charm city confidential

A much-overdue update

2012-01-03T19:06:00.005-05:00

I’ve been living in the area for over five years now, and Baltimore has never ceased to amaze me with its ample opportunities. In fact, it’s sometimes overwhelming to keep track of everything that happens around this town! Although the winter is traditionally a slow time of year—it seems like many Baltimoreans go into hibernation mode in January and February—I am confident there will be plenty to do in the coming weeks.

A little personal update for you: I can’t believe it has been such an incredibly long period—fourteen months—since I last updated this, but I plan to make it a monthly ritual. In that past year I’ve tried to keep up with both familiar (Monument Lighting, Art Scape, the State Fair, Great Halloween Lantern Parade, afternoons in Druid Hill Park, etc.) and new events as well as go on lots of day trips throughout the Mid-Atlantic. In addition, I’ve also gone through some job changes, had seemingly endless car troubles, traveled out of state a few times, started going to the gym, learned to sew, saw several friends move away, and most recently, got engaged! It’s been a very busy year and at this point it seems like life is just going to get busier, but I’m going to make a concerted effort to maintain this blog.

My old neighborhood, Remington

Druid Hill Park after Hurricane Irene

The Rotunda at the B & O Railroad Museum

A few new Baltimore discoveries to share:
• Charm City Circulator: the new city shuttle bus is great. Sure, it doesn’t go everywhere and it rarely comes every ten minutes as promised, but it is a FREE and usually quiet, clean and friendly ride. I take the Purple Line up and down the Charles-St. Paul street corridor a few times a week and am so thankful for this great city service. If you haven’t rode the Circulator yet, it’s certainly worth a try.
• Baltimore Heritage: This nonprofit heritage and preservation organization organizes an amazing variety of work in the city, ranging from behind-the-scenes tours of historic landmarks to Young Preservationist Happy Hours, lectures, neighborhood advocacy, awards and stimulating social media. I joined about 85 preservationists, planners, historians, archivists and other individuals at the Bmore Historic “unconference” in December and was floored to meet so many wonderful folks dedicated to promoting, preserving and learning more about Baltimore’s history. I would say Baltimore’s history is one of its best assets and it has been an absolute pleasure to learn more about it through Baltimore Heritage!

Lovely Lane United Methodist Church

• History Museums: I’ve also been soaking up Baltimore history through its great museums lately. For a few months I worked as an Educational Interpreter at the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, the historic house where, in 1813, an independent woman named Mary Pickersgill sewed the 15-star, 15-stripe, 30x42’ American flag that flew at Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write what would become our national anthem. The Flag House is located in a great spot on Pratt Street in Little Italy and is definitely worth a visit—the War of 1812 is a fascinating part of American history. If you haven’t already caught wind of the War of 1812 bicentennial that kicks off this spring, check out the cool Star-Spangled 200 website to learn more about the commemorations that will be taking place. I would highly recommend a trip to Fort McHenry for anyone—locals, visitors, even international tourists—because of its unique history (it played an important role not only in the War of 1812 but the Civil War and even World War I as well), beautiful grounds (great view of the harbor) and facilities (the brand-new Visitor’s Center is extremely high-tech) and knowledgeable staff. Other (not necessarily War of 1812-related) museums I’d recommend are the B&O Railroad Museum and the Museum of Industry.

Civil War weekend at Fort McHenry

• Center Stage: My fiancé Tim started working at the state theater of Maryland, Center Stage, almost a year ago and we’ve been lucky enough to see most of their shows since then. The scale of the theater really surprised me at first—it seems so unusual for theaters to have such a comprehensive staff of professional costume makers, prop managers, audio technicians, set builders, etc—but it certainly proves that it is a heavyweight in the East Coast theatre scene. I have never been a die-hard theatre fan but I’ve really enjoyed learning more about it through the shows they have produced in the past year.
• Liam Flynn’s Ale House: Tim has also been involved in a new soccer pub in town, Liam Flynn’s in the old North Avenue market in Station North (by Baltimore: Open City and the Wind-Up Space). If you are a fan of English Premier League soccer, Liam’s is a no-brainer. We usually go on weekend mornings to catch the games, but I’m sure it’s a lovely hangout spot at night too.
• Barry Levinson: The Baltimore-born and raised filmmaker celebrated the 30th anniversary of his classic Diner with a special screening and Q&A at Hopkins in December. The screening has inspired me to revisit some of his other somewhat autobiographical films that take place in Baltimore: Avalon, Tin Men and Liberty Heights. His work is truly poignant and although the settings are somewhat specific to Charm City, his characters appeal to a vast audience.

And a few upcoming day trips that I am super excited about:
• Paper Americana Show (Cecil County): The Singerly Fire Company of Elkton will host this vintage paper goods (think maps, prints, books, postcards, etc.) extravaganza on Saturday, January 28 from 10:00-4:00. We went last year and had such a wonderful time picking through this treasure trove of cool old collectibles.
• National Outdoor Show (Dorchester County): The 67th annual National Outdoor Show will take place in Golden Hill on February 24 & 25. Although the festival includes a variety of activities, its main attraction is the world championship muskrat skinning competition. I’ve been meaning to check out this Eastern Shore tradition since watching the film “Muskrat Lovely” at the Chesapeake Folk Festival—which introduces the teenagers who compete in the Miss Outdoors beauty pageant while learning to hunt, trap, skin, fish, etc.

Have a great January, Baltimore!

2010-09-06T09:36:00.003-04:00

My apologies for not writing much this summer—I have no excuse now that I’m no longer in school—but please enjoy reading about Baltimore this fall. The 60 degree breeze blowing right now feels downright cold after so many months of humidity, but I love it!

First, a few notes about recent happenings:
• If you haven’t already been to the Maryland State Fair, go today—it closes tonight! I absolutely love that it attracts all different types of people from all over the state, and the 4H competitions are fascinating. Of course, fresh peach sundaes and baby animals (and Justin Bieber) are hugely popular as well. We took the Light Rail and enjoyed the day immensely.

• Have you ever heard of Apartment Therapy? It is a great interior design blog that features houses and apartments all over the US. Recently some friends of mine were featured on the site (thanks to the awesome Baltimore blogger, Virginia) for their amazing Charles Village home. Check it out!
• A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending an open house/demonstration at Gilah Press + Design, which is literally a five minute walk from my house, which was really interesting as I’d never seen the letterpress process before. This was just one part of the AIGA Baltimore letterpress series going on this fall—don’t miss the others!
• I am thrilled that my favorite local restaurant/bar, The Dizz, has opened a second location in Hampden! Their menu has remained pretty similar (besides the fact that it’s now typed instead of handwritten!) and their prices are still reasonable. However, the view from the Grandview (at 3838 Roland Avenue) is spectacular…and the average age of the patrons has been raised significantly as the new establishment is in a senior center. See a slideshow here.
• This weekend I made the trip down to Glen Burnie to shop at CRW Flags, definitely one of the only flag shops I’m familiar with. If you are looking for any kind of flag, or even flag-related paraphernalia such as stickers, clocks, mugs, shirts or windsocks, this is your place.

Events to look forward to in September and October:
• Saturday, September 11 is going to be jam-packed with all kinds of festivals and events. I personally am excited to attend RemFest/Community Health Fair in Remington, held 11-4 at the Church of the Guardian Angel, as well as the bigger HampdenFest on the Avenue—classic fun. If you’ll be on the east side, don’t miss the Ukrainian Festival and Flea Market in Patterson Park that weekend.
• September 11 is also Defender’s Day at Fort McHenry—where you can experience reenactments, fireworks, and live music at the historic fort on the harbor.
• Sunday, September 19 is the opening day of Between Fences, a traveling exhibit produced by the Smithsonian, at the Montpelier Mansion in Laurel. Also that weekend is the Maryland Wine Festival at the Carroll County Farm Museum in Westminster (which I’ve heard is amazing in itself). And finally, allso that weekend is the Appalachian Heritage Festival at Frostburg State University, which sounds like a lot of fun.
• The 15th annual Baltimore Book Festival takes Mount Vernon on September 24-26. The free event is always a lot of fun for bibliophiles. This year, visiting authors include Holly Robinson Peete, Rodney Peete, Barbara Bradley Hagerty, Nigel Barker, Ree Drummond, Michele Norris, Sherri Sheppard, Judge Glenda Hatchett, Jesse Ventura, Warrent St. John, Amy Dickinson ("Ask Amy") and Matt & Ted Lee.
• September 24-26 is also a big weekend elsewhere in the state. If you head west to the lovely little town of Cumberland, you can check out the C & O Canalfest/Railfest. Their website explains the festival as “three fun filled days of live music, fireworks, children's activities, train excursions, great food, original artwork, canal boat tours, Allegany County Sheriff's Office charity train pull to benefit Special Olympics, National Kidney Foundation charity bike ride, and much more!” On the other side of the state, the Chesapeake Film Festival will take place across the Eastern Shore that weekend.
• On September 30, from 7-9 pm, One Less Car and the Baltimore Department of Transportation/Bike Baltimore to host the National Association of City Transportation Officials Cities for Cycling (C4C) summit at the University of Baltimore. Their website says, “the Thursday evening forum will be interactive, educational, FREE, and open to the general public. It will include an array of bicycle infrastructure, advocacy initiatives and programs that have been successful in other cities with a Q&A session at the end.” One Less Car will also be hosting their Tour de Port bike ride around the harbor on Sunday October 3. Both should be wonderful!
• Internationally acclaimed primatologist and activist Jane Goodall will speak at Goucher College on Wednesday, October 13. Tickets are going fast but can be reserved online.
• One of my hands-down favorite festivals of all time is the Autumn Glory Festival in Garrett County, the westernmost stretch of Maryland that begins to feel a lot like West Virginia. It is held October 8-10 throughout the county, but the big Autumn Glory Parade is Saturday, October 9 in downtown Oakland. If you’re into farmer’s markets, religious puppet shows, authentic Amish whoopie pies, quilt and craft shows, clogging, camping in state parks, and banjo jamming, then you must check it out. The three-hour drive from Baltimore is lovely as the foliage is turning.
• Celebrate Druid Hill Park’s 150th Anniversary with a community/history/sports festival on Saturday, October 16. This park is such a gem—help Friends of Druid Hill honor it!
• The Great Halloween Lantern Parade, produced by the Creative Alliance and the Nana Projects each year in Patterson Park, will be a lot of fun on Saturday, October 30. And speaking of spooky fun, Remington’s Huntington Ave will become “Hauntingdon Avenue” on Halloween again this year.
• I am most looking forward to Free Fall Baltimore! The Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts does a fabulous job of putting together these free events and passes throughout the month of October. I can assure you there is something for everyone, so make sure to check out their website for all the details. I can’t wait to go to museums like the Baltimore Museum of Industry and AVAM on their free days (Sun Oct 3,10,17,24 & 31 11am - 4pm for BMI and October 24 for AVAM)! Below are lectures that really caught my eye:
o MARYLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY: Author Anne Draddy will discuss her work, Druid Hill Park: The Heart of Historic Baltimore, and Barry Kessler, former Director of the Baltimore City Life Museums, will speak on Jewish relations in Druid Hill Park. Thurs Oct 14 6:30 pm – 8pm, Maryland Historical Society – 201 W Monument Street
o BALTIMORE ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION: Internationally recognized African American architect Philip Freelon will speak on Sat Oct 16 6:30pm, Morgan State University Student Center Auditorium – 1200 Argonne Drive. Advance reservations are not required.
o BALTIMORE HERITAGE, INC.: Race and Place in Baltimore Neighborhoods. Join Baltimore Heritage for a series of walking tours through three Baltimore neighborhoods, Old West Baltimore, Greater Rosemont and Sharp Leadenhall, and a public lecture on race and place in Baltimore. Each tour was developed by a scholar with experience in Baltimore history working in collaboration with neighborhood organizations. The neighborhood walks and lecture aim to stimulate an informed discussion about historical experiences of residents and institutions in Baltimore’s historically segregated African American communities.
• Streetcar Suburbs to TOD at the West Baltimore MARC Station with Dr. Edward Orser. Meet at the West Baltimore MARC Station, Southwest corner of North Smallwood and West Franklin Streets, Sat Oct 16 10am - 12:30pm. Historic Sharp Leadenhall: Past, Present, and Future with Betty Bland-Thomas. Meet at Leadenhall Baptist Church, 1021 Leadenhall Street, Sat Oct 23 10am - 12:30pm

Mid-summer fun

2010-07-05T14:12:00.004-04:00

Happy Fourth of July weekend--and, since I haven't posted in a really long time, happy summer as well! I hope everyone’s had a chance to do some barbequing, swimming, or just relaxing this summer. Instead of heading to the Harbor for the Fourth this year, we tried to watch the fireworks from the Rotunda parking lot. I was terrified that the unsupervised small children lighting off fireworks in the parking lot were going to do some serious damage, but luckily everyone went home in one piece.

It’s supposed to heat back up to 100 this week. Don’t let the heat get the best of you or stand in the way of going to these upcoming festivities:

• Check out the Chautauqua living history lecture series, across the state July 5-15. The CCBC Catonsville site is the closest to Baltimore and features Frederick Law Olmsted, Thurgood Marshall and Sacagawea July 8-10
• I loved the free world music and crafts festival Salsapolkalooza at the Creative Alliance last year. This year don’t miss the family fun on July 10.
• The Native Berry Festival, also July 10, at Herring Run Park (northwest Baltimore) promises to be a good time with local food and drinks, live music and a lovely setting. I’ve never been to Herring Run so I look forward to exploring a new part of town!
•Caribbean Carnival at Druid Hill Park, July 9-11
• The Tuckahoe Steam Show on the Eastern Shore that weekend also sounds like it would be a great experience. Craft vendors, steam engine demonstrations, flea market…I do love a good festival!
• Baltimore American Indian Center’s Pow Wow at the State Fairgrounds in Timonium, July 17 & 18.
• ARTSCAPE takes place July 16-18! ArtScape is so incredibly huge, there is always plenty for everyone to enjoy. Although the crowds and heat can be overwhelming, this Baltimore tradition really is worth it. Cool down in the air-conditioned theatres by watching a music or dance performance, wander through the crowd of vendors, let your imagination run wild at the interactive and avant-garde Charles Street bridge installations (don’t miss the art cars), eat some greasy fried food or find the falafel, and do some of your own art!
• WhartScape, July 22-25. Venues TBA. Wham City’s music and arts festival is not my scene, personally, but certainly a hotbed of hipster culture and an experience to behold.
• This year’s water ballet by Fluid Movement is JASON and THE AQUANAUTS: 20,000 Legs Over The Sea. I hope to catch the Druid Hill Pool performances July 24-25 but the Patterson Park shows the following weekend should be delightful as well. I was skeptical about paying $10 the first time I went, but the whole production is so amazingly complex, it is worth it.
• If you’re in town on Sunday, August 1, stop by the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House for their neighborhood Ice Cream Social from 2-5 pm. I’ve never been to the Flag House but this would be a great opportunity to check it out.

Other recurring events that promise big fun:
• I honestly can’t keep track of all the farmer’s markets in this area, but these are always a lot of fun. Towson and Irvine Nature Center (Owings Mills) host big ones on Thursdays, Waverly’s is on Saturday, and of course the big downtown market takes place each Sunday.
• Swimming in the city’s municipal pools can be a refreshing way to cool off. I’m so happy they are able to stay open this summer (until 7:00 pm Monday-Saturday and 6:00 on Sunday)—despite threats to the Parks & Rec budget—because the Roosevelt Park Pool in Hampden is beyond awesome. I love it!
• Outdoor movies across the city. I’ve been to the Hopkins, Cross Keys and Wyman Park Dell series but have yet to check out the free outdoor movies at Little Italy, AVAM or Fells Point.
• If you haven’t already been to Taharka Bros. Ice Cream in Mount Washington, you must go!! Delicious flavors, generous servings at reasonable prices, awesome location (just off the light rail, next to Whole Foods), and wonderful mission. Check out their mobile cart and local festivals—but make a point to stop by their retail space some time.
• Pretty much every county in Maryland will be hosting a county fair this summer, so check each county’s department of commerce webpage for some smaller-scale local fun.
• First Thursday concerts at the monument in Mount Vernon
• First Fridays on the Avenue in Hampden—a classic
• Rent a paddleboat or canoe for $9/hr at Centennial Park in Howard County.
• Go on a day trip to Gettysburg! So awesome that this historic battleground is just over an hour from Baltimore.

2010-05-08T00:10:00.002-04:00

I hope everyone has been out enjoying the lovely springtime weather which graces the Mid-Atlantic this time of year. It has been just perfect for a bike ride on the Jones Falls Trail, a walk around Druid Hill, or a backyard BBQ! Love that.

Unfortunately I missed out on the Sheep & Wool Festival last weekend but caught the Kinetic Sculpture Race as well as a day trip to Emmitsburg. The latter is a small town in Frederick County, only about 15 minutes from Gettysburg (PA). A lovely place if you are ever out that way. I’m also happy that the downtown Farmer’s Market has begun for the season! Make sure to check that out on Sunday morning until noon.

Of course, there are a smattering of goings-on taking place in the next few weeks, including:
• Maryland Film Festival this weekend
• Also this weekend, the 93rd annual Flower Mart at the Monument. I went today on my lunch break and bought myself some Taharka Bros ice cream...yum!
• Open House at the Danish Embassy in DC on Saturday, May 8, featuring the theme of Danish architecture.
• Also Saturday, May 8 is From Mountains to Maryland: The Appalachian Out-migration to Baltimore, at the Creative Alliance. Part of their Urban/Appalachia project.
• Mother’s Day, of course, is this Sunday…don’t forget to send some flowers, make a card or call your mom!
• The Preakness Parade and Race, a long-standing Maryland tradition, on May 15
• The opportunity to see Baltimore’s unique folk art with the leading authority on the subject will take place at the Painted Screens Pilgrimage, also on May 15. Read more below!

I want to share a bit about the activities of Maryland Traditions, a program that celebrates the folk and traditional arts of our fine state. Staffed by the talented folklorists Elaine Eff and Cliff Murphy at the Maryland State Arts Council, they offer a master and apprenticeship program in traditional arts each year as well as a variety of individual events, meetings and smaller programs. They study and sustain the many traditions that make Baltimore—and all of Maryland—the quirky, charming, colorful place it is.

I plan on attending Cliff’s From Mountains to Maryland: The Appalachian Out-migration to Baltimore event this weekend and am really interested in the CA’s Urban/Appalachia project. According to their website, Urban/Appalachia “unearths stories and songs of decades of migration between Baltimore and Appalachia, and unveils new collaborations across seemingly oppositional cultures.”

And a bit more about Elaine’s Painted Screen Pilgrimage on May 15. Although $35 sounds steep for those of us without a lot of disposable income, this is really going to be a fantastic opportunity to get up close and personal with the foremost expert on Southeast Baltimore’s famous folk art form of painted window screens. After a continental breakfast and film screening, a bus will take tour goers from Little Bohemia to Fells Point. The tour begins and ends at The Patterson (Highlandtown). Enjoy!!

The annual Maryland Traditions Gathering & Showcase is another big event to look out for, coming up on June 10 at the Creative Alliance. More details to follow, but mark it on your calendars now!

One final note: I stumbled upon this wonderful cut-out map of Baltimore on etsy the other day…how beautiful is it?

SPRINGTIME events!!

2010-04-13T13:02:00.004-04:00

As per usual, Baltimore has almost too many awesome things to do this spring! A few I’m looking forward to:

• Free lectures at the Village Learning Place. This Thursday, April 15: the Star-Spangled Banner and music in Baltimore around 1812, by David Hildebrand.
• The CityLit Festival at Enoch Pratt’s downtown branch, this Saturday April 17. Including the Letters About Literature awards and authors like Elizabeth Kostova.
• 7th Annual Baltimore Green Week, April 17-24. Featuring EcoFest at Druid Hill Park, 12-6 p.m. [Who doesn’t love Druid Hill this time of year?! So gorgeous!]
• The Local DanceMakers series sponsored by the Effervescent Collective. At Load of Fun on North Ave on April 17, 24 and May 1. If you missed their playful live action version of Dirty Dancing at the Annex last month, make sure you check this out. These young Goucher grads are making an impression on the Baltimore dance scene already.
• Gwen Ifill at Goucher on Tuesday, April 20. Tickets are free but must be reserved.
• The Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival at Howard County Fairgrounds, May 1 & 2. I don’t even knit but can’t wait to check it out!
• Of course, the Kinetic Sculpture Race on May 1. Sponsored by the American Visionary Art Museum, this quirky parade of larger-than-life mobile sculptures is ridiculous and wonderful. I like to catch them as they go through Patterson Park, although they make their way through most of town!
• Sitting the park (any park, but especially Wyman Park, Druid Hill, or Sherwood Gardens) and enjoying the sunshine, and checking out the new cafe in Remington (inside Miller's Court on 25th and Howard) called Charmington's.

What are you doing this spring?

Also, has anyone ever been to Baltimore Clayworks in Mount Washington? I went there the other day and I must say, it was totally worth the $3 suggested donation for an awesome exhibit by local artists—plus an excuse to get some Taharka Bros ice cream down the street!! Clayworks is doing great things for our fair city.

Springtime in Baltimore!?

2010-03-05T10:27:00.003-05:00

With a hint of spring in the air, we find ourselves in early March! Here are some exhibits and events coming up, but I think if it's nice out this weekend I might just plop myself down in a park and try to enjoy the sunshine instead!

-Tonight: dreamy Norwegian crooner Sondre Lerche will be at DC's Rock and Roll Hotel. I would love to go if tickets weren't $20/each!
-Don't miss the County Mountain Blues concert on Wednesday, March 10 at the Village Learning Place.
-This Sunday, March 7, there will be a volunteer clean-up event in Remington! If you're looking to do some good in a local neighborhood, join the crew of Hopkins volunteers and residents at Kromer Hall (27th and Huntingdon) at 9:30 am.
-On March 18 is another Baltimore History Evening at the Village Learning Place in Charles Village, this time featuring Wayne Schaumburg talking about the Great Baltimore Fire. Free and awesome!
-The Romare Bearden exhibit at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum--"From Process to Print: Graphic Works by Romare Bearden"--sounds awesome. It runs January 16 – March 28. I've still never been to this museum but I've heard great things! I love Romare Bearden's bright, playful work.
-The Cezanne and American Modernism exhibit at the BMA promises to be a good one too! Up until May 23. If you're a big Cezanne fan check out this Sunday's free lecture called Cézanne: A Beacon of Modernity. March 7, 3–4 p.m.
-If you're a history buff or just want to do a great thing for students in Maryland, volunteer to judge at Maryland History Day! The national history research contest for middle and high schoolers will be taking place on Saturday, April 24th at UMBC. We are looking for Humanities scholars, teachers, librarians, museum professionals, history buffs and other experts to judge and anyone to volunteer. Judges review projects, interview student contestants, determine the winners, and provide written, constructive feedback. If you're interested, sign up online: http://md.nhd.org/ud/templates/register.php.

In other news:
"One Maryland/One Book" is a program of the Maryland Humanities Council that seeks to get all Marylanders to read the same book at the same time! The 2010 book was just selected--pick up your copy of "Outcasts United" by Warren St. John today!

Also, if you haven't heard about the proposed Wal-Mart to sit atop the Lowe's development in lower Remington (dubbed "25th Street Station"), read all about it.

blizzard of 2010

2010-02-07T23:01:00.004-05:00

i hope everyone is safe and sound after this weekend's blizzard. here are a few shots to capture the craziness:

a video by 3sonsproductions via b'more connected:

Snowpocalypse in Baltimore (Timelapse) from Yianni Mathioudakis on Vimeo.

Well, we knew the storm was coming, and it sure did come. A total of 25 inches of snowfall in Baltimore. This time-lapse video started on Friday, 3:38pm (2/4/2010) and ended on Saturday, 5:30pm (2/5/2010). The street is S. Bouldin in Canton.

Camera: Nikon D90
Music: Shapes of My Heart by 3 Sons Productions
http://soundcloud.com/3sonsproductions/shapes-of-my-heart

www.3sonsproductions.com

some shots from around remington (which i haven't left since thursday):

Baltimore this winter

2010-02-03T21:50:00.005-05:00

Happy 2010!

I apologize for the extremely long hiatus-- I finally wrapped up my undergraduate career at Goucher and was swamped in reading and writing last semester. I'll begin again with a brief list of things I've been enjoying this winter:

-The snow! What's with all the snow we've been getting this winter? I totally enjoyed the blizzard that hit in December, but only because I finally made it home for the holidays without too many problems. If I really had to be somewhere in a hurry, I'm sure I would have found it frustrating!

-Tumblr: this graphic-based blogging portal is awesome. I get sucked in and spend a lot of time online. The huge number of talented artists, photographers, graphic designers and other bloggers is certainly impressive! I have also been working on putting together a portfolio of my photography. You can check it out here.
-Job search: I've spent the past few months looking for a post-graduation job in Baltimore. Although I can't say I've necessarily been enjoying the search, I am happy to report that I have finally secured a place for myself in the real world by piecing together several part-time jobs: Visitor Services at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore (located in historic Druid Hill Park), serving as a Program Assistant the Maryland Humanities Council (a lovely organization promoting the study of humanities, located between the Maryland Historical Society and the Walters Art Gallery), and in the Office of Student Engagement at Goucher. If you are currently looking for a job (or will be soon), check out the Central Maryland Career Fair at Towson University on February 19.
-Grano pasta bar's new reservation only location seems ultra-fancy and out of my price range. Their pocket-sized location on the Avenue, however, is adorable, cozy and much more my speed.
Holidays in Hampden: It feels cliche, but Hampden is so charming at Christmastime!! I loved shopping (or just window shopping) at the simply lovely (and unfortunately quite expensive) home store Red Tree, munching on raspberry cookies and heavenly coffee at Common Ground, and seeing the lights on 34th street.

-Walking around previously unknown (to me) neighborhoods, including the Stone Hill Historic District--tucked between Remington and Hampden on the Jones Falls (including the awesome Mill Center on Chestnut Avenue)-- plus vacant areas on the East and West sides (near Carroll Park in SoWeBo, Collington Square/American Brewery, etc.). Good photo ops, better way to know my city!

-Neighborhood involvement: GRIA, the neighborhood association in Remington, is an awesome collection of individuals who genuinely care about the future of this area. We''ve been working on a master plan/vision with the Neighborhood Design Center and have recently been busy discussing the proposed Lowe's development in Lower Remington. I still have mixed feelings about the big box retailer moving into this residential area, but it's been awesome to talk it over with other residents. I also took advantage of Greater Homewood's Neighborhood Instititute and want to get involved in Envision Baltimore, which informs and promotes transportation and other issues through multimedia like videos (modeled after Street Films).
-The Collegetown Shuttle: After many long mornings waiting for the MTA bus, I can't get over how nice it is to have access to free, efficient transportation! The morning driver, Chip, is beyond awesome. I am really looking forward to trying out the Charm City Circulator as well!
-Walters and BMA: I am still impressed that these two institutions are free! So awesome!
-Urbanite: This month's issue on race features two goucher grads on the cover!
-Hulu.com: I'm working my way through their (free!) movies.

Things I am looking forward to:
-The Vancouver 2010 Olympics start February 12! I can't wait!! *If anyone has an extra TV that I could borrow to watch the Olympics, let me know!
-Architectural Confectionary Contest at the Museum of Industry on February 13. Not quite sure what this is but it sounds intriguing. The museum is totally worth going to regardless of the contest.
-Life & Liberty Ball at AVAM, also Feb. 13. (This one costs $ so I probably won't make it...but it sounds great!)
-Cabin Fever Festival in Frederick, Feb. 13 & 14.
-American Craft Council show in Baltimore, Feb. 25-8. (I'll be working at it!)
-National Outdoor Show: Come see the world muskrat skinning competition and Miss Outdoors beauty pageant at this annual Dorchester County showcase. (Eastern Shore) Topic of the documentary, Muskrat Lovely. Feb. 26-7. This is sure to be ridiculous!
-Spring!
-The opening of Charmington's, a cafe in Miller's Court-- not too far from us! I think the coffeeshop will be such a nice addition to the neighborhood!
-A new mayor? Today is Sheila D's last day...

books and pastries

2009-09-24T18:37:00.003-04:00

the highlight of last weekend for me was going to hoehn's bakery in highlandtown and enjoying some of their fatteningly delicious pastries (i tried a marshmallow-filled, chocolate-covered donut for 70 cents!!) in patterson park (where we randomly stumbled upon a great flea market, which was also just fantastic). hoehn's is a family-owned bakery that has been in operation in highlandtown since 1927. definitely a must-see for the sweet teeth of baltimore!!

so...coming up this weekend (september 26-27) is the great baltimore book festival. whether hearing authors, buying books or people-watching, you're in for a good time! there's also the greater lauraville fair in heinz park. i'd like to go because i am not at all familiar with this area. the fair features food, drinks, kids stuff and live music.

coming next weekend (october 2-3) is grundlehammer, a premiere of the baltimore rock opera society. the minds behind this-- some of whom went to goucher!-- have been working on it for years. should be really absurd and terrific!

also coming up in october (7-11) is the autumn glory festival. it will be the 42nd annual of everything harvest in western maryland. i went last year and was beside myself with all the craziness. besides the memorable gospel puppet show, the tri-state parade, a living history tour of the county court house, a glass blowing exhibit, a quilt show, farmer's market, history museum and clogging performance, i got a sense of the area by camping in the gorgeous deep creek state park. i was so impressed with what western maryland had to offer-- the foliage was gorgeous, the people were so friendly, and there was a hugely different pace of life. the four-hour drive was long but pretty, and a stop in the oddly empty town of cumberland was great. i would really, really recommend making a trip to see autumn glory!! if that's not possible, however, you can check the state's foliage hotline to find out the scoop on fall's most interesting feature (i LOVE the fact that the state has this): 1-800-LEAVES-1.

planning ahead to the end of october-- i am really looking forward to the 10th annual great halloween lantern parade in patterson park!! a wonderful collaboration between the nana projects, the creative alliance and the communities of highlandtown, it is a mighty sight to behold. you can build your own lantern at workshops throughout the month and then walk in the parade, or just come to take in this otherworldly spectacle. it takes place on oct. 28, the same night as "thrill the world." thrill the world is a global michael jackson tribute that aims to break the world record for largest number of people doing the same dance. baltimore's will take place at 8:30 pm at harborplace.

also, don't forget about $1 orioles tickets. you have to buy them online and thus accrue some service charges, but all in all a night at camden yards is worth the $4!!

will cozy fall nights ever come to this humid place?

august 20-23

2009-08-20T20:07:00.003-04:00

if you do not have weekend plans, you're in luck. maryland is bursting with stuff to do this weekend. among others, check out:
-the "golden westival": music festival at the golden west cafe in hampden. many of the staffers are musicians, and despite the $8 charge per night and high probability that pretentious attitudes will run amok, it could be cool. i am a fan of jana hunter, who is playing tonight at 10!
-the inaugural inner harbor arts festival. although the inner harbor is not known for its authentic arts scene, this is an interesting collaboration between the city and a nonprofit called maryland art place. definitely worth checking out considering it is free and conveniently located...
-augustoberfest in hagerstown. the bad news is that hagerstown is 1.5 hours away. the good news is that it is a pretty drive, and they are throwing their 14th annual festival and fundraiser to send students to their sister city in germany. sounds like a riot!
-there's also latinofest going on in a park in dundalk. may be a bit of a drive for some of us but sounds exciting as well!

antiques and fall festival preview

2009-08-12T15:36:00.004-04:00

last saturday i went swing dancing at the odd but cool dickeyville mill. dickeyville is a quiet, historic enclave within gwynns falls park, in west baltimore. to get there you turn off forest park ave into a densely wooded village, then follow the one main road to an old mill-- all quite out-of-the-ordinary for baltimore! once inside, however, it is awesome. the building looks like it was recently renovated and makes a gorgeous hall for dancing. at first i thought $12 might be a bit steep for the evening, but for an class and social dance, accompanied by live music, it was definitely worth it. i'd recommend checking out chileswing (link above) for classes or social dancing if you're interested or experienced!

i also made it to the fells point antique market last weekend, a monthly venture that occurs on the second sunday in each of the warm months. put on by the fells point preservation society, the entire plaza just south of broadway market was bustling with vendors and their wares. the next (and last, for 2009) markets are september 14 and october 12-- hopefully those won't be as stiflingly hot as last sunday! the heat did lead me to a fabulous coffee shop, however, called latte da. their iced coffee is made with coffee ice cubes (ingenious!) and their cupcakes might be the best i've ever had.

speaking of antiques, the baltimore summer antiques show is coming up september 3-6 at the downtown convention center. i haven't been, but i sounds fascinating! it is an international spectacle in its 29th year-- clearly, a big deal for some folks.

this fall will be greeting us with a variety of interesting events and spectacles, as per usual. it seems like september will be especially busy, with the korean festival, hampdenfest, and the ukrainian festival all taking place on september 12. the book festival hit mount vernon on september 25&26. in october we've got the poe funeral on october 10 (not quite sure what this yet) and the russian festival on october 16-18. although it's still a ways in the future, don't forget about free fall baltimore! the month-long program through the baltimore office of promotion and the arts promotes area institutions and events with free or discounted passes. definitely worth checking out!

in the mean time, catch an orioles game (fireworks coming up on august 14!), have a snoball, and try to find some place with air conditioning!

arts/festivals/august

2009-07-25T22:05:00.003-04:00

first of all, what is with all these insane thunderstorms lately? they make it hard to be outdoors and frankly, they scare me with their intensity!

i hope everyone had a great artscape!! i was shocked at how crowded it was, but it could have been more unpleasant if the humidity had acted up. it is really inspiring to see so many people out and about for the arts-- but it sure is tiring to be stuck in a crowd the whole weekend. i tried to watch cake but ended up having a much better time at the side stage listening to noble lake, a cool local folk-y duo. speaking of local folk-y musicians, there's going to be a great concert at golden west cafe in hampden tomorrow night: paul mason and caleb stine. i'd recommend it!! oh, and speaking of upcoming shows, providence-based folk group the low anthem will be playing at the ottobar on august 15-- should be good!

today i went to the chesapeake folk festival at the chesapeake bay maritime museum in saint michael's, on the eastern shore. although being caught in traffic for a few hours dampened spirits, it was a really awesome day. if you ever get the chance to go to saint michaels, go to the museum!! it is huge and well worth the entrance fee. they put on a great festival!
[they had smith island cake, boats, and many other chesapeake classics]

and in the next few weeks there are some cool events coming up:
i would definitely recommend going to local performance troupe fluid movement's water ballet next weekend, august 2, at patterson park. i went to their water ballet last year and it was great-- really quirky, light-hearted, and fun.

also next weekend is the international festival at poly/western high school off cold spring lane in medfield (just north of hampden). it includes a huge variety of activities and nations-- a soccer tournament, performances, food...

keep in mind there are also county fairs pretty much every weekend until september-- for a more complete list, see the maryland office of tourism's monthly newsletter (online here). i subscribe to that and the baltimore fun guide, both of which give some great tips on cool stuff to do in the area.

fourth fun + agristuff

2009-07-03T13:19:00.003-04:00

we've made it to july and for most of us, it is a long weekend. this means a spectacular opportunity to do some baltimore event-hopping-- my favorite!!

here are a few ideas for celebrating the fourth of july:
-go to the pet parade at AVAM. 10 am- 12:30 pm. free!
-listen to the baltimore symphony orchestra at oregon ridge park in baltimore county-- and see fireworks integrated into the concert-- on july 3 or 4 at 8 pm. $9-18.
-watch the fireworks over the inner harbor from federal hill. begins at 9:30 pm.
-check out the historic carroll mansion on saturday or sunday between 12-4 pm. 1/2 price if you wear red, white and blue!
-go to the african-american heritage festival at camden yards, held july 3-5.
-take the train down to washington d.c. to catch the smithsonian folklife festival. this year they celebrate wales, latin music and african-american storytelling. free on the national mall. (mariachi serenade pictured below)

and here are a few things you could do this weekend, or later:
-free daily cultural walk of mount vernon! every day at noon. meet at visitors center on light street in the inner harbor. this sounds great, i can't wait to try it!
-free heritage walk. meet at the inner harbor visitors center. monday-friday @ 10 am, saturday/sunday @ 10 am or 1 pm
-take a guided hike at the lovely gwynns falls park in west baltimore. saturday at 3 pm (that will cost you $1), thursday 9-10 am or second sunday from 1-4 pm. or, any time on your own!
-outdoor movie at AVAM (thursday nights) or little italy (friday nights)
-station north flea market on saturday mornings from 9-2. north avenue
-see the "east side images" exhibit at the reginald f. lewis museum or a joint exhibition at the james backas gallery located at the maryland state arts council's offices in south baltimore.

other upcoming events of note:

-stoop storytelling series-- supposed to be just awesome. july 9-11 at 7 pm, centerstage theater. the reason i haven't gone yet...it is $20.
-caribbean carnival at druid hill park. july 10-12. colorful!
-roots music festival at the carroll county farm museum in westminster, july 11-12.
-artscape, of course, is going to be fantastic. huge, hot, overwhelming, and just great. make sure to check out the painted screen society booth! in the bolton hill/MICA/penn station/charles area, july 17-19.

summer is a great time to do some traveling, of course, and there is plenty to see even within maryland. the eastern shore offers more than just ocean access-- if you are interested in agriculture or traditional ways of life, check out:
-taste of cambridge festival on july 11.
-agricultural tours of talbot county (july 21), caroline county (july 22), dorchester county (july 23)
-chesapeake folk festival at the ward museum of waterfowl art in st. michael's, maryland on july 25.
-venture to smith island, dubbed "an island out of time," in the chesapeake. take the twice-daily ferry from crisfield (on the lower eastern shore, close to virginia) for a real treat-- and of course, don't forget to try their famous ten-layer cake.

as for the rest of maryland, there are plenty of other opportunities:
-potomac jazz and seafood festival in st. mary's on july 11
-baltimore county 4H fair, july 16-19 in timonium
-washington county fair july 17-19 in sharpsburg (a really quaint place i'd recommend visiting at some time)
-cecil county farm fair, july 24-august 1 in elkton
-harford county farm fair, july 30-august 2 in bel air

maryland just keeps these events coming! i love it. hope to see you at one of these great opportunities!

free wednesday night concerts

2009-06-14T12:02:00.004-04:00

baltimore's back in full swing of summertime activities-- thankfully, many of which are free or very cheap! this weekend i paid a whole $6 for great seats at an orioles game, had a great time at honfest in hampden (see photos), and took advantage of the free outdoor movie series at the village of cross keys. although i found cross keys very odd in that it is an extremely pre-planned enclave that is extremely different from the rest of the city (mostly in terms of demographics), it was a great setting to watch a movie on a calm summer evening. last night's show was avalon, one of barry levinson's classic films about growing up in baltimore-- i'd highly recommend any of the four films.

as for upcoming events, i was excited to read about the summer concert series at the museum of industry, 6-9 on wednesday nights. these are free (!) and look awesome. june 17th features jah works and dj who. by the way, the museum of industry caught me off guard with its fascinating, familiar exhibits-- definitely worth going to.

if you are looking for a neighborhood to check out, i live in remington and find it very genuine in its diversity and appeal. we're home to familiar landmarks such as the dizz, ace of cakes, and the papermoon diner as well as lesser known places like sterling's crab house on the corner of 29th and miles. the wyman park dell, just across from the (free and wonderful) baltimore museum of art, is a lovely spot to catch some afternoon relaxation. we're in walking distance of hampden, druid hill park, and hopkins/charles village. a few shots:

Maryland Traditions Showcase on June 11!

2009-06-03T21:05:00.003-04:00

Charm City Confidential is back in action!

I am back in Baltimore after four months in Copenhagen and what a great place it is. From an urban studies perspective, Copenhagen is a really well-planned place with reliable and extensive public transportation, cutting-edge architecture, and incredible designers. I would really recommend it for those interested in learning about the history of a Northern European city-- there are many great museums, and most everything is in English as well as Danish. Here are a few shots of my last day there:

However, the reason for this post is that there is yet another exciting Baltimore event coming up! I trust summer 2009 will be just as fruitful as last summer in terms of quirky events in Charm City. I happen to be interning at the Maryland State Arts Council's Maryland Traditions program and thus am working hard on this event. Below you will find a bit about it:

Maryland Traditions, a program of the Maryland State Arts Council and the Maryland Historical Trust, will present a traditional and folk arts showcase on Thursday, June 11 at the Creative Alliance in Baltimore. The afternoon session— from 4:00 to 7:00 pm— includes a roundtable discussion with Maryland instrument makers, insights from esteemed local cooks, and demonstrations of material arts (such as screen painting and Smith Island cake baking) followed by a dinner of traditional Maryland foodways. The evening portion features performances by boogie-woogie piano master Daryl Davis, ngoni (pre-banjo) player Cheick Hamala Diabate, South Indian Karnatic musicians P.K. and Lalitha Swaminathan and urban hip-hop dance master Junious “House” Brickhouse. The program also includes the Maryland Traditions 2009 ALTA (Achievement in Living Traditions and the Arts) Awards ceremony and recognition of the 2010 recipients of the program’s Master and Apprentice and Project Grants. Tickets are $6 and available at creativealliance.org, by calling 410-276-1651 or at the door.

This weekend, however, don't miss the Frederick Festival of the Arts, the Charles Village Festival (check out their website-- it is really visually interesting!), and the Texas Two-Step dance at the Creative Alliance! More events to come, of course...

2009-01-12T20:31:00.000-05:00

here is a little collage i made yesterday...

blog hiatus

2009-01-02T09:05:00.002-05:00

hello! i am just letting any readers out there know that i will be studying abroad in copenhagen, denmark next semester (january-may) and thus will not be updating this blog until then. of course there's always options like first fridays on the avenue in hampden, the free walters art museum, the washington monument in mt. vernon (which you can climb to the top of for just $1!), the baltimore basilica (first catholic church in the united states!), lexington market, the museum of industry, little italy, a movie at the charles theatre, the great blacks in wax museum (unveiling their new barack obama wax statue on january 19!), etc.

here's a list of where i get my info, so you can continue to find cool events on your own--
baltimore metromix
City Paper
Baltimore Collegetown Network
baltimore.org
baltimore fun guide
the creative alliance

have fun exploring charm city!

holiday goodness coming up

2008-12-03T23:55:00.002-05:00

so the end of 2008 is upon us but the cool events keep comin':
-tomorrow, thursday december 4, sheila dixon and co. will kick off the holiday season in baltimore with the annual lighting of the washington monument in mt. vernon. festivities start at 5:30 and include fireworks!
-parade of lighted boats in the inner harbor, this saturday december 6 from 5-8 pm
-merry mart, the creative alliance holiday craft sale, will be held on sunday december 7 from 11-5 at their lovely highlandtown space.
-also on december 7, local t-shirt company squidfire is hosting their DIY art mart at the lyric opera house in mount royal from 12-6:30.
-and also on sunday december 7 is the 37th annual mayor's christmas parade in hampden! even if you can't make it to the 2:00 function, make sure you stop by hampden's legendary 34th street to see the wonderful lights!
-binge, a letterpress printing demo, open studio and sale on december 14 from 12-8 in hampden.

now if only we didn't have finals to deal with...

crafty weekend!

2008-11-12T15:17:00.003-05:00

guys- baltimore just does not stop coming up with cooler and cooler stuff. there are three awesome events scheduled for this saturday alone. take time to check these out!

tomorrow, thursday november 13, a bunch of nonprofit community leaders will be at goucher to discuss going into that field. meet folks from wide angle youth media, greater homewood corporation, urban leadership institute, community law in action... it is at 7:30 p.m. in the piano room of the t/welsh hall.

charm city craft mafia's holiday heap is taking place on saturday, november 15 from 10 am to 5 pm. check out the 50+ craft vendors selling their wares at the really cool st. john's church, 2640 st paul street in charles village.

also on saturday is this series of free workshops on music & the brain at the american visionary art museum. avam is a must-see even if you can't make it this weekend! demonstrations and concerts will take place from 10:30 am- 9 pm. the visioniary is in federal hill, just a short walk away from the inner harbor (which is easy to get to via the collegetown shuttle or light rail). avam is hosting their own holiday art marketplace, bazaart, on november 29. if this is anything like their gift shop, it will be utterly amazing.

yet another cool event taking place this saturday is caleb stine's round the mountain acoustic extravaganza at the creative alliance. although it is a bit pricey ($17), this will be well worth it considering the amount of talent that will be present. hear the baltimore shape note singers and other folk/traditional musicians at 8 pm. the creative alliance is a really, really cool community arts organization in highlandtown. it's not too hard to get there via public transportation. if you have a car, drive yourself and take a gander through patterson park while you're at it.

apparently wham city will be performing their interpretation of jurrasic park at goucher on sunday night! it is free at 8 pm in pearlstone atrium. it seems like there's just too much going on to fit it all in, but let's try, eh?

great halloween lantern parade

2008-10-20T11:11:00.002-04:00

if you live in the baltimore area and don't have plans for next saturday, october 25, i would strongly encourage you to go to the

great halloween lantern parade!

an annual fall tradition in the southeastern neighborhoods around patterson park, city paper named this event the most photo-worthy in this year's best of baltimore issue. over 1000 hand-made paper lanterns will make up this year's jabberwocky-themed parade. if you want to participate, come with your lantern/costume to the pulaski monument at 7 pm. to watch, line up on the east side of linwood avenue by 7:30 pm. they also need volunteers-- if you're interested in setting or cleaning up or being a parade marshal, email the creative alliance.

below are some photos from the past weekend's lantern-making workshops:

free fall baltimore!

2008-10-15T14:59:00.005-04:00

free fall baltimore is here!!!
[this blurb also appeared in the quindecim]
baltimore is sometimes a generous city, offering special deals to students, hosting a myriad of public festivals, and sponsoring the third annual free fall baltimore series. spearheaded by mayor sheila dixon's office, free fall baltimore grants free entry into a range of events, museums and cultural experiences. here are a few highlights:
-the homewood museum is offering a guided art walk to the baltimore museum of art, located just adjacent to johns hopkins university. these will take place every saturday in october. to get there, take the collegetown shuttle to hopkins.
-also offering free admission for the month of october is the contemporary museum, an art gallery in mount vernon. they are open from noon to 5 p.m. wednesday through sunday. to get to mount vernon, take the mta #8 bus northbound to lutherville (catch it by the quarter, across from superfresh), and then hop on the light rail southbound and get off at centre street. note that the acclaimed walters art museum, which is free year-round, is located just a stone's throw from the contemporary museum.
-the baltimore streetcar museum, which is only open from noon to 5 p.m. on the weekends, will be free for the month of october. the museum is located on falls road-- another short light rail ride away-- and usually costs $7.
-the babe ruth birthplace & museum will be offering free admission on fridays in october. the museum is located on emory place, close to the stadium at camden yards. this is easily accessible via light rail as well.
-learn about this nation's history at the flag house and star-spangled banner museum, a house located near little italy and the inner harbor. they will be offering free tours at 10 a.m. and noon every day. take the collegetown shuttle to the inner harbor and walk east on pratt street.
-the maryland science center will be open to the public for the first 200 guests to come after 5 p.m. on friday, october 31 (halloween). this includes admission to an imax movie. the museum is in the inner harbor area, which is best accessed via the collegetown shuttle or light rail to the convention center.

in addition to these awesome events, we've got the 35th annual russian festival coming up this weekend, october 17-19. held in east baltimore, it features performances, crafts and plenty of food.

below are some photos from the autumn glory festival held in oakland, maryland (in the very western most part of the state) last weekend. i would really, really recommend checking out western maryland if you have time to drive out there (3-4 hours each way). it is gorgeous this time of year: rolling hills plush with vibrant foliage. we went camping at rocky gap state park, visited the once-booming and now eerily-empty town of cumberland, and could have made it to west virginia and pennsylvania easily but instead chose to stop at antietam battlefield on the way back. also awesome. i saw more mccain signs out there than i ever have here. i definitely felt out of place among the largely older, rural, conservative, religious crowd, but found the town of oakland really interesting.

the festival seem to take over the entire county, ranging from the main parade-- lots of cheerleaders, high school marching bands, shriners and beauty queens-- to glass blowing, clog dancing, choral performances, free admission to the historical museum, a tour of the court house, and many food vendors. we saw a puppet show entitled "autumn declares god's glory," which featured gospel singing puppets proclaiming "jesus saves." very interesting stuff.

book festival!

2008-09-26T17:15:00.003-04:00

i know it's supposed to be really dreary this weekend, but the baltimore book festival will be taking over mount vernon place and is totally worth the trip. goucher students and faculty will be reading at 2 pm on sunday afternoon! this was a really interesting event last year and i highly recommend going. you could take the shuttle to the inner harbor and walk to mount vernon, or take the light rail and get off at centre street. enjoy!

cycle the city

2008-09-19T17:09:00.002-04:00

i hope some of you enjoyed last weekend's festivities!
this weekend there are two big events, both pertaining to cycling, going on.

check out the C3 bike team's charm city cross event on sunday morning in druid hill park. my roommate hillary is participating and it should be quite the event!

there's also a rally for the river going on this sunday. bikers, runner and walkers can play on the jones falls expressway (83) northbound, starting at the poly/western high school complex by cold spring. the event is from 8 am to 2 pm, and i believe they still need volunteers. the admission is $5 to support the jones falls watershed.

the weather is supposed to be just gorgeous the next week-- so take advantage of it and do something outside! if you're not into biking, you could also see the art exhibit at gwynn's falls park (on the western edge of baltimore city). have fun!

awesome stuff in september

2008-09-10T17:20:00.004-04:00

i'll do these in chronological order, but it looks like there's going to be some wonderful stuff sweeping charm city this fall. this weekend is going to be a busy one.

it is the annual star-spangled banner celebration at fort mchenry-- honor the 194th anniversary of the national anthem by making it out to the fort, south of the inner harbor. the entire weekend includes oddball events like cannon & musket firing demonstrations, a dress parade, and singing of the national anthem. on saturday evening around 9 pm, there will be fireworks accompanied by live music (the photo is from last year's event). it's best to drive there from goucher considering it's a bit far. this is a great family event and a lot of fun for the history buffs among us.

hampdenfest is coming this saturday on "the avenue" (west 36th street). last year i really enjoyed browsing the antique shops, listening to live music, and soaking up the "hon"-iness of the neighborhood (photos above). it was fantastic. if you're coming from goucher, you could drive and park at the rotunda, or take the collegetown shuttle to hopkins and walk across the campus, up keswick, to 36th.

also this saturday is the reggae & brew festival at the zoo (which i'll argue is a delightfully odd combination, but...) was also a lot of fun last year. unfortunately, i think the tickets are pretty pricey ($18 for students!). it might be worth it to encounter the serendipity that is island music, drunk people, and exotic animals in one place at one time. the maryland zoo in baltimore is druid hill, which you could get to by taking the mta #8 southbound (or the colltown shuttle to hopkins) then picking up the mta #22 at greenmount and 33rd.

at the end of the month, the baltimore book festival will bring the "city that reads" together september 26-28. this was also really quite an experience last fall. held at the stately mount vernon place (easily accessible in a few different ways), i would recommend volunteering there. it makes for some great people-watching! if you can't make it to the festival, at least go hear david simon-- author of the corner and creator of the wire-- speak at goucher's kraushaar auditorium on september 24!

and look forward to the fell's point fun festival the first weekend in october...more on that later!

in other news: fans of the formidable dizzy izzie's, the homey bar & restaurant in remington, will be pleased to know that it has recently reopened, under the moniker "the dizz." the place was shut down all summer but honestly doesn't appear to be very different. perhaps they spruced up the kitchen facilities? what i do know is that their red velvet cake is to die for and their drinks are very reasonably priced. go check it out!

end of summer things to do

2008-08-25T20:22:00.003-04:00

if you're in town-- or soon will be-- make sure you check these out:
-go to an orioles game. it's easy to get there (take the light rail to convention center/camden yards), cheap (tickets can be as cheap as $7), and fun (even if you don't like baseball, it's an interesting cultural experience!). you can bring your own food in, too!
-catch the last of the little italy film series on friday, august 29. they are showing "cinema paradiso" at the intersection of high and stiles streets (you can walk there from the inner harbor); show is at 7 pm but you need to get there early to find seats. free!
-go to the maryland state fair at timonium fairgrounds (literally one light rail stop from lutherville). full of fried things on sticks, adorable farm animals, and an impressive array of crafts, clothes, and crops grown by area 4Hers. you might also see a chainsaw-carving artist or a swimming pig. i think it's $8 but it's totally worth the experience. appreciate what maryland has to offer-- i always forget that we have such a strong rural community here too.
-check out erin fitzpatrick's baltimore portrait series, on display at hampden's awesome rocket to venus restaurant/bar until october 12.
-if you're looking for a specific reason to explore patterson park (see my last post for more about that), go to the 30th annual ukrainian festival there on september 6 & 7. it features ukrainian food, music and dance on both days.

below are some photos of my state fair experience last weekend:

make it a park day

2008-08-18T19:18:00.003-04:00

after spending a lazy two hours in wyman park last weekend, i can whole-heartedly say that there is almost nothing better. the weather has been beautiful lately-- not humid at all!-- and exploring the area's parks has never seemed more appealing. here are some of my favorite places to enjoy the great outdoors:

patterson park

southeast baltimore's gem, this huge patch of green contrasts sharply with the surrounding, clearly urban setting. in addition to running trails, the park offers an ice rink, swimming pool, stadium and other athletic facilities. it's also a great place to watch the kinetic sculpture race, the wacky arts-and-engineering parade that takes place each may. the pagoda (pictured here) has become somewhat of a landmark and remains a terrific place to view the city.

loch raven reservoir

i would say that loch raven is absolutely a must-see for all goucher students. it is ridiculously close (just a couple minutes north on dulaney valley road) and surprisingly serene. this is a great place to picnic or take a walk. swimming is off-limits due to the fact that it is a reservoir (people do it anyways, but the numbers have dwindled since last year's beaver attack). i fondly remember taking a goucher van up there for our isp end-of-the-year picnic...

wyman park

i love wyman park. this somewhat hidden urban greenspot, bordering johns hopkins and neighborhoods like hampden and roland park, is really quite large. the entrance on beech avenue in hampden appears to be some random little green patch until you walk down a hill and see a vast field, a smattering of dogs being walked, and get to the shady creek. i would highly recommend bringing a big floppy sun hat and a good book and plopping down for a number of hours.

other favorites include:
-gunpowder falls state park, 18,000 acres of beauty in baltimore and harford counties. 100 miles of trails = lots of peace and quiet.
-oregon ridge state park, where the baltimore symphony has a summer concert series. you can swim here (warning: it is $7!!!) or walk, or hang out with chickens or investigate area archaeology. unfortunately, a swarm of gypsy moths have destroyed a major part of the park, so expect some detours and a lot of dead trees for the coming months.
-federal hill park, in the southern end of the inner harbor across from the american visionary art museum, is a great place. the view from the top is exquisite, especially on the fourth of july. also a cool neighborhood.

i've also heard good things about:
-gwynn's falls, on the southwest border of baltimore city, is another hiking and biking trail that is surprisingly large-- 2,000 acres!
-pretty boy reservoir, north of cockeysville, is supposed to be a nice swimming hole as well.
-druid hill-- where the zoo is located-- is also supposed to be a great place to hang out.

map project

2008-08-03T23:37:00.002-04:00

i finally finished my big project for the summer-- coloring in this giant map of baltimore's neighborhoods. i'm not sure how well this translates into picture form, but this map is huge (i'd guess about 3x5 feet)! staring at this for a couple of months has really proved, again and again, how baltimore is a city of neighborhoods. and speaking of maps, a topic i sincerely love, i'd like to share some of the baltimore map resources i've found.

baltimore city interactive map, produced by the mayor's office, seems worth checking out. they also put out a map of neighborhoods, divided by district. i personally prefer the arts and culture map, but there are also crime, capital and planning maps. they have a great list of (links to) other maps, plans, sites and organizations. you can download the map i colored from this site, or purchase it from the city planner's office. black and white are $5, color versions are $50...make it an art project to save $45. the baltimore green map indicates so-called "eco-friendly" destinations in the city. i think the live baltimore site is more for real estate purposes, but can give great detailed information on each neighborhood by selecting the region and then the area name. the baltimore sun also offers this homicide map and there is also the city paper's murder ink map. there is also this general crime map, (i think) sponsored by the police department. pretty interesting stuff.

anyone else have a favorite local map?

water ballet

2008-07-28T19:20:00.002-04:00

above is a photo from salsapolkalooza, a neighborhood festival put on by the creative alliance at the patterson last weekend. i wasn't really sure what it was going to involve, but i went with a friend (after picnicking in patterson park) and it was a very pleasant surprise. there was a wonderful merengue band and dance floor. the creative alliance does some awesome work, really bringing the community in southeast baltimore together and making art and art education accessible to everyone. they have some pretty cool events, including a beach house (awesome local electronica duo) concert on august 10.

and speaking of cool events, i went to the fluid movement performance of "mother goosed: the nurseryland campaign trails" this weekend. it was hilarious, relevant, and very well-rehearsed. i can only imagine how many hours of preparation went into choreographing, costuming, and composing the 75-person water ballet. it was an imaginative and family-friendly event that just reinforced my love for baltimore. they will be performing again next weekend-- at 5 and 7 pm on friday and saturday, at patterson park in east baltimore-- and it is totally worth the $9. see below for examples of their zany costumes and thoughtful choreography.

cafe roundup

2008-07-21T21:00:00.002-04:00

the topic of conversation tonight: cafes in town. here are some of my favorites, but i'd love to hear about more.

-el rancho grande: i just stumbled upon this place recently, but its a hands-down favorite for me. located at the intersection of falls road and 36th ("the avenue") in hampden, it is one of the few late-night coffeehouses in this city. the place feels simultaneously funky, home-like and southwestern and has awesome decor. the prices are a little steep-- i usually get an iced coffee for $3-- but i like contributing to this small establishment. i've heard there are jam sessions there on wednesday nights; often, concerts take place on saturday nights. the fact that it is open late at all is wonderful for those of us under 21. i would highly recommend making a trip here (from goucher, i'd recommend taking the light rail to woodberry, walking up union ave and then taking a right on falls).
-common ground: also located in hampden, this rowhouse-cafe is a real destination. great coffee, artsy atmosphere, interesting people, reasonable prices, walking accessibility, and solid air conditioning. the counter is a pretty tight squeeze, but they have a cute front room as well as a more expansive back room and back deck. i've heard their iced chai shake things are good, and i will totally vouch for their coffee.
-zia's cafe, in towson, is another hotspot. this is clearly an ideal location-- on allegheny avenue-- for goucher students. their vegan/vegetarian focus is genuine and their coffee is also delicious. if i could change anything it would be their hours (i've repeatedly tried to come here on sunday afternoons, always forgetting they are closed) because it seems like a good place to get some studying done.
-donna's: is pretty much entirely out of my price range, but great for a treat if you are wandering around mt. vernon or charles village. i had their iced-coffee-sundae thing last summer and was entirely satisfied for quite a while... unfortunately, it was $6 and i haven't been back since. this definitely has an upscale feel to it.
-one world cafe: located by hopkins on university parkway (goucher kids- take the colltown shuttle), i am a huge fan of this organic, wholesome, and refreshing cafe. i thoroughly enjoyed a meal here once, but i've also sampled some of their coffee and loved it. this is also vegetarian-themed but is quite a bit more expansive than zia's, as well as closer to other attractions, such as the baltimore book thing, the 32nd street/waverly farmer's market, the bma, and hopkins itself. this is a good place to meet up and chat with an old friend or take a date.
-i've heard xs, in mt. vernon, is another good late-night coffee place, but i haven't been there myself. would anyone care to give their opinion?

also, i forgot to mention this event going on next weekend as well: the charm city roller girls "saturday night roast". i went to one of their bouts in june and it was pretty over-the-top. i'm still a little confused about the rules of the game, but from what i can tell, it's serious, competitive, and can get pretty rough. it was also a whole lot of fun. the crowd was a mix of fancy twenty-somethings, grunge dads and other artsy folk who had been at honfest in hampden earlier that day... the arena is over in the canton area and tickets are $10, but this is definitely worth it to experience once.

for those of you that didn't catch artscape or whartscape this weekend, i've attached some photos. i was really impressed with artscape-- the scope of this event is so enormous, i can't imagine organizing all the vendors/performers/volunteers/etc.-- but it did have some corporate undertones (ie. it was co-sponsored by target). seeing sisqo and dru hill perform was something i wouldn't have paid money to see, but it was entertaining until some kid threw hot dogs at us and the grassy hill became too uncomfortable. my favorite part of the event was seeing the variety of people it attracted, including the art groups and artists i've read about, lovely goucher people, experimental and somewhat frightening installations, plenty of out-of-towners, etc. i felt very out of place at whartscape-- i am totally not cool enough for that crowd-- but it was eye-opening in a different way. i was pretty disappointed with the "music" we heard there, although i'm not sure screaming obscenities while crowd surfing, accompanied by '90s jams and eerie noise, really counts as music. i enjoyed people-watching there but found the ultrahipster uniform of tight, short shorts, beat-up shirts, big glasses, intentionally ugly haircuts and '80s sneakers to become pretty mundane. why try so hard to look different when everyone's idea of "different" is the same?

ARTSCAPE and next weekend

2008-07-17T23:06:00.002-04:00

hello again! i would like to encourage everyone to

GO TO ARTSCAPE THIS WEEKEND!

it is going to be wonderful. three (or, two and a half) days of art, music, dance, theatre, vendors, and marveling in baltimore's splendid arts scene. it is FREE and is going to be giant. whartscape's lineup for sunday looks good too, but $12 just does not compare to the free festivities at artscape.

it looks like the weekend of july 26 & 27th is going to be outrageous, so please take the time to check out some of the events going on then. if you're in town, you should consider:
-the hamilton street festival, featuring a classic car show and live music.
-baltimore's water ballet troupe, fluid movement, will be performing their "Mother Goosed: The Nurseryland Campaign Tales" at riverside park. i'm not really sure what the deal is with fluid movement, but from what i gather they are a politically-minded, satirical, performing arts group. i would like to learn more about them. the tickets for this show are pricey ($25), so i will probably wait to see them at patterson park on august 2 & 3.
-the chesapeake folk festival, sponsored by the maryland traditions program and the chesapeake bay maritime museum, should be really cool too. here's how it's described on their website: "A celebration of the Bay's people, traditions, work, food, and music, the festival gives you a unique chance to enjoy hands-on demonstrations by regional craftspeople and live musical performances by the Zionaires, the New Gospelites, Three Penny Opera, and Irish traditional musicians. You can take a boat ride on the Miles River and dine on steamed crabs, crab cakes, beer, or barbeque chicken."
-the creative alliance's salsapolkalooza festival, as described below, should also be quite a treat!
-it looks like there will be a german festival at the state fair grounds in timonium as well that weekend. the 108th annual (!), this involves a lot of beer and live music.

finally, my friend showed me this blog today and it looks absolutely wonderful. check it out.

summer outdoor film series

2008-07-09T23:26:00.003-04:00

i am greatly impressed by the popularity of outdoor movies shown in baltimore each summer. i haven’t been to any of the four series yet, but definitely i intend to before too long.

take advantage of these opportunities and catch what you may have missed while they are still on a big screen.

locations
1. jhu
shriver hall of johns hopkins university’s homewood campus (shriver hall) in charles village, 3400 north charles street, hosts free friday night movies at 8:30 pm. this is easily accessible when the collegetown shuttle service is running, but during the summer i'd suggest taking the #8 bus from dulaney valley road to greenmount & 32nd, then walking to campus. find out more here.

2. avam
the american visionary art museum, one of the coolest places i've ever been, is located in federal hill, just a short walk from the inner harbor (which is accessible via the light rail— convention center stop— or the end of the #8 bus line). the movies they project every thursday evening at 9 pm are viewable from the hill itself. make sure you visit the museum, which is free from 5-9 pm on these days. this is such a great opportunity to see this one-of-a-kind museum! read more here.

3. little italy
little italy, a surprisingly authentic neighborhood just east of the inner harbor, hosts their own outdoor movie series at the intersection of high and stiles street at 7 pm each friday. this seems to be a very long-standing tradition that would be a lot of fun to take advantage of. for more details, see here.

4. fells
the historic and upscale neighborhood of fells point, east of both the inner harbor and little italy (and the hot new development spot, harbor east), shows their films on wednesday nights at 8.45 pm. the films are shown at broadway pier and are sponsored by two popular stores in the area, sound garden (cd store) and su casa (home furnishings). bring a sweater- it gets breezy by the water. it’s about a 30-minute walk from the convention center stop on the light rail and less from the end of the #8 bus line. their website is here.

schedule
thursday, july 10: close encounters of the third kind/avam
friday, july 11: ratatouille/jhu, moonstruck/little italy
wednesday, july 16: batman/fells
thursday, july 17: the gods must be crazy/avam
friday, july 18 : stardust/jhu, seabiscuit/little italy
wednesday, july 23: transformers/fells
thursday, july 24: quiz show/avam
friday, july 25: some like it hot/jhu, my big fat greek wedding/little italy
wednesday, july 30: sponge bob square-pants/fells
thursday, july 31: harold and maude/avam
friday, august 1: hairspray/little italy
wednesday, august 6: i am legend/fells
thursday, august 7: casablanca/avam
friday, august 8: life is beautiful/little italy
wednesday, august 13: the birds/fells
friday, august 15: blues brothers/little italy
wednesday, august 20: tba/fells
friday, august 22: cinderella man/little italy
wednesday, august 27: tba/fells
friday, august 29: cinema paradiso/little italy
wednesday, september 18: tba/fells

summer festivals

2008-07-07T23:25:00.003-04:00

for those of you in baltimore this summer, make sure you check out these festivals:

-july 11-13: 27th annual caribbean carnival at druid hill park-- free on friday, $5 on saturday & sunday (link). should be a colorful event. druid hill isn't always the safest place at night, but is generally friendly during the day. you can get there by walking about 15 minutes from the woodberry light rail stop.

-july 18-20: check out america's largest free public arts festival, artscape, at mt. royal ave and cathedral street-- by mica, accessible via the mt. royal stop on the light rail (link). i've heard this is really worthwhile, a wonderful gathering of baltimore's art community. dan deacon's collective wham city throws their alternative whartscape the same weekend for $12 a day (www.whamcity.com). friday night's show sounds the most impressive, with appearances by jana hunter, beach house and arbouretum.

-july 26: salsapolkalooza, a free neighborhood festival at the creative alliance in east baltimore (link). the creative alliance is a really cool place where creativity is both highly esteemed and readily available. this would be a highly enjoyable event if you are in the area.

-august 2-3: international festival and soccer tournament, sponsored by the city, held at the poly/western high school complex at cold spring lane in medfield (link). i am really excited for this-- it sounds like there will be quite an array of cultural performances throughout both days.

-august 9-10: festafrica at patterson park (link). the $5 festival includes dance and music performances, storytelling, arts/crafts, vendors and a soccer tournament. i'm not entirely sure what this festival is all about, but patterson park in east baltimore is a must for the complete city experience-- the view from the pagoda is awesome.

-august 16-17: the 80th annual saint gabriel festival in little italy should be a treat (link). $1 gets you into the authentic neighborhood festival, where you can sample food and play bocce ball. close to the inner harbor (and thus accessible in many ways, including a short walk from the convention center stop on the light rail or the end of many bus lines), this is just a cool neighborhood to explore.

-august 22-24: the baltimore american indian center's 34th annual powwow, held in patterson park (link). looks like an interesting melange of traditional and contemporary native american arts.

welcome to charm city confidential

2008-07-07T19:04:00.002-04:00

hello! welcome to charm city confidential!

my name is auni; i attend goucher college and am completely enamored with baltimore. i started this blog with the hope to expose some of the ways i've come to know it.

while this blog is open to anyone who'd like to read it, i will give specific details for goucher students in an effort to break the "bubble" mentality that sometimes enshrouds campus life. my intention is to open some channels of information for whoever is interested in exploring baltimore.

i hate hearing my peers at goucher complain that there isn't much to do for fun-- whether on campus, in the city, or in the surrounding area, there is almost an overwhelming amount of cool oozing from this charm city.

please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions. thank you.