Baltimore to open massive rec center; 'Winter on the Waterfront' coming to Inner Harbor

This may be controversial, but I don't know how some of you out there are ready to jump into the holiday/winter season as early as Nov. 1. We've still got Thanksgiving ahead, lots of fall foliage outside and it's going to be 70 degrees out today. No way I'm ready for sugar cookies and snow. I need more time with my pumpkin spice.

BBJ Highlight: Last night we unveiled the 50 fastest-growing private companies in Greater Baltimore at an awards reception in Owings Mills. The No. 1 company on the list this year, Trius Lending Partners, saw an average revenue growth of 206.67% from 2019 to 2021. Click on the link above to meet the other top companies and read about how they boosted their revenue over the past three years.

Now, for the news of the day.

• A massive new rec center — the largest in Baltimore owned by the city — will open next week. The 35,000-square-foot facility in South Baltimore's Cherry Hill neighborhood cost $23.1 million to build and includes three pools, basketball courts, a maker space, fitness studios and an indoor walking track. It is located next to a new turf field that was finished earlier this year and connects to the Gwynns Falls and Middle Branch trails. Baltimore Sun
• While I might not be ready for winter festivities, the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore has shared new plans for its Inner Harbor activities and events this holiday season. A new initiative, "Winter on the Waterfront", will kick off Nov. 5 with the final iteration of the new "Baltimore by Baltimore" music and makers series. The Inner Harbor Ice Rink will also return Nov. 11, the German Christmas Village will open Nov. 19 and there's a new Lunar Night Cultural Fesitval on Jan. 21-22. One other exciting new addition, the Baltimore by Baltimore Inner Harbor Holiday Market, will transform the former H+M store inside of Light Street pavilion into a market with more than 20 vendors selling original and locally made art and goods. Discover more Winter on the Waterfront activities and events here.
• A new report found Baltimore's supply of a chemical needed to treat its drinking water was dangerously low earlier this year. The cause, the city's inspector general found, was a dispute between the city and a vendor of the chemical who threatened to stop deliveries over a disagreement about a proposed price increase. The city already owed more than $77,000 to the company in unpaid invoices, according to the report. No city water went untreated, but the low supply put the drinking water at potential risk. Baltimore Sun
• Fatal drug overdoses declined in the first half of the year across Maryland, a state health official shared this week. It's welcome news given the epidemic has only worsened over the years, however, the overall number of people dying is still upsetting. More than 1,200 Marylanders died with opioids in their bodies between January and June alone. Nationally, the opioid epidemic claims more than 100,000 lives annually. Baltimore Sun
• The Milford Mill Shopping Center will undergo a partial demolition and full renovation to reopen as a new Grocery Outlet Bargain Market. Baltimore County will provide $2 million for the project, which is expected to be complete by spring 2024. Baltimore Fishbowl
• A Baltimore hotel has been included in Fodor's Travel 's annual roundup of the most incredible hotels in the world. Revival Baltimore in Mount Vernon was named one of the 21 best hotels in the U.S. as part of Fodor's 2023 Finest Hotel Awards.
• Maryland is the second happiest state in the U.S., according to a new ranking from WalletHub . The website compared states across three dimensions; emotional and physical well-being, work environment and community and environment. Maryland took a big step up this year after ranking No. 8 last year. The least happy state on the list? West Virginia. Thrillist
• A new retailer has opened in Harbor East. Brilliant Earth 's new luxe showroom is the 24th for the company that sells ethically sourced fine jewelry. The store is located in the historic E.J. Codd Building, between the Inner Harbor and Fells Point. (Press Release) The building is the same one that Patagonia is about to open in this weekend.