_A few months ago my mother called me on a Monday afternoon and told me that she needed me to go to a show at Baltimore’s Center Stage. My mother, who is in bed by eight every night, was telling me about a social event. I must admit that my first reaction was to look out the window and see if the world was ending.

_It turns out that the show she needed me to go to (her coworker had extra tickets) is the greatest show in Baltimore. It is called the Stoop Storytelling Series. A “stoop”, for all you unfortunate people who were raised outside of Baltimore, is the small set of stairs that leads to your formstone rowhome. To “do the Baltimore thing”, as my brother Lee and I say, is to wait on the stoop for the other person to show up. The Stoop Storytelling Series is reminiscent of the stories you might here while sitting out on your stoop.

_The premise is simple. Each show has a broad topic. The show tonight was based off of the ideas of money. Getting rich, going broke and everything in between. Volunteers send in their stories via e-mail to the shows two hosts, the equally hilarious Laura Wexler and Jessica Henkin. The stories can only be seven minutes long and have to involve the given topic in a significant way. Anyone can apply. Seven of the applicants are chosen to tell their stories on stage at Center Stage. Furthermore, there is a bag where you can apply to have your name drawn after the intermission. If your name is drawn, you get on stage to tell a quick three minute story. These stories are even more random than the only-once-rehearsed seven minute stories, but have proven to be pretty hilarious.

_I have seen two Stoop shows and I’m still not sure why I don’t own season tickets. Not only are the completely random stories both hilarious and poignant, but the entire atmosphere makes you realize why Baltimore is nicknamed “Charm City.” The house band is Caleb Stein and the Brakemen who not only play their originaly wonderful folk country songs, but also a few covers relevant to the nights topic (tonight they play both Johny Cash’s “Satisfied Mind” and The Beatles’ “Can’t Buy Me Love”.) And, as if you needed more inspiration to attend, both times I have been there have been amazing drink specials at the Center Stage bars. The first time I went it was $1 grab bag beers, and tonight it was buy one get one free.

_If you can’t get tickets, or you miss a show, you can hear it all on the Stoop Storytelling website: www.stoopstorytelling.com.

- Kid