In an effort to release all of his Almost Famous-era rock and roll interviews from his time as a music critic at The Baltimore Sun, Nestor Aparicio found an October 1989 chat with legendary keyboardist Jonathan Cain, just as his new band Bad English was approaching Hammerjacks. Some Steve Perry chatter here from four decades ago as Journey has gone…

With Corbin Burnes departing for Arizona, Luke Jones and Nestor wonder whether the signing of Japanese veteran right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano is all that Mike Elias plans to do on the front-end of the 2025 starting rotation for the Baltimore Orioles. The post Luke and Nestor continues Orioles offseason debate about payroll and pitching first appeared…

During their final weekly gathering of 2024, Leonard Raskin and Nestor discuss the Hall of Fame candidacies of Terrell Suggs, Marshal Yanda and Steve Smith Sr. and marvel at the Alex Ovechkin march toward Wayne Gretzky. The post Leonard Raskin and Nestor talk Suggs, Pro Football Hall of Fame ballot and Ovechkin chasing Gretzky first appeared on Bal…

All baseball fans know No. 1 starters don't come cheap on the free agent market. The Baltimore Orioles couldn't retain the services of ace Corbin Burnes, who went "home" to Arizona for six years and $210 million. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss what comes next for Mr. Rubenstein and Mike Elias on their path to better pitching in 2025. The post Luke J…

Plenty has gone right for the Baltimore Ravens this season regarding good health, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry and historic offensive productivity. The defense and special teams problems feel like ancient history as the team carries a three-game winning streak and are a gaudy 18-point favorite to finish off the AFC North crown with a victory ove…

Talking about insurance is boring – until you need it and have the wrong coverage or a horrible deductible. Our Harford County insurance man on the streets Pete Raimondi from Erie Insurance brings Nestor some holiday reminders and wisdom on the Maryland Crab Cake Tour about having the right coverage, which is paramount for you and your family or bu…

The formerly porous Ravens secondary looked healed against Pittsburgh and Houston during Christmas week and that makes this new-and-improved defense worthy of going into Buffalo and Kansas City in January and winning. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the sudden emergence of Zack Orr's unit and how roles have changed, starters have been benched and the…

The past 11 days have emphasized the potential for greatness for this Baltimore Ravens team. Luke Jones and Nestor recap a Christmas clinic in Houston as the Ravens embarrassed the Texans in a 31-2 rout as Derrick Henry ran over the AFC South champions. The post Luke Jones and Nestor recap a Lamarry Christmas in Houston for Ravens in embarrassing T…

With a new Baltimore County Executive coming into focus and a bridge that needs to be federally funded, our favorite Essex attorney and recovering local politician Todd Schuler returns to educate Nestor on the search process and Key Bridge concerns entering a second Trump administration. The post Essex attorney Todd Schuler returns to educate Nesto…

The sisters of Curio Wellness, Rebecca and Wendy Bronfein, join Nestor for a spirited – and highly educational – conversation about all things cannabis and science, including how their father's illness sparked a desire to use the plant for efficacy and modern medicine. They promise to lift your mood for the holidays as families convene and chat abo…

Yeah, he's still "Cal's guy" but our lifer pal and one-time sports public relations executive has moved his business and life into other sectors in Maryland. John Maroon joins Nestor for a spirited holiday chat about communicating to the world an authentic local message that resonates beyond the playing field. The post John Maroon updates Nestor on…

Once he found out that his 1990s Orioles reporter and the guy who runs the Baltimore Convention Center were great friends, Nestor knew he had a fun holiday idea for a baseball, hockey and holiday set up at Amicci's. Allen McCallum and Mac Campbell return – simultaneously – to share some Orioles offseason love, Ovechkin repect and holiday cheer from…

The promotion has become "last chance" but some recent winners had some fun times with their Ravens scratch-off victory trip to Met Life Stadium in New Jersey for another purple victory. John Martin and Nestor power up for a billion dollar holiday draw and unwrap the recent winning. The post John Martin and Nestor power up for a billion dollar draw…

They've gathered for many years to discuss how to lift the Baltimore sports community and how local business and humans support it all. Finally, Georgetown sports business professor Marty Conway joins Nestor on the Maryland Crab Cake Tour at Amicci's in Little Italy to discuss the commerce and future of professional sports in Maryland. The post Mar…

Calvin Statham entered the life of Nestor Aparicio in September 1979 as his 7th grade chorus teacher at Holabird Junior High School. The 83-year old legend and veteran of 58 incredible years of teaching children on both sides of Baltimore County returns to Costas Inn on the Maryland Crab Cake Tour to talk about his love of children. The post Dundal…

With just hours not days between games, none of the four Christmas teams will be resting comfortably before Wednesday afternoon. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the Ravens holiday path toward the playoffs and what happens if the Steelers lose to the Chiefs? The post Luke Jones and Nestor discuss Ravens holiday path toward playoffs and Steelers Chiefs…

It was a fun night for Baltimore sports fans beating the Steelers at home but the holiday work is far from complete. Luke Jones and Nestor recap the Ravens 34-17 win over Pittsburgh and prep for a quick Texans' Christmas slog in Houston with high stakes and fatigued football players. The post Luke Jones and Nestor recap Ravens win over Steelers and…

Rock And Roll Hall of Famer Gina Schock of The Go-Go's tells Nestor the girls are head over heels about putting the band back on stage in 2025 as she prepares in Dundalk for a spring at Coachella and Cruel World Festivals that'll show they've still got the beat. Our lips are no longer sealed about the West Coast reunion of the five ladies who paved…

Holiday visits with friends around town brought Sam Sessa to Amicci's in Little Italy to tell Nestor everything he ever wanted to know about public radio life at WTMD, WYPR and the massive summer magic created by their incredibly successful First Thursday summer nights of music at the Canton Waterfront Park. The post Sam Sessa tells Nestor about th…

The Pittsburgh Steelers lead the AFC North and have been quite sturdy against the Baltimore Ravens in recent years but remain a 7-point underdog on Saturday afternoon. Will Graves of The Associated Press in Pittsburgh gives Nestor a full preview of the game of the year from behind enemy lines in Da 'Burgh. The post Will Graves of Pittsburgh AP give…

Our Maryland Lottery pal Seth Elkin joins Nestor at Amicci's of Little Italy for a holiday visit to discuss a great Ravens scratch-off season and the rivalry that divides their professional relationship during Pittsburgh Week. We decided the loser should have to wear a Browns jersey... The post Seth Elkin of Maryland Lottery recaps Ravens scratch-o…

As the holidays draw near, Nestor Aparicio is gathering some end-of-year guests to assess a wild ride in Baltimore sports. On the Maryland Crab Cake Tour at Amicci's in Little Italy, sports editor of The Baltimore Banner Chris Korman discusses modern journalism and local coverage – and the high expectations – of the Orioles and Ravens and a cranky …

Luke Jones and Nestor buckle up the the holiday chinstraps for Steelers at Ravens for AFC North supremacy and the Christmas follow up as the Chiefs and Texans will factor into all of this before Santa comes down the chimney. We got a big one in Baltimore on Saturday evening! The post Luke Jones and Nestor buckle the chinstraps for Steelers at Raven…

Like many in Baltimore, our financial family planner Leonard Raskin will be cheering on the Ravens this week and offers our audience some sensible and friendly advice for making 2025 the best year ever for knowing your future and where your money and important assets are assigned. Always solid advice here for year-end planning about what's really i…

It's been a while since our government policy expert Matt Gallagher of The Goldseker Foundation has joined us at Faidley's but with another Trump government and a stocked cabinet of completely unqualified humans about to run the United States of America, it was time for Nestor to try to attempt to make sense of nonsense reality. The post Matt Galla…

The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers play at least twice a year. Sometimes, they even meet in January. There is nothing better than the best rivalry in the NFL on a big stage for the holidays. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the AFC playoff picture and the significance of Saturday's big game on a path to the Super Bowl in February. The post L…

By any measurement, the Baltimore Ravens saw the junior varsity in the Meadowlands on Sunday with the New York Giants. As a 6.5 point favorite at home on Saturday afternoon, Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers come to town looking to test the improvements to the Ravens' pass rush and secondary. The post Luke Jones and Nestor discuss Ravens d…

With former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley in the news running to lead the DNC, we turn to local Democratic National Committee member Robbie Leonard, who joined Nestor on the Maryland Crab Cake Tour at Faidley's in an effort to educate us on the process of the organization and the massive work ahead after an embarrassing loss in Kamala Harris' b…

On a day when the Baltimore Ravens seemed to have everything working against the over-matched New York Giants, the dozen penalties were a reminder of the mistakes that has led this team to five losses. Luke Jones and Nestor recap a 35-14 beatdown of the hapless Giants in the Meadowlands and short week before Pittsburgh arrives. The post Luke Jones …

If you want crab cakes for Christmas, they're a click away! Let Damye Hahn of Faidley's Seafood in Lexington Market tell you about the ease of sending the best holiday box of love anywhere this month. And if you're in Catonsville, The Fishmonger's Daughter on Frederick Avenue has some activity that will be bringing a new Faidley's to the 'burbs nex…

Still in denial about the NIL, Nestor Aparicio welcomes Ruffin Bell of Coppin State over to Faidley's Seafood in Lexington Market for a crab cake and a discussion about Eagles history and future goals. Bell, the marketing and promotion specialist on campus, highlights the success of various sports teams, including the volleyball and baseball teams …

If all of the stress, merriment and family of the holidays has you a little anxious, Wendy Bronfein of Curio Wellness discusses some ways the folks at Far & Dotter in Timonium can help. The science of chews, the reality of the harvest and expiring bonus points at holidays in our continuing series on cannabis education. The post Wendy Bronfein of Cu…

So, just what are the Orioles real plans for a payroll under the new stewardship and deep pockets of the Rubenstein group? Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the strategy and budget of general manager Mike Elias as the hot stove starts to boil for offseason activities as the MLB Winter Meetings spark a baseball conversation in Baltimore about the future…

Not many bands insisted on inviting then-youthful Baltimore Sun music critic Nestor Aparicio backstage after a concert for an interview – but ZZ Top insisted back in January 1991. Turns out when Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill of the little Texas band welcomed him into their dressing room for a post-show at the Capital Centre, it was all about their w…

In our never-ending quest to discuss real journalism in a world of fractured and disassembled media, Nestor invites longtime mentor and one-time colleague Mark Hyman, who heads the sports journalism program at the University of Maryland, to discuss the future of sports coverage for the next generation who aspire to carry the notebook and ask the to…

It's up to Nestor's friends and sponsors to keep him honest. Our pal Bill Cole of Cole Roofing and Gordian Enegry grills Nestor about what he really expects from the Orioles this offseason with new ownership and a team full of young stars waiting on better pitching. And fans waiting on some kind of honest and authentic communication. The post Bill …

On the first stop of the holiday Maryland Crab Cake Tour at Koco's Pub, sports cartoonist Mike Ricigliano and Nick "The Greek" Syropoulos welcome Nestor back "home" to their neighborhood and tell tales of what makes their part of Baltimore City so special and why they've never left Lauraville. Or is it Mayfield? Or Beverly Hills? The post Sports ca…

The New York Giants are a terrible football team. The Ravens go to the Meadowlands as whopping 16-point favorites on Sunday as Luke Jones and Nestor discuss a busy next 10 days and ways that the AFC North can still be won before January. The post Luke Jones and Nestor discuss Ravens as prohibitive favorites against Giants and Super Bowl longer shot…

As the Ravens head to New York so do several winners of the big Maryland Lottery scratch-off promotion. Let Doug Lloyd of The Maryland Lottery tell you about big jackpots, lucky Friday The 13th fun and more ways to maximize your chances to win with second chances and the MDLottery mobile app. The post Doug Lloyd of Maryland Lottery gets Nestor read…

As the music critic of The Baltimore Evening Sun from 1986 until 1992, Nestor Aparicio interviewed dozens of Rock And Rock Hall of Fame musicians in their prime and is unearthing these magical lost tapes with legends here via Music Classic at Baltimore Positive. This is guitarist Peter Buck of R.E.M. who joined him in 1991 before a small gig at Max…

Tampa Bay-based sportswriter and author Joel Poiley returns home to Baltimore with more tales of "Last Man Standing," his book on the life and legacy of Colts great Tom Matte. And what it meant to be a part of the community via professional sports in a bygone era. The post Author Joel Poiley returns with tales of Matte, old Baltimore and what Colts…

Our returning champion and author of "Defying Expectations," 5-foot-5 Eastern Shore hoops legend Al "Hondo" Handy shows us how he's still inspiring young folks through sports and recreation in Ocean City. The post Ocean City legend Al Hondo Handy tells Nestor he is still defying those expectations at the beach first appeared on Baltimore Positive W…

With our eyes on the holidays and lots of Ravens football to watch, Leonard Raskin reminds you to consider some quiet time this month to get settled with any late 2024 financial benefits or good decisions you can make with investments as 2025 looms. The post Leonard Raskin and Nestor discuss your money at year end and Ravens chances in January firs…

The benching of Marcus Williams. The offensive line not holding up as well as hoped. The porous defense. The obvious misses and concerns with the kicker. It's all resulted in a less-than-predicted 8-5 mark at a very-late bye week for the mostly-healthy Baltimore Ravens. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the many concerns and the team's ability to rebou…

Headed to the Meadowlands as a huge favorite and with two quick and supremely important games with Pittsburgh and Houston before Christmas day, Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the playoff path of the Baltimore Ravens and the "Super Bowl or bust" mantra that is starting to feel fleeting with five losses. The post Luke Jones and Nestor discuss Ravens p…

In a Smalltimore environment of growing business, let Stacey Munsell of Ink + Numbers tell you about her local networking group who aim to engage and connect ladies around the region to gather and convene to talk career growth, connection and new friendships. The post Stacey Munsell of Ink + Numbers joins Nestor at Gertrude’s to discuss women of Ba…

The bye week drama with Diontae Johnson. The misses and head of Justin Tucker. And three games coming in 11 days coming for the Baltimore Ravens, who headed to Exit 16W on the New Jersey Turnpike this Sunday as prohibitive favorites. Luke Jones and Nestor reset the Ravens' bye week and prepare for a perilous holiday with Steelers and Texans waiting…

Tyler O'Neill and Gary Sanchez are under contract. But what about the pitching? Luke Jones joins Nestor to discuss the first foray into free agency for Mike Elias with the budget of new Orioles ownership and a mandate to bring Baltimore a World Series. The post Luke Jones and Nestor discuss Orioles first plunge into free agency and MLB winter meeti…

In our never-ending quest to bring together the best people of Baltimore, let Nestor tell you how 40 years of friendship with "Uncle" Dan Rodricks connected him to legendary Chesapeake chef and Gertrude's proprietor John Shields, who turned out to be related to the very tiny Aparicio family through Smalltimore marriage. The BMA, the holiday and wha…