Eat
May 16: Whiskey on the Waterfront
Sagamore Spirit Distillery. 301 E. Cromwell St. 12-6 p.m. Free admission.
When you think about it, this outdoor concert series is just as much about the food as it is the sips and sounds. To celebrate the return of the monthly tradition set against the sparkling Patapsco at the Baltimore Peninsula, bring a picnic blanket and find the perfect spot to tip back Sagmore cocktails while enjoying tunes from local soul and blues rockers Mallow Hill.
Then comes the real decision: where to grab food. Vendors pulling up for the first performance of the season on Saturday will include local faves like the Das Bierhalle food truck, Mexican on the Run, Pizza di Joey, Bmore Greek Grill, and Jimmy’s Seafood. Don’t skip dessert, with options like boozy ice cream from Tipsy Scoop or Twix and potato chip-infused cookies from Nina’s Cookie Explosion.
DRINK
May 16: Greenerfest
Diamondback Brewing Co. 1215 E. Fort Ave. Cleanup at Latrobe Park: 11 a.m. Fest: 12-10 p.m. Free admission.
The 10th-annual festival celebrating Diamondback’s flagship Green Machine IPA is back with an entire day of fun planned in Locust Point. Join the team for a cleanup to make nearby Latrobe Park a little greener at 11 a.m. Back at the brewery, the taps open at noon—featuring special variants like Green Machine with cherry pie terpenes and a double dry hopped version with citra and mosiac. Throughout the day, there will also be live bands, food vendors (and the taproom’s famous wood-fired pizzas), inflatables and games for littles, and NA bars outside pouring green “Faux-itos.”
See also: Gin Fling at Dutch Courage; Preakness 151 Lager at Guinness
SEE
May 17: Baltimore Vintage Expo
Union Craft Brewing. 1700 W. 41st St. Early-bird: 9-11 a.m. GA: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$21.
Speaking of 10-year anniversaries, this massive showcase is uniting the region’s most coveted vintage and antique dealers to celebrate its big milestone on Sunday. Shop a curated lineup of timeless, collectible retro finds, quality clothing for all genders, jewelry, decor, furniture, and more. If you want to get first eyes on all of the treasures, spring for an early-bird ticket—which grants you two whole hours of browsing time before GA crowds come in.
See also: Butchers Hill Spring Flea Market, Baltimore Bound Vintage Market
HEAR
May 15: All Your Friends: The Indie Party
Baltimore Soundstage. 124 Market Pl. 9:30 p.m. $29
As much as we love an ’80s and ’90s throwback dance party, the indie sleaze era of the 2010s also sparks its own brand of nostalgia. Dig out your checkered Vans and chunky necklaces and squeeze into the crowd at Baltimore Soundstage for an evening of bangers you definitely had downloaded on your scratched-up iPod. Think: The Killers, MGMT, Passion Pit, Robyn, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and even Baltimore’s own dream pop heroes Beach House.
See also: Music City Bluegrass & Roots Festival
DO
May 16: Preakness 151
Laurel Park. 198 Laurel Race Track Rd. Laurel. Times & prices vary.
While the iconic Pimlico Race Course undergoes renovations, the 151st running of the Preakness Stakes will be held an hour south at Laurel Park—which means scaled-down crowds and no rowdy InfieldFest this year. But the middle jewel of the Triple Crown will still be one to remember, featuring the country’s finest thoroughbred horses, flowing Black-Eyed Susan cocktails, extravagant hats for days, and some of the year’s best people watching. Follow along for day-of coverage from the track @baltmag on Instagram.
See also: Trash Dash at Middle Branch Park, Showcation at Camp Ramblewood; Hops on the Dock with Cheseapeake DockDogs and Best Friends Fur Ever