Art Space is a recurring element in the UpFront section of our print publication that spotlights a local artist or project making an impact in the city at large. Here’s what’s going on this month:

Launched in 2012 as a platform for local thespians, Charm City Fringe has long been a celebration of experimental theater, showcasing new plays in Baltimore that range from comedy to cabaret. At the end of this September, over the course of 11 days, its annual performing arts festival will return for its first full-fledged iteration in four years, following a pandemic-related hiatus. Performances kick off on Thursday, Sept. 28 and run through Oct. 8 at various venues throughout the Bromo Arts District. Grab tickets and stay tuned for this year’s artist lineup, here.

Visual Art

Eye to Eye

Rethink the way African-American male bodies are viewed at this new exhibition featuring artists Christopher Batten, Schroeder Cherry, and James Williams II. Observations are both welcomed and obscured in these three contemporary painters’ works. Stop by Oct. 10 from 5-8 p.m. to celebrate the pieces at the opening reception. Oct. 10 through Nov. 9. Catalyst Contemporary, 523 N. Charles St.

Elizabeth Catlett: Artist as Activist

Elizabeth Catlett spent a lifetime using her art to advocate for social and political change, lending her support to Mexican workers and African-Americans living under racist policies during the Jim Crow era. Starting this month, dozens of her sculptures and graphic prints will go on display at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, beginning a long stretch of programming surrounding the iconic artist-activist. Oct. 26 through March 1, 2020. Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St.

Literature

Story Time with Rachel Kolar

Grab your littlest ghouls and head to The Children’s Bookstore for this story time with local author Rachel Kolar, who will read from and sign her book of spooky retellings of classic nursery rhymes. Enjoy such spirited new versions as “We Willie Werewolf” and “Mary Had a Little Ghost,” and don’t forget to grab your own copy of Mother Ghost: Nursery Rhymes for Little Monsters. Oct. 19. 1-2 p.m.The Children’s Bookstore, 4717 Harford Rd.

An Evening with Mike Rowe: The Way I Heard It

Baltimore’s own jack of all trades and Discovery Channel superstar Mike Rowe is coming home to share some highlights from his new book, The Way I Heard It, featuring a collection of 35 true(ish) stories about figures you think you know. Grab your copy at the door and join hosts from The Ivy Bookshop for a moderated Q&A and audience questions. Oct. 19. 7-9 p.m. Church of the Redeemer, Baltimore, 5603 N. Charles St.

Music

Off the Cuff: Brahms Symphony No. 4

Johann Brahms’ “Symphony No. 4” represents a transitional period from the lush Romantics to the very beginnings of the 20th century’s modernists. Join Baltimore Symphony Orchestra conductor Marin Alsop for an evening of food, drinks, and lively conversation as she reveals the importance of this 19th-century master work. 7 p.m. Oct. 19. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St.

Theatre

Charm City Fringe Festival

Charm City Fringe is back and ready to spread its stories all over the Bromo Arts & Entertainment District. Catch such exciting new pieces as WombWorks’ The Channeling of Ms. Sybby Grant, Amanda Erin Miller’s The Jew in the Ashram solo show, and Tres Brujas Productions’ exploration of witchcraft and Virginia Woolf, Modern Witches. There are 10 days of productions across six venues to explore, so we suggest you start making your checklist now. Oct. 10-20. Various locations.

August Wilson’s Radio Golf

As we roll ever closer to an election year, August Wilson’s final play feels as timely as ever. Resident company member Dawn Ursula will be joined by Charles Dumas, Anton Floyd, Jamil A.C. Mangan, and Jason B. McIntosh on the Everyman stage for this tale of real estate developer Harmond Wikins’ run at becoming Pittsburgh’s first black mayor. Oct. 15 through Nov. 19. Everyman Theatre, 315 W. Fayette St.

Stoop Storytelling: Twilight Zone

Everyone knows someone who swears that thing that went bump in the night was more than their imagination. Meet a few more at this month’s iteration of the Stoop Storytelling series featuring takes of all things strange and supernatural. Be sure to come early for cocktails and live music from local rockers Super City. 7 p.m. Oct. 24. The Senator Theatre, 5904 York Rd.

Film

Art, Youth, and Justice Day at the Baltimore Museum of Art

Greenmount West Community Center and Advocates for Children and Youth are celebrating Youth Justice Month with a whole day of programming at the Baltimore Museum of Art. In addition to self-guided tours of Generations: A History of Black Abstract Art (the ticketed exhibition will be free all weekend long) and an evening concert, the day will feature screenings and panels of both PUSHOUT: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools and Rethink Baltimore. 12-5 p.m. Oct. 26. Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr.

EAT

Nov. 3: Belvedere Square’s Chili Fest and Classic Car Show

Belvedere Square, 540 E. Belvedere Ave. 1-4 p.m. Free.

During this second annual afternoon affair, Belvedere Square’s tenants, including The Pizza Trust, Grand Gru, and Neopol Savory Smokery, will go head-to-head in a heated (pun totally intended) chili competition. Judged by festival attendees and a panel of esteemed tasters, including Baltimore’s Best Hon Amber Nelson, six vendors will contend for the title of Belvedere Square’s best chili. In between tastings, stroll through the classic car show, browse through the Maryland Book Bank’s on-site collection, and dance along to live music by local favorite Andy Bopp and the Strung Outs.

DRINK

Nov. 3: Baltimore Craft Beer Festival

Canton Waterfront Park, 3001 Boston St. 12-5 p.m. $15-45.

With crisp fall weather in the forecast for Saturday, it’s the perfect time to try all of the seasonal lagers, ales, and porters you’ve been craving since the first day of autumn. Now in its fourth year, the Brewers Association of Maryland’s signature event will host more than 50 Maryland-only breweries at Canton Waterfront Park for an afternoon of sampling drafts from newcomers such as Checkerspot Brewing and Antietam Brewery, a home-brewing competition, and tons of local eats to soak up the suds.

SEE

Nov. 1-11: Charm City Fringe Festival

Locations and times vary. $10-98.

This weekend, Baltimore’s unconventional theater festival returns to the Bromo Arts District for 11 days of variety acts, one-man productions, and off-kilter comedy and theater pieces. Kick off opening night with preview performances and art installations at Marble Bar from 7-10 p.m., and then spend the rest of the weekend experiencing a host of eclectic performances by the likes of BOUXSCAL Productions, actress Lisa Hayes, and Lost & Found Puppet Co. at 322 North Howard Street.

HEAR

Nov. 4: Chris Stapleton

Royal Farms Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St. 7 p.m. $36.75-56.85.

Since coming onto the country music scene a few years ago, this singer-songwriter has taken over the genre and redefined the lines between mainstream rock and country music. During his live performance at Royal Farms Arena, sing along to hits such as “Tennessee Whiskey” and “Broken Halos” as well as songs from the Grammy Award-winner’s latest album, From A Room: Volume 2.

DO

Nov. 4: Across the Bay 10K

Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Stevensville. 5 a.m.-2 p.m. $85.

Whether you’re bouncing back from the Baltimore Running Festival or its your first race of the season, lace up your sneakers for this early-morning run that draws more than 20,000 joggers to the starting line every year. After running the westbound span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, stick around for live music, family-friendly activities, and all-you-can-drink options during the post-race festivities.

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

 EAT

Nov. 12: Wonders of Damascus

Clavel, 225 W. 23rd St., 6:30-9:30 p.m. $90.67. 443-900-8983.

With the current political climate, seeing the local community unite over food is a breath of fresh air. This Sunday evening, join Mera Kitchen Collective and Clavel for a dinner starring Syrian-style delicacies to support Baltimore’s refugees. Underneath the twinkling lights of Clavel’s cozy space, dine on a five-course Syrian feast prepared by Carlos Raba of Clavel and Iman AlShehab of Mera Kitchen Collective, the worker-owned co-op aimed at empowering women refugees through culinary projects. Plus, owner Lane Harlan will be expertly hand picking natural wines. AlShehab, who was an executive chef at Four Seasons in Damascus before the Syrian War, will be sharing her country’s dishes while talking about her experiences as a refugee. The best part is that 100 percent of the proceeds will go to assist our refugee neighbors here in Baltimore.

 DRINK

Nov. 11: Highlandtown Basement Bar Tour

UN Club and Hall Sunwa, 201 S. Easton St. $20. 

What better way to spend a Saturday evening than meeting people, drinking booze, and hawking the streets of Highlandtown? In its 12th year, Baltimore magazine’s “Best Pub Crawl” is bringing back the opportunity to peruse through Highlandtown’s most unique spaces. For one night, homes and businesses are welcoming strangers at their door—and to their liquor cabinets—to support improvement projects and community growth in the ‘hood. Pick up a map, go on a self-guided tour through game rooms with retro minibars or extravagant basements with kegerators, and mingle over cans of Natty Boh and comfort food. Afterwards, head to the closing reception at DiPasquale’s with your new friends for some good ol’ Italian fare.

 SEE

Nov. 10-12: Charm City Fringe

Locations & times vary. $27-98. 410-682-8902. 

This non-traditional theatre festival has taken the Bromo Arts District by storm once again with its diverse program and captivating performers. This weekend, don’t miss out on the last few days of the eclectic festival featuring enticing performances—from off-kilter comedy and poetry readings to magical productions and an interactive rock opera. With a centralized location, attendees can walk to every venue and witness cutting-edge acts or partake in amusing activities for all ages—from Family Fringe Day’s youth-empowered arts to Fringe After Dark’s dance tournament, comedy jam, and late-night afterparty.c

 HEAR

Nov. 11: Ru-Jac Records & The Legacy of Baltimore Soul

Arch Social Club, 2426 Pennsylvania Ave. 8-11:30 p.m. $8-13. 410-276-1651. 

If you have a hunger for the crackle of vintage vinyl, stop by the Arch Social Club to celebrate Baltimore’s rich R&B history with Ru-Jac Records, one of the nation’s first African-American-owned record labels. Don your best attire and time travel to Baltimore’s vibrant musical past inside the last surviving lounge in the Penn North neighborhood. Start off the night with a panel discussion about Ru-Jac Records and its influence on Baltimore’s ’60s music scene, led by funky frontman Brooks Long. Then, get carried away by Ru-Jac stars Winfield Parker and Joe Quarterman’s soulful crooning, along with Joy Postell, Baltimore’s up-and-coming neo-soul singer, all backed by young Baltimore musicians.

 DO

Nov. 10: Pandora Ice Rink Opening

Inner Harbor Amphitheater, 201 E. Pratt St. 2 p.m. Free-$14. 

We’re still early in November, but the icy temperatures have us giddy for the holiday season. This Friday, revel in a winter-wonderland experience by the waterfront on Pandora Ice Rink. Even if you can’t land a triple axel, bundle up in your warmest gear, lace up your skates, and be the first to break the ice in the heart of Baltimore’s bustling Inner Harbor. After doing a couple figure eights, take a break and defrost with warm cookies and hot cocoa. Veterans and active military will also be recognized for their service with a free skating session the next day.

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

 EAT

Nov. 3: Art After Hours

Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. 8-11 p.m. $20-25. 443-573-1700.

After a brief hiatus, Baltimore’s best art party is back with the BMA’s Art After Hours event. For the first time since January, join fellow aesthetes for cocktails and conversation after the gallery lights go dim, with this month’s event inspired by the themes of science and nature throughout the museum’s collection. Enjoy music by DJ Dubble8, arts and crafts for your own take-home masterpieces, and locally sourced light fare by culinary enterprise City Seeds, which works to grow small food businesses. Try the sesame soba noodle salad with house-made fresh carrot and cucumber kimchi, or indulge in the beet and horseradish cured salmon with cucumber, fennel, and carrot salad. And after you mingle through the artworks, don’t forget about dessert on your way out, with savory mini roasted pumpkin-goat cheese tarts and caramel chocolate apples stuffed with cinnamon mascarpone.

 DRINK

Nov. 4: Patterson Park Brew Fest

Pagoda Hill, Patterson Park, E. Baltimore St. & S. Patterson Park Ave. 12-6 p.m. Free-$65. 410-276-3676.

Crack open a cold one as you welcome the cool air at Patterson Park’s inaugural Brew Fest. Amidst the park’s rolling fields and beneath the glorious 60-foot pagoda, spend a crisp autumn afternoon sipping on local booze by esteemed breweries like Union Craft, Peabody Heights, Heavy Seas, The Brewer’s Art, Key Brewing, and Monument City. Soak up the suds with local eats from Kommie Pig, The Urban Oyster, and Bistro Lunch Bar while listening to the bluesy rock of Soul Island Rebels, the Americana folk tunes of Caleb Stine, and the reggae grooves of Jah Works. And don’t stress about parking—take advantage of the free Patterson Park Brew Bus, running from Canton Waterfront Park to Pagoda Hill with complimentary brews on board.  

 SEE

Nov. 4: Druid Hill Haunt

Beechwood Dr. & Greenspring Ave. 6 & 8 p.m. $10-15. 410-682-8902.

November may be upon us, but we’re not quite ready to say goodbye to Halloween’s spine-tingling thrills. Bundle up beneath the dark skies at Druid Hill Park and watch a supernatural show that fuses roller-skating with nostalgic spooky tunes in a way that only Fluid Movement can do. As part of the sixth annual, award-winning Charm City Fringe Festival, the performance follows the story of two friends who unleash the spirits of Halloween in the hearts of Charm City for eternity. With a combination of local history, seasonal nostalgia, and the glides and slides of roller skates, this event is sure to be a hit for the entire family.

 HEAR

Nov. 3-4: U+N Fest 6

Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St. 7 p.m. $20-30. 410-662-0069.

For years now, Unregistered Nurse Booking has been bringing underground punk, metal, and rock bands to the music lovers of Charm City. This weekend at the Ottobar, get ready to rock out with some 20 local bands during this celebration of the city’s underground music scene. For two nights, get to know national talents, like LA-based folk-punk duo Girlpool and indie-rock project Waxahatchee, as well as local favorites like post-punk outfit Natural Velvet, bass-heavy punk-pop quartet Post Pink, and shoegaze indie-pop group Wildhoney.   

 DO

Nov. 5: Across the Bay 10K

Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Stevensville. 5 a.m.-2 p.m. $60-200.

There’s no doubt that autumn is the best season to run. On Sunday, wake up early, grab your sneakers, and get out of the city to soak up the beauty of cooler temperatures. Starting on the Eastern Shore, join more than 20,000 joggers in the state’s largest running event, taking place across the 4.35-mile westbound span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Despite the long mileage and gradual inclines that will literally take your breath away, soak up the sweeping views of the bay from almost 200 feet above sea level. Once you’ve conquered the bridge, stay for a post-race party featuring live music, beer, food trucks, and family-friendly activities to recharge and celebrate your feat (and feet). 

Drinking Buddies

Bank Street
November 7, 2015

For 10 years, the annual Highlandtown Basement Bar Tour has been paying homage to the social gatherings that started out decades ago in the neighborhood’s fully stocked, wood-paneled basement bars. Although, truth be told, these soirées have now largely moved into the living rooms and backyards of the rowhouses here.

Guided by a handy map, residents walk, drink, mingle—and repeat—over the course of four hours with encouragement from well-stocked fridges, kegerators, iced tubs of Natty Boh, and retro mini-bars. “In Stockholm, where I’m from, people in apartments pass each other in the hallway, but never talk,” says a Swedish transplant living on Claremont Street with her boyfriend. “On this block, everyone wants to know each other’s life story.”

Altogether, seven rowhomes, two art galleries, one pizzeria, two actual bars, one organic market, one Italian market, and one former Moose Lodge have opened their doors—and liquor cabinets—to the tour.

“Best $20 I ever spent,” jokes Andy Dahl, coordinator of neighborhood programs for the Southeast Community Development Corporation, after sampling homemade pork barbecue at one stop. Along the way, he crosses paths with an old friend bicycling through the neighborhood—who, naturally, slides into the tour. Other surprises include an accordionist at one home, and fig trees and grapevine trellises in a couple of the small backyards in the neighborhood’s old Italian section.

“There are two Roman stone masons from the neighborhood who enter the Highlandtown Wine Festival each year—both named Dominic,” explains a longtime resident. “Very competitive. In business, winemaking—everything. They even steal each other’s customers, but still they remain good friends. If one wins the red wine competition, I think the judges almost feel obligated to give the other a white wine ribbon.”

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Hammer Time

Binney Street
October 20, 2015

The checkout line stretches nearly the length of Canton Ace Hardware, with women—and it’s all women here tonight—patiently waiting to pay for light fixtures, caulk and caulking guns, air filters, and brass plumbing supplies.

Meanwhile, past the lumber section, a DeWalt representative offers a hands-on, cordless power drill and driver demo. That’s followed by a packed mini-workshop on home toilet repair by a Fluidmaster rep—all part of the store’s 2nd Annual Ladies’ Night, which has attracted some 250 women. No doubt, many have been lured by the 20 percent discounts and complimentary wine and cheese, but just as many appear intent on learning how to tackle a specific DIY project or, more generally, improve their overall handywoman skills.

“My father got me started,” says Janis Girven, a computer consultant. “A home inspector left a dishwasher repair guide at our house and my dad said, ‘Janis, you can follow directions, right? Can you fix this leak?’ And I did. When the [repair] kit I bought came with the wrong size gasket, I went to the auto store, got another one, cut it to the right size.”

Canton Ace Hardware, it should be noted, is one of three local stores, among 11 in the region, run by a female-owned cooperative. Of course, customers have no idea that’s the case, acknowledges Courtney Belew, the co-op’s marketing manager.

“When I worked on the floor,” says the petite, bespectacled Belew, “older men, especially, would occasionally ask me if they could speak to a man about a certain tool
or kitchen repair job. I’d simply smile, ‘I can help you.’”

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Talking Heads

North Charles Street
November 13, 2015

In keeping with the Charm City Fringe Festival’s quirky nature, online tickets to the “#txtshow” came with an email reminder about charging your smartphone. Also, a warning about possibly profane language. Then, arriving at Station North’s Mercury Theater, guests receive not programs, but login directions to the show’s live Twitter feed. There’s no play this evening; instead, a staged reading by performance artist Brian Feldman of the audience’s—and this is key—anonymous real-time tweets.

The show starts hesitantly. There’s a tweet quoting from Star Wars, followed by one about a penguin driving a spaceship. Then, a reference to Batman, followed by random existential queries and responses. Any chance of a dialogue or a narrative forming from the 140-characters-or-less tweets—a road trip story gets sidetracked—explodes for good when two young women, clearly imbibing, join in. Soon, the back and forth turns scattershot, with off-the-wall tweets about the smell outside the theater, ducks, and sex.

The best part, however, is when audience members begin “intervening” in the relationships of other audience members:

Oh, so you haven’t put a ring on it yet, eh? . . . How you doin?

Which, of course, sends the first-row couple in question bursting into laughter.

It’s all absurdist fodder for Feldman, who occasionally gestures directly toward the small crowd while reading a tweet and, at other times, sings some of the missives.

“I asked an actor if he considered the show ‘improv.’ He thought it was,” Feldman says. “I don’t think so. Improv is based on ‘Yes, and . . .’ —meaning, you must follow the other person’s lead.” Feldman laughingly notes the #txtshow’s chaotic nature. “This always becomes, ‘No, but . . .’”

The Book of Mormon
Nov. 3-15. Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 12 N. Eutaw St. Times vary. $58.50-147. 410-837-7400. Simply put, The Book of Mormon is not for the faint of heart, but we heartily recommend you see it. Hailed “the best musical of this century” by The New York Times, the nine-time Tony winner and Broadway smash hit follows two young missionaries on their quest to convert African citizens to the Mormon faith. Throwing politically correct niceties to the wind, it tackles religion, race, and sexuality through satire, song-and-dance, and a dash of explicit language. From South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, it’s a bold, witty show unlike anything on the stage before it.

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Zadie Smith
Nov. 3. The Johns Hopkins University, Hodson Hall, 3400 N. Charles St. 6:30 p.m. Free. 410-516-6286. When we look back, Zadie Smith—alongside the likes of Jonathan Franzen, Michael Chabon, and Junot Díaz—will be one of the authors who helped define the beginning of the 21st century. Born in London, the young writer graduated from Cambridge before penning her remarkable, award-winning debut, White Teeth, in 2000. Tackling topics of race, identity, history, and culture through elegant prose, acute wit, flirting plotlines, and magic realism, her social dissection of modern London inspired critical comparisons to Charles Dickens, Martin Amis, and Salman Rushdie. This month, hear Smith discuss her writings as part of the President Speaker Series at JHU.

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Baltimore Blast
Nov. 7-Feb. 2, 2016. Royal Farms Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St. Times & prices vary. 410-347-2020. Indoor soccer season is back, and its time to kick things off with our oft-overlooked hometown team, the Baltimore Blast, as they return to Royal Farms Arena at the beginning of the month. Starting with Saturday evening matches against Chicago, IL, Syracuse, NY, and Harrisburg, PA, see this year’s stellar lineup, with the top three point producers Tony Donatelli, Lucas Roque, pictured, and Pat Healey all back for another shot at the Major Indoor Soccer League championship.

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Jerry Seinfeld
Nov. 6. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. 1212 Cathedral St. 7 and 9:30 p.m. $65-155. 410-783-8000. What’s the deal with Jerry Seinfeld? In an era when it seems like every entertainer is trying to “expand their brand” and diversify into some kind of performer/diet guru/fashion designer/tech visionary/chakra healer, Seinfeld has, thankfully, kept it simple. Sure, he has made forays into film (the 2002 documentary Comedian; 2007’s animated Bee Movie), and yes, he can be found tooling around town with his funny friends in the delightfully idiosyncratic web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, but he has never strayed far from his core talent: He tells jokes and he does it well.

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Pearls on a String: Artists, Patrons, & Poets at the Great Islamic Courts
Nov. 8-Jan. 31, 2016. The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 410-547-9000. thewalters.org. In this new exhibit at The Walters, explore the exotic treasures of the great Islamic empires with over 100 artworks dating back to the 16th century. Through three vignettes of paintings, ceramics, textiles, and luxuries, delve into their rich cultural history and discover the relationship between imagination, collaboration, and creativity.

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Charm City Fringe Festival
Nov. 8-15. Locations, times, & prices vary. Now in its fourth year, the Charm City Fringe Festival
returns to Station North to celebrate Baltimore’s diverse performing arts
community. Starting on Thursday with an opening party at Joe Squared, this
weeklong event features a medley of 20-plus performances by local and regional
talent, including Baltimore Improv Group, Baltimore Shakespeare Factory, and
Gilded Lily Burlesque. See theater, comedy, improv, and dance at venues like
Terrault Contemporary, Mercury Theatre, Gallery 788, and Church & Company,
followed by after-parties with shows, music, and drinks at Liam Flynn’s Ale
House and Joe Squared each night.

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Waterfowl Festival

Nov. 12-15. 40 S.
Harrison St., Easton. Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free-$15.
410-822-4567
. Head across the bridge
and celebrate the Eastern Shore for one fall weekend full of wildlife arts,
tidewater culture, and local activities in the historic town of Easton. Now in
its 44th year, the Waterfowl Festival attracts thousands for its esteemed
artwork, with paintings, photography, sculptures, and carvings on view and for
sale. Also, don’t miss its bucolic, bay-oriented activities, like goose- and
duck-calling contests, dock-jumping dog competitions, and retriever, live bird,
and fly-fishing demos, all of which you can observe or participate in.

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BSO Pulse: Wye Oak
Nov. 12. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St. 5 p.m. $35. 410-783-8000. We have to hand it to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and WTMD for their cool new music series, Pulse. The pairing of BSO musicians with rising indie-rock bands creates one-of-a-kind concerts that connect the present to the past and takes another step in the symphony’s ongoing quest to evolve with modern times. In this second installment, see local duo Wye Oak perform a night of genre transcendence or listen live via 89.7 FM.

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Bazaart Holiday Art Market
Nov. 27-28. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. Fri. 5:30-8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$20. 410-244-1900. This holiday season, it’s time to boycott the big boxes and instead buy your loved ones some unique local gifts. At AVAM’s annual holiday market, browse original works by more than 40 regional artists and craftspeople, including paintings, sculpture, paper crafts, metalwork, jewelry, textiles, and apparel, with early-bird shopping at the First Dibs preview party on Friday.

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Miracle on 34th Street
Nov. 28-Jan. 1, 2016. 700 block of 34th St. Free. 5-11 p.m. Christmas comes early in Hampden again this month, just as it has for the past 67 years. Shortly after Thanksgiving, the festive neighborhood tradition of Miracle on 34th Street returns with the entire block decking their digs in bright holiday lights, sporting everything from illuminated Bohs and Miss Utz to crabs, flamingos, and the famous hubcap tree. Through New Year’s Day, join the throngs of locals and tourists alike to get in the holiday spirit with this Baltimore classic.