOTE (communityhagerstown @ Oct 30 2007, 06:59 PM)

Cool, I am there, sounding better and better. Hope they have glow sticks and the hole nine yards. Lets party at The Hamilton. Heather, what do you think?

I'm 31 and I'm not going there.

Heather

Oct 30 2007, 08:11 PM

Eh, see this is all weird. You said you were at the filming of the zombies, as a parent, , Comm, and you never really did specify who you were...

Glow sticks and underage...wtf are you referencing me with?

Yossarian

Oct 30 2007, 08:16 PM

The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1884

Ok, looks like I found when it was raised back up to 21, but I can't find when it was lowered. I know that was after I turned 21 which was in the early 70's.

communityhagerstown

Oct 30 2007, 08:20 PM

I was just joking. I was bored and found the topic invited for some banter. No, Heather just kidding. Sorry, just trying to be hip on the forum and it did not work. Sorry.

Heather, you are right, I will be home with one my kids. Oh, and I do not know anything about glow sticks except kids wave them at Raves, so I am clueless. One of my kids said her friends wave them at concerts. See, I am clueless. Back to the book and movie thread for me. Liberty was right, I am too old for this. I need to move along.

sweetliberty2u

Oct 30 2007, 08:26 PM

QUOTE (Yossarian @ Oct 30 2007, 09:16 PM)

The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1884

Ok, looks like I found when it was raised back up to 21, but I can't find when it was lowered. I know that was after I turned 21 which was in the early 70's.

Yea, I found that too after I posted what I did. lol

Were just reminding ourselves how old we are.

OH those were the good old days.

wildblue

Oct 31 2007, 09:13 AM

Do they still have raves?

christine_dixon

Oct 31 2007, 11:18 AM

is thi smaybe related? :

QUOTE

Maryland Comptroller Weighs In On State's Slot Debate

Reported by: Lynne Ashminov
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 @05:39pm EST
HAGERSTOWN, MD - Maryland's comptroller, Peter Franchot, made a stop in the Four-State Tuesday.

While in Washington County, he talked about his participation in a bust this past weekend in Hagerstown.

He says the after-hours party was selling alcohol without a license, and resulted in the arrest of two people.

The comptroller says that kind of illegal activity hurts Maryland businesses that pay their fair share of taxes.

While here, he also weighed in on slot machines as a way to solve the state's deficit.

"I'm very opposed to slots. I think they take the state in the wrong direction and I hope the legislature does not approve slots or a referendum on slots. Slots are a predatory, sleazy, corrupt industry," the comptroller says.

Franchot also spoke about the assembly's special session, which he opposed. He says he thinks the deficit could be solved in the regular session when lawmakers have the budget in front of them.

not sure what it had to do with slots, but....

CleverNameGoesHere

Oct 31 2007, 02:52 PM

QUOTE (christine_dixon @ Oct 31 2007, 12:18 PM)

is thi smaybe related? :

QUOTE

Maryland Comptroller Weighs In On State's Slot Debate

Reported by: Lynne Ashminov
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 @05:39pm EST
HAGERSTOWN, MD - Maryland's comptroller, Peter Franchot, made a stop in the Four-State Tuesday.

While in Washington County, he talked about his participation in a bust this past weekend in Hagerstown.

He says the after-hours party was selling alcohol without a license, and resulted in the arrest of two people.

The comptroller says that kind of illegal activity hurts Maryland businesses that pay their fair share of taxes.

While here, he also weighed in on slot machines as a way to solve the state's deficit.

"I'm very opposed to slots. I think they take the state in the wrong direction and I hope the legislature does not approve slots or a referendum on slots. Slots are a predatory, sleazy, corrupt industry," the comptroller says.

Franchot also spoke about the assembly's special session, which he opposed. He says he thinks the deficit could be solved in the regular session when lawmakers have the budget in front of them.

not sure what it had to do with slots, but....

Yes, this is absolutely 100% related. There was a big old bust in front of the Hamilton in the wee hours of the morning (edit: Sunday morning, that is, after Mummer's parade) but I hadn't read or heard anything about it in the news. Friend of mine saw guys being cuffed and liquor being confiscated. Doesn't that seem like something that would be front page on Monday at least? Then again, I haven't read today's paper yet, maybe it's just taken awhile to get "out".

strungout

Nov 2 2007, 07:34 PM

http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=display...amp;format=html

QUOTE

Entertainment company owner charged with selling alcohol without a license

By HEATHER KEELS heather.keels@herald-mail.com

HAGERSTOWN

State agents broke up an after-hours party at a downtown office building Saturday night and charged the owner of a local entertainment company with selling alcohol without a license.

Charles Mahdi, owner of Hagerstown-based SMU Entertainment LLC, admitted he knew he was supposed to have a liquor license but did not have one, according to charging documents filed in Washington County District Court.

Field agents of Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot raided the party, held in the second-floor ballroom of the Hamilton Plaza building at 92 W. Washington St., after a monthlong investigation into the promoter, who has a history of holding unlicensed events throughout Western Maryland, the comptroller’s office said in a press release.

The party was advertised on the Internet as running from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. with a $10 admission charge, according to charging documents. At about 11 p.m., Anne Arundel County Deputy Sheriff Mike Harris arrived at the party and bought a Corona beer at the rear bar, then called in an arrest team.

Authorities seized 31 containers of distilled spirits, two containers of wine, 310 containers of beer and two gallons of unlabeled alcoholic beverage from the bar area, according to charging documents. The alcohol was in plan view at the bar and drink price lists were posted, agents said.

Mahdi was charged with suffering the sales of an alcoholic beverage without a license and suffering the possession of an alcoholic beverage without a license, charges punishable by up to two years in jail or a $1,000 fine, according to the release. He was released on personal recognizance pending a court hearing, agents said.

“Illegal activity such as this hurts hard-working, law-abiding Maryland businesses that pay their fair share of taxes,” Franchot said in the news release.

Mahdi also owns a nightclub at Jonathan Street and Way Avenue, according to the SMU Entertainment Web site, which says the nightclub is under construction but will open soon.

The phone number listed for SMU Entertainment was disconnected Thursday night.

CleverNameGoesHere

Nov 5 2007, 04:19 PM

Apparently these guys managed to successfully throw a party this past Sat. night in the Hamilton ballroom that was not stopped...and at around 5:00 a.m. some drunk guy from the party broke the main front doors to the Hamilton (I was up by the building this a.m. and there's caution tape across the entrance, and the doors are bolted shut), AND he TRIED breaking down the doors to the bagel shop. Yet, nothing in the paper that I could find! I wonder if they managed to obtain a liquor license this time around

Did anybody go to the party, or know anyone who did? Comm, were you there selling glowsticks?

communityhagerstown

Nov 5 2007, 04:37 PM

Dang, I missed it. Since turning 40, I am regularly a day late, and a dollar short.

coma

Nov 5 2007, 07:09 PM

QUOTE (hagopinion @ Oct 30 2007, 07:47 AM)

Where else does this occur, as in what other bars in the area do this sort of thing? I know that many bars in the Myrtle Beach will have rules that 18 to get in and 21 to drink but I have never seen a difference for the sexes before.

I don't know about here, but in Florida there are several places that do this. When I was in college, one of the clubs that I did security for did this to help even out the ratio. If a club is known to draw too many guys, the ladies will be elsewhere. Once the ratio gets fubar, the men stop going as well because they, obviously, want to be where the ladies are at... then, your business sucks. You do have to be pretty tight on security and make sure underagers aren't drinking though, because there are plenty of folks that will break the rules.

This guy seems like a pretty shady character though.