EAT

July 9: Fort McHenry Crab Feast

Fort McHenry National Monument, 2400 E. Fort Ave. 4-8 p.m. Free-$75.

Fourth of July
may have come and gone, but here in Charm City, we prefer to celebrate America all summer long.
This Saturday, keep your patriotic game going strong at an epic feast along the
Baltimore harbor. Dig into heaps of Maryland crabs, sip on locally brewed Heavy
Seas beers, and listen to the Chesapeake sounds of the Eastport Oyster Boys.
Afterwards, dust off the Old Bay from your fingers and wander the grounds of
this historic fort, which served as inspiration for the Land of the Free’s national anthem, “The
Star-Spangled Banner.”

DRINK

July 10: Reggae Spin Cycle at Waverly Brewing

Waverly Brewing Company, 1625 Union Ave.
3-7 p.m. Free.

If you haven’t
been to Waverly Brewing Company yet, this is the weekend. With an outdoor
patio, corn hole, and proximity to Blue Pit BBQ, it’s the perfect place to
spend your Sunday Funday, especially with this Sunday’s “Reggae Spin Cycle” Jamaican
music. Grab a pint of O’Bay or Balti-Mo, set up shop outside, and transport to
the beach with funky grooves by Nanthali Sound, Bobby Babylon, and Suburban
Hi-Fi. Highlandtown’s Snake Hill will be providing their
signature artisanal sausages with sides like coleslaw and baked beans.

SEE

July 8-9: The Motor House Warm Up Dance Festival

The Motor House, 120 W. North Ave. Fri. 7:30 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-12 a.m. $5-20. 410-637-8301.

Artscape is just around the corner, and to get you excited for the country’s largest free arts festival, the Motor House in Station North is throwing a dance festival jump-off with performances, workshops, and, of course, a dance party. On Friday, check out hip-hip and African dance by local groups like the Sankofa Dance Theater, Baltimore Dance Crews Project, and Full Circle Dance Company and Morton Street Dance Center. On Saturday, learn the basics and get in on the fun with a full day of children’s jazz and modern dance classes, children and youth hip-hop workshops, family fitness, hula hooping, zumba, and medicinal dance. Even with two left feet, let loose with an evening dance party, featuring the sounds of afro-fusion, house, hip-hop, salsa, R&B, line dancing, and more. It’ll have you ready for Bond St. District, Wyclef, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones next weekend.

HEAR

July 9-10: Merryland Music Fest

Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. 12 p.m. $95-150.

Music festivals
are all the rage these days and rather quickly our region is becoming riddled
with them: Sweetlife, Firefly, and now the Merryland Music Fest. This weekend,
hop on the bandwagon and head to the Merriweather woods for the newest
iteration of All Good Music, with an eclectic lineup of 21 acts, Flying Dog
beers, and local artisans throughout the festivities. With national headliners and local favorites alike, hear two—yes, two—sets of jams by The
String Cheese Incident, the feel-good vibes of Ben Harper, rolling thunder of
Grace Potter, relaxing reggae of Stephen Marley, electronic funk of Lotus,
Southern rock of Shakey Graves, and homegrown roots music of Cris Jacobs.

DO

July 9: Charity Barre Crawl Class

The Can Company, 2400 Boston St., Ste.
104. 9:45 a.m. Free, with $10 suggested donation.

This is not
your average bar crawl. In fact, it is much more difficult, but every ounce of pain the next morning will be well worth it—trust us. The only drink involved will be that of water, consumed while hydrating for the ballet-inspired
fitness craze: barre. The exercise seems easy but packs a punch, combining
strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance routines for a low-impact, whole-body
workout that leads to a killer core. Think planks, sit-ups, and squats, all
with the help of a ballet barre, or your very own body weight. Whether you’re
new or experienced, bring some friends, wear comfy clothes, and get a good
start to your weekend. Best of all, proceeds will benefit the One Love
Foundation, founded in 2010 in honor of UVA student Yeardley Love.

Source

“The festival scene is really oversaturated at this point,” Walther said. “Our fans have been following us for 20 years and it was a great run. But we feel like that time has come and gone. Folks have grown up, gotten married, had kids, and can’t exactly get away and camp all weekend. We want to make an event that’s as open to everyone as possible .”

Thus, Merryland Music Fest was born. The two-day concert, taking place July 9 and 10 at Merriweather Post Pavilion, is the newest incarnation of All Good with live music, craft vendors, and local food and drinks. The festival’s headliners include Grace Potter, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, The String Cheese Incident, Stephen Marley, Lotus, Langhorne Slim, Shakey Graves, Greensky Bluegrass, and Yonder Mountain String Band.

“Merryland opens up the opportunity to all walks of life,” Walther said. “Because of its location, it’s a much easier commute. Families are interested in going, and same with people in their 20s. Beyond that, having it in a pavilion setting with Merriweather’s connections has allowed us to expand the types of acts we’re getting.”

Walther explained that, before every festival he plans, he comes up with a dream “top 10 list” of artists, and usually he is lucky to just get one. This time around, he was able to get several. On top of that, he is excited to showcase local talent like Baltimore-based bands Cris Jacobs, ELM, and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong.

“What my company has done is work with bands on the club level and then give them a spotlight on the festival level,” Walther said. “Watching that whole growth pattern is the most exciting part.”

For a band like ELM, whose members have grown up admiring the headliners playing Merryland, this festival is a game-changer.

“It’s definitely a huge honor for us to even be considered on this lineup,” said ELM keyboardist and vocalist Jon Brady. “It’s only 17 bands, so being on there with nationally touring acts will help us get exposure and network.”

Additionally, Merryland will feature local craft vendors and tables for nonprofits throughout the festival. Flying Dog Brewery is producing an exclusive beer for the weekend—the Merryland ISA (India-style Session Ale).

“People come up to me all the time and tell me about an experience at an All Good festival that changed their life,” Walther said. “This will have that same community spirit—a chance to forget about all of the troubles in the world and be present with best friends, strangers, and music.”

Source