EAT

May 1: Sprint for Spat

Fells Point Square, S. Broadway & Thames St. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. $25.
Update: Sprint for Spat will be postponed due to torrential thunderstorms on Sunday. The event will be held at the same time and location on June 12.

Spat are baby oysters, and as you may well know by now, oysters are an important key to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay. This Sunday, Flying Dog Brewery is hosting the annual Sprint for Spat, where athletes of all levels can run down a stretch of Fells Point brick to benefit the Oyster Recovery Partnership, which has been working tirelessly to plant spat, restore the bay’s decimated oyster beds, and effectively bring it back to life. After a mere 100 meters, you can replenish your lost energy with raw oysters on the half shell, grilled oysters, and oyster shooters from local farms like True Chesapeake, Barren Island, Hollywood, and Rappahannock River. If half-shells aren’t your thing, there will also be plenty of pork from The Smoking Swine pork, plus beers by Flying Dog and music by DJ Landis Expandis. Proceeds will also benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

DRINK

April 30: The Baltimore Whiskey Company presents: A Soul Train Dance Party

De Kleine Duivel, 3602 Hickory Ave. 9 p.m. Free.

This weekend, Baltimore’s young distillery is bringing us more than just craft whiskey, creative liqueurs, and a new high-proof gin. They’re also bringing us a booty-shaking, boogie-woogie dance party, with their last-Saturday-of-the-month Soul Train shindig at Hampden’s Belgian beer bar. Don your funkiest threads, order some incomprehensible ales, and throw inhibition to the wind as you hip-wag, high step, and straight-up shimmy across the dance floor. Expect epic funk, soul, and disco music by DJ James Nasty, as well as BWC drink specials available all night.

SEE

April 30: Harbor East’s FashionEASTa

Harbor East, President & Aliceanna Sts. 1-6 p.m. Free.

This weekend, Baltimore’s “luxury district” is about to get a little more luxe as Harbor East transforms into Baltimore’s version of Rodeo Drive. Hundreds of guests will fill the streets for exclusive sales, shopping events, and peeks into new stores like Warby Parker, Brooks Brothers, and Free People. Grab drinks and bites from neighborhood bars and restaurants like the all-new Loch Bar, and get ready for the main event. At 3:30 p.m., the streets turn into a high-fashion runway, with local celebrities strutting their stuff in the latest spring styles from HE stores, including Anthropologie, South Moon Under, and Under Armour. Past models have included the likes of Baltimore Raven Justin Tucker, MIX 106.5 DJ Maria Dennis, and Bond St. District bandmate (and our 2016 Top Singles) Paul Hutson, so arrive early and nab a good seat. A portion of ticket sales will benefit the local chapter of Dress for Success.

HEAR

April 30: Charm City Folk & Bluegrass Festival

Druid Hill Park, 3100 Swann Dr. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. $57-161.

If the Charm City Folk & Bluegrass Festival is any indication, it’s safe to say that Baltimore’s Americana music scene is not putting its fiddles down anytime soon. Now going four years strong, the festival will once again return to a grassy knoll of Druid Hill Park for one full Saturday of TK music, including headliners like jam-band master Keller Williams and the Travelin’ McCourys and homegrown talent like Cris Jacobs and the Ampersand Stringband. On top of that, you can tip back Union Craft beers (like its festival special Country Boy Wit) and plenty of local eats, including The Local Oyster, Jimmy’s Famous Seafood, Otterbein’s Bakery, and The Charmery, who will be hawking their own flavor of the weekend, (Blue)berry Lemon(grass).

DO

April 30: Charm City Craft Mafia’s “Buzz” Spring Maker Market

Space 2640, 2640 St. Paul St. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.

Baltimore is a city of movers, shakers, and, increasingly, makers. And a few days out of the year, Charm City Craft Mafia does a great job at bringing a bunch of those DIY doers under one roof. The annual Holiday Heap is a local winter favorite and Pile of Craft is the answer for spring. Now renamed “Buzz,” the latter maker market returns to St. John’s Methodist Church in Charles Village this Saturday. From housewares, stationary, and screen-printings to clothing and toys, you can browse a bevy of handmade goods from more than 50 American crafters, including local artists like Annie Howe Papercuts, Almanac Industries, Bowerbox Press, Radica Textiles, the Broken Plate Pendant Company, and Knit Soy and Metal, to name a few. Whether you’re spring cleaning or Mother’s Day shopping, it’s a nice warm way to spend your cool and cloudy afternoon.

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Festival organizers have announced that the 2016 lineup will feature bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder; one-man jam band Keller Williams; first family of bluegrass The Travelin’ McCoury’s; Grammy-winning North Carolina band Steep Canyon Rangers; and mandolin player Sierra Hull.

Last year’s festival took place on April 25, 2015, which happened to coincide with the evening of unrest near Camden Yards and the catalyst for uprising around the city. Organizers say they hope the festival can shed a positive light on the city.

“Going into this year, we knew we needed to deliver an amazing lineup to our fans and the incredible Baltimore music community,” says festival co-founder Phil Chorney. “Music has such a power to heal and unite, and we feel that our continued support of the park and community is paramount to showing how amazing Baltimore is.”

Of course, another way the festival will highlight the local community is by featuring regional acts like Baltimore-based guitarist and singer-songwriter Cris Jacobs, and Pennsylvania bluegrass bands Cabinet, Colebrook Road, and Man About a Horse. Additionally, the winner of a battle-of-the-bands contest will open the festival.

A new addition to the festival is a program they’re calling Bluegrass Academy, where performers will give short lessons and discuss their music with fans all for free in a dedicated tent.

“It will be a chance for fans to learn some basics and maybe jam with their favorite artists on the instruments they play,” Chorney explains. “So you could learn mandolin techniques from Sierra Hull or banjo from Rob McCoury. Our goal is to get more casual fans playing music while providing them with an amazing experience.”

General admission and VIP tickets are currently available and, for each ticket sold, the festival will donate $2 to the Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens to support horticulture education programs. In addition, there will be beer provided by Union Craft Brewing and a raffle will take place that benefits Believe in Music, a nonprofit aiming to give inner city students a music education.

“Both Travelin’ McCourys and Sierra Hull have former Kentucky Thunder members, so I have a good feeling we will see some amazing jams and collaborations on stage,” Chorney says. “And that’s really what bluegrass music is all about.”

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EAT

Apr. 25: Michael’s Cafe 4th Annual Crab Ball

Michael’s Café, 2119 York Rd., Timonium. 2 p.m. till close. Prices vary. 410-252-2022. michaelscafe.com

There might not be many hard shells yet, but as of April 1, crab season is officially back, baby! This Saturday, celebrate our little bay beauties and the start of spring at the fourth annual “Crab Ball” at this Timonium raw bar and grille. Get down to live music, like the Talking Heads tribute band, Psycho Killers, and indulge in an all-you-can-eat pig roast, plus homemade crab cakes and oysters. Post up on the patio for a little day-drink, too, with two outdoor bars slinging Flying Dog beer, craft cocktails, and cold concoctions from their “crush stations.” That’s right—crabs aren’t the only thing we’re celebrating. Once the temps hit the 70s, orange crush season is officially on, too.

DRINK

Apr. 26: Highlandtown Wine Festival

Claremont & Conkling Sts. 1-6 p.m. $20-25. highlandtown.com

For a little Sunday Funday, hit the streets of Highlandtown for the art district’s 12th annual wine festival. On the corner of Claremont and Conkling, forget about work on Monday with homemade wine, Italian food, and live music by classic crooner and
The Voice contestant, Paul Pfau, of Frederick. Your ticket includes a souvenir glass, five wine tastings, and an antipasti platter from DiPasquale’s, which, alone, is enough to have us sold (those arancini? Mmm…). Get a good grape buzz, then play a little bocce, participate in a wine-filled balloon toss, and go all Italiano out for the grape-stomping contest.

SEE

Apr. 25: Harbor East FashionEASTa

Harbor East, Aliceanna St. between S. President & S. Exeter Sts. 1-6 p.m. Free, or $35 VIP. harboreast.com

The Harbor East streets will transform into a Lincoln Center runway this weekend with a springtime fashion show from some of the city’s shmanciest shops. The whole neighborhood will be abuzz with live music, street-side eats and drinks, and in-store specials, with the show itself kicking off at 3:30 p.m. Hosted by
Baltimore‘s own editor, Hilary Geisbert, see local celebrity models like the Ravens’ Justin Tucker and FOX 45’s Emily Gracey sport the latest warm-weather trends. Expect neon and fringe, but hopefully neither on our beloved placekicker.

HEAR

Apr. 25: Charm City Folk & Bluegrass Festival

Druid Hill Park, 2600 Mansion Ave. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. $45-140. charmcitybluegrass.com

Lean back in the grass, sip on some Union Craft, and soak in the start of spring at this third annual music festival in Druid Hill Park. Some of Baltimore’s best folk and bluegrass musicians will be there, like Cris Jacobs,
Letitia VanSant, and The Manly Deeds, as well as a personal, fingerpickin’ favorite from the Eastern Shore, Chester River Runoff. If Duckpins aren’t your cup of booze, lap up some Millstone Cellars libations, but no matter what, slurp back some The Local Oyster & True Chesapeake Oyster Co. ‘sters and keep cool with Catonsville’s Picnic Pops. Don’t miss after-party at The 8×10, too, with more live music by San Fran’s eclectic Everyone Orchestra, featuring members of jam bands like Leftover Salmon, String Cheese Incident, and Railroad Earth.

DO

Apr. 26: Federal Hill Spring Block Party

Federal Hill Main St., E. Cross St. between Charles and Light Sts. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. $5-10. facebook.com

On Sunday, before or after Highlandtown, head to Federal Hill to partake in something that the neighborhood does best: partying in the streets. It’s more than just a scramble from Ropewalk to Stalking Horse, though: On the north side of Cross Street, enjoy live music from five bands, including the local rock-and-soul group, All Mighty Senators, and grab a bounty of street eats, like Liv2Eat sandwiches (one of our Best Restaurants of 2015), Blue Agave tacos, and Dessert Fantasies from Locust Point. Tip back some beer, too, of course, and take in the social epicenter of this historic neighborhood street. While you’re at it, hit up Cross Street Market for some oysters and a 32 oz. beer at Nick’s and to watch the O’s take on the Red Sox at 1:35 p.m.

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The initial lineup includes bluegrass grandaddies The Travelin’ McCourys (an offshoot of the Del McCoury Band, for which Western Maryland’s DelFest was named); Alexandria, VA-based roots and bluegrass band Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen; D.C.-based country swing and blues band Bumper Jacksons (who rocked a recent “Best of Baltimore” party); and local folk singer-songwriter Letita VanSant. Festival organizers say that more artists will be announced in the coming months.

“We’re very excited for the Travelin’ McCourys—they are bluegrass legends and are top notch musicians who put on an amazing performance every time,” says CCBF cofounder Phil Chorney. “Robbie and Ronnie McCoury’s father Del got his start in Baltimore when Bill Monroe, the father of modern bluegrass music, discovered him. This town has a rich history of old time, folk, and bluegrass music and we are proud and honored to follow in that tradition.”

Tickets are on sale now via missiontix.com/charmcitybluegrass. General admission tickets are $45 and VIP tickets are $140. For each ticket sold, the festival will donate $2 to the Howard Peter Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens, which is a lovely backdrop to the festival grounds, to support its horticulture education programs.

There will also be a late night after-party at The 8×10 in Federal Hill, with artists to be announced. The latest updates and musicians can be found by following Charm City Folk and Bluegrass Festival on the web at and on Facebook.

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