On a gray afternoon in November, NoMüNoMü is largely empty, aside from Joseph Orzal, who contemplates the multi-colored artworks that hang on the walls. But on any given weekend, the downtown gallery on Howard Street is packed with young creatives, all curious about the exhibitions and events hosted by this “intersectional arts collaborative.”

“[The typical museum] is not for people, it’s for the donors,” says Orzal, creative director at NoMüNoMü and former staffer at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C., where he grew up.

As a first-generation son of immigrants, he found local art museums to be exclusive in their formality and unwelcoming to people of color with their Eurocentric collections. Which is why, in 2014, Orzal co-founded NoMüNoMü, an art gallery and workspace for marginalized artists who have largely been left out of mainstream art museums.

Originally housed in the D.C. home of his friend, Nora Müeller, who inspired the space’s name, NoMüNoMü’s goal is to challenge the status quo with exhibitions and events that address gentrification, race, and politics.

“The books are radical, the art is radical, but it’s cozy and comfortable—we’re not trying to scare people away,” says Orzal, surrounded by wooden shelves featuring books like The Colonizer and the Colonized by Albert Memmi, next to a children’s corner, complete with thrifted couches, a shag rug, and Afghan blankets.

During the pandemic, Orzal, a Maryland Institute College of Art grad, set his eyes on Baltimore, inspired by its working-class roots and DIY ethos. In 2021, he moved NoMüNoMü to the city’s Bromo Arts District. Today, the gallery space mingles with artist workstations and plenty of space for community events, such as lectures, classes, and film screenings. But anything goes.

“There’s not a lot of gatekeeping here,” says Orzal. “There aren’t any ideas that are really off the table.”

Over the next year, he aims to raise at least $250,000 to support NoMüNoMü’s operational costs, fund additional programming, and hire a staff, after having to let his small team go a year ago due to gaps in funding—a perennial concern for small arts organizations. And as the gallery evolves, he hopes it will not only be a space to support artists and artworks that challenge oppression, but also provide them with a sense of freedom.

“As people start to be informed by this space, and as people start to feel like this is a space for them, to be comfortable as themselves…they’ll start to think differently,” says Orzal. “They’ll produce different forms of art, create new narratives, and create new dialogues…I hope we can be a catalyst for genuine creativity.”

1/27: PRATT CONTEMPORARIES BLACK AND WHITE PARTY
Thanks to this annual Enoch Pratt Free Library fete, you don’t need a plane ticket to visit New Orleans, the undisputed capital of festive beads, crawfish, and mouthwatering beignets. In honor of the Pratt Contemporaries—a group of engaged Baltimoreans looking to spread the word about our city’s vital free library system—the theme of this year’s black-and-white soiree will be “New Orleans, Mon Amour.” It’s a reference to writer and NPR commentator Andrei Codrescu’s book of essays by the same title, which features roughly 20 years of pieces he wrote during his time living in the famed city.

This year’s event will take place at Enoch Pratt’s Central Library, inside the building’s recently refurbished Central Hall. Proceeds raised from tickets, which will go on sale beginning Jan. 11, will promote local literacy programs for kids and teenagers. Accentuate your black-and-white attire with a subtle pop of purple, green, or gold. Enoch Pratt Free Library. Central Hall. 8 p.m.-12 a.m. $175.

1/3: NEW YEAR’S STORYTIME
At Enoch Pratt’s Herring Run Branch, begin the new year with a reading of Tami Charles’ Freedom Soup, the story of the traditional soup recipe dating back to the Haitian Revolution. After the reading, create your own Freedom Soup craft. Enoch Pratt Free Library. 11 a.m. 

1/4: NEW YEAR NEW YOU VISION BOARD PARTY
Prepare to take on 2024 with a visit to Enoch Pratt’s Waverly branch, where you can bring your biggest dreams and aspirations to life via a vision-boarding session. (Just think, maybe it could lead to your most prosperous year ever.) Enoch Pratt Free Library. 5:30 p.m.

1/5: NOAH PIERRE BAND W/ BRANDON WOODY AND AUSTIN LOMAN GROUP
Ease into the new year with live music at the 8×10. The Federal Hill venue will play host to Baltimore’s Noah Pierre Band, which will join Baltimore trumpeter Brandon Woody and Washington, D.C.’s Austin Loman Group on stage. The 8×10. 7 p.m. $19.06. 

TO 1/7: MAKING HER MARK: A HISTORY OF WOMEN ARTISTS IN EUROPE, 1400-1800
Challenging the idea that European women artists were not as talented as their male counterparts, the captivating Baltimore Museum of Art exhibition highlights women-made objects from the 15th to 18th centuries, showcasing the works of artists such as Judith Leyster. Baltimore Museum of Art. Times and prices vary. 

1/10: SELECTOR SERIES # 11: J. ROBBINS
Matt Byars and Lee Gardner, hosts of WYPR’s Essential Tremors music podcast, present an immersive vinyl listening experience at Idle Hour. Guitarist and vocalist J. Robbins, founder of Washington, D.C.-based post-hardcore band Jawbox, will select the evening’s listening material. Idle Hour. 7 p.m. $25. 

1/11-14 TREVOR NOAH: OFF THE RECORD
Why not begin the new year with a needed laugh? This month, Trevor Noah—the comedian, writer, actor, and former host of The Daily Show—brings his 28-stop North American tour to fans in Baltimore with performances at the Hippodrome Theatre. Hippodrome Theatre. Times and prices vary.

1/11-14: SHE’S GOT SOUL
Singer and actress Capathia Jenkins lends her vocals to a series of iconic R&B numbers and soul classics. Performances at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and the Music Center at Strathmore include hits by Stevie Wonder, Toni Braxton, and Adele. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Times and prices vary. 

1/12: GROWN UP FIELD TRIP: GAME ON
Thought field trips were only for tikes? Think again. This 21-plus game night at the Maryland Science Center features sips by Chesepiooc Real Ale Brewery, a giant Scrabble game, a pool noodle duck hunt, and Pac-Man live-action roleplaying. Maryland Science Center. 7-10 p.m. $40.

1/12-13: ELVIS’ BIRTHDAY FIGHT CLUB
Embarking on its 13th year, this rousing set of staged brawls—which is co-hosted by “Elvis’’ and his sidekick Kittie Glitter—brings burlesque, below-the-belt jokes, and a star-studded fight roster out to Highlandtown. Previous matches have included opponents like Bridezilla and Godzilla. Creative Alliance. Times vary. $30-45. 

1/12-28: THE BOOK OF GRACE
Courtesy of local theater company Rapid Lemon Productions, this take on playwright SuzanLori Parks’ The Book of Grace follows an optimistic waitress and her step-son. With Grace’s encouragement, he returns to South Texas to face up to his abusive father. Rapid Lemon Productions. Times vary. $20. 

1/13: MLK JR. DAY CELEBRATION BY UNIQUE ROBINSON
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., this program at The Walters Art Museum as curated and emceed by Baltimore professor and poet  Unique Robinson. The event will feature poetry embodying the topics that inform Dr. King’s monumental legacy. The Walters Art Museum. 2-4 p.m. 

1/13: MONOLOGUE SLAM
At Fells Point Corner Theatre on South Ann Street, pay attention as competitors present their best theatrical techniques to judges. With only two minutes allotted for performances, and chances to take home coveted cash prizes, the stakes are relatively high. Fells Point Corner Theatre. Time and pricing TBD.

1/13: WATCH YOUR STEP: CLOSING CELEBRATION AND DINNER
At School 33 Art Center, the boundary-pushing showcase (featuring the works of siblings Hope and Faith McCorkle) will receive a special send-off. Spend time with the exhibit, which pays homage to their lineage, and shop Black food and drink vendors. School 33 Art Center. 6-9 p.m.

1/14: JULIA BULLOCK AND BRETTON BROWN
At Shriver Hall, acclaimed soprano Julia Bullock joins pianist Bretton Brown for an evening of song, anchored by Bullock’s transformative, bold, and emotion-rich vocals. The two-hour program will be preceded by a concert talk at 4:30 p.m. Shriver Hall. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Prices vary. 

1/15: DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY PARADE
Departing from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Eutaw Street, the annual parade, courtesy of Mayor Brandon Scott, returns to Baltimore. This celebration of the late civil rights activist is known for drumlines, marching bands, and throngs of cheerful onlookers. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 12 p.m. 

1/15: PUNK ROCK KARAOKE
What better music venue than the Ottobar to host this punk rock-friendly karaoke night? Slated performers throughout the evening, wherein guests can take the mic, include Darrin Pfeiffer of Goldfinger, Randy Bradbury of Pennywise, and Greg Hetson of Bad Religion. Ottobar. 8 p.m. $27.50-30. 

TO 1/19: GET ON MY LEVEL: A GREENMOUNT WEST COMMUNITY CENTER EXHIBITION
On display at Creative Alliance, the showcase features works by members of Greenmount West Community Center’s R.I.S.E Emerging Artists program, serving neurodivergent youth learning about entrepreneurship. It features handmade works by teens in Greenmount and Highlandtown. Creative Alliance. Times vary. 

1/20: DRUMLINE LIVE
By way of the musical team behind the popular movies, this performance at The Lyric pays tribute to marching bands at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Enjoy an energized performance replete with intoxicating beats, bold sounds, and stirring rhythms. The Lyric. 7:30 p.m. Prices vary. 

1/20: REMEMBERING ARETHA, PHYLLIS, AND TEENA
Presented by Charm City Jazz, this woman-powered concert at the Gordon Center for Performing Arts remembers three musical forces of nature. We can almost guarantee that it will feature tracks including Franklin’s “Chain of Fools” and Teena Marie’s “Square Biz.” Gordon Center for Performing Arts. 7-9 p.m. Prices vary. 

1/20: QUEERING THE COLLECTION: JAMIE GRACE ALEXANDER
At The Walters Art Museum, Charm City activist and artist Jamie Grace Alexander joins Weiwen Balter, the Mount Vernon museum’s manager of school communities, to discuss the complicated histories of feminism, activism, and abolition in relation to the arts. The Walters Art Museum. 2-3 p.m. 

1/20-21: BALTIMORE HOME SHOW
For two days, the interior design showcase heads to the Baltimore Convention Center, offering homeowners a bevy of product demonstrations, design ideas, and tools to help with landscaping. Meet industry experts and head home with motivation to zhuzh up your digs. Baltimore Convention Center. Times vary. Free-$10. 

1/26-27: 2024 SUPER PLUNGE
Ahead of the Polar Plunge (a Maryland tradition celebrating our great Special Olympics athletes) this challenge is for those willing to raise a minimum of $10,000 for the program. This experience includes photo ops, costumes, chair massages, and more. Plunge Maryland. Time and pricing TBD. 

1/26-2/4: BALTIMORE WINTER RESTAURANT WEEK
In search of a delicious meal that doesn’t cost a fortune? End the month with prix-fixe breakfast, lunch, and dinner deals prepared by local eateries. Participating spots include Indigma, Barcocina, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Bluestone Restaurant, and Twist Fells Point. Baltimore Restaurant Week. Times and prices vary. 

1/28: BACK TO THE FUTURE IN CONCERT
Calling all time travelers: Prepare to celebrate the classic 1985 film with the help of a full orchestra. Courtesy of Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, this trio of performances yields roughly 20 minutes of new music by the score’s composer, Alan Silvestri. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Times and prices vary. 

Art Space is a recurring element in the UpFront section of our print publication that spotlights a local artist or project making an impact in the city at large. Here’s what’s going on this month:

A favorite among local folk music fans for three decades and counting, the Helicon trio—composed of internationally revered musicians Chris Nornan, Robin Bullock, and Ken Kolodner—returns this month with two installments of their locally loved winter solstice performance. Featuring a medley of original, traditional, and seasonal compositions from around the globe, this year’s performances will take place on Dec. 16 at Goucher College’s Kraushaar Auditorium, with showtimes at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m., and special guests including acoustic roots quartet Charm City Junction and Irish step-dancing champ Jonathon Srour.

Aside from the occasional excursion to buy odds and ends for cooking, Greenmount West resident J.C. Faulk—a documentarian and diversity consultant—hardly ever shops for groceries. His cumulative food bill for the last three and a half years sits around $400. This seems impossible—especially in the wake of inflation—but Faulk is able to do it thanks to food rescuing, a practice in which he receives soon-to-be-discarded items from food sellers and restaurants.

In 2020, Faulk launched Bmore Community Food, an organization aimed at feeding city residents in need through food rescue, also referred to as food recovery or salvaging. Prioritizing Baltimore’s Black and Brown communities, he’s given away nearly 7 million pounds of food in the past three years via his distribution site in Remington. 

Now, as Faulk works to double that figure by 2025, he’s in the process of developing a prototype model for a fleet of 20-foot, standalone refrigerated units that will be packed full of free rescued groceries. Faulk and his team plan to unveil the first prototype in Sandtown-Winchester this coming spring, with the locations of 15-20 future installations to be determined based on community feedback throughout next year. The units will be funded, in part, by various local foundations.

“We know that people are starving in the city,” he says. “Why aren’t we doing what we need to do to make sure they get fed?” 

Expanding upon the idea of smaller community fridges (think: the Linwood Community Fridge near Patterson Park and the B’more Community Fridge—not affiliated with Bmore Community Food—in Greenmount West) the insulated cargo containers will store boxes of rescued food for public access, meaning anyone in need can help themselves at any time. Outfitted with solar lights, cameras, and buzzers, Faulk will be alerted of guests’ arrivals and have the ability to unlock the fridge remotely. If all goes according to plan, Faulk hopes that the units will function as models for similar programs all over the country. 

Faulk plans to bring the vision to life with the help of students at Johns Hopkins University. During the spring 2024 semester, Faulk will collaborate with students enrolled in lecturer Nusaybah Abu-Mulaweh’s course on Social Impact Design—for which they will work to help build, strategize, and execute the prototypes. 

According to Feeding America, a national network of food relief initiatives and meal assistance programs, roughly 120 billion pounds of food items are scrapped each year. Faulk marvels at the idea that hundreds of thousands of pounds of safe, edible items are discarded by restaurants and grocery stores to “make floor space,” or, in some cases, to avoid a liability for products nearing expiration whose appearances aren’t up to retail standards.

“We try to create relationships with [distributors] so that they know to call us rather than throwing food away,” Faulk says, explaining that the process doesn’t alter the bottom line for distributors, who are eligible to receive tax write-offs for food donations, and, in turn, make room for new inventory. “We’ve got distributors that will throw away what’s on their floor just because there’s a new truck outside. That’s ridiculous, when five minutes away, there’s a mother who can’t feed her babies.”

This was especially true around the start of the pandemic, during which Faulk—one of six kids brought up by a single mother—knew that families in his neighborhood were more than likely struggling to keep meals on the table. 

“I knew I couldn’t solve the entire problem,” Faulk remembers, “but it kicked in immediately for me that I needed to do something about it.”

The first step was asking restaurants in the area to fork over their excess food. Most said yes, and soon, Faulk was delivering meals left and right—sometimes for 15 hours straight—to neighbors who could use them. Things accelerated when Bmore Community Food opened its first pick-up facility in Remington in 2020, where salvaged food donations, sourced from retail partners such as Dannon, Amazon, and Walmart, are organized for Baltimoreans in need.

As Faulk proudly notes, recipients aren’t subject to just any random goods. They often walk away with practically new items including produce, beverages, seafood (like scallops, tilapia, and shrimp) and snacks, which would otherwise be trashed by grocery stores. When thinking about some of the people he’s helped throughout the years, Faulk recalls serving a box to a man and his 10-year-old son. “He walks across the street, sits on the curb, opens the box up, and starts eating it right there. I looked at him and said, ‘You know what? That’s why we do what we do.’”

Though Faulk says the program’s Remington distribution site will remain in operation through December, the facility has begun transitioning to its new Penn-North home on Pennsylvania Avenue, directly across from the CVS where Faulk remembers spending time in the wake of the Baltimore Uprising.

“I was there after curfew every day,” he remembers. “I had police pointing guns at me. Now to be doing something on the ground so close to where the Uprising took place, to feed people from that position, to do something that helps people’s lives day to day—I’m excited about that.”

12/8-16: THE NUTCRACKER: A MAGICAL TALE IN MT. VERNON
A treasure trove in terms of its rich history, architecture, and many cutting-edge attractions (see the swank Ulysses hotel and its Ash—Bar lounge on East Read Street, for instance), Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood is always worth a visit. And perhaps no one knows this better than visitors to the neighborhood’s iconic Baltimore School for the Arts (BSA), where, this month, dancers from its student body and after-school TWIGS (To Work In Gaining Skills) program will bring audiences a localized rendition of The Nutcracker.

The show, directed by internationally renowned choreographer Amy Hall Garner, will run from Dec. 8 through Dec. 16. In addition to the unforgettable Tchaikovsky score, the program will feature tributes to such Mount Vernon establishments as Restaurante Tio Pepe and The Walters Art Museum, with nods to its annual wintertime crown jewel: the Washington Monument Lighting. Times vary. Tickets start at $25. 

12/1: HIGHLANDTOWN HOLIDAY NIGHT MARKET
Courtesy of Highlandtown Arts District and presented with the help of Made in Baltimore, this evening market celebrates the neighborhood’s extraordinary artisans. Shop small and stick around to catch the Highlandtown tree lighting and ensuing celebrations. Creative Alliance. 4 p.m. 

12/1: PORT DISCOVERY COMMUNITY DAY
The sprawling downtown kids museum—complete with its own miniature Royal Farms convenience store and diner stocked with plastic foods—invites parents and little ones to take in its three stories of exhibits, with admission priced at $10. Explore life-like attractions including The Port and The SkyClimber. Port Discovery. $10. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 

12/2: GRIEF AND THE HOLIDAYS
It’s ok (and very normal) to be grieving or in pain during the holidays. Visit Enoch Pratt’s central library to listen as local psychiatrist Dr. Drew Pate relays tips on  navigating loss and tough emotions in a time of celebration. Enoch Pratt Free Library. 10:30 a.m. 

12/3: CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS WITH THE ERIC BYRD TRIO
At Keystone Korner, the beloved Christmas tale of Charlie Brown and pals is brought to life by way of the Eric Byrd Trio. Relive childhood memories while soaking in a new spin on the animated special’s timeless, jazzy Vince Guraraldi score. Keystone Korner. 5 p.m., 7:30 p.m. $10-45. 

12/3: WALDORF FAIR
With proceeds set to benefit the Waldorf School of Baltimore, the family-favorite makers market features goodies courtesy of local artisans, live music, petting zoo critters, and a storytime for toddlers. Waldorf School of Baltimore. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $4-50. 

12/5: PA MI GENTE: CLOSING RECEPTION AND ARTIST TALK
At Motor House in Station North, this closing reception and talk with curator Christina Delgado (The founder of Tola’s Room, a Puerto Rican home museum in Belair-Edison) explores the exhibit, the first of its kind to include works from nine Puerto Rican creators with ties to Charm City. Motor House. 6-8 p.m. 

12/5: PRATT WRITERS LIVE! FEATURING CITY OF ARTISTS
Joining Cara Ober, founding editor and publisher at Bmoreart, contributors Scott Shane, Sheri Booker, Lane Harlan, and Edward Doyle-Gillespie come together to discuss City of Artists, a book blending stories and art in an homage to our city’s influence on creativity. Enoch Pratt Free Library. 7 p.m. 

12/7: MOUNT VERNON MONUMENT LIGHTING
It wouldn’t be the holidays in Baltimore without this flashy, neighborhood-wide street party. Ring in the most wonderful time of the year with bold fireworks, music, food vendors, and dazzling light displays all around Washington Monument. Mount Vernon Place. 5-8 p.m. 

12/8: MORTIFIED: HOLIDAY EDITION
At Creative Alliance, tune into a festive edition of the popular comedy show, wherein humble adults take the Highlandtown stage to share cringeworthy childhood diary entries. (We wager that there will be mistletoe talk). Creative Alliance. 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. $15-25. 

12/9: 12 BARS OF CHRISTMAS CRAWL
Your trusty, thrifted ugly Christmas sweater has been waiting for this moment. Spend eight hours on the town enjoying festive food and drink specials with locals sporting blinking string lights, Santa suits, and elf ears. Power Plant Live! 12-8 p.m. $12-14.

12/9: GREEN SPRING STATION HOLIDAY MAKERS MARKET
Embarking on its ninth year, Green Spring Station’s annual holiday market is the answer to all gift-giving conundrums. Hear live tunes and sip on Cane Collective cocktails as you shop around for everything from dog treats to home items to gourmet candies. Green Spring Station. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 

12/9: HOLIDAY HEAP
Per annual tradition, Charm City Craft Mafia’s annual holiday market brings talented Baltimore makers—from Tiny Dog Press to WOW! Vegan Treats to Metamorphosis Metals—to St. Paul St., just in time for stocking stuffing. 2640 Space. 10 a.m.-5 p.m

12/12: CHRISMA HANU KWANZAKAA FESTIVUS
With live music by special guest Jonathan Gilmore and The Experience, this edition of The Stoop Storytelling Series (which will be recorded to be broadcast at a later date on WYPR, 88.1) will feature “true, personal tales about the holidays.” The Stoop Storytelling Series. 7 p.m. $15-25. 

12/14: STATE BALLET THEATRE OF UKRAINE PRESENTS: THE NUTCRACKER
The ballet company returns to Baltimore with its rendition of The Nutcracker. Hear Tchaikovsky’s remarkable score and be transported to a world of make believe with melodies including “Waltz of the Snowflakes.” The Lyric. 7:30 p.m. Prices vary.

12/14: NOT SO SILENT NIGHT
The 21-plus bash at Center Plaza features local eats, sweet cocktails, music spun by DJ Keebee and another chance to take that ugly sweater out of hiding.  Plus, make memories with pals inside a fun 360 photo booth. Downtown Partnership of Baltimore. Time and pricing TBD. 

12/15: A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS LIVE ON STAGE
Join Charlie and friends—Snoopy, Peppermint Patty, and lovable Linus—at The Lyric for an onstage adaptation of the retro TV Special. Afterwards, stick around to sing some festive songs and carols with the Peanuts gang. The Lyric. 7:30 p.m. Prices vary.

12/15: BAROQUE CHRISTMAS
Containing gems from compositions such as Handel’s Messiah and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, this Baltimore Symphony Orchestra concert is practically oozing with holiday merriment, promising an evening of “music sure to stir the soul and lift the spirit.” Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. 7:30 p.m. $15-75. 

12/15: TOYMAKER PAJAMA PARTY
Bundle up, kiddos! Holiday PJs are welcome for this cozy, festive slumber party at the Science Center. Little ones can engineer a bouncy ball, craft shrinking ornaments, and sit down to a winter planetarium show. Maryland Science Center. 5:30-8:30 p.m. $35. 

12/16: THIRD ANNUAL CORNER CAROL
With its third iteration, this evening of performances at Fells Point Corner Theatre helps us get into the festive spirit, using storytelling, dance, and song to celebrate the holidays and to reflect on local artistry. Fells Point Corner Theatre. Time and pricing TBD.

12/16-17: CIRQUE NUTCRACKER
At Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, this fan-favorite Nutcracker performance by Troupe Vertigo features jugglers, arealists, acrobats, and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians, offering a fresh take on Tchaicovsky’s winter masterpiece. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Times and prices vary. 

12/18-19: NUTCRACKER! MAGICAL CHRISTMAS BALLET
Get ready for visions of sugarplum fairies when this rendition of The Nutcracker—an homage to classic European ballet with an international cast, including Ukrainian Principal Artists—heads to The Hippodrome Theatre. Hippodrome Theatre. 7-9 p.m. Prices vary. 

12/21: A JOHN WATERS CHRISTMAS
Merry Christmas, you grotesque John Waters devotees! The one and only nauseating author and filmmaker—and a quintessential gentleman by all accounts—to take his annual holiday show to fans in his hometown. Baltimore Soundstage. 8 p.m. Prices vary. 

12/21-22: A VERY JERRY CHRISTMAS
Homegrown singer-songwriter Cris Jacobs takes his tribute to the great Jerry Garcia (and a touch of Christmas magic) out to Fed Hill for two crazy nights. We wouldn’t be surprised to hear a few tunes that Garcia loved to play, including “Christmas Time’s a Coming.” The 8×10. Time and pricing TBD.

TO 12/23: CINDERELLA
This CenterStage rendition of the timeless fairytale is inspired by the 1997 movie, following a young girl’s moving shift from rags to riches (with assistance from her trusted fairy godmother) with upbeat music. Center Stage. Times and prices vary.

TO 12/24: CHRISTMAS VILLAGE
This year at West Shore Park, the German Christmas market will include a giant ferris wheel and 35-foot pyramid. Of course, the likes of Bratwurst and Raclette cheese will be plentiful, in case foodies were wondering. West Shore Park. Times and prices vary. 

TO 12/30: THE JIM HENSON EXHIBITION: IMAGINATION UNLIMITED
Courtesy of the Museum of Moving Image, this multi-media exhibition at the Maryland Center for History and Culture honors Hyattsville-raised puppeteer Jim Henson. Among iconic  artifacts of Henson’s career sit such childhood buddies as Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. Maryland Center for History and Culture. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Prices vary. 

12/31: MIDNIGHT NOON
Now in its 16th year, this family-friendly Science Center ball drop kicks off 2024 with hands-on fun for tikes. Say hello to a new year and be back at home in time to put the kiddos down for naptime. Maryland Science Center. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free with paid admission.

TO 1/1/2024: MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET
The holiday season in Hampden just wouldn’t be complete without this annual tradition, which sees the rows of houses along the 700 block of 34th Street adorned in decorations, strung lights, and eccentric decorations. West 34th Street.

TO 3/3/2024: ETHIOPIA AT THE CROSSROADS
The first major art exhibition in America to examine Ethiopian art in a global context, it features more than 225 objects from The Walters Art Museum’s extensive collection, one of the largest outside Ethiopia. The Walters Art Museum. Times vary. 

TO 4/28: EYEWINKERS, TUMBLETURDS, AND CANDLEBUGS
On view at the Baltimore Museum of Art Nov. 12-April 28, 2024, Eyewinkers, Tumbleturds, and Candlebugs: The Art of Elizabeth Talford Scott, will feature 20 of the artist’s fiber works, adorned with objects like stones, buttons, sequins, and bones, and depicting flowers, sea creatures, dreams, superstitions, and beyond. Baltimore Museum of Art. 10 Art Museum Drive. Times vary. Price TBD.

In 2019, with an infant at home and a class full of children whose families who couldn’t afford school supplies, teacher and first-time mom Brittany Fugate was having a rough go. With most of her paycheck supporting her students, there wasn’t much left to bring home.

“The school system makes it pretty hard to get resources from [other] places,” says Fugate, 32, who teaches in the Baltimore County public school system. “I had always been buying my own school supplies, but the pain of that was really intensified now that I was also paying for my own child.”

In February 2020, Fugate and family friend Kenny Feldman, an entrepreneur, were having a glass of wine when they came up with a solution: Tipsy Teacher, a wine company that would donate 15 percent of its proceeds to support educators in city and county classrooms. Not only would this help reduce out-of-pocket expenses for teachers, it could also ease the exhaustion that comes with the job.

Initially, the founders partnered with a California vineyard to produce the wine and handle online orders. But after local news outlets broadcasted their efforts, Easton’s Far Eastern Shore Winery reached out with plans to take over production. Fruit-forward blends—with quippy names including “Extra Credit Cab” and “Teacher’s Pet”—are now sold online, at regional festivals, and local stores like The Old Vine, Harborview Liquors, and Chesapeake Wine Company.

For the amusement of customers, “All of our labels are teacher-themed,” says Fugate, chuckling about their illustrations, which take after Bart Simpson-style chalkboard repetitions. “Some of them say things like, ‘I will not get tipsy at parent teacher conferences again,’” with faux wine stains alluding to necessary provisions for grading papers.

QR codes on the back of each bottle show customers which school their order supported and what teachers bought with respective donations, such as chalkboards, new seating, and daily student necessities like pencil pouches. In 2023 alone, Fugate and Feldman say they’ve been able to help nearly 35 classrooms secure supplies, with nearly $20,000 donated thus far. And with plans to expand Tipsy Teacher—which could see a name change as soon as next year to Kind Vine Teacher Wine—to reach national customers, they expect that impact only to increase soon.

Whether shoppers are buying a bottle of wine for themselves or to give to a friend, the brand’s semi-sweet blends are ideal for gifting, says Fugate. “People love to help out. When they scan that QR code, they feel good about themselves.”

During a stay in the intensive care unit in the wake of a Lymphoma diagnosis and resulting liver and kidney complications in May, local artist Landis Expandis was limited to intravenous feedings—leaving him understandably ravenous. But instead of letting that discomfort overwhelm him, he did what he does best—translated his feelings into art. 

“As soon as my hands worked, I was back to drawing pictures,” he says, adding that he would use his iPad to sketch the foods he dreamed of, but couldn’t eat. It was a pathway for the diligent creator to return to doing what he loves.

Best known as the frontman of local rock and soul quintet All Mighty Senators, the Baltimore musician, DJ, and whimsical visual artist spent roughly two months in the hospital before moving to a rehabilitation center where he underwent six rounds of chemotherapy. He returned home in July, and, thankfully, has since received clean scans. But, as he points out, he still has a long road to recovery.

“You don’t just walk out of cancer like walking out of the shallow end of the pool,” he says. “It’s a journey. I’m walking around with a cane. Getting upstairs is still a chore, and I have doctor visits often.”

While he continues to prioritize his health, Expandis—a MICA grad who has been a steady presence in the local art scene for the past 35 years—is getting back at it, creating with his hands (which were previously shaky from chemo) once again. Eventually, he’d like to jump back into his most recent musical project, Landis Harry Larry—a synth, funk, and punk trio in which Larry and Harry are Expandis’ digital clones. (“That’s why you never see them walking down the street,” he jokes.) But for right now, his focus is fashion. He’s painting bags and T-shirts, and adorning jackets (such as this one, worn by his wife, Freda Mohr) with studs and patches. 

Beginning this week, some of these designs—among other Expandis creations including records, handmade props used in music videos, and holographic projections of his visual artwork, as well as merchandise—will be available for purchase at Mount Vernon Records as part of Landis World, a music and art pop-up installation that will run Nov. 17-Dec. 22. 

“Landis is one of the renaissance men in Baltimore,” says Mount Vernon Records owner William Hicks, a close friend of Expandis who will perform as DJ Cheeky Willie (alongside Baltimore experimental pop musician, Glorian) at the Nov. 17 opening. “He’s not only cool, but he sticks to his guns about what his visions are. We wanted to give a peek into what he does and how he does it.”

Similar to the tribute concert that supporters organized for Expandis at the Ottobar last summer, proceeds from the show will support the artist as he gets back on his feet: “It’s the kind of love you dream of,” Expandis says of the outpouring of support he’s seen in the wake of his diagnosis, which he calls “absolutely magical.” “I wish that I could cut a piece off and share it with everyone.”

Expandis—who will make a masked appearance at the exhibit opening Friday, from a safe distance—is looking forward to the installation as an opportunity to showcase his work more holistically. 

“It’s weird being a multifaceted artist because I don’t really see myself the way other people see me,” he says. “Some people know me as a DJ and go ‘Hey DJ Landis!’ And then another person might see me and go, ‘Oh, it’s Landis the painter.’ Older cats probably know me only as a musician. But I’m all of those things. Even when I’m not creating, I’m designing things in my head—[be it] a song, a painting, or a garment.”

As he—slowly but surely—returns to creating art in all of the forms he’s used to, Expandis is simply happy to relish life’s small joys. 

“Once you face your mortality, everything you experience after that is golden,” he says. “Just drinking a cup of coffee is the most amazing, beautiful thing. I’m sitting here making art in my studio, breathing air, drinking ginger ale, and listening to Schoolhouse Rock. It’s the best thing that there is.”

How do immigrants use food to shape their urban communities? This is the question at the heart of El Camino del Pan y del Mole, a set of two documentary shorts exploring parallels between the lives of two Mexican chefs—one from Baltimore, and one from New Orleans. 

The local subject, Jose Vargas, is the chef/owner of Highlandtown establishments Vargas Bakery and Taqueria Vargas. The Big Easy’s Ivan Cortez Castillo is the brains behind food stall Antojitos Garibaldi, located in the city’s Westbank Pulga flea market, and Garibaldi’s, located in Kenner, LA.

Produced by local artist and filmmaker Andy Dahl, UMBC’s Public Humanities program director Dr. Sarah Fouts, and New Orleans-based documentarian Fernando López, the project is part of this year’s Homegrown Foodways Film Series from the American Folklife Center—an arm of the Library of Congress that documents living cultural traditions. 

At a special Creative Alliance screening this Thursday, Nov. 9 from 6-8 p.m., filmmakers will discuss how themes of immigration, culture, and community link to food service and dining in America. As a celebration of the subjects’ culture, the free and bilingual event will also highlight a mariachi band and special drag show by Castillo, who will perform as Ivette Donnely, plus light snacks and zines on food history researched and created by Fouts’s students.

In advance of the event, we caught up with Dahl and Fouts, the Baltimore-based co-producers, to delve deeper into the making of the film.  

How did this project come to be? 

Sarah Fouts: Andy and I met in the Peace Corps in South America almost 20 years ago. We both overlapped in New Orleans, and we both live in Baltimore now. In the fall of 2021, we started offering a virtual class with humanity scholar students at UMBC looking at the background of Latin American restaurants in the Highlandtown area. Students were doing archival work, and then we shifted to field work, doing interviews with a lot of the restaurant owners. That [became] a mapping and storytelling project called Sabor de Highlandtown, which we showcased at Creative Alliance in the spring of 2022. We were really moved by everyone’s story, but Jose Vargas’ story stood out in particular.

Most of my research is based in New Orleans. In 2022, I was working concurrently with Fernando López on Project Neutral Grounds, a street food vendor project based there, which mirrored a lot of the work we had been doing in Highlandtown. While we were doing oral histories with folks down there, our colleague and friend, Michelle Stefano, was in New Orleans, and we invited her on one of the shoots. She mentioned the Homegrown Foodways Series and asked if we would be interested. I was like “Absolutely!” Ivan’s story came to mind quickly. I was interested in a dual look at New Orleans and Baltimore. Thinking about my work with Andy, as well as Jose Vargas’ really great story, we realized we could tell the two stories in parallel with each other.

What do you find so remarkable about Vargas and his contributions to Highlandtown?

Andy Dahl: Jose Vargas is a longstanding pillar in the community in Southeast Baltimore—not just in the Latinx community, but in the community at large. He obviously has a thriving business, but he’s known to be very generous with his time and his resources. He’s very well respected within the immigrant community, so it was a treat to be trusted with his story in particular. He’s an easy subject because he just has a way of, without really any fear, telling his story, and going there in a deep way.

Initially, we were thinking we could make one film interweaving the two—I still think of them as “Chapter One” and “Chapter Two”—or do an episodic project. As you’ll see from the films, there’s lots of nuanced things that make them different, but they make a really interesting pair.

What are some of the similarities and differences you saw in the two subjects’ success stories?

SF: These two cities are similar in a lot of ways. I actually have students working on mini zines on food history, comparing New Orleans and Baltimore and looking at specific foods like snowballs, oysters, seafood, and the cultures of crabs and crawfish. We’re making these big picture connections between the two places through food. And then of course, both places are majority Black cities. Both places are Southern, even though New Orleans is the deep south and Baltimore is just below the Mason Dixon Line. But, looking at those bigger picture questions and then seeing how these two stories kind of fit within that—it wasn’t nice and neat. We started with this thread of them both making chicken moles, but it didn’t really carry through in the editing. The themes of family, community, and connection are what I think came through more.

AD: The big thing that Jose has in common—but also doesn’t have in common—with Ivan is a strong family. They both have their families, but I think Ivan’s is a family that he created based on the components of the community that he belongs to and supports. 

SF:  Like Jose, he’s this really great, gregarious person and he also gives so much to his community. His story is very different from Vargas’s because the notion of family comes out through the LGBTQ community that he’s a part of, and that he’s very much a leader in. The food he’s making and the people he’s hiring are all part of that community. The money he earns will often go toward helping people who are detained or incarcerated, or to help people buy clothing or materials. He’s really been this important pillar of the New Orleans LGBTQ community. He’s also a performer—he puts on drag shows, he does Miss Gay Latina. 

AD: As for Jose, his parents are here, his brothers and sisters are here, and of course, there’s a community that’s his family also. There’s the traditional family and the cultivated and created family, but they serve the same function of supporting each other when that’s needed.

But the big thing that they have in common is that they tap into their own rich cultural histories of food. They pull from that to be able to create businesses in their respective cities, and then support their families and communities. Individually, they pull from those stories or their cultural knowledge of things like, who taught them a specific recipe. What they do in their business is integral to who they are, where they come from, and their cultural practices and traditions. The films, to me, are about food and family on a basic level.

You mentioned the “Sabor de Highlandtown” project. How did that research end up surfacing in the film? 

SF: The project is a UMBC Public Humanities program housed in Baltimore Traces, which is a public humanities archive of all different projects in Baltimore, asking “How do neighborhoods change, and how do people feel about those changes?” I did a lot of work with Mera Kitchen Collective during peak pandemic lockdown, where I was delivering groceries through them to different Latin American folks in that neighborhood. I’d gone to the neighborhood before COVID to hang out with Andy, and I’ve always been so compelled by what a bustling neighborhood it is. There’s so many different types of people out there—kids, elders, and immigrants from all over.

The history of the neighborhood comes out in the film, too, as Jose talks about opening his first bakery in Greektown. Historically, Highlandtown and Greektown have been founded with folks from Polish, German, and Italian backgrounds, and then in the early aughts Jose opened this bakery in the middle of Greektown. He was like, “People were wondering why I’m opening a bakery. I’m from Mexico, and this is a Greek neighborhood.” But ultimately, they got along. It wasn’t easy, but I think it shows these neighborhood changes. Now, you see Latin American, Middle Eastern, Asian, and African restaurants all throughout that area, which is really neat. For me, it was just like seeing history in action.

The two of you have lived in both Baltimore and New Orleans. Can you describe each city’s intersection of food, Hispanic culture, and community?

SF: If you want to find Latin American food from Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, or Peru, you’ll find it in Highlandtown—not to say that there aren’t places in the suburbs, as well. In New Orleans, it’s pretty different. There’s people in a lot of different neighborhoods in the city. Pre-Hurricane Katrina in 2005, you didn’t really see many Latinx folks there. They really came as part of the recovery and cleanup efforts and then the rebuilding of New Orleans. The majority of those folks are from Honduras, which is pretty unique compared to other cities in the United States. 

AD: Some of the other nuanced stuff that we found pretty fascinating were the cultural exchanges between the different Latinx food traditions, which Jose talks about [in the film.] “What can I learn to cater to the other Latinx folks that are in my community? And then how can my wife teach the woman from Honduras how to make mole poblano?” Food represents a connection between people. It’s a shared thing, and also an opportunity to learn and expand within communities.

SF: What we were trying to get at was how [our subjects] adapted to local food culture as well, and it wasn’t that salient. Ivan has crawfish and Jose and his family have crabs, but they’re not suddenly using Old Bay in their tacos. They’re staying very true to a lot of those Mexican dishes. 

AD: For Gary, Jose’s son, one of his dreams is to open a pizzeria that will offer Mexican food toppings—sort of like a blend of fast food pizza and Mexican food. It’s been done before, of course. But not the way that he will do it in the future. I think that’s interesting. Culture doesn’t have an end to it. It’s a progression and an evolution no matter what.

What do you think Baltimore could be doing to better support its Hispanic foodways?

AD: There’s a lot of important work being done by important people in the city who have been working on this for a long time. But I also think about how we can make it more friendly and easier for new immigrants to get their businesses going. I think we should be bending over backwards to try to support all these new entrepreneurs instead of saying things like “That’s not permitted” or “You didn’t go about it the right way.” We should be starting from that point of helping people to do better instead of fining everybody until they do the right thing. 

SF: There’s not only this idea of businesses, but also housing—and not just for the Latin American community, but also the Black community. Both Jose and Ivan live in the suburbs. It is a huge theme [connecting the films], and it’s mostly around affordability and also having enough space for a big family. But it is much cheaper to live in the suburbs. How do we ensure that we’re creating spaces and housing that people can afford? There’s a lot of blighted houses in Baltimore. There’s a similar story in New Orleans. Understanding how to make sure that people are able to live in the cities where they work is really important.

What were the most rewarding aspects of this project?

SF: Shooting with the Vargas family was really really, really fun. After filming, we enjoyed these great meals they were cooking for us, just hanging out at the dinner table and really connecting with them on this extra level. 

AD: It’s really an honor to be invited into somebody’s life for a couple of days, or a week. [With Jose] after a while, we just felt like we were part of the family. We wake up, they wake up, and then we’re at their house until midnight. And then we do it again tomorrow. I’d joke around, like, “What time is dinner tomorrow?” 

What do you hope that the audience takes away from the screening?

AD: Being exposed to a couple of amazing people’s stories. I hope people walk away with an experience of community that really won’t be able to be replicated. Sure, we could watch these movies again, and maybe they’ll be shown in another movie theater or festival sometime—or maybe they won’t—but I just hope people get a sense of community, and a possibility of new communities being formed in an intimate space. 

In mid-November, while the rest of us are busy prepping pies and stuffing turkeys, local cyclists will take off with baskets and backpacks to search the city’s grocery stores for boxes of oatmeal, jars of peanut butter, cans of beans, and so on.

Now in its ninth year, Cranksgiving has become an annual tradition—and competition—that combines a bike race, scavenger hunt, and food drive, one that is now as synonymous with Thanksgiving in Baltimore as sauerkraut. For cyclists, at least.

“It’s an event filled with joy,” says Jed Weeks, interim executive director and policy director of Bikemore, the local nonprofit cycling advocacy group that hosts the event. “We found a way that Bikemore can give back to the community in a time of need and elevate other nonprofits in the city…It’s really a win-win.”

In 1999, the tradition began in New York City, with one generous bike messenger, Antonio Rodriges, who was in search of a unique way to give back to his community. He designed the event to resemble “alley cat races,” or unsanctioned bike races meant to mimic a messenger’s intense, fast-paced daily routine, and it took off.

Before long, Cranksgiving went nationwide, and in 2015, Baltimore caught on when Bikemore started its own competition, with gathered goods supporting two local food insecurity nonprofits, Moveable Feast and the Franciscan Center.

To date, there have been close to 500 participants and more than $5,000 worth of donations. But this is no ordinary food drive. With a list of groceries and locations, small teams depart from Charm City Meadworks and hit various designated stores throughout the city, with only two hours allotted for travel or shopping.

At the end of the race, donations are divided into bins, points are tallied based on their speed and haul, and awards are handed out during an after-party. Over the years, participants have established friendly rivalries and some don holiday-themed costumes aboard festively decorated bikes.

This month, Cranksgiving will take place on Saturday, Nov. 18, starting at 1 p.m. Registration is free, beyond at least $10 for groceries, encouraging ample participation. And in the years to come, Weeks hopes that the organization can entice even more participants, perhaps through the inclusion of e-scooters and other mobility devices, in an effort to accommodate those without bike access.

“It’s not just for bike messengers and roadie cyclists,” he says, as new bikers, kids, and families from across the city have participated in this one-of-a-kind ride. “It balances the competition spirit with pure fun. I don’t know how to describe it; it just feels very Baltimore.”

For years, city dwellers have had opportunities to ice skate their way through the holiday season at places like annual Inner Harbor Ice Rink, the Mt Pleasant Ice Arena in Northeast Baltimore, the Mimi DiPietro Family Skating Center in Patterson Park, and the Four Seasons Baltimore’s rooftop rink in Harbor East.

Now, the Baltimore Peninsula is introducing a new wintertime tradition in the form of an indoor pop-up rollerskating rink.

“Usually, during the holiday season, everyone goes ice skating,” says Chenire Carter, Director of Community and Experiences at MAG Partners, the real estate firm behind the Baltimore Peninsula development team. “With 63 percent of Baltimoreans being Black, really, what they grew up on was roller skating.” 

From November 24 to January 28, 2024, the South Baltimore development’s 2455 House Street building will host The Roller Wave—a traveling, disco-themed roller rink with a community focus—Fridays through Sundays from noon to 12:30 a.m. (Admission will run $10-20 including skate rentals.)

The new, family-friendly attraction will anchor the Peninsula’s lineup of Holiday Remix programming, which is meant to foster community throughout the season with events like a Christmas tree lighting on December 1, a Makers of Maryland artisan gift market December 2-3, a menorah lighting and Chanukah celebration December 7-15, and an installation of the BLK Ass Flea Market and a “Kwanzaa 101” course on Dec. 16

The Roller Wave, which has previously traveled to cities like Atlanta, Houston, and Los Angeles, is the brainchild of Brooklyn, New York native Harry Martin—a personal trainer and yoga instructor who skated as a kid, and fell back in love with the activity after “unexpectedly having the time of his life” at company skating party in 2015. Not only was it nostalgic for Martin, but he says it was a great way to combat mental health struggles.

Martin says that music is a huge part of his roving installation, which will be decked out with requisite neon lights and disco balls. Skaters can look forward to local DJs spinning playlists of retro disco numbers, as well as curated setlists reflecting Baltimore’s renowned Bmore Club and house music history. 

“Baltimore is a unique and vibrant city, like New York,” Martin says, on his decision to bring the skating party he created here. “It’s also community-driven. In places like Baltimore, we find activities, community, and family, in each other.”

As it continues to establish its presence, informed by goals of bringing folks of every walk together to enjoy the South Baltimore waterfront, the massive, mixed-use Baltimore Peninsula sees Martin’s passion project as a great fit.

“When we layer [this concept] with entrepreneurship and being able to support small, minority, and women-owned businesses all in one, it’s a win-win,” Carter says of the Holiday Remix lineup, “not just for Baltimore Peninsula and The Roller Wave, but for the city at large.” 

Specifically, Carter hopes to see the installation function as a safe haven for youth who may be dealing with life difficulties outside of the rink. Martin agrees, mentioning he feels strongly about introducing the “lost art” of rollerskating to a new generation. He can’t wait to watch as local families bond over the installation, like they have in other states. 

“There are kids who have never seen their parents skate,” he says. “They’re going to be getting down and getting young again.”

When Vivian Fisher was hired as its first manager in August of 2000, the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Eddie and Sylvia Brown African American Department didn’t exist. 

“There was no building,” recalls Fisher, now the Central Library’s deputy chief, who also formerly served as the head of Morgan State University’s Special Collections. “It was a parking lot, and it was my job to turn it into a full-fledged department.” 

Three years later, the Cathedral Street landmark unveiled a multi-million dollar annex that housed the brand new department and its reading room, named after philanthropist Juanita C. Burns. 

Today, the Central Library department that Fisher has overseen for more than two decades—born as an extension of the library’s more than 50-year-old African American collection—is a hallmark of the entire Pratt Library system, boasting more than 50,000 materials dedicated to the history and culture of Black Baltimore.

This Friday from 7-9 p.m., the department will celebrate 20 years of service with a special conversation between Enoch Pratt CEO Heidi Daniel and her predecessor, Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden—whose presence was essential to establishing the Pratt’s African American collection throughout the years. The evening at the Central branch in Mt. Vernon will also highlight a ribbon cutting unveiling upgrades to the space (expect fresh paint, carpeting, and furniture,) as well as the dedication of new artwork courtesy of social activist and visual artist Chris Wilson. 

With the assistance of both city and state funds, Fisher believes that the library’s African American collection began in 1977, at the tail end of the Civil Rights Movement and the crux of Black Power movement. “At the time, many African American students were really embracing their ancestry,” Fisher says. “and a lot of them, at very prominent universities, were demanding that African American history courses be taught.”

What started as a section with 15,000 titles now includes close to 60,000 materials that span far beyond books—including newspaper clippings, a black-and-white photography collection centering Black Marylanders, and an ephemera collection stocked with everything from calendars to pamphlets to church and funeral programs. Notably, the department is also home to first editions including Phillis Wheatley’s Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral and William Still’s The Underground Railroad. 

The decision to expand on these resources with non-book materials throughout the years was largely thanks to Dr. Hayden’s guidance, according to Fisher.

“This was something that was near and dear to her heart to get accomplished—not only for her, but for the citizens of Baltimore,” Fisher says of Hayden, who was with the Pratt from 1993 to 2016. “If it wasn’t for her, I don’t know if the department would have been a reality.” 

Under Fisher’s loving leadership, the department—which is, of course, named after active Baltimore philanthropists Eddie and Sylvia Brown and funded in part by private donors—has also introduced regular programming aimed at uplifting Baltimore’s Black population. In honor of its namesakes (both beloved Pratt supporters), Fisher launched the library’s popular Brown Lecture Series in 2004—which has since welcomed guests such as R&B singer-songwriter Aaron Neville, American Ballet Theater’s first African American principal ballerina Misty Copeland, and, most recently, hometown actress Jada Pinkett Smith.

“I wanted to honor [the Brown family] and have scholars, researchers, and writers talk about the African American experience, so that people like me get to see people who have made it in their own professions,” Fisher says of the series. “I wanted people to come out to see that there’s a world full of possibilities. The African American Department offers a lot of possibilities.”

Fisher hints at additional programming in the works such as a lyricist contest for local students and a November 30 panel discussion featuring Baltimore-bred artists Derrick Adams and Shinique Smith.

In the next 20 years, she hopes the department will continue to receive funding to add to its collections and programming—which serve the overarching goal of sharing the city’s Black history.

“I want people to be able to take away that there was a race of people whose trajectory was looking very grim,” she says. “But there’s a lesson here not to despair. You can be as great as you want to be. Looking at some of the stuff that we have is a motivation for a lot of people. If those are the odds that they had against them, and they were able to succeed, there’s nothing there to stop you.”

Towson-raised professional skateboarder Joey Jett, 25—who rose to national acclaim when he was only seven—found a sense of freedom and belonging in the sport. Today, he’s sharing that with future generations. In addition to creating his own skate-inspired streetwear line, JETT Brand Clothing, he helped to organize fundraising efforts to launch Jake’s Skate Park at Rash Field. Opened last year, the park was built in honor of a five-year-old skateboarder named Jake Owen who was killed by a distracted driver. At Jake’s Skate Park, Jett offers free lessons to children 12 and under as part of an event called Boards and Breakfast.  Here, Jett talks about his journey.

When I was six, I thought my neighbor was the coolest person ever. He was five years older than me, and he was always on a skateboard, so, eventually, I grabbed my own. At first, I was bad at skating—probably way worse than the average person who first steps on a skateboard. But it pretty much became my life. Within an eight-month period, I became the youngest skateboarder to do a backflip, was invited to the Dew Tour, and won about 50 contests in a row.

At 10 years old, I quit. When I first started skating, it felt natural. But once I joined the competition circuit, there was more pressure. People were predicting that I would become the next Tony Hawk. But all I really wanted to do was be a normal kid. What I first loved about skateboarding was the freedom that it brings—the creativity, the fun, the adrenaline.

Five years later, I moved to Calvert County. I knew one person at my new high school, my stepbrother, who told everyone I was a professional skateboarder. Here I was, 4 foot 7, with buck teeth. I had nothing to lose, and so I kind of went along with it. Soon, other skaters started coming up to me, inviting me to skate with them. I was terrified because I hadn’t done it in five years. I basically lost everything I knew when I was younger. I was at a beginner level—couldn’t even do one trick—but they accepted me.

From there, we skated every day. I filmed a couple videos in high school. Filming with my friends got me back to the real reason I fell in love with skateboarding in the first place. There was no contest, it was just about creating new tricks and having the freedom to be able to do whatever you want without being judged. I sent one to Mike Vallely, who was my favorite professional skater when I was starting out. He said, ‘I really liked this video. You should meet me on tour.’

From there, I ended up going to Japan, Denmark, Greece, Italy—all around the world—and then, Mike named me pro. I did that for three years and then I started my own clothing line, JETT Brand, and now that’s what I do.

I also helped raise money for the opening of Jake’s Skate Park at Rash Field. At the time, I had just finished touring the world for about three years. I was planning a really big art show in Baltimore, and Jake’s family approached me and said, ‘We would love to do this show with you. Would you mind helping us raise funds for a skate park?’ I really wanted to help make it happen, for them and for Baltimore. I felt like we needed a skate park.

We did the art show and ended up selling out and raising $35,000. When opening day came around, it was cool to see everyone there. I wouldn’t trade the feeling of seeing that community blossom for anything.

When you’re a kid, skate parks can be intimidating. I decided to create Boards and Breakfast at Jake’s Skate Park just for them. I picked up skateboarding at such a young age, and never really had a teacher, I just learned it in my own way. So now, teaching kids is very natural for me. I know exactly how to work with them. To see them with big smiles, and such excitement for skateboarding, makes me get excited, too. That’s what I’m here for. I’m not really into gatekeeping. I’m here to teach people new skills and help them be creative, because I know what that’s done in my own life.

If I can help inspire one kid, or help them be creative, then that’s good enough for me.

11/10: BALTIMORE CITY VETERANS DAY PARADE
With Adjutant General Janeen Birckhead (the woman at the helm of Maryland’s military and the only African-American woman in the U.S. to lead a state military in the nation) as its grand marshall, the Mount Vernon parade pays respects to our state’s fallen heroes. Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place. 12-1:30 p.m.

11/2: AIN’T NO SUNSHINE: A BILL WITHERS EXPERIENCE
The late musician, with a catalog of hits including “Lovely Day,” Use Me,” and “Ain’t No Sunshine,” gets a Keystone Korner tribute, celebrating his unique voice and remarkable work as a singer-songwriter. Keystone Korner. 7:30 p.m. $10-35.

11/2: CALEB STINE
Always with a mustachioed smile and a cowboy hat, the singer-songwriter heads to The Walters Art Museum to play a set inspired by its galleries’ insects and animals.  The Walters Art Museum. 6-7 p.m.

11/3: THE FAB FOUR: THE ULTIMATE TRIBUTE
Shake it up, Baby! This Emmy award-winning tribute act treats Beatles fans at The Lyric to spot-on renditions of tunes like “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Here Comes The Sun,” and “A Day In The Life. The Lyric. 8 p.m. Prices vary.

11/4: NIKKI GLASER: THE GOOD GIRL TOUR
The blunt and relatable standup comedian, also the host of reality TV series “FBOY Island,” treats fans in Baltimore to jokes about her stance on topics like the five second rule. The Lyric. 7 p.m. Prices vary.

11/4: BALTIMORE CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL
Throw on a pretzel necklace and your favorite local brewery-themed swag for this event at Canton Waterfront Park, which will feature hoppy sips from more than 60 local breweries, small vendors, and a slew of local food trucks. Canton Waterfront Park. 12-5 p.m.  $15-65. 

11/4: PUMPKIN SMASH
All done with that lovingly carved jack-o-lantern? You can toss it in the garbage or propel it from the rooftop of a locally loved science museum from a launch tube. Pick your poison! Maryland Science Center. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. 

11/5: HUMAN REQUIEM
The Baltimore Choral Arts Society launches its 58th season with “Seven Last Words of the Unarmed,” by Atlanta-based composer Joel Thompson, and Johannes Brahms’ stirring Ein Deutsches Requiem. Baltimore Choral Arts Society. 3 p.m. $25-40.

11/6: CREATE YOUR OWN MINI CLIMATE PONCHO
At Enoch Pratt library, join artist Hosey Corona to craft your own artistic poncho inspired by nature, resilience, and Mother Earth’s many wonders. Enoch Pratt Free Library. 2:30-4 p.m.

11/6: BALTIMORE BABYWEARING MEETUP
Bring your precious bundle to this meeting at The Womb Room—an organization supporting Charm City’s new parents and families—which will teach guests different ways to wrap their babies in a carrier. (Like swaddling, it’s tricky!) The Womb Room. 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

11/8: THE 1975
As part of its “Still… At Their Very Best” tour, the beloved British indie pop group treats its Baltimore fanbase to hits such as “Sincerity is Scary,” and “Somebody Else.” CFG Bank Arena. 8:30-11 p.m.

11/8: KITCHEN UNDISCLOSED
Courtesy of The Baltimore Banner, this lavish four-course dinner party, which features suggested wine pairings and a complimentary welcome drink, is top secret until the big day rolls around. (Here’s a hint: it’s at one of the city’s most fabulous restaurants.) Location TBD. 5:30-11:30 p.m. $125.

11/9: BOSHELL LECTURE SERIES: BLACKNESS IN ANTIQUITY
At The Walters Art Museum, Dr. Gina Borromeo, the museum’s Senior Director of Collections and Curatorial Affairs and  Senior Curator of Ancient Art joins author  Dan-el Padilla Peralta, Associate Professor of Classics at Princeton University, to discuss racialization in the ancient Mediterranean world. The Walters Art Museum. 6-7:30 p.m. Free.

11/10: THE BEACH BOYS
Get ready for some “Fun, Fun, Fun!” The California rockers, known for hits like “Good Vibrations,” “Surfer Girl,” and “In my Room,” to take their songbook to the East Coast for an Anne Arundel County show. The HALL at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland. 8 p.m. Prices vary.

11/10: THE SOUL STAGE
Courtesy of  Mississippi native vocalist Black Assets, this music showcase at Creative Alliance will highlight Baltimore’s burgeoning indie, funk, and soul artists to watch for. Creative Alliance. 7:30 p.m. $10-20. 

11/11: PASADENA WITH JIMMIE’S CHICKEN SHACK
The father-and-son rock group and the tasty-sounding alt-rock band (both Marylanders) play a set for fans in downtown Baltimore. Baltimore Soundstage. 7 p.m. Prices vary.

11/11: PATTERSON PARK BREWFEST
This Patterson Park bash will offer more than 40 brews to sip on, satisfying grub, and live performances—with lots of activities for kiddos, also. Patterson Park Bull Circle. 12-5:30 p.m. $15-55.

11/16: THANK YOU OMU
This story time for tots in Brooklyn Park is all about the power of community, sharing, and gratitude. Stay afterwards to make a “Thankful Tree,” craft to hang up at home. Chesapeake Arts Center. 10-10:45 a.m. 

11/17: STOOP SOIREE: CHARM CITY
Inspired by our own Charm City, this swank gala at The R. House celebrates the 15th anniversary of Baltimore Family Alliance, which advocates for safe neighborhoods, streets, and schools. Baltimore Family Alliance. 6-11 p.m. $75-150. 

11/17: THE PRINCESS BRIDE WITH CARY ELWES
Join the handsome actor (who plays Westley in the classic ‘80s film) at The Lyric for a moderated chat, which will reveal insider secrets from behind the scenes. The Lyric. 7 p.m. Prices vary.

11/18-19: AND STILL, WE DREAM
Full Circle Dance Company’s latest production addresses experiences tied to dreams, from repressed fantasies to aspirations to daydreams. Full Circle Dance Company. Times vary. $20-25.

11/19-12/24: CHRISTMAS VILLAGE
This year at West Shore Park, the German Christmas market will include a giant ferris wheel and 35-foot pyramid. Of course, the likes of Bratwurst and Raclette cheese will be plentiful, too. West Shore Park. Times and prices vary. 

11/19: TAKÁCS QUARTET
The Budapest-born, Colorado-raised Grammy award-winners  showcase their talents (and a range of nature-inspired melodies) in Baltimore. Shriver Hall. 5:30-7:15 p.m. Prices vary.

11/20-4/28: EYEWINKERS, TUMBLETURDS, AND CANDLEBUGS
Born the sixth of 14 siblings to a family of sharecroppers, Elizabeth Talford Scott—the late quilt artist and longtime Baltimore resident, whose daughter is renowned Baltimore artist Joyce J. Scott—comes from a long line of creators and craftspeople. Despite the racial hardships they endured, including slavery, Talford Scott’s loved ones managed to become gifted metalworkers, basket-makers, storytellers, knitters, and clay artists, helping to set the stage for Talford Scott’s illustrious career spent making magic out of fiber.

On view at the Baltimore Museum of Art Nov. 12-April 28, 2024, Eyewinkers, Tumbleturds, and Candlebugs: The Art of Elizabeth Talford Scott, will feature 20 of the artist’s fiber works, adorned with objects like stones, buttons, sequins, and bones, and depicting flowers, sea creatures, dreams, superstitions, and beyond. Baltimore Museum of Art. 10 Art Museum Drive. Times vary. Price TBD.

11/24: ABDU ALI
A child of Baltimore, the multi-instrumentalist and DIY scene trailblazer Abdu Ali is headed to the Ottobar. The no-frills concert space and dive in Station North seems fitting for Ali, whose songs embody connectivity and unabashed joy. Ottobar. 9 p.m. $15. 

11/24-25: BLACK FRIDAY AT MAX’S TAPHOUSE
 Make your way out to the Fells Point bar and hangout after Turkey Day to sample an array of local stouts and porters. Max’s Taphouse. 12:30 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. 

11/24: THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH
With attractions including a criss-cross trapeze, a triangular highwire, and bicycle trampoline, this dazzling edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey famous show is set to thrill Baltimore families. CFG Bank Arena. Times and prices vary. 

11/24-26: FESTIVAL OF TREES
The annual event to benefit the work of Kennedy Krieger Institute heads to the Maryland State Fairgrounds, boasting over-the-top wreaths, gingerbread houses, and designer trees. Maryland State Fairgrounds. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. 

11/25: CHARM CITY JUNCTION AND KEN AND BRAD KOLODNER
In Owings Mills, enjoy an evening of old-time tunes, and mesmerizing Irish melodies, inducing foot-tapping galore. Gordon Center for Performing Arts. 8-10 p.m. $15-35.

11/25-1/1: MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET
It wouldn’t be a Christmas in Charm City without this Hampden event, which highlights houses adorned in lights and perfectly eccentric decorations. ‘Tis the season, hon! West 34th Street. 

12/3-3/3/2024: ETHIOPIA AT THE CROSSROADS
The first major art exhibition in America to examine Ethiopian art in a global context, it features more than 225 objects from The Walters Art Museum’s extensive collection, one of the largest outside Ethiopia. The Walters Art Museum. Times vary. 

12/3: KALEIDOSCOPE CHAMBER COLLECTIVE
With its U.S. debut, the ensemble of young chamber musicians will perform major quintets from American composers Florence Price and Amy Beach. Comprising a flexible roster of musicians, Kaleidoscope began in 2017 and broadcasts regularly on BBC Radio. Shriver Hall. 5:30 p.m. Prices vary. 

5/26-12/30: THE JIM HENSON EXHIBITION: IMAGINATION UNLIMITED
Courtesy of the Museum of Moving Image, this multi-media exhibition at the Maryland Center for History and Culture honors Hyattsville-raised puppeteer Jim Henson. Maryland Center for History and Culture. Times vary. Free-$19.  

10/1-1/7/2024: MAKING HER MARK: A HISTORY OF WOMEN ARTISTS IN EUROPE, 1400-1800
Challenging the idea that European women artists were not as talented as their male counterparts, this new Baltimore Museum of Art exhibition highlights women-made objects from the 15th to 18th centuries. Baltimore Museum of Art. Times and prices vary. 

Art Space is a recurring element in the UpFront section of our print publication that spotlights a local artist or project making an impact in the city at large. Here’s what’s going on this month:

On average, humans spend two hours every night (and at least six years throughout their lifetime) immersed in dreams. This month, in its 23rd season, Baltimore’s preeminent modern dance ensemble, the Full Circle Dance Company, presents And Still We Dream, a production featuring music, poetry, and movement inspired by dreams. On Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 19 at 2:30 p.m., performances at the Baltimore Theatre Project will touch on themes ranging from daydreaming to insomnia, with one centerpiece work paying homage to dream-like references in the oeuvre of our state’s late poet laureate, Lucille Clifton.

Beneath an orange tent along East 32nd Street Saturday morning, warmly dressed locals delivered foil and parchment-wrapped pies—filled with everything from pecans to apples to mac and cheese—for judging in the first-ever Great Waverly Pie Contest.

Hosted by the fan-favorite 32nd Street Farmers Market, the fundraiser for the neighborhood’s 29th Street Community Center and nonprofit library Village Learning Place tasked bakers with whipping up their most unique pie using as many fall ingredients from the market’s vendors as possible.

Around 10:45 a.m., local judges—including City Council member Odette Ramos, Baltimore food writer Amy Langrehr of Charm City Cook, Cajou Creamery co-owner Dwight Campbell, and local chef Doug Wetzel (all known champions of the beloved community market)—arrived to taste around 30 submissions, ranging from sweet to savory to vegan to specialty.

After thorough evaluations based on taste, presentation, and number of ingredients obtained from farmers market vendors, one sweet and one savory pie took home top honors: Matt Maxion’s purple yam (or ube) pie and Garrick Houston’s cajun jambalaya pie. 

“My dad’s side of the family is from the Louisiana-Texas border, so I grew up eating jambalaya, gumbo, all of the New Orleans staples,” explained Houston,  who happens to be a native of Houston, Texas. He’s an architect by day, but he’s been a devoted home baker for the last two decades.

Drawing inspiration from his mother’s jambalaya recipe, a lot like a tomato stew, his pie contained ingredients like sausage, olive oil, and bell peppers sourced from regular vendors like Pahl’s Farm in Woodstock and Bartenfelder Farms in Caroline County.  “I’ve been in Maryland for probably four years now,” Houston said. “So in the crust, I added Old Bay. I wanted to marry my past, which is my filling, with my present home.”

Similarly, Maxion, who moved to Baltimore from California about a year ago, drew inspiration for his prize-winning ube creation—with ingredients including the Southeast Asian plant pandan—from his Filipino heritage. With help from market vendors and VMart Filipino Store in Nottingham, he credited his two successful pies—the other was an apple crumble—to lots of planning and a willingness to lean into the process.

“Because baking should be fun,” he said, as market goers walked up to buy slices of leftover pie.

The leftover slices were sold for a $4 donation to 29th Street Community Center’s teaching kitchen, while an online pie auction held throughout the weekend (those interested were able to bid on whole pies by local bakers) supported both beneficiaries. 

For her part, 32nd Street Farmers Market board president Martha Lucius was thrilled to see the new neighborhood competition come to life.

“It’s been such a build up,” she says. “It’s [been great] seeing everybody here, and seeing all of the excitement.”

There’s something special about finding your Christmas tree at a local farm instead of a parking lot. Maybe it’s the thrill of the hunt, maybe it’s the labor of love that goes into wrangling your family into a holiday memory, or maybe it’s just the ultimate chop local (see what we did there?). Whatever the reason, Baltimore is lucky enough that a handful of the area’s best fresh-cut Christmas tree farms are a quick road trip away.

A SNOWBALL’S CHANCE TREE FARM
Named in part for the Liberty Road snowball stand that it once shared land with, this choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm has been open since 2005. Open for one weekend only, Dec. 3-4, this year, the new location in Woodstock will offer eight and nine-inch pre-cut Fraser Firs or chop-your-own White Pines & Blue Spruces. 10231 Harvest Fields Drive, Woodstock. 

DAVIDSON CHRISTMAS TREE FARM
Although it’s been active for more than two centuries, this family-owned Upperco Farm didn’t start to plant Christmas tree seedlings until the late ’60s. The fields are open seven days per week from Nov. 18 to Dec. 17. On weekends, stop by for a wagon ride, check out the gift shop, score treats at the snack bar, and sift through its 60-plus acres for eight tree varieties, such as the silver-blue Concolor Fir. 1101 Emory Church Rd., Upperco

FROSTEE TREE FARM
The appropriately named Helen and George Winter began planting and selling trees at their Perry Hall farm in 1974. The two have since passed away, but the farm, now run by Paul Stiffler, boasts 15 acres of ready-to-cut trees ranging from Scotch Pine to White Pine, Douglas Pine, and Norway Spruce. The farm re-opens after Thanksgiving. 8926 Cowenton Ave., Perry Hall

GAVER FARM
Owner Michael Gaver was just 17 when he established this Mt. Airy farm in 1978. Today, it holds 70 acres of cut-your-own trees, with varieties such as the sturdy and tall Colorado Blue Spruce and the whisper-soft White Pine. Christmas tree shopping starts Nov. 24. Be sure to stop into the family farm’s cafe for apple cider doughnuts, beef sandwiches, and hot cocoa before you leave. 5501 Detrick Rd., Mt. Airy

GUNPOWDER TREE FARM
Starting Nov. 24, both pick-your-own and pre-cut trees are readily available at this family-owned Kingsville farm. The land is flush with everything from the soft-needled, fragrant Nordmann Fir to the picture-perfect pyramidal Douglas Fir. 12025 Philadelphia Rd., Kingsville

HALE TREE FARM
A native of Montana, owner Jeff Hale first started planting his Christmas trees at the beloved White Hall farm in 1984, six years before it opened. Now, his kids and grandkids help him grow and sell the farm’s prizewinning bounty, which includes Balsam and Douglas Firs, beginning on Black Friday. 4827 Norrisville Rd., White Hall

PINE VALLEY FARMS
Founded by couple Roger and Jane Wolfe some 46 years ago, this family-run farm in Sykesville (opening for the season Nov. 17) contains more than 100 acres of choose-and-cut trees. Here—along with a Christmas barn stocked with hot cocoa and snacks—you can find the Korean Fir tree, which is known to produce purple pinecones. 1150 Fannie Dorsey Rd., Sykesville

SEWELL’S FARM
Opening for the season on Nov. 18, this nearly 40-year-old Carroll County farm sells everything from cut-your-own to small tabletop evergreens to “ball and burlap” Christmas trees—which are dug up fresh from the field and can be replanted after the holiday season ends. It also offers festive table centerpieces, wreaths, and locally made goodies for stocking stuffing. 3400 Harney Rd., Taneytown

Flaunting long, feathered earrings, her silvering hair tucked in a high bun, Christina Delgado relaxes on a green loveseat encircled by family mementos. Funky music blares and the smell of incense lingers.

“That’s my mom when she was in the military,” says the native New Yorker, artist, educator, and cultural worker, pointing to a portrait on the purple wall behind us. “That’s my uncle Jerry, who was her favorite brother. Those are my parents when they first started dating. And that’s me and my mom.” She giggles, pointing to a white pullover sweatshirt with their smiling faces on it, which reads “Double Trouble.”  

Adjacent to the living room—which houses literature on Baltimore’s Black and Puerto Rican roots—is a multimedia collage of photographs, framed artwork, Post-It notes, and religious keepsakes. Infographics offer guests a truncated overview of the influence of Puerto Rican culture throughout American history. 

This is Tola’s Room. Purchased in 2006, it was previously the house where Delgado lived with her now 11-year-old daughter, Omotola (Tola for short). Last summer, she transformed the Northeast Baltimore rowhome into an immersive, three-floor Puerto Rican museum and cultural education center.

Open to the public Sundays from 12-5 p.m., the Belair-Edison museum also offers special programming, including bi-monthly “Tranquilo” yoga classes (with smoothie bowls prepared by Tola); community workshops (one recently focused on navigating elder care); and group tours (the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland recently stopped by). The space also provides a home for the work of Delgado’s Bmore Boricua Project, a series of curated events designed to gather artifacts and oral histories showcasing Baltimore’s Puerto Rican narrative.

As much as Tola’s Room is a resource for Baltimore’s Diasporican (Puerto Rican residents) and those looking to learn about the culture, on a personal level, curating the space has been deeply meaningful to Delgado, who is “technically biracial” (both Puerto Rican, her father had dark skin and her mother—of Dutch and Italian descent—has lighter skin) and grew up without a full understanding of her own heritage.

“We were Puerto Rican, but definitely had this pride of being Americanized,” says Delgado, a second-generation Nuyorican, meaning she was raised as part of New York City’s Puerto Rican community. “I don’t speak Spanish fluently, so, as a child, there was a bit of a detachment in that way. It wasn’t until my father passed away that I became more confident in my own culture.”

Her father, Edwin, died in 2013—just one day shy of Omotola’s first birthday. Soon after, Delgado was left to unpack a trove of his belongings that had been untouched for decades. Though daunting to tackle while in mourning, sifting through her father’s keepsakes—including relatives’ birth and death certificates, saved prayer cards, and vinyl albums that the pair would listen to throughout Delgado’s childhood—eventually became therapeutic. 

“I had an attachment to all of these things, because I knew that he had an attachment to them, and I wanted to be able to share them,” Delgado says. “My goal was to create a space with some kind of connection to my family. And because I was defining this space as a museum, I wanted to be intentional about learning about my Puerto Rican culture.”

She began curating the museum in 2014, and opened it to the public in June 2021 with an inaugural one-floor exhibit titled Puerto Rican Passion—an interactive exploration of home and family that included live music and traditional Puerto Rican food and drinks for guests.

It’s been said that grief is unspent love without a place to go. But through the museum, Delgado found a space for that love for her father to live. Upstairs, Tola’s former bedroom now houses Edwin’s belongings. It has everything that made him special: heirlooms, yes, but even mundane things including mouthwash, which he didn’t go a day without. “It’s kind of like the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, where Windex was the cure-all,” Delgado quips. “Listerine was my dad’s cure-all.” 

There are snow globes, stuffed animals, napkins (he would always carry napkins or a paper towel), the red Papasan chair he bought Delgado when she moved into her first apartment, and CDs for guests to rummage and dance along to. “Dance like he would,” is written directly on the wall, as a tribute to Edwin. Other interactive features include a chalkboard where guests can write messages and process the experience of moving through the space. 

The basement is also extremely personal to Delgado. Christening outfits worn by both her and Tola—previously featured in a performance art exhibit titled Ropa Vieja—hang side-by-side on a wood-paneled wall next to Tola’s pink and blue receiving blanket, newborn hat, and baby photos from Delgado’s baptism. 

Fittingly named after her daughter—Omotola translates to “child is wealth, one of worldly wealth,” in Nigerian (Tola has Nigerian lineage on her father’s side)—the museum was designed by Delgado as an interactive storybook to help her, and future generations, understand their lineage. 

“She’s my everything,” Delgado says of Omotola, crying. “She’s a creative child. She’s a beautiful soul. She is my dad. People who knew my father gravitate toward her because she looks so much like him. Every parent feels this way, but she’s everything I’m not and everything I am.”

10/21: THE GREAT HALLOWEEN LANTERN PARADE AND FESTIVAL
Halloween in Baltimore means costumes, bar crawls, ghost tours, decorated stoops, and, perhaps best of all, this beloved Patterson Park tradition. Now in its 24th year, the Great Halloween Lantern Parade brings a procession of locals dressed as mythical creatures who hold handmade glowing lanterns which bathe the park in a magical light. The day kicks off with a costume contest for the kids, arts and crafts, pop-up performances, food trucks, and lantern-making tutorials. Per custom, festivities continue at twilight with a lantern-lit parade through Patterson Park, featuring even more musicians, artists, performers, and revelers. Catch the action along the parade route with family and friends, or grab a lantern and partake in the parade yourself. Rain date: Oct. 22. Patterson Park. Pulaski Monument. Festival and contest: 4:30 p.m. Parade: 7 p.m. Free.

TO 10/1: CHARM CITY BURLESQUE & VARIETY FESTIVAL
In its first year, this risque series of performances in Highlandtown is here to shine a light on sexy, sly, seductive Baltimore. Creative Alliance. Times vary. $10-250. 

TO 10/1: CHARM CITY CROSS RACE
Cruise on two wheels (or cheer on your favorite cyclist) when the annual event, among North America’s largest cyclocross races, returns to Druid Hill Park. Charm City Cross. Times vary.

TO 10/1: MARYLAND ITALIAN FESTIVAL
In Harford County, this inaugural event features carnival rides, beer, wine, games, Italian food vendors, and a blowout bocce tournament. Harford County Equestrian Center. Times vary. Free-$10. 

TO 10/1: MIRYOKUCON 2023
In downtown Baltimore, enjoy three days of video games, artists, panels, cosplayers, and anime. Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards. Times vary. Free-$60. 

10/1: GARDEN ART PARTY
Visit Reservoir Hill’s Whitelock Community Farm to enjoy a fresh-foods potluck, belt your heart out at an open mic, create artwork, and take part in a harvesting workshop. Whitelock Community Farm. 1-5 p.m. 

10/1: SORRY GIRLS AND JULIEN CHENG AND GLORIAN
The dreamy Montreal-hailing pop duo Sorry Girls joins Baltimore artists to watch: vocalist Julien Chang and experimental electronic dance pop and neo-folk musician Glorian. Metro Gallery. 8 p.m. Price TBD.

10/1-16: MONSTER EYES
At Port Discovery, your tot can ring in Halloween by making their own spooky monster mask (Break out the googly eyes!) Port Discovery. Times vary. $23.95. 

10/1: QUINTESSENTIAL SOUL FESTIVAL
Bring your buddies, chairs, and blankets out to Greektown Square for two stages of live tunes, local vendors, eats, and more. Greektown Square. 1-7 p.m. $22-30. 

10/1-1/7/2024: MAKING HER MARK: A HISTORY OF WOMEN ARTISTS IN EUROPE, 1400-1800
Challenging the idea that European women artists were not as talented as their male counterparts, this new Baltimore Museum of Art exhibition highlights women-made objects from the 15th to 18th centuries, from portraits and sculptures to metalwork and furniture. Baltimore Museum of Art. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 

10/4: QUEEN AND ADAM LAMBERT
Following a four-year hiatus, and fronted by American Idol runner-up and pop star Adam Lambert, Queen performs in Baltimore as part of its updated Rhapsody Tour. CFG Bank Arena. Times and prices vary. 

10/5: DINING OUT FOR LIFE
Dine in or order out from various Baltimore eateries in support of Moveable Feast and its efforts to treat chronic illness and combat food insecurity in Maryland. Moveable Feast. Time and pricing TBD. 

10/5: JAZZY SUMMER NIGHTS
Electrifying, sassy local vocalist Joi Carter headlines this month’s iteration of the outdoor concert series. Baltimore Peninsula. 5 p.m. $40-50. 

10/5: QUEERING THE COLLECTION: CHRISTINE DUCKWORTH
Alongside Ellen Hoobler, the William B. Ziff Jr. Associate Curator of the Art of the Americas at The Walters, the Lumbee Tribe member and Baltimore native discusses art, nature, and identity. The Walters Art Museum. 6-7 p.m. 

10/6: CHARM CITY BLUES FESTIVAL
Featuring performances by King George, Theodis Ealey, Lenny Williams, Pokey Bear, and Calvin Richardson, this evening at The Lyric will be filled with guitar strums and soulful storytelling. The Lyric. 8 p.m. $59-175

10/6-7: CHOCOLATE COVERED ROCKY HORROR
Make a journey to the 1960s by way of Creative Alliance, where this unique spin on The Rocky Horror Picture Show celebrates queer and minority experiences. Grab a game pack for the interactive showcase and get ready for “The Time Warp.” Creative Alliance. 8 p.m. $32-25.

10/6: HIGHLANDTOWN FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK
Spend time in Southeast Baltimore exploring the creations of our city’s gifted artists while enjoying local food and drink from neighborhood eateries. Highlandtown Arts District. 5 p.m. 

10/6-8: FELLS POINT FUN FESTIVAL
The annual festival pays tribute to the waterfront neighborhood with food (chicken on a stick or pit beef, anyone?) beer, cocktails, on-site makers, and a jam-packed music lineup, headlined by country songstress (and Baltimore native) Brittney Spencer. Fells Point Fun Festival. Times vary. 

10/7: BALTIMORE BY BALTIMORE
Baltimore bass clarinetist Todd Marcus hosts this month’s jazz-themed iteration of the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore-run festival series,
known to feature on-site food trucks, local makers, and performances. Inner Harbor Amphitheater. Time TBD.

10/7: BILLY JOEL AND STEVIE NICKS
Forming an unexpected musical alliance, the “Piano Man” and “Rhiannon” singer take the stage together for a rousing show, sure to delight Boomers in Baltimore. M&T Bank Stadium. 7 p.m. Prices vary.

10/7: FAMILY BIKING
Has parenthood put a stop to your biking routine? This Enoch Pratt event highlights accessible resources (including safety tips and trusted seating options for young passengers) to make family biking possible. Enoch Pratt Free Library. 10 a.m. 

10/7: SELECTOR SERIES # 8: WILL OLDHAM
Presented by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner of music podcast Essential Tremors, this shared album listening experience is hosted by singer-songwriter Will Oldham, aka Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Design Distillery. 7 p.m. $25-30. 

10/7: WORLD ODDITIES EXPO
The traveling festival makes a pit stop at the Baltimore Convention Center, bringing with it tattoo artists, taxidermy, insects, jewelry, odd artwork, and all things kooky. Baltimore Convention Center. 12-8 p.m. $5-175. 

10/7-8: DOORS OPEN BALTIMORE
Known for celebrating the city’s neighborhoods and architecture through guided tours and open houses, the now-10-year-old event partners with Waverly Main Street this year, expanding to highlight local artist spaces. Baltimore Architecture Foundation. Locations and times vary. 

10/7-8: INTERNATIONAL EDGAR ALLAN POE FESTIVAL & AWARDS
Celebrating the macabre writer who lived and died in Baltimore, the annual fest features Poe-themed performances, readings, art, vendors, food, and tours. Though the two-day event is free, there are paid extras, including “death weekend” bus tours. Poe would be pleased. The Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum. Times and prices vary. 

TO 10/8: LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL
Four months before her passing, Baltimore jazz singer Billie Holiday performed at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, a small club in South Philadelphia. At Center Stage, this performance will be recreated—cabaret style—featuring not just Holiday’s best known songs like “Strange Fruit” and “God Bless the Child,” but her candid reflections on her life, her struggles, and her triumphs. Center Stage. Times and prices vary.

10/8: VOLVER BY TANGO LOVERS
Made up of a cast of musicians, singers, dancers, and artists from Uruguay and Argentina, the world-renowned and Grammy Award-winning tango company touches down at Gordon Center for the Performing arts alongside tango singer Guillermo Fernandez. Gordon Center for the Performing Arts. 7 p.m. $35-89. 

10/10: HAUNTED MARYLAND
Enoch Pratt librarians Lisa Greenhouse and Julie Saylor host this night of eerie folk tales and bone-chilling ghost stories from our own backyard. Enoch Pratt Free Library. 6:30 p.m.

10/12-15: DISNEY ON ICE
CFG Bank Arena brings together our beloved Disney princes, princesses, and characters (we’re looking at you, Moana, Anna, and Elsa) for one spectacular performance on the ice rink. CFG Bank Arena. Times and prices vary. 

10/13: OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHTS: COCO AND GHOSTBUSTERS
With grub by Charm City Table, festive sips prepared by Bar Movement, and two of our favorite fall flicks, this outdoor movie night has everything you need to get into the spooky spirit. Next to Rye Street Market. 6 p.m.-12 a.m. 

10/14-15:  ARTEMIS
Named after the Greek goddess of hunting, chastity, and nature, the international and intergenerational all-woman jazz group will perform at the Harbor East venue. Keystone Korner. Times vary. $10-45. 

10/15: ANGELA HEWIT
Kicking off the music venue’s fall season, the Canadian classical pianist performs at Shriver Hall for one evening. Shriver Hall. 5:30 p.m. Prices vary. 

10/16: SECU MD FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC
In its sixth year, the networking and sporting event raises funds for the SECU MD Foundation Scholarship Program, which works to raise scholarship funds for those hoping to further their education. Turf Valley Golf Club. 10 a.m. $350-15,000. 

10/18: BROWN LECTURE SERIES FEATURING JADA PINKETT SMITH
Joined by CNN’s chief legal analyst and anchor Laura Coates, the Baltimore native actor, producer, and musician visits Enoch Pratt to discuss her path from growing up in Baltimore to finding fame in Hollywood, as detailed in her memoir, Worthy. Enoch Pratt Free Library. 7 p.m.

10/18-22: LADEW GARDEN GLOW
Now in its sixth year, this Ladew Gardens fête features creatively carved jack-o-lanterns, booze, live music, “strolling” performers, and ample family-friendly fun. Ladew Topiary Gardens. 5-9 p.m. Price TBD.

10/19: RAMBLING READERS
Throw on a pair of comfortable walking shoes and join the roving book club on excursions near Enoch Pratt’s Central Library. Enoch Pratt Free Library, Central Library. 10 a.m. 

10/20: MORTIFIED
With a Back to School theme, the Baltimore leg of this beloved performance series and podcast invites adults to reveal their oft-cringeworthy school-aged writings to an audience. Creative Alliance. 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. $15-25. 

10/20-22: MARYLAND HOME & GARDEN + CRAFT SHOW
With upward of 300 exhibitors, six fully landscaped gardens, and more than 100 craft artisans, the annual homeowner and green thumb-centered
event brings this year’s hottest home and gardening trends to Timonium. Maryland State Fairgrounds. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free-$9.

10/20-11/19: THE CHINESE LADY
Everyman Theatre presents Lloyd Suh’s critically acclaimed play, inspired by the true story of Afong Moy, the first Chinese woman to set foot in America, in 1834. Directed by Nana Dakin, the play follows her to New York, where she becomes a living curiosity in a museum, and struggles to hang onto her identity. Everyman Theatre. Times and prices vary.

TO 10/22: MARYLAND RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
In its 47th season, this beloved event in Crownsville offers over-the-top fair concessions, handmade art, time-transcending performances, and cool medieval costumes. Maryland Renaissance Festival. Times and pricing TBD.

10/24-29: FUNNY GIRL
Jules Stein and Bob Merrill’s iconic musical, Funny Girl, gets a revival at The Hippodrome. The story of vaudeville performer Fanny Brice that Barbra Streisand immortalized in film returns to the stage, with hits such as “Don’t Rain on My Parade.” Hippodrome Theatre. Times and prices vary.

10/28: HALLOWEEN AT THE MARYLAND SCIENCE CENTER
From Talking Heads tribute band Psycho Killers to Uncle Kunkel’s One Gram Band with a tribute to Little Feat, to DJ James Nasty, the science center’s blowout Halloween dance party has no shortage of top-notch performers this year. Maryland Science Center. 8 p.m. $55-99.

Art Space is a recurring element in the UpFront section of our print publication that spotlights a local artist or project making an impact in the city at large. Here’s what’s going on this month:

In case you’ve ever wondered what the chef who made your Blacksauce breakfast sandwich wears to work, the Remington biscuit business’ ongoing Instagram series, “Work Shoes,” allows for shoe-gazing. Featuring footwear that highlights the wear and tear of the restaurant industry, the series shares images of well-worn and well-loved sneakers, clogs, and boots—often showing evidence of kitchen debris such as flour, grease, or donut glaze—with each featuring descriptions from the employee about the brand, lifespan, and story behind their use. Follow along @blacksaucekitchen.

Imagine 300 kids sharing a single book. In book deserts, or lower-income neighborhoods without walkable libraries or bookstores, this is the average ratio for what’s available per child. But as the founder of Storybook Maze—a local program intent on increasing literary access in underserved communities and helping kids learn to love reading—Baltimore librarian Araba Maze is changing that.

Known for hosting pop-up “street-corner story times” for kids of all ages, the self-described “radical street librarian” has donated thousands of free books to children through pop-up events and a vending machine for picking out books at no cost.

Before you became a librarian, you were a teacher, giving away books to kids from your own home library. How did this evolve into Storybook Maze?
When I first started working as a librarian, I realized that the kids who were coming in weren’t the same ones I was reading to out on my front stoop. I wanted to think of innovative and engaging ways to reintroduce those kids to the idea of reading.

In Baltimore, book access varies by location, with children in the “Black Butterfly” neighborhoods estimated to have fewer books at home. How do you choose your pop-up library locations?
I’m always looking for locations with high foot traffic—where the kids already are and where the community is already going. We focus on Black neighborhoods. But also, we use a book desert [map] from Unite for Literacy, which has identified areas where children are estimated to have between zero and 10 books at home.

What goes into curating your selections?
We know that when kids have books that they can relate to and can see themselves in, they’re more eager to read. For us, this means books with Black characters, who live in neighborhoods like our kids live in, celebrate the same things they do, and reflect their lives. We also talk to community leaders, teachers, and organizations in the area and see where they think kids need support the most. Some kids need more positive affirmations, so we give them a book like I Am Amazing!

This year, you installed a book vending machine at the Randallstown YMCA, with plans for more in the future. What comes next for Storybook Maze?
Right now, we’re doing free pop-up bookstores, where we partner with community organizations to offer a free selection of curated books. Next summer, we hope to start up streetcorner story times again. We’re looking to add a “book bus,” so we can visit multiple locations a day…There are a lot of great organizations that are working toward [youth literacy], but we can do so much more. One of our visions is to make Baltimore “The City That Reads” again.

9/10: 50TH ANNUAL ABELL STREET FAIR
Taking place every year in September, this free outdoor festival—which doubles as the Abell Improvement Association’s largest annual fundraiser—has invited Abell residents and visitors alike to celebrate the quirky neighborhood, a home to independent book shops, Painted Lady rowhomes, the Peabody Heights Brewery, and, at one point, Memorial Stadium. On Sunday, Sept. 10, the local street fair marks five decades of community togetherness and timeless Bawlmer charm with musical performances, a bevy of small makers, local artists, tasty food vendors, and a silent auction. Spend the afternoon enjoying Sunday fun on Abell Avenue, while taking breaks along the way to sip refreshing wine and beer. 3000 and 3100 blocks of Abell Ave. 12-5 p.m. Free.

9/1: HIGHLANDTOWN FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK
Spend time in Southeast Baltimore exploring the creations of our city’s gifted artists while enjoying local food and drink by vendors such as Snake Hill Grill. Highlandtown Arts District. 5 p.m. 

9/2: ULTRA NATÉ’S DEEP SUGAR: 20TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY!
Head downtown, where the roving Charm City dance party turns 20 with tunes brought by co-founder Ultra Naté, along with Jellybean Benitez, an original DJ from Studio 54. Baltimore Soundstage. 9 p.m. $25. 

TO 9/3: ABUNDANCE: TOO MUCH, TOO LITTLE, JUST RIGHT
The AVAM’s Zanvyl A. Krieger Main Building will play host to an exhibit that explores true, lasting wealth. Witness art as an expression of the longing
for contentment, productivity, and freedom through a joyful range of works. American Visionary Art Museum. Tue.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $10.

9/3-10/1: A DOLL’S HOUSE
Joanie Schultz directs and writes this adaptation of the classic Henrik Ibsen play, which heads to Everyman Theatre to tell the tale of Nora, a young mother with a secret that could alter her entire world. Everyman Theatre. Times and prices vary.

TO 9/4: BALTIMORE COMEDY FESTIVAL
In its seventh year, the festival offers up five days of side-splitting comedy sets, bringing dozens of national talents to various Baltimore venues. Locations, times, and prices vary. 

9/6: MUD TO MUSIC
Join musician and artist Melissa Hyatt Foss in Highlandtown to craft your own unique clay flute while learning the history of instruments used throughout Central and South America for centuries. The Creativity Center. 6 p.m. $18-20. 

9/7: JAZZY SUMMER NIGHTS
Philadelphia house music legend Lady Alma headlines this month’s iteration of the soulful concert series in South Baltimore. Look out for local vendors, food trucks, DJ sets, a hookah lounge, and more. West Covington Park. 5-10 p.m. $25-700.

9/7: WTMD FIRST THURSDAY FESTIVAL
Towson indie radio station WTMD wraps up this summer’s outdoor concert lineup with sounds by Devon Gilfillian, Sweet Leda, and Nation of Language.
Canton Waterfront Park. 5:30 p.m. 

9/8: AN EVENING OF VINTAGE SMUT PRESENTS: A VERY SMUTTY BIRTHDAY
In honor of the reading series’ fifth anniversary, join Baltimore’s reigning Mistress of Smut, Jocelyn Loverling, for a sultry, vintage cocktail party. Enjoy performances by Pole Foundations Baltimore and The Swingin’ Swamis, along with burlesque per- formers Tapitha Kix and Maria Bella. Creative Alliance. 7:30 p.m. $15-42.

9/8: BOWLING FOR SOUP
The ’90s punk rock band takes over downtown Baltimore, continuing their “Getting Old Sucks” tour to promote their latest album: Pop Drunk Snot Bread. Rams Head Live! 8 p.m. $48-175. 

9/8: GROWNUP FIELD TRIP: WELCOME TO HOGWARTS
Tuck the tots into bed before heading to the Maryland Science Center, aka Hogwarts, for Quidditch practice, alcoholic beverages, and wizarding classes. Maryland Science Center. 7-10 p.m. $40.

9/8: PRESSING STRINGS
The Annapolis-based, folksy group (well-known for songs including “What’s Around You”) joins Pat Mac & The Zen Collective for an evening at The Metro Gallery. The Metro Gallery. 8 p.m. $15-20.

9/9: BALTIMORE RHYTHM FESTIVAL
Bring your own drum and head out to Guilford Avenue for jam sessions, crafts, clothing, plant-based food vendors, and musical performances. Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School. 12-6 p.m. 

9/9: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E-STREET BAND
After rocking then just-opened CFG Bank Arena this past April, Bruce is back to bring his hits like “Glory Days” and “Born to Run” to Camden Yards. Oriole Park at Camden Yards. 7:30 p.m. Prices vary. 

9/9: CONJUNTO BRUJA
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the all-woman ensemble takes the Walters, bringing melodies from Mexico, Bolivia, Peru, Iran, and Guatemala. The Walters Art Museum. 2 p.m.

9/9-24: HOT WAX, WARM GLASS
Artists Karen Jury and Karen Wallace share their sculpted artworks in Ellicott City. Artists’ Gallery. Wed.: 11-3 p.m., Thurs., Fri., Sat., Sun.: 11-6 p.m. Price TBD. 

TO 9/10: MARYLAND STATE FAIR
From deep-fried food to barnyard friends to carnival attractions, this Old Line State fixture has it all. Bid summertime farewell with horse shows, glass-blowing tutorials, and vendors slinging everything from gourmet snacks to sandals. Maryland State Fairgrounds. Times vary. $8-10.

9/10: BECK AND PHOENIX
In Columbia, guests Weyes Blood and Sir Chloe join the multi-genre artist and the indie pop- rock band from France. Merriweather Post Pavilion. 4:30 p.m. $45-150. 

9/13: AARON NEVILLE: TELL IT LIKE IT IS
Alongside Karsonya Wise Whitehead (host of Today with Dr. Kaye on WEAA 88.9 FM), the multi-platinum R&B sensation visits Enoch Pratt to dish on musical success and overcoming life’s great struggles. Enoch Pratt Free Library. 7 p.m. Price TBD.

9/14-10/8: LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL
Set four months before her death in 1959, and featuring her greatest hits, like “Strange Fruit” and “God Bless the Child,” this glimpse of Billie Holiday’s career and life reveals both success and heartbreak. Center Stage. Price and timing TBD.

9/15-17: LITTLE AMAL
The 12-foot-tall puppet of a Syrian refu- gee child (whose name in Arabic means “hope”), will make a special stop in Baltimore while travel- ing across America to share her story. Various locations and times. 

9/16: LOVE GROOVE FESTIVAL
Baltimore musician John Tyler’s annual arts and music showcase celebrates a seventh year with its first-ever outdoor program, bringing music, art, film, food vendors, and puppet Little Amal to Pennsylvania Ave. The Royal Theatre. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Price TBD. 

9/16: R.L. STINE: “SCARIEST.BOOK.EVER” (GOOSEBUMPS HOUSE OF SHIVERS)
At Enoch Pratt, the children’s author debuts a new book from the Goosebumps series, true to form with villains, monsters, chills, and thrills. Enoch Pratt Free Library. 2-3 p.m. 

9/16: TRASH WHEEL FAN FEST
Raise a glass to Baltimore’s best garbage interceptors (Mister Professor and Captain Trash Wheels, plus Gwynnda the Good Wheel of the West) in Abell to benefit Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore’s Healthy Harbor initiative, which makes our trash wheel buddies possible. Peabody Heights Brewery. 7-10 p.m. $40-45.

9/21: LESLIE JONES, LESLIE F*CKING JONES
Sharing her new memoir, LESLIE F*CKING JONES, the spitfire SNL alum brings laughs and honest dialogue to Enoch Pratt. Enoch Pratt Free Library. 7 p.m. 

9/21: SEVEN VOICES: 7TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE TO PATSY CLINE
In Highlandtown, this concert is a tribute to “The First Lady of Country,” featuring artists such as Jess Elliot Myhre and Ele Rubenstein. Creative Alliance. 7:30 p.m. $12-25. 

9/21: RAMBLING READERS
Throw on a pair of comfortable walking shoes and join the roving book club on excursions near Enoch Pratt’s Central Library. Enoch Pratt Free Library, Central Library. 10 a.m. 

9/22-24: ARTSCAPE
After a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the 41-year-old locally loved event is set to make a comeback, bringing with it makers, artists, concerts, visual arts showcases, designers, fun for kids, and more. Times vary. 

9/23: BIG BIKE BUILD
Hear live tunes and scarf on local fare as volunteer groups of engineers, engineering students, physical therapists, and occupational therapists build 25 adaptive bicycles, each custom-made for children who have disabilities. Stevenson University, Manning Academic Center. 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

9/23: FESTIVAL FOR THE ANIMALS
Bring Fido out to Cockeysville for scav- enger hunts, paw painting, dog swimming sessions, and contests, with proceeds set to benefit the Maryland SPCA. Padonia Park Club. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $30-90. 

9/23-10/8: OKTOBERFEST AT GUINNESS OPEN GATE BREWERY
In Halethorpe, sip five German beers, try three limited-batch Guinness releases, and fill up on German fare in honor of the Munich festival. Guinness Open Gate Brewery. Times vary. 

9/23-30: THE WIZ
The groundbreaking R&B twist on The Wizard of Oz follows Dorothy and friends, and includes funky numbers such as “Ease on Down the Road,” and “Slide Some Oil to Me.” The Hippodrome Theatre. Times vary. Starting at $57. 

9/28: SZA
The “Kill Bill” and “Good Days” singer will undoubtedly wow fans at CFG Bank Arena, where her SOS tour makes a pitstop. CFG Bank Arena. 8 p.m. Prices vary. 

9/28: WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER FESTIVAL
Shuck, slurp, sip cocktails, and recycle empty oyster shells to help preserve the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster population. B&O Railroad Museum. 5 p.m. $125-175. 

9/29-10/1: MARYLAND ITALIAN FESTIVAL
In Harford County, this inaugural event features carnival rides, beer, wine, games, Italian food vendors, and a blowout bocce tournament. Harford County Equestrian Center. Times vary. Free- $10. 

9/29-10/1: MIRYOKUCON 2023
In downtown Baltimore, enjoy three days of video games, artists, panels, cosplayers, and anime. Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards. Times vary. Free-$60. 

9/30: 11TH ANNUAL BABY BUGGY WALK
In honor of Infant Mortality Awareness Month, this Patterson Park festival and walk includes resources, kids activities, face painting, and on-site concessions. Patterson Park, Pulaski Monument. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $20.

9/30: ARTS IN THE PARK FESTIVAL
In its ninth year, this beloved Brooklyn Park festival serves up vendors, live performances, food trucks, and lots of artsy fun. Hammonds Lane Theater. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

9/30: EVERYMAN THEATRE PRESENTS: A NIGHT FOR BALTIMORE
Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, desserts, and one top-secret cocktail at this benefit for Everyman Theatre’s educational programming and accessibility measures—including Pay-What-You-Choose showings—which will feature performances by E. Faye Butler and Ultra Naté. Everyman Theatre. 6-9 p.m. $50-125. 

9/30: GLUTEN FREE EXPO
In Hunt Valley, guzzle cider, beer, and ready-to-sip cocktail blends while checking out a range of vendors with gluten-free products. B.C. Brewery. 12-4 p.m.

TO 10/22: MARYLAND RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
In its 47th season, this beloved event in Crownsville offers over-the-top fair concessions, hand- made art, time-transcending performances, and cool medieval costumes. Times and pricing TBD. 

TO 11/2023: CLAIRE/MCCARDELL
This showcase commemorates the Frederick-born designer, whose mark on women’s fashion would yield sportswear and such sought-after creations as the “Popover Dress.” Maryland Center for History and Culture. Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$19. 

Art Space is a recurring element in the UpFront section of our print publication that spotlights a local artist or project making an impact in the city at large. Here’s what’s going on this month:

Launched in 2012 as a platform for local thespians, Charm City Fringe has long been a celebration of experimental theater, showcasing new plays in Baltimore that range from comedy to cabaret. At the end of this September, over the course of 11 days, its annual performing arts festival will return for its first full-fledged iteration in four years, following a pandemic-related hiatus. Performances kick off on Thursday, Sept. 28 and run through Oct. 8 at various venues throughout the Bromo Arts District. Grab tickets and stay tuned for this year’s artist lineup, here.