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EAT

Aug. 15: Ice Queens Block Party

Ice Queens. 1648 E Fort Ave. 4-9 p.m.

Earlier this week, word began to spread that this Locust Point snowball spot has recently been the victim of acts of racially charged hate and vandalism that included the destruction of its outdoor signage and menu board. In true Charm City fashion, the South Baltimore community has come out in droves to support owners Dasia Kabia and Monique Burke as they try to recover from the damage done to their shop. Lines have been wrapped around the block all week, and, to further back the business, neighbors have organized this Saturday-afternoon block party at Ice Queens that will act as a fundraiser to help replace all of the outdoor signage. So gather up your friends and family and head to the Fort Avenue fixture to beat the heat with a classic egg custard with marshmallow, skylite, or your favorite flavor combination while showing your support and taking a stand.

DRINK

Aug. 15: Sandlot Pop-Up Sip & Paint

Sandlot. 1000 Wills St. 3-8 p.m. $35.

This weekend, Sandlot’s waterfront oasis is transforming into a paint studio. Colours Stroke will be popping up at the Harbor Point waterfront to throw the ultimate sip-and-paint party. While basking in the sun, you and your friends can get to work creating your own masterpieces to put on display once you return home. There will be two two-hour sessions, and plenty of beverages, just don’t forget to grab your ticket ahead of time.

SEE

Aug. 14: How Suffragists Built Baltimore’s First Recreation Center

The Baltimore Architecture Foundation. Zoom. 1-1:30 p.m. Free.

The Baltimore Architecture Foundation’s latest installment of Virtual Histories is taking you all the way back to 1911 to discuss the origins and architecture of Baltimore’s first rec center. The birth of the Roosevelt Recreation Center bears an unlikely story, and its design was like no other at the time. Jackson Gilman-Forlini, a historic preservation officer for the city’s Department of General Services, will be presenting the discussion and explaining how suffragists had a unique role in its historical creation.

HEAR

Aug. 14-16: Music at the Winery

Linganore Winecellars. 13601 Glissans Mill Rd., Mt. Airy. Times vary. Free.

Hop in the car and take a trip to one of Maryland’s most beautiful wineries to spread out while enjoying live music, a glass of local vino, and some food truck fare. The performance lineup, which features a different musician on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, offers everything from roots and rock covers to country and soul songs. On deck this weekend is rock and soul musician Julia A. Kasdorf on Friday night, guitarist Sulaiman Rahman on Saturday afternoon, and singer-songwriter Domenic Cicala on Sunday afternoon.

DO

Aug. 15: Benevolent Bubbles Cruise

Benevolent Bubbles. S Patterson Park Ave. 6-8:30 p.m. Free.

One thing Benevolent Bubbles knows for sure is that bubbles and biking complement each other perfectly. Whether you’re skeptical or convinced, this weekend you’ll get the chance to see what all the hype is about. The nonprofit, whose mission is to decrease the social stigma surrounding mental illness, will be guiding a bubble cruise from Patterson Park to Federal Hill Park just in time to catch the sunset over the city skyline. No need to worry if you don’t have a bubble machine of your own. Organizers will be offering some of their own so you don’t need to miss out on the fun.

As a teenager living in Carroll County in the early ’80s, David Koslowski always dreamt about going to the Marble Bar beneath the old Congress Hotel on West Franklin Street. The local music veteran, now co-owner of record store cafe Baby’s on Fire in Mt. Vernon, remembers being an avid listener to WCVT—Towson’s indie-rock radio station that predated what is now WTMD.

“When they did the concert calendar you would hear of Talking Heads or Iggy Pop playing at the Marble Bar,” he says. “And I was like, ‘I gotta get to that place. That’s where my tribe is.’’’

Unfortunately, Koslowski just missed being old enough to get in. It was around that point that Maryland changed the legal drinking age, and by the time he turned 21, the storied subterranean music venue had already closed its doors. It wasn’t until last year, when the Baltimore Architecture Foundation hosted its annual Groundhog Day fundraiser in the long vacant space, that Koslowski finally got to experience the place he had envisioned going to for so many years as a high school kid.

For one night last February, former Marble Bar alums and architecture enthusiasts packed the basement venue to sip cocktails from W.C. Harlan while marveling at the original moldings and 72-foot namesake bar. The soundtrack for the evening was provided by indie-pop rockers Super City, along with a playlist spun by Koslowski—who featured acts (including local punk legends Reptile House and Thee Katatonix) that played at the bar in its heyday.

“It was a really fun mix of people,” says Kathleen Lane, executive director of the Baltimore Architecture Foundation. “Both people who remember being in the space, and architects who could almost help them see the importance of the details that are still intact in the building.”

The party was the first time the bar had been activated in more than 30 years. Even if only for a few hours, it gave nostalgic fans an opportunity to revisit the place that was once frequented by the likes of REM and The Psychedelic Furs. But now, the owners of Mobtown Ballroom in Pigtown have stepped in to spearhead a more permanent revival.

Come fall, owners Sarah Sullivan and Michael Seguin will debut a new iteration of the space. Their vision is for the Marble Bar, which will keep its name, to be a community cafe that features an all-day food menu with strong coffee and cocktail programs.

“We want it to be a spot that people can make their second home,” Sullivan says. “They can come in the morning to get coffee and a bagel and read the paper, or park themselves during the day to do their work. And then in the evening come in for a casual date or just to hang out in a comfortable, cool spot that is affordable—kind of like a European-style cafe.”

Although live music won’t necessarily be the focus of the new concept (Sullivan mentions possible piano showcases and smaller jazz trios), the owners are being thoughtful about honoring the history of the property in other ways, like showcasing old photographs and collecting stories from former regulars for new customers to read. Of course, they are also planning to preserve architectural details including the vintage moldings.

“I know what it’s like to have grown up in a place and then have it close, get knocked down, or be replaced with something new,” Sullivan says. “We really want it to be a monument to the people who used to spend all their time there.”

Built in 1903, The Congress Hotel complex—which included the downstairs bar and two theaters connected to the building by covered passageways—brought in big vaudeville acts like Charlie Chaplin, Will Rogers, and Eddie Cantor in its early years. The basement originally operated as a German rathskeller (aka a basement bar) before being reimagined into a home for emerging punk and new wave bands in the ’70s and ’80s.

“Everyone knows buildings through their own experiences and memories,” Lane says. “So the best kinds of adaptations and revivals are those that can retain a sense of that history, yet also create new opportunities for the future.”

Koslowski agrees, mentioning the trajectory of other historic arts spaces like the Club Charles: “Now it’s an icon of the city for the next generation,” he says.

As the Mobtown team begins restoration work, Zahlco Development—which owns the bar and Congress Apartments upstairs—is beginning to transform the historic Mayfair Theatre around the corner into a retail-and-residential property. There’s also talks of converting the outdoor area between the two buildings into a community hub with seating and a stage for open-air concerts in the summer. Ideally, the greenspace would boast a seperate entrance to the Marble Bar.

Sullivan says she’s most enthusiastic about the venue becoming a place where people from all backgrounds can come and interact with one another—a vibe similar to what she has established at Mobtown Ballroom.

“Watching what happens when the character of the space and the character of the people come together is really cool,” she says. “It’s this idea that the place is this thing that was once living and breathing on its own, and to reanimate that with the personalities of people today is really exciting.”

Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your Charm City weekend.

 EAT

Feb. 3: Fifth Annual Chili Cook-Off

The Wharf Rat, 801 S. Ann St. 1-4 p.m. $5-10. 410-276–8304

When the weather dips below 40 degrees, there is really only one remedy: a fireside bowl of chili at a neighborhood pub. Enter The Wharf Rat, which has been asking its patrons to make their favorite chili recipe to see who can be crowned cook-off king or queen. Whether you prefer yours mild or hot, with beans or not, vegetarian or full of meat, head down to Fells Point this Saturday to sample all that these local cooks have to offer. In addition to the English-style ales on tap and in the cask, Wharf Rat will be pouring beer by Bell’s Brewery, so you can have a couple Two Hearted IPAs to wash your chili down. The best part is the event benefits BARCS and its mission to care for homeless and unwanted animals in Baltimore City.

 DRINK

To Feb. 3: CiderCon

Locations, times & prices vary.  

Move over craft beer and local cocktails—cider is having a moment in the sun. In fact, the crisp apple beverage has been on the rise for years now, and this week, CiderCon is in town to unite enthusiasts, makers, and curious crowds over this age-old concoction. This weekend, participate in activities throughout the city—from tastings of more than 75 ciders at the B&O Railroad Museum to a cider social at Charm City Meadworks. Just don’t miss out on the cider parties at Wet City, where you can try Graft Cider’s latest release of Cloud City and enjoy a food pairing led by Vermont’s Shacksbury Cider. 

 SEE

Feb. 2: Groundhog Day

The SNF Parkway, 5 W. North Ave. 7:30-9:10 p.m. $8-10. 443-438-6144.  

There’s no better way to celebrate Groundhog Day than watching Harold Ramis’s 1993 comedy of the same name. After 25 years, Groundhog Day still a crowd favorite with the lovely Andie MacDowell and the inimitable Bill Murray at his very best. On Friday evening, a few hours after Punxsutawney Phil dictates our future forecast, either celebrate or abate your sorrow with a screening of this cinematic treat inside the historic Parkway Theatre, hoping that spring comes early and Saturday starts anew. 

 HEAR

Feb. 3: SZA

Rams Head Live, 20 Market Pl. 8-11:30 p.m. $25-30. 410-244-1131.  

At only 27 years old, R&B singer-songwriter Solána Imani Rowe, aka SZA, has quickly become a name to know. Her most recent album, Ctrl, hit number one on the charts and helped her become the most-nominated woman at the 2018 Grammys, though unfortunately, she didn’t take any accolades home. That being said, we’re fairly certain we’ll see her back there next year, and until then, hear the Jersey artist’s hits for yourself during her Saturday performance at Rams Head. 

 DO

Feb. 2: Groundhog Day Party and Fundraiser

Congress Hotel, The Marble Bar, 306 W. Franklin St. 5:30-10 p.m. $30-100. 410-625-2585. 

Before there was the Ottobar, Baltimore had the Marble Bar. In the late ’70s and mid-’80s, this underground club in the old Congress hotel was the place to be for punk and new wave music, even attracting then little known acts such as the Psychedelic Furs, Talking Heads, and Iggy Pop. The iconic venue has been collecting dust for years, but now the Baltimore Architecture Foundation is giving it new life for their annual Groundhog Day celebration. For one night, experience a legendary part of Baltimore’s music history with eats by La Cuchara, drinks by WC Harlan, records spun by Baby’s on Fire, and live music by Baltimore’s own rising indie-pop-rock band Super City, all to support the BAF’s goal of upholding the city’s architectural legacy. 

Nestled on Wolfe Street are two houses built in 1797 that were once part of a quadplex—a structure of four living spaces. Built with common materials of wood and brick, these homes were occupied by African-American families in the mid-1800s who worked as ship caulkers less than two blocks away at the port.

These two buildings are some of the last Caulkers’ Houses to remain and have seen more than 200 years in Fells Point history. 

“It’s something you might walk past and not notice,” said Victoria Kraushar-Planholt, the chair for Doors Open Baltimore event. “There’s a lot of rich tradition with our city and its architecture.” 

Stories and structures like these are just one reason why Doors Open Baltimore is back again for the fourth year. Beginning October 28, the multi-day event allows visitors to tour more than 50 of Baltimore’s historical sites for free. The event was extended from one day to a full weekend to allow for lectures, more guided tours, and additional offerings.

The next day, visitors will have an opportunity to experience walking neighborhood heritage tours, bus tours with the Baltimore Heritage—a nonprofit historical preservation organization—and bicycle tours through several sites guided by architects and neighborhood experts. This year, since the dates are so close to Halloween, there will even be a few cemetery tours where you can learn about famous Baltimoreans and where they are buried.

“We’ve had people come up to us because they were upset they could only see so many of the sites if they were also going to do a guided tour,” she said. “The full weekend gives people more opportunities to see more of the buildings they want to see and participate in the events—they won’t have to choose.” 

Doors Open, which was inspired by a Denver event of the same name, is sponsored by the local chapter of the American Institute for Architects (AIA) and the Baltimore Architecture Foundation (BAF), and aims highlight the architectural designs around the city, introducing even longtime residents to something new. 

Among the sites are some familiar names like the Rawlings Conservatory and the Peabody Library. But the event also features hidden gems like The Arch Social Club, which is the second oldest black social club in the country, or Old Otterbein Church, which is the oldest, continuously used church in Baltimore.

“The hardest question is when people ask me my favorite site,” Kraushar-Planholt said. “But the Peabody Library is amazing to revisit. I’m a huge book fan and to see their 60-foot tall atrium with over 300,000 books is breathtaking in real life.”