1/19: MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY PARADE 
Festivals. In 1963, five years before his tragic murder, Martin Luther King Jr. marched on Washington, D.C., to unite millions of Americans with his now-iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Throughout his career, the ordained-reverend-turned-civil-rights-leader worked in the pursuit of justice and equality for all. This month, that message and mission will ring out across the nation, including here in Baltimore.

On Monday, Jan. 19, the city’s annual parade will march down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in remembrance of the street’s namesake. Starting at noon, the procession kicks off at Eutaw Street, with marching bands, dance groups, color guard troupes, local leaders, and more in tow—a truly festive celebration. But if you can’t make it, fear not—there are plenty of other celebratory events taking place across the city this month for Dr. King, like one at The Walters Art Museum on Jan. 17, featuring local artists Unique Robinson and Lady Brion, as well as the American Visionary Art Museum’s annual Dare to Dream Day on Jan. 19. 

1/1: RESOLUTION RUN 
Fundraisers. Kick off the New Year in stride with city neighbors by participating in this 5K, 1-mile walk and kids dash around Patterson Park. Proceeds will benefit Earl’s Place, a transitional housing program that helps to support men experiencing homelessness. Patterson Park, 2601 E. Baltimore St. 1 p.m. $13.72-45.56. 

1/3: LUH YOU, HEAR?! 
Theater. Balancing humor with heartfelt storytelling, local actor Robert Lee Hardy performs his one-man show of original monologues that capture the voices of those who shaped his upbringing in Baltimore, revealing the soul of this city from the thespian’s point of view. Theatre Project, 45 W. Preston St. 2 & 8 p.m. $30.

1/9-17: ELVIS’ BIRTHDAY FIGHT CLUB 
Theater. In honor of the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, drag queen Betty O’Hellno hosts this Elvis-themed burlesque show, where performers dressed as pop-culture icons fire up their fists in dramatic brawls. For a glimpse into past years of roughhousing, browse the adjacent exhibition, Disbelief: 15 Years of Art from Elvis’ Birthday Fight Club. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. Fri.-Sat. Times vary. $41-51.

1/9-2/7: SACRIFICE OF HOME 
Exhibitions. In this solo show by multimedia artist and MICA grad Gulnur Tuluoglu, peer into the lived experience of a second-generation immigrant and queer Muslim. Referencing family photographs, and creating her own original symbols, her collection of paintings speaks to the concept of tradition and sacrifice. Gallery CA, 440 E. Oliver St. Mon.-Fri 12-4 p.m. Free. 

1/9-25: FROM EAST, LIKE THE SUN  
Theater. Rapid Lemon Productions presents the world premiere of this new work by Baltimore playwright Karen Li, following two generations of immigrant families (and a 19th-century ghost) who are hunting for the success and security so often promised in America. Strand Theater, 5426 Harford Rd. Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. $10-25. 

1/9-2/1: SEVEN GUITARS 
Theater. This August Wilson play begins after the funeral of a main character, catapulting audiences through a series of flashbacks, revealing the experience of African-Americans who are trying to find meaning in a poor, post-war Pittsburgh. It’s part of Baltimore’s three-year, citywide August Wilson Celebration. Spotlighters Theatre, 817 St. Paul St. $24. 

1/15: LAFAYETTE GILCHRIST AND NEW VOLCANOES
Music. On the heels of his new album, Move With Love, this legendary jazz pianist—born in D.C., long based in Baltimore—brings his genre- bending sound to Keystone Korner in Harbor East. At this esteemed venue, his New Volcanoes band fuses jazz beats with go-go sound, creating one-of-a-kind tunes. Keystone Korner Baltimore, 1350 Lancaster St. 7 p.m. $35-40.

1/15. THE ANATOMY OF CRITICISM 
Lectures & Classes. Over the past decade, local writer Lawrence Burney has emerged as a vital cultural critic coming out of Baltimore. The city native is the founder of arts-and culture zine True Laurels, author of new memoir No Sense in Wishing, and has contributed top publications like GQ, Pitchfork, and The Washington Post. This month, he comes to the Enoch Pratt for a conversation on methods and impacts of media criticism. Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral St. 6:30 p.m.

1/15-19: SHAKESPEARE IN HARLEM 
Theater. The University of Maryland Baltimore County Theatre joins the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company to blend movement, music, and spoken-word poetry, bringing the  famous works of Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes to life. Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, 7 S. Calvert St. Thurs. 7:30 p.m., Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. Sun. 2 p.m. $15-25. 

1/16: PINKSHIFT 
Music. Three Johns Hopkins University students started this fast-rising band, fusing the hardcore genre with hints of grunge, pop-punk, and shoegaze. Returning to their hometown after a North American tour, the vivacious rock trio performs Earthkeeper, their latest album—in its entirety. Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St. 7 p.m. $28.37.  

1/17: MLK JR. DAY CELEBRATION AT THE WALTERS
Theater. In this multifaceted performance curated by local artist Unique Robinson, some of the region’s most talented voices come together at the Walters Art Museum in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy, including Maryland Poet Laureate Lady Brion, The Voice semi-finalist Davon Fleming, and multi-instrumentalist Ray Winder. The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. 3 p.m. Free. 

1/17: EDGAR ALLAN POE BIRTHDAY & POE TOASTER MURDER MYSTERY 
Theater. For decades, an elusive figure left three roses and a glass of cognac at Edgar Allan Poe’s Baltimore grave on the eve of the poet’s birthday—until vanishing in 2009. This live broadcast by the Raven Nevermore podcast unravels the mysterious murder of the “Poe Toaster,” with birthday cake, warm beverages, and a tour of the cemetery’s historic catacombs. Westminster Hall & Burying Ground, 519 W. Fayette St. 6:30 p.m. $39. 

1/19: MLK DARE TO DREAM DAY 
Festivals. The American Visionary Art Museum is once again throwing its festive celebration in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Bring the whole family for art, crafts, music, open-mics, dance and more, with special free day of admission. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 

1/22: KEEP THE LIGHT ON: STORIES ABOUT HOPE, PERSISTENCE, AND WAITING 
Theater. Join the Stoop Storytelling Series to hear true stories of hope, persistence, and survival experienced in the face of adversity. As always, these reflections are told by ordinary Baltimoreans, this time also featuring live music by singer-songwriter Letitia VanSant at a historic venue in the midst of redevelopment. Pikesville Armory, 640 Reisterstown Rd., Pikesville. 6:30 p.m. $25. 

1/22: BETWEEN EVERY BREATH, THERE IS ATMOSPHERE 
Performance. As the BMA’s inaugural Alice and Franklin Cooley Composer-in-Residence, local artist Abdu Ali presents a sonic and visual performance inspired by the museum’s collections, exploring how specific Maryland environments affect Black Baltimoreans. Ali has long been a pioneering artist of various mediums in Baltimore, making this a must-see event. Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. 6:30 p.m. Free. 

1/22: IN THE STACKS 
Music. Two Peabody grads—vocalist Jennifer Blades and pianist Diane Kinsley—fill the George Peabody Library with the sound of music in a performance inspired by the artistry of fine-dining, as is found in the Sheridan Libraries’ collection of rare cookbooks, with select works on display for one night only. George Peabody Library, 17 E. Mt. Vernon Pl. 6:30 p.m. $10 suggested donation. 

1/23-24: BRAHMS & HAYDN WITH HEYWARD 
Music. BSO Music Director Jonathon Heyward is joined by violinist Simone Lamsma to perform two heavyweights of classical music, with a special conversation between the two prior to the second concert. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St. Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 7 p.m. $35-86. 

1/23-24: PIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG 
Music. Fans will flock to see this beloved Baltimore jam band flood this downtown stage with guitar-driven funk and groovy positivity, promoting their new album, Feed the Fire. Baltimore Soundstage, 124 Market Pl. 8 p.m. $39-127.50. 

1/24: HARBOR POINT ICE FEST 
Festivals. Welcome the chilly weather with a winter wonderland of live ice-carving demonstrations and interactive ice sculptures along the waterfront, with food, drinks, and kids’ activities throughout the day. Harbor Point, 1310 Point St. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 

1/31: DISTURBIN’ THE PEACE
Music. Right now, hardcore is the biggest sound on the Baltimore music scene. During this annual festival, see live performances by many of those both up-and-coming and legendary acts, as well as visiting bands, including Hatebreed, End It, Agnostic Front, Pig Pen, and more. Baltimore Soundstage, 124 Market Pl. 1:30 p.m. $70. 

1/31: LANDIS HARRY LARRY WITH MICAH E. WOOD 
Music. Two of Baltimore’s most beloved musical acts team up for a night of feel-good tunes in Highlandtown. In the Creative Alliance’s Patterson Theater, catch Landis Expandis perform futuristic funk alongside his two alter egos, and also hear dance-inducing tunes from Wood’s new album, You, Me, the Reign. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 7:30 p.m.$15-25.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a time to honor and remember Dr. King and his calls for justice as a civil rights leader. Whether you’d like to educate yourself, teach your children, or engage in a live performance, Baltimore has plenty to offer. With a medley of events happening this week, here are some different ways to get involved.

FOR KIDS

INTERACTIVE MUSEUM PROGRAMS AT PORT DISCOVERY
1/18-1/20: Port Discovery Children’s Museum is hosting “Be the Light- Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” this weekend in honor of Dr. King. Throughout the day, the event will feature interactive programs and performances inspired by Dr. King’s message of promoting fairness. Through celebrating differences in the Baltimore community, attendees will learn how to become changemakers themselves. Port Discovery Children’s Museum, 35 Market Pl. All Day. Free admission with museum entry.

MLK DAY AT CREATIVE ALLIANCE
1/19: Repair the World Baltimore at the Creative Alliance will be commemorating the holiday with “MLK Day 2020: An Unequal Education.” With Maryland schools highly segregated today, there are many racial achievement gaps as well, as a lack of different perspectives, due to limited diversity. Attendees will view the documentary Teach Us All, sit in on a panel of local experts speaking about education inequality, and hear a discussion about inequality in Baltimore City Public Schools in order to further the conversation about school segregation. There will also be an opportunity to donate and pack mid-year school supplies for middle schoolers in West Baltimore. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 11a.m.-2p.m. Free.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT AVAM
1/20: The American Visionary Art Museum is throwing its annual “MLK Dare to Dream Day”, a birthday celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. that runs from 10a.m. to 5p.m. With elements such as a printmaking power patch workshop, artist talk by Kyle Yearwood, slam poetry, open mic, choir performance, an African dance and drum performance, and birthday cake, the event will surely be one to remember. AVAM will also be collecting new and gently used socks to donate to Paul’s Place, a charity in Southwest Baltimore that improves the quality of life for residents of the area. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. 10a.m.-5p.m. Free, RSVP recommended.

EDUCATIONAL

MEMORIAL BREAKFAST
1/20: The 39th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast will be at Live! Hotel in Hanover starting at 8a.m. on the holiday. Keynote speaker Elizabeth S. Morris, associate judge for the Circuit Court of Anne Arundel County, will be presenting, and there will also be food and awards to look forward to. Maryland Live! Casino & Hotel, Hanover, 8a.m.-1p.m. $35.

MLK CONVOCATION
1/21: Loyola University Maryland will be hosting their 27thannual Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation, “The Fierce Urgency of Now” at 7p.m. in Reitz Arena on campus. The event will be led by pastor and social justice advocate, Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II, who will discuss current event issues related to social and racial justice. Reitz Arena, 4501 N. Charles St. 7p.m. Free and open to the public.

ENTERTAINMENT

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PARADE
1/20: The 20th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade hosted by the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts will be from 12p.m. to 2p.m. on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard this year. The parade will feature more than 70 units, including high school and community bands and cheer squads, elected officials, and civic and religious organizations. The 2020 honorary grand marshal is Raheem DeVaughn, three-time Grammy-nominated singer songwriter and international R&B star. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Eutaw St. 12-2p.m. Free.

DREAM GARLAND AT ENOCH PRATT FREE LIBRARY
Enoch Pratt’s Southeast Anchor Library has created “Share Your Dream”, a dream garland open for contributions anytime throughout January and February in honor of MLK. The garland can be found in the library’s adult department, on the second floor. Enoch Pratt Free Library, 3601 Eastern Ave. January-February, Free.

YOGA AND VOLUNTEERING
1/20: Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas are honoring Dr. King with an opportunity to share mindfulness and community service at “Volunteer and Flow.” This is a one-hour yoga session followed by a community service opportunity of organizing and sorting merchandise at the VOA Resource Center. All levels of yogis are welcome, and yoga mats will be available for purchase for $5. Volunteers of America Resource Center, Linthicum Heights, 12-1p.m. Yoga, 1-4p.m. Volunteer, Free, RSVP recommended.

LIVE PERFORMANCE AT ENOCH PRATT CENTRAL LIBRARY
1/19: Pratt Library’s Central Library will be hosting The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration 2020: “A Celebration of Freedom” at 2pm in its Wheeler Auditorium. Tenor Charles Sullivan will be leading this special program, performing songs and excerpts from two of Dr. King’s most famous speeches. Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral St. 2p.m. Free.

MLK CELEBRATION AT REGINALD F. LEWIS MUSEUM
1/20: The Reginald F. Lewis Museum will be hosting an MLK Day Celebration using various art forms to honor Dr. King. With elements like storytelling, book signings, an MLK virtual reality experience, art exhibitions, and the “Voices of Carmen” concert, this event will be a lively celebration of the civil rights advocate’s life. Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. 11a.m.-4p.m. $5 admission, children under 6 free.

Civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. left behind a towering legacy of hope and change. Whether you spend Monday, January 21, taking in a performance, introducing your kids to his work, or engaging with Baltimore’s cultural leaders, you can make a difference in honor of his birthday. Here are the best ways to celebrate Dr. King.

Annual MLK Memorial Breakfast
For 38 years now, the aptly named Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast Committee has continued its namesake’s work with a local breakfast meant to activate and inspire its guests. This year’s theme is “Realizing the Dream: The Time is Now,” and keynote speaker Michelle Asha Cooper, president of the Institute for Higher Education Policy, will deliver an address advocating access to higher education for all students during the two-hour breakfast. La Fontaine Bleue, 7514 Ritchie Hwy., Glen Burnie. 8-10 a.m. $35.

Baltimore MLK Parade
Throw on a coat and scarf to enjoy Baltimore’s 19th annual spectacle in honor of the late civil rights leader. Kicking off at noon, the procession follows Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and features more than 70 participants with feel-good entertainment for all ages, including floats, marching bands, and dance squads. Even Mayor Catherine Pugh—despite last year’s controversy—will be joining the celebration of Dr. King’s birthday. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. between Eutaw St. and Baltimore St. 12 p.m. Free.

Dare to Dream Day
The American Visionary Art Museum never misses an opportunity to put its own spin on beloved holidays, and next Monday’s extravaganza is no exception. Admission is completely free all day, including the museum’s many exhibitions and a special screening of a film about MLK in the second floor theater. Guests of all ages can create buttons that represent their own dreams starting at 10 a.m. followed by free birthday cake and drinks at noon. Stick around a bit longer to catch slam poetry and dance performances by Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women and Keur Khaleyi African Dance Company. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free.

I Have a Dream Weekend
Introduce your little ones to milestones in civil rights history at Port Discovery this Monday, when the museum opens its doors for a day of educational fun. Learn about Dr. King’s monumental legacy while creating birthday cards for him and joining in interactive stories about his legacy. Elsewhere, make a quilt square with the African-American Quilters of Baltimore and discover the history of Negro League baseball. Better yet, children from Northwood Elementary School will be dressed up as African-American historical figures, waiting to share their life stories. Port Discovery, 35 Market Pl. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$5.

MLK Day Celebration and Day of Service
Join the Reginald F. Lewis Museum for their annual day of service in honor of MLK. This day-long celebration offers a little something for everyone, including crafts for kids, a performance by Singing Sensations Youth Choir, a discussion with Dr. King’s barber, and a reading of the play The Mountaintop by Baltimore Center Stage. Between events and exhibits, take advantage of free onsite health screenings by Kaiser Permanente. Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $5.

Voices of Carmen
Station North stalwart Motor House will honor MLK with a special afternoon performance of Voices of Carmen, a modern take on the classic French opera Carmen. Performed by a cast of 40 singers, actors, dancers, and musicians comprised entirely of teens from Baltimore, the musical updates its source material by moving the action to the inner city and breaching issues that affect young people today. Make sure to stay for a discussion about escalating conflicts among the city’s youth and Dr. King’s legacy of nonviolence. Motor House, 120 W. North Ave. 2:30-4:30 p.m. Free.

Baltimore’s Strange Fruit
Eric Jackson and Maddie Hardy’s documentary Baltimore’s Strange Fruit chronicles the city’s history of food inequality through race, class, and land politics. As part of a special MLK program, Creative Alliance will be showing the film for free, including a dinner before the screening. Immediately following the film, take in a panel discussion with Black Yield Institute’s Eric Jackson and finish the evening with a service project to benefit Cherry Hill Urban Garden. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free.

Polar Bear Plunge
Jan. 26. Sandy Point State Park, 1100 E College Pkwy, Annapolis. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Prices vary. Ever since Stephan Timchula adopted his “Major Offense” superfan persona 10 years ago to honor the Baltimore Ravens’ (sometimes) strong offense, it has become his way of reminding fans that sports go beyond wins and losses. A longtime member of the Ravens Roost 115 and the Pro Football’s Ultimate Fan Association, Timchula shares the Special Olympics Maryland’s creed—that sports create new opportunities for people with disabilities—and he’s supported the nonprofit by proudly wading into the chilly waters at Sandy Point State Park for the past five Polar Bear Plunges. “Most importantly, it’s a day dedicated to the Special Olympic athletes, and watching them have fun rubs off on everyone else,” says Timchula, who will take the plunge again on January 26. “It makes jumping into the icy-cold water worth it.”

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Jan. 21. 830 E Pratt St. Times vary. $5. In honor of what would’ve been Martin Luther King Jr.’s 90th birthday, commemorate the life and legacy of one of the most influential civil rights activists in American history at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum’s annual remembrance. Bring the whole family to the downtown museum to celebrate King’s powerful vision of freedom and peace through music and dance performances by local acts, readings by Baltimore-based author Kevin Shird and Baltimore Center Stage actors, and kid-friendly activities.

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Between Spirits and Sisters
To Feb. 2. 2224 N Charles St. This month at Galerie Myrtis, view works by mixed-media artist Delita Martin that explores womanhood and the power of narrative impulse. Inspired by oral traditions and vintage photographs, this Texas-based artist uses printmaking, drawing, sewing, collaging, and painting techniques to bring portraits of African-American women to life.

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Black & White Party
Jan. 19. The Assembly Room, 316 Guilford Ave. 8 p.m.-midnight. Since the Pratt Contemporaries’ first Black & White Party a decade ago, this all-night affair has become one of the city’s most anticipated see-and-be-seen parties of the year. This year’s theme of Studio 54 will transport guests back to the disco days of the iconic ’70s nightclub with live music, festive eats, and themed cocktails flowing all night long. Pro tip: Mark your calendar for January 4—the day tickets go on sale—as general tickets typically sell out within minutes.

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Baltimore Restaurant Week
Jan. 11-20. Prices vary. After a whirlwind year of openings and closings in the area dining scene, the city’s winter restaurant week is the perfect time to try out new spots, revisit neighborhood standbys, and get your foodie fix without breaking the bank. Nearly 60 local spots will be on board for this 10-day deal, which offers prix-fixe menus priced between $12-20 for brunch and lunch and $20-35 for three-course dinners. Map out your must-try meals, make your reservations early, and take advantage of this annual culinary celebration.

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Super City
Jan. 26. 2549 N Howard St. 9 p.m. $12. After playing their latest album, Sanctuary, to audiences in every corner of the country, this Baltimore-based “freak wave” band is back home and ready to remind us what we were missing. Pack the Ottobar to hear this rising indie-pop group play showstopping hits such as “Artificial Sin” and “Find You,” and get there early to catch sets by homegrown acts including songwriting duo Chaunter and hip-hop collective Soul Cannon.

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BSO Pulse: Dan Deacon
Jan. 17. Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St. 8:30 p.m. $25-55. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has collaborated with acts ranging from big-name indie artists to up-and-coming groups for its BSO Pulse series, but this month’s joint performance with local legend Dan Deacon is a can’t-miss marriage between two iconic figures in the city’s music scene. Hear this genre-defying artist debut several new joint compositions with the BSO during this electronic-acoustic performance.

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade
Jan. 21. Locations vary. 12 – 2 p.m. Free. For the past 18 years, the city of Baltimore has commemorated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy with an all-out parade that starts on King’s namesake boulevard and winds down to Baltimore Street. Find a spot along the parade route to wave to local community bands, color guards, dance squads, and other civic organizations as they pass by.

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Jan. 22-27. 12 North Eutaw Street. $72-199. Times vary. Gather your everlasting gobstoppers, Oompa Loompas, and golden tickets for the sweetest production of the season. For six days, the Hippodrome Theatre will transform into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory for this family-favorite musical that brings new life to songs from the original film such as “The Candy Man” and “Pure Imagination.”

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Baltimore Orioles FanFest
Jan. 26. 1 W Pratt St. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. $12. As the saying goes, there is no offseason in baseball. Put last year’s abysmal season in the past and kick off the Orioles’ 2019 season with a day-long celebration at the Baltimore Convention Center. Orioles FanFest offers games and press conferences for kids, one-of-a-kind memorabilia for purchase, and autographs and Q&A sessions with select players from the team.

After this past year, Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of freedom and peace proves to be more important than ever, even more than 50 years after his famous “I Have A Dream” speech. Honor the civil rights icon’s life and legacy this month, and remember his powerful message through a medley of events.

PAINTING DR. KING’S DREAM
1/8-12. Enoch Pratt Free
Library, Southeast Anchor Branch, 3601 Eastern Ave. Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Let the kids unleash their inner artists as they add quotes
or drawings to
the library’s
MLK mural.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CELEBRATION
1/11. The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St.. 5-8 p.m. Free. This multi-faceted event will combine an oratory performance by the Baltimore Urban Debate League, a choral concert by Joyful Noise Gospel Singers, and civic engagement with nonprofit Synergy Baltimore. Guests can also share their dream for a better future and commemorate the night with a free photo booth memento from Pixilated.

I HAVE A DREAM WEEKEND
1/13-15. Port Discovery, 35 Market Pl. Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 12-5 p.m., Mon. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$15.95. Spend the weekend learning about African-American history and MLK’s influential work through educational and interactive performances.

MLK DAY PARADE
1/15. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Eutaw St., 12-2 p.m. Though no parade was originally schedule for this year, Mayor Catherine Pugh decided to bring it back after complaints from the community. The 18th annual parade will bring together more than 70 marching bands, color guards, dance squads, and more.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARTIN LUTHER KING!
1/15. Cromwell Valley Park, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Rd., Parkville. Sunrise to sunset. Free. Breathe in the crisp winter air while enjoying special admission to the park grounds in honor of
the holiday.

AVAM MLK DAY CELEBRATION
1/15. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Enjoy free admission to the art museum to commemorate one of America’s greatest visionaries, with music, workshops, shows, and slices of birthday cake.

I HAVE A DREAM
1/16. Enoch Pratt Free Library, Pennsylvania Avenue Branch, 1531 W. North Ave. 3:30 p.m. Free. Memorialize the civil rights leader through an afternoon crafting session at the Penn-North library.

BLACK HISTORY LIVE
1/21. Baltimore County Public Library, 1301 Reisterstown Rd., Pikesville. 2 p.m. Free. Award-winning teaching artist Culture Queen will lead an afternoon of music, movement, and activities inspired by black history.

Female Form

January 9, 2016
Cathedral Street

“A labor of love,” says Jillian Storms, leading a tour through the detailed exhibit she has curated, “Early Women of Architecture in Maryland,” at the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Shedding light on a dozen pioneering women whose groundbreaking careers spanned from the 1920s through the 1960s, the exhibit includes portraits, biographies chronicling the steadfastness of their ambitions, and notable accomplishments—such as interior design at the National Academy of Sciences in D.C.—as well as copies of their original drawings and renderings.

Among those profiled: German-born Poldi Hirsch, whose family fled the Holocaust before she went on to study architecture in Switzerland. She later emigrated with her husband, settling in Havre de Grace where she designed a still-standing midcentury office building in which her husband began his medical practice.

Also included are Katherine Cutler Ficken and Rose Isabel Greely, the first licensed female architects in Maryland and Washington, and a reproduction of a Maryland Society of Registered Architects letter to Ficken. Dated May 2, 1938, the note advises that while she was “certainly eligible” to attend the organization’s annual dinner and meeting, as the only women in the society, she should check with her “good father” regarding the propriety of her attendance.

“We had a lot of trouble tracking her down,” Storms says. “She’d adopted a 4-month-old son when she was 45, but she died in 1968 of cancer when he was 11. Our college research assistant was ready to give up when we finally found him. It turned out he’d kept a photo album of her work, including that letter, all these years.”

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Day Dream

January 18, 2016
East Pratt Street

“Mom, it feels like we’ve been here all day,” a girl with braids and glasses says, tugging her mother’s arm, not so much in protest, but in amazement at the full slate of MLK Day activities at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum.

At the moment, they’re heading into the museum’s first-floor community space for a reading of The Meeting, a play about a fictional get-together between Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, with local photographer Devin Allen’s wall-sized photos of last year’s Baltimore Uprising serving as backdrop. Other events offered today include screenings of the documentary films, Citizen King, The March, and MLK: The Assassination Tapes, as well as access to the current feature exhibition, “Ruth Starr Rose (1887-1965): Revelations of African American Life in Maryland and the World,” and the museum’s 8th Annual High School Juried Art Show. There’s also drop-in, MLK Day-themed arts and crafts for kids.

Depicting the civil rights leaders’ differing philosophies but shared sense of urgency and mutual respect, The Meeting draws a standing-room crowd—and this is the play’s second presentation this afternoon. Afterward, Larkis Webber, who portrays Malcolm X, and Doug Goldman, who plays King, join Morgan State University professor David Terry for an audience discussion, much of it centering on the influence of the two leaders’ childhood, religious, and regional influences. “I’ve been living this [stuff] for 51 years,” Goldman says at one point. “In the 1970s, I was bused to Hampstead Hill Junior High in Canton. If you missed the bus after school, you ran through Patterson Park until you got to a safe neighborhood.”

“As a Christian, I’m with Rev. King,” adds a woman at the end. “But as a mother, if someone hurt one of my children, then I’m with Malcolm. I’ll ask for forgiveness later.”

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The Flock

January 2, 2016
Conkling Street

“I grew up in Fells Point when this neighborhood was called ‘Little Poland’,” says Anthony Monczewski, 70, the grandson of a Polish immigrant butcher, as he steps inside Holy Rosary Church. “They still celebrate Mass here in Polish.”

Dedicated in 1928, the massive Romanesque shrine includes two-story stained-glass windows, marble altars weighing a collective 49 tons, and a 3,000-pipe, mahogany-encased organ. Monczewski’s visit to his childhood church this Saturday is part of the second East Baltimore Christmas Church Tour and one of seven stops celebrating historic parishes while their holiday decorations remain in full swing.

The morning begins with pastries and coffee at the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which celebrated its first Mass in Highlandtown in 1873. Also included: Our Lady of Pompei in “little” Little Italy, St. Leo the Great in Little Italy, St. Casimir and St. Brigid in Canton, and St. Elizabeth of Hungary at Patterson Park.

Inside Our Lady of Pompei, a gorgeous 1923 church built for Italian immigrants and known for its illuminated statue of Mary, pastor Luigi Esposito smiles as he recalls an early sermon. “Father Lou” recently celebrated 50 years of service to the parish, although the Naples native admits to the group that he occasionally stumbled in his Sunday homilies as a young priest. “I was trying to express the idea of the shepherd helping a lost sheep back into the sheepfold—a very common Christian metaphor.

“Well, the Italian word for sheepfold is ovile, so I figured the English word was the one that sounded closest,” he says, laughing, “and told the congregation that we must each help the lost sheep into the oven.”

Martin Luther King Jr. would have turned 87 this month. Take part in these events to salute a great American icon and remember his calls for justice and peace.

MLK CHILDREN’S BIRTHDAY PARTY
1/16: Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. 1-3 p.m. $5. 443-263-1800. Bring the kids for this Dr. King birthday party featuring stories, games, and songs, plus birthday cake and ice cream.

MLK DAY CELEBRATION
1/18: Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $5. 443-263-1800. This daylong celebration features community discussions, a cultural performance, storytelling, arts, and crafts.

SELMA
1/18: Carroll Arts Center, 91 W. Main St., Westminster. 1-3 p.m. $5-6. 410-848-7272. Catch this Oscar-nominated film, a moving portrait of the civil rights leader’s 1965 march.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY
1/18: American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. 410-244-1900. Enjoy free admission with guided tours, workshops, and special performances in honor of Dr. King.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY PARADE
1/18: MLK Blvd. and Eutaw St. Noon. Free. 410-752-8632. The city honors the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with regional marching bands, color guards, steppers, equestrian units, dance squads, civic organizations, and floats.

MLK CONVOCATION
1/18: Loyola University, McGuire Hall, 4501 N. Charles St. 5 p.m. Free. 410-617-5077. Hear Claudia Rankine, an award-winning Jamaican-born poet and leading voice in racial discourse.

I HAVE A DREAM
1/21: Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 10 a.m. & 12:15 p.m. $6-7. 301-600-2828. Follow Dr. King’s journey in this stage adaptation of his influential life.

DAYBREAK OF FREEDOM
1/30: Jim Rouse Theatre, 5460 Trumpeter Rd., Columbia. 7:30 p.m. $10-25. 410-997-1317. Joseph Schwanter’s classical work is brought to life by the Columbia Orchestra with words by King himself.

PRATT CONTEMPORARIES BLACK & WHITE PARTY
Jan. 30. Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral St. 8 p.m. $100. 410-396-5430. Don’t miss the party of all parties when the Pratt Contemporaries annual Black & White Party returns to the local library this month. This year, at the central Mt. Vernon location, guests will head out of the winter cold and into the warm forest of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Dress up in your finest fairy-queen garb, mingle with Chesapeake Shakespeare Company performers, and sip on beer from The Brewer’s Art. Like Puck’s love potion, this soirée will surely leave you enchanted by the end of the night.

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TEDXBALTIMORE
Jan. 14. Morgan State University. 2201 Argonne Dr. 8 a.m.-7 p.m. $60. 410-982-0799.
The annual TEDxBaltimore event will provide the perfect opportunity to clear out the cobwebs that may have gathered in your brain during the holidays. Modeled after the popular TED talks, the symposium will see 18 movers, shakers, and thinkers distill their messages into 18-minute multimedia presentations around this year’s theme of “Outliers.” In addition, speakers will address hot-button issues such as mental illness, the future of higher education, prison reform, reproductive rights, and African-American-led social justice movements. In between the talks, there will be time for refreshments and networking. We’re sure attendees will have no shortage of conversation material. —AM

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AS YOU LIKE IT
Jan. 15-Feb. 14. Towson University, Mainstage Theatre, 1 Fine Arts Dr., Towson. Times vary. $10-69. 410-332-0033. On the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, Center Stage kicks off the new year with a classic Bard comedy. Traditionally performed by an all-male cast, this new production lends the spotlight to the ladies with an all-female troupe. While its Mt. Vernon digs undergo renovations, the theater company sets up shop at Towson University to perform this entangled tale about love, politics, and gender roles.

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LOWER DENS
Jan. 15-16. Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St. 9 p.m. $13. 410-662-0069. It’s been a big year for Lower Dens. The local indie-pop quartet dropped a heavily heralded album, Escape From Evil, embarked on a European tour, and made national news with frontwoman Jana Hunter discussing topics like politics, race, and gender with big-name outlets like CNN, BBC, Pitchfork, and Cosmopolitan. As the band embarks on a new North American tour, hear its ambient, ’80s-tinged rock for two nights in Remington this month, with fellow locals like Abdu Ali, Microkingdom, and Chiffon.

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DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PARADE
Jan. 18. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Eutaw St. 12 p.m. Free. 410-752-8632. It was more than 50 years ago that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. took the national stage to champion racial equality, nonviolence, freedom, and peace. Today, his words are more relevant than ever, and in light of recent social unrest and urgent calls for justice around the country, there’s no better time to honor his important civil rights legacy at this 15th annual parade featuring dance squads, school bands, handmade floats, and community organizations.

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UNDER THE SKIN
Jan. 20-Feb. 21. Everyman Theatre, 315 W. Fayette St. Times vary. $10-60. 410-752-2208. After a sold-out world premiere in Philadelphia, this new play makes its way to Everyman to join the local theater’s already-stellar season. The funny, moving, yet somewhat dark work by Michael Hollinger (also of award-winning drama Opus and spy spoof Red Herring) examines family dynamics, complicated relationships, and unexpected love. Follow a sick father, his estranged daughter, and a kidney-donating stranger in this tangled love story that explores what it means to give part of yourself to someone else.

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GARTH BROOKS
Jan. 22-23 & 29-30. Royal Farms Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St. Times vary. Sold out. 410-347-2020. Since 1989, Garth Brooks has won multiple Grammys, dozens of CMAs, and sold more than 100 million records, making him the best-selling solo artist of all time (outdoing even Mr. Presley himself). The Oklahoman country legend cemented himself in music history with top 10 hits like “The Dance,” “The Thunder Rolls,” and the ultimate drunken bar song, “Friends in Low Places.” This month, he comes to the RoFo Arena for five sold-out performances with his wife of 10 years and a superstar in her own right, the one-and-only Trisha Yearwood.

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THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Jan. 27-Feb. 7. Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 12 N. Eutaw St. Times vary. $27.25-147. 41å0-837-7400. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s dark romantic masterpiece has been a Broadway bastion for nearly 30 years, with its timeless story, iconic half-mask, and organ-riddled theme song haunting us long after the curtain falls. Now helmed by musical producer Cameron Mackintosh (also of Cats, Les Misérables, and Mary Poppins fame), the smash-hit show comes to Baltimore bigger and better than ever, with an all-new production featuring fresh sets, choreography, costumes, special effects, and a 52-member cast and orchestra.

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FETTY WAP
Jan. 28. Towson University, SECU Arena, 8000 York Rd., Towson. 8 p.m. $20-30. 855-888-4437. This young rapper skyrocketed to stardom last year after his breakout hit “Trap Queen” met the masses and went viral. Within no time, the debut single became the hands-down song of summer 2015, racing up the Billboard Hot 100, racking up 300 million views on YouTube alone, and inspiring every mom to awkwardly ask her kids, “What’s a trap queen?” It solidified itself in pop and sports culture, too, as a trivia answer on Jeopardy! and a post-game prank, when the Kansas City Royals confused reporters by repeatedly slipping its lyrics into interviews during their World Series run this past fall. That kind of fame might be hard to follow up, but with his wobbly verses, infectious beats, and subsequent singles featuring the likes of meme-dream Drake, it’s safe to say the 2015 VMA Artist to Watch will have our attention for some time to come.

Historical Notes

January 19, 2015

Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard

“I won’t be doing a lot of twirling,” says Dunbar High School drum major Martuise Montgomery, a silver baton tucked into the nook of his elbow as he rubs his hands together before the start of the 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade. “I’m afraid I’ll drop it. I’m freezing, but it’s important to be here. We’re marching to honor Dr. King’s marches.”

Despite the chill, deep crowds line the 10-block route and, moments later, Martuise kick-starts the trombones and trumpets with pumps of his baton. Their first number, “Wade into the Water,” is an old Negro spiritual, which Harriet Tubman used as a reminder to escaping slaves to get off the trail to prevent dogs from tracking their scents. Nearly 70 groups follow Dunbar’s lead, including the Buffalo Soldiers of the Baltimore Chapter 9th and 10th Calvary Association on horseback, and neighborhood marching bands like the Westsiders and Baltimore Go-Getters.

Among the songs blasting today is Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday.”

“Many of our kids know that song, but don’t know that Stevie Wonder wrote it in 1980 because of the backlash against making Dr. King’s birthday a holiday,” says Charles Funn, Dunbar’s band director. “That song swayed public opinion. I’m not just a music teacher,” Funn adds, standing next to Martuise, who eventually worked up a sweat with his high stepping, as the band gathers near their bus afterward. “I was about their age when Dr. King was shot. I try to be a history teacher, too.”

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Dark Places

January 19, 2015
West Fayette Street

Laura Fabian places three red roses at Edgar Allan Poe’s memorial on what would be the macabre poet’s 206th birthday. “One for each person buried,” she says, a telltale smile alluding to the discomforting weirdness that remains the hallmark of the writer’s mysterious work—and life. “That’s Poe, his cousin/wife Virginia, and his aunt/mother-in-law Maria.”

Per tradition, there’s also a reading this afternoon of a few of Poe’s despairing poems, including “Alone,” by local actor Tony Tsendeas, dressed, appropriately, in black from head to toe.

“My sorrow—I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone—
And all I lov’d—I lov’d alone.”

Following the readings, Poe House curator emeritus Jeff Jerome and this year’s honored guest, Victoria Price, daughter of legendary horror movie villain Vincent Price, lay a rose-filled wreath on the grave, a birthday custom dating back to the 1920s. Afterward, Price tells the gathering that her father, who starred in numerous Poe-inspired films, particularly loved his poems, which naturally suited her father’s rare combination of gifts—a mellifluous voice and intimidating 6-foot-4 presence.

In fact, Jerome adds, Vincent Price deserves great credit for bringing Poe’s works to wider notice with his 1960’s films. He also notes that the actor visited Poe’s memorial and the catacombs beneath Westminster Hall in 1977. “He was in a show at the Morris Mechanic and this was before the renovations here,” Jerome explains. “At one point, when we’re down in the catacombs, which were even darker and creepier than they are now, I felt him grab my arm and pull me toward him.

‘I don’t like it in here,’ he whispers.

“And what did I blurt out [in reply]? ‘Oh, you big baby.'”

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Cat Power

January 25, 2015
York Road

There’s a kangaroo and a monkey inside the Maryland State Fairgrounds’ Cow Palace, but most animals at the packed World of Pets Expo appear to be domesticated. Filled with folks who’ve brought their own dogs for a look-see, the three-day show features parrot-training demos, pet CPR workshops, canine “good citizen” tests, and a talk on animal hospice care. There are rabbits and alpacas as well as booths for pet portraits and, believe it or not, a rat rescue operation. Highlights today include the “Gerbil Olympics,” the dog long-jumping finals, championship pure-breed shows, and the 7th Annual Household Pet Cat Show.

Thirty-two felines are entered in the household pet competition, a sort of beauty contest for the every-cat, where Norma Anderson, 75, an American Cat Fanciers Association judge, checks their cleanliness, paws, and coats on a tiny, well-lit stage. She also engages each cat, petting them, and offering toys and a climbing post. The scoring is fairly subjective. “Whatever cat I enjoy the most,” says Anderson, who has 13 of her own.

Most contestants are tabbies of various hues, but there’s also a hairless sphynx that resembles ET and a British shorthair named Earl Grey. “He likes tea,” volunteers his owner. Of course, the cats generally appear uninterested. Ultimately, a tabby named Johnny Rotten, who, unlike his punk-rock namesake, is exceedingly cuddly, wins first place. “The outgoing cats win because most cats aren’t that way,” says Anderson. “Dogs love everyone. With cats, you have to earn their trust and affection, which is harder, but it’s also why people like them. You know what they say, ‘Dogs have owners and cats have staffs.'”