No, it's not an attempt to make airports seem more like sport stadiums; artificial turf is being used on tarmacs at airports around the country because it is easier and less expensive to maintain that the real green stuff. Baltimore/Washington is the latest airport to green its tarmac, joining other major hubs like New York's John F. Kennedy, Atlanta, Detroit, Boston, Toronto, Chicago Midway and Chicago O'Hare.

Artificial turf is ideal for unpaved areas near the tarmac as regular grass and soil often hide foreign debris that can cause safety hazards if it makes its way onto the runway. The two types approved by the FAA are AvTurf and Airfieldturf, and they aren't just being used for the runway; it's also replacing the painted green and yellow X signs used to help pilots figure out which taxiways are open. At night, painted asphalt can be difficult to see and the paint wears away more easily than the durable artificial turf. What's next? Artificial green stuff in the security line?

Yowza! It really did snow! When the flurries first started to fly, then thicken, I wrote about the leming-like trail to grocery stores. Yesterday, as one thing after another canceled, Greg Phelps, an art car celebrity of Columbus, took some photos from his car and kindly sent a link to one of them.

Every so often, I see Greg driving down the street. Seeing his car is similar to a movie star sighting. These photos give an unusual perspective of what the most snow Columbus has seen in years looks like. These guys are waving high and if you look carefully, you can see a pig snout.

I'm super excited about today's book suggestion. The latest title in Crown's Journey Series is Charm City: A Walk Through Baltimore by Madison Smartt Bell. The cover itself, decorated with Hon hair and a photo of the famous Painted Ladies, is enough for me to know -- I want to read this book! When I first started writing for Gadling back in 2005, I was still a Baltimore resident, and I've mentioned the fantastic city here on more than one occasion. I debated waiting to tell ya all about this one until after I had a chance to read it, but why wait? I'm fairly confident it's an excellent read. I BELIEVE in all things Baltimore.

But you don't have to take my word for it -- This week, the New York Times praised Bell's book as a guide to the "soul" of a "real city." Bell, an award-winning author who has lived in Baltimore for over twenty years, is a professor at Goucher College, where he directs the creative writing program. His book explores the history of the city by traveling through its unique mix of neighborhoods and major arteries, focusing on four specific walks through Fells Point and Dickeysville and along Charles Street and Greemount Avenue. Some well-known locals, like Laura Lippman and David Simon, join him on the jaunts. The Baltimore Sun interviewed Bell about how this project came to be. It's a good read, and more proof that the book is sure to serve as a perfect companion for any trip to Charm City.

Here's another spooky story from the skies -- and this one isn't just an urban legend. Two pilots fell asleep during an all-night flight between Baltimore and Denver. One pilot woke up to "frantic" calls from air traffic control advising that they were approaching the airport at twice the allowed speed. The pilot was able to safely land the plane with no further problems.

The incident was anonymously documented through NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System. Both the airline and pilots are unknown, though the article implies that Frontier Airlines might be to blame.

The airline admits that pilot fatigue is a big problem in the airline industry, but that they have measures in place to help avoid events such as this one.

Read the full article here.

I lived in Baltimore for many years, so while reading this New York Times piece about Canton, I thought of some additional insider info I could share. First of all, no one calls the heart of the neighborhood by its real name, O'Donnell Square. But it was nice of Mr. Villano to fill us in on who Captain O'Donnell was. Locals just call it "the Square".

Secondly, (and I'm sure some native Baltimoreans will argue with me on this one), I think that the very best crab dip in the city is served at Looney's Pub. My mouth is watering as I write this...it's the cheesiest, served with veggies and warm bread for dipping, and they'll bring you more of either if you ask. It's the best sports bar in town, at least through when I left there in 2005.

Want to get spooked this Halloween? If your travels find you in any of these ten East Coast cities, be sure to check out the haunted tours happening on and around Halloween.

Alexandria, VA: This Colonial Tour Group runs their original Ghost and Graveyard Tour, as well as a special enhanced Halloween version, several times throughout the autumn months.

Atlanta, GA: How about a haunted tour on two wheels? City Segway Tours runs a Ghosts and Legends Tour.

Baltimore, MD: Fells Point Ghost Tours is now called Baltimore Ghost Tours. They offer several ghost walks (including a Haunted Pubwalk) and a Haunted Harbor Cruise.

Boston, MA: Boston by Foot will run a one-time-only tour called Beacon Hill with a Boo! on Halloween night.

Willy wrote a post about a art car parade in California this past April. I mentioned art cars in my ComFest post in June. Here's another art car opportunity. Marilyn Terrell, a faithful Gadling reader and a person who knows quality events when she sees them, sent this our way. The 14th Annual Car Art Show and Other Wheeled is happening in Baltimore, Maryland this weekend, July 20- 22. It's part of Artscape, the very mega and very free public arts festival held here each year.

I was starting to wonder if only San Fransisco stages all those fun but crazy events. However, Baltimore does it, too. In fact, the deadline is fast approaching for you to enter the 2007 Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race.

Kinetic Sculptures are amphibious, human powered works of art -- steered by Kinetinauts -- custom built for the race. Each May, the 8-hour race covers 15 miles -- mostly on pavement, but the contest also includes a trip into the Chesapeake Bay. Awards are given for everything from the Speed Award to something called Sock Creature of the Universe. Don't ask, cuz I don't know.

If you can't get your Sculpture ready by April 21, that's okay: you can always spectate. Just make sure your costume is ready. Boring-looking crowds are, evidently, frowned upon.

Related:

• Some fantastic panos of Kinetinauts and their creations
  
• Flickr photos tagged "kineticsculpturerace"
• Videos!
• The Washington Post's take on the event
• Global Kinetic Sculpture Racing, with links to KSRs all over the world.