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
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