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.”

Visual Art

Voices: Joyce J. Scott, Oletha DeVane, Christopher Bedford
Don’t miss your chance to hear from two of the guiding voices of the Baltimore art scene, jewelry maker and sculptor Joyce J. Scott (who was recently named the 2019 Smithsonian Visionary Artist) and multimedia artist Oletha DeVane. In this conversation moderated by BMA director Christopher Bedford, the pair will discuss their works, their inspirations, and the city they both call home. 7-8 p.m. April 10. Church of the Redeemer, 5603 N. Charles St.

TAPROOT
Two artists with varying backgrounds but shared experiences meet in this exhibition examining colonialism, consumption, and how they work their ways into the other parts of life. Working from their distinct perspectives “one of assimilation and one of frequent migration between continents,” Catherine Khammouane and Samiha Alam will present sculptural pieces that express their view that “what is manmade is natural.” Artist talk 5-7 p.m. April 6; on view through May 4. Waller Gallery, 2420 N. Calvert St.

Pile of Craft
Head to Space 2640 to peruse more than 50 vendors’ wares at this 13th annual craft fest hosted by Charm City Craft Mafia. Past favorites such as Annie Howe Papercuts and Tiny Dog Press will be on hand, and several new vendors will be hawking everything from rosé jelly to 3d paper and watercolor plants for those whose thumbs aren’t quite green. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 27. Space 2640, 2640 Saint Paul St.

Music

Abdu Ali Album Release Show
Abdu Ali has one of the most powerful voices in Baltimore music right now, and this launch of their debut album, FIYAH!!!, is going to be one heck of a party. Catch Ali’s blend of punk, rap, and Baltimore Club from the Ottobar’s intimate stage before this New York Times-lauded artist really blows up. Doors at 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m. April 26. Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St.

Theater

Come From Away
When planes were unexpectedly forced to land following 9/11, some 7,000 people found themselves stranded in the small town of Gander in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. What began with tragedy grew into a week of friendship and humanity among travelers in unfamiliar territory and the town that took them in. This award-winning musical based on their true story is not to be missed. April 23-28. The Hippodrome Theatre, 12 N. Eutaw St.

Pink Milk
Single Carrot is leaving its Remington home behind soon, but first they have another story to tell. This Technicolor reimagining of codebreaker Alan Turing’s life story from Chicago-based playwright Ariel Zetina explores Turing beyond his history-making work. Zetina is also working with Single Carrot to update the text and score for the first time since writing the piece in 2013. Gala opening April 27, runs through May 16. Single Carrot Theatre, 2600 N. Howard St.

Film

Making Cinema Matter: Masterclass with Sandi Tan
Singaporean filmmaker, zine publisher, and writer Sandi Tan returns to her cult roots for this workshop and screening of 2018’s Shirkers, which premiered and earned the World Cinema Documentary Directing Award at Sundance in 2018. Tan and her cohorts made what could have been a cult hit in 1992, when they were just teens, but their film was stolen by an American collaborator. Shirkers follows Tan back to Singapore to revisit the film, the American who stole it, and what both of them did for her dreams. Free screening at 7 p.m. April 5, masterclass April 6, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The SNF Parkway, 5 W. North Ave.

Literature

CityLit Festival
CityLit is known for bringing great authors and events to bibliophiles of all stripes at their annual fest, and this year is no different. During this day-long celebration of all things literature, visitors can attend more than a dozen session and check out the Literary Marketplace to pick up a few more additions to their nightstand stacks. Stick around for keynote speaker Dani Shapiro, whose memoir, Inheritance, delves into what happens when family secrets find their way to the surface. 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. April 27. University of Baltimore William H. Thumel Sr. Business Center, 11 W. Mount Royal Ave.

Hilton Carter’s Wild at Home Book Signing
Local plant expert Hilton Carter’s Baltimore home is filled with more than 300 ferns, cacti, and other green friends. His lush designs on have earned him national attention, but he’s sticking close to home for this celebration of his first book, Wild at Home. Grab some friends and head to Trohv on Earth Day for a book signing, Q&A, and cocktails with the Instagram plant guru himself. 7-9:30 p.m. April 22. Trohv, 921 W. 36th St.

 EAT

April 13-15: Baltimore Food Truck Week

Times & locations vary. Free.

When temperatures finally crack 70 this weekend, stay outside to snack on eats from 25 food trucks that will be stationed throughout Baltimore and its surrounding counties. During this celebration of four-wheel restaurants, track down some of the city’s best mobile kitchens, which will be rotating between various hotspots throughout the weekend. Try on-the-curb specials like waffle cones filled with crab cakes and French fries from Gypsy Queen, made-to-order ice cream sandwiches from Quinn’s Ice, and veggie burgers from GoGanics.

 DRINK

April 14: Dumpster Dive II

Baltimore Community ToolBank, 1224 Wicomico St. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. 410-224-5565.

Four years ago, the brilliant minds behind the local nonprofit program Volunteering Untapped discovered that 20 and 30-somethings are more motivated to spend their Saturday mornings volunteering if the do-gooding is accompanied by a solid day-drink. This Saturday, the monthly initiative returns to the Baltimore Community ToolBank to sort out the recyclables found in Professor Trash Wheel’s dumpster, followed by a trek to MaGerk’s Pub in Federal Hill for a well-earned after-party. Make new friends and celebrate your hard morning’s work with deals on mimosas, beer, and the pub’s signature Philly cheesesteaks.

 SEE

April 13: Out of Order

Maryland Art Place, 218 W. Saratoga St. 7-10 p.m. $25-45. 410-962-8565.

Maryland Art Place’s annual benefit checks off all of the boxes for a can’t-miss art event: an wall-to-wall exhibit with works from more than 250 local and regional contemporary artists, a silent auction for your chance to purchase your own masterpiece, and, of course, an open wine-and-beer bar all to support the local gallery’s programs and future exhibitions in the Bromo Arts District. This Friday, come for the local art and stay for the epic after-party featuring the soulful sounds of local singer-songwriter Joy Postell.

 HEAR

April 14: CityLit Festival

University of Baltimore, William H. Thumel Sr. Business Center, 11 W. Mount Royal Avenue. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 410-271-8793.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the CityLit Festival, the signature event from CityLit Project that celebrates reading, writing, and creativity in and around Baltimore. To tie into this year’s focus on poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, The New Yorker writer Philip Gourevitch will headline the event with conversations about his National Book Critics Circle Award-winning work of nonfiction, We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda. Make time between editorial and speaker sessions to participate in guided discussions about motherhood, the #MeToo movement, and local funding for the literary arts. 

 DO

April 14: Under Armour Sole of the City 10K

Charm City Run, 1713 Whetstone Way. 9 a.m. $50-75. 410-645-8266.

With sunny skies and warm temperatures predicted for Saturday morning, this annual 6.2-mile race through the streets of downtown Baltimore could not have fallen on a more picture-perfect day. Hit the ground running in this 10K trek that starts and ends in Locust Point and features scenic views of the city skyline along the way. If you need extra motivation, think of the complimentary snack box and Natty Bohs that will be waiting at the finish line.

Visual Art

Odyssey: Jack Whitten Sculpture
The Baltimore Museum of Art will introduce to the world 40 sculptures by Jack Whitten (1963-2018), the renowned artist who influenced the next generation of painters and passed away in January. As he was known primarily for his paintings and mixed-media work, this show, co-organized with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, marks the first of its kind. Sculpture mediums include wood, marble, copper, and bone, and the collection also features personal mementos, as well as Whitten’s Black Monoliths series, which reveals how sculpture influenced his paintings. April 22 through July 29 at the BMA, 10 Art Museum Drive. Free Opening Celebration, 1 to 5 p.m. April 22.

Bonnie Crawford Kotula
Baltimore-based artist Bonnie Crawford will show a series of drawings and sculptural works around the theme of sleep—and more specifically, insomnia—in an exhibit at Montpelier Arts Center. The body of work was inspired by Louise Bourgeois’ Insomnia Drawings. At an artist talk, there will be blankets and tea. April 7 to May 27 at Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Road, Laurel. Opening reception from 2 to 4 p.m. April 8; artist talk at 3 p.m. April 28.

Music

Negative Gemini, Amy Reid
The Metro Gallery will host a night of electronica with a packed lineup of local and national acts. Negative Gemini will headline with her indie dream-pop dance beats. Also on the bill: George Clanton and two Baltimore-based artists, Amy Reid and Giddeon Gallows (Drew Scott). It’s a good excuse to dance and shake off those winter blues. 9 p.m. April 11 at Metro Gallery, 1700 N. Charles St.

Snakes album release show
Frontman George Cessna eases through each of Snakes’ dark and twangy rockabilly rides, creating a lo-fi sound while crooning out lyrics that have a timeless quality about them. The five-piece, which essentially started as a backup band for Cessna, released its second full-length record, No More Songs About Wildflowers, in March (with a cassette option, per tradition), and they’ll play their album release show this month at EMP Collective. Catch them before they hit the road this summer for an extended tour. 9 p.m. April 13 at EMP Collective, 307 W. Baltimore St.

Theater

Peter Pan, an original stage adaptation
Playwright Joshua Conkel (Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events) re-imagines the classic story of Peter Pan for a 21st-century audience in Single Carrot Theatre’s world premiere of Peter Pan. As part of its community outreach, the theater partners with people in Baltimore each year to create an original production. This one borrows stories and inspiration from local LGBTQ residents to present a Peter and Wendy who grapple with questions of gender and sexuality in Neverland. 8 p.m. on Thursdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays from April 27 through May 20. Pay-What-You-Can Previews on April 25 and 26. Single Carrot Theatre, 2600 N. Howard St.

Literary Arts

CityLit Festival
In its 15th year, CityLit Festival returns with a lineup so packed, it’s probably best to clear your whole day on April 14. The event includes workshops, readings, lectures, and panel discussions spanning multiple genres and local and international talent. The keynote author is New Yorker staff writer Philip Gourevitch, Yrsa Daley-Ward will give a master class, plus Elizabeth Acevedo and Joanne Gabbin will be speakers, among many more. Most events at the festival are free, but some require registration and/or small fees. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 14 at William H. Thumel Sr. Business Center at the University of Baltimore, 11 W. Mount Royal Ave.

Fashion

MICA’s experimental fashion shows
Avant-garde and experimental fashion by MICA students will be highlighted during two shows this month. First, designs by 20 students in fiber, painting, illustration, fine arts, graphic design, sculpture, and other programs at the school will make their debut at Authenticity, the annual benefit show in its 25th year. Artists explore personality, social class, and cultural heritage through their work, reflecting on their individual as well as collective identities. Several garments will be auctioned off at the event. The second event, MEZZO: An Experimental Fashion Event, is by the Fiber Department’s Multi Media Event class and encompasses costumes, performance, puppetry, and sculpture by 12 designers. Authenticity is at 9 p.m. April 13 and 8 p.m. April 14 at MICA’s Falvey Hall, 1301 W. Mount Royal Ave., and MEZZO is at 5 and 8 p.m. April 21 at the Baltimore War Memorial, 101 N. Gay St.

Miscellanea

Refugee and Immigrant Arts Feast
Mera Kitchen Collective’s inaugural Refugee and Immigrants Arts Feast celebrates cultures from around the world through food, art, crafts, and music. The all-day event is free and family-friendly. 11:30 a.m. to  4p.m. April 28 at 2640 Space, 2640 St. Paul St.

#RiseBmore
April 19 marks the third anniversary of Freddie Gray’s death while in police custody. In commemoration, several artists will present a free event, #RiseBmore2018, that evening at Union Baptist Church. The lineup: Words by Abdu Ali, Erricka Wonder Voice Bridgeford, Brittani McNeill, Tariq Touré, and Shannon Lo Wallace, and music by Judah Adashi, Akua Allrich, Japheth Clark, Mark G. Meadows, Joy Postell, Letitia VanSant (leh-tih-sha), and Voices Rise: A Baltimore Choir of Hope.

On Drugs: Stories about dependence, destruction, and salvation
As the Stoop Storytelling Series so aptly puts it, elixirs have the power to both heal and destroy us. In a night of stories around this central theme of drugs, storytellers include a poet, a family medicine doctor, an independent drug researcher, a retired state police captain, and others. 8 p.m. April 19 at the Senator Theatre, 5904 York Road.

As a fiction writer, director of CityLit Project, and chair of the Maryland State Arts Council’s Diversity Outreach Committee, Columbia’s Carla Du Pree is a tour de force—and she’s also a staff of one for the annual CityLit Festival, which celebrates its 15th year this month. The free, all-day event will bring in dozens of new and established writers to the University of Baltimore for readings, workshops, and one-on-one sessions with guest editors. We sat down with Du Pree at Motor House in Station North to discuss her role in the region’s literary arts scene and her goal of making it more inclusive and accessible to all communities.

You became executive director of CityLit Project in 2016. What’s your mission, in your own words, for the organization?
When I first got this position in Baltimore, it seemed like the literary community was divided. Everyone was kind of doing their own little thing. You’d find the same people attending the same kind of readings. And I kept thinking that’s wrong—that’s not how literature works. It works when you surprise yourself by attending a reading you never thought you’d resonate with, and you discover something there.

I love it when people discover new writers, because I remember the joy of finding someone’s work that resonated with me. It was like a gift that I needed to share—you can’t keep it all to yourself. The game-changer of writing is [its ability to] open doors to what’s possible and to take risks. We hear a lot about Baltimore being a place where people stand up for themselves and right wrongs, and we [at the CityLit Project] said, we’re not going to be afraid of that. We’re not going to be afraid of those hard conversations. Because people are living those truths, and that’s what writing should be about: our truths, whatever they look like.

As an arts ambassador for the Maryland State Arts Council, I’ve learned to show up in unexpected places to experience art. I recently showed up at a Friday night reading during an LGBT community event. I saw several poets you might never see on another stage, and my question is, why is that?

Have you seen that changing at all?
We had a Writers Resist event shortly after the 2016 election because we wanted to see how different communities felt about it and how it affected them personally. We pulled about 16 poets into one room on a Sunday afternoon, and [EMP Collective] was packed for three hours. For three hours. It was standing room only—people were sitting on the floor, in the hall where they couldn’t even see the poets, but they were completely engaged. The poets onstage were ones that you wouldn’t normally see share a space.

So a big part of what you want to do through CityLit is mix it up and bring unity.
Exactly. We want to put page poets on the same stage with spoken word artists and see the synergy that takes place. On our CityLit Stage [at Baltimore Book Festival], we had Guggenheim fellow Deborah Rudacille on the same stage as an award-winning author from West Baltimore, Devin Allen, and it was live! We want to get the young involved and to represent all voices. I can’t begin to tell you how much we lean in to recognize whose voice isn’t in the room. People are hungry to see themselves and their cultures reflected. And if people are hungry, you feed them! We realize that bridging the literary and the academic communities could have an even greater impact, but that’s just the start.

Do you think the literary arts are underrepresented in the larger arts scene?
Across the country, people wholly value the performing and visual arts. When it comes to literary arts, it’s as if we’re speaking another language to get appropriate funding. And yet everyone is moved by the power of story. Reading and writing serve you for life. When you place a pen in someone’s hand and teach them the art of writing, you are giving them a voice and a reason. These last 14 years, CityLit has done its best to share talent from our region and from the larger literary community. I’m talking Claudia Rankine, George Saunders, Junot Diaz, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. We always talk about the fine arts, and I’m like, people, do you know how literary arts can transform you?

On that note, this year’s CityLit Festival lineup is huge. What are some of the highlights for you this year?
We’re bringing back the one-on-one editorial sessions. They started last year and filled up quickly. We’re trying to grow writers as well as readers. We will also offer a 90-minute master class. We realized there are a lot of amazing learning institutions here in Baltimore, but they’re so costly, people simply can’t attend, and we wanted to make learning the craft accessible.  

When choosing the festival’s speakers, what are some of the things that you take into consideration?
Part of my job at CityLit and my work [for the MSAC] is to point out that we need to change whose narratives we showcase, so we don’t leave people out of the conversation. To me, this year’s theme is  “We are still here”—meaning you can’t afford to ignore who’s in your community. That knowledge brings gifts. We know for a fact that Maryland is going to be an emerging majority state by 2020—that’s two years from now. If you know that’s happening, if you know that you have 63 percent African Americans in Baltimore, you have to change the way you do business.

It feels like an important time for CityLit Project.
We’re really working overtime to build our capacity and our partnerships. Right now, we’re small with big dreams. We envision a lot of things, but we need more funding and a larger staff. We’ve just become a grantee of the [Robert W.] Deutsch Foundation; they’ll help us cover operating costs, to keep us thriving. We now have an office—well, a desk—here at the Motor House on the second floor. My gosh—Amy Sherald’s on our floor. Amy Sherald! . . . To me, we can’t afford to be quiet anymore about what we need and who we serve. We have to be very loud, or we go away. And we’re not trying to go away these days. More and more communities need a voice, and we hope to represent.

Light City
April 6-21. Locations & times vary. Free. 410-752-8632. Since the inaugural event in 2016, this bright and bold arts festival has become a cherished citywide tradition. Now, Light City’s organizers are taking this year’s theme of “More Love! More Lights!” to heart by expanding the festival to include as many people and installations as possible. Head to the Inner Harbor or one of 14 participating neighborhoods to see awe-inspiring illuminations that are sure to elicit ooohs, ahhhs, and about a million Instagrams.

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Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival
April 6-7. Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd., Timonium. Fri. 6-10 p.m., Sat. 12-6 p.m. $29-99. 410-252-0200. Picture this: two days of unlimited sampling of more than 40 bourbons, 60 beers, and all-you-can-eat barbecue with all the fixins. In between local brews from Flying Dog, Jailbreak, and Heavy Seas, or Maryland-distilled whiskey from Sagamore Spirit, enjoy live rock and bluegrass music, participate in bacon-eating or stein-holding contests, or take in a tasting seminar. If that doesn’t describe your dream weekend, then we can’t help you.

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Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar
April 8-Dec. 23. Underneath the Jones Falls Expressway at Holliday & Saratoga Sts. Sun. 7 a.m.-12 p.m. Free. 410-752-8632. For more than 40 years, locals have dragged themselves out of bed on Sundays to fill their stomachs and totes with the best locally grown and handmade products that Maryland has to offer. From typical farmers’ market fare like fresh produce and flowers to made-to-order eats such as mushroom fritters and falafel, this is an event worth setting an alarm for. Reward yourself for getting up early with a breakfast sandwich from Blacksauce Kitchen.

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Motown The Musical
April 13-15. Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 12 N. Eutaw St. Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 & 8 p.m., Sun. 1 & 6:30 p.m. $49-117. 410-837-7400. For one weekend only, flashback to the groovy glory days of 1960s and ’70s Detroit with this behind-the-scenes look at the iconic record company that launched the star careers of Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, and many more. From Broadway, the story of Motown Records comes alive on the Hippodrome stage in this smash-hit jukebox musical, featuring hit songs such as “ABC” and “Dancing in the Street.”

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CityLit Festival
April 14. University of Baltimore, William H. Thumel Sr. Business Center, 11 W. Mount Royal Avenue. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 410-271-8793. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the CityLit Festival, the signature event from CityLit Project that celebrates reading, writing, and creativity. To tie into this year’s focus on poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, The New Yorker writer Philip Gourevitch will keynote the event with conversations about his book We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda. Make time in between editorial and speaker sessions to participate in guided discussions about motherhood, the #MeToo movement, and local funding for literary artists.

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Under Armour Sole of the City 10K
April 14. Charm City Run, 1713 Whetstone Way. 9 a.m. $50-75. 410-645-8266. Spring has officially sprung, so lace up your sneakers, breathe in some fresh air, and get moving during this annual 10K. Start your Saturday early and dash through the streets with more than 4,500 other runners at this race that starts and ends in Locust Point. While the mileage might sound intimidating (10K = 6.2 miles), it’s a prime opportunity to embrace our city, especially with the route’s stellar views of the city skyline and the Inner Harbor.

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Peter Max Retrospective
April 20-29. Y:ART Gallery & Fine Gifts, 3402 Gough St. Wed.-Thurs. 12-5 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. 443-928-2272. Peter Max was practically born to be an artist. He was raised in Germany, China, Tibet, Israel, and France, gaining inspiration from vibrant societies and shifting art movements along the way. As a young art student in Manhattan during the late 1950s, he worked diligently under the American painter Frank Reilly before being swept up in the counter-cultural revolution of the ’60s. The budding artist would go on to create bright, radical posters and psychedelic art—the style he’s mostly recognized for today. The abstract expressionist has been called the United States’ “Painter Laureate,” painted portraits of six presidents, and crafted posters for major events like the Grammys, the Super Bowl, and the Olympics. Despite his global fame, his art remains immediate and accessible. This month, catch his remarkable collection of major works in Highlandtown, carefully curated to include pieces that span his five-decade career. View never-before-seen celebrity portraits, iconic pop art like the above “Cosmic Runner,” and even a special tribute to Charm City.

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Charm City Bluegrass Festival
April 27-28. Druid Hill Park, 3100 Swann Dr. 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Free-$55. This year’s two-day party is slated to be bigger and better than ever with three stages, 21 bands, plenty of local food, and homegrown brews from Union Craft Brewing. With national acts like The Devil Makes Three and The Travelin’ McCourys and local talent such as Caleb Stine and The Honey Dewdrops, the dynamic lineup promises to be a little slice of Americana heaven for all music lovers.

Women of the World Festival
April 28. Notre Dame of Maryland University, 4701 N. Charles St. 9 a.m. $20. 410-435-0100. The past year was defined by female voices—from speaking out against sexual harassment to becoming a tenacious political force. In April, the Women of the World Festival returns just in timeto explore women’s issues through panels, performances, and activities. Get inspired by keynote speakers Tarana Burke, the #MeToo founder who was named a Time magazine “Person of the Year,” and Roxane Gay, cultural critic and The New York Times best-selling author of Bad Feminist and Hunger.

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

 EAT

April 28: Baltimore Bike Party’s 5th Birthday

Mount Vernon Marketplace, 520 Park Ave. 6:30 p.m.-12 a.m. Free.

This weekend, everyone’s favorite party on wheels turns five years old, and its birthday celebration is going to be epic. Kick it all off with a killer route through Mount Vernon and Bolton Hill—starting at St. Mary’s Park with a rest stop at Whitelock Park—followed by food, live music, and drinks at the Mount Vernon Marketplace. Get post-ride fuel with bites from The Local Oyster, Pinch Dumplings, and the new Cholitas Tacos, then “rehydrate” with cold, local brews from Taps Fill Station and Between2Buns. With themed and oftentimes costumed events, the monthly bike ride has become a must-attend happening and a creative incubator for the city’s cycling community. As always, party hats, noisemakers, and balloons are encouraged. 

 DRINK

April 29: Baltimore Cocktail Week Wellness & Rejuvenation

YogaWorks Midtown, 107 East Preston St. 12-3 p.m. $15. 

We know it’s hard to decide between brunch cocktails or a morning workout, but luckily this weekend, you don’t have to choose. On Saturday, join Yogaworks for a restorative yoga class, followed by fruity, bubbly, spring cocktails as part of the annual Baltimore Cocktail Week. With tipples like blood orange cocktails and prosecco-studded sips, we can’t think of a better reward after sweating it out. All proceeds also benefit House of Ruth Maryland. Namaste, indeed! 

 SEE

April 29: CityLit Festival

University of Baltimore, William H. Thumel Sr. Business Center, 11 W. Mount Royal Ave. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

For the 14th year, Baltimore’s CityLit Festival returns with an exciting lineup of acclaimed writers. With a focus on poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, award-winning author and TED Talk celebrity Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will headline with conversations on feminism, poetry, and prose. Adichie—whose 2010 The Danger of A Single Story is one of the top 10 most-viewed TED Talks of all time and inspired her 2014 book We Should All Be Feminists—will chat with WYPR’s Tom Hall about writing, raising our voices, and activism. With a full day of sessions, also sit in on discussions about writing as political resistance, editing tips and tricks, and character building through the written word.

 HEAR

April 29: Fifth Annual Charm City Bluegrass Festival

Druid Hill Park, 900 Druid Park Lake Dr. 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. $55. 

Now in its fifth year, this once small parking lot jam session has grown into Baltimore’s biggest bluegrass festival, known for its stellar lineups, local food, and festival-only beer by Union Craft (we love the cleverly named When I Say Charm You Saison). Rain or shine, prepare to move and groove at two stages with local talents like Cris Jacobs and Seldom Scene, as well as big-name national acts such as The Lone Bellow and Dustbowl Revival.

 DO

April 29: The Society of Excellent Women Dance Party

Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St. 9 p.m.-1:40 a.m. $7. 

This weekend, the “Excellent Women” of Baltimore are bringing you the ultimate girls night. In the spirit of making new friends and celebrating girl power, the new Society of Excellent Women meet-up group is hosting a Saturday night dance party at the Ottobar with DJ Pancakes spinning the best girl-power jams all night long. If the event is anything like the girl groups’ previous get-togethers—full of fun like cotton candy, tie-dye—we expect a full-on fete with hits like Pat Benatar’s  “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” TLC’s “No Scrubs,” and Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls).” Because, let’s be honest . . .