With National Cheese Lovers Day celebrated Jan. 20 and the Green Bay Packers reaching the Super Bowl, it seemed like a good time to call Vic Corbi, owner of Grilled Cheese & Co. in Catonsville.

I made the mistake of doing this Q&A before lunch time, and now I’m insanely hungry for grilled cheese sandwiches.

The restaurant’s only been open for 9 months, and Corbi’s already has another store opening in the works. (Stay tuned for that news later.)

We talked about the most popular grilled cheese special in Baltimore, and what are some of the most interesting ways you can even redo the original favorite.

TDR: How many grilled cheese sandwiches have you sold since opening last April?

Corbi: Too many to count. I don’t have the exact number in my head, but it’s been many, many sandwiches.

TDR: Have you altered the menu since opening?

Corbi: It’s been the same. We run a special every three weeks, roughly. We do a new sandwich to keep something fresh and new on the menu. But we also rotate different soup specials. We’ll just make a large batch of soup and it could last a few days or about a week.

TDR: What’s the most popular grilled cheese sandwich you offer?

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You can help determine the look and feel of Ocean City’s new boardwalk by voting online.

The city is asking for the public to voice its opinion on the type of surface used on the popular promenade. The online poll is available from Tuesday through Feb. 28 through the town’s municipal website or its tourism website. Voters can choose from the following:

• An all-wood surface. The supporting structure of the boardwalk might be built with different materials; however it would look the same as it does now. This is the most traditional yet most expensive option to build and maintain, according to the city’s website; Read the rest of this entry »

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Last week’s list of the five most-read business stories by Daily Record staffers was topped by the latest twist in the Cafe Hon contretemps. Also cracking the list was a local reverberation of the auto industry’s troubles in Detroit, and the latest push to get Maryland’s horse racing industry on the right track.

1. Cafe Hon’s Whiting apologizes for ‘hon’ trademark controversy
Denise Whiting did not apologize for getting a trademark on the word “hon,” and did not say she planned to drop the legal protection she has on the well-known Baltimore term of endearment, Ben Mook reported. Instead, she said she was sorry for comments she made to the media that led to confusion that the trademark would limit people’s right to use the term in conversation.

2. Baltimore Travel Plaza bus terminal could become conference center
After years of declining business despite its proximity to Interstate 95, the multi-bay bus terminal at the Baltimore Travel Plaza will close for good, according to the story by Melody Simmons.

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If you’re looking for some prime space to set up an office or just to move in, you might be able to share space with the Maryland Bible Society.

The society closed its Bible storefront Dec. 31 to move its operations online, but is contemplating sharing its four-story building with tenants, or even selling the building.

“We really only use two floors for the store and office space, the rest is just storage,” said Executive Director David Moyer.

Moyer said he’s already received some proposals from interested parties about the building, but for now the society will continue to work in the space at 9 E. Franklin St. It may be months until the society figures out what to do with the 6,615-square foot property. But for now, Moyer said he will still accept ideas on what to do with the space for possible co-tenants.

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A survey released Wednesday by CareerBuilder finds that 72 percent of workers — nearly three out of four on an organization’s payroll — go to work when they’re sick.

More than half of those surveyed — 55 percent — said they feel guilty when they call in sick.

Workplace pressures and something called “presenteeism” were cited as factors motivating those suffering the effects of the cold and flu season to come on in to work anyway. Not surprising, perhaps, given the state of the economy the past two years and the tenuous grip people feel they have on their careers.

I’m as qualified as anyone here in The Daily Record’s newsroom to blog about CareerBuilder’s findings because I was out the last two days with the flu. There’s nothing like 36 hours in bed to catch up on sleep and TV.

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Almost all of this week’s top 5 stories in business had to do with real estate, and most of them were centered around property by the Inner Harbor. Here are the top 5:

1. Former McCormick site at Inner Harbor auctioned for $11.5M – by Rachel Bernstein

The former McCormick & Co. Inc. factory site, one of the most valuable properties in the Inner Harbor, was sold at auction Tuesday for $11.5 million.

The site sits at a crucial spot for downtown Baltimore, and the sale of the property is an indicator of a positive moving economy, members of the city’s real estate community said.

2. State Center project on hold – by Melody Simmons

The $1.5 billion redevelopment of State Center, scheduled to break ground later this month with construction of a parking garage, is indefinitely on hold, a state economic development official said.

Robert C. Brennan, executive director of the Maryland Economic Development Corp., said a $33 million bond sale scheduled for this week to fund most of the construction of a 928-space parking garage at State Center was canceled pending resolution of a lawsuit filed by downtown property owners last month.

3. H&M officially signs on at Harborplace – by Rachel Bernstein

General Growth Properties has signed clothier H&M as a new tenant in Harborplace’s Light Street Pavilion, with its retail store expected to open this spring as part of a number of changes coming to the landmark.

The popular clothing store will take approximately 20,000 square feet near the Urban Outfitters store on both the first and second levels. The store is due to open in April or May, depending on construction.

4. Four undeveloped parcels at HarborView to be sold – by Melody Simmons

Four parcels of prime waterfront property at HarborView near the Inner Harbor that could hold a total of 1,548 residential units were listed for sale Monday.

The land is part of the 42-acre community, a multi-faceted, luxury residential development located off Key Highway marked by a high-rise condominium tower built in the early 1990s.

5. Port of Baltimore does record cruise business in 2010 – by Rachel Bernstein

The Port of Baltimore has again posted record numbers for cruise passengers coming through the city in one year.

Last year, 210,549 people sailed on 91 cruises from the Cruise Maryland Terminal, the Maryland Port Administration said Wednesday.

That number beats 2009’s record of 167,235 passengers — good for a 25 percent increase — on 81 cruises.

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The Steelers play the Ravens this Saturday and the on-field rivalry between the teams has spilled over to the fans and has started to spur friendly bets on the outcome.

On Thursday, the airports and Airmalls of the two cities — Pittsburgh International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport — joined the fray.

According to a statement announcing the wager:

“So, what’s at stake in this competition? If Pittsburgh wins the football game, the airport and AIRMALL directors at BWI must wear a Pittsburgh player’s jersey and eat a traditional Pittsburgh steak salad for lunch while waving a Terrible Towel. If Baltimore is victorious, the airport and AIRMALL directors at PIT must don Baltimore’s team attire while dining on a famous Maryland crab cake.  The losers will have to wear the opposing team’s gear the Tuesday after the game on January 18, 2011.”

The airport bet comes on the heels of one between religious leaders in both cities. Catholic Archbishop Edwin O’Brien of Baltimore and Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh are wagering that the loser will donate to the Catholic Charities in the other’s diocese or archdiocese. The loser also agrees to wear the other team’s colors and cheer whoever wins through the Super Bowl.

Personally, I’m guessing BWI and the Baltimore Archdiocese might be seeing a little more black and gold after this weekend. Any other friendly wagers out there going on?

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I saw a post on Twitter today from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra touting half-off tickets to its new “Icarus at the Edge of Time” webumentary. Something about science and the Icarus story and music all in one tweet called to me.

The performance combines science and music, as physicist and author Brian Greene teamed up with American composer (and Baltimore native) Philip Glass. The duo worked with filmmakers to create a multimedia version of Greene’s children’s book “Icarus at the Edge of Time.”

The story is exactly what you mythology buffs imagine it to be: setting the Icarus fable in a more kid-friendly, futuristic setting. Instead of Icarus traveling to the sun, he finds a black hole and Einstein’s theory of general relativity.

To make it even better, director Marin Alsop sets the mythological-esque tale to John Williams’ “Star Wars” suite. Greene also gives a live introduction to the performance.

The BSO has been running these webumentary series since 2007, combining technology with the old pastime of going to concerts. Other webumentaries coming up are The Magic Flute in February and Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody in March. Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush in April sounds like a particularly good one for silent film fans.

Tickets for the show go on sale for 50 percent off at 6 p.m. today until 6 a.m. tomorrow. Normally, tickets cost $14 to $61. “Icarus” runs this weekend at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall on Friday and Sunday, while the Saturday show will be held at the Music Center at Strathmore.

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There was no shortage of drama in Charm City last night as two mayoral challengers held a fundraising competition over crab nibbles in plush downtown environs while sleet and snow swirled outside.

The events kicked off what promises to be a contentious political season.

At the Hippodrome Theatre, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was introduced to a crowd of about 200 supporters by Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Baltimore, who described her as “steady as a rock” and even cooed about her honor’s good looks, telling the crowd that some of his colleagues have commented on her splendor while discussing the city’s mojo.

“She is on the front line,” Cummings said. “She’s passionate. She’s brilliant. I will do everything in my power to make sure that we are well led by Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.”

The mayor, dressed in an amethyst-hued silk shantung suit, took the podium and listed some of her leadership accomplishments over the past year, including Snowmagheddon, economic development, education, budget axing in a time of massive shortfalls and public safety.

“We have had several challenges,” she said. “And things require tough decisions. I demand that Baltimore continues to move forward.”

Less than a mile away at the Tremont Grand, challenger Otis Rolley III was also at center stage with the help of comedian Bill Cosby, a Philadelphian. Rolley, the former chief of staff for Mayor Sheila Dixon and the city’s director of planning, told supporters he believes Baltimore needs more energy at the top.

“I have a blueprint for Baltimore,” said Rolley, dressed in a dark suit and power red paisley tie. “I want to create a world-class city and have a six-point plan I plan to release over the next four months, including education, health, neighborhoods and economic development.”

The Cos, made available to the press for 15 minutes by his handlers at Spin, a local PR firm, offered thoughts on urban life and at times seemed out of touch with Baltimore’s unique issues. When asked, “Why Otis? Why now?” he seemed to lose focus before requesting the question be posed again, in a clearer format.

“You know what? I really hate that . . . What does that question mean? As opposed to what? Coca-Cola?”

Cosby then began a rambling dissertation on how he “met” Rolley over the phone, “kind of like a blind date” and asked him why he wanted to be the city’s mayor.

“Are you willing to die for the people?” he said he asked Rolley. “People running for public office say things. Are you willing to put yourself out there? Are you willing to die?”

While Rawlings-Blake’s handlers opened her fundraiser for the media to see the crowd that included Gov. Martin O’Malley, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Comptroller Peter Franchot, Rolley’s reps limited access to his event.

The mayor finished the night raising more than $600,000, including 50 donors who shelled out $4,000 each for a VIP reception, her officials said.

Rolley’s camp was cautious releasing details Wednesday. A source said the candidate attracted 20 donors to his $4,000 per plate sit-down dinner.

“Part of the strategic plan is not to release numbers,” said Lisa Harlow, a spokeswoman for the Rolley campaign who declined to address specifics. “We will release how much we made on Jan. 20 when the reports are due” in Annapolis at the state Board of Elections.

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Under Armour defeated Nike in the BCS title game Monday night.

That’s one storyline playing out since Auburn University vanquished the University of Oregon, 22-19, for the NCAA college football championship.

To locals, the backstory is pretty well known, but many sports fans nationally may not have been aware of Baltimore-based Under Armour’s rivalry with athletic shoe and apparel giant Nike.

I started covering Under Armour a bit in 2005, right around the time the company was thinking of going public (they executed a well-received IPO that November, raising about $120 million). No one at Under Armour at that time would speak on the record of any rivalry with the Swoosh — because the company was on an SEC-mandated quiet period, and by that point many of Under Armour’s top executives, including CEO Kevin Plank, were no longer making themselves very accessible to the local business media.

But, in conversations at the time with industry analysts and market watchers, it seemed to be all anyone could talk about. I remember one local attorney, over lunch in Fells Point, remarking that, IPO or no, he expected one day soon to see “the Nike Death Star” hovering over Under Armour’s Tide Point campus, ready to buy the upstart.

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