The first-ever Brilliant Baltimore—the lovechild of the Light City and the Baltimore Book festivals—will kick off this weekend with 10 days of free activities along the Inner Harbor. From November 1 through November 10, catch local musicians performing live outside at the main Brilliant Baltimore Concert Stage adjacent to the Maryland Science Center, as well as other locations throughout the neighborhood. Here are more than a dozen not to miss.

Marian McLaughlin
11/1, 12 p.m., Brilliant Baltimore Concert Stage
Start things off with a mid-day set by this dynamic chamber-folk singer-songwriter. Combining acoustic instruments, stream-of-consciousness storytelling, and a focus on the natural world, her poetic music is a meditative listen in this fast-paced world.

Afro House
11/2, 8 p.m., pop-up performances
This inventive performance art group (and Best of Baltimore winner) brings its Astronaut Symphony—a futuristic fusion of beat box, opera, punk, and funk—to the city streets with roaming performances around the harbor on Saturday evening.

Rufus Roundtree & Da B’More Brass Factory
11/3, 4:30 p.m., Brilliant Baltimore Concert Stage
Keep the Sunday scaries at bay with an afternoon powerhouse performance by this funk-fueled Baltimore institution, always bringing a Charm City-meets-New Orleans get-down that should incite a second line.

Outcalls

11/3, 7:30 p.m., Brilliant Baltimore Concert Stage
Behold the vocal power of Britt Olsen-Ecker and Melissa Wimbish. The two classically trained opera singers make up this pop-opera duo, as they’ve called it, bringing ethereal harmonies, synth-power ballads, and all-around female empowerment to every stage they play.

Abdu Ali

11/3, 9 p.m., Brilliant Baltimore Concert Stage
This avant-garde rap artists first captivated the city’s art scene as the MC of their Kahlon dance parties at The Crown. Years later, Abdu Ali’s talents have only continued to grow, as has their stage presence, with their live performances now backed by a full band and more fiery energy than ever before.

Clarence Ward III & Dat Feel Good
11/6, Brilliant Baltimore Concert Stage, 7:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, this skilled Baltimore brass player takes to the stage with his full band for, as the name rightfully implies, a feel good show filled with influences by jazz, hip-hop, and funk. Ward himself commands the horn and saxophone, while his bandmates keep the vibes high on keys and drums.

MovaKween
11/7, 9 p.m., Brilliant Baltimore Concert Stage
This New Age R&B singer offers a smooth way to slide into the weekend, with jazz-infused melodies, earthy vocals, and an empowering message for all listeners, especially women, on Thursday night.

Wendel Patrick
11/8, 5 p.m. Brilliant Baltimore Concert Stage.
It’s hard to know exactly what type of music this composer, producer, rapper, radio host, and more will be bringing to this Friday evening set. But we do know, no matter what, this Baltimore music veteran and mad scientist is sure to be a showstopper.

Super City

11/8, 7:30 p.m., Brilliant Baltimore Concert Stage
A perfect way to kick off your Friday night, this infectious indie-pop band puts on one of the best live shows in the city with high-powered hits (new go-tos like “Stay” and old favorites like “Artificial Sin”) and killer choreography (fancy feet, low-low dips) that make it impossible to not dance along.

Billy Price & The Charm City Rhythm Band
11/9, 6:15 p.m., Brilliant Baltimore Concert Stage
This veteran blues-and-soul singer brings his six-piece band for an old-school sound and Saturday night shakedown fit for all ages. A newcomer to Baltimore, Price brings funky grooves, rollicking rock-and-roll numbers, and soulful, belt-out ballads.

Joy Postell
11/10, 6:15 p.m., Brilliant Baltimore Concert Stage
One of the most soulful voices in the city, Postell packs a punch on every song she performs, be it socially minded hip-hop tracks, jazzy neo-soul croons, or old-school R&B slow jams. Prepare to be mesmerized.

Patrick McAvinue

11/10, 7:30 p.m., Brilliant Baltimore Concert Stage
This young musician is quickly becoming one of the most regarded bluegrass fiddle players with national awards and a regular gig at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. Expect a Sunday set of fast-flying, feel-good tunes when he comes back to his Baltimore roots.

Eze Jackson & The Backwudz Band

11/10, 9 p.m., Brilliant Baltimore Concert Stage
A guiding force of the local music scene, this dynamic rap artist and front-man of hip-hop collective Soul Cannon will perform with his Backwudz band for a Sunday evening set of high-octane energy and only-in-Baltimore rhymes.

You probably know Karyn Parsons best from her role as Hilary Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, the beloved ‘90s sitcom that still lives on today through its memorable dance sequences and catchy theme song. Though she hasn’t been acting as much, Parsons has kept busy. She runs a production company, Sweet Blackberry, which aims to tell stories of history’s forgotten African-American heroes in a way that is digestible for young children.

More recently, she’s become a published author with her novel, How High the Moon, a 1940s-set young-adult story based partly on her mother’s experiences growing up in the Jim Crow South. The book, which follows 12-year-old Ella and her friends coming of age in South Carolina in 1944, has drawn universal praise for its fleshed-out characters and ability to capture an important moment in our nation’s history.

Parsons will appear at the Baltimore Book Festival’s Literary Salon on East Pratt Street on November 3 at 3 p.m., alongside Ava Joy Burnett of WJZ. In anticipation of her festival debut, we spoke with Parsons about her novel, plans for a second book, and those Fresh Prince spinoff rumors.

You’ve said it took you around three years to write How High the Moon. What was that process like?
I didn’t have the pressure that I have now. At first it was like nobody was really watching. Sometimes I wondered what I had gotten myself into. I always try to remind myself and tell other people, my one little grain of knowledge is to give yourself permission to suck and be terrible.

Now, I’m expected to write a book. Before, I was writing and I knew what I wanted to explore. And then I found myself bumping up against things. Things kept calling my attention along the way and the story starts to tell you what it wants to say, or characters get fleshed out that you didn’t intend on having, and they start to become very important. It’s a beautiful gift.

When moving to your second novel, was there any muscle memory that started to kick in? Or is it more about rediscovering the process?
Both things co-exist. I’m rediscovering it, but it also feels very different than the last time. I had a hard year. My book came out, but I also had the tragedy of my mother passing away. They were happening simultaneously. It’s been an odd year filled with incredible highs and the most ridiculous lows. I would be locked into the book, and then I would be so detached from it. That was nothing like my relationship before where I was able to be with my story. It’s been harder for me this time to be able to have that relationship with it. It’s made the process very, very different. But the other part is true, too. It’s not so much muscle memory as it is knowledge that I did this before.

You’ve spoken about how with How High the Moon, some of the stories that you gathered to inform the novel were from talking with your mother about what it was like for her growing up. Has your relationship to the book and discussing it changed since her passing?
In the beginning, it was hard. I was right in the middle of talking about the book as she was dying and right after she passed. It definitely deepened my gratitude for having had that time with her, and her getting to experience the book and read it and be in the hospital shaking it at everybody that walked by—“Look what my daughter did!” The fact that we got to go down memory lane together and she got to unveil so many things to me I didn’t know until I was writing the book. I never knew about her upbringing, which was so important for me to know. I’m forever grateful for the experience and for her getting to see it all the way through.

Your production company shines a light on historical figures in animated films for children. How has How High the Moon similarly allowed you a platform to further speak about issues you’re passionate about?
I like getting the word out about the importance of history. I’m not a historian. I just kind of accidentally fell into this stuff. Again, my mom’s to blame, turning me on to stories that were so enlightening and exciting and inspiring. And that’s what made Sweet Blackberry happen, as well as the book. I’m not intentionally political by any means, but of course, it’s hard to avoid what’s going on with you when you’re writing.

What are you most excited about for the Book Festival?
I love Baltimore. I’ve been a few times. I’m not sure how much time I’ll have to explore. I’m excited to be a part of the festival. This whole thing has been very exciting for me with this being my first book, and I’ve loved the welcome that I’ve received. It’s been tremendous.

We have to ask—there have been reports that Will Smith is working on a Fresh Prince spinoff. Have you been contacted and would you be interested?
Well, it’s a spinoff not a reboot, which is important. I read it like everybody else. I have no idea what he’s thinking about. I’m curious, obviously, but I have no idea. My guess is that I’m not involved. I’m sure I would have heard something by now. If I was asked to do something, sure. I had such a great experience with everyone doing that project that it would have to be pretty lousy for me to say no. And he wouldn’t do anything lousy.

For the first time ever, two of the city’s wildly popular festivals—Light City and the Baltimore Book Festival—will be combined into one free celebration called Brilliant Baltimore, which is taking over the Inner Harbor November 1-10. Since this first-of-its-kind festival is packed with tons of interactive light-art installations, thought-provoking panel discussions, kids’ activities, and everything in between, use our guide to create your own itinerary of things to do and see.

If you want to learn more about local history:

Nov. 1-10: An Abstract Baltimore Story
View area painter Jeffrey Kent’s installation, An Abstract Baltimore Story, which will display his animated abstractions about the history of Henrietta Lacks—whose immortal cells were harvested and cultured without her knowledge at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1951—on a large outdoor LED screen. 5-10 p.m. Inner Harbor.

Nov. 2: Cherry Hill: Raising Successful Black Children in Jim Crow Baltimore
Hear Linda Morris discuss her new book, Cherry Hill: Raising Successful Black Children in Jim Crow Baltimore, as well as the politics surrounding the first planned community for African Americans with fellow local leaders. 12 p.m. The Inspire Stage, 401 E. Pratt St., 27th floor.

If you want to entertain your kids:

Nov. 1: Book Buggy with Miss Kelly
During Book Buggy with Miss Kelly, dance the day away as part of a Zumbini music and movement class for children under 3 years old. 12:30 p.m. Enoch Pratt Free Library Children’s Stage.

Nov. 1-10: Waterlight Graffiti Installation
Draw or write a message on the Waterlight Graffiti installation, and then watch it fade away thanks to the wall’s thousands of LEDs that light up when in contact with water. 5-10 p.m. Inner Harbor.

If you want to rub elbows with celebrities:

Nov. 3: Karyn Parsons in Conversation with CBS Baltimore’s Ava-joye Burnett
Hear from producer and author Karyn Parsons, best known for her role as Will Smith’s cousin Hillary on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, as she discusses her award-winning series of children’s animated films and debut novel. 3 p.m. Literary Salon, 701 E. Pratt St.

Nov. 5: Meet Celebrity Chef Carla Hall
Learn a few new culinary tips and tricks from beloved celebrity chef Carla Hall during her one-day appearance at the festival. 6 p.m. Literary Salon, 701 E. Pratt St.

Nov. 6: Meet Hill Harper
Pack the festival’s literary salon to hear author, actor, and activist Hill Harper, known for his roles on The Good Doctor and CSI, talk with audiences about his life’s work, including four New York Times bestsellers and seven NAACP Image Awards for his writing and acting. 6 p.m. Literary Salon, 701 E. Pratt St.

If you want to avoid the Inner Harbor crowds:

Nov. 1-3: Opening Weekend at The Ivy Bookshop
During the festival’s opening weekend, attend readings and roundtables at The Ivy Bookshop, including a panel on the city’s small presses and a presentation from revered local author D. Watkins. Times vary. 6080 Falls Rd.

Nov. 1-10: Neighborhood Lights
As per Light City tradition, bop around Baltimore to see how various neighborhood centers and library branches light up their outdoor spaces in honor of the annual festival. Times and locations vary.

If you want to jumpstart your literary career:

Nov. 1: The Business and Craft of Self-Publishing
The first day of the festival kicks off with a discussion at the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America stage about what it takes to self-publish your work. Learn about the business savvy needed to publish and promote personal literary works from authors Scott King, Natasha D. Lane, and Alex Shvartsman. 12 p.m. 701 E. Pratt St.

Nov. 1: Welcome to the Hive: Collaborative Writing with Jamaila Brinkley, Rebecca Norinne, Terri Brisbin, and Christi Barth
Learn about the pitfalls and potential rewards of writing collaboratively during this roundtable talk with best-selling authors. Topics ranging from dividing up responsibilities between writers and settling creative arguments are fair game during this in-depth discussion at the Maryland Romance Writers stage. 3 p.m. 701 E. Pratt St.

There was a period where Jamesha Caldwell wasn’t writing. She took a break for a bit after a middle school writing class, and it wasn’t until she started performing at open mics and appearing at the Baltimore Book Festival and CityLit Festival that she developed her voice and exactly what she wanted to say with her work. And now, for the second year in a row, she’s bringing those ideas to an international audience.

The International Congress of Youth Voices was established in 2018 by author Dave Eggers as a way to convene young adults ages 16 to 20, all of whom have a defined and specific passion, whether that be in a leadership role or shepherding social justice and communicating their ideas in thoughtful and artistic ways. Based on that criteria, there is no better delegate for Baltimore than Caldwell.

Caldwell, 19, will travel to Puerto Rico in August for her second go-round at the Congress. She is a first-generation college student majoring in criminology with a minor in psychology at Notre Dame of Maryland University, a poet and writer whose work focuses on issues surrounding the city of Baltimore. More specifically, her focus is on the language that those inside and outside Baltimore use to describe the city and its reputation, particularly as it relates to youth in the city.

In high school, she was involved in various organizations that afforded her the ability to travel to surrounding schools. One of those organizations, Writers in Baltimore Schools, which, according to its website, works to “empower the voices of Baltimore City students,” nominated her as a delegate for the conference. As part of the nomination process, Caldwell submitted a piece of writing and completed a questionnaire answering biographical information, what she does in the community, and what she is passionate about.

Caldwell’s studies are based around her experiences traveling to other schools as she started to notice a disconnect between her Baltimore and the comments and questions she would get about the city. With this foundation, she’s dedicated herself to studying criminological theory while at school, and hopes that, through her work, she can help shine a light on the stereotypes, common misconceptions, and sweeping generalizations people often use when talking about Baltimore City.

“I really want to articulate that we are not what’s represented in the news,” Caldwell says. “Our stories are so much more deeper and impactful than what is broadcasted.”

Poetry is the means by which Caldwell is often articulating her ideas, though she has written for publications like the now-defunct City Paper, as well. Red Emma’s is one of her favorite places in the city, and she often participates in readings at the book shop as a means of outreach.

Every spring semester, Caldwell participates in a program where she visits with incarcerated women at the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup. Conversations with these women, she says, have helped inform her research and reiterate that everyone has a story to tell. “Interacting with incarcerated populations really drives my activism and research and how I interact with people in giving them the space to know that what we generalize them as them in our textbooks is not actually the stories of these people,” she says.

Her love of hip-hop—Queen Latifah is a favorite—is a major influence on her work, too. “[Hip- hop helps] cultivate how I see and interact with Baltimore because of how the language and production is so raw and gritty to the language of said rapper or artist,” she says. “It helps me convey a message that reaches further than corporations and institutions. It reaches my peers, it reaches people younger than me.”

And attending the Congress, where she’s interacting with like-minded high schoolers and college students who have their own causes and ways in which they’re impacting their communities, has only aided and abetted her work. The conference, spread out over five days, is structured around starting conversations, among speakers and peers who share similar common goals. Past speakers included Twitter co-founder Ev Williams and 13 Reasons Why creator Brian Yorkey.

It’s an invaluable resource, to be able to bounce ideas off one another, and what Caldwell says she looks forward to most when attending. “Being in the space of a Congress and having all of these different activists who have all of these multifaceted interests and having this being a space where we can cultivate and sharpen our skills and take it back to our communities or even have the network after we leave the Congress to ask each other questions . . . I think that was really important,” she says.

As for the future for the now-rising junior, there are two different tracks she’d like to choose from—going to law school or film school. With the latter, she’d be interested in “connecting both my passion of writing with presenting the city with a new narrative through cinematography.” Either way, what is certain is that Caldwell and her work are getting noticed.

“I’m a researcher,” she says. “When people think of activism, they think you must be on the street. I don’t think people actually take into account that researching is a form of activism. I think that a lot of my peers, especially in Baltimore City, we’re all doing the work to refine the image of Baltimore in different ways.”

In honor of the Baltimore Book Festival this month, Roswell Encina, director of communications at Enoch Pratt Free Library, weighs in with his Top 10 must-reads of all time.

1. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
My favorite book of all time. It blends together my boyhood love of comic books and my grown up passion for storytelling. It is one of those books you want to read as slowly as you can and wish would never end. “Escaping” seems to be the ongoing theme of this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Ironically you’ll find it hard to escape after you’ve finished it. This bittersweet story stays with you. One of my favorite quotes from the book: “Take care—there is no force more powerful than that of an unbridled imagination.”

2. Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy and Profiles in Courage For Our Timeby Caroline Kennedy
Two books, two authors, two different periods of American history. JFK’s original book, with a follow-up by his daughter nearly 50 years apart, restores your faith in government and politics. These timeless profiles showcase the selflessness of some political heroes, especially at a time when we yearn for more leaders who are like them. I love politics and these books definitely inspire me.

3. To Kill a Mockingbirdby Harper Lee
I believe this is the greatest American novel ever written. I encourage people to re-read this book every several years. As a youngster, it taught me that acts of heroism come in all forms. As an adult, the novel’s social and historical significance of equal rights inspires me. There is such purity to this book because it is so remarkably real.

4. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The first time I read Donna Tartt’s The Secret History twenty years ago, I knew it was an instant classic. It’s a thrilling psychological thriller with memorable characters that play like a Greek tragedy. Best of all, it’s a book about friendship and our longing for acceptance and bonding.

5. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
The word “masterpiece” is thrown out a lot in the literary world. But this book definitely deserves that title. It cleverly folds in history, science, and unpopular (and frankly uncomfortable) topics like incest and intersexuality. The hermaphroditic aspect of the book serves as a tool for uncovering the hidden secrets of this highly dysfunctional family.

6. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
This book introduced me to David Sedaris. Since then, I can’t get enough of his wit and sarcasm. I’ve read many of his other books and I’ve seen him at the Meyerhoff several times. When he reads his stories, it feels like you’re hearing the fun experiences of a friend. As Sedaris says, “If you aren’t cute, you may as well be clever.”

7. An Hour Before Daylight by Jimmy Carter
For me, Jimmy Carter is the best “former president” this country has ever had. His tireless humanitarian work is extraordinary. This memoir allows readers to understand the cultural, soci-economic, and political situations in rural Georgia that shaped him. No matter what political side you are on, this is a must read. It’s not a presidential story, but an American story.

8. The Mysteries of Pittsburgh by Michael Chabon
Yes, this is the second Michael Chabon book on my Top 10 list. (See a trend?) This is definitely my all-time favorite “coming-of-age” book: the restlessness of youth, wrestling with sexual orientation and the over-the-top characters you meet. Like another great coming-of-age book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower (also set in Pittsburgh—Baltimoreans, don’t hate me), both books are written in the tradition of The Catcher in the Rye as it reflects on love and friendships.

9. Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
Like Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story, this is a story of forbidden love, but with World War II as a backdrop in the Pacific Northwest. This book stuck with me because it was the first time I learned about the hardships Japanese Americans endured after Pearl Harbor. The social commentary this book encompasses is relevant today.

10. The Tower Treasure by Franklin W. Dixon and The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene
These are the books that started it all for me. The Tower Treasure is the first book of The Hardy Boys series and The Secret of the Old Clock is the first in the Nancy Drew Mysteries. I remember devouring each book and couldn’t wait to start the next one. It is similar to what children and young adults experience with the Harry Potter books nowadays (also some of my favorites). These may not be National Book Award winners, but I’ll always thank Frank, Joe, Nancy, and their group of friends for starting my love of books and reading.

To read our “In the Kitchen With” interview with Encina, pick up a copy of our September issue. 

Two of Baltimore’s most celebrated festivals, Light City and the Baltimore Book Festival, will join forces next year. Both events will merge into a 10-day mega festival in 2019 that will run November 1-10, centered at the Inner Harbor with more events scattered throughout town.

At first blush, this might seem like an odd idea. Why change these two landmark festivals when they’ve been so successful? But planners believe that folding them into one major event will strengthen them both and ultimately benefit the city and its arts community as a whole.

“We just thought that combining the two festivals would have such a tremendous impact on the city, and we could have a greater reach,” says Kathy Hornig, COO and festivals director with Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA). “There’s really nothing else like it in the entire country.”

At its core, Light City is known for its elaborate, large-scale art installations that light up in various ways along the BGE Light Art Walk. Many are site-specific and created by artists from across the globe, as well as right here in Baltimore. In the past, artists have incorporated the harbor itself into some of the pieces. Others feature interactive, musical, and even kinetic elements. The Inner Harbor Promenade becomes a wonderland of lights under the festival’s spell—and all of that will continue.

So, too, will the Book Festival’s variety of panels, readings, book signings, open mics, and other activities.

The change is being made, in part, because BOPA heard from Light City attendees who wished the festival occurred later in the year. Some festival-goers suggested pushing it back to allow kids time to wander along the Inner Harbor Promenade and enjoy the light installations earlier in the day—rather than having to wait until 8 or 9 p.m. for the sky to darken so that they could see them in all their illuminated glory.

Booksellers had a similar need. Book Festival partners, such as The Ivy Bookshop, explained that an influx of books are published during the fall each year, and a September book festival is sometimes slightly premature for authors who have books being released in October, November, or December.

Pushing both festivals back further in the year and combining them “just seemed to check all the boxes,” Hornig says. “We just had an ‘ah-ha’ moment.”

Light installations will be on view for all 10 nights, and literary events will also occur each day of the festival. (As for an official festival name, organizers are still working on it.)

Neighborhood Lights, where local artists make site-specific illuminated pieces in several of Baltimore’s neighborhoods, will still be part of the event, but books will be a focus, too. In order to connect with each featured neighborhood, BOPA has partnered with Enoch Pratt Free Library to offer literature events at several of the 22 library branches within Baltimore City.

Another slight variation to the combined festival will be the elimination of Labs@LightCity, the coinciding panel discussions that occur throughout Light City’s run. Instead, Baltimore Book Festival readings and speaker series will take place throughout the day.

Some of the favorite Labs@LightCity events, like the Pitch Competition for entrepreneurs and the popular Kindling Community Dinner, will continue. These events will be held indoors and outdoors.

“We want to illuminate the city with light during the day and art at night,” Hornig says. “As I looked out onto the harbor today—which is a year to the day from the start of this festival—I’m just so excited about all the possibilities for Baltimore and our arts community.”

EAT

Sept. 30: The Big Ice Cream Social

The Ynot Lot, 4 W. North Ave. 12-5 p.m. Free.

For the past five years, Taharka Brothers Ice Cream’s hot pink “Change-Maker Mobile” has traveled around Baltimore selling countless cones and promoting a message of equality throughout the city. The Clipper Mill-based company’s socially conscious message caught the attention of ice cream behemoth Ben & Jerry’s, which is teaming up with Taharka Brothers to throw a one-of-a-kind ice cream social featuring free scoops, live performances by local legends DDm and Martina Lynch, and Q&A sessions with area leaders about politics and culture. Don’t miss this Station North block party that will bring people from all corners of the city to enjoy sugary-sweet treats and community discussions.

DRINK

Sept. 29: Patterson Park Brew Fest

Patterson Park, E. Baltimore St. & S. Patterson Park Ave. 12-7 p.m. Free-$65.

We love Patterson Park for its picturesque rolling fields, tail-wagging dog park, and annual autumn brew fest that invites beer-lovers to crack open local beers and enjoy live entertainment in the crisp September air. On Saturday, spend the afternoon sipping on local offerings from The Brewer’s Art, Union Craft Brewing, Heavy Seas, and Monument City; sampling eats from area food trucks; and jamming out to sets by Baltimore-based folk quartet Charm City Junction, indie band Cara Kelly & The Tell Tale, and beach band Sons of Pirates.

SEE

Sept. 28-30: Baltimore Comic-Con

The Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W Pratt St. Fri-Sun Noon-7:00 p.m. $25-500.

This weekend, the Baltimore Convention Center will transform into a comic book-lover’s paradise, complete with a costume contest, tons of comic books to peruse or purchase, and the chance to rub elbows with fellow nerds and famous cartoonists alike. Come decked out as your favorite superhero or villain during this 19th annual festival and take advantage of art exhibits, panels, and autograph sessions. Stick around for the chance to meet Maryland-born graphic novelist Frank Miller, the creative force behind the late-era Batman comics, or actor Zachary Levi, the future Shazam and voice of Flynn Rider in Tangled.

HEAR

Sept. 29: Super City

Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St. 9:30 p.m. $12.

Since the release of its first album, Again Weekend, back in 2015, indie-pop band Super City has garnered a following throughout the city—and we’ve been eagerly waiting to see what they’ll do next. To kick off the multi-city tour of their latest, self-released album, Sanctuary, the “freak wave” boys will put on an all-out show for their hometown fans before hitting the road. Pack into the Ottobar on Saturday night to sing and dance along to new songs like “Vulture” and “Nice Person (DOA).” Head there early to hear an opening set by indie band Vita and the Woolf.

DO

Sept. 28-30: Baltimore Book Festival

Locations vary. 11-7 p.m. Free.

Although our city’s slogan is no longer “The City That Reads,” that hasn’t stopped locals from embracing this annual weekend-long literary extravaganza. Stretching from the Inner Harbor to the American Visionary Art Museum, this locally-loved festival features readings, demonstrations, and panel discussions by prominent regional and national authors, as well as more than 100 book exhibitors, kids’ projects, and live entertainment throughout the weekend. Expect to see the likes of Baltimore native and White House correspondent April Ryan, local cookbook author John Shields, New York Times best-selling authors A.J. Jacobs and Justina Ireland, as well as performances by local acts like soul singer Joi Carter and indie-pop duo Outcalls on the Music Stage.

Every fall, bibliophiles from all around Maryland flock to the Inner Harbor to experience the annual Baltimore Book Festival presented by the Baltimore Office of Promotion and Arts (BoPA). On September 28-30 there will be more than 100 exhibitors, local authors, and live music along the mile-long stretch of the Inner Harbor.

“We have a really amazing schedule this year,” said book festival organizer Kathy Hornig. “Some years you luck out and things come together in a really cool and special way, and I really think this is one of those years—people are just going to be blown away.”

It can be hard to get in everything in just one weekend, so here’s a list of the must-do and see things at this year’s festival:

The Storybook Parade kicks things off.
The festival wouldn’t be the same without its annual storybook parade. Beginning Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at Rash Field, the parade will feature attendees dressed up as their favorite storybook character marching to the World Trade Center in celebration of literacy. Actors from the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company will also be in attendance dressed as characters from famous plays written by The Bard.

April Ryan chats it up with Bill Whitaker from 60 Minutes.
The Baltimore-born White House correspondent has a unique story to tell as the only black, female reporter in her new book, Under Fire: Reporting from the Front Lines of the Trump White House. She has also authored award-winning books The Presidency in Black and White and At Mama’s Knee: Mothers and Race in Black and White. She will be joined by Bill Whitaker of 60 Minutes to discuss her recent book and the current atmosphere in the White House. “With all the beef and back and forth with Omarosa [Manigault Newman] this summer, it will definitely make for a lively conversation,” Hornig said.

Local chefs whip up dishes in the Food for Thought Demo Kitchen.
Each day of the festival will feature cooking demos from local chefs recreating some of their most popular dishes. On Saturday, chef and co-owner of Gertrude’s Chesapeake Kitchen John Shields will be taking over the stage to debut his new cookbook, The New Chesapeake Kitchen while bringing along a few of his friends to perform some demos as well.

Hosts of Lit!Pop!Bang! record a live podcast.
The Baltimore-based podcast hosted by writers and educators Anthony Moll and CeCe will be recording live from the CityLit stage. The duo discusses everything from what they’re reading now to the latest in pop culture to what literary figure they would have dinner with. During the live episode, they will talk with 2018 Baltimore Youth Poet Laureate Maren Wright-Kerr and 2018 HyperBole Youth Poetry Slam champion Ailish Hopper about racism and intersectional identity.

There will be plenty of books to buy, of course.
With more than 100 exhibitor and author tents lining the promenade where festival-goers can buy any type of book imaginable, the festival’s selection is endless: romance, novels, biography, historical fiction, sci-fi, and more. “One thing that we’re really proud of here is that book festival is not one of those events where folks get to and go, ‘Where are the books?’” Hornig said.

Local food vendors provide day-of grub.
“We’re a literary feast with gourmet eats,” Hornig said of the book festival. Buying books can definitely work up an appetite, so pull up a seat and grab a bite while checking out your latest purchases. Vendors include Crepe, Ekiben, Smokin’ Joe’s, Farm To Face, and Zeke’s Coffee. Charm City Pops, a gourmet ice cream pop company, will also be there to provide the “fruit” for the new Baltimore Book Festival’s signature sangria. “The sales from the bar are one of the ways in which we earn revenue to keep the festival free and open to the public,” Hornig said. “You can enjoy a glass of sangria or a beer and be doing good at the same time.”

Get a birds-eye view atop the World Trade Center.
For the entire weekend, the Top of the World Observation level will be free and open to the public to take in the sweeping views of Downtown Baltimore. As part of this experience, Pets on Wheels will be providing therapy dogs and cats that will sit and listen to children reading them their favorite books.

Students from the University Writers’ Program read their work.
Now in its fourth year, the program features the next generation of poets, memoirists, and fiction writers from ten area schools—Coppin, Goucher, Johns Hopkins, Loyola, MICA, Morgan, Stevenson, Towson, the University of Baltimore, and UMBC—showcasing their talents in this creative writing program.

Hear about a compelling murder case from Tim Junkin.
Author and attorney Tim Junkin wrote a book, Bloodsworth, about the true story of Kirk Bloodsworth’s exoneration—based on DNA evidence—after being sentenced to the gas chamber and spending nine years on death row. Attendees will get a chance to be a part of the conversation between Junkin and the subject of his story in this unique event.

Listen to tunes at the Baltimore Book Festival Music Stage.
Not all who flock to the festival are avid readers so that’s where the music stage comes in handy. With lineups including Baltimore City Public School students, The Shrapnels, Joi Carter, Super City, and Outcalls, there’s something for everyone all weekend long.

Lit!Pop!Bang! is a Baltimore podcast that explores all things, well, lit, pop . . . and bang.

They chat about literature they’re reading, they banter about the latest in pop culture, and if you’re wondering what the “bang!” is in reference to, it’s that little something extra that gives listeners some insight into the personality of the host and guests, like asking what literary figure from the past they would most like to have dinner with.

The Baltimore podcast is hosted by writers and educators Anthony Moll and CeCe and produced by Mason Jar Press. It launched in December 2017 and has brought together area authors, poets, and other creatives for light conversations that sometimes integrate heavier topics and current issues. Without a designated studio, they’ve hosted Lit!Pop!Bang! at a number of unorthodox locations.

“We were once in an office closet,” CeCe says. “We’ve been everywhere from people’s bathrooms to—.” She cuts herself off and laughs. “I’m kidding. We have not recorded in a bathroom. But we’re very DIY.”

The upside of not having a studio is that it allows them to be very fluid.

Their second on-location podcast will be recorded live next weekend at the Baltimore Book Festival, where they’ll bring Maren Wright-Kerr, the Baltimore Youth Poet Laureate, and widely known poet, writer, and teacher Ailish Hopper to the CityLit Stage at 1 p.m. Sept. 30 to talk specifically about race in writing, publishing, and pop culture. The broader topic is about identity. They’ll ask things like who gets published? And why? And who are the gatekeepers?

“We want to have the conversations that can be hard to have,” Moll says. “We want to be our usual selves, too—from being very serious but also irreverent. We’re just putting on audio the conversations we’re already having.”

“We try to find out what’s ticking underneath the facade,” CeCe adds.

They also hope to include some audience participation in the form of a Q&A session, if time allows.

“The call-and-response is real, and it’s risky in that anything can happen,” says CityLit Project director Carla Du Pree, who organized a packed lineup over all three days of the CityLit Stage. “We applaud Lit!Pop!Bang! for standing up to this challenge and bringing it. I love it when people aren’t afraid to venture into new spaces.”

The Baltimore Book Festival, in its 23rd year, runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 28-30 at the Inner Harbor Promenade and is free and open to the public.

Moll, who holds an MFA in Creative Writing and Publishing Arts, is a longtime Book Fest goer, but this will be his first year presenting. CeCe has lived in Baltimore for about three years, and this is her third year being part of the festival. She’ll also be reading her own poetry.

“Baltimore Book Festival is a place where everybody can come—all ages, all races, all gender identities—and you can really find whatever it is you’re into,” CeCe says. “I’ve been to book fests across the country, and this is one of the best.”

Baltimore Seafood Festival
Sept. 15. The Canton Waterfront Park, 3001 Boston Street. Wed-Sun Noon-7 p.m. Free-$105. We take seafood pretty seriously in the Land of Pleasant Living, and this end-of-summer celebration is a chance for locals and visitors alike to feast on some of the best blue crabs, crab soup, crab cakes, and, of course, oysters that Maryland has to offer. At this fifth annual festival at Canton Waterfront Park, sip on refreshing cocktails, listen to live music, and honor the bounties of the bay from noon until sundown.

---

Charles Street 12
Sept. 1. The Shops at Kenilworth, Towson. 7:30 a.m. $80-90. The idea of running 12 miles in Baltimore’s late-summer heat is nothing short of intimidating, but this annual trek from Towson to Locust Point features city views (and hopefully a harbor breeze) worth running for. Lace up your sneakers and join thousands to jog down Charles Street from the Shops at Kenilworth, to the Inner Harbor, and around to Under Armour’s waterfront headquarters. After crossing the finish line, stick around for post-race festivities, including free beer, snacks, and live music.

---

Baltimore Comedy Festival
Sept. 1-3. Multiple Locations. 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Free-$10. For the second year, this comedy extravaganza will bring free standup performances, panel discussions, and podcast recordings to more than 20 venues across the Baltimore region. With an opening ceremony at Station North’s Motor House, the festival will be filled with side-splitting showcases by more than 100 comedians, including many from Charm City’s own flourishing comedy scene.

---

Hateful Things
Sept. 1-Oct. 14. Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. Wed-Sun 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$8. In this highly anticipated special exhibition at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, controversial memorabilia such as banks, posters, and tobacco tins featuring racist caricatures will be displayed as examples of the country’s segregated past. View materials from the late-19th century to the present that represent the lasting effects of the Jim Crow era, and, on September 22, participate in a discussion hosted by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Africana Studies about the history of objects used to negatively stereotype African Americans.

---

Little Italy Madonnari Arts Festival
Sept. 7-10. Multiple Locations. Free. During one of Little Italy’s fan-favorite traditions, master street-painting artists from around the world will color the city to reflect this year’s festival theme: respect. Watch as street artists fill the neighborhood’s historic sidewalks with chalk masterpieces and create a colorful homage to Baltimore’s cultural diversity.

---

Hampdenfest
Sept. 8. W 36th St. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. For one day only, Hampden’s can’t-miss block party returns with its annual celebration of one of the city’s most quintessential Bawlmer neighborhoods. Indulge in local food and drink, browse regional arts and crafts vendors, cheer on contestants in the Dangerously Delicious pie-eating contest, and rock out to three stages boasting hometown bands such as F City and Raindeer. Just be sure not to miss the iconic Toilet Races as porcelain flies down Chestnut Avenue.

---

Trillectro Music Festival
Sept. 22. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Noon. $79-199. Since its inaugural festival seven years ago in Washington, D.C., this hip-hop and electronic music festival has found a new home at the Merriweather Post Pavilion and grown into a can’t-miss concert that draws big-name acts and thousands of fans to Columbia every fall. At the end of the month, hear a killer lineup of artists including R&B star SZA, rapper 2 Chainz, internationally renowned DJ Carnage, and even a set by local performers curated by Lawrence Burney of Baltimore arts publication True Laurels.

---

Pigtown Festival
Sept. 22. 700-900 blocks of Washington Boulevard. Noon-7:00 p.m. Free. One of Baltimore’s most anticipated races of the year is finally here—no, not the Preakness Stakes—it’s “Squeakness,” aka Pigtown’s annual contest that sends piglets running around a ring on Washington Boulevard. Aside from this crowd-favorite tradition, the Southwest Baltimore festival boasts plenty of family-friendly fun, including live music, local food trucks, and an arts and crafts zone.

---

Baltimore Comic-Con
Sept. 28-30. The Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W Pratt St. Fri-Sun Noon-7:00 p.m. $25-500. For one weekend, the Baltimore Convention Center will transform into a comic book-lover’s paradise, complete with a costume contest, tons of comic books to peruse or purchase, and the chance to rub elbows with fellow nerds and famous cartoonists alike. Come decked out as your favorite superhero or villain during this 19th annual festival and take advantage of art exhibits, panels, and autograph sessions. Stick around for the chance to meet Maryland-born graphic novelist Frank Miller, the creative force behind the late-era Batman comics, or actor Zachary Levi, the future Shazam and voice of Flynn Rider in Tangled.

---

Baltimore Book Festival
Sept. 28-30. Baltimore Inner Harbor. Fri-Sun 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. Ten years after the release of her eighth book, The Glen Rock Book of the Dead, local author Marion Winik realized she had enough material to fill a sequel. (Since the first book’s publication, her mother, the family goldfish, and one of her favorite musicians, Lou Reed, had died.) With the same candid and often humorous writing style she fine-tuned through her years as an All Things Considered commentator, Winik memorializes the departed in short essays that evoke a tender sense of connection in readers. During the Baltimore Book Festival on September 28-30, she will debut The Baltimore Book of the Dead with a reading at the Inner Harbor Stage on Friday ahead of the official release on October 9. “For me, it’s important to find material that is challenging and scary to write about because that usually means that you’re onto something interesting.”

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

 EAT

September 24: Union Graze

Artifact Coffee, 1500 Union Ave. 5-8 p.m. Free. 410-464-8000.   

It might be in the eighties this Sunday but we’re hoping the temperature drops by sundown to celebrate the first weekend of autumn with Union Graze. Located at the courtyard behind Artifact Coffee, this family-friendly shindig features provisions by chef Craig Falk of the beloved Lunchbox Lady and Big Softy plus the neighborhood’s own Union Craft beers and the warm Americana tunes of Rattlewood. Graze on a seasonal selection of soups—Hungarian hock and bean, squash and lentil, crab and corn verde—and creative grilled cheese creations—oven-roasted tomato, pulled pork, something amazing called “three-cheese dream”—and get ready for the flavors of fall.

 DRINK

Sept. 23: Mr. Trash Wheel’s Friendversary Party

Peabody Heights Brewery, 401 E. 30th St. 7-10:30 p.m. $25-35.

When a 5-foot West African ball python was found on Mr. Trash Wheel back in 2015, no one expected the incident to lead to a tight relationship between the googly-eyed trash interceptor and Peabody Heights Brewery. But lo and behold, that odd event has created the most unlikely of friendships—one that has even led to the creation of Mr. Trash Wheel’s very own session IPA, named after the sneaky spotted snake that started it all. At this weekend’s celebration, indulge in all-you-can drink Lost Python ales and Peabody Heights brews while enjoying local food, live music, and real-life animal encounters with serpents from Eco Adventures. Proceeds will benefit the Waterfront Partnership and Healthy Harbor Initiative, so raise a glass to friendship, beer, and clean waters. 

 SEE

September 22-24: Baltimore Comic Con

Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt St. Fri. 1-7 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $25-1,000. 410-526-7410.

This weekend, the streets of Baltimore will transform into a cartoon lover’s paradise as the 18th Baltimore ComicCon takes over the convention center. Come dressed to impress and let your geek flag fly as the three-day event features a costume contest, comic books for perusal or purchase, and the opportunity to meet famous superheroes, like O.G. Wonder Woman Lynda Carter. You might even get an autograph from Maryland cartoonist Frank Miller, of late-era Batman comics, Daredevil, Sin City, and 300 fame, who will also be in attendance.

 HEAR

September 22: CreativeMornings: Compassion

Tectonic Space, 2000 Greenmount Ave. 8:30-10 a.m. Free. 931-305-0883. 

With all the hustle and bustle we experience as weekday warriors, finding the time to slow down and be mindful of others can be a trying task. This Friday, start the weekend off on the right note with the monthly CreativeMornings breakfast talks. Amidst the street art and graffiti-inspired exhibit at the new Tectonic Space in Barclay, the September talk tackles the topic of compassion, featuring with Baltimore-based musicians Joy Postell and Al Rogers Jr. Postell, a bold unabashed neo-soul singer and one of our 2017 Best of Baltimore winners, and Rogers, a funky, forward-thinking hip-hop artist, will discuss social awareness and the importance of radiating compassion out into the world. Hopefully next thing you know, you’ll be planting seeds of kindness everywhere you go. 

 DO

September 22-24: Baltimore Book Festival

Inner Harbor. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free.  

Baltimore may no longer be “the city that reads,” but during the Baltimore Book Festival, it sure could’ve fooled us. For three days, the Inner Harbor becomes a bookworm’s dream, filled with book sales of all genres, author signings, poetry readings, panel discussions, and much more. For the 22nd year, grab some paperbacks and be sure to sit in on conversations with renowned writers like TED Talk celeb of We Should All Be Feminists fame Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, former Sun sportswriter John Eisenberg, and National Book Award winner Alice McDermott. While you’re there, be sure to enjoy a Dogfish Head happy hour with brewmaster Sam Calagione, a meet-and-greet with a Guerrilla Girl, and a chance to ask rock-star-matriarch-turned-author Virginia Grohl your burning Foo Fighters questions. Yes, that’s Dave’s mom.

Hampdenfest
Sept. 9. W. 36th St. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. For one Saturday, celebrate the hons and Hampdenites of one of our city’s most quintessentially Baltimore neighborhoods. This beloved block party features regional food, local beer, and three stages of music for homegrown bands like PLRLS and Wume. Don’t miss the annual toilet bowl races, as porcelain flies past the rowhomes of Chestnut Avenue.

---

Baltimore Comedy Festival
Sept. 1-4. Locations & times vary. Free-$15. 410-960-7821. If laughter is the best medicine, the first-ever Baltimore Comedy Festival is the ultimate Rx. For four days, attend standup showcases, podcast recordings, and comedy-themed discussions at different venues across the city.

---

Madonnari Arts Festival
Sept. 8-10. Little Italy. Fri. 5-10 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Free. 410-967-5441. Madonnari art is an age-old practice of street painting, still found commonly along the cobblestones of Italy and, for one weekend, alongside the byways of Baltimore’s Little Italy. At the beginning of the month, watch master Madonnari artists from around the world—and right here at home—set up shop in the heart of the Italian neighborhood and create beautiful works of chalk art to the theme of “Freedom.” Listen to live music, dig into carb-loaded eats at local enotecas, and kick things off early during a cabaret dinner on Thursday at Germano’s Piattini.

---

Maryland Collects: Jacob Lawrence
Sept. 9-Jan. 7. Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 803 E. Pratt St. Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. 12-5 p.m. Free-$8. 443-263-1800. In this new exhibit at the Lewis, explore more than 50 artworks by Jacob Lawrence, one of America’s most acclaimed 20th-century artists. Using bright colors, blocky shapes, and mesmerizing patterns, the celebrated painter weaves stories of African-American life in the 1900s. Featuring pieces culled from collectors in and around Maryland, the show might just be the must-see art event of the fall.

---

Sturgill Simpson
Sept. 15. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. 7 p.m. $40-59.50. 410-715-5550. As summer slowly comes to a close, we recommend getting outside for one last night of live music. What better way than to giddy up with this Southern outlaw, who blends rock-and-roll, bluegrass, and country into a boundary-breaking, Grammy-nominated sound. With both rebellious rock numbers and heartbreaking ballads (we swoon over “The Promise”), Sturgill is sure to send the season off with a bang.

---

Baltimore Seafood Festival
Sept. 16. Canton Waterfront Park, 3001 Boston St. 12-7 p.m. Free-$99. 410-409-7123. Maryland and seafood go together like Old Bay and, well, pretty much anything. At this waterfront festival, join fellow seafood-lovers for blue crabs, local oysters, cooking demos, live music, and activities for the kids. 

---

Baltimore Book Festival
Sept. 22-24. Inner Harbor. Free. During the Baltimore Book Festival, the Inner Harbor transforms into a bookworm’s dream, filled with book sales, author signings, poetry readings, and more. For the 22nd year, peruse the goods and gather for panel discussions with renowned writers like TED Talk celeb Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, former Sun sportswriter John Eisenberg, and National Book Award winner Alice McDermott. While you’re there, be sure to enjoy a Dogfish Head happy hour with brewmaster Sam Calagione, a meet-and-greet with a Guerrilla Girl, and a chance to ask rock-star-matriarch-turned-author Virginia Grohl your burning Foo Fighters questions. 

---

Baltimore Comic Con
Sept. 22-24. Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt St. Fri. 1-7 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $25-1,000. 410-526-7410. At the 18th Baltimore Comic-Con comic book convention, come dressed to impress and let your geek flag fly. Compete in the costume contest, peruse or purchase your favorite cartoons, and meet famous superheroes, like OG Wonder Woman Lynda Carter. You might even get an autograph from Maryland cartoonist Frank Miller, of late-era Batman comics, Daredevil, Sin City, and 300 fame.

---

Baltimore Innovation Week
Sept. 29-Oct. 7. Locations & times vary. Free-$75. Move over, Silicon Valley­—Baltimore was recently named one of the fastest-growing cities for tech. During Baltimore Innovation Week, release your inner techie and foster the city’s burgeoning innovation scene with events related to business, development, media, the sciences, and more. 

The Akimbo Dance & Movement Art Festival
Sept. 10. Station North Arts District, 1-6 p.m. To celebrate Baltimore’s growing dance community, The Akimbo Dance & Movement Art Festival returns for its fifth year with a free day of performances throughout the vibrant Station North Arts & Entertainment District. Across 18 sites like the Maryland Institute College of Art, Motor House, and the Ynot Lot, more than 150 regional artists will showcase everything from traditional and experimental dance to music, spoken word, installation, and performance art.

---

Star-Spangled Banner Weekend
Sept. 9-11. Fort McHenry, 2400 E. Fort Ave. Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free-$10. 410-962-4290. One-hundred years ago last month, the National Park Service was born, and nine years after its creation, the NPS named Baltimore’s Fort McHenry one of its first national parks. The site protected the city from British invasion during the War of 1812, now known as Defender’s Day, and thus inspired the national anthem. On Sept. 9-11, commemorate these historic events with reenactments, cannon firings, colonial music, and family activities, including festive fireworks and a patriotic concert by the United States Army Field Band on Saturday, and a special 9/11 memorial ceremony on Sunday.

---

Hampdenfest
Sept. 17. The Avenue, West 36th Street. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. 410-662-4444. Grab your friends and toilet bowls—an only-in-Baltimore sentiment if we ever heard one—and head to The Avenue for Hampdenfest. At this free street festival, enjoy local beer, regional food, and live music on one of three stages. Get to know the neighborhood, but don’t miss the crowd favorite toilet bowl race down Chestnut Avenue, or the pie-eating contest with sweets by Dangerously Delicious Pies.

---

Baltimore Seafood Festival
Sept. 17. Canton Waterfront Park, 3001 Boston St. 12-7 p.m. $15-99. It’s no secret that Maryland is the seafood capital of the mid-Atlantic, where crab is king and the key to a perfect summer day. It’s only fitting, then, to spend one of the last afternoons of the season at Baltimore’s third annual seafood festival. On the edge of the Canton waterfront, sip on some cold beer as you dig into an endless supply of oysters, crabs, and other under-the-sea essentials, with live music from local bands, cocktails and crafts. With face painting, activities, and games for the kids, you can bring the whole family to toast our Chesapeake Bay heritage and say sayonara to 90-degree days.

---

John Waters’s Kiddie Flamingos
Sept. 21-Jan. 22. The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. Wed.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. 443-573-1700. We’re all familiar with Baltimore’s most notorious (and beloved) auteur, John Waters. The renowned director is a legend thanks to his iconic camp films and, increasingly, his fine art, which has been twice featured at The Baltimore Museum of Art. This month, catch his latest project: a 74-minute, G-rated rendition of Pink Flamingos, with lines read by children in wigs and mock versions of the original costumes. We can’t wait to see the pint-size Divine.

---

BSO Pulse: Houndmouth
Sept. 22. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St. 8:30 p.m. $35. 410-783-8000. After a successful inaugural season, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and WTMD “Pulse” concert series returns this month with Indiana-based indie rockers Houndmouth. Sharing the stage with the BSO, the up-and-coming trio brings its Americana medleys like “Sedona” to this one-of-a-kind collaboration. Be sure to get to the Meyerhoff early for a pre-concert party in the lobby, featuring live local music, happy-hour drinks, local brews, and food specials from area restaurants.

---

Baltimore Innovation Week
Sept. 23-Oct. 1. Locations, times, & prices vary. 215-821-8745. While Baltimore’s heyday as a manufacturing mecca might be a memory, it’s safe to say the city is slowly becoming a new industry town of innovation and technology. During the fifth annual Baltimore Innovation Week, get to know the new techies with big-name headliners, curated events, networking opportunities, and a dedicated App Arcade.

---

Dirty Talk With Mike Rowe
Sept. 24. Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric, 140 W. Mount Royal Ave. 8 p.m. $25-65. 410-900-1150. Ever wonder what really goes on behind the scenes of reality TV shows? Baltimore’s own Mike Rowe isn’t afraid to tell all, and this month, he returns home for one night to reveal the dirty truth behind his popular Discovery Channel show, Dirty Jobs.

---

Baltimore Book Festival
Sept. 23-25. Baltimore Inner Harbor. Fri.-Sun. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. 410-752-8632. The Baltimore Book Festival makes us pretty confident that we are still “the city that reads.” After 21 years, this three-day fete continues to be a book-lover’s paradise, with hundreds of speakers, exhibitors, and booksellers of every genre. Hear live stories by Stoop Storytelling, listen to Baltimore native D. Watkins discuss his new book, and indulge in local food, craft beer, and live music by area bands.

In this day and age of iPads, Nooks, and Kindles, it’s refreshing to find out that there are still plenty of locals enjoying a good print story. In honor of the 20th annual Baltimore Book Festival, taking place this weekend around the Inner Harbor, we traveled from bench to coffee shop and everywhere in between to find out what Baltimore is reading.

A Message to Garcia by Elbert Hubbard
“He wrote this book in just an hour. It’s easy to read.” –Cynthia H.

---

The Washington Times
“I like it because it’s a conservative newspaper, opposed to the more liberal Baltimore Sun, which I also read. The truth lies somewhere in between.” –John R.

---

Assassin’s Quest by Robin Hobb
“It’s a book series I read as a kid. Reading it puts me back in touch with when I was 12 years old. It’s kind of funny—you pick up old memories with it.” –Robert H.

---

Applied Biological Psychology by Glen E. Getz
“I go to Loyola [University] and am in the second year of my master’s program. I have an exam in an hour.” –Jackie B.

---

Lazarus by Image Comics
“It’s political, thoughtful, and well-written.” –Ben C.

---

The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury
“I got this from a free library. I love history; it was my favorite subject in school. How does that old saying go? ‘You don’t know where you are going until you know where you came from.’” –Joe H.

---

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
“I kidnap my niece from daycare everyday. We have so much fun together playing hooky and we’ve read almost every single book.” –Miriam L. and Gabriella

---

Thor vs. Thanos by Marvel
“I love the Thor character. He’s my favorite Marvel hero.” –Cary W.

---

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
“It’s very quotable. It’s the kind of book that makes you wish you had a highlighter with you when you read it. But right now I’m just looking at cat books.” –Lisa A.

The Baltimore Book Festival is this weekend and we’ve already laid out the best food-related authors, as well as a list of 10 favorite books from a library expert. But we wanted to see what you are reading. So we canvassed neighborhoods, coffee shops, libraries, and outdoor benches to see what makes Baltimore truly the city that reads.

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
“It’s about twins in Ethiopia who are orphans. One is a doctor and so am I so I can appreciate from that angle. It’s really a family story about love.” —Angela G.

---

Jake Drake Class Clown by Andrew Clements
“I grabbed a random book out of my mom’s classroom. I like reading truth and comedy. I also read dictionaries, biology books, and reading at night. Sometimes I stay up way past my bedtime to read. I like to be well stocked on knowledge.” —Philip J.

---

Native Americans: A Resource Guide by Laura Nauta
“I’m reading about Native Americans in the Southwest. I come here every day and pick a random book.” —James G.

---

God and the Gay Christian by Matthew Vines
“I have a Master’s Degree in Theology. I actually went to school in the South [Liberty University]. I’m just exploring the theology behind relationships, all relationships and obviously same-sex relationships.” —Chelsea Gregoire

---

Mental Floss 
“It’s a really cool magazine, different and quirky things. There’s a lot of trivia. I get it from the library.” —Chuck H.

---

The King by J.R. Ward
“This is the 12th book in the ‘Black Dagger Brotherhood’ series, about vampires. It’s been a quick read because you want to see what happens and you get connected to the characters.” —Stephanie B.

---

One Last Thing Before I Go by Jonathan Tropper
“It’s the same author as This Is Where I Leave You and I just really like the writing style.” —Tara H.

---

The Bible
“I read it every day. I became a Christian when I was 29, and I’m 51 now. My favorite book is Genesis.” —Rosa C.

---

The Lords and the New Creatures by Jim Morrison
“This book is out of my personal library. I have to say I’m a big fan of art in general. Jim Morrison, his father was an admiral in the Navy and he graduated from UCLA. He lived a silver-spoon life. He was able to express that through rhythm and blues. He went out like a shooting star.” —Joseph S.

—Courtesy of OnceMusical.com

Once
Sept. 9-14. Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 12 N. Eutaw St. Tues.-Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 and 8 p.m., Sun. 1 and 6 p.m. $25-85. 410-837-7400. france-merrickpac.com. Based on the Oscar-winning indie film of the same name, Once chronicles the intense, music-driven romance that blooms between a down-on-his-luck Dublin street musician and a young Czech woman, newly immigrated to Ireland. The Broadway production won eight Tony Awards in 2012, enchanting audiences with its stirring folk music and intense intimacy.

—Joe Russo

The Shindig Music Festival
Sept. 27. Carroll Park, 1500 Washington Blvd. 12:30-11 p.m. $70-165. 410-323-7772. theshindigbaltimore.com. After a successful first year in 2013, The Shindig reopens its gates and brings to the stage local and national alt-rock acts including Jane’s Addiction, pictured above, Rise Against, Gogol Bordello, Halestorm, and Baltimore-based J. Roddy Walston & The Business.

—Courtesy of Sragow Gallery

—Courtesy of Rams Head Group

On Paper: Alternate Realities
To Sept. 14.The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. Wed.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. 443-573-1700. artbma.org. In an exhibition of 26 prints from a diverse group of artists, this new show explores the relationship between high and low art by reimagining the visual language of popular culture. Featured artists include Wangechi Mutu, Amy Cutler, Chitra Ganesh, and Enrique Chagoya.

Daryl Hall & John Oates
Sept. 18. Pier Six Pavilion, 731 Eastern Ave. 8 p.m. $36-85. 410-783-4189. piersixpavilion.com. Rock and Roll legends (and recent Hall of Famers) Hall & Oates have sold more albums than any other duo in history—and for good reason. Their infectious “rock and soul” blends elements of ’70s rock, soul, and new wave while keeping listeners tapping their toes.

—Shutterstock

Baltimore Book Festival
Sept. 26-28. West Shore Park, 401 Light St. and Rash Field, 601 Light St. and vicinity. Fri.-Sat. 12-8 p.m., Sun. 12-6 p.m. Free. 410-752-8632. baltimorebookfestival.com. The Mid-Atlantic’s premier celebration of the literary arts returns for the 19th year with more than 200 authors—including Chuck Klosterman and Tavis Smiley—100 exhibitors and booksellers, children’s activities, panel discussions, cooking demos, readings, live music, and food and drink.

---