The luxury of a private jet, especially in the current economy, seems like an extravagance reserved only for music executives or real estate moguls.

However, K & R Aviation and Open Air provide a similar, but less extravagant, service to businessmen and women in the Greater Baltimore area.

Open Air wants you to pay a premium and travel in style — on a private plane. Sure, it seems like a waste of money, but Open Air provides specials that are catered to businesspeople of more traditional means:

• Their “empty leg special” in particular allows you to charter a flight at a lower-than-normal rate.
•  When someone sends a plane on a one-way flight, they will give you a discounted fare if you are flying from that destination back to Maryland.
• Also, several businesspeople traveling together can “car pool” a flight to and from a major city, like New York or Miami, and share the cost.  If you get enough of you together, the cost may even be below what you would pay in commercial airfare.

Depending on your destination, however, a private jet may not be the way to fly.

According to MarketWatch.com, last year, members of Congress criticized auto executives who flew on private aircrafts to Washington D.C. to request bailout money, calling it another example of “corporate excess.”

However, if you have the means, Open Air can provide the service. Who knows? On your next business trip you could be the one sipping champagne in a plush leather seat.

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Last night at Little Havana on Key Highway, local business people gathered to network, catch up with colleagues and enjoy a few drinks on the breezy outdoor deck overlooking the harbor. But they didn’t come out just for great Cuban food and conversation — they were there for Green Drinks, a monthly gathering of Baltimore’s environmentally conscious entrepreneurs.

This month the event was sponsored by NAI Michael and Seven Seas Energy, two companies that are committed to exploring green business practices. Spokesmen from each group made short presentations on solar energy and other green initiatives.

Teris Pantazes of Seven Seas was excited to see such a large turn-out for the green happy hour. “It’s a great networking opportunity for green businesses,” Pantazes said, “I mean, we’ve got 80 or so people and this is only our sixth event.”

Local Heather Giustiniani said she is always looking for little ways like Green Drinks to support environmental practices. “I just recently bought wind power for my house,” she said.
It wasn’t all business though. I had a lot of fun kicking back, enjoying the great view of the harbor and chatting with like-minded people.

The event will be held at Little Havana for July and August, so if you’re interested in a good business networking opportunity — or just in going green — Green Drinks is the cocktail hour for you. You can find more information about upcoming events here.

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Strolling around downtown Annapolis in the summer, I’m reminded that the city is a beautiful sight to behold — sailboats dot the horizon and line the docks along the waterfront, their tall masts making up a picturesque maritime skyline. My favorite downtown activity includes a big ice cream cone and a stroll on Main St. and West St. as friends stream in and out of bars and restaurants.

It’s no secret that our state capital relies on this busy atmosphere and plentiful tourist dollars to generate revenue.

Recently, in an effort to raise nearly $1 million for the state’s budget, the city council passed an amendment that would increase parking fees in the downtown area by as much as 60 percent. According to the Annapolis Capital, this decision is causing some backlash from local business owners who are concerned that this rate increase will drive away customers and make it impossible for their employees to afford parking.

In some locations, the monthly parking pass will increase from $150 to $240, and the hourly rate will jump from $1.25 to $2. Many citizens are claiming that there was no hint that a rate increase was being considered until after it had already passed — giving them no chance to protest.

In response, on Monday the Annapolis City Council met and unanimously decided to delay the start date of the new rates from July 1 to August 1. The council agreed that looking into different ways to generate revenue and hearing feedback from citizens could benefit the community.

Should parking rates be raised to increase revenue or are there better ways to make money that don’t drive away customers?

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When you think of explorers, your mind may drift to Harrison Ford in a pit of snakes or a troop of treasure hunters plundering King Tut’s tomb.

You’ve got the right idea, but you probably wouldn’t group photographers exploring abandoned Baltimore buildings with the likes of Indiana Jones — until now.

Locals Chris Folsom and Chris Piergalline have been poking around (and trespassing in) long forgotten  buildings in the greater Baltimore area and stirring up interest in the photos they take of dust-shrouded asylums and moth-eaten factories.

Folsom tells The (Baltimore) Sun, however, that they aren’t interested in disturbing these buildings or carting away any goods. “We leave the place the way we found it,” said Folsom. “I feel the need to document there buildings just as they were left and before they are renovated or torn down.”

For an interesting perspective in the midst of new development and demolition, check out Chris Folsom’s Flickr page.

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If anything is in style right now, it’s definitely being “green.” From Oscar telecasts to office rooftops, everyone’s got the environmental bug.

So I was surprised to find that, in a recent poll of coastal residents from New York through Virginia, most of those surveyed were in favor of offshore energy “exploration.”

The poll, conducted by Monmouth University, found that 46 percent of residents would support ocean drilling — a staggering increase when compared with the 33 percent that were in favor of drilling two years ago.

You could call it a backlash against the Hollywood – and Washington – elite telling us to buy hybrids. One thing’s certain: people seem to be changing their tune about seeking new energy resources. But at what cost?

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For a music lover like myself, rising temperatures only mean one thing – it’s time to break out the folding chairs and head to my local outdoor amphitheater for a season of big-name summer concerts.

Unfortunately, many of us find that money is a lot tighter this summer and concert promoters are concerned that this season lawns won’t be quite as packed with fans.

In hopes of avoiding a ticket buying slump, Live Nation Inc., the world’s largest concert promoter, has announced a special summer promotion that allows fans to buy tickets without tacking on the usual fees and surcharges that can really break the bank.

Live Nation will kick-off the promotion on Wednesday by forgoing all ticket fees for amphitheater lawn seats in an online, 24-hour sale. The discount will save fans between $9 and $12 on tickets that generally cost about $25.

According to an AP report, Live Nation plans to continue the promotion, though on a lesser scale, every Wednesday for the rest of the summer. Hopefully, we can all save money this summer while still enjoying our favorite bands under the stars.

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