Mia Resnicow – Baltimore Magazine

How to Grow Dahlias that Dazzle

Mia Resnicow — Wed, 14 May 2025 20:38:37 +0000

—Shutterstock/Abdul Halim Design

Something about the word dahlia instantly evokes mystery and beauty. These striking, vibrant flowers—the national flower of Mexico—can grow to the size of dinner plates and are regularly spotted on Pinterest boards. And it turns out they have an interesting origin story, too.

In 1872, a box of dahlia tubers was sent from Mexico to Holland. Only one survived the long journey, but it produced a red bloom so exquisite it kicked off dahlia mania in Europe However, according to the Dahlia Society of Victoria, the flowers were around long before then. They were used by the Aztecs as a food source, like potatoes are today.

In 1570, King Phillip II of Spain sent a well-known physician of the court on a scientific expedition of the Americas. Among his findings in South America were dahlias, then called Acocotli and Cocoxochitl. (They were eventually renamed for Swedish botanist Andreas Dahl in the late 18th century.)

Dahlias remained in fashion for more than 100 years—in both Europe and the U.S.—until tastes changed, as they inevitably do. But now, they have come full circle.

Today, there are more than 50,000 different varieties in different colors and shapes—from the opulent Dinnerplate dahlias to the sweet, spherical Pompons—growing anywhere from one foot to six feet tall.

“They’re just really stunning and striking and dramatic,” says Amelia Hazen, the farm manager at Two Boots Farm, a Hampstead-based grower. “There are so many different colors. I think that the balls [variety] are really cool-looking; the way the petals lay is really beautiful.”

Dahlias are easy plants to grow and produce beautiful flowers from mid-summer to fall. To plant, the first step is to buy dahlia tubers. Tubers are swollen roots that live underground and can produce three to 10 new tubers in one year.

Elisa Lane, owner of Two Boots Farm, says it’s best to buy from operations like Sunny Meadows Farm and Triple Wren Farm. “Instead of getting them from large distributors, I would say get them from small independent farms,” says Lane. “There have been some studies that show that the ones coming from the large companies are infected with gall [a bacterial disease].”

Dahlias can be planted in the ground as late as mid-June and as early as mid-May, when the ground is warm and there is little chance of frost.

“We usually plant them in May around Mother’s Day,” notes Lane. “That’s when we’ll put them in the ground, just like a tomato plant, and then they’ll die by the fall’s killing frost.”

According to Lane, you want to choose an area with full sun coverage (at least six hours) and well-drained soil. Then, dig a hole so that the top of the tuber is about one inch below the top of the soil, with the “eyes” of the tuber facing up. Space the tubers a foot apart. Water after you’ve planted and then wait until the tuber sprouts just above the surface to water again. (Only water once you see sprouts above the soil, as too much watering can cause the tubers to rot.)

After that, Lane says to water sparingly; they need very little water until they reach about six inches tall. You can also plant dahlias in containers. This can be beneficial if you want to get a jump start on growing them for the season without having to wait for the last frost.

According to The American Dahlia Society, use heavyweight, sturdy pots. Make sure the pot has lots of holes for drainage because you want water to pass through the pot and not collect at the bottom. Dig a hole in your soil and place the dahlia tuber inside. Make sure you keep the pot in a warm, sunny spot or use plant lights. When it’s consistently warm enough, you can transfer your dahlia to the ground outside. If you plan to grow your dahlia to full size in a container, make sure it’s large enough—at least a foot deep.

At the end of the season, frost will kill the plant and leave you with a decision: You can dig up and store the dahlia tubers for next year (although over-wintering can be a challenge) or simply buy more tubers the next year.

“They are so productive in the fall season and they’re bright and beautiful and go really hard up until frost,” Lane says. “They’re the flowers that are the last hurrah of the growing season.”

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Preakness Parties, Events, and Specials to Celebrate its 150th Year

Mia Resnicow — Wed, 14 May 2025 20:16:14 +0000

Every year, on the third Saturday in May, all eyes are on Baltimore for the annual running of the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel in the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing. But this year is sure to be memorable, not only because Saturday, May 17 marks the race’s 150th anniversary, but because it will also be the last time the event is held at Pimlico Race Course before the track and facilities undergo long-awaited construction and upgrades. (Preakness will move to Laurel Park in 2026 before making its slated return to Pimlico in two years.)

Naturally, the city is bursting with big hats and Black-Eyed Susans in anticipation of the milestone. This week, get out there and celebrate with the following drink specials, movie screenings, race-day watch parties, and of course, tons of Maryland pride.

Preakness Pregames

5/14: The 10th-Annual America’s Best Racing Pre-Preakness Party
Sip cocktails, enjoy hors d’oeuvres, and enter into a silent action at Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance’s annual soiree that supports the Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation and raises awareness for the Ed Brown Society—an organization that creates opportunities for young people of color to gain equine industry exposure. Per tradition, the evening will be held at Mt Washington Tavern. Mt. Washington Tavern. 5700 Newbury St. 7-10 p.m.

5/15: Charm’tastic Preakness
Travel back in time to explore the history of the Preakness through vintage souvenirs from the very first race 150 years ago. All the while, sample Wisher beet vodka, the 2024 Bartender Spirits Awards’ gold-winning sip, in cocktails like the Blossom in Bloom—Wisher, orange blossom water, peach puree-infused syrup, and St. Germain—and the Wishes and Kisses—made up of Wisher, strawberry puree, soda, and rose water. In keeping with the theme, Maryland-style food specials will include a crab baguette and pit beef and cheddar pull-aparts. 202 East Pratt St., 4-7p.m. Free admission

5/16: Preakness Festival Movie Night: Secretariat
Baltimore Peninsula is kicking off its outdoor movie season with a special showing of Secretariat under the stars at Rye Street Park. Before the trusty thoroughbreds sprint around the track on Saturday, grab your picnic blanket to relax and enjoy the story of the famed Triple Crown-winning horse on Friday evening. No need to bring your own snacks—local food trucks will park nearby. The film will roll at 8 p.m., but arrive as early as 6 p.m. to enjoy live music and family-friendly activities. Rye Street Park adjacent to Rye Street Tavern, Free admission

Race-Day Ragers

5/17: Preakness at the Pool
Raw and Refined, the cool pool bar on the Canton waterfront, is kicking off summer a little early with a splash bash in honor of race day. Beginning at noon, take a dip, play pong, jam to live DJ tunes, and sip specialty cocktails while catching the race on multiple flat screens. Raw and Refined, 2723 Lighthouse Point E. $29

5/17: Preakness Party at Lighthouse Point Marina
Walk, drive, or boat to the waterfront in your best horseracing attire to enjoy a classic Black-Eyed Susan served by the experts at Pusser’s Landing, coming soon to Canton. After you grab a drink, participate in the marina’s inaugural Duck Derby, a rubber duck race supporting the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Oyster Restoration Program, or Preakness Hat Contest judged by local fashion experts. RSVP for free to secure your spot. 2780 Lighthouse Point E, 2:30-4 p.m. Free admission

5/17: Preakness Party on the 13th Floor
Head up to the top floor of the historic Belvedere Hotel to watch the race while feasting on Maryland-inspired delicacies like mini crab cakes and Old Bay deviled eggs, as well as other snacks ranging from popcorn to pimento cheese crostini. The dress code is “Race Day Chic,” so wear your biggest hats and boldest prints for snaps in front of the festive photo backdrop. 1 East Chase St. 3-8 p.m.$57

5/17: Stakes Soiree
At the Sagamore Pendry Hotel in Fells Point, enjoy on-theme bites such as mini pimento cheese biscuits and Eastern Shore crab dip from executive chef Mike Grande while enjoying live music in the courtyard, whose centerpiece is its 3,500-pound bronze “Horse and Bridle” statue by artist Fernando Botero. Of course, there will also be tons of Sagamore Spirit rye cocktails and Black-Eyed Susan-inspired florals. 1715 Thames St., 4-7p.m.

5/17: Preakness Watch Party at Poe’s Nest
If you’re looking to place your bets outside the racetrack, head to Poe’s Nest inside the Horseshoe Casino in South Baltimore, where you’ll be able to catch every heart-racing moment on giant TV screens with friends and fellow race day enthusiasts. 1525 Russell St., 4 p.m. Free admission

Springtime Sips

Cece’s Roland Park: The Derby has the Julep, Belmont has the Belmont Jewel, and we have the beloved Black-Eyed Susan, the citrus-based concoction that traditionally incorporates bourbon, vodka, and schnapps. Head to Cece’s in Cross Keys to sip the official drink of the Preakness, on special for $12 this weekend. The bar team will also be shaking up Southsides—the famous mint, gin, and citrus cocktail popularized by the Maryland Hunt Cup crowd—in honor of the big day. 10 Village Square, 410-801-1933

Guinness Open Gate Brewery: Through May 18, enjoy Guinness’s Preakness 150 Lager at its Halethorpe facility or at Pimlico Race Course. The limited-edition beer (4.5 percent ABV) is a special version of the brewery’s fan-favorite rice lager, and pays homage to the springtime soiree with its floral notes. 5001 Washington Blvd, Halethorpe.

Wine Village in Baltimore: If you find yourself at the pop-up Wine Village at West Shore Park, stop by the Eiskeller (“ice house”) booth for a frozen version of the Preakness classic. The icy Black-Eyed Susan slush blends whiskey, vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice, and sour mix. Another local creation: the Orange Crush slush with classic vodka, triple sec, orange juice, Sprite, and a little white wine for good measure.

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Baltimore Clothing Swap Makes It Free and Eco-Friendly to Find New ‘Fits

Mia Resnicow — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 17:26:10 +0000

“Welcome to the swap,” says Baltimore native Jasmine Kerbel, greeting guests entering Village Learning Place in Charles Village on a Sunday in late-March.

For the next two and a half hours, Jasmine will repeat that phrase to more than 200 people coming to participate in the Baltimore Clothing Swap—a monthly event she co-created in 2023 with her sister, Aleeza Kerbel, and one of her best friends, Mayan Teles.

When participants come to the swap, they drop their donated clothes on the floor and are encouraged to “shop” the items already set out on tables. Then, the founders—as well as other volunteers—work quickly to sort the items into categories (both gender and size-inclusive) and run the donated clothes to the correct section. And here’s the best part: it’s all free.

“We’ve always been very interested in sustainable clothing options, so we were already pretty avid thrifters,” Teles says of the inspiration behind the event.

For Jasmine and Aleeza, secondhand shopping has been the norm since childhood: “Our parents are immigrants, so we’ve always been into thrifting,” says Aleeza. “I know it has kind of become more popular here [throughout the years], but, for our family it was [always] in style. Our grandmother would come from South Africa and be like, ‘let’s go to the thrift store.”

In the last decade, thrifting has become widely recognized as a cheaper, more sustainable way to shop for a new wardrobe. While donating your old clothes to your local Goodwill certainly isn’t a new concept, with the resurgence of flea markets and resell stores (think: Uptown Cheapskate and Plato’s Closet), thrifting has become more mainstream.

However, while these shops offer of-the-moment, second-hand clothing items, they can still be pricy. “Not everybody can afford to go to the thrift store.” Aleeza notes. “[That’s part of why] we were motivated to do this.”

The women were inspired after attending a clothing swap in Patterson Park a few years back to raise money and clothes for victims of sexual assault. They wanted to attend another, but were unable to find any in the area at the time, so they decided to host their own. Since then, other swaps have popped up (The Clothing Swap Baltimore is another well-known sustainability group) and popularized the concept in Baltimore and beyond.

Teles notes that they’ve seen other clothing swaps enforce strict rules. (If you bring three items, you can take only three items; you must pay an entry fee, but there isn’t any information about what the fee supports.) But they wanted to do it their own way.

“We liked the idea of just a free-for-all swap,” Teles says. “If the true intention is to serve our community in that way, then there shouldn’t be rules and stipulations. It should just be—you don’t have to bring anything and you take as much as you want.”

The idea is that donations are brought by the community, put out by community volunteers, and are given new life by members of the community. “It’s really being able to take stuff and fill your closet,” Jasmine says.

According to a report by the National Institution for Science and Technology (NIST), only 15 percent of clothing items get reused or recycled, with the other 85 percent ending up in landfills or incinerated.

In keeping with their zero-waste, community-focused mentality, the founders take any leftover items from the monthly events to local organizations like churches and Sheppard Pratt—which provides rehabilitation homes for people experiencing homelessness.

“Sometimes they only have the clothes on their back,” says Aleeza, who is a former Sheppard Pratt employee. “Sometimes they don’t even have clothes—they only have what they wore in the hospital.”

The founders are pleased with the growth of the event throughout the past two years, mentioning that attendance has seemingly skyrocketed during their last two swaps.

“It’s kind of crazy how we went from just tapestries on the ground to now being hosted by all these different venues,” Jasmine says.

Moving forward, Aleeza says she hopes they can find a permanent home in the city where people can drop in to shop for clothes any time. She envisions it as a free community closet that is always stocked, similar to a community fridge.

“Being better for the environment is being better for human beings,” Aleeza says, “and being better for human beings is being better for the environment. It’s all connected.”

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Station North Community Reacts to Artscape’s New Downtown Footprint

Mia Resnicow — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 18:02:17 +0000

On a rainy June weekend in the summer of 1982—as residents awaited the highly anticipated opening of the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall—an arts fair was held in Midtown-Belvedere just down the street from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), to promote Baltimore’s creative community and economy. Ray Charles, Ethel Ennis, and musicians from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra were headliners.

Now, 43 years later, that gathering has transformed into Artscape—the largest free outdoor arts festival in the United States. Pre-pandemic attendance reached more than 350,000, but the festival has struggled to find stable footing ever since, partially due to COVID cancellations, weather conditions, and shakeups with longtime organizers at the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA).

Since 2008, Artscape’s home has been in the Station North Arts District, the city’s first officially designated Arts & Entertainment district, overseen by the Central Baltimore Partnership.

That is, until earlier this month, when Mayor Brandon Scott, in partnership with BOPA, announced that Artscape will be moving downtown this year, taking over venues including the War Memorial Building, the plaza outside of City Hall, and the Baltimore Farmers Market space beneath the Jones Falls Expressway. Not only will the footprint change, the event’s date—historically a blazing hot three days in late summer—is now Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-25.

The decision was a part of Mayor Scott’s Downtown Rise Initiative, to focus on business, infrastructure, and public-safety development in the downtown area. The city hopes that the move will bolster the growth of the local arts scene holistically.

“Artscape 2025 is not just about a weekend of celebration—it’s about sustainability, creating lasting opportunities, and ensuring that artists remain at the center of economic growth and cultural transformation,” said Tonya Miller Hall, the mayor’s senior advisor of arts and culture, in a press release. “When we put artists first, we set off a ripple effect that strengthens communities, drives innovation, and fuels Baltimore’s bold creative legacy.”

But many feel that legacy was in great hands in Station North, where Artscape has been a tradition embedded in the neighborhood’s small businesses, arts institutions, and restaurants for nearly two decades.

“It’s everyone’s favorite [weekend] to look forward to, especially this part of town,” says Randy Coffren, the owner of The Royal Blue on Maryland Avenue, which has been an Artscape homebase for specials and after-parties since it opened in 2022. “Being friends with the other bar and business owners that are close, everyone kind of gears up for it. Everyone’s in the same boat.”

Another requisite stop for festivalgoers is the hallowed Mt. Royal Tavern, where manager Ben Franklin has poured drinks—and likely cracked open thousands of cans of Natty Boh—during Artscape for years.

“It’s fucking stupid,” says Franklin of the impending move. “That was a great weekend for us, it gave us a lot of business, it helps us out a lot. And now all of a sudden, that’s gone. Part of the fun of going to the Artscape was getting to stop by the tavern.”

Adds Coffren on the increased foot traffic: “That’s our busiest weekend, between Pride and Artscape those are the two big weekends we look forward to,” he says. “Of course, [we’re] not happy about it.”

The location of the very first Artscape in 1982—an innovative idea by then-MICA president Fred Lazarus—and its subsequent expansion into Station North and Mt. Vernon throughout the decades that followed were strategic decisions made in collaboration with the city government and local businesses.

Aside from the economic hit, Central Baltimore Partnership’s executive director Ellen Janes points out the cultural loss that comes with the forthcoming changes.

“While we understand the desire to bring Artscape to a new and central location, we also acknowledge the profound connection our community has had with the festival over the years,” Janes said in a statement provided to Baltimore. “Station North has long been a hub for the arts, creativity, and innovation in Baltimore, and Artscape has played a crucial role in highlighting our vibrant culture and bringing visitors to our neighborhood.”

Still, the district will carry on its commitment to its artistic history, said Janes, mentioning support for Derrick Adams’ new public art project Inviting Light, as well as the annual Asia North Festival. And despite recent losses, like the closure of The Crown, new spaces are thriving, such as the recently relocated Mobtown Ballroom & Cafe on the corner of Maryland Avenue and the recently opened Club Car down the street on North Avenue.

“We are incredibly proud of the impact that Artscape has had on Station North, and we remain committed to fostering a thriving arts and culture scene here,” said Janes. “The decision to relocate Artscape does not diminish our dedication to our artists, creatives, and the community at large. Our district will continue to be a space where local talent is celebrated, and we continue to work diligently to create new opportunities for events and festivals that contribute to the arts and cultural vitality of Baltimore.”

Alas, veteran hip-hop artist Eze Jackson—who has long hosted his famous Artscape After-Party at Metro Baltimore on North Charles Street—notes that Baltimore festivals aren’t immune to change.

Baltimore’s AFRAM festival was originally held at Druid Hill Park, then moved to Camden Yards for a stint before eventually finding its way back to Druid Hill Park. The Baltimore Caribbean Carnival used to be held at Clifton Park and now takes place at Druid Hill Park, as well. Baltimore Pride has also slowly migrated from Mount Vernon up to Station North and Old Goucher.

“I heard whispers that Artscape might be moved,” says Jackson. “I think it means that the city is trying stuff.”

While Jackson’s not sure what’s next for his iconic after-party and the small businesses in Station North amidst Artscape’s changes, he’s looking on the bright side.

“I’m used to seeing things move around,” he says. “You have to embrace change.”

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