Ravens Paint the Town Purple

Headed into the for a low-key civil ceremony, a Rosedale couple ended up with not a white wedding, but a black and purple one.

Robert Reid and Brenda Pulliam arrived at the courthouse shortly after noon on Tuesday armed with a wedding license and a bouquet and ready to say their vows in front of a judge later that afternoon. They were detoured by the sight of Baltimore Ravens ground crews, who were putting the finishing touches on a large team logo in Patriot Plaza.

"We had to stop for this, to get photos and videos and all that good stuff," Pulliam said.

The logo is one of four the team's ground crew is painting in the Baltimore area, including War Memorial Plaza and Federal Hill in Baltimore City and on route 140 in Westminster, as the Ravens prepare to face the Houston Texans on Sunday in the AFC divisional playoffs.

Ravens cheerleaders, mascot Poe and even Rise, the real raven, were on hand for the impromptu lunch-hour pep rally that attracted passers-by and county employees. Some even brought a banner, and many came dressed in Ravens purple.

"I put this (banner) on my porch and I have a flag every year," said Diane Schuch of Hillendale. She and coworker Karan Fox of the county's human resources office were the first to arrive, carrying the large black Ravens banner.

"It drives all of us in the front office and the players, especially, to get excited and get into the spirit of the playoffs," Megan Collins, the Ravens' manager of events and entertainment, said of the fan support.

A group of Landsdowne High School students capped a tour of the circuit court and the 911 center with autographs from Ravens cheerleaders and high-fives from Poe.

"Some of the kids are getting pictures with the cheerleaders here," said social studies teacher John Briggs. "It's good stuff."

Crystal Parker came down from Belcamp with daughter Jami Edgar and grandson Joey Edgar, 4. Joey even got to meet the Ravens cheerleaders. Though Parker and her family will be watching from home barring a miraculous contest win, she felt she had to come out to Towson and support the team.

"They've done so well this year, getting into the postseason, and we're looking forward to the Super Bowl," Parker said. "I just hope they win."