What do Jen Royle, Duff Goldman and Mike Brenner Have in Common?

We've covered everything from shamans to smart textiles. But stories on startups, design and restaurants were clicked the most, according to statistics culled from Google Analytics.

Stories about local celebrities, like TV star and baker extraordinaire Duff Goldman or controversial sports reporter Jen Royle, were also popular. Articles that profiled people who are addressing Baltimore's problems, like abandoned buildings, made the top 10 list.

Which stories will make the cut in 2012? Should we write more of the same or tackle new topics? Let me know at [email protected].

Startup City Poised to Turn Baltimore Into an Entrepreneurial Hub
Amy Dusto took a look at Mike Subelsky and Monica Beeman’s summer workshop to kick-start entrepreneurship in Baltimore. It was by far the most read story this year.

Jen Royle’s Year in the Life of Baltimore
Former Bmore Managing Editor Neal Shaffer’s story on Jen Royle continues to rank high on our monthly list of top-read feature stories, though it was published nearly 10 months ago. Maybe Jen will beat out Mike and Monica in time -- even though she is returning to her Boston hometown at the end of the football season.

Post-Ace of Cakes, Charm City Cakes is Up to Plenty
There were plenty of stories about Duff Goldman throughout Baltimore and the country as Goldman moved on to new TV and business ventures. But readers can’t get enough of the baker and gobbled up this story by Amy Dusto.

Innovative Chefs Look to Broaden Charm City’s Palate
Renee Libby Beck drew readers’ appetite for tapas and gastro pubs with this look at area chefs’ creative culinary skills. One of these featured restaurants, Centro, recently shut down.

Making Dead Buildings Live: the Steady Baltimore Museum Project
Who knew that a story on boarded-up buildings would be so popular? Bmore Publisher Sam Hopkins profiled an artists’ collective that is restoring rowhomes on Greenmount Avenue.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
Yeah, I kinda had fun writing this story that meant savoring an extraordinary nine-course meal – that cost $25. My New Year's resolution is to attend another supper club, just for fun.

Drafting the Future of Education at Baltimore Design School
Dan Collins profiled a new public school that focuses on fashion, architecture and graphic design.

MICA Students and Faculty Team Up to Explore Baltimore: Open City
The Maryland Institute College of Art hosted an exhibit and lecture series examining whether Baltimore residents feel like they belong or whether racial strife, economic and other struggles get in the way. We wonder if some readers attended the exhibit after reading Staci Wolfson’s story.

Passion for Food: Baltimore Food Co-Op Opens Its Doors
So I mentioned readers like stories about food, right? Here’s one by Cassie Paton on a Remington co-op.

Startup Scene: Meet Mike Brenner, Baltimore Entrepreneur
He didn’t quite make it up with the likes of Duff Goldman or Jen Royle. But tech entrepreneur held his own in this feature by Staci Wolfson, which rounds out our top 10 feature list.

Photos by Arianne Teeple. Homepage image by Sam Holden

- Monica Beeman and Mike Subelsky with Startup City
- Jen Royle
- Charm City Cakes
- Centro Tapas Bar
- Steady Baltimore founder Adrian Akerman and art director Stefan Hauswald
- Asya Ollis
- Kate Morrill and Mary-Ann Pinkard
- Artist and Co-curators Amelia Szpiech, Matt Lohry and Carey Chiaia
- Korri Jackson, Cheryl Wade and John Segal
- Mike Brenner