awesome stuff in september

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!