Jean Christophe Rusatira hails from a family of proud Rwandan coffee farmers. For more than 30 years now, his parents, Marie Mukamurenzi and Celestin Rumenerangabo, have toiled on Gasharu Farms to help their family and to rebuild the region on the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. But another reason his parents worked so hard is so that their nine children would be able to attend school and have options beyond the farm.

“Growing coffee is a very laborious process,” says Rusatira. “You are farming for the whole year and you only have three months to farm. If there’s rain or a heat wave, the whole year is done. My dad, who planted his first coffee trees in [the district of] Nyamasheke when he was 17, loved farming but he wanted all of us to get educated.”

It worked. Rusatira is now an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. But it’s safe to say that beans were in his blood. In 2019, after meeting his business partners—Baltimore-born Michael Saunders; Ernest Asiedu, who hails from Ghana, and Dulani Christian, a native of St. Thomas—he opened Matriarch Coffee.

The Inner Harbor cafe is an homage not only to Rusatira’s mother, who left a teaching job to help on the farm, but to all the strong, influential women in the owners’ lives.

“The name was inspired by all the women who surrounded us,” says Rusatira. Saunders notes there was an additional inspiration. He says, “Ask any African American where the homeland is, and they’ll say, ‘Mother Africa.’”

Why did you want to open Matriarch Coffee?
Jean Christophe Rusatira: For me, the main motivation was to see the work of my parents’ farming directly reaching the customer, especially because I was moving from Rwanda and coming to Baltimore—Baltimore is basically my new home. It made sense for me to connect in the community and really be part of that generational wealth space. When you’re a farmer, you are technically farming for other people who are going to do the business, so it’s not an easy process to be part of the farming and also be a part of the business as a way to create wealth.

What’s it like to see your coffee beans come here from your country? It must be emotional.
Rusatira: The journey of the coffee starts a good three months from the time it leaves Rwanda. We ship one to two containers at a time. One container is 19 tons—that’s 42,000 pounds. We use some and sell some to other roasters—but I only sell it to people who appreciate it. Otherwise, I tell them to bring it back.

How would you describe what this coffee tastes like?
Saunders: Our motto is from soil to cup—we have the best quality control with Chris’ family in Rwanda, and then you bring it right to my home port in my city. I don’t know if they are singing to the beans at night, or talking to the plants, but I can’t sing enough praises about what they are doing. For me, as someone who is just a coffee lover, there’s an array of notes from chocolates to berries to melons to the apples and pineapples inside of it, but it’s the finish—smooth to the last drop—that makes the difference.

Rusatira: I always say our coffee is coffee that never wants you to put sugar in it and should taste good whether hot or cold—if you have those three elements then you are probably having good coffee.

Saunders on Rusatira’s family of coffee farmers in Rwanda: “I don’t know if they are singing to the beans at night, or talking to the plants, but I can’t sing enough praises about what they are doing.”

Michael, what does it mean for you to have this cafe in your city?
Saunders: To have a Black-owned local coffee shop as a native Baltimorean who is also roasting beans directly imported from Africa is incredible.

What should a first-time customer order?
Saunders: Start with a simple cup of coffee—if you like coffee, taste coffee. If you like lattes, taste a basic espresso, then once you’ve done that, try a cold brew.

Jean Christophe, did you grow up drinking a lot of coffee?
Rusatira: Growing up in Rwanda, we don’t necessarily drink coffee. I grew up being told that coffee beans were sold abroad to make bullets! Everyone thought that was a thing. I think they told us that to keep us from drinking the profits. But in 2016, when I came here to do my master’s in public health, I was tired and really struggling because of the weather. A colleague told me to drink coffee. So, I went to a local coffee shop, bought a cup of coffee, and I realized it really helped.

There’s a lot that competes for your attention when you enter Facci, the year-old Italian restaurant on the ground floor of the Inner Harbor high-rise, 414 Light Street.

There’s a lively bar, big enough to comfortably accommodate both people sipping a drink and those eating a full meal. Behind a glass partition, there’s a cook rolling homemade pasta, a not-so-subtle signal that you’re about to indulge in high quality, fresh dishes.

But truth be told, most people can’t take their eyes off Sophia Loren.

A giant photo of the then-young actress printed on wallpaper looms over the dining room, her red dress and décolletage impossible to miss. For the restaurant’s owner, Gino Palma, it’s a point of pride that she was born in the same city as him, Pozzuoli.

It was from there that Palma emigrated without his family to the U.S. at the age of 19—he had little money and no knowledge of English. He worked 15-to-17-hour days at Italian restaurants in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and eventually Maryland, doing everything from cleaning floors to washing dishes. Slowly, he began to work his way up the ladder.

Palma, 48, has come a long way. Last March he opened his third Facci. Like the others in Laurel and Ellicott City, the Baltimore location presents a lively, modern, approachable version of food from his—and Loren’s—homeland.

“Italian food is very simple,” he says. “You can eat Italian food every day. The main thing is great ingredients. We have the tomatoes and the mozzarella from Naples. You can do something so simple but so delicious that it’s unbelievable.”

Facci should be categorized as elevated dining, not fine dining. When we visited in December, we saw tourists, families with young kids, couples, and singles eating and drinking. We started with a Figgin Peachy, a refreshing combination of fig vodka, prosecco, peach purée, and fresh lime juice. We then moved on to a glass of the well-balanced sangria. With a list of 375 labels, wine is a major feature here as well.

Appetizers can be substantial and the stuffed eggplant we tried was no exception. Served piping hot with a blend of three cheeses, it was rich, fulfilling—and filling. The Aruguletta salad, which includes strawberries, sliced pears, roasted hazelnuts, and shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano topped with a lemon aioli dressing, was fresh and crisp. It certainly was enough to share.

Pizzas and pastas are the primary focus of the menu. Pies cook for roughly 90 seconds in the wood-fired oven. We loved the Genova Pesto, a pesto-based pizza with grilled chick- en, roasted tomatoes, roasted pine nuts, and smoked mozzarella. (Gluten-free pizza and cauliflower crust are available as well.) The dough is terrific, and predictably the pizzas are best enjoyed right out of the restaurant’s oven.

A plate of Seafood Marbella was the most decadent dish we tried. Shrimp, scallops, and crab in a creamy Parmesan sauce mixed with fettuccine made for a tasty and heavy dinner. The Gnocchi Caprese was slightly disappointing. The potato dumplings were on the tough side, and the marinara sauce lacked pop. The classic dish of chicken marsala was executed perfectly, with a complex sauce and juicy chicken topped with mushrooms and onions. Comfort food at its core.

Palma takes great pride in not only his food (executive chef Nicola Morosini heads the three Facci kitchens) but also the design of his restaurants, which he does on his own. Here he had a large space to work with (the restaurant has a capacity of 160 and includes outdoor seating when the weather cooperates), thus the photo of Loren that stands approximately 15 feet high and 10 feet wide.

The name Facci comes from Palma’s wife, Pilar, who is from Peru. “She wanted to be able to communicate with my family, therefore began an intense Italian course,” the menu explains. “One day while practicing Italian with me, she said la tua facci but meant to say la tua faccia, Italian for your face. When I heard facci instead of faccia I started laughing and thought it was cute. Ever since that day I called her Facci.”

Today, nearly three decades after he left Italy, Palma has a wife of 24 years, two children and, now, three restaurants. He’s living the American dream.

“I’m a guy who came to America with no money, no family, no English,” he says. “I see all these people having fun; it makes me feel so good.”

FACCI: 414 Light St., Inner Harbor, 443-835- 2789. HOURS: Sun.-Thur. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. PRICES: Appetizers $16-27; salads $13-16; pastas $24-35; pizzas $20-23; entrees $28-46.

A crowd of activists toppled the marble Christopher Columbus statue near Little Italy Saturday night and dumped it into the Inner Harbor amid Fourth of July firework displays across the city.

Two weeks ago, an anti-racist protest group known as Baltimore Bloc publicly warned Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young that activists planned to take down the city’s Columbus monuments if his administration did not act to remove them.

The most prominent of three city monuments to Columbus, the statue at the eastern edge of the Inner Harbor was unveiled by President Ronald Reagan and Mayor William Donald Schaefer in 1984 and dedicated with the inscription to the “Discoverer of America.” The 14-foot statue was paid for by a citywide fundraising campaign led by the Italian American Organizations United of Maryland.

Two years ago year this summer, 19 months after a city commission recommended two of the city’s four Confederate monuments be taken down and two more receive educational plaques, then-Mayor Catherine Pugh ordered the removal of all four.

Lester Davis, a spokesman for Young, told the Baltimore Sun that the destruction of Columbus statue is part of a “re-examination taking place nationally and globally around some of these monuments and statues that may represent different things to different people.”

City Council President Brandon Scott, who won last month’s Democratic mayoral primary, issued a statement Saturday night saying he supports both the Baltimore’s Italian-American community and Baltimore’s indigenous community. “I cannot, however, support Columbus,” Scott said.

In 2016, Scott introduced a bill that would’ve renamed Columbus Day in the city to Indigenous Peoples Day. Scott said the intention of the legislation, which did not pass, was “to honor the many peoples inhabiting North America before its colonization by European settlers.”

Scott said he suggested to former Mayor Catherine Pugh that she remove the Columbus statue along with the city’s Confederate statues following a violent conflict between white supremacists and anti-racism activists in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Baltimore City Councilman Ryan Dorsey has introduced a bill that would rededicate the Columbus obelisk at Herring Run to the victims of police brutality.

In a statement Sunday, Governor Larry Hogan condemned the destruction of the Columbus statue and said Baltimore leaders had lost “control of the city and their own streets.”

“While we support peaceful protests and constructive dialogue on whether and how to put certain monuments in context or move them to museums or storage through a legal process, lawlessness, vandalism, and destruction of public property are completely unacceptable,” Hogan said. “That is the antithesis of democracy and should be condemned by everyone, regardless of their politics. Baltimore City leaders need to regain control of their own streets and immediately start making them safer.”

Several state delegates representing Baltimore County and Harford County and a group of Italian-American activists demanded Young and Hogan protect the city’s statues and monuments erected to honor Christopher Columbus at a June 29 press conference at the Inner Harbor.

In a tweet Saturday night, Del. Kathy Szeliga called the pulling down of the Columbus memorial on July 4 “shameful,” and asked where the police and Mayor Young were while the statue was being toppled. She suggested citizens, “move out of Baltimore City while you can if you still live there.”

“This is deeply personal and an affront to the Italian American community and all law-abiding Marylanders,” tweeted State Del. Nino Mangione, a Republican from Baltimore County. “The city of Baltimore has been disgraced once again. America weeps at this outrage.”

Baltimore’s annual October Columbus Day Commemoration and Italian Heritage Festival and parade, approaching 130 years, is believed to be the longest-running celebration in honor of Columbus in the country.

In his speech on July 4, President Donald Trump pledged to “defend, protect, and preserve American way of life, which began in 1492 when Columbus discovered America.”

The Italian-born explorer’s legacy has received increased scrutiny in recent decades as his brutal treatment of the native people of the Caribbean islands and Central America—including mass slaughter, forced mining, enslavement, and child rape—has become better known and understood.

Popular myths regarding Columbus, long taught in schools, have also been exposed by scholars, changing public perception of the nature of his voyages. Columbus did not prove the “flat Earth” theory wrong. Nor was Columbus the first European to sail to the continent, as Scandinavians sailors had done so centuries earlier. Those beliefs and others took hold in the United States after acclaimed writer Washington Irving popularized an “Americanized” Columbus in a best-selling fictionalized historical biography in 1828.

With the pulling down of the statue, Baltimore joins a growing list of cities this summer, including Richmond, Montgomery, Boston, and St. Paul, that have witnessed the toppling of Confederate and Columbus memorials. Numerous cities across the country have made plans to remove statues.

With mandated closures and practices of social distancing sweeping the state, Baltimoreans are forced to adapt to their new normal amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Here, we take a look at city spaces that were once full—congested Inner Harbor streets now silent, stocked grocery store shelves now barren, bustling restaurants now indefinitely shut down—as Charm City slows down to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

“Can I give you a heart?” Shelley Brown, a local wellbeing facilitator and speaker, asks the stream of patrons entering Lighthouse Liquors in Canton. While many decline, some brighten and carefully pluck a red enamel heart pin from her gloved palm.

“I don’t know what else to do for humanity,” she explains to passerbys. The pins are a symbol of mindfulness, as Brown encourages those who carry them to practice being present. “With everything that’s going on, our fear and our panic take us into the future of things that we actually have no control over. You can hold space for that emotion and notice it, but also remember you’re right here, right now.”

When it comes to resolutions, this New Year’s Eve is a big one. With a new decade comes an even bigger opportunity to wipe the slate clean and get cracking on those goals that you’ve long been wanting to accomplish. But, before we all start hitting the gym and polishing up our personal budgets, there are tons of local celebrations to say sayonara to the past 10 years in style. Whether you’re looking for an all-out dance party, fancy meal, fireworks show, all-you-can-drink package—or some combination of them all—here are some of the best New Year’s Eve happenings.

Dance Dance Resolution

The Roaring 2020’s New Years Eve: A Burlesque Revue: The roaring twenties are back and better than ever at Creative Alliance’s clever nod to the past. Celebrate with a night of burlesque, dancing, two live bands, and CBD cocktails—an event worthy of a 21st-century Gatsby. $30-35

The Crown NYE in the Red Room: Everyone’s favorite dancing spot is opening up the Red Room this New Year’s Eve for a night of throwbacks. Two DJs will spin classics from the past decade (think Beyonce, Billie Eilish, and everyone in between) along with a mix of soul and funk. Bring your best moves and fit one last dance session into 2019. Free

NYE Bash at Mobtown Ballroom: Located in a restored Pigtown church, Mobtown Ballroom brings back its tradition of starting the New Year off with live music and dance. Mzz B & Company Dance Band will supply the tunes, including pop, R&B, and soul, with performances throughout the night. Tickets include a complimentary Champagne toast when the clock strikes midnight. $50

A 2020 Burlesque New Year’s: Dance like a flapper at The Charles in Federal Hill. Partygoers will groove to music by DJ Neil Paul and indulge in other offerings provided by the all-inclusive ticket, such as a six-hour premium open bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres, surprise performances, a photo booth, and party favors. Top off the night by watching the countdown and Times Square ball drop on The Charles’ 16-foot projector screen. $75-130

Midnight Shows

NYE Murder Mystery Train: Ride into 2020 aboard the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, and step into the shoes of a detective with an evening of murder mystery fun. Guests will dine with a special three-course meal, enjoy a bar stocked with wine and beer, and relax to enjoy the show—which takes place on board. $185

Better Off Dead: There’s no better New Year’s fun for Deadheads than this late-night show with Better Off Dead, the touring tribute band that reimagines the music of the Grateful Dead. The 8×10 tradition includes admission to an after party featuring experimental jam group Squaring the Circle. Want to go all out this year? VIP tickets include an acoustic set with Better Off Dead and access to a potluck. $30-45

Firework Spectaculars

NYE Duck Drop and Fireworks: Havre de Grace celebrates the 20th anniversary of their annual duck drop, a tradition where a symbolic lighted duck takes the place of the Times Square Ball. The celebration includes a midnight fireworks display at the Concord Point Lighthouse, set off from barges just offshore, and tons of outdoor dancing.

New Year’s Eve Spectacular: Baltimore: Once again, this 15-minute fireworks display will light up the skies above the Inner Harbor. Baltimoreans will gather on the promenade, groove to live music courtesy of Rufus Roundtree & Da B’More Brass Factory, and enjoy a late-night skate around the Inner Harbor Ice Rink, which will be open past midnight to ring in the New Year.

NYE Deck Party on the USS Constellation: Giving a new definition to the party boat, the last sail-only warship used in the United States Navy brings the fun on board. The deck of the USS Constellation hosts a spread of attractions, from an all-inclusive gourmet menu, hot cider and other drinks, party hats and noisemakers, cannon firings, and a prime view of the Inner Harbor fireworks.

Cheers to the New Year

Suspended Brewing’s Countdown to 2020: This charming Pigtown brewery hosts its third-annual New Year’s party to close out the decade. Toast to the new decade with a choice of beers from hoppy to spiced, or with the three thoughtfully crafted cocktails on draft. Tickets also include a dinner by Asian-fusion favorite Ekiben, a special themed gift, and a dance party led by a brewer-turned-DJ. $100

Brew Year’s Eve Bash at Nepenthe Brewing Co.: Hampden beer haven Nepenthe is opening up its bar for those looking to ring in 2020 with a brew in hand. Five hours of open bar means plenty of time to try a few beverages—from beer to wine to cocktails—with entertainment such as a photo booth, a flip cup tournament, hourly prize drawings, cult drinking game Drinko, and a barrel drop at midnight. $65-95

NYE at Tagliata/Elk Room/Italian Disco: Three rooms, three experiences—one big New Year’s Eve party on Fleet Street. With the restaurants neighboring each other, and sharing an outdoor patio, guests can easily move between the live piano in Tagliata’s lounge, the jazz band at the Elk Room, and the DJ at Italian Disco. Enjoy an open bar, festive fare on a standing buffet, and a complimentary Champagne toast at midnight. $146-195

One Star Country Club’s NYE Party 2019: Known for its comedic one-star reviews, this Federal Hill favorite knows how to keep things fun. With a friendly and inviting atmosphere, the bar will host a one-hour premium open bar to get the drinks and cheer flowing, and a special live DJ performance throughout the night. $6-16.50

New Year’s Eve at Barcocina: Tiered ticket packages at this Fells Point hangout allow revelers to get as fancy as they would like this New Year’s Eve. Depending on which package you choose, enjoy a top-shelf open bar or admission to both Barcocina and its sister spot, Bond Street Social. Plus, the waterfront bar provides the perfect patio for watching the fireworks shine over the harbor. $40-90

New Year’s Eve 2020 at The Point: Start your January out “on point” at this Thames Street mainstay. Though general admission is free, guests have the option of indulging in a $25 buffet with a Champagne toast at midnight or a $75 premium open bar package. Plus, DJ Mike Jointz will be spinning and taking requests until 5 a.m. If you happen to stay out that long, you might as well stick it out until 9 a.m., when The Point will start serving brunch. Free-$75

New Year’s at Woody’s and Slainte: These Fells Point sister spots are doing it up with a gourmet buffet, premium open bar, prime view of the fireworks, and party favors galore. $80

Fancy Food:

New Year’s Dinner and Brunch at True Chesapeake Oyster Co.: Not only is this Hampden newbie offering dinner with free shuttle service to the Avenue on New Year’s Eve, but it’s also celebrating with two brunch seatings on New Year’s Day. Come in your PJs and enjoy live DJ music while sipping mimosas or Bloody Marys and, perhaps more importantly, unlimited coffee. All-inclusive tickets include the drinks, a brunch dish (try the French toast or a chicken-and-waffle Benedict), and a housemade bread basket for the table. $35

Charleston: For a feast that’s worth the splurge, head to Harbor East to savor one of chef Cindy Wolf’s unique, four-course menus with optional wine and Champagne pairings. Among them are “The Forest” (mushroom bisque and roasted beef tenderloin), “The Sea” (Scottish smoked salmon and grilled sea bass), “The Field” (fingerling potato salad and a chanterelle mushroom tart), and “Autrement,” with Maryland lump crab gratin and grilled calamari. $169-269

Little Havana: If Cuban food and a first-rate view of fireworks feels like a perfect night, greet 2020 at Little Havana in South Baltimore. Snack on appetizers such as puerco fritas, or fill-up on a dinner buffet before getting drinks at the canopied open bar. All the while, jam to party band Bye Felicia. $85

Papi’s Tacos: A night of tacos, salted margaritas, and shiny party favors sounds like a New Year’s Eve well spent to us. Tickets to this Hampden bash include bottomless beer, wine, house margaritas, sangria, and Champagne. And what could be better than starting January with a quesadilla buffet at midnight? $50

Rye Street Tavern: Snag a table at this Port Covington destination to feast on a special three-course fixed menu. Special dishes will include a Wagyu beef tartare, red wine-braised short ribs, chef Andrew Carmellini’s famous fried chicken, and a classic Baked Alaska for two. $85

Wayward Smokehouse: Four words: mac and cheese bar. Need we say more? Head to this South Charles Street staple in Federal Hill to line your stomach with all-you-can-eat mac and cheese before taking advantage of the open bar from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. There will also be a photo booth, live DJ, and a Champagne toast. Another added perk? Guests in need of a hangover cure will receive 10 percent off of their checks at Wayward on New Year’s Day. $65

Cinghiale: New Year’s Eve at this Harbor East hotspot features a four-course modern Italian menu, party hats and favors, a sparkling toast at midnight, and a killer view of the fireworks display. Dishes to look our for include house-smoked swordfish crudo, wild boar bolognese, porcini-crusted monkfish, and prosecco cake with spiced plums. $99

Magdalena: Chef Mark Levy is pulling out all the stops at this Mount Vernon gem for the holiday. Diners will enjoy a four-course prix-fixe featuring chilled lobster salad, winter squash ravioli with sage, Beef Wellington, rack of Colorado lamb, and a salted caramel chocolate tart. $150

“Walk of Shame” Brunch at Topside: The team at this rooftop destination at Hotel Revival in Mount Vernon is hoping to make the often-brutal New Year’s Day hangovers a bit easier this year. Come in your pajamas, or the outfit you wore the night before (no judgement!), to take full advantage of a Bloody Mary bar, cold pizza, prosecco pops with Pedialyte, cocktails infused with vitamins and minerals, and more.

The Night Brunch NYE Party: The brains behind The Night Brunch are taking over the arcade at Lexington Market, transforming the food hall into an immersive New Year’s bash. Along with food stands from The Urban Oyster and Lexington Market favorites, the halls will get jazzed-up with decorations, lights, live DJs, and Instagrammable installations. The night will finish off with an ecstatic sequence of countdown, ball drop, and balloon drop. $40

Baltimore Blowouts

NYE Live! New Year’s Eve Baltimore: With nine bars and nightclubs, five gourmet buffets with classics such as crab cakes and jumbo shrimp, and four-hour all-inclusive drink packages, Power Plant Live! might keep you too distracted to notice the ball drop—although you’ll be able to follow the countdown on two 20-foot LED screens alongside live music and a laser light show. $95

Gatsby on the Harbor: If you’re waiting for a green light to party like it’s the roaring ’20s, head down to the edge of the water and wait no longer. Harbor East’s Marriott Waterfront Hotel will host this ball that is shaping up to be a monument to decadence—featuring several open bars and buffets, dazzling decorations, and a no-holds-barred midnight extravaganza that’ll be the talk of the town for a decade to come. $125

Charm City Countdown Charity Gala: Branded as Baltimore’s biggest balloon drop, this year’s Charm City Countdown will take place in an enchanted forest (inside the Hilton BWI Airport Hotel), with 12 party zones, specialty bars, a silent disco, heated outdoor lounges, and perhaps a touch of magic. Plus, funds raised will support the disability advocacy of nonprofit Caring Communities. $119

Sagamore Pendry: For an exclusive New Year’s Eve experience in the form of a double-gala, choose between either a Venetian masquerade or a winter wonderland, depending on your style. You won’t want to miss this gala at the Sagamore Pendry Hotel, and you certainly won’t want to miss the five-hour premium open bar. $33-500

The Lord Baltimore Hotel: We may be approaching a century since Prohibition began, but that doesn’t mean modern partygoers can’t enjoy the thrill of a speakeasy bash at the Lord Baltimore Hotel. But that’s not all—be sure to nab the two-person overnight package to enjoy a packed evening of celebration fit to ring in the ‘20s, with a Great Gatsby murder mystery dinner, hotel ghost tour, psychic readings, and a costume contest. $135-376

Loch Bar: Stay inside to watch the fireworks burst over the Inner Harbor with views from Loch Bar inside the Four Seasons Baltimore. Decked out with a ceiling covered in gold and silver balloons, the elevated event will offer a standing buffet with treats such as oysters Rockefeller and crab balls, an open bar, live music, and complimentary Champagne. $120-150

As it currently stands, Harborplace—the centerpiece of the Inner Harbor that has been plagued by a string of vacant vendors and a perceived general apathy among locals—is in a state of receivership. Essentially, this means that the IVL Group—currently managing Harborplace—is looking to stabilize the property, devise ways to jumpstart its development, and as an effect, regain the interest of tourists and residents alike.

There is no timeline for when such a project could happen, but that doesn’t mean that those in the city who are passionate about Harborplace are sitting idly by. Recently, the Baltimore division of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) put out a call for a competition they called Edge Harbor and City, which tasked entrants with coming up with workable plans to activate the harbor and its surrounding neighborhoods to create a sense of connectivity.

“It’s a very frustrating time,” says Waterfront Partnership president Laurie Schwartz. “While I’m usually very impatient, this is such a critical part of Baltimore and a key piece of Inner Harbor that it has to be done right. We’ve got to get it right this time.”

Within the many plans submitted to the AIA competition—which will be on display at the Baltimore Museum of Industry from October 24 to November 12—throughlines emerged, as those passionate about the city came together to envision a brighter future. Here are a few key takeaways from some of the plans:

RECREATION

Architect Kelly Danz and her co-entrant and college classmate Amanda Ganginis submitted a proposal based on recreation, namely transforming the water in and around the harbor into a space where people can congregate. Their project, titled “Permeable Futures,” creates opportunities for people to interact with experiential waterways that are essentially inlets. They would flow from Conway Street to Camden Yards, into Power Plant Live, near the Science Center and Rash Field, and into McKeldin Plaza. Danz and Gangins also propose a revamped visitor’s center and a food hall similar to the newly renovated Cross Street Market.

“We are catering to residents first,” Danz says. We wanted it to be a place where city residents are going to come.”

NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIVITY

In fact, many participants in the competition view Harborplace as an area that feels detached from other parts of the city. Ryan Pfarr and a team at local firm CannonDesign are using what they call “bridges and stitches” to create opportunities for residents living in all parts of the city.

“I don’t know that people really feel the impact of what is occurring in the Inner Harbor right now,” he says. “There are some great things going on down there. It just doesn’t touch other parts of Baltimore.”

CannonDesign’s long-term proposal, “Stitch,” focuses specifically on the Jones Falls Valley, analyzing ways to utilize greenways that connect people to the harbor.

“We wanted to stitch across the valley and bring certain neighborhoods that have more and less development together and bridge that gap for the city,” Pfarr says. The plans also call for more bike paths and pedestrian walkways.

Vendor activation is another way to bring in residents from all walks of life. Pfarr is in favor of front-facing shops that are inviting and fill the edges of the complex a bit more.

ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION

Another important aspect to consider with these projects is the rising sea levels that are inevitable due to global warming. Any proposal of big change will have to take this into account, and these projects have.

Pfarr’s team researched weather patterns and water fluctuation in its designs, while Morgan State University associate professor Samia Rab Kirchner and her students in the school of Architecture and Planning submitted a proposal entitled “Transect 7,” where three different “interventions” (which Kirchner describes as pedestrian pathways) would be installed to better connect neighborhoods and prepare for the changing climate.

“Water is not an edge,” Kirchner says. “It flows from upper ground to lower ground. The more barriers we put in front of it, the more devastating the effect.”

The Morgan State team also placed its emphasis along Jones Falls with three suggested interventions in Cylburn, Station North, and the Inner Harbor. At the Station North bridge, there would be a canoe stop that would allow residents to take an alternate mode of transport to the Inner Harbor as a solution to combat environmental emissions.

As Kirchner sees it, the water is there—it’s just a matter of rerouting it to benefit the city and its residents.

“It’s not creating new waterways,” she says. “It’s connecting to the old waterways that are running but are inaccessible. We believe that having access to water is a right.”

Most Baltimoreans are familiar with McKeldin Square and the fountain that once inhabited it, but they might not know who exactly former governor and two-time mayor of Baltimore Theodore McKeldin was. Now, with phase two of a renovation project over a decade in the making, Downtown Partnership and city, state, and private sector collaborators are going to fix that.

“We want people to take away some recognition of why it’s named after McKeldin,” says Kirby Fowler, president of Downtown Partnership of Baltimore. “That’s something you weren’t able to achieve previously.”

The deconstruction several years ago of the fountain and adjacent plaza—an example of Brutalist architecture with water-lit prisms amid concrete walkways—was not without controversy. Finished in 1982, shortly after the opening of Inner Harbor, it was named after McKeldin who had first proposed redeveloping Baltimore’s previously downtrodden waterfront in 1963.

Creating an open space in an area that doesn’t have a lot of them was a priority for Fowler and his team. It’s here that people will be able to gather to take in a new misting water feature—a nod to the fountain that was a centerpiece at the square until it was demolished in 2016—that will light up with Ravens purple or Orioles orange in season.

And while they’re there, visitors will be able to learn a little about the city’s history, as a sitting wall will be installed with a quote from McKeldin etched in. There will also be signs elaborating on McKeldin’s history as a champion for civil rights and development throughout the city. “We like to refer to history and not forget it as we develop sites,” Fowler says.

Of course, the driving force of this redevelopment is its namesake, and Governor McKeldin’s surviving family members couldn’t be more thrilled of the city’s choice to honor the patriarchal figure.

“We were very supportive of how they wanted to honor his legacy and vision for a transformed Inner Harbor,” says Caroline Wayner, McKeldin’s granddaughter. “It’s a stellar example of public and private groups working together to make something positive happen for Baltimore.”

Indeed, McKeldin was an instrumental figure in the vision planning for the Inner Harbor. So it is perhaps fitting that the square is in the midst of a strategic beautification project.

“It’s a very nice tribute to my father,” says McKeldin’s son, Ted. “This is much more open and and available to the public.”

Fowler sees the revamped McKeldin Square as part of a larger initiative, one that sees smaller urban spaces spread across the city. The first phase of the $4 million project laid the foundation for phase two, which includes the water feature and historical marking. It’s expected to be completed by the end of the year, as Downtown Partnership unveils a new jewel in the downtown area.

“We are so deeply appreciative,” Caroline says. “My grandfather would be very honored and thrilled that people still care about the Inner Harbor and downtown—about bringing life to it and keeping it a vibrant, positive, and safe place.”

Typically, New Year’s Eve goes one of two ways. Either you keep it casual and watch the ball drop from the comfort of someone’s living room or you dress to the nines and head out for an extravagant evening on the town. But part of the beauty of being in Baltimore on December 31 is that there are plenty of opportunities to do something that falls somewhere in between.

If you want to go out without getting too fancy, you can hit up a neighborhood bar or head to a concert at an intimate venue. Or, if the goal is to do something outside of the box, there’s even a dog-themed dance party and a Divine-inspired fête.

From dinners and dance parties to open-bar bashes and big she-bangs, here are our picks for the best ways to ring in 2019.

PUB PARTIES

One Star Country Club

This Federal Hill favorite is known to get rowdy after an Orioles or Ravens win, and we can only imagine the energy will be exactly the same when the clock strikes twelve. One Star is inviting revelers to pregame for the big moment with a premium open bar from 9-10 p.m. for $10. Afterwords, enjoy a complimentary champagne toast at midnight and cash bar until 2 a.m. 38 E. Cross St. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $5-15

Sir Duke Bar & Liquor Store

The drinks will be flowing at this artsy Fells Point hangout, which is opening all three bars for a two-floor dance party with DJs spinning all night. Attendees who buy tickets early will be able to roll up and skip the line when they arrive. 701 S. Bond St. 9 p.m.-4 a.m. $10

The Chasseur

Head up to the third-floor skybar at this Canton corner spot to ring in 2019 with friends and neighbors. Admission to The Chassuer’s annual party includes passed hors d’oeuvres, party favors (who doesn’t love a shiny headband?), and plenty of bubbly at midnight. 3328 Foster Ave. 10 p.m.-1 a.m. $40

Hair of the Dog

South Baltimore watering hole Hair of the Dog is pulling an all-nighter with festivities running until 8 a.m. on New Year’s Day. The main event begins at 9 p.m. with $40 open-bar access that includes live music spun by DJ Eden, and a full-blown buffet by chef Kenya Butler. The spot will open to the public at 1 a.m., and keep the party going until sunrise. 1649 S. Hanover St. 9 p.m.-8 a.m. $40

Alexander’s Tavern

Alexander’s in Fells Point is going all out with bottomless eats and drinks from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Line your stomach with buffet fare like crab dip, soft pretzels, gourmet pizzas, signature tots, and mac and cheese while indulging in open bar access all night. 710 S. Broadway. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. $65

MIDNIGHT MUSIC

Big Vibe NYE 2018 at The Crown
Mr. 14th, D.K. the Punisher, and other surprise guest performers will be providing the soundtrack for this New Year’s Eve rager. Take advantage of the positive energy and start your year on a high note at The Crown, which is offering pay-what-you-want tickets until the night of the event. The Crown. 1910 N. Charles St. 9 p.m.-3 a.m. $5-10 at the door.

New Queer’s Eve at the Windup Space
Say goodbye to 2018 at this all-night show spotlighting bands from the local LGBTQ community. The lineup features favorites like experimental rockers Joseph & The Beasts, Manners Manners, Sybling, and Dreambush. The Windup Space. 12 W. North Ave. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. $10

A Mobtown New Year’s Eve
The annual soiree at Mobtown Ballroom in Pigtown will begin with cocktails and live jazz before guests make their way to the dance floor for Sarah Sullivan and the Honey Guzzlers. Other live entertainment throughout the evening will include burlesque performances and post-midnight DJ music. 861 Washington Blvd. 7 p.m. $50

2 K9 TEEN: BROS New Year’s Eve Bash
A group of Baltimore greats—including Outcalls, DJ Pancakes, and Joe Keyes and the Late Bloomer Band—are set to take the stage at this dog-themed dance party hosted by the Baltimore Rock Opera Society (BROS). In between the tail-wagging sets, BROS members will be performing their best tricks for (human) treats. Ottobar. 2549 N. Howard St. 9 p.m. $20

NYE Soul Train ’69 at the Creative Alliance
It might be 2019 at midnight, but the Creative Alliance is hosting this funk-fueled bash for anyone who wants to travel back in time 50 years. Get down to Motown jams by DJ Landis Expandis, DJ Rob Macy, and The Jonathan Gilmore Experience, who will be covering James Brown, The Supremes, and everything in between. Creative Alliance. 3134 Eastern Ave. 8:30 p.m.-3 a.m. $30-35

Better Off Dead New Year’s Eve Bash

Rock out to familiar Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia anthems with local tribute band Better Off Dead at The 8 x 10. An opening set by progressive funk collective Squaring the Circle will get the party started off right. The 8 x 10. 10 E. Cross St. 8 p.m.-1:30 a.m. $30

FIREWORKS FESTIVITIES

Baltimore’s New Year’s Eve Spectacular
Gather around the Inner Harbor Amphitheater for live music and dance performances before the annual fireworks display at midnight. The nearby Pandora Ice Rink will be open until 12:30 a.m. for those hoping to catch the show while practicing their triple axel tricks. Inner Harbor. 9 p.m.- 12:30 a.m. Free

Wit & Wisdom

It’s going to be a bittersweet evening at this seven-year-old staple inside the Four Seasons Baltimore in Harbor East. New Year’s Eve marks the restaurant’s final night of service as it prepares to transition into a new concept, but it’s going out with a bang. Enjoy light bites and a ringside seat to the fireworks show while toasting Wit’s run. 200 International Drive. 8:30 p.m. $250

Minnow
Not only is this Riverside seafood spot offering a Mediterranean-inspired prix-fixe menu on New Year’s Eve, but it’s also hosting a rooftop soiree for guests who have other dinner plans. The party starts with hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine in the bar at 10 p.m., followed by a trip up to the roof just before midnight to watch the fireworks light up the sky. 2 E. Wells St. 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m. $60

Vida Taco Bar

Vida is celebrating its first-ever New Year’s Eve in Harbor Point accordingly with all-you-can-eat street tacos, oysters, shrimp, ceviche, crudite, and more. There will also be an open bar (with plenty of tequila) and live music by DJ Rolo. The best part? The spot is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows with killer views of the Inner Harbor fireworks. 1401 Point St. 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m. $100-125

Constellation Deck Party

Climb aboard the Inner Harbor’s USS Constellation for unlimited gourmet eats, picture-perfect views of the fireworks, and, of course, plenty of bubbly to go around at midnight. Pier 1, E. Pratt St. $25-85

BAR-HOPPING BASHES

Barcocina and Bond Street Social
Hop back and forth between these sister spots overlooking the water in Fells Point. A $40 ticket includes admission to both bars, passed bites, noisemakers, and a champagne toast at midnight. 1629 Thames St. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $40

NYE: Charles Street Block Party
South Charles Street neighbors Bandito’s, Wayward, and 101 Baltimore are hosting this joint celebration in Federal Hill. Dance your way into the New Year at all three bars, which will offer three-hour open bar access and plenty of light fare to keep you going well past midnight. “Fast Pass” ticket options are available for those who want to jump the lines. 1117-1118 S. Charles St. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. $79

New Year’s Eve at Tagliata, The Elk Room, and Italian Disco
The cluster of Atlas Restaurant Group concepts on Fleet Street in Harbor East are coming together to throw one massive party. Wander around to enjoy piano music at Tagliata, a full jazz band at The Elk Room, and live DJ entertainment at Italian Disco—which will also air the Times Square ball drop on its big screens. All of the eateries will offer bottomless eats and drinks. 1012 Fleet St. 7 p.m.-3 a.m. $175

NYE: Live 2019
Make your way around 10 different bars inside Power Plant Live to take advantage of all-inclusive eats and drinks with live music at each venue. The downtown nightlife district is also hosting an epic countdown with lasers, confetti, and tons of balloons. 34 Market Place. 9 p.m. $95

FANCY FOOD

A Divine Pretty in Pink New Year’s Eve at Encantada
The whimsical restaurant inside the American Visionary Art Museum is dedicating its New Year’s bash to the legendary Divine with pops of pink, a themed buffet, and open bar access. There will also be a live DJ, photo booth, and Divine impersonator to make it a New Year’s Eve for the books. 800 Key Highway. 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. $130

Charleston

Treat yourself to an elegant, prix-fixe meal prepared by chef Cindy Wolf at this waterfront destination in Harbor East. The restaurant is offering two seatings, both including four savory courses and dessert. 1000 Lancaster St. 5:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. $149-319

La Cuchara

Chef Ben Lefenfeld is whipping up a four-course, Basque-inspired meal with dishes such as bluefin tuna crudo, duck magret with huckleberry jus, rockfish with heirloom carrots, and banana rum cake with coconut buttercream. 3600 Clipper Mill Rd, Ste. 125. 5 p.m.-12 a.m. $99

Cosima
Before those New Year’s resolutions go into effect, spend your final meal of 2018 eating Italian comfort foods at this Woodberry restaurant. Chef Donna Crivello’s special menu highlights roasted butternut squash bisque with duck confit, stuffed branzino with lobster couscous, porcini-crusted tenderloin, and a chocolate chestnut cake with sweet mascarpone. 3000 Falls Rd. $100-135

Chez Hugo
A seven-course menu of innovative French fare is in store for diners at this downtown bistro. The meal will begin with crab cakes and sunchoke hummus before chef Steve Monnier moves on to serve carrot tartare with radishes and sorrel, halibut in gremolata butter, and duck breast with persimmon jam. 206 E. Redwood St. 5-11 p.m. $85

Gertrude’s Chesapeake Kitchen
Chef John Shields’ 20-year-old favorite at the Baltimore Museum of Art is taking on a supper club vibe for the big night, offering two seatings at 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Both will include vegan and vegetarian options, and live jazz and guitar music. Dishes to look out for include lobster bisque, baked wild oysters, rockfish imperial, seafood linguine, and chocolate toffee crunch pie. 10 Art Museum Drive, 5 p.m.-12 a.m. $49-95

Rye Street Tavern
Foodies will flock to this Port Covington party featuring buffet fare around every corner. Spend the final hours of 2018 indulging in endless passed canapes, fried chicken, carved meats, and raw bar favorites. Rye Street is even devoting an entire room to desserts. Other highlights will include live music and a champagne toast overlooking the water at midnight. 13 Rye St. 7 p.m.-1:30 p.m. $140

BIG BLOWOUTS

New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball at the Sagamore Pendry

Throw on a vintage mask and head to the luxury hotel on Broadway Pier in Fells Point for a Venetian-themed evening. Sip unlimited drinks, snack on light bites, and dance in the historic ballroom before watching the fireworks blast over the water. 1715 Thames St. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $139

New Year’s Eve Party and 90th Birthday Bash at the Lord Baltimore
To celebrate its 90th birthday, the Lord Baltimore Hotel is paying homage to its roots with a live swing band in the historic Calvert Ballroom. The combined birthday and New Year’s Eve celebration will also feature a spread of oysters and hors d’oeuvres, as well as holiday cocktails and French sparkling wine at midnight. A portion of all ticket proceeds will benefit the Baltimore National Heritage Area. 20 W. Baltimore St. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $75

The Bygone Ball
There’s nothing quite like the panoramic views from the 29th floor of the Four Seasons Baltimore. Bygone will be celebrating in style with a black-tie ball offering premium open bar service, and a standing buffet with caviar, raw bar staples, and a meat-carving station. 400 International Drive, 29th floor. 7 p.m.-3 a.m. $375

Charm City Countdown: Midnight in Hollywood
Pose for cameras on the red carpet before entering this massive affair at the Hilton Baltimore in Linthicum. Equipped with 12 different party areas—including its own silent disco—the Los Angeles-inspired blowout will feature unlimited eats and drinks, five regional DJs, and a festive balloon drop at midnight. A portion of proceeds will benefit local charities CityFam and Caring Communities. Hilton Baltimore BWI. 1739 W. Nursery Rd. Linthicum Heights. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. $109

It’s a typical summer afternoon at the Inner Harbor, with ambient music emanating from the National Aquarium and pigeons strutting along the Baltimore Waterfront Promenade—but over at the Living Classrooms Foundation dock, a crowd of kids and their parents sway in excitement, mirroring the pint-size pirate ships they’re about to board.

Through November, swashbucklers can live out fantasies of sailing the seven seas with the Pirate Ships of Baltimore, a new 12-ship armada decked out with solar-powered motors, mini crow’s nests, and decorative cannons. The half-hour ride offers panoramic views of local landmarks including the Domino Sugars sign and the starboard side of the Chesapeake.

The fleet, which is owned and operated by Living Classrooms, is the first attraction to open at the Inner Harbor in five years and joins the organization’s iconic Chessie Dragon paddleboats for locals and visitors to explore the city by water. Designed by Baltimore-based manufacturer Premier Rides, the fiberglass ships, which hold six buccaneers each, are powered by lithium-ion batteries that use solar energy to cruise along the water for $25-35 per trip.

During the summer, Living Classrooms’ floating attractions employ more than 50 local teens and young adults, who pick up nautical know-how in addition to business skills. Darius Dickey, who oversees maintenance at the dock and has worked with the organization for the past six years, says it’s the kind of opportunity the city’s youth need during the summer.

“It keeps young people out of trouble,” Dickey says, “keeping them off the streets, having them on the right path. It makes them want to work and strive for something better.” As of late June, more than 700 riders have set sail on the pirate ships since the dock opened. “It’s easy for us to see the water from the city,” says Chris Rowsom, vice president of Heritage Programs for Living Classrooms, “but to see the city from the water is pretty cool.”

Baltimore was making a bad impression. John Kellett was sure of that. Walking to his job as the director of the Baltimore Maritime Museum, his path took him across the footbridge connecting Harbor East and Pier Six. And most days, the Jones Falls flowing underneath looked like a conveyor belt of trash, full of debris sucked downstream from the river’s 40-square-mile watershed.

As an environmental scientist, marine educator, shipwright, sailor, and general Chesapeake Bay-niac, Kellett knew better than most how fouled local waterways were. But it still pained him to see the region’s economic and cultural anchor so degraded. And he could tell that others noticed, too.

“Every day, I’d hear the tourists say, ‘Ugh, this harbor is full of trash. It’s disgusting,’” he recalls, now more than a decade removed from this galvanizing moment. “And I actually called the city and said, ‘We have to do something about this.’ And they said, ‘Well, we’re open to ideas.’”

In truth, the city was trying to do something. It’s just that its efforts weren’t particularly effective. A boom had been installed at the mouth of the Jones Falls to corral debris. But every time it rained, trash would overwhelm the boom and escape into the harbor. Once the trash was in the harbor, the city would sometimes send out trash-skimming boats. But these boats were able to gather only a small fraction of the trash at a time, and they required human operators, making them costly to run.

There had to be a better way, Kellett reasoned, so he began brainstorming. Then he hit upon an idea so simple that he couldn’t believe it hadn’t been tried before.

“All you really need to do is get the trash out of the water and put it somewhere where it can be transported,” he explains. “So it sort of dawned on me that we could use the flow of the river that brings the trash as the power to pick the trash out of the river. And that’s where the idea of the waterwheel came from.”

Twelve years and a few pairs of googly eyes later, Kellett’s crude waterwheel idea has begat three lean, green, trash-collecting machines known to Baltimoreans as Mr. Trash Wheel, Professor Trash Wheel, and Captain Trash Wheel. Stationed throughout the Inner Harbor at the outflows of the Jones Falls, Harris Creek, and a stream in Masonville Cove, respectively, these contraptions function much as Kellett envisioned: Booms funnel trash toward the “mouth” of the machine while the current, supplemented by solar-powered motors, turns a wheel. Power from the wheel then activates a conveyor belt, which, in turn, slowly lifts the trash out of the water and drops it into a dumpster. The trash is then transported by the city and burned in the incinerator, generating electricity. It’s remarkably low-tech—and remarkably effective. Collectively, the trash wheels have removed more than 859 tons of trash from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor since 2014.

But what Kellett couldn’t envision when he conceived of the trash wheels was just what a source of fascination they would become. Thanks to savvy marketing and the public’s hunger for environmental success stories, the machines have attracted the kind of following usually reserved for human celebrities—or at least Apple products.

Besides glowing coverage in outlets ranging from NPR and National Geographic to Business Insider and Gizmodo, the trash wheels have accrued tens of thousands of followers on their various social media accounts. Additionally, they have inspired two local beers, several novelty T-shirts (“Stay Trashy, Baltimore,” “Feel the Churn”), a holiday sweatshirt (“Trashing Through the Snow”), a theme song, and, as of this spring, an official do-gooding fan club (The Order of the Wheel). In short, they have become the region’s most unlikely aquatic icons since soft-shell crabs.

“It’s kind of become a national and international sensation, which is not what I expected,” admits Kellett, a 55-year-old father of two with a laconic drawl and steely blue eyes. “I thought, ‘Hey, we’re going to clean up Baltimore Harbor and try to make a difference right here.’ It’s sort of like, ‘Act locally, think globally’—although I wasn’t even thinking globally. I had global thinking thrust upon me.”

Most days, you can find John Kellett puttering around Locust Cove Marina, the tiny boatyard he and his wife, Pamela, co-own in Pasadena. Here, amongst the clutter of boats, trailers, and assorted spare parts, is the headquarters of Clearwater Mills, the company Kellett founded soon after his a-ha moment in 2006. These days, business is booming. There is talk of a fourth trash wheel for the city, to be stationed where the Gywnns Falls empties into the Middle Branch of the Patapsco. And beyond Baltimore, there are projects brewing in locales from New York City to Newport Beach, California.

But Kellett acknowledges that arriving at this point was not easy. After his initial flash of inspiration, he constructed a six-foot-long working model that he tested in the Inner Harbor. He invited employees from then-mayor Martin O’Malley’s office and the Department of Public Works out to see it, and they agreed it had potential.

“So it sort of dawned on me that we could use the flow of the river that brings the trash as the power to pick the trash out of the river.”

“They looked at it and said, ‘Yeah, it’s a pretty cool idea, but since it has never been done before, we don’t feel like we can finance an experiment,’” Kellett recalls. So Kellett went in search of funding, landing in front of Bob Embry, president of the Abell Foundation, the area’s largest private foundation with a focus on funding local projects. A meeting with Embry went well, although Kellett wasn’t so sure at first. “I thought he was thoroughly unimpressed, but, the next day, I got a call saying, ‘We’d like to work it out so we can finance your idea.’”

Behind his poker face, Embry says he saw the project as “an appealing experiment” with “the potential to be marketed to other cities.” He offered Kellett $375,000 to build a prototype with the agreement that, if it were successful, the city would purchase it and the Abell Foundation would recoup its investment.

Kellett and his business partner, Daniel Chase, built the first full-scale trash wheel in six months, producing a 32-foot-long contraption with the machine’s inner workings concealed underneath a shed-like structure.

It made its inauspicious debut in the Jones Falls in February 2008. “The prototype didn’t receive a tremendous amount of attention,” Kellett remembers. “People thought it was kind of interesting, but they didn’t think it was any big deal.”

Included in the not “any big deal” camp were some members of city government, who felt that the trash wheel was underperforming and unreliable. Kellett, meanwhile, argued it was performing admirably, given that it was handling approximately four times more trash than had been anticipated.

After eight months, the city relocated the trash wheel to the outflow of the Harris Creek in Canton—a move Kellett likened to putting it out to pasture—and a years-long tussle about its efficacy ensued.

Kellett refers to this time as “the lean years.” Still, he never lost faith in his invention. And he had some key allies in his corner.

Among those allies was the team at Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, a nonprofit that promotes the Inner Harbor and its adjacent neighborhoods.

“They said, ‘This machine is doing a great job. We’ve never seen the harbor cleaner. We want a waterwheel back at Jones Falls,’” Kellett recalls. So in 2013, armed with lessons learned from the prototype and $750,000 in funding from various public and private sources—including Waterfront Partnership—Kellett and Chase set out to reinvent the trash wheel. (Waterfront Partnership owns and operates both Mr. Trash Wheel and Professor Trash Wheel. Captain Trash Wheel is owned and operated by the Maryland Port Administration.) They added more heft (wooden and plastic dock floats were replaced by steel pontoons), more solar panels (three panels ballooned to 30), and, with the help of Ziger/Snead Architects, adopted a sleeker, more eye-catching design. Gone was the Unabomber cabin-ish garden shed. The new model was all exoskeleton, a primitivism that somehow read as futuristic.

On May 9, 2014, the new-and-improved trash wheel went into the Jones Falls next to Pier Six. Two weeks later, it was famous.

Adam Lindquist just wanted to make a little video. As director of Waterfront Partnership’s Healthy Harbor Initiative, Lindquist leads efforts to make the Inner Harbor swimmable and fishable by 2020, and he wanted his family and friends to see his newest pollution-fighting tool. So on May 16, 2014, he climbed aboard the trash wheel and filmed a short clip of it in action.

“I put it up on my YouTube page, and over the course of a week, that video went to number one on Reddit and received over a million views,” Lindquist says, still incredulous four years later. “It was at that point that we realized that we need to do something more to capture the viral nature of the device.”

Waterfront Partnership solicited ideas from local marketing agencies. One firm, What Works, suggested anthropomorphizing the trash wheel and giving it a Twitter account. One of the company’s then-employees assumed the Mr. Trash Wheel persona, and on July 15, 2014, Mr. Trash Wheel sent his first tweet: “I love it when kayakers come visit me in the Harbor! Just don’t get too close or you could end up in my belly!” (Since 2015, Robyn Stegman has been the voice of Mr. Trash Wheel. She now voices Professor Trash Wheel, too.)

The feeds provide a steady stream of water quality factoids, silly memes (Mr. Trash Wheel wielded a lightsaber on Star Wars Day), and cheerfully irreverent asides (“Do people really still drink diet root beer? If you’re going to litter, please send something tastier.”)

And, occasionally, internet gold just falls into their laps.

Headlines ensued after the trash wheel picked up a live ball python in August 2015. A few months later, a drawing of the trash wheel sporting a pair of googly eyes proved so popular that Waterfront Partnership added the peepers to the actual machine. In 2017, inspired by the snake incident, Peabody Heights Brewery created Mr. Trash Wheel’s Lost Python Ale, with proceeds benefiting the Healthy Harbor Initiative.

On May 9, 2014, the new-and-improved trash wheel went into the Jones Falls next to Pier Six. Two weeks later, it was famous.

“We keep thinking, ‘Oh, we’ve got our 15 minutes of fame,’” says Kellett, “But we’ve had that like a dozen times. You never know where it’s going to come from.”

With each new round of publicity comes another chance to raise money, discourage pollution, and improve water quality.

Waterfront Partnership keeps a running tally of the debris collected by the wheels on its website. So far, the machines have munched more than 10 million cigarette butts, 796,214 polystyrene cups, and 852,261 chip bags—among other items.

Having such exact data has been useful for policymakers, says Del. Brooke Lierman, who represents much of waterfront Baltimore in the 46th District and has spent the past two legislative sessions championing a statewide ban of expanded polystyrene foam food containers. Though a statewide ban has yet to pass, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Baltimore City have approved local bans.

“The trash wheels make understanding the amount of trash more accessible. . . . That is an important part of proving to skeptical policymakers that there’s a real need to act,” says Lierman.

Because the trash wheels are such effective anti-littering ambassadors, there is a small chance that they could one day render themselves obsolete. Until then though, Kellett and others are happy to have them.

“To see the trash come down the river . . . and realize that before this machine was in, that trash would have been scattered around the harbor,” Kellet says. “That’s really rewarding.”

The many free attractions created and organized for the third annual Light City didn’t stop locals and tourists from spending their money in Baltimore. Baltimore Office of Promotion and The Arts (BOPA) announced today that the light, music, and innovation festival brought about $33.5 million into the city.

That economic impact came from approximinately 442,500 nighttime visitors to the Inner Harbor, including a record-breaking estimated 175,000 who headed downtown on opening night.

“The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts brought the magic of Light City to more than 38 neighborhoods before we opened the festival at the Inner Harbor,” said Roz Healy, BOPA’s interim CEO. “We are thrilled that Light City has been embraced so wholeheartedly by visitors and residents alike.”

By comparison, last year’s festival contributed more than $44 million to the local economy (a $10 million increase from its inaugural year) and an estimated 470,000 visitors.

Artists looking to get their work in front of those approximately 885,000 pairs of eyes next year should start brainstorming now. The call for entry for Light City 2019, set for April 5-13, is now open, and BOPA offers grants of $10,000-75,000 to fully fund pieces for the festival’s Art Walk. About 25 temporary visual light art installations from local, national, and international works will eventually be chosen from the hundreds of applicants.

Finalists will be chosen by a panel of jurors including filmmaker, curator, and author Elissa Blount-Moorhead; Marcus Civin of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Department of Art; Burning Man Director of Art & Civic Engagement Kim Cook; Signal Prague Light Festival co-founder Jan K. Rolnik; and Jess Wilcox, Director of Exhibitions of the Socrates Sculpture Park in New York. Finalists will be notified in late October, and participating works will be chosen in December.

What can attendees expect from the new pieces? The prompt calls for works that exemplify the core values of collaboration, social innovation, technology, sustainability, audience engagement and accessibility, and transformational impact. How those ideas manage to light up the Inner Harbor is up to the artists.

Since 1977, the Inner Harbor’s Fourth of July Celebration has illuminated the Baltimore Waterfront and elicited oohs and ahhs from city onlookers. Read up on fun facts about the show in time for this year’s fireworks spectacular.

Top Places to Celebrate

Oregon Ridge Park: On July 3, head to Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville to hear the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra perform family-friendly favorites and traditional patriotic scores in honor of Independence Day. Once the sun sets, watch as a dazzling fireworks display lights up the night sky.

Sandlot: This waterfront oasis in Harbor Point is the perfect spot to sip on frozen cocktails and dip your toes in the sand while taking in the big-bang show. Starting at 4 p.m., Sandlot will feature live music from Speakers of the House and DJ Neil Paul, as well as special games leading up to the fireworks. Plus, there will be a tap and can takeover by Dogfish Head Brewing and a menu of Fourth of July favorites like hamburgers, hot dogs, and stadium nachos. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids.

Wit & Wisdom: The restaurant inside Four Seasons Baltimore will host a family-friendly evening with dinner, live entertainment, an on-site snowball machine, and an unparalleled view of the Inner Harbor fireworks.

L.P. Steamers: Grab a brown paper-covered table on the roof deck of this Locust Point staple for a picturesque view, as well as plenty of steamed crabs and Natty Bohs.

Canton Waterfront Park: Bring your own snacks, drinks, and lawn chairs to this neighborhood park for a panoramic vantage point to watch the fireworks sparkling over the harbor.

American Visionary Art Museum: On the morning of the Fourth of July, join hundreds of pet owners and their four-legged friends to watch animals of all shapes and sizes compete for prizes such as most patriotic, visionary pet tricks, and least likely to succeed.

Despite chilly temperatures, hundreds of people gathered in the Inner Harbor Tuesday night to take in the sights and sounds of Light City Baltimore. As soon as the sun set and the exhibitions came to life against the night sky, visitors of all ages—bundled in jackets and scarves and clutching cups of hot chocolate to keep warm—explored the fourth night of the three-week-long free arts and innovation festival.
 

Riverside resident Laura Knapp, who has attended Light City since the inaugural festival in 2016, said she’s enjoyed watching the event grow from a few installations scattered near the waterfront to a citywide event.
 

“I really like how many neighborhood exhibitions they had this year and that they’re growing that,” she said. “It’s a fun way for people to walk around the city together in places where they might not normally.”
 

While there was a steady stream of people snapping pictures of the multicolored exhibits, grabbing eats from local vendors and food trucks, and riding through downtown in Fireflies’ illuminated pedicabs, many said they waited until mid-week to visit the Light Art Walk to avoid lines or congestion around the attractions. 

Angela Montgomery, who started her first Light City experience by stargazing at the Solar Power/Solar System installation, said she and her group of friends wanted to beat the weekend crowds by coming on Tuesday night.  

“But it’s great that it gets people down to the city,” said Montgomery, who lives in Franklintown. “And it gives them a way to experience art in a way they haven’t before.”  

The night was packed with entertainment, from performances by the Cristo Rey Jesuit step team and Washington, D.C.-based band The Loving Paupers to a set by WTMD’s Sam Sessa on the Club Light City stage. At Pier 5, next to 400 inflatable swim rings floating in the harbor for The Herd installation, Baltimore’s beloved avant-garde group, Fluid Movement, performed a Herdling March for onlookers while wearing the blowup art pieces and flashing bulbs on their heads.  

Kathy Carducci, who lives in Locust Point and attended the event with her daughter, said events like Light City bring people from surrounding areas to Baltimore and are a great way to promote the city.  

“I love it. I never want to live anywhere else,” said Carducci. “I think it’s an awesome city and it’s been getting a bad rap lately, so I hope events like this help turn that around.”
 
 
 
 
 

While most of the 21 sculptures that will line the Inner Harbor for the Light City Art Walk this weekend are flashy, multicolored installations, Baltimore’s Post Typography team chose to be more minimalistic in their approach—so much so, that passersby might not even notice the piece if they’re not paying attention.

Spearheaded by Post Typography cofounder Bruce Willen, artists at the Baltimore-based design agency veered slightly from their traditional medium of graphic design to create a light installation for the event, something the team had wanted to do since the festival started in Baltimore three years ago.

Two hundred light bulbs will be completely submerged in the harbor at various depths for their piece, “Some Thing in the Water,” which measures roughly 33,000 square feet.

“Once the lights are four to five feet down, you don’t even see them anymore,” Willen points out, also noting that the water quality varies from day to day, which will alter the piece along with it.

They used the murky water to their advantage.

Diffused blue lights, strung together with about six miles of wire, will glow from beneath the surface, giving the work an organic feel, as if it were a mysterious underwater creature—perhaps a giant luminescent jellyfish, Willen suggests, that appears to be breathing. The lights are programmed to blink, dim, and brighten so that at times they appear more energetic and frenzied, and at times there are quieter, more contemplative periods, like a symphony’s movements.

On that note, the piece will be set to an ambient soundtrack, created by Willen, who is also one half of the instrumental duo Peals.

Post Typography collaborated with PI.KL Studio architects for the project, and Figure 53 provided technical assistance, both of which are based in Baltimore.

Find “Some Thing in the Water,” stop No. 35 on the tour map, near the Pier 5 Hotel Baltimore, across from the National Aquarium. Listen to an audio tour of their piece by dialing 410-934-7821 and entering art installation code 14.

“A lot of the other pieces are more about the lights themselves,” Willen says. “We wanted to activate a space in the harbor—to actually activate the water itself as a medium. We wanted to take the harbor—the reason Baltimore exists—and use that as the canvas for the viewers’ imaginations.”

With the theme “More Lights, More Love,” Light City Baltimore will expand from two to three weekends this year. The art and music festival presented by the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA) is held primarily on Baltimore’s waterfront and highlights social innovation by way of the arts—large-scale art installations that light up the evenings, alongside live music and pop-up performances.

“This is a unique festival in the sense that the art is supposed to elucidate and illuminate social issues,” says Verna Myers, representing the Light City leadership council at a press conference today. “Art is awesome because it helps us to see things differently.”

The three-part event kicks off with Neighborhood Lights from April 6-8, continues with the Light City art and music festival from April 14-21, and concludes with Labs@LightCity from April 18-21.

Perhaps the most obvious signal that the event is in full swing will be the BGE Light Art Walk along the Inner Harbor’s promenade, showcasing 21 light-based installations made by artists from across the world. Tom Dekyvere’s glowing Elantica will be an off-the-grid sculpture replica of Earth, made from solar panels and electronic waste. Another piece will explore human relationships by way of interactive light and sound. Another will serve to illustrate—through a moving, patterned surface on the ground—that color is made up in our minds.

Beyond the Inner Harbor, Neighborhood Lights showcases various cultural pockets in the city during its own weekend this year. The collaborative artist-in-residence program has grown from five communities in its first year to eight in its second and now 14: Belair-Edison, Bromo Tower Arts and Entertainment District, Darley Park, Federal Hill, Baybrook (Brooklyn and Curtis Bay), Remington, Hamilton-Lauraville, Highlandtown, Hollins Roundhouse/Southwest Baltimore, Little Italy, Locust Point, Patterson Park, Pigtown, and Waverly. Artists are paired with community organizers to create site-specific work that reflects the personality of Baltimore’s neighborhoods.

New this year, self-guided audio tours of the BGE Light Art Walk and Neighborhood Lights installations will be available through a quick phone call.

Also new, the Labs@LightCity conference at IMET Columbus Center will be pay-what-you-can. The “labs”—HealthLab, GreenLab, EduLab, SocialLab, ArtLab, MakerLab, and FoodLab—put local voices alongside nationally known ones to discuss ideas and innovations that will take our world forward into the future. These guided conversations will explore focused themes, such as the role of education in society, greening our cities, and how art can create change. Speakers include Art Smith, DeRay Mckesson, Aaron Maybin, Sonja Sohn, Shanti Das, and many more.

Music performances at the Inner Harbor Amphitheater and Kaufman Pavilion by Rash Field, as well as pop-up performances—illuminated hula hooping, stilt-walking, caroling, dance, and puppets—will round out the event. Acts will include DJ Grandmaster Flash, G. Love and Special Sauce, Trillnatured, and Outcalls.

Also not to be missed: A drone race will bring drone league racers from across the U.S. to compete in a light installation that doubles as an obstacle course.

What’s your role in the organization? I am the Director of Advocacy and the Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper, so I run our waterkeeper program. I started full-time in January.

What’s a waterkeeper? Overall, a waterkeeper is an advocate for clean water, someone who really is a watchdog for our watershed. I honestly don’t think there is one cookie-cutter model for how to be a waterkeeper. I happen to be an attorney. You don’t have to be an attorney. We see people who have more of a background in science. But the person who holds the title waterkeeper really is the spokesperson for those waterways. We are part of an international organization, the Waterkeeper Alliance. There are over 300 waterkeeper organizations in 35 different countries.

So what does Blue Water Baltimore’s waterkeeper program do? We have a couple of scientists on staff and we go out [into streams and the harbor] to do water quality sampling. We post all of the data that we get on a website called Harbor Alert. The general public can go online and learn about the water quality. Then we also have an advocacy program, where we work directly with government agencies. We work in Annapolis on legislative initiatives and then, in some cases, we bring lawsuits that hold polluters accountable when they’ve broken the law.

The waterkeeper program is just one of many programs Blue Water Baltimore runs. What are some of the other initiatives? We also have an urban forestry program where we go out and plant trees. We run the Herring Run Nursery that sells native plants. Stormwater—or rainwater that comes down over hard surfaces and washes chemicals and trash directly into the harbor—is a big problem. So we often work with faith-based organizations, places of worship, churches, schools, to help them design rain gardens and install less asphalt, things like that. All of our volunteer and education outreach programs are free. We have a calendar of different volunteer events.

You mentioned working in Annapolis. The state legislature is in session right now. What are Blue Water Baltimore’s legislative priorities for this session? We really focus on the main threats to the greater Baltimore area: stormwater runoff, sewage spills, and trash. Trash is a huge source of pollution in Baltimore, and there are steps that we can take to reduce that trash. One is the bill that’s in front of the legislature right now to phase out what’s called expanded polystyrene [aka Styrofoam food packaging]. It’s the second-most collected form of trash that we see in Mr. Trash Wheel and Professor Trash Wheel. The first is cigarette butts.

Why polystyrene? What’s so bad about it, aside from its abundance? Not all trash is created equal. [Polystyrene] is almost impossible to clean up because when it gets wet it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces. Those tiny pieces have chemicals in them and they absorb 10 times more chemicals than other forms of plastic. So what you end up with are tiny little toxic balls of polystyrene that really never leave the environment. The marine animals do eat them and then absorb the toxins and then if we fish and we eat them it can come back to us. There’s a lot of interest in this, the idea of the traceability: Do the chemicals bio-accumulate and then get passed to humans? Frankly, as a mother, I would just follow the precautionary principle. If I had the option to feed my child a fish that ate plastic and one that didn’t, I would choose the one that didn’t. I don’t have to wait for a study to tell me.

What’s the chance of the bill passing? It’s hard to speculate. We have a lot of great bipartisan support. It’s been heard in two committees, so we’re expecting a vote. It is important to note that [polystyrene] laws are in place in Price George’s County and Montgomery County, so Baltimore is really the remaining large populated area in Maryland that doesn’t have this. The bill that would really just level the playing field across the state.

In some ways, it’s curious that we have the trash problem that we do. The vast majority of Baltimoreans probably would say they love the harbor and the bay, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into action and behavior. What’s the disconnect? Yeah, I think a lot of people don’t necessarily understand the way our storm drain system works. We’ll see some folks who are trying to be helpful sweep trash down into the storm drain and assume that the storm drains go to a collection system, but that’s not true. We have a three pipe system underground in Baltimore. We have a drinking water pipe. We have our sewage pipe, and then we have our storm drains and storm water collection pipe. And our storm water collection system literally goes, untreated, directly into the harbor. So it takes all of the trash, all of the chemicals that get washed down from cars on the road. So a lot of it, I think, is an education campaign to try to get people to understand how the system works.

How do you reach people who think that this is boring, do-gooder stuff? It’s a multi-pronged approach and we try to meet people where they are. We try to get them to understand that it does affect us all. So some people might not be concerned that the trash is getting into the harbor, but if they learn that their children in school are being served hot lunches on these expanded polystyrene trays and the EPA has found that [those trays] leach styrene, which is a suspected carcinogen, into the food, then they might care very much because they care about the health and safety of their children. I think it’s trying to identify what issues are important to people and helping them to understand that the work that we do really does touch every aspect of your life, even if you don’t necessarily go out and fish and swim.

How much of a problem are sewage leaks in Baltimore City? We hear about them all the time. It is a huge problem. As I mentioned, Baltimore does have a three pipe system, so there is a separate pipe for sewage, but it is extremely old and the pipes do burst a lot. In 2016 there were 484 reports of sewage overflows in Baltimore City, so that’s more than one a day. It was something like 11 million gallons of raw sewage. We also have many instances of raw sewage backing up into people’s basements. The city is currently working on upgrading its sewage system.

Right. The city was supposed to have it done by 2016. The city entered into a public consent decree agreement with the EPA and Maryland Department of the Environment [MDE] in 2002. They were supposed to have completed the work by 2016, but they failed to meet that deadline and they’ve asked for an extension. Blue Water Baltimore, along with some partners, submitted very robust comments regarding that consent decree in 2016, and we actually filed a motion in court to formally intervene. That motion was approved, so we are now considered a third-party intervener to that case. We are currently in confidential settlement negotiations to work that out.

Negotiations for what, exactly? The negotiations are for a new set of plans, which include not just deadlines but interim deadlines, water quality monitoring, there are a lot of specifics. So that’s currently being worked out and we’re happy to have a seat at the table. Ultimately, all parties share the same goal, which is to clean up the sewage as soon as possible.

What has been the hold up on the city’s part? Is it mismanagement? Is it a lack of funding? Because it’s before my time I wouldn’t want to speculate. It’s certainly a sensitive topic.

Turning to national news, the Trump administration’s proposed 2018 federal budget would eliminate funding to the Chesapeake Bay cleanup program, which doles out grants and coordinates cleanup efforts among the six states and District of Columbia whose waterways feed the bay. What effect would this move have on the bay, which is finally showing signs of improvement? Obviously, that’s a serious concern. I think it’s important to note—not that I’m not alarmed by it, because I am—but that budget is largely symbolic and expresses the direction and priorities of the new administration. That in and of itself is very concerning. That said, it really is Congress that sets the budget, so all hope is not lost yet. But without having strong federal leadership to get all of the different states to enforce and comply and meet the benchmarks that they need, reaching our goal will be much more difficult.

It’s not just the Chesapeake Bay Program that would be cut. The EPA itself would sustain deep cuts. Furthermore, Scott Pruitt, the EPA’s new administrator, doesn’t believe the EPA as we know it should even exist. In general, how bad a time is it to be a clean water advocate? The news coming out of Washington every day is certainly bleak. And yes, it can be very overwhelming at times—just the number of threats that we have to clean water. It’s a unique situation. But again, I think it just underscores how much more important it is to focus on the local level and the changes we can make here—and there’s a lot we can do.

Nature News

Have you ever seen the alarming photos of what a supermarket produce section would look like without bees? If not, here you go:

So we all get that bees are critical agents in the food chain, right? Well then, one local beekeeper has some bad news for us.

Bill Castro, who runs Bee Friendly Apiary out of his home in Southwest Baltimore, says more than 56 percent of managed honeybee colonies in Maryland were lost in 2016. This follows a three-year average loss of 54 percent.

“This means that beekeepers in Maryland spend over $1.13 million every year to replace approximately 7,600 lost registered honeybee colonies,” writes Castro in an email. “If managed honey bee losses are this high, how do we think that wild native bee populations are fairing?”

The statistic Castro cites comes from Bee Informed Partnership, a collaborative effort among academic institutions, agriculturalists, scientists, and apiary owners to better understand honey bee declines in the United States. The troubling figure reinforces worries about worldwide losses from so-called Colony Collapse Disorder—an inexplicable dying off of hives—that researchers theorize is caused by pesticide use, parasites, and loss of habitat. However, recent stories indicate that the problem may not be as dire as previously thought.

In any case, local bee populations seem to be among those still suffering.

One step the average citizen can take to help the bees is to stagger garden plantings, so at least some flora is always blooming throughout the season. Bees begin foraging in early spring and continue until late fall. However, many garden plants and agriculture crops bloom only in the spring or fall, leaving the bees with little to sustain them the rest of the year.

Your local garden center can probably help you pick plants preferred by pollinator, which include bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and several other insects. Or, if you want to be super eco-friendly, Herring Run Nursery in Baltimore City can provide expertise in creating a pollinator garden using only plant species native to Maryland.

BGE took a small but symbolically significant step toward pollinator preservation in mid-November when it announced a partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to return approximately 200 acres of utility-managed land in state parks to natural meadow habitat.

“This partnership benefits the state, our customers and, most importantly, the pollinators that are vital for a healthy environment,” said Derrick Dickens, vice president of Technical Services for BGE. “Changing the way we manage these electric rights of way will encourage the return of pollinators and native ecosystems, while still ensuring that power lines are safely maintained.”

Sustainability Shorts

After discontinuing its composting drop-off program for several months while it overhauled its system, Real Food Farm is once again accepting food scraps at its Clifton Park location. The farm’s new system—developed in tandem with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and Urban Farm Plans—follows a co-op model that asks participants to take a one-hour training course before joining and then volunteer one hour per month to maintain membership. Once joined, members can drop off kitchen scraps any time and take home finished compost to fertilize their own gardens. If residents would like to participate but don’t have time to volunteer, Real Food Farm also accepts compost via Compost Cab, a collection service that operates in the Baltimore and D.C. metro areas.

Somewhere between 20 and 40 percent of all food in the U.S. goes to waste, ending up in landfills where it decomposes and emits methane, a greenhouse gas several times more potent than carbon dioxide. Composting is one way to divert unused food from landfill. Gleaning—the process of collecting excess food in order to feed food-insecure populations—is another. There are several local organizations that facilitate gleaning, including Gather Baltimore, Hungry Harvest, and the Mid-Atlantic Gleaning Network.

Visiting Laureate

On Wednesday, the famed poet, environmentalist, and farmer Wendell Berry spoke at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health about finding hope and sanctuary in a simple life lived in harmony with the natural world.

“I can’t give anybody hope,” said Berry, who spoke as part of a celebration marking the 20th anniversary of the school’s Center for a Livable Future. “Hope has to come up out of you … To find something worth hoping for is a very good place to start. There are things worth hoping for, there are good people, this is still a very beautiful world.”

A recap of the talk, which was led by journalist Eric Schlosser, can be found here.

William Donald Schaefer stood at the edge of the National Aquarium’s 70,000-gallon seal pool and looked out at the reporters and spectators surrounding the tank. It was July 1981, and the Aquarium was a month behind schedule. The project was a $21.5-million risk, but it was a risk Schaefer knew he needed to take to help revive his city, struggling beneath the weight of empty row houses, unemployment, and high crime. As part of his Inner Harbor project, he believed the Aquarium would help restore Baltimore’s image and faltering economy, and he was willing to swim with the seals to prove it.

Wearing a striped Victorian-era swimsuit and straw hat, Schaefer took a 15-minute splash with a gray seal named Ike and a young model dressed as a mermaid. Onlookers laughed and cheered and, less than a month later, the Aquarium opened its doors on August 8, 1981, beginning the next phase of Baltimore’s urban revitalization.

As the National Aquarium celebrates its 35th anniversary this week, it’s standing on the edge again. As the interests and opinions of its visitors continue to shift away from aging point-and-look exhibits and traditional captivity methods, the Aquarium must follow the example of its original champion and commit to evolving as the city does.

When the 81-year-old National Aquarium closed in Washington D.C. in 2013, the Baltimore location snapped into action. It consolidated its animal collections and employees, redefined the future of the Aquarium, and mapped out the necessary steps to ensure it remained relevant to a changing audience.

“As the reality of the health of the world’s oceans came into sharper focus in recent decades, the Aquarium recognized and embraced the role it could play in motivating people to act on behalf of our planet’s well-being,” says Dale Schmidt, the Aquariums’ executive vice president and COO. “We have focused our efforts on conservation, which has led to the development of a comprehensive plan, and, so far, the reaction by our visitors and partners have been very supportive.”

With the help of a design firm and intelligence company, the Aquarium devised a plan to help it evolve from a tourist attraction with preservation projects into a full-fledged conservation program. Three major projects have been given first priority: creating a waterfront campus, building an off-site animal care and rescue center, and constructing North America’s first seaside dolphin sanctuary.

No one is more eager for change than the eight Atlantic bottlenose dolphins swimming circles in the Marine Mammal Pavilion. For more than 20 years, they had jumped, spun, and whistled for audiences up to seven times a day, before the death of two baby dolphins in 2011 and visitors’ increased discomfort with animal captivity spurred the cancellation of the dolphin shows.

Overnight, the 1,300-seat pavilion transformed from a theater into an educational exhibit, where guests can visit and interact with the dolphins. In June of this year, the Aquarium announced that it plans to build an outdoor, seawater facility for the dolphins by the end of 2020. But until a site location is chosen, purchased, constructed, and the animals are relocated and retrained to live in an ocean-like environment, they will continue to wait in their 1.2 million gallon tank overlooking the Inner Harbor.

Walking through the Aquarium, evidence of the evolution is apparent in every corner. In 2012, the Wings in the Water exhibit, which was housed in the center of the original building for 32 years, was given a $12.5-million renovation and transformed into a replica of an Indo-Pacific coral reef, full of sting rays, sharks, and other larger fish. More recently, the third floor was gutted to create the Living Seashore exhibit, where visitors can experience the sights and sounds of the Mid-Atlantic shoreline.

Kate Rowe, director of media relations for the National Aquarium, says the Aquarium strives to give visitors an experience they can take home.

“You can read things, like some of our exhibits have placards with the animal’s Latin name, and a bit of information, but not everyone understands or takes anything away from that,” Rowe says. “Seeing, smelling, and touch makes it a whole other level of learning.”

Over the past five years, the Aquarium recognized a shift away from ogling at animals behind Plexiglas to engaging in the animals’ daily routines. To accommodate, they added activities like feedings and cleanings to the exhibits, which offer guests opportunities to observe every aspect of the animals’ day-to-day life.

In July, the Aquarium held more than 40 scheduled animal-to-visitor connections each day, which didn’t include daily feedings or other spontaneous interactions. According to Rowe, bringing the behind-the-scenes work to the floor has allowed Aquarium staff members to share their work directly with guests.

“The original thought was that it needed to be beautiful for when people visit,” she says. “But now, it’s so much more of an experience to see how we do it, when we do it, why we do it.”

“I like representing Baltimore in a way,” says Susan Magri, charter volunteer and exhibit guide for the last 35 years. “If I can give a visitor a good experience, hopefully they will tell other people that they had a positive time here in Baltimore.”

The Aquarium drew 1.34 million people in 2012, marking the first increase in visitor attendance since 2006. Six months after the opening of the award-winning Blacktip Reef exhibit, the Aquarium reported a 2.4 percent increase due to the amount of people lined up to see honeycomb stingrays and a rescued three-finned sea turtle named Calypso. In June of this year, The Aquarium announced that it’s on track to increase 7 percent above projections of about 1.3 million visitors.

The Aquarium still has work to do, as the interior layout begs for a change, and the additions of the Marine Mammal Pavilion and Australia: Wild Extremes exhibit have created enough of a traffic flow problem that a committee of volunteers is strategically stationed to help visitors navigate through the building. Jeanne Gang, the architect leading the redesign of the National Aquarium, has recommended relocating the entrance and realigning the escalators to help visitors move through the facility more easily, but restructuring the interior of the Aquarium is not on the immediate to-do list.

Even with a list of changes to be made, one glimpse at the mockup plans for the Inner Harbor 2.0 or the Blacktip Reef exhibit shows how far the Aquarium has come and where it wants to go. It also continues to modernize outside of its walls, through a growing social media presence with daily Instagram posts, Facebook comment contests, and regular video uploads to YouTube.

“The evolution of our offerings and the evolution of our guests have given us the opportunity to see that people want to learn,” Rowe says, “and they want so much more than to just see a tank of beautiful fish.”

Sharpen your skates and tighten the laces, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor ice rink is officially open for the season.

The new ice rink opened Friday in its new location at the top of the Inner Harbor Amphitheater, providing this year’s patrons with waterfront views overlooking the harbor. Thanks to the slight change in venue (last year’s rink was located across the street at McKeldin Square) there’s more space to skate with 6,000 square feet of ice.

With a bigger area to accommodate skaters and a new location more accessible to foot traffic, Waterfront Partnership hopes the new rink will attract even more visitors.

“In 2014, we welcomed over 20,000 people and saw marriage proposals, appearances from Santa and Navy midshipmen, Special Olympics activities and lots more. We look forward to welcoming even more visitors to the Waterfront this year,” said Laurie Schwartz, president of Waterfront Partnership.

Plenty of holiday-themed events and programs are planned throughout the season, including Costume Skates, Frost Fest, Pajama Skate, and SkateFest, benefitting Special Olympics Maryland. Visitors can find a full lineup of events and details on discounts, parking, skates, and more on the rink’s website.

The rink will remain open through Monday, January 18. Skates are available to rent on site for $4 and season passes are also available. Open hours are Mondays, 3:00-7:00 p.m.; Tuesdays through Thursdays, 3:00-8:00 p.m.; Saturdays, 11:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.; and Sundays, 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

Bryan Voltaggio’s newest Baltimore project, Family Meal, named for the staff meal eaten before or after a restaurant shift, manages to be in the heart of the Inner Harbor tourism district while remaining invisible from Pratt Street. The fourth of the former Top Chef contestant’s Family Meal restaurants, it’s a choice spot exuding a palpably relaxed vibe, with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the harbor, Pier 5, and the Aquarium just across the plaza.

The menu is similarly approachable, with familiar home-style dishes, shareable sides, straightforward desserts, and stick-to-your ribs breakfasts. Voltaggio’s concept is “modern diner,” and it’s the details of the dishes that exhibit the thoughtfulness and creativity one would expect from a celeb chef. A seemingly simple Maryland catfish sandwich ($13) becomes a lesson in textural interplay, with a tender fillet encased in ephemeral and crisp tempura-like batter, and thin-sliced fried okra lending a slightly different stripe of crunchiness.

Grilled oysters are topped with bacon jam and “cheddar glacage” ($10), a sort of foamy meringue toasted on top and resembling a marshmallow, which renders the bivalves almost candy-like to satisfying effect.

Other standbys—including burgers, meatloaf, smoked brisket, and fried chicken—are less ambitious, but well-executed. The green-bean casserole ($3.99) is actually perfectly blanched haricots verts with an intensely oniony béchamel and shiitakes. Even the humble deviled eggs ($4.99) are prepared with an exquisitely light yolk filling. While not always on the menu, the smoked beet “pastrami” sandwich ($10.99) is another standout.

This sort of culinary rigor is present in Family Meal’s cocktail program as well, where house-made oils, syrups, and spirit infusions (somewhat confusingly referred to as “sous vide”), make for an expansive set of ingredients. “Le Jardinier” ($12) is a particularly good example of balance and nuance—mellow carrot-infused gin with the slightest bite of ginger and citrus, perfumed with a few drops of basil-infused almond oil to finish.

Service is notably hospitable across the board, though not necessarily completely expert in expounding on the menu’s complexities. That aside, locals who rarely venture to this more touristy part of town now have a good reason to visit.

›› Family Meal, 621 E. Pratt St., 410-601-3242. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Prices: appetizers: $4.99-9.99; entrees: $10-23.99