EAT

Sept. 14: Baltimore Seafood Festival

Canton Waterfront Park. 12-7 p.m. Free-$100.

What better way to honor Baltimore’s undoubted love for seafood than a full-blown festival with crustaceans as far as the eye can see? Head to Canton Waterfront Park for this sixth annual extravaganza as local seafood spots—including favorites like Jimmy’s Famous Seafood, Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, Nick’s Fish House, and The Local Oyster—serve up crab cakes, shrimp salad, oysters, and steamed crabs. Indulge in the only large-scale seafood festival in Baltimore City and spend the day trying new drinks, listening to live music, and taking in cooking demonstrations.

DRINK

Sept. 14: WTMD’s Rock and Rye

South Point, 101 W. Cromwell St. 6-9 p.m. $65.

With five cocktail tastings and unlimited samplings of 75-plus hand-crafted spirits, Rock and Rye is the idyllic goodbye to summer. Sip the night away while enjoying DJ Who’s soundtrack. In between glasses, hear from representatives of 18 Maryland distilleries—including local favorites like Sagamore Spirit and Old Line—which will offer insights into the trade and how to best serve their whiskey, gin, and vodka at home.

SEE

Sept. 14: Central Library Grand Reopening

Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral St. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

After three years of top-to-bottom renovations to the Enoch Pratt Central Library, the city’s 86-year-old institution will celebrate its grand reopening on Saturday with a block party and open house featuring some of the best performers, musicians, and authors Baltimore has to offer. As you take a virtual tour through the library to see its new additions and expansions, take in the host of activities going on in each section, including a performance by The Ellen Show-famous drummers A1 Chops, a Black Cherry Puppet Theater show in the Children’s Department, and readings by revered local authors like Laura Lippman and Kondwani Fidel in the Wheeler Auditorium.

HEAR

Sept. 13: Eze Jackson & The Backwudz Band

Baltimore Soundstage, 124 Market Pl. 8 p.m. $20-25.

If you haven’t yet tuned in to local legend Eze Jackson’s latest record, Fool, start binge-listening ahead of this Friday’s can’t-miss show at Baltimore Soundstage. Joined on the downtown stage by a packed lineup of up-and-comers—including FUNSHO, Apex Tha Genius, Dre Thompson, MC Bravado, and Christen B, as well as rising comedian Ivan Martin—the frontman of beloved hip-hop collective Soul Cannon will take the audience through new songs like “Unapologetically Black” and “Be Great” in the same fiery, high-energy way that he’s known and loved for.

DO

Sept. 15: Abell Community Street Fair

Abell Ave. 12-5 p.m. Free.

Whether you’re a longtime Abell resident or new to the neighborhood, spend Sunday afternoon exploring the sights and shops along its main avenue during this annual street fair. After grabbing a bite from local food trucks like Farm to Charm and cm.pops, browse through free books from The Book Thing of Baltimore, snag some fall-inspired pieces from The Clothing Swap’s free collection, and jam out to live music from 13 local acts including Bobbi Rush and School of Rock Baltimore. There is something for everyone at this fun-in-the-sun event, including a parade and game booths for the kiddos, as well as beer from Peabody Heights Brewery for the grown-up set.

EAT

Sept. 15: Baltimore Seafood Festival

Canton Waterfront Park, 3001 Boston Street. 12-7 p.m. Free-$105.

Even the impending Hurricane Florence can’t stop Marylanders from one last end-of-summer seafood feast. On Saturday, more than 35 area restaurants and food trucks will take over Canton Waterfront Park to serve up some of the best blue crabs, crab soup, crab cakes, and oysters the Old Line State has to offer. Spend the day checking off our list of must-have bites, jamming to live music by local favorites The Scotch Bonnets and Honey Extractor, and honoring the bounty of the bay from noon until sundown.

DRINK

Sept. 15: Opening of Baltimore Spirits Company

Baltimore Spirits Company, 1700 W. 41st St. 12-8 p.m. Free.

Since opening its doors in June, Union Collective has welcomed four local independent businesses into its booming makerspace, and this weekend, the Baltimore Spirits Company will add its award-winning spirits to the pack. Formerly the Baltimore Whiskey Company, this hometown distillery is celebrating its grand opening with an all-out party featuring drinks and eats from fellow tenants The Charmery, Vent Coffee Roasters, and Union Craft Brewing, as well as tunes by DJ Jack Denning of All Mighty Senators. Take a tour of the new production space, sip on cocktails made with the brand’s signature gin, brandy, amaro, or whiskey, and revel in the much-anticipated opening of this locally loved distillery.

SEE

Sept.14-Oct. 7: Putin on Ice

Single Carrot Theatre, 2600 N. Howard St. Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. $25-29.

In an era when headlines are dominated by claims of “fake news,” Baltimore arts organizations Single Carrot Theatre and The Acme Corporation have collaborated on a project where everything that happens on stage is said to be a lie. This experimental production incorporates made-up ancient texts, falsified scientific data, and manipulated video evidence to present a wacky satirical portrait of Vladimir Putin in a performance that is sure to be one of this season’s don’t-miss events.

HEAR

Sept. 15: Afro House Concert No. 6

Hamilton-Lauraville, address disclosed upon ticket purchase. 7-9 p.m. $25.

To the artists that make up Afro House, a company of performers from across all disciplines and corners of the city, music is the thread that connects us all. For the sixth edition of the collective’s concert series, guests are invited to grab a seat in the living room of a local home to hear the creative ensemble play a fusion of classical, soul, and rock music in an intimate setting. This is a new music experience in Baltimore, led by local composer and pianist Scott Patterson.

DO

Sept. 16: Abell Community Street Fair

3000-3200 Abell Ave. 12-5 p.m. Free.

Home to beloved local spots like The Book Thing and Normal’s Book and Records, this growing neighborhood is one to celebrate. Start your Sunday by watching the annual children’s costume parade stroll down Abell Avenue at 11:30 a.m., and then enjoy an afternoon of sampling eats from local food trucks and brews by Abell’s own Peabody Heights Brewery, exchanging your summer clothes at The Clothing Swap, and browsing works by area artists. Best of all, this year’s fair boasts two stages of live performances, featuring rising acts like James & the Giant Peach and Joseph & The Beasts.