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.

Performers from across the continent will make Baltimore their stage for 11 days during the seventh annual Charm City Fringe festival, which kicks off on November 1. New and experimental theater—featuring more than 20 shows, from comedy to a one-man cabaret. Festival headquarters will be at Mount Vernon Marketplace, where fans can get tickets and get festival schedules. Here are our picks for six not-to-miss performances and events.

Launch Party
The opening night kickoff will be from 7 to 10 p.m. November 1, with festival preview performances, music, art installations, light fare from Maiwand Grill, and drinks. Marble Bar, Congress Building, 306 W. Franklin St.

Beaver Dreams
Charm City Fringe is officially an international theater festival. This year, Lost & Found Puppet Co. from Montreal will perform its brilliant, bizarre show Beaver Dreams. Nominated for five Frankie Awards, this production uses puppets and live acting to tell the story of a group of humans and beavers who live near the same pristine lake, deep in the the Quebecois forest, and share the same nightmare: commercial development springing up nearby that’s threatening the natural world. 322 N. Howard St.

The End of Things
Three Princes Theatre will present their world premier of The End of Things, taking the audience on six journeys through failing relationships and an impending apocalypse (as in, an actual threat to planet Earth . . . but also, of course, its metaphorical implications). The show uses monologue, vignettes, and imagery to weave together these vignettes of love and love lost. Downtown Cultural Arts Center, 401 N Howard St.

I Know It Was the Blood: The Totally True Adventures of a Newfangled Black Woman
Tara Lake, a scholar, vocalist, performer, and historian will present her one-woman play I Know It Was the Blood: The Totally True Adventures of a Newfangled Black Woman, which won an Artist’s Choice Award this year at the Chicago Fringe Festival. Dramady musical (with poetry interspersed throughout) takes us back to the 1980s and ’90s and into the world of an African-American Jersey girl’s coming-of-age. 322 N. Howard St.

33 (a kabarett)
Big Empty Barn Productions will present its one-man production 33 (a kabarett), written and performed by Bremner Duthie. Set in the ruins of a cabaret theater, the show references the experimental form of theater known as Kabarett, which satirizes the audience and was performed in Germany until the Nazis rose to power and suppressed the shows and performers, most of whom ended up in concentration camps. In this show, all the actor’s fellow performers have already disappeared, leaving him alone on the stage to perform the pieces from the missing ensemble members himself. Downtown Cultural Arts Center, 401 N Howard St.

The Male Gaze
BlueShift Dance focuses on “the male gaze” in their new show by performing dance pieces created for specifically for them—and about them—by the men in their lives who love them. The lens shifts from sexual object to deep love as the show moves through complex and varied emotional landscapes. Downtown Cultural Arts Center, 401 N Howard St.

Charm City Fringe Festival
Nov. 1-11. Locations and times vary. $10-98. Now in its seventh year, this annual celebration of Baltimore’s non-traditional theater scene returns to the Bromo Arts District for 10 days of eclectic performances by more than 20 local and regional acts. From unconventional circus and variety acts to off-kilter comedy and theater pieces, catch quirky sets by rising stars such as BlueShift Dance, comedian Arielle Conversi, and award-winning performance artist Monica Hunken, pictured, during this cutting-edge festival.

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Jim Burger: A Charmed Life
To Nov. 24. Creative Alliance. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free. From Baltimore Orioles fans leaving Memorial Stadium for the final time to women waiting under hair dryers at a Highlandtown salon, images by former Baltimore Sun photographer Jim Burger have encapsulated the city’s hidden beauty over the years. This month, view more than 130 photographs by the MICA grad during this retrospective exhibit at Creative Alliance, and return on November 8 for a special presentation of Burger’s full-color catalog of work.

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Baltimore Craft Beer Festival
Nov. 3. $15-55, As the Old Line State’s craft beer scene has expanded over the past few years, this annual all-you-can-drink festival has grown along with it. 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 homebrewing competition, and tons of local eats to soak up the suds.

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Across the Bay 10K
Nov. 4. Chesapeake Bay Bridge. 6:55 a.m. $70-250. If you’ve ever driven across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and wondered what it would be like to run across it, you’re in good company. Lace up your sneakers for this early-morning run that draws more than 20,000 joggers to the starting line every year to soak up the views of the bay from 200 feet above the water. Stick around for live music, family-friendly activities, and all-you-can-drink options during the post-race festivities.

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Travis Scott
Nov. 8. 201 W Baltimore Street. 7:30 p.m. $35.95-250. It has been a busy year for this 26-year-old rapper: His third album, Astroworld, released to rave reviews, he became a first-time parent with celebrity cosmetics mogul Kylie Jenner, and this month, he will kick off his 25-city tour in front of a jam-packed crowd at Royal Farms Arena. Known for his unpredictable performances, this explosive artist will perform dance hits such as “SICKO MODE” and “BUTTERFLY EFFECT.” Who knows? Fans might even catch a glimpse of Kylie and Stormi in the audience.

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Romare Bearden
Nov. 11- March 3, 2019. 830 E Pratt St.. Times vary. Free-$8. A collection of pieces by the prolific visual artist Romare Bearden, best known for his collages and other works depicting the realities of African-American life during the 1960s, will be on view at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in dedication to the artist’s tremendous impact on the community. See more than 70 of the late artist’s collages, watercolors, and drawings at this downtown museum and honor his depiction of African-American religion and spirituality.

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Fiddler on the Roof
Nov. 13-18. 12 N Eutaw St.. Times vary. $99-250.50. Set in the tiny village of Anatevka in 1905, this time-honored musical about a poor milkman finding suitors for his five daughters in their Jewish community has become a Broadway classic. During its five-day run at the Hippodrome Theatre, experience the charming story that has won the hearts of audiences for decades with themes of change, tradition, and growth, featuring new movement from Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter.

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BAZAART Holiday Art Market
Nov. 23-24. Jim Rouse Visionary Center 3rd Floor, 800 Key Hwy. Times vary. Free. Start the holiday season off right by supporting local artisans during the American Visionary Art Museum’s annual holiday art market, featuring tons of one-of-a-kind items that make early-bird shopping special. Held on Small Business Saturday, the market will highlight original creations made by more than 40 regional artists such as paintings, textiles, and jewelry. After you’re shopped out, take a free tour of the acclaimed Jim Rouse Visionary Center. avam.org.

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BSO Pulse: Parquet Courts
Nov. 29. 1212 Cathedral St.. 8:30PM. $25-55. Now in its fourth season, this first-of-its-kind series that brings together some of the city’s best classic and indie artists returns with a collaboration between the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and alternative rockers Parquet Courts. Don’t miss this three-set concert at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall that will feature a set by the BSO, followed by a few songs from this rising indie group’s latest album, Wide Awake!, before they join the BSO for a joint performance.

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Miracle on 34th Street
Nov. 24-Jan. 1, 2019. W 34th St.. 6-11 p.m. Prices vary. Jim Pollock treats the Miracle on 34th Street tradition like a series of date nights. Every evening from Thanksgiving weekend to New Year’s Day for the past 29 years, he has come home from work, washed up, and opened his home and heart to the hordes of people who visit the 700 block of 34th Street in Hampden to see the “most outrageous Christmas lights” in Maryland. Known on the block for his 10-foot-tall tree made out of 104 hubcaps, he also welcomes about 1,200 visitors per night into the makeshift gallery in his living room to view work by local artists. “This tradition is about finding a moment of peace and togetherness in all of this chaos,” says Pollock. “We do this for the city that we love.”

Much like the art that will be experienced here, the interior aesthetic of the soon-to-open, artist-owned space Le Mondo is experimental, nonlinear, and slightly unorthodox—a collage of various time periods, architectural styles, and visions housed under one roof (and, if things go according to plan, two more roofs by 2020).

An unearthed swatch of floral wallpaper from a bygone era is left intact near the entrance and will, perhaps, become a component of an art installation that incorporates live plants, echoing the abandoned buildings nearby whose hollow windows serve as frames for weeds that grow wild inside them. Antique tin ceiling tiles found elsewhere were brought to the 406 N. Howard St. building for decorative appeal. A long, wooden bar with two large mirrors on the wall behind it was gifted by a contractor who found it in a building being rehabbed on Calvert Street. Who knows how many conversations were shared on it over decades of drinks, and how many more will come forth when the bar is given new life as a nightly meeting spot and arts hub here in the historic Howard and Lexington shopping district, where the building originally opened as The Strand movie theater in 1916.

After a trial run from summer through fall of 2017 that included art exhibitions, concerts, and dance and theater performances, the long-awaited grand opening of the first of three Le Mondo buildings will come this fall, complete with the aforementioned bar, a performance space that can be manipulated to serve both large-scale and intimate productions, and 10-12 artist studios.

The arts incubator, three years in the making (so far) and estimated to cost roughly $4 million upon completion, was financed through private and public funding and loans. It will later include two additional adjacent buildings, which will house a 100-seat black box theater, a headquarters for one or more arts groups, artist apartments, and a cafe. A small grassy lot—where another building once stood but burned to the ground in 2015—will remain a green space.

Le Mondo is the grand vision of Carly Bales, Evan Moritz, and Frederick Gerriets (another founder, Ric Royer, was fired after several women accused him of harassment and abuse). All three remaining founders have deep roots in the DIY arts scene here—Bales as the brains behind EMP Collective, and Moritz and Gerriets as creators of Annex Theater—and all of them desire a secure foundation for that scene to thrive.

“There’s a real need for an affordable, flexible space for developing new work,” Bales says. “We’ve been seeing a decrease in accessible spaces for the type of work we want to see flourish.”

Annex Theater, which will use Le Mondo as its permanent venue, has moved “from space to space to space—warehouses and storefronts,” Moritz says. “The idea is to have a bunch of groups team up and share a long-term building . . . a midsized venue with a bar and diverse programming.”

Bales spent several years immersed in the Washington, D.C., arts scene as an actor but ultimately made Baltimore her home in 2013 because of the ability—and affordability—to produce work here that takes risks rather than what she calls “fear-based” work that you’re more likely to find in D.C.

“Economics plays a lot into the psyche of an experimental arts community. If it’s more accessible financially, you have an opportunity to fail and use that for growth, rather than it being a detrimental setback to your career,” she says.

Le Mondo will serve as the Charm City Fringe Fest headquarters in November, one of the first events to christen the space.

Ultimately, Bales, Moritz, and Gerriets see Le Mondo as a catalyst that can spur a revitalization of the whole block. Across the street, for instance, Current Space gallery, which has leased its city-owned property on a month-to-month basis since 2004, is now buying its building as well as the large, three-story building to the south of it, and developers’ interest has already spiked in buildings on the block that have lay dormant for years.

“We fell in love with the idea of being here and creating a footprint,” Bales says. “You get this feeling of history on this street. There’s a spirit to the area that’s really sort of beautiful, and there’s so much untapped potential.”

Visual Art

Profiles of Color III
Fredericksburg, Virginia, artist Ronald Jackson reimagines African-American portraiture in his solo show Profiles of Color III: Fabric, Face, and Form at Galerie Myrtis. The mixed-media pieces are collaged with bold shapes and patterns, reminiscent of Klimt but with a contemporary African accent. June 30 through July 28, with an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. June 30 at Gallery Myrtis, 2224 N. Charles St.

Landmarked
Ada Pinkston explores historical landmarks and monuments in Landmarked, a highly participatory show that invites visitors to respond to prompts and, in doing so, become part of the exhibit as it unfolds. A pedestal in the gallery will serve as a space for performance art pieces throughout the duration of the show, including a special night of guest performers on June 16. June 1 to 22 at Cardinal, 1758 Park Ave.

Music

BSO’s New Music Festival
Imagine the elegance of classical music performance against the backdrop of Graffiti Alley and you have the June 22 Chamber Jam with Mind on Fire, Shodekeh, and Ok Miss, part of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s four-day New Music Festival. In its second year, the fest brings contemporary classical music to venues across the city, highlighting living composers. This year, Kevin Puts’ oboe concerto Moonlight, a piece commissioned by the BSO, will premiere at a free show at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. June 20 to 23.

John Williams at Camden Yards
Celebrated American composer (and lifelong baseball fan) John Williams—who has written scores and served as music director for films that include E.T., Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and Star Wars—will be at Camden Yards on June 11 to throw the first pitch. Before the Orioles game, the BSO will perform a selection of his well-known pieces, starting at 6:30 p.m. The game will be followed by the June 13 Evening with John Williams performance at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.

Theater

Nights on the Fringe
Ballet, theater, puppetry, film, crankies, spoken word, dance, circus arts . . . the list goes on for Nights on the Fringe, a vaudeville-inspired cabaret weekend presented by Charm City Fringe—in case you are itching to see some Fringe-worthy shows before the main festival in November. The evenings will be hosted by Aaron Henkin (WYPR’s Out of the Blocks) and Umar Khan (Gin & Jokes, Super Comedy). 8 p.m. June 8 and 9 at the Baltimore Theatre Project.

Literary Arts

Books in Bloom
The daylong Books in Bloom festival brings a host of writers across all literary genres to Columbia for readings, discussions, children’s activities, and a pop-up bookstore. The lineup includes Amanda Lucidon, Edwidge Danticat, Elliot Ackerman, Ian Mackenzie, Jane Delury, Jeannie Valasco, Katia D. Ulysse, Nathan Bomey, Sujata Massey, Vikram Sunderam, and others. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 10 at downtown Columbia Lakefront, 10221 Wincopin Circle, Columbia.

Miscellanea

CreateScape
Creative Labs’ CreateScape event celebrates the DIY arts culture of Baltimore through a free, three-day open house at the group’s headquarters. With a focus on health, creativity, sustainability and collaboration, the fest, hosted by Creative Labs, will cross yoga and dance battles with live music and street art. An array of artisan vendors will give this event a festival feel. June 8 to 10 at Creative Labs, 1786b Union Ave.

Healthy Baltimore: A Festival of Wellness
The free Healthy Baltimore festival at Port Covington will bring an array of music, food, and health and fitness vendors aimed to get you on track—plus the inspiration to move your soul and your body with a performance by Talib Kweli. Pre-registration is required. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 16 at The Field in Port Covington, 200 E. Cromwell St.

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). 

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

 EAT

June 3: Taste of 3 Cities

Patterson Park, 2806 Eastern Ave. 12-9 p.m. $15-65

If you consider yourself indecisive, prepare to be put to the test this weekend on the hills of Patterson Park. The grassy knoll will transform into a glutton’s paradise as a hoard of food trucks parks along the edge of Highlandtown. Dig into more than 40 mobile munchies hailing from Philly, D.C., and Baltimore, including hometown favorites Kommie Pig, Grr Che, Gypsy Queen, and the one-and-only Miss Twist, with beer, wine, margaritas, and crushes on tap as well. Whatever your pick and poison, set up shop at one of three stages to catch regional dance performances and, best of all, to hear live local music like headlining act Bond St. District.

 DRINK

June 2: Station North Tool Library Happy Hour

Station North Tool Library, 417 E. Oliver St. 5-8 p.m. Free.

If you’re looking to meet fellow creatives or just start your weekend with a cold beer, throw away the workweek and throw back a Union Craft this First Friday at the Station North Tool Library. The mixed-use makerspace is a community hub for everyone from amateur builders to accomplished woodworkers, with classes ranging from home repair to knife-, cutting board-, and coffee table-making. Sip a UCB can, sign up for some workshops, and scramble down the street into the warm late-spring night.

 SEE

June 2-3: Nights on the Fringe

Baltimore Theatre Project, 45 W. Preston St. 7:30 p.m. $20-35.

Charm City Fringe—best known for its 10-day fall festival celebrating untraditional, independent performance—is taking the stage early this season during its third annual Nights on the Fringe. For two nights, immerse yourself in a medley of artistic acts in the vein of vaudeville with hosts Aaron Henkin of WYPR, Umar Khan of Gin & Jokes, and Josh Kuderna of BIG Improv. On Friday, catch performances of spoken word by Baltimore’s 2015 youth poet laureate Derick Ebert, aerial stunts by In The Dark Circus Arts, and shadow puppetry by the Lantern Sister. On Saturday, stop by for hip-hop dance moves by Bmore Than Dance, slam poetry by Grim Jackson, and live music by Afro House’s Astronaut Symphony. Whether you come for one show or all, it will be an unexpected weekend to remember.

 HEAR

June 2: Natural Velvet

Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St. 8 p.m. $10-12. 

We can’t give away how much we love the new Natural Velvet record (you’ll have to check out our July issue to find out more), but let’s just say: You don’t want to miss this local post-punk quartet. They’re one of the best young acts in town, with a fearless flair and ball-of-fire energy thanks to the wiry guitars of Kim Te and Spike Arreaga, guttural drums of Greg Hatem, and amorphous howl of captivating frontwoman Corynne Ostermann. This new album (their second with local label Friends Records) is their most fierce release to date, so see it live alongside fellow local opening acts, electronic R&B duo Blacksage, beatmaker Infinity Knives, and trance-noise group Halloween Tres. 

 DO

June 2: Good Fridays Baltimore

EMP Collective, 307 W. Baltimore St. 9 p.m. $10. 

Almost seven months ago, Baltimore arts and culture editor Gabriella Souza was on the phone with John Waters when she got an idea. The local auteur had mentioned how The Buddy Deane Show, a teen dance show that aired on WJZ in the late 1950s and early 1960s, had inspired his most mainstream film, Hairspray! Over the years, similar variety shows and dance programs, like The Shakedown, had all but disappeared. Wouldn’t it be great, mused Waters and Souza, if people could just get together today—regardless of race, class, age—and dance? With the help of PipeDreamz’s Ansar “AC” Miller-Abdullah and City Paper and Baltimore contributor Cassandra Miller, Good Fridays Baltimore was born. This Friday night, don’t miss its inaugural dance party, be it live at E.M.P. Collective in the Bromo Arts District or live-streamed on YouTube from your own home, to hear live music by rapper Al Rogers Jr., see local art by Shan Wallace, and a throwback video countdown to the main event. Best of all, be sure to get down—even abashedly in front of your computer or TV screen—during the two-hour dance party by DJ JaySwann.