Arts & Culture

101 Ways to be a True Baltimorean!

We’ve compiled a list of the 101 activities, quirky habits, and oddball pastimes, that, even if you only did half of them, would earn you certification as a true Baltimorean.

By By Christina Breda Antoniades. Edited by Ken Iglehart. | June 2004

Let’s assume, for argument’s sake, that you’ve mastered the Baltimore lexicon. You know that “far trucks” put out “fars” and that a “bulled aig” is something you eat. You know the best places to park for O’s games, where the speed traps are on I-83, and which streets have synchronized traffic lights. You know how to shell a steamed crab. You never, EVER attempt to go downy ocean on a Friday evening in the dead of summer. And, let’s face it, you get a little upset when your friends from D.C. call you a Baltimoro… well, you know. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Do you really know all it takes to be a true Baltimorean?

Here, we’ve compiled a list of the 101 activities, quirky habits, and oddball pastimes, that, even if you only did half of them, would earn you certification as a true Baltimorean. Some have stood the test of time, some are new favorites, but all are unique to Charm City. If you’re a grizzled native, you’ll probably find our list a fun test that takes you down memory lane. And if you’re new in town, the guide below will definitely help you to pass yourself off as a local.

So, whether you’ve been here 60 days or 60 years, we’re sure you’ll find something new (or long forgotten) in the pages that follow. So get busy.

Go crabbing. Pick your favorite method—metal traps or the old tried-and-true chicken neck on a string—and head to any one of a number of great crabbing haunts. For crabbing from a pier (as opposed to a boat) try Sandy Point State Park, Matapeake Park, or North Point. Sandy Point, www. dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/southern/sandypoi…; Matapeake, www.qac.org/ depts/parks /parkshome.htm; North Point, www.dnr.state.md.us /publiclands/central/northpoint.html.

Shop the farmers’ market. Get your fill of fresh fruits, veggies, herbs, potted plants, and more at the open-air market under the Jones Falls Expressway. Sunday mornings from May through December. Holliday and Saratoga streets. 410-752-8632.

Visit a local winery. Pack a picnic and sample great grapes at Maryland’s oldest family-run winery. Boordy Vineyards is open 361 days a year and offers free tours and tastings, plus weekly family-friendly events. 12820 Long Green Pike, Hydes. 410-592-5015, www.boordy.com

Cheer on the marathon. . . or don your sneakers and make a run for it yourself. The Under Armour Baltimore Marathon is run October 16, 2004, and winds its way through the Inner Harbor, Fells Point, Federal Hill, and as far afield as Druid Hill Park and Lake Montebello. For a less strenuous dash, try the St. Patrick’s Day 180s Shamrock 5K Run. Bonus: free beer at the finish line (seriously). Baltimore Marathon, 410-605-9381, www.thebaltimoremarathon.com; St. Patrick’s Day Run, 410-377-8882, www.stpatrickdayparade.com.

Go to an Ironbirds Game. Check out the A-league action at Aberdeen’s Ripken Stadium. Home of the Ironbirds, the stadium looks like a miniature Camden Yards and is co-owned by Ripken brothers Cal and Bill. 410-297-9292, www.ironbirdsbaseball.com.

Re-live the past. Every summer week- end, The Fort McHenry Guard reenacts life in 1812, including cool period duds, live drills, and artillery and musket firings. Kids, too, will love the huge green spaces, waterfront, smoke, noise, and regalia. 410-962-4290, www.nps.gov/fomc.

Dress up a bumper. Grace your car with a “Believe” bumper sticker. Or go one better: pick up a “Blieve, hon” sticker from Cafe Hon in Hampden.

See a giant ball of string. Fells Point’s Antique Man is more than your average antique store. Owner Bob Gerber flaunts the funky and freakish: a four-foot-tall ball of string that once resided in Haussner’s restaurant (made from the strings from years of washing linens), Kap Dwa, the preserved two-headed giant, the “largest ever” collection of Johnny Eck memorabilia (the world famous “half-boy” born in Baltimore in 1911), a four-legged chicken and a Siamese duck, and more. 1806 Fleet St., 410-732-0932.

Read the locals. There are several famous authors to choose from, like Anne Tyler, Laura Lippman, Rafael Alvarez, David Simon, or Sujata Massey. Still don’t feel like a truly native bibliophile? Then browse for books or chat with an author at the Baltimore Book Festival. The festival’s “Literary Salon” hosts nationally known authors and panel discussions, giving you the perfect opportunity to mix with literary types. Sept. 17-19, 2004, Mount Vernon Place. www.bop.org/calendar/events/book_index.html.

Catch a fish. Prettyboy Dam and Loch Raven Fishing Center are both great places to sink a hook. Loch Raven Fishing Center, 12101 Dulaney Valley Rd., Phoenix, 410-887-7692; Prettyboy Reservoir, Baltimore County, 410-795-6151.

Be a mountaineer. Head to Rocks State Park in Jarrettsville, Harford County and scramble your way to the King and Queen Seat, an impressive rock formation that was once a ceremonial gathering place of the Susquehannock Native Americans. Your perch 190 feet above Deer Creek offers a nice rest after your hike, plus fabulous views of the park and beyond. 410-557-7994.

Focus on the zoo. Get your picture taken atop the iron lions that have long guarded the entrance to the Baltimore Zoo. Then venture farther inside for a visit to the polar bears’ new habitat, plus encounters with some of the zoo’s other 2,700 creatures. 410-366-LION, www.baltimorezoo.org.

Take Spot for a ride he’ll never forget. The Maryland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Neuter Scooter is a mobile clinic that provides—you guessed it—neutering and spaying surgeries for city residents’ cats and dogs. Surgery is free but donations are requested and you’ll have to pay $25 for vaccinations if your pet isn’t up to date on his shots. 410-889-SPAY, www.mdspca.org.

Shop in your pajamas. Order your groceries online from Santoni’s Super Market and the Highlandtown grocer will deliver them to your door for a small fee. 410-276-2990, www.santonismarket.com.

Go tubing. Perfect for a nice-but-not-boring float, the Gunpowder River includes plenty of lazy stretches, plus a few riffles to put a little zip in your trip. Bring your own or rent a tube at nearby Chakra Cycles, the nature tours provider for the park. Parking and trail are at Bunker Hill Road, Hereford area, Baltimore County. Park, 410-592-2897; Chakra Cycles, 1235 Paper Mill Road, 410-527-0593, www.dnr.state. md.us/outdooradvenventures/tubegunpowder.html.

Make The marble sparkle. Revive the old-school Baltimore tradition of scrubbing those white marble rowhouse steps on Saturday morning. To do the job right, use plenty of elbow grease or pick up a Marble Step Cleaning Kit from Hometown Girl in Hampden. www.celebratebaltimore.com.

See the mayor strum. He may be pretty busy trying to make Baltimoreans believe, but Mayor Martin O’Malley still finds time for his other love, making music. His Irish music band, O’Malley’s March, plays regularly in and around Baltimore. www.omalleysmarch.com.

18hear monumental music. Join Mount Vernon locals the first Thursday of every month May through October as they spread their blankets and relax in the park to the tunes of live local musicians. If you can’t bear to rest, climb the monument’s 228 steps for a stellar view of the city. Music starts at 5:30 p.m. Contact The Downtown Partnership, 410-244-1030, www.godowntownbaltimore.com.

Be a john waters fan. Then flaunt your newfound knowledge when you bump into him at Club Charles, one of his favorite haunts.

Savor a Black-Eyed Susan. Ask any native at Baltimore’s Preakness Stakes to describe a Black-Eyed Susan and they’re not talkin’ flowers: The traditional Preakness drink is a rum and vodka concoction served over ice and garnished with a slice of fruit. And maybe knowing how to make a Black-Eyed Susan might inspire you to attend the next Preakness Stakes and add a few more commemorative glasses to your collection. Here’s what it takes:

1 oz. Rum
1 oz. Cointreau, or 3/4 oz. Triple Sec
1 oz. Vodka
Equal parts pineapple juice
And orange juice
Lime Wedge

Combine the first five ingredients, shake well, pour over shaved ice, and garnish with a lime wedge—or a flower by the same name, for that matter. Drink. Repeat.

Get creative at Artscape. The visual, literary, and performing arts festival runs July 16-18 and features live local music acts, plus art sales and exhibits, including the annual “art car” show, which features—you guessed it—art on cars. 1-877-Baltimore, www.artscape.org.

Put your name in lights. Or, better yet, surprise a friend with a birthday or anniversary wish through Camden Yards’ Scoreboard Surprise program. It will cost you a small donation—proceeds go to the Orioles’ Charitable Trust—but your 15 seconds of fame are worth it, right? 410-685-9800, baltimore.orioles.mlb.com.

Join a lantern parade. As part of the Creative Alliance’s Great Halloween Lantern Parade in Patterson Park, participants craft paper and bamboo lanterns at pre-parade workshops (don’t worry, they’ll show you how). On parade night, the park is aglow as lantern makers—many in costume—display their creations, accompanied by the tunes of local musicians. The event’s also a good opportunity to get a rare view from inside the historic Pagoda—it’s kept open at night for the occasion. 410-276-1561, www.creativealliance.org.

Mail a Photo to a friend. Treat your friends to a classy black-and-white photo of your favorite Baltimore scene. Pick up an A. Aubrey Bodine notecard or buy a poster-sized reprint for yourself; Bodine’s website features thousands of photos of Baltimore taken from 1923 to 1970. 800-556-7226, www.aubreybodine.com.

Meet the Birdman of Sherwood Gardens. Whether it’s spring and you’re in search of a dazzling display of tulips, or it’s early fall and you’re merely looking for a quiet patch of green, you’ll find it within city lines at Guilford’s Sherwood Gardens. The six-and-a-quarter-acre park between Stratford Rd. and Greenway, east of St. Paul St., is owned by the residents of Guilford and best known for its spring flowers. But not far from the pretty petals is another Guilford treat: Dr. J. Edward Johnston, a colorful local homeowner who puts on an impromptu performance showcasing his pampered pets: dozens of cockateels, doves, parrots, and a mischievous macaw. With a hand-painted sign (“Come see my tropical birds and parrots”) that draws parkgoers—especially those with kids—into his glassed-in porch on Greenway, across from the park, Johnston has become an attraction in his own right. —SF

Practice your polka. Each weekend, Jessup biergarten Blob’s Park serves up the best of Bavaria—German fare, more than 70 varieties of beer, and, of course, polka. Bungle around on your own or try the six-week “intense” Polka boot camp. Either way, with a 2,000-square-foot dance floor, you won’t have to worry too much about treading on your partner’s toes. 410-799-0155, www.blobspark.com.

Relive aviation history. Security restrictions mean you can no longer drop in at Martin State Airport to watch the planes take off and land, but they don’t preclude you from stopping in at the airport’s Glenn L. Martin Aviation Museum. The modest museum details the Martin Company’s past, plus the history of aviation in the area and the impact of World War II on local plane manufacturing, as well as offering a monthly speaker series in the Lockheed-Martin building next door. 701 Wilson Point Rd., Middle River, www.marylandaviationmuseum.org.

Pay tribute to Lady Day. Put a white gardenia in your hair and head to the Mayor’s Billie Holiday Vocal Competition, held each April to honor Baltimore’s famous jazz legend. If you’re good enough, you can compete (but be forewarned, you’ll be up against some impressive amateur competition); if not, you can join the crowd to cheer on your favorite performer. 410-752-8632, www.promotionandarts.com.

Drive in to Bengies. It’s one of the last drive-in theaters in the mid-Atlantic where you can see a movie under the stars on the big, big screen. Open since 1956, The Bengies in Middle River is now in its 49th season and claims the biggest screen on the East Coast (52 feet by 120 feet, but who’s counting?). Sit in your car and enjoy the show; this place is a classic. 410-687-5627, www.bengies.com.

Go downY Ocean. What to do first in Ocean City? Buy a bucket of Thrashers French Fries (doused in vinegar, of course), and take a spin on the boardwalk’s ferris wheel.
1-800-OC-OCEAN,
www.ococean.com.

Catch a Broadway show. See a show at Baltimore’s historic Hippodrome Theatre, part of the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center. Since it recently reopened, the theater has hosted Broadway favorites like The Producers and Les Miserables; Phantom of the Opera visits in August. Main office, 410-837-7400; tickets, 410-481-SEAT, www.france-merrickpac.com.

Watch bocce ball. Catch a game at random or head to the courts in Little Italy for the Annual Bocce Tournament, part of the annual St. Anthony Festival, June 13 at 902 to 904 Stiles St., www.littleitalymd.com.

Watch a flick al fresco. In July and August, the Little Italy Restaurant Association and The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development host the Little Italy Open-Air Film Festival, with Friday night films under the stars. High and Stiles streets, www.littleitalymd.com.

Explore a funky Museum. Revel in their 19th-century collection of oddities, both manmade and natural at The Dime Museum. 1808 Maryland Ave., 410-230-0263, www.dimemuseum.com.

Set sail in the Harbor. Learn how to sail at the Downtown Sailing Center, which offers adult classes and a children’s summer camp. If you’d rather watch than float, drop by the Bay Café basin on Canton’s waterfront to watch weekly sailboat races, which run Thursday nights at 6:00 p.m. from April through October. 1425 Key Hwy., 410-727-0722, www.downtownsailing.org.

Enjoy our oldest holiday. Fort McHenry’s Star Spangled Banner weekend commemorates Defenders’ Day and Patriot Day with parades, fireworks, a military encampment boasting more than 100 War of 1812 reenactors, and a symbolic ship-to-shore bombardment. Bonus: This may be your only chance to see Mayor O’Malley decked out in full 1812 garb. Sept. 10-12, 2004. 410-962-4290, www.nps.gov/fomc.

Walk the Bay Bridge. Once a year, the Maryland Transportation Authority closes part of the Bay Bridge to traffic and opens the lanes to pedestrians for a 4.5-mile Bay Bridge Walk that will give you a new perspective on the Chesapeake. You’ll have to brave the crowds—the event typically draws roughly 50,000 walkers—plus there are security checkpoints and bus transportation to and from the bridge, but you’ll never look at the bridge the same way again. Usually held in early May. 866-713-1596, www.mdtransportationauthority.com.

Party for Greek Independence. Every March, Highlandtown plays host to the area’s largest Greek Independence Day celebration, complete with marching bands, ethnic costumes, floats and, naturally, plenty of yummy treats. www.greekevents.com.

Go to the 13th Floor. Over the typical bar scene, but love to discover fresh live bands? Then head over to the Belvedere’s 13th Floor on Thursday nights. Artsy types can chill and check out the latest in Neo-Soul acts like Devine Nature or rock to the sounds of Mambo Cambo, Jah Works, and the Kelly Bell Band. Aside from some seriously funky tunes and a small dance floor to bust some moves, you’ll be impressed by the hotel’s killer view of the Baltimore cityscape. It’s definitely more urban lounge than club, with a laid-back vibe. They offer up the usual martinis, a limited smattering of bar food, and wannabe gourmet pizzas.13th Floor/Club 13, 1 E. Chase St., 410-347-0888.

Ogle the balloons. As part of the Preakness celebrations, The Constellation Energy Balloon Glows at the Inner Harbor features nightly illuminations—where a dozen balloons light the skyline—plus carnival rides, live music, and a beer and wine garden. 410-837-3030, www.preaknesscelebration.org.

Be festive in fells point. It used to be a bit wilder, in the days before drinkers were relegated to the enclosed beer garden, but the Fells Point Fun Festival still has plenty of fun up its sleeve. With carnival rides, Latino food and music, arts and crafts, a flea market and entertainment that ranges from puppet shows to bluegrass bands and more, this festival has enough to keep you strolling for hours. Oct. 2-3, 2004, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., 410-675-6756, www.preservationsociety.com.

Get lost in a maze. Head to Greenspring Valley to tackle a 5-acre corn maze. North Run Farm in Stevenson also features a pick-your-own pumpkin patch and mini-maze for the little ones. Weekends in September and October. 410-241-3392.

Get your pet blessed. Coinciding with the Oct. 4 Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Casimir’s Church in Canton offers blessings for animals—past blessees have included dogs, cats, hamsters, birds, and guinea pigs. 410-276-1981, www.stcasimir.org.

Buy a live bushel. Buy live crabs, steam ‘em yourself, and have a feast. Don’t forget the Old Bay, reams of paper towels, and something refreshing to drink. Oh yeah, and don’t rub your eyes until you’ve washed those paws.

See a Miracle on 34th St. Hampden residents pull out all the stops for a quirky Christmas light show you have to see to believe.

Sled a fast hill. Try Oregon Ridge Park (13401 Beaver Dam Rd.), the Baltimore County Board of Education’s Greenwood Campus (6901 N. Charles St.), the Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville (800 S. Rolling Rd.), or Patterson Park (Eastern and Patterson Park aves.) for hills that offer thrills and chills.

Race a giant duck. The American Visionary Art Museum’s Kinetic Sculpture Race—a 15-mile land, sea, sand, and mud marathon in and around the Inner Harbor—features homemade, human-powered craft of all kinds (past entrants have including Fifi, a 15-foot pink poodle, and Bumpo the Indian Elephant). Held each Spring. 410-244-1900, www.avam.org.

Go duckpin bowling. For this uniquely Baltimore pastime, try Patterson Bowling Center. Open since 1927, Patterson Bowling has history on its side, plus all the conveniences a recent renovation can bring. And it’s just really fun, to boot. 2105 Eastern Ave., 410-675-1011, www.pattersonbowl.com.

Shop for bargains. Scour the racks for slightly used designer clothes at the Best Dressed Sale and Boutique at Evergreen House. Each October, The Women’s Board of the Johns Hopkins Hospital hosts four days of bargain glory—featuring new and “gently used” clothing, jewelry, and accessories. Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2004, The Carriage House at Evergreen, 4545 N. Charles St., 410-955-9341, www.womensboard.jhmi.edu.

See the best in lacrosse. Witness the “Battle of the Beltway,” when Hopkins faces off against Maryland; then take a tour of the Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame next door. If you can’t make the Maryland game, try catching the Syracuse match for another hot rivalry. Hopkins lacrosse, www.hopkinssports.ocsn.com; Museum, 113 W. University Pkwy., 410-235-6882, www.lacrosse.org.

Catch an outdoor concert The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra features evening musical events at Oregon Ridge in July. Be sure to bring the kids for family fun including clowns, face-painters, magicians, and the inevitable glow sticks. Various dates in July. 410-783-8000, www.baltimoresymphony.org.

Walk, hike, or bike the NCR. The NCR trail, a nearly 20-mile stretch along a former railroad bed, starts in Cockeysville and extends to the Pennsylvania line. (Not winded yet? You can continue along the York Heritage Rail Trail for 21 additional miles to York, Pa.) Gunpowder Falls State Park, 410-592-2897, www.dnr.state.md.us/outdooradventures/hikencr.html.

Head to THe HonFest. This annual Hampden event is great for honing your Bawlmer accent, hon. Sculpt your own beehive, don your Bawlmer best, and compete against other beauties in the Best Hon Contest. Or step into the Glamour Lounge for a free makeover (hon-style, of course) to get you in prime form for a round of Spam Bowling. What can we say, it doesn’t get much more Baltimore than this. June 12, 2004, 36th St., Hampden, 410-243-6800, www.honfest.net.

Hip-hop over to Club One. Opened in January 2003, Club One is a relative newcomer to the night scene. But with its 22,000 square feet on four distinctly designed levels, it didn’t waste any time becoming a magnet for the beautiful people. The crowd can change from one night, depending on what the DJ’s playing, from rap and neo-soul to hip-hop and even pop. 300 E. Saratoga St., 410-230-0049, www.onebaltimore.com.

See the Blacks in Wax. The Great Blacks in Wax Museum is more than just an educational and fun couple of hours checking out the lifelike likenesses of famous African-Americans. It’s also a popular spot for wedding receptions or birthday parties, held in one of the museum’s two banquet halls. What could be more funky than partying shoulder to shoulder with Colin Powell and Frederick Douglass? Bonus: Renting a hall scores a museum tour for your guests, complete with more than 100 life-size figures of famous blacks. 1601-03 E. North Ave., 410-563-3404, www.greatblacksinwax.org.

Visit Poe’s Grave. You can visit Edgar Allan Poe’s grave on his birthday (Jan. 19), or head to his final resting place Halloween night for a spooky (pre-arranged, guided) tour of the catacombs and burial yard. Westminster Hall, 519 W. Fayette St., 410-706-2072.

Skate your heart out. For skateboarders or in-line skaters with a wild side, Baltimore County is the place to go. Test your skills at one of the three skate parks overseen by the Department of Recreation and Parks: the Sandy Hills Skate Park in Lansdowne (now being revamped), Cockeysville Skate Park, or Stansbury Skate Park in Dundalk. Better on your bones, kick back with a cup of coffee and watch your kids do the skating. Sandy Hills, 410-887-1439; Cockeysville, 410-887-7734; and Stansbury, 410-887-3478, www.co.ba.md.us/Agencies/recreation/ countyparks/skateparks/index.html.

Pick your pumpkins. At Baugher’s in Westminster, take a hayride to the pumpkin patch and choose your future jack-o-lantern. Scarecrow-making and other kid-friendly activities will keep the little ones busy, too. 1236 Baugher’s Rd., Westminster. 410-848-5541, www.baughers.com.

Build a better railroad. Train buffs travel far and wide to scour the tightly packed shelves at M.B. Klein’s Model Train Store, a Baltimore mainstay for 91 years. Bonus for newbies: Klein’s has ample—and enthusiastic—staff on hand to help you find what you need. 162 N. Gay St., 410-539-6207, www.modeltrainstuff.com.

Swim at Beaver Dam. At Beaver Dam Swimming Club, you can pretend you’re Tarzan on a rope swing that dumps you in a 40-foot-deep freshwater quarry (complete with rafts and a diving area). Or, if you prefer clear blue water, cool off in one of two freshwater pools. 10820 Beaver Dam Rd., Cockeysville. 410-785-2323, www.beaverdamswimmingclub.com.

GIVE ‘EM YOUR TWO CENTS. Call in to the Mark Steiner Show on WYPR-FM and voice your opinion. A daily public-affairs news show aired by this public radio station, the Steiner show covers local and national issues but fills a niche by letting folks vent on concerns that affect Marylanders. Airs at 12 and 1 p.m. daily, 88.1 FM, 410-662-8780 or 866-661-9309, www.wypr.org.

Dream on, sailor. The United States Sailboat Show, the nation’s oldest and largest in-water sailboat show, is the place to check out your dream boat or check out the latest gadgets and equipment. Oct. 7-11, 2004, in and around the water, Annapolis. www.usboat.com.

Visit the Babe. Pay tribute to Babe Ruth, the home-run king, at his birthplace and museum. 216 Emory St., 410-727-1539, www.baberuthmuseum.com.

Sprawl out on a blanket. Soak in the sights and sounds of Ladew Topiary Gardens’ summer concerts. Featuring music that ranges from a 35-piece brass band to Irish tunes and a ’60s-style girl group, Ladew’s concerts offer up plenty of variety. Pack a picnic and bring the little ones: There’s plenty of room to roam among the maze-like landscape sculptures. Every other Sunday, June through August, 6 to 8 p.m., 410-557-9466, www.ladewgardens.com.

Check out the charles. Munch on bagels and talk film with local buffs at The Charles Theatre’s Cinema Sundays. The Sunday-morning ritual includes guest speakers who introduce the film and lead a post-screening discussion. Lots of cool indie offerings, as you’d expect from The Charles. 410-727-FILM, www.thecharles.com.

See a premiere. Be on hand as the historic Senator Theatre movie house rolls out the red carpet, fires up the searchlights, and welcomes celebrities. You’ll probably be in good company: In the past, the theater has hosted premieres for Baltimore film luminaries Edward Norton, John Waters, and Barry Levinson, among others, and has drawn stars like Jodie Foster, Salma Hayek, Johnny Depp, and Danny DeVito. And if you can’t make a premiere, you can always catch a regular flick and settle for strolling past the mini walk of fame on the sidewalk that fronts the theater. 5904 York Rd., 410-435-8338, www.senator.com.

Line up for bagels. Goldberg’s Kosher New York Bagels, draws a crowd throughout the weekend and is especially hectic on Sunday morning. 708 Reisterstown Rd., Pikesville, 410-415-7001.

Watch the duck drop. Count down to the New Year as the duck drops in Havre de Grace. It may not pack ‘em in quite like Times Square, but Havre de Grace Middle School still manages to draw a healthy crowd for the midnight dropping of an illuminated duck from atop a 102-foot ladder truck. Duck drop is followed by a free fireworks display. 401 Lewis Ln., 410-939-2100, www.hdgtourism.com.

Sing a jingle. Learn all of the words to the Mary Sue Egg Song. Johnny Unitas was the first to drill that catchy—okay, we’re being nice—jingle into the minds of the candy-egg consuming public in a TV spot. Since then, the song is reborn each spring in now-nostalgic radio spots. The first verse:

Here’s a treat that is sunny

For your Easter bunny,

The creamiest candy that’s made.

Mary Sue Easter eggs, Mary Sue Easter eggs,

Brighten your Easter parade.

Can’t remember lyrics or carry a tune? Maybe a box of Mary Sue eggs will help: Baltimore’s own Glauber’s produces Naron and Mary Sue treats and sells them at 8239 Burnley Rd., Towson. 410-828-5616, www.glaubers.com.

Drive through the Lights. The 11th annual Symphony of Lights Festival at Christmastime takes you on a 20-minute cruise through more than 70 larger-than-life animated and stationary holiday light creations. In the Symphony Woods at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, runs Nov. 22, 2004 through Jan. 2, 2005. 410-740-7666.

Say it with flowers. Mount Vernon each year hosts Baltimore’s FlowerMart, a full day of flower-inspired fun, including a free outdoor concert, a garden and flowers, arts and crafts, antique cars, a food court, and more. www.flowermart.org.

Pack a picnic. Go tailgating with the horsey set at the Maryland Hunt Cup—the oldest continuously run and highest-purse timber race in the world—which has become a tradition for generations of steeplechase-loving Marylanders (parking passes in the premier lot are bequeathed in holders’ wills). While there’s just one race run (at 4 p.m.), fans start piling into the parking lots around 1 p.m. and make an afternoon of it. Be sure to bring your own chow; there’s no food for sale here. And though you’ll see attire of all kinds, don’t be surprised if you see a ton of tweed and plaid, and more than a smattering of sundresses. Held in April at Worthington Farm, 2700 Tufton Ave., Glyndon, www.marylandhuntcup.com.

Chow down for god. In October, Locust Point’s Christ Evangelical and Reformed Church, United Church of Christ (which usually gets shortened to “the German church” for obvious reasons) hosts a sour beef dinner that draws in as many as 900 locals. The church also hosts chicken and crab cake dinners in May, June, and September—with, of course, German potato salad—that are equally popular. For $10, you can’t go wrong. 1308 Beason St., 410-685-7968.

Dust off your skates. For fast, chilly fun, try Northwest Rink in Mt. Washington, the Dominic ‘Mimi’ DiPietro Family Skating Center in Patterson Park, or the Mt. Pleasant Ice Arena. Northwest, 5731 Cottonworth Ave., 410-433-2307; DiPietro, 200 S. Linwood Ave., 410-396-9392, www.pattersonpark.com/; Mt. Pleasant Ice Arena, 6101 Hillen Rd., 410-444-1888, www.on-ice.net.

Chop a Christmas tree. Whether you’re hankering for a Scotch pine, blue spruce, or Douglas fir, you can take your pick at any one of a number of cut-your-own tree farms that dot Baltimore-area counties. For a handy Choose and Cut directory, with detailed information about tree farms, try the Maryland Christmas Tree Association, www.marylandchristmastrees.org.

Eat Bertha’s Mussels. Originally opened as a bar, Bertha’s has been serving its famous mussels since 1972, and soon thereafter added the dining room that spawned a legend: the Eat Bertha’s Mussels bumper sticker. Pick one up on your way out. The Fells Point eatery also features a Scottish afternoon tea. 734 S. Broadway, 410-327-5795.

Do July 4 Baltimore style. Charm City has no shortage of venues to celebrate Independence Day: Elbow your way (gently, of course) onto a patch of green at Federal Hill and watch the sparks fly over the Inner Harbor; pay your way into Oregon Ridge and listen to the sounds of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra before the fireworks fly there; or hit the Dundalk Heritage Fair, which includes a parade and fireworks show. Oregon Ridge, 410-887-1818; Dundalk Heritage Fair, 410-284-4022.

Salsa the night awaY. Latin Palace, a Fells Point private dance club attached to Las Palmas restaurant, comes alive at night with the sounds of Latin music. Watch the pros or take a spin on the dance floor yourself. 509 S. Broadway, 410-522-6700, http://latinpalace.com.

Pick up some sweet corn. Maryland produces about 5.25 million pounds of sweet corn a year, some of which finds its way to the countless roadside stands and battered farmers’ pickup trucks parked along the state’s roads in the warm months. There are dozens in the region, but one sure bet is the permanent warm-weather family-run stand at Pahl’s Farm, 4223 Bedford Rd., Pikesville. Another is Joan’s Produce at Hillside Rd. and Greenspring Ave., also in Pikesville. There are two good ones half way down Bowley’s Quarters Road in Middle River, and a perennial and popular tailgate operation on Ruxton Road at I-83, in Ruxton.

Drink homemade wine. To sample the locals’ attempts, try the three-year-old Highlandtown Homemade Winemaking Festival, co-sponsored by Di Pasquales Deli (which handles the food and sells grapes and winemaking equipment) and the Highlandtown Community Association. The event, which has an Italian flavor, also features music and an indoor bocce ball tournament. Held in April, 410-276-6787,
www.highlandtown.com.

Eat at an institution. Try the Women’s Industrial Exchange, a nonprofit organization that, since 1880, has built a solid reputation with a simple-but-good approach that includes menu items like chicken salad, tomato aspic, and hard-boiled egg platters. Also inside, you’ll find a craft sales room, which features handmade goods and supports local people in need. 333 N. Charles St., 410-685-4388.

Have breakfast for dinner. Try the Double T Diner, where what started as a single location in 1959 has grown into a chain of seven Baltimore-area diners. In true diner style, all feature a gigantic menu (with breakfast served round the clock), juke boxes, and lots of chrome. http://doublettdiner.com.

Go medieval for Christmas. For an Old-English Christmas-Eve service that pulls out all the stops, try historic Old St. Paul’s Church, an Episcopal congregation founded in the 1600s, where an incredible array of stained glass windows (some crafted by Tiffany Studios), a traditional choir and brass quintet—plus, of course, the service itself—make for a memorable midnight. Charles and Saratoga sts., 410-685-3404, www.oldstpauls.ang-md.org.

Find Great Aunt Tilly. For photos of your long-lost Maryland ancestors, try Gary Ruppert’s website, a database of historical Baltimore photos where you can search by last name. http://freepages.collecting.rootsweb.com.

Watch rivals face off on Thanksgiving Day. Before you load yourself up on turkey, head to the Turkey Bowl, which pits rivals Loyola Blakefield against Calvert Hall College High School. The game, played at M&T Bank Stadium, is televised and carried on radio. Loyola, www.blakefield.loyola.edu; Calvert Hall, www.calverthall.com.

Do a good deed. Join the Jewish community for Community Mitzvah Day, in which 1,000 volunteers hit the streets and tackle community projects large and small. http://baltimore.planitjewish.com.

Buy bread at H&S. The wonderful smells will tell you when you’re getting close to the H&S Bakery Thrift Store. Stop by the retail shop on Fleet Street for a few loaves of the good stuff: fresh-baked bread, pies, and cakes. 1618 Fleet St., 410-522-9323.

Go to Sabatino’s at 1 a.m. At this Little Italy favorite, you can often rub elbows with the rich and powerful. OK, we can’t promise you’ll sit next to a Hollywood star, but bigwigs do tend to flock here—movie producers, politicians, authors, football team owners, actors, you name it. While you’re here, learn the secret behind Sabatino’s bookmaker salad (hint: it’s all about the secret dressing, a zesty Parmesan blend). 901 Fawn St., 410-727-2667, www.sabatinos.com.

Tour the Shot Tower. Take a tour of the 215-foot Phoenix Shot Tower, which was built in 1828 and owned the bragging rights to tallest building in the U.S. until 1846. The tower was used to make lead shot—molten lead was dropped from the top into water at the bottom. By the time it reached the bottom, the air had cooled the lead and created perfectly formed “dropped shot” for firearms. Tours—which won’t take you to the top, but do let you ascend one level—are offered on summer weekends and in winter by appointment only. 801 E. Fayette St., 410-605-2964, www.shottower.info.

Eat for your team.. Join 1,500 hard-core Ravens fans at the annual Bull & Oyster Roast, held at the Timonium Fairgrounds by the Council of Ravens Roosts—Baltimore’s oldest football fan club (it started as the Council of Colts Corrals in 1957). Or, mingle with some of the council’s 3,000 members—and a few fun-loving players—at its three-day convention in Ocean City, which includes a parade, karaoke tournament, mini golf, and more. www.rrcouncil.com.

Fill up on hot-cross buns. A traditional neighborhood baked-goods shop, Hoehn’s Bakery offers up first-rate goodies, plus seasonal specialties—like peach cake in summer—that will keep you coming back for more. 400 S. Conkling St., 410-675-2884.

Get your pep back. Join Morgan State University’s 7,200 students and a host of alums for homecoming week, held each October. In addition to the big game, the week’s events include a pep rally, the crowning of Mr. and Miss Morgan, an all-star college poetry tour, lecture series, and the Ebony Fashion Fair. 443-885-3333, www.morgan.edu.

Try to eat just one. For truly fresh Utz potato chips straight from the factory, head to Cross Street Market, home to Steve’s Lunch, which took over the former UTZ factory stall about 10 years ago. Best bet to buy: Wednesday when Steve’s gets its weekly delivery. Cross Street Market, Federal Hill. 410-385-2273.

Find your treasure. Sift through new and used items of nearly every description—you might even find that velvet Elvis you’ve been dreaming of—at the LTRC Flea Market on York Road. Held on Sundays year-round, the flea market has indoor and outdoor stalls and boasts 120 dealers in good weather. 1700 York Rd., 410-252-8272.

Splatter your friends. For a paintball locale with lots of room to roam, try Bowie’s Outdoor Adventure, which has 14 paintball fields on 80 acres. Never played before? Fear not: This is a soup-to-nuts operation where you can rent the equipment, get a quick lesson on how to safely shoot your friends (with paint) and then partake in the ultimate game of capture the flag. 410-737-8150, www.oapaintball.com.

Shop for antiques. If you’ve already scoured Baltimore’s considerable antiques offerings, head to Hanover, where more than 400 dealers make their home at AAA Antiques Mall, Maryland’s largest. The mall has antiques of all kinds, plus a warehouse full of china replacements. 2659 Annapolis Rd., Hanover. 410-551-4101.

Head for the mountains. Rent a cottage or pitch a tent for a long weekend at Deep Creek Lake, Maryland’s largest man-made lake. 301-387-4FUN, www.garrettchamber.com.

Eat a Snoball at the stand near Greenspring Station, at the intersection of Falls and Joppa rds., one of several run by run Tom Hays’ Snoasis. Or try a Sno-cone at Jay’s Shaved Ice at 2046 York Rd. in Timonium. Or, for that matter, sample any of the dozens of stands plying their icy, colorful treats starting in April and May.

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treat your tastebuds. Put your appetite to the test with a gigantic sandwich from a Pikesville mainstay. For 18 years, Suburban House Restaurant’s kosher-style deli has served up mammoth sandwiches, plus homemade soups and an assortment of smoked fish that brings in the locals—especially the older crowd—in droves. 911 Reisterstown Rd., Pikesville. 410-484-7775, www.suburbanhousedeli.com.

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Stock up on Berger cookies. Try the Berger stall at Lexington Market or load up at your local grocery store on the child’s dream of a serious cookie: two parts chocolate icing, one part yellow cookie. Even better (for your waistline), send a little Baltimore to out-of-town friends—order a tin of Berger’s best from its online catalog. www.bergercookies.com.