The city's much debated new once-per-week trash collection schedule starts tomorrow. Recyclables also will be collected weekly, again, starting tomorrow.

Remember, your trash must be in a trash can - you can get fined for leaving just a bag out. Recyclable materials will be collected in the same place as your trash (so if your trash is picked up in a rear alley, that's where your recyclables now will be collected too - this is a change). Also, recyclables can be put out in any container.

The city has a nifty little device on its Web site for residents to determine their trash and recycling days. Enter your address in the box on the upper right hand corner, then click the "Locate" button. Your new trash and recycling schedule will appear in the middle of the right-hand column.

I have a feeling lots of people will be taking it easy this weekend after going all out on July 4, but there still are some interesting things to do.

Friday

• Gallery talk and reception at Maryland Art Place for the opening of Convergence 09 - Work by recent graduates of the Maryland Institute College of Art, University of Maryland, Towson University and UMBC is on display. Talk begins at 6 p.m., reception at 7 at the Power Plant Live! gallery.
• BSO performs Psycho - The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs music from the classic Alfred Hitchcock thriller Psycho while the film is projected above the stage. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Meyerhoff, tickets start at $25 and are available online.

Saturday

• Caribbean Carnival Festival - Food, sound, and dance from the Caribbean takes over Druid Hill Park. Saturday and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.

Sunday

• Orioles vs Blue Jays - Your last chance to catch the Birds at Camden Yards before the All-Star break. First pitch at 1:35 p.m., tickets are available online.

The Orioles have become the first team in Major League Baseball to feature a 3D tour of their stadium on their Web site.

Is this a development that will lead to more victories on the field? Of course not, but the bottom line is this: it's pretty cool.

The tour was created by Harris Corp., a Florida-based company that uses high-fidelity videos based on ground, aerial and satellite imagery to create the applications, according to a story in the Orlando Sentinel. The company has created "virtual tours" of Washington, D.C., the Presidential Inauguration Parade route, the National Memorial Day Parade route, Arlington National Cemetery, and the U.S. Marine Corps Marathon route. But Camden Yards is its first ballpark.

Even if you've been to Oriole Park a million times, check out the simulation. Call it a 21st century virtual version of Orioles magic.

A photo of Camden Yards in boring old 2D. (Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

I was struck by this recent news: Baltimore is losing Baltimoreans.

Urban flight has been a constant in most major to medium-sized American cities for decades. After years of losing residents, Baltimore's population actually increased in 2006, a development that was much hailed by political and business leaders. However, that growth now appears to have been an aberration.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that the city lost 3,231 people during the year that ended July 1, 2008. The business of counting people is hardly an exact science - the bureau's number is an estimate calculated using data from the 2000 census and taking into account births, deaths and immigration. The most recent census figures put Baltimore's population at 636,919.

This is important news for a number of reasons, the most notable being that the amount of money the city receives from many federal programs is based on its population. The fewer people, the fewer dollars Baltimore gets from Uncle Sam.

There are probably many reasons that account for the decline, but I'd like to hear your thoughts. Why does Baltimore's population continue to shrink, and what can city leaders do to stop the exodus?

This week's Weekend Roundup consists of just one entry. It's the Fourth of July.

Lots of folks are out of town, but if you're staying in Baltimore this holiday weekend, I'm guessing you'll be checking out the city's fireworks. Here's the lowdown on all the events happening around the harbor on Saturday.

I hope everyone has a fun - and safe - July 4. Happy 233rd birthday America!

Photo by Emily Eaves

Good morning, welcome to 2009: Part II.

With half the year in the books, I thought I'd take a quick look at some of the things I'm most looking forward to over the next six months. These are just a few events off the top of my head - I'd love to hear what you're anticipating in Baltimore during the tail end of 2009.

• Artscape - July 17-19 - I've lived in Baltimore since 2000, and every year it seems Artscape gets bigger and better. The weather is really the only variable, but I've enjoyed myself there even during downpours and blazing hot 100-degree afternoons. This year I'm really looking forward to my usual samosas from the food court and hearing steel pedal guitar player Robert Randolph and the Family Band.
• Ravens vs Chiefs, M&T Bank Stadium - Sept. 13 - The Ravens 2009 season kicks off at home. It will be interesting to see if the sophomore slump hits coach John Harbaugh and quarterback Joe Flacco, or whether they can improve of last year's incredible showing and take the Ravens all the way to the Super Bowl.
• Fells Point Fun Festival - Oct. 3-4 - Like Artscape, Fells Point Fest seems to grow every year. Food, bands, shopping, and of course, the beer tent make this a Baltimore tradition not to be missed.

Photo: Will Joe Flacco avoid the sophomore jinx? (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images Sport)

At the beginning of May, city officials launched a free water taxi service in the Inner Harbor.

Boats run every 15 minutes from the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Museum in Fells Point to Tide Point in Locust Point.

City officials are hoping that the service alleviates automobile traffic downtown and proves convenient for area residents. It operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.

I haven't had a chance to use the free water taxi yet, so I'd love to hear from any of you who have. Is it running smoothly/on-time? Has it proven to be convenient for you? The commercial water taxi services always have struck me as a bit touristy (not that there's anything wrong with that), so I am a bit intrigued by this city project.

The Maya 300, a new electric car that runs on a lithium-ion battery that can be charged with any household outlet, was unveiled this week at the Maryland Science Center. The car is made by Electrovaya Inc.

It has a top speed of 35 mph, but it produces zero emissions and gets 120 miles per charge. Intrigued? You can take this green gem for a test drive now through July 31 just by purchasing a regular admission ticket to the science center.

Soon the science center plans to rent its 10 altcars to the public for $14.95 an hour, and it plans to start a green-car sharing network in which members will be able to rent a car for $7.50 an hour. To register call 410-528-0150 or visit the altcar sharing networks' Web site.

It's supposed to be a beautiful weekend weather-wise, and there are plenty of great outdoor activities around town.

Saturday

• The Early History of Baseball - Sports Legends at Camden Yards hosts baseball historian Richard D'Ambrisi at 1 p.m. for a discussion on the early history of baseball and the evolution of the game. The program is free with paid admission to the museum. If you're interested in the real thing, the Orioles take on their I-95 rivals, the Washington Nationals, at 7 at Camden Yards.
• City Sand - Groups of local architects and design firms will create intricate sand sculptures revolving around this year's theme, Edgar Allan Poe. There will be live bands to provide entertainment, and children will have the opportunity to make their own sand creations. Harborplace amphitheater, beginning at noon.
• LatinoFest 2009 - This annual celebration of all things Latino kicks off Saturday at noon at Patterson Park, and continues through Sunday. Two stages of entertainment, food, and arts and crafts are on the docket. Admission is $5 for adults, free for children under 12.

Sunday

• Herman Maril exhibit opens at the Walters Art Museum - An exhibit commemorating the 100th birthday of Maryland painted Herman Maril opens at the Mt. Vernon museum. The exhibit runs through Aug. 30.
• Federal Hill Jazz and Blues Festival - Beginning at 11 a.m. on Cross Street, a great lineup of musicians including Lafayette Gilchrist fill the 'Hill with the sounds of the blues. Admission is free, and food and drink will be available.

File this under "Things Not Likely To Happen Again."

The Virgin Mobile Festival has been moved from Pimlico Race Course to Merriweather Post Pavilion, and the price of a ticket has been drastically reduced from a lot to absolutely nothing. The Aug. 30 festival is free this year.

"In a time of economic challenges and daily sacrifices, we wanted to throw a fantastic party so people could let loose and have a great time - on us," said Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, said in a statement.

Well here's to you Richard. Tickets will be distributed beginning tomorrow through Ticketmaster. Virgin Mobile customers and people have have gone to previous Virgin festivals will get first crack at the free tickets, which will have no service fees either. A little icing on the cake: Parking will be free as well.

Headlining this year's lineup are Weezer, Blink-182 and Public Enemy. They'll certainly be worth the price of admission.

Photo: Thanks Richard! (Jamie McCarthy/WireImage)