Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your Charm City weekend.
EAT
Nov. 29: Fells Point Oyster Festival
Kooper’s Tavern, 1702 Thames St. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. $1 & up. 410-563-5423. kooperstavern.com
Here’s something we’re thankful for: oyster season. With the water getting cold and the oysters in their prime, we’ll take them any way we can: raw, grilled, on the half shell, as shooters, in a po’boy—you name it. This Saturday, you can have them all of these ways and more as two Thames Street cornerstones set up shop for their 15th annual oyster festival in Fells Point. Kooper’s and Sláinte will be serving up a slew of ‘sters from all around the Chesapeake, country, and Canada, starting at just a dollar a pop. They’ll also have handcrafted cocktails, Flying Dog beer, and a number of restaurant specials, with proceeds benefitting the Oyster Recovery Partnership.
DRINK
Nov. 27-Dec. 24: Christmas Village Beer Garden
West Shore Park, 501 Light St. Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free-$5. baltimore-christmas.com
After Thanksgiving, you can finally start to celebrate the holiday season like you’ve secretly wanted to ever since Walgreens first shelved its peppermint bark back in mid-October. You can go drink hot chocolate, test your luck on the Inner Harbor ice rink, or do whatever weirdly jolly things it is you do this time of year, but we have a better idea: beer. Drink beer. Outside along the waterfront, this authentic German holiday market boasts—in addition to arts and crafts vendors—a Bavarian beer garden, with brews, brats, and mulled wine from now until Christmas.
SEE
Nov. 29-Jan. 2: 34th Street Lights
720 W. 34th St. Mon.-Sun. 5-11 p.m. Free. christmasstreet.com
Scramble on over to Hampden this Saturday for the hood’s 67th annual “Miracle on 34th Street.” Despite an almost-cancellation due to recent crime complaints, the festive neighborhood tradition is still a go, with houses up and down the block decking their digs in holiday lights like illuminated Bohs, Mrs. Utz, crabs, flamingos, and the famous hubcap tree. The lights stay on nightly through January 2, as well as all night on Christmas and New Year’s Eves.
HEAR
Nov. 30: George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
Rams Head Live, 20 Market Pl. 7 p.m. $35. 410-244-1131. ramsheadlive.com
You’ll sit around all Friday and Saturday swearing you’ll go for a jog, but let’s be real: Those sweatpants aren’t going anywhere. Come the end of the weekend, though, shake off all those leftover turkey, cranberry, and stuffing sandwiches with a Sunday night dance party. This 1970s R&B revolutionary and forefather of funk will take to the Rams Head stage with his longtime band mates for a fun night of feel-good tunes.
DO
Nov. 29: AVAM’s Bazaar
American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 410-244-1900. avam.org
There are two kinds of people we have to buy presents for: those you can give gift cards and those that you can’t. For the latter loved ones, you’ll probably find yourself stuck—wasting countless hours hunched over your computer, trolling Pinterest and Etsy for some kind of different, DIY present. Instead, go to AVAM this Saturday when the museum hosts its annual holiday market with more than 50 regional artists and craftspeople selling original paintings, sculptures, jewelry, and more.