EAT

May 17: Masarap Pop-up at Suspended Brewing Company

Suspended Brewing Company, 912 Washington Blvd. 5-9 p.m. Free.

If you didn’t get the chance to try local chef Rey Eugenio’s top-notch Filipino eats during his pop-up concept’s stint at Fadensonnen or Greener Fest, head to Pigtown this Friday to sample everything on this entirely plant-based menu. From Masarap staples like charred Brussels sprouts and Filipino-style stir-fry noodles to roasted corn and oyster dumplings, this vegan lineup pairs perfectly with a few of the South Baltimore brewery’s signature pours. And, since one dollar from each pint supports the next Charm City Night Market, there’s no shame in snacking and boozing all night long.

DRINK

May 17: Maryland Craft Beer Fest

Max’s Taphouse, 737 S. Broadway. 11-2 a.m. Free.

Outdoor beer festivals may be all the rage, but there’s something about walking into Max’s Taphouse and seeing 90 taps (yes, you read that correctly) full of Maryland beer that can’t be beat. This Friday, start early and work your way through beers by more than 40 local breweries, including Charm City favorites like Heavy Seas and Diamondback as well as newcomers like Nepenthe and Mobtown Brewing. Whether you spend the day sampling new brews or sticking to your go-to guarantees, we recommend ordering some nachos or tater tots every few rounds to soak up the suds.

SEE

May 15-Dec.1: Hitching Their Dreams to Untamed Stars

The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.

If you do nothing else this spring, visit the Baltimore Museum of Art to experience this awe-inspiring exhibition that celebrates the profound work of MacArthur-award winning local artist Joyce J. Scott and her mother, Elizabeth Talford Scott. The curated collection features Talford Scott’s experimental textile pieces, including a quilt that depicts the North Star as a matriarchal beacon of freedom, along with examples of Scott’s art that responds to her mother’s textile tradition. The exhibition’s seven-month run encourages visitors to view the pair’s thought-provoking bodies of work again and again.

HEAR

May 17: Micah E. Wood Album Release

The Charmery Ice Cream Factory, 1700 W. 41st St., Suite 400. 8-11:45 p.m. $10.

We agree with Micah E. Wood: If having your own ice cream flavor at your self-titled album release party isn’t the ultimate flex, we don’t know what is. Pack The Charmery Ice Cream Factory on Friday night to hear this beloved local musician and photographer perform bare-it-all songs from his third record, as well as sets by indie-pop quintet Super City, pop-opera duo Outcalls, rapper Al Rogers Jr., and DJ Loc Spice. Grab a complimentary scoop of the singer-songwriter’s signature flavor (ginger-lemon-coconut) and bop along to brand-new tracks dedicated to introspection, self-care, and—of course—his dog, Ansel.

DO

May 18: Preakness Stakes

Pimlico Race Course, 5201 Park Heights Ave. 9 a.m. $99-720.

After months of debates and hearings about the future of the iconic Preakness Stakes, this weekend’s events will be the first time in a while that the focus will be on the actual horse race, not the political one surrounding its potential move to Laurel Park. On Saturday, start the festivities early at the ever-raucous InfieldFest, featuring the likes of EDM star Kygo, popular rapper Logic, and DJ/producer Diplo, before heading to the track for the main event. Above all else, revel in the chance to cheer on the middle jewel of the Triple Crown for what could be one of the final times at Pimlico Race Course.

In one of the most high-profile lineups of recent years, DJ and producer Kygo, Grammy-winning DJ Diplo, and Grammy-nominated rapper Logic will be headlining the 2019 Preakness Stakes. Also joining them on the InfieldFest stage at Pimlico Race Course on May 18 will be breakout hip-hop artist Juice Wrld, DJ and producer Fisher, and rising star DJ Frank Walker.

Since I.M.P. began programming Preakness’ music in 2009 and The Stronach Group began operating Pimlico in 2011, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown has been trying to attract a younger audience with its musical acts. Past performers have included Post Malone, Lorde, Bruno Mars, and The Chainsmokers.

“This year’s InfieldFest represents the evolution of our entertainment program at The Stronach Group and carries out our mission to deliver world-class entertainment experiences with outstanding talent,” said Jimmy Vargas, the group’s EVP of entertainment. “This year’s InfieldFest lineup brings the excitement of the race track to the stage and encourages a new generation of race goers to experience The Preakness Stakes.”

This comes at a time when Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh has been blasting the Stronach Group for proposing legislation that would permit funding for one big “super track” in Laurel, not Baltimore.

In a letter to Governor Larry Hogan and General Assembly leaders, Pugh wrote: “Certainly, before throwing away the racing tradition of the Preakness Stakes, the annual ‘Super Bowl’ of Baltimore city, and a generator of significant revenue for Maryland, [The Stronach Group] should be required to demonstrate that they have the bandwidth to create their recently announced ‘super track,” referring to the family being embattled in multiple lawsuits.

When profiling chairman and president Belinda Stronach last year, she made it all but clear that their sights were set on that super track they are now pursuing.

“For us, if we’re going to make the investment, it’d be better to have one track that caters to everyone,” Stronach told us. “Having said that, we totally respect the tradition of the Preakness at Pimlico. It’s a complicated question. We don’t know how this will unfold, but we’re going to do what’s best for the sport and the fans.”

For this year, at least, the horses will be running in Baltimore and the musical acts will take the stage at Pimlico. Particularly exciting is Gaithersburg native Logic, who has been nominated for three Grammys and shot to stardom with critically acclaimed mixtapes and whose third studio album Everybody was certified platinum.

Diplo has become a global superstar in his own right, working with some of the top artists in the industry like Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, and The Weeknd and has toured the world solo, as well as with Skrillex and as one third of Major Lazer. Norwegian DJ, producer, and songwriter Kygo has taken the world by storm, hosting the world record for fastest 1 billion steams on Spotify and is known for his performance during the closing ceremonies at the Rio Olympics.

Tickets can be purchased online now and start at $59 for general admission, with VIP packages featuring an elevated viewing platform, bottle service, and private bathrooms available. Certainly a far cry from the infield debauchery of yore.

1970s–early 1980s

The Maryland Jockey Club estimates that the infield party first became popular when Secretariat won the Preakness in 1973, as the general manager at the time used the big name to attract crowds. What resulted was a fairly calm time for the infield with picnic blankets, face painting, and some grills and coolers here and there.

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Mid-1980s

Things started to get more extreme around this time, as there didn’t seem to be many rules about how much outside alcohol you could carry in. People used everything from wagons to couches to carry in their party supplies.

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1990s–2000s

During this era, binge drinking, getting injured, being escorted out, and passing out on site were all common occurrences. It all came to a head in 2007 when a video of young men participating in the “running of the urinals” went viral, causing concerns for the health and safety of infield fans.

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2009

The Maryland Jockey Club banned outside alcohol altogether, and the crowds reflected the change (77,850 compared to 112,222 the year before). The ban contributed to a loss of more than $25 million in revenue between 2007 and 2009.

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2011–present

MJC launched a campaign to reinvigorate the infield, featuring Kegasus (a binge-drinking centaur) and attracting big-name acts like Maroon 5, Bruno Mars, and Zac Brown Band. They have also started the Mug Club, where fans can buy one refillable mug for the whole day. This year, on May 17, musical performers include Lorde and Eli Young Band.

—Illustrations by Tuesday Bassen