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!!

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!?

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

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

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

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

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!