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EAT

June 27: SoBeachy Haitian Cuisine Indoor Reopening and Customer Appreciation Day

Cross Street Market. 1065 S Charles St. 4-8 p.m.

As Cross Street Market in Federal Hill reopens its doors with social distancing measures, veteran vendor SoBeachy Haitian Cuisine is saying thank you to customers for sticking by them throughout the pandemic. Husband-and-wife owners Leo and Chanel Fleurimond are offering 10 percent-off of all orders this Saturday from 4-8 p.m. Go and get your fill of authentic Haitian recipes such as pineapple-glazed vegetables, marinated chicken, smoked turkey sausage, and fried whole red snapper, and then wash it all down with a signature island cocktail mixed with fresh juice. Customers are encouraged to place orders in advance via email.

DRINK

June 26-28: Urban Axes Reopening

1 North Haven St. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

As if axe-throwing isn’t fun enough, Urban Axes in Highlandtown allows you to fine-tune your bullseye skills while enjoying a cold one. As of this weekend, the neighborhood watering hole and sports venue is back open for business at 25-percent capacity. Head to the Urban Axes website to book open throwing, league practice, and small group sessions, and kick the weekend off with some friendly competition while downing your choice of canned wine, beer, or hard cider from the bar.

SEE

June 27: Baltimore Drag Awards

Zoom. 8-11 p.m.

Although most Charm City theaters remained closed due to COVID-19, Creative Alliance knows the show must go on(line). This year’s Baltimore Drag Awards will take place over Zoom, but the streaming show will still bring the party with special guest performances and a virtual cocktail hour. Join hosts Brooklyn Heights and Betty O’Hellno in celebrating the wide range of talented performers within the local drag scene. The theme for this year’s event—known as the drag equivalent of the Academy Awards—is florals, so be sure to break out the spring/summer attire.

HEAR

June 28: Sunday Sounds in the Park with Quinton Randall

Union Square. 4:30-7:30 p.m. Free.

Break out your lawn chairs and head to Southwest Baltimore this weekend to hear acclaimed singer-songwriter and guitarist Quinton Randall kick off this summer concert series at Union Square Park—an ideal social-distancing spot that spans two-and-a-half acres. Neighbors are invited to bring their favorite picnic snacks and beverages of choice to enjoy while listening to the rockstar sounds of Mr. Baltimore Blues himself. The Sunday-afternoon series will continue all summer long and feature some of Charm City’s best artists.

DO

June 27: Maryland Zoo Reopening

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. 1 Safari Place. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

After months of being temporarily closed, the Maryland Zoo is finally ready to reopen its gates to the public—and, yes, the animals have missed you just as much as you’ve missed them. The zoo staff is prepared to keep patrons safe with timed entry reservations and one-way traffic pathways. Grab the little ones and travel to Safari Place to spend your weekend visiting your favorite furry friends.

This week our Diamond Nature School of America—the name we gave our homeschool—grinded to a halt.

Not only has Governor Larry Hogan issued a stricter stay-at-home order (yes, we can still be outside on hikes, but more limited locations), but also we found a crazy looking engorged tick on our 9-year-old’s head.

In a way, seeing our pediatrician (though it was initially in the parking lot) felt normal, but as we moved inside the office (since we were both healthy) it all felt so surreal. Empty waiting rooms, doctors in masks. She was able to remove the tick and we have started two weeks of antibiotics.

“Well this was my most interesting case today,” she told me. I laughed. Imagine being told that in the middle of a pandemic. (And now add Lyme disease to my—long—list of worries.)

And while we aren’t afraid of being outside and have added tick checks after all our hand washing, I was happy to compile this list of indoor activities from some beloved local institutions.

I’ll just add that all these options, while well intentioned, can also feel overwhelming. I’m here to say you don’t have to do everything. You can let your kids choose or write each program/video/activity down and choose one or two a day from a bowl. These should only bring joy.

The Maryland Zoo is hosting a new “Zoo To You” Instagram series with animal check-ins every weekday at 11 a.m. We especially love an occasional photo of chimp babies, Lola and Violet.

Center Stage’s “Camp at Home” DIY learning series features eight weeks of interactive at-home storytelling with simple activities and a new unit released each week on Facebook.

The Maryland Science Center has created a “Let’s Science Together” page that includes a massive catalogue of at-home experiments and star maps, along with some live-streaming at home activities (like Maker Monday) and the five-object challenge every Thursday.

The American Visionary Art Museum offers at-home art projects, downloadable coloring pages, educational materials for pre-K through middle school kids, and even a how-to guide on making their beloved sock monkeys at home.

Port Discovery’s Instagram has great #PlayatHome projects for kids, from a simple slime recipe (plus info about animals who create their own slime naturally) to painting with slinky to creating sensory rice bins.

Baltimore County Public Library has a “Storyline” where kids can choose between six different stories each week, read aloud by the librarians. It can be accessed by simply calling 410-887-6116.

National Aquarium has at-home aquatic activities from word finds to coloring books to octopus mask-making, but our favorites are the tank cams of the blue blubber jellies, Pacific coral reef, and the Blacktip Reef exhibit. (Though we really miss Calypso the sea turtle.)

Kevin Sherry, a local kids book illustrator, is doing sing-along’s and live readings of his books on Instagram and his YouTube channel, along with lots of drawings to download and color, and our favorite, “COVID Quarantine with Kinkos,” a short comic about Sherry and his cat.

WTMD’s Home School with Sam Gallant is spinning educational songs every day at 10 a.m. on 89.7 FM or online at wtmd.org. We also love the station’s Young At Heart marathons hosted daily by Lisa Matthews, the lead singer of the Grammy-nominated kids rock band, Milkshake.

Irvine Nature Center has been posting tips for exploring nature at home, plus videos including songs, easy activities, and even some feeding time with their resident vulture, along with sharing their Nature Preschool’s YouTube channel.

Other favorites include pirate story time from Urban Pirates, The Creative Alliance’s Storytime with Drag Queens, and Route One Apparel’s awesome Baltimore coloring book. It’s a free download, but any donation will go straight to their employees.

Feel free to send any other great, local activities to: djanelle@baltimoremagazine.net.

If you grew up in Baltimore during the 1950s, you may remember Betsy, a chimpanzee from the-then Baltimore Zoo who could paint with her fingers. Dubbed the Paintin’ Primate, Betsy was a highlight of This Is Your Zoo, a weekly program on WAAM-TV (now WJZ) whose host was the inimitable zoo director, Arthur Watson.

Seeing Betsy in her smock (and sometimes a beret) dash off painting after painting might have made you think that all apes could paint, and that you had better get on the ball and do something to keep up with them. For those long-ago, black-and-white TV days, it was a weirdly inspiring, bizarrely Baltimore story.

At least one Baltimorean remembers watching Betsy on TV and the lasting effect it had on him.

In his new book, Mr. Know-It-All, filmmaker John Waters paints Betsy as a star of the airwaves and shares his memories of her brush with greatness. He was about 12 when she made her TV debut. In a chapter entitled “Betsy,” Waters recounts her brief but colorful life, from her arrival in Baltimore from Liberia at the age of 2, to her rise to the pinnacle of the animal artist world, to her tragic death following a painful encounter with Spunky the Monkey, and the pioneering but ultimately unsuccessful surgery that failed to save her life.

As Waters tells it, Betsy was so popular with her finger painting at the zoo, now known as the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, that its “hambone” director decided to make her a star on his local TV show, and the zoo reaped the benefits.

“After a contest on the show to select a name, Betsy made her debut and was an immediate hit,” Waters writes. “She painted on live TV. Her local publicity got so big that she had to go national. Realizing that he had a star that needed exploiting, Dr. [Arthur] Watson took Betsy on the road. Wearing a white bonnet and carrying a pink suitcase, she arrived in New York City for a round of appearances, including The Garry Moore Show on CBS and Tonight on NBC. Her work was already selling, too, raising much needed money for the zoo animals’ fund back at home.”

According to a report from the zoo’s archives, Watson was experimenting with ideas for entertaining children on his weekly show when he first put Betsy in front of an easel.

“After tasting a bit of magenta and yellow paint and chewing on a paintbrush or two, Betsy began to smear paint on paper with enthusiasm,” the zoo document says. “Her moods influenced the type of paintings produced,and her production varied from four to twelve paintings in an hour. Utilizing tempera paint on paper and a technique similar to finger-painting, Betsy also used her palms, elbows, feet, and tongue to produce paintings . . . that were compared to the works of abstract expressionist painter, Willem de Kooning.”

Watson coaxed other chimps to paint, but no one could perform like Betsy. Soon, other zoos attempted to get their animals to produce paintings, Waters writes, and in 1957 there was an international rivalry between Betsy of Baltimore and Congo the male chimp from the London Zoo, who worked with oil and even “used an actual paintbrush or two.”

Seeking to add a spark of romance to Betsy’s storyline, Waters notes, Watson fixed her up with a “public boyfriend,” but that led to her downfall. After a suitor named Dr. Thom didn’t work out, Watson used money raised from Betsy’s paintings to bring in Spunky the Monkey and made him Betsy’s sham paramour. Unfortunately, Spunky had no interest in painting (or playing the piano either, despite Watson’s best efforts.) Beyond that, he fell on Betsy one day and broke her leg, sending her into shock.

“Betsy was rushed to a human hospital and given emergency treatment including open heart surgery but, alas, she passed away,” Waters reports. “Betsy’s obituary appeared in Time magazine and one Baltimore paper in a front-page story remembered her as the Picasso of the Primates.”

Waters sums up the saga as “an artwork horror story to rival Jackson Pollack’s fatal car crash.” And yet, he says, “for a monkey who lived only nine years, Betsy certainly left her mark in art history.”

Waters uses Betsy as a starting point to write about all the other chimps, gorillas, and orangutans who became animal artists in the second half of the 1950s, which he calls “The Golden Age of Monkey Art.” (Chimps are not the same as monkeys, but both are considered primates, as are humans, according to the Jane Goodall Institute. Most monkeys have tails, while chimps and humans don’t.)

Besides Congo, who was billed as the “Cezanne of the Ape World” and who could draw circles as well as hold a brush, Waters’ list includes Achilla the Gorilla, Alexander the orangutan from the London Zoo, Sophie the gorilla from the Rotterdam Zoo, Dzeta, a pygmy chimpanzee from an animal farm in Belgium, Charles the gorilla from the Toronto Zoo, and Peter the ape from Sweden’s Boras Zoo.

But Waters keeps coming back to Betsy, the “Frida Kahlo of finger painting.” He reports that Betsy brought in $4,500 in second-hand sales of her paintings (her creations typically sold for $40 to $50 each, according to the zoo) and he believes the time is right for a Betsy revival.

Waters heard somewhere that the zoo may have a stack of unsold Betsy paintings lying around and believes now is the time for the zoo, and art collectors everywhere, to cash in. He writes that the zoo gave him a painting by Betsy for his 70th birthday—he calls it his “monkey masterpiece”—but confesses he wasn’t exactly sure how to hang it because he couldn’t tell which side was supposed to be up.

“Oddly vaginal, the work on paper strikes an uneasy balance between the cliché blue of boyhood, and the hackneyed pink of femininity,” he writes, in his best critic voice. “Yes, it is a conflicted vision—alarming and even violent in the middle, but Betsy’s unhesitating gestures, her nuanced marks and digital stabs at clarity, turn a mere finger painting into an arduous monkey version of Gustave Courbet’s scandalous ‘L’Origine du Monde.’”

Jane Ballentine, senior director of development and communications for the zoo, said there are two Betsy paintings stored away for safekeeping, and she’s unaware of any others still there. But she doesn’t deny that Betsy was a star and an inspiration to others. In fact, she says, the zoo even today has an annual “art auction” at which it sells works by animal artists, including Christmas ornaments and other items featuring markings made by penguins, snakes and ostriches.

Waters, who just turned 73, said that he wrote about Betsy “for all the obvious reasons I talk about” in the chapter: she provides a window into the art world, her paintings represent potential investments for collectors, and she was a local hero who achieved “true stardom.”

He said he hasn’t spoken about Betsy in public before, and his book is the first time he has gone into any detail about her in his writing. He keeps the painting he got from the zoo at his home in Baltimore.

“I had been living with a love of Betsy ever since I started collecting art,” he confides. “But selfishly kept her to myself so I could be her biggest fan in the privacy of my own home.”

While writing about Betsy brought back fond memories, “everything in the book brings back fond memories,” he added.

Part of the advice Waters gives in the Betsy chapter is that now is the time to buy monkey art, especially by Betsy. “There’s only so much work available,” he says. “Once a market is established, the prices will get ridiculous. Betsy’s not around to object.”

But there’s another lesson from the chapter that has nothing to do with investing in art. It’s about following your dreams and living up to your potential. Waters doesn’t come right out and say it, but watching Betsy when he was young seems to have lit a fire under him and inspired him to make his own art. It showed him the power of having a skill and turning it into a brand. If Betsy could find a calling, he seems to say, why can’t we all?

Preakness Stakes
May 16-18. 5201 Park Heights Ave. Times and prices vary. When he was a senior in high school, Weston Hamilton decided, practically on a whim, to become a jockey after graduation. The son of Steve “Cowboy” Hamilton, a champion racer, Weston grew up trail riding and looking at pictures of his dad as a “jock,” and he wanted to try it for himself. Fast-forward two years: He’s the country’s leading apprentice and has garnered more than $3 million in purse earnings. Weston says he looks forward to competing during Preakness weekend because it reminds him of the “good ol’ days” of racing, with onlookers dressed to the nines and cheering from the sidelines. “You get butterflies when you see everyone watching you and your horse,” says Weston. “It’s like no other feeling in the world.”—KP

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Maryland Film Festival
May 8-12. Time varies. Station North Arts and Entertainment District. $8-450. Baltimore might not be as glamorous as Hollywood, but according to film critic Richard Brody, it becomes the “center of cinematic gravity” each year during this five-day film celebration. Whether you’re a casual moviegoer or a full-blown cinephile, take advantage of this opportunity to watch more than 100 shorts, features (including The Mountain, starring Jeff Goldblum), and documentaries, as well as attend Q&A sessions and workshops with acclaimed filmmakers at the historic Parkway Theatre in Station North.

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FlowerMart
May 3-4. 11 a.m. 699 Washington Pl.. Free. This time-honored Mt. Vernon tradition signals the start of the spring with tons of flowers, extravagant hats, and the festival’s signature lemon sticks. Spend the weekend browsing through wares by local arts and crafts vendors, area food trucks, and, of course, flower carts that will decorate the neighborhood during this weekend-long family-friendly affair.

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Baltimore Tattoo Convention
May 3-5. Times vary. The Baltimore Convention Center. Free-$40. The Baltimore Convention Center has hosted some eclectic events over the years (think Comic-Con and Bronycon), and this annual convention that brings all walks of life together to celebrate the art of tattooing is no exception. With dozens of tattoo contests, local and regional vendors, seminars, and special guests such as past contestants from the TV show Ink Masters, we can almost guarantee that you’ll leave the downtown center with at least one new tat.

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Kinetic Sculpture Race
May 4. 5 p.m. Location varies. Free-$75. Objects typically written off as junk—think used bicycles and gears—are front and center for this human-powered and slightly lunatic sculpture race. During this signature citywide event hosted by the American Visionary Art Museum, try your hand at “engineering” a rideable structure and race around the Inner Harbor for the chance to win outrageous prizes such as the “Grand Mediocre East Coast Champion Award” or cheer on your faves from the sidelines.

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An Intimate Evening with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen
May 11. 8 p.m. 12 N Eutaw St. $93.50-137.50. Though they typically appear on opposite ends of the TV spectrum—with Anderson Cooper anchoring on CNN and Andy Cohen schmoozing with celebrities on his late-night show Watch What Happens Live—the two stars will team up to interview each other at this one-night-only event at the Hippodrome Theatre. From swapping celebrity gossip to hosting a Q&A session with the audience, experience Cooper and Cohen’s undeniable chemistry and hear embarrassing anecdotes that could only result from a longtime friendship.

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RemFest
May 11. 12 p.m.-9 p.m. Remington Ave. and 28th St. Free. Despite the smash-hit success of the first-ever RemFest, Remington-based businesses and neighbors are gunning to make this year’s festival even bigger and better. Along with more than 75 local artisan vendors, family-friendly activities, and libations by Union Craft Brewing and r.bar, the outdoor festival boasts a killer lineup of local acts including Soul Cannon, Super City, and rising banjo player Jacob Panic. Spend the day celebrating this evolving neighborhood and check out top spots like B. Willow and Charmington’s while you’re in the neighborhood.

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Hitching Their Dreams to Untamed Stars
May 15-Dec. 1. Time varies. 10 Art Museum Dr. Free. If you do nothing else this spring, visit the Baltimore Museum of Art to experience this awe-inspiring exhibition that celebrates the profound work of MacArthur-award winning local artist Joyce J. Scott and her mother, Elizabeth Talford Scott. The curated collection features Elizabeth’s experimental textile pieces, including a quilt that depicts the North Star as a matriarchal beacon of freedom, along with examples of Joyce’s art that responds to her mother’s textile tradition. The exhibition’s seven-month run encourages visitors to view the pair’s thought-provoking bodies of work again and again.

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92Q Spring Bling Festival
May 24. 7:30p.m. 201 W Baltimore St. $110-310. Whether you love her or not, there’s no denying that stripper-turned-rapper Cardi B has taken the world by storm. This month, the Grammy Award-winning queen will grace the Royal Farms Arena to headline 92Q’s annual spring concert, and she’s sure to bring the house down with hits like “Money” and “Be Careful.” Get there early to hear sets by rising rappers including Yo Gotti, Moneybagg Yo, and Blac Youngsta.

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Brew at the Zoo
May 25-26. Time varies. 1 Safari Pl. $24.99-75.99. We can’t think of a better way to kick off Memorial Day weekend than hanging out with the Maryland Zoo’s polar bears and penguins while sipping on local brews. In between unlimited samplings of beers from more than 80 breweries, bop along to live music by artists such as Ballyhoo! and Amish Outlaws and soak up the suds with eats from dozens of food vendors. Best of all? Every dollar raised during this annual fundraiser goes directly back to the zoo.

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Looking to add a bit of culture to your afternoon? There is no shortage of great museums around Baltimore. Whether it’s art, science, history, or a particular famous figure you’re interested in, there’s a place nearby to spend your day wandering and learning.

American Visionary Art Museum

This unique museum celebrating outsider art was named by Congress as the country’s official museum for self-taught art. Come for the elaborate sculptures, gorgeous drawings, and interesting assemblage pieces, then stick around to browse Sideshow, the treasure trove of a museum store downstairs. As a bonus, AVAM is free for federal employees (and up to three others) during the 2019 government shutdown with a valid ID.

For more visionary and local art, try: MICA Galleries, Eubie Blake Cultural Center

Baltimore Museum of Art

This free museum houses a collection of 95,000 works, so you’re sure to find something to interest everyone among its vast collection. Lovers of modern art will want to linger in the galleries housing the famed Cone Collection, while those looking for the more non-traditional can usually find something interesting and extraordinary in the Contemporary Wing or special exhibition galleries. Recent shows have included a John Waters retrospective, surreal visions of some of Europe’s great conflicts, and a look back at the BMA’s first exhibit to feature black artists.

For more art and antiques, try: Maryland Art Place, School 33 Art Center

Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African-American History & Culture

The Smithsonian-affiliated Reginald F. Lewis Museum is home to art, photographs, sculptures, military antiques, and ephemera chronicling Maryland’s African-American history from 1784 to the present. Although it’s connected to the Smithsonian, the Lewis Museum remains open throughout the shutdown and is offering free admission to furloughed workers and up to three guests with a valid government I.D.

For more African-American history and culture, try: Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park, National Great Blacks in Wax Museum

The Walters Art Museum

Housed across three buildings (including a historic residence) in Mount Vernon, the Walters features an extensive collection of Asian antiquities and decorative arts. Wander the Chamber of Wonders to experience what a 1600s nobleman might have shown off in his lavish home, or head to the 1 West Mount Vernon Place to see contemporary art placed alongside the preserved architecture of a 19th-century townhouse.

For more historic homes and exhibits, try: The Johns Hopkins Museums, The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House

The Baltimore Museum of Industry

Explore Baltimore’s history as a hub of business and industry at this South Baltimore museum housed in a former cannery. Exhibits include a 1900s garment loft, a recreated soda fountain, a print shop, and a gallery dedicated to how Baltimore fueled the rise of the automobile. Don’t forget to stop by the Baltimore docked outside—she’s the oldest steam-powered tugboat in the United States.

For more transportation and industrial history, try: The B&O Railroad Museum, Baltimore Streetcar Museum

Maryland Historical Society

The MdHS is the state’s oldest, continuously operating cultural institution, having been responsible for documenting Maryland history since 1844. With exhibits featuring figures such as The Catonsville Nine, Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte, and the Peale Family of painters, this collection is comprised of more than seven million items from pre-Colonial times to the present.

For more great figures from Baltimore’s past, try: The Babe Ruth Birthplace & Museum, Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum

Maryland Science Center

With a history going back to 1797 with the Maryland Academy of Sciences, this Inner Harbor spot has evolved into a family-friendly exploration of the natural world, from the smallest cells to history’s largest creatures. Visitors can also take advantage of Davis Planetarium or catch a movie on the IMAX screen, which will reopen in March after theater renovations are complete.

For more hands-on learning, try: Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Historic Ships in Baltimore

National Aquarium

Plan to spend some serious time at this colorful spot. Beyond the normal fish, rays, and other aquatic critters, you’ll find sloths, puffins, crocodiles, and more scattered across the many habitats housed in this multi-level aquarium. An indoor rainforest, a stories-high shark tank, and a living reef featuring Calypso, a rescued sea turtle, are just a few of the highlights in this gem overlooking the Inner Harbor. Book your timed entry ticket online to avoid long lines, and go first thing in the morning or late in the day to avoid the field trip crowd.

For more nature encounters, try: The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Rawlings Conservatory

We’ve seen cars, life-sized human replicas, and even houses built out of Lego blocks. But a turtle at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore has a one-of-a-kind Lego creation to help get him moving again.

When a zoo employee brought an injured wild Eastern box turtle to the zoo for treatment in July, the diagnosis was bleak. He suffered from multiple fractures on his plastron, or the bottom of his shell, which posed an obstacle for Dr. Ellen Bronson, senior director of animal health, conservation, and research at the zoo.

“We’re pretty sure the injuries were caused by a vehicle, it happens frequently in the city,” she said. “The bottom of his shell was in seven different fragments—it was kind of like putting a puzzle together. Because of the unique placement of the fractures, we faced a difficult challenge with maintaining his mobility while allowing him to heal properly.”

After performing an hour-long surgery to stabilize the turtle’s shell using metal bone plates, sewing clasps, and surgical wire to hold it all together, the team needed to figure out how to keep him mobile without damaging the shell.

“It was important to keep the bottom of the shell off the ground so it could heal properly,” Bronson explained. “We had to make something that wouldn’t be attached to the bottom, but that could keep him mobile. As zoo and wildlife vets, we are faced with challenges that people have never seen before so we have to come up with creative ways to treat the animals.”

Garrett Fraess, a fourth-year veterinary student working at the zoo, was up to the task. Thinking outside of the box, he drew up some sketches for a tiny wheelchair, measured the turtle (who is the size of a grapefruit), and sent them to a friend in Denmark who is a “Lego enthusiast.”

From those sketches came a multi-colored, turtle-sized wheelchair made from Lego bricks and Plumbers putty. The unique design features a frame that surrounds his shell with four Lego wheels to help get around using his front legs. The design also allows for natural behaviors, like retreating into his shell when feeling threatened.

“The minute we put it on, he was much more mobile and brighter,” Bronson said. “He’s been moving ever since.”

Because turtles have a slower metabolism than most mammals and birds, it takes them longer to heal. Dr. Bronson says that the nameless turtle will likely be using his custom wheelchair through the winter into early spring.

The zoo has been leading a Druid Hill park Eastern box turtle monitoring program since 1996 where, to date, more than 130 wild turtles have recorded, tagged, and released back into the wild (hence not naming them). These specific types of turtles can be seen in the zoo’s Maryland Wilderness area.

“This particular turtle was originally tagged in 2000, making him at least 18 years old,” Bronson said. “We are very happy that he is recovering well from his injuries and we plan to return him to the wild once he is fully healed.”

Kinetic Sculpture Race 
May 5. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. Sat. 10 a.m. Free. 410-244-1900. Just weeks after learning how to ride a bike at age 4, Eli Hess found himself wearing rubber gloves and goggles, peddling alongside his dad, David, as an official participant in the first Kinetic Sculpture Race. Since then, the Hesses, including David’s now 81-year-old father, George, and the rest of Team PLATYPUS have created and raced 13 human-powered sculptures, including a 25-foot-tall rocket and a cold-cut sub, in AVAM’s annual 14-mile trek around the city. This year, their team, which stands for Personal Longrange All-Terrain Yacht Proven Unsafe, will ride “the mothership,” through water, mud, and the uphill Linwood Avenue stretch on May 5 in the museum’s 20th anniversary race. “The water separates the adults from the boys,” George says with a laugh. “It’s the rough and tumble world of kinetic sculpture racing.”

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Maryland Film Festival 
May 2-6. Parkway Theatre, 5 W. North Ave. Times vary. $11-425. 410-752-8083. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Baltimore’s cinematic celebration, which has hosted thousands of novice moviegoers, flick aficionados, and renowned filmmakers such as John Waters, David Lowery, and Greta Gerwig. This cinephile’s paradise returns with a five-day jubilee of movies—from shorts to full-length narrative features and documentaries—shown throughout the Station North Arts District. In between screenings, attend Q&A sessions with filmmakers, as well as workshops and panel discussions at Red Emma’s.

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M3 Rock Festival 
May 4-5. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. 5 p.m. $60-850. 410-715-5550. Bust out your leather pants, studded jackets, and big hair—it’s time to party like it’s 1989. Now in its 10th year, this head-banging music festival is a celebration of all things metal, with iconic bands turning back the clock for all generations of devoted fans to rock out together. Spanning two days and two stages, catch headliners including Baltimore’s own Kix and crowd favorites Tom Keifer, Ace Frehley, and Night Ranger.

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FlowerMart 
May 4-5. Mount Vernon Square, 699 Washington Pl. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free. 410-274-5353. Nothing says springtime in Baltimore quite like seeing the square around the Washington Monument filled with flowers, colorful hats, and classic lemon peppermint sticks. For the 107th year, Mount Vernon’s beloved celebration kicks off the spring season with arts and crafts vendors, live music and entertainment, and plenty
of festival eats. Stroll through the neighborhood to pick out the perfect plant or join in the maypole dance.

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Wham City Comedy 
May 9. Metro Gallery, 1700 N. Charles St. 8 p.m. $10. 410-244-0899. Baltimore’s favorite band of merry misfits is bringing its offbeat brand of comedy back to the Station North neighborhood that started it all.
On the final stop of their spring tour, catch Wham City Comedy’s viral, volatile performance art, as seen on Adult Swim and Comedy Central. Fingers crossed that they perform their hilarious eight-part live series, The Cry of Mann.

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The Catonsville Nine, 50 Years Later 
May 12-31. Maryland Historical Society, 201 W. Monument St. Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 12-5 p.m. Free. 410-685-3750. The Maryland Historical Society is commemorating the Catonsville Nine, a group of Catholic men and women who, 50 years ago this month, burned nearly 400 A-1 draft records to protest the Vietnam War. Featuring artwork by Tom Lewis, who was a member, and additional photographs and materials from the period, the exhibit examines the group’s motivations amid the political chaos and conflict of the late 1960s.

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Preakness 
May 19. Pimlico Race Course, 5201 Park Heights Ave. 8 a.m. $40-720. 410-542-9400. Every year, horse-racing (and day-drinking) fans from near and far come to cheer on the country’s finest thoroughbred horses as they compete for the second jewel of the Triple Crown. Before heading to your seat for this 143rd event, partake in pre-race festivities throughout the city, or hear chart-topping rappers
Post Malone and 21 Savage take over the raucous Infield Fest. 

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Brew At The Zoo 
May 26-27. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1 Safari Pl. 1-7 p.m. $25-75. 410-396-7102. Tap into your wild side at The Maryland Zoo’s 17th annual fundraiser with beers from more than 80 breweries, including local suds from DuClaw Brewing and The Brewer’s Art. In between refilling your glass and gushing over the zoo’s newborn African penguins, listen to live music by local rockers Nelly’s Echo and The Kelly Bell Band and sample snacks from dozens of food vendors. 

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Maggie Rogers 
May 30. Baltimore Soundstage, 124 Market Pl. 7 p.m. $30-35. 410-244-0057. Since skyrocketing to internet stardom after a video with Pharrell Williams (gushing over her now-hit song “Alaska”) went viral, this Maryland native has signed a record deal, toured the globe, and released her first EP, Now That the Light Is Fading. For one night only, the singer-songwriter brings her earthy rhythms and soulful sound to her home state for a must-see performance.

This year, the Maryland Zoo added 31 new and adopted animals to its furry family, and the animal care and veterinary teams work around the clock to provide specialized attention for these newborn and transferred creatures. While, sadly, the zoo announced the loss of four animals this year, including beloved giraffes Julius and Juma, there’s something (or someone) new to see in almost every exhibit.

Bobcat
Six-year-old Josie arrived from the Tulsa Zoo in early 2017 to join Kilgore in the Bobcat Exhibit.

Sitatunga Calves
Jabari was born at the Mesker Park Zoo in Evansville, Indiana, and he and the other sitatungas can be found in the African Journey section of the zoo.

Rhino
The Maryland Zoo has housed rhinos like Jaharo and Stubby since the African Watering Hole opened in 1992.

Giraffe
Willow stood on her own only 50 minutes after being born on February 6, 2017. She is the first giraffe to be born at the zoo in more than 20 years.

Goats
The Goat Corral houses 21 goats, including new additions Armani, Maybelline, and Clementine, sisters Java Bean and Mia, as well as Midge, Hoover, and Lieutenant.

Penguin Chicks
In February, the Maryland Zoo became the first zoo or aquarium in North America to hatch 1,000 African penguin chicks.

Fluid Movement
July 29-Aug. 6.  July 29-30: Druid Hill Park, 800 Wyman Park Dr. Aug. 4-6: Patterson Park, 148 S. Linwood Ave. Fri.-Sun. Times & prices vary. One of the city’s most weirdly wonderful summer events is the Fluid Movement water ballet. This summer, the avant-garde group delves into the 16th-century Renaissance as aquatic ballerinas re-imagine Shakespearean classics such as Hamlet, Macbeth, The Tempest, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Expect loads of glitter and good times as the local troupe fuses Old English prose with Baltimore swimming pools.

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Flicks From The Hill
July 6-Aug. 24. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. Thu. 5-9 p.m. Free. 410-244-1900. Baltimore is home to a hoard of outdoor movie options throughout the summer, but for our money, you can’t top AVAM’s Flicks From the Hill. Perched atop Federal Hill with a sweeping view of the city skyline, it’s the place to be on warm Thursday nights, as the art museum projects big-name blockbusters, cult classics, and family favorites onto a 30-foot screen. Spread out a blanket, unpack your picnic, and best of all, enjoy free museum admission during each and every show.

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Little Italy Open Air Film Festival
July 7-Aug 25. High and Stiles streets. Fri. 7 p.m. Free. 410-558-0022. Every Friday night through August, set up some lawn chairs, grab some free popcorn, and bring friends to watch open-air flicks projected onto the outside wall of Ciao Bella. This year, catch classics like Moonstruck, Grease, Rocky, The Godfather I and II, and, of course, Cinema Paradiso.

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream
July 7-23. Evergreen Museum & Library, 4545 N. Charles St. Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 4 p.m. Free-$20. 410-662-9455. One of Shakespeare’s most popular plays will certainly feel like a summer dream in the grassy meadow at the historic Evergreen Museum. In this magical setting, join the Baltimore Shakespeare Factory for a mischievous, laugh-filled love story.

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David Blaine
July 8. Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 12 N. Eutaw St. 8 p.m. $74.50-127. 410-837-7400. Known more for death-defying illusion than rabbits and top hats, magician, illusionist, and stunt artist David Blaine promises to mesmerize a packed house during his first-ever North American tour. For one night only, let down your guard and prepare to be wowed.

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Merriweather 50th Anniversary Concert
July 15. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. 6 p.m. $55-125. 410-715-5550. It’s been 50 years since Merriweather, arguably Maryland’s best music venue, opened in the Columbia woods. To celebrate its half-century, the iconic stage is in the midst of a major summer lineup—from Jack Johnson and John Legend to Paul Simon and Santana—and now it’s about to kick off a four-act anniversary concert of epic proportions. In one night, hear fiery singer Grace Potter, eccentric songwriter Father John Misty, and two legendary headliners, the ever-gentle Jackson Browne and the pot-smoking country poet Willie Nelson, with his family band. 

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Baltimore Caribbean Carnival
July 15-16. Clifton Park, 2701 St. Lo Dr. Sat. 12-10 p.m., Sun. 12-9 p.m. Free. Take a trip to a Caribbean island this summer without even leaving Baltimore. During this weekend-long celebration of paradise in Clifton Park, soak up the sounds of steel drums, dig into endless authentic eats, and see the colorful costumes at the lively parade. 

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Artscape 2017
July 21-23. Mount Royal Avenue & Cathedral Street. Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. Free. 410-752-8632. The long stretch of iconic art cars, outdoor concerts, and local food vendors will once again take over the heart of Baltimore. Embrace all the youthful excitement that comes with the tradition of summer camp with this year’s theme.

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Zoo Bop Kids Music Festival
July 29. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Dr. 12-4 p.m. Free-$25. 410-396-7102. Finally, kids have a music festival to call their own. The Zoo Bop outdoor concert will feature two kid-approved artists—Baltimore’s own Baby Beats and Latin Grammy winner 123 Andrés, pictured. When the kiddos aren’t grooving to the tunes, they can visit activity tables and food trucks, and partake in all-day admission to view the zoo’s own young ones, like Willow, the baby giraffe.

Kinetic Sculpture Race
May 6. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. 10 a.m. Free. 410-244-1900. The American Visionary Art Museum’s wonderfully wacky Kinetic Sculpture Race returns for the 19th time this month. Across 14 miles from Federal Hill to Canton and back, contestants compete on handmade, human-powered works of art that navigate over land, mud, and water to win awards such as “Worst Honorable Mention” and “Next to Last.” Watch the awesomely awkward spectacle from sidewalks across the city.

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Maryland Film Festival
May 3-7. Parkway Theatre, 5 W. North Ave. Times vary. $10-400. 410-752-8083. It’s lights, camera, action as the Maryland Film Festival kicks off with an unveiling of the newly renovated Parkway Theatre in Station North. Renowned across the country, this five-day fete features more than 100 films from around the globe and right here in town.

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FlowerMart 2017
May 5-6. Mount Vernon Square, 699 Washington Pl. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Free. 410-274-5353. For the 106th year, the square around the Washington Monument will bloom with flowers, festivities, and festival food, like the classic lemon stick. Join in the Maypole dance, follow the floral pet parade, and purchase some petunias to brighten up your home.

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The XX
May 6. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. 7 p.m. $40-55. 410-715-5550. In 2009, The xx seemingly came out of nowhere, their sultry minimalist pop snaking its way onto our playlists and earning endless buzz (including a spot on Rolling Stone’s roundup of best debut albums of all time). Eight years later, there’s still an air of mystery about the English trio. On their third album, I See You, the group’s cool, calm, atmospheric sound has unexpectedly evolved into something richer, brighter, even dance worthy––and it works. Listen to their new single, “On Hold,” and prepare to be enchanted at Merriweather at the start of the month. 

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Ryan Adams
May 12. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. 7:30 p.m. $40-55. 410-715-5550. Ryan Adams may have won us over in decades past with albums like Heartbreaker and Love Is Hell, but if last year’s 1989 Taylor Swift cover album is any indication, the alt-rocker has still got it. Catch his heartfelt, angst-riddled sound this month at Merriweather with new songs from his latest, Prisoner, hopefully a few oldies (like “Hallelujah” and “New York, New York”), and opening act Jenny Lewis.

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Jazz
May 19-June 25. Baltimore Center Stage, 700 N. Calvert St. Tue.-Wed. 8 p.m., Thu. 7 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 2 & 8 p.m., Sun. 2 & 7:30 p.m. $20-69. 410-332-0033. Set in 1920s Harlem, this world-premiere play—based on the novel by Pulitzer and Nobel prize-winning author Toni Morrison––embodies the essence of its musical title. The story skits and scats as it follows Joe and Violet, in love and living in their new city, New York. Naturally, their paths take on different rhythms––at times slow and steady, at others hot and fast and unexpected. Adapted by New York-based playwright Nambi Evelyn Kelley and directed by Center Stage’s inimitable artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah, this dissection of the jazz experience––and the human experience––is a performance not to miss.

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Preakness Stakes
May 20. Pimlico Race Course, 5201 Park Heights Ave. Doors open at 8 a.m. Rain or shine, racing fans will gather for the 142nd time to cheer on this second jewel of the Triple Crown. Partake in the tradition as part of the ever-raucous InfieldFest (which this year features country star Sam Hunt, rising country duo LoCash, and Waldorf’s own pop-punk favorites Good Charlotte) or during one of many events leading up to the big day. Above all, revel in the chance to see America’s next great horse racing champion.

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Bon Iver
May 24. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. 8 p.m. $46-76. 410-715-5550. It’s been nearly 10 years since Bon Iver strummed onto the scene and stirred our souls with the wistful ballads of his debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago. With each earthy melody, Iver, aka singer-songwriter Justin Vernon, created a brand new kind of indie folk, conjuring up images of pastoral love, dreary countrysides, and introspective men wearing flannel and beards. His full-length follow-up was equally ambitious, and now he returns to showcase his much-anticipated third album, 22, A Million. A breathtaking feat, it’s more experimental than his previous works, but even with the electronic influence, Iver finds a familiar, yet completely new, way to pull our heartstrings.

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Brew at the Zoo
May 27-28. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1 Safari Pl. 1-7 p.m. $25-75. 410-396-7102. Grab a cold one and make some furry friends this Memorial Day weekend during the zoo’s 16th annual day-drink with the animals. Sample sips from more than 80 breweries (including homegrown favorites like Flying Dog and The Brewer’s Art), listen to live music (with local talent like The Kelly Bell Band), and enjoy all-day admission for peeks at the penguins or a visit with Willow, the new baby giraffe.

The exhibit is part of the aquarium’s move toward a more conservation-minded approach to its mission that includes relocating its Atlantic bottlenose dolphins to an outdoor, seawater sanctuary by 2020.

“As the highest honor for new exhibits, this award recognizes the National Aquarium’s innovation and commitment in designing a dynamic, immersive habitat that provides the best in animal care and public education to help connect people with nature,” said Keith Winstein, chair of the AZA’s Honors and Award Committee.

We couldn’t agree more and offer our hearty congratulations to both the zoo and the aquarium. But if you suspect that this post is mostly an excuse to post cute penguin videos, well, you’re right.

For Annie Truax, the Baltimore Free to Breathe Team Yoga Challenge is more than just a yogathon. Traux, who is a local barre instructor, lost her mother to lung cancer in March of 2012.

“When I found out about this event, and the cause behind it, I knew I had to be part of it to honor my mom,” says Truax.

Free to Breathe is a partnership among lung cancer survivors, advocates, researchers, and health care professionals that was founded in 2001 by Dr. Joan Schiller in Madison, Wisconsin. Her goal? To double the survival rate of those affected by lung cancer by the year 2022.

The eight-hour event will take place Aug. 21 at the Water Fowl Lake Pavilion at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. Sign up as a team of up to eight people or as an individual (you can be assigned to a team) to receive your fundraising goal. Each hour-long session will be sponsored by local studios and businesses including CorePower Yoga, Baltimore Yoga Village, M.Power Yoga, Dovecote Café, and YogaWorks.

When not practicing downward dog or reverse warrior, participants can visit the Wellness Village, which will feature tents and giveaways from Lululemon, Shake Shack, Gundalow Juice, and more. There will also be physical therapy, Reiki, and meditation demonstrations from some of the area’s leading experts. This will be the first Free to Breathe Team Yoga Challenge held in Baltimore, which was chosen because of the rapid growth of its health and fitness industry.

“Our hope is that this event will continue to grow and we find critical funding for our mission,” says Nicole Phipps Pietras, senior events manager for Free to Breathe. With so many fitness gurus and our favorite instructors in one place, it is guaranteed to be a great day for a great cause.

8/5-20: Restaurant Week
Participating restaurants. Whether it’s brunch, lunch, or dinner, enjoy 15 days of prix fixe menus from 60 of Baltimore County’s top chefs and best restaurants.

8/6: Frederick Wine Festival
Carroll Creek Linear Park, S. Market St., Frederick. At this inaugural festival, feast on eats from local chefs as you wine your way through vintages from Maryland vineyards.

8/6-7: Caribbean Wine Splash
Dove Valley Winery, 645 Harrington Road, Rising Sun. Sip wine, shop local artisans, and soak up the sounds of Caribbean music, steel drums, and reggae in Cecil County.

8/12-13 MD State BBQ Bash
2 S. Bond St., Bel Air. Join thousands of meat lovers for this annual food truck rally and competition for the best barbecue in the state.

8/13: Sip and Stroll
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Dr. Take an intimate evening tour of the zoo while enjoying wine, beer, and hors d’oeuvres.

8/20: Vegan Soulfest
Baltimore City Community College, 2901 Liberty Heights Ave. Learn about the vegan lifestyle with guest speakers, local purveyors, food vendors, and local artists.

Sleepover with the Sharks
7/1. National Aquarium, 501 E. Pratt St. 5:30 p.m.-9 a.m. $120. 410-659-4230. Discover the incredible nature of sharks with a kid-friendly dinner, 4-D film, behind-the-scenes tour, and sleepover.

Owl Prowl & Campfire
7/15. Cromwell Valley Park, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Rd. 8-9:30 p.m. $2-4. 410-887-2503. In the heat of summer, trek through the woods, build a campfire, and learn how to hoot for owls.

Where the Wild Things Art
7/20. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Dr. 5:30-8 p.m. $45. 443-552-5276. For one night, sip wine, enjoy a drink, and meet the animals at the zoo.

Wine & Wag
7/21. Maryland SPCA, 3300 Falls Rd. 5:30-7:30 p.m. $10.410-245-8826. At this summertime happy hour, sip orange crushes, listen to live music, and bring your pets to benefit the animals at Maryland SPCA.

Water, Water, Everywhere!
7/23. Irvine Nature Center, 11201 Garrison Forest Rd., Owings Mills. 9:30-11 a.m. $20-40. 443-738-9200. Spend a morning exploring local streams and discovering water life like turtles, crayfish, and frogs.

Yappy Hour
7/21. Hunt Valley Towne Centre, 118 Shawan Rd., Cockeysville. 6 p.m.-dark. Free. 410-833-8848. This happy hour features fun for dog lovers and dogs, with drinks and mingling to benefit the Baltimore Humane Society.

141st Preakness Stakes
May 21. Pimlico Race Course, 5201 Park Heights Ave. Doors open at 8 a.m. Race begins at 6:18 p.m. As the second jewel in thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes is where champions either emerge or collapse. Over the race’s 141 years, many favorites have come to Pimlico Race Course, only to find their dreams dashed a mile and three-sixteenths later. But then there are moments like last year, when American Pharoah—on his way to becoming the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years—went wire-to-wire on a sloppy, rain-soaked track to remind us why horse racing is The Sport of Kings. This year’s race will see another promising field compete for a place in racing history. But even if the Preakness doesn’t offer the drama of American Pharoah’s run, there will be plenty to enjoy, including 10 other races and the annual InfieldFest, headlined this year by DJ duo The Chainsmokers, hip-hop chart-topper Fetty Wap, and Towson’s own pop-punkers All Time Low.—Amy Mulvihill

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Santigold
May 4. Baltimore Soundstage, 124 Market Pl. 8 p.m. $28-30. 410-244-0057. Santigold made her mark on the music scene in 2008 with a debut album of instant, indie-hip-hop hits like “L.E.S. Artistes” and “You’ll Find A Way.” Four years later, her much-anticipated second record was another success, with tracks like “Disparate Youth” and “GO!,” and now her third release is just as addictive. On 99 Cents, she still maintains her trademark balance between being contemplative and playful. You’ll be hooked to songs like “Can’t Get Enough Of Myself” and “Banshee” in no time.

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Maryland Film Festival
May 4-8. Locations & times vary. $12-375. 410-752-8083. Now in its 18th year, the Maryland Film Festival returns with more than 100 films—from full-length features to documentaries and shorts—all shown in and around Station North. While the festival prides itself on bringing together filmmakers from across the globe, it still stays connected to its Maryland roots, highlighting local talent alongside internationally known directors. And, of course, there’s always the special feature selected by our own accomplished auteur John Waters.

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FlowerMart
May 6-7. Mt. Vernon Place, 699 Washington Pl. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free. 410-274-5353. Over the past 105 years, FlowerMart has blossomed from a one-day flower festival into a weekend event full of flora, food, art, and entertainment. Walk through the Mt. Vernon squares to buy spring flowers, suck on lemon-peppermint sticks, and admire the recent renovation of the Washington Monument. For the first time ever, FlowerMart also will donate a portion of its proceeds to two local nonprofits: House of Ruth Maryland and the Mt. Vernon Place Conservancy.—JKC

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Kinetic Sculpture Race
May 7. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. 10 a.m. Free. 410-244-1900. If you’ve been on the lookout for Chessie—a.k.a. the Loch Ness monster of the Chesapeake Bay—this just might be your month. As the 18th annual human-powered sculpture race takes its 14-mile route through the city, the streets will overflow with hordes of handmade creatures inspired by this year’s “myths and monsters” theme. Find a spot at AVAM, Patterson Park, or the Canton waterfront to watch participants compete in this eight-hour event for irreverent prizes, like the “Grand Mediocre Champion” and “Worst Honorable Mention.”

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Sweetlife Festival
May 14. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. 12 p.m. $100-150. The sustainability-focused festival is back with a full day of food and music in the Merriweather woods. This year’s lineup features an eclectic mix, including Canadian dream-pop artist Grimes, Drake-signed R&B singer PartyNextDoor, English rockers The 1975, and New Wave icon Blondie, as well as grub from regional eateries like Toki Underground and Woodberry Kitchen.

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Kenny Chesney
May 19. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. 7:30 p.m. $50-692. 410-715-5550. Some dismiss Kenny Chesney’s music with the term “bro-country,” but in the middle of a Baltimore spring, who doesn’t want a night of music inspired by island beaches and football tailgates? For more than two decades, Chesney has kept our attention with love songs, party anthems, and beer-tinged staples, like “Keg in the Closet” and “Summertime.” For one Thursday night, embrace his summertime sound in Columbia.

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Courtney Barnett
May 25. Rams Head Live, 20 Market Pl. 8 p.m. $23-28. 410-244-1131. It was two years ago that this introspective Australian indie-rocker made waves with the release of her double EP, catching our attention halfway across the globe. (We’ll love “Avant Gardener” forever.) By the time she dropped her first full-length debut last spring, we were all ears, and happy to find that the Grammy-nominated singer and solid guitarist continues to stay true to her witty, observational style. See her perform downtown at the end of the month.

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Matt Sesow: Shock and Awe
May 27-June 4, 2017. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. Tues.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free-$15.95. 410-244-1900. Opening Memorial Day weekend, this eclectic art exhibit presents works by Matt Sesow—a D.C.-based, self-taught artist—all painted with one hand, due to his left arm being severed by a plane as an 8-year-old in Nebraska. With vibrant color, raw detail, and a unique perspective, the exhibit features more than 150 original artworks, including paintings honoring the first 100 U.S. soldiers killed in the Iraq War, alongside others inspired by fantastical birds and Sesow’s own life.

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Brew at the Zoo
May 28-29. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Dr. 1-7 p.m. $25-69. 443-552-5276. Conventional wisdom says alcohol and wild animals don’t mix, but at Baltimore’s annual Brew at the Zoo, you can combine them with confidence. For one spring weekend, sample more than 80 local and national beers—including brews from Bmore favorites like The Brewer’s Art and Monument City—and listen to local music by the bluesy Kelly Bell Band and the funky, soulful Bosley. All proceeds benefit the zoo, ensuring that you can continue to visit your animal friends year-round, even after the buzz wears off.

Surrounded by the steel and cement of Baltimore’s urban landscape, it’s easy to forget that natural wonders like the Appalachian Mountains and Chesapeake Bay are within our reach. This Earth Day (April 22), take the opportunity to give back to the environment.

PROJECT CLEAN STREAM
4/9: Lake Roland, 1000 Lakeside Dr. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Free. 410-887-4156. Help the Habitat and Trail team clean up Lake Roland’s shore, and, if you can, BYOB (bring your own boat!).

EARTH DAY PLANTING PARTY
4/23: Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 E. 33rd St. 2-4 p.m. Free. 410-396-6053. Decorate a pot with your kids and sow your own family plant.

TREEHUGGER 5K
4/10: Irvine Nature Center, 11201 Garrison Forest Rd., Owings Mills. 8-11 a.m. $15-40. 443­738-9200. Walk or jog through the scenic Caves Valley region to benefit the nature center’s environmental education work.

LOVE YOUR MOTHER EARTH
4/16-17: Oregon Ridge Nature Center, 13555 Beaver Dam Rd., Cockeysville. 1-3 p.m. Free. 410-887-1815. Spend the afternoon cleaning up the park and participating in a tree-hugging contest.

NATURE FEST
4/23: Catoctin Creek Park, 2929 Sumantown Rd., Middletown. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. 301-600-2051. Delve into local wildlife of Frederick County with nature walks, animal presentations, and campfire activities.

SAVING THE PLACES WE LOVE
4/8: Cromwell Valley Park, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Rd., Parkville. 7-9 p.m. $10-15. 410-887-2503. Join author and conservationist Ned Tillman as he discusses what we need to preserve the Chesapeake Bay.

AQUARIUM PARTY FOR THE PLANET
4/22: National Aquarium, 501 E. Pratt St. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free with admission. 410-576-3800. For one day at the Aquarium, enjoy activities, presentations, and animal encounters that encourage planet-friendly practices.

ZOO PARTY FOR THE PLANET
4/24: The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Dr. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free with zoo admission. 443-552-5276. Head to the zoo to discover simple ways to help make the earth more green and healthy.