Weekend Lineup: May 19-21

Lydia Woolever — Fri, 19 May 2017 10:51:00 +0000

Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your Charm City weekend.

EAT

May 20: BMI Farmers’ Market

Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Hwy. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

Start your weekend off right with an early Saturday trip to the farmers’ market. Now in its ninth year, the Baltimore Museum of Industry market returns with its South Baltimore tradition along the Inner Harbor. Bring the family or friends to shop fresh produce, local meat, fresh-baked breads, fragrant flowers, and handmade crafts by local artisans. With picnic tables along the waterfront, spread out a breakfast feast and soak up the morning sun.

DRINK

May 20-21: Wine in the Woods

5950 Symphony Woods Road, Columbia. Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$40.

Head to the hills of bucolic Howard County where Columbia’s beloved vino tradition will be back for its 25th year. Amidst the lush trees of the Symphony Woods, join more than 25,000 wine-lovers as you sample the star goods from more than 30 Maryland wineries, like Boordy Vineyards, Linganore Winecellars, Red Heifer, and Great Frogs. Enjoy live music, shop local vendors, and soak up the sips with more than two-dozen food options.

SEE

May 20: Preakness Stakes

Pimlico Race Course, 5201 Park Heights Ave. Doors: 8 a.m. Post time: 6:45 p.m.

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.

HEAR

May 19-20: Baltimore Podcast Festival

Single Carrot Theatre, 2600 N. Howard St. 7-11 p.m.

Now in its second year, the Baltimore Podcast Festival returns with a lineup of rising stars in the Charm City podcast scene. Enjoy two days of audible entertainment with six acts each night and live audience recordings that could give NPR a run for their money. On Friday, hear Rouxde Cooking School, a comedy cooking podcast by freelance food writer John Houser III, and Buzzed in Baltimore, helmed by our very own digital editor and drinks expert Jess Mayhugh. On Saturday, catch Section 336, featuring local sports commentary, and MTR, focused on geek culture and weird news from across the globe.

DO

May 19: SunSets

Exit the Apple Art Space, 2334 Guilford Ave. 7-10 p.m. Free.

Modeled after the salon gatherings of the Harlem Renaissance in New York, this one-year-old monthly meet-up returns to explore and interpret the theme of grace. At Exit the Apple in Mount Vernon, join members of the local creative community for a night of artistic expression, exchange, and discussion, featuring producer/artist Elissa Blount Moorhead, live music by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Carolyn Malachi, and free wine.

Source

City Has Big Plans For Inner Harbor Redevelopment

Ron Cassie — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 14:30:00 +0000

A pedestrian bridge connecting Federal Hill and Harbor East is just one of the highlights of an ambitious Inner Harbor redevelopment plan released by city officials today.

Joining with the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore and the Greater Baltimore Committee, the city is pitching an overhaul of Rash Field, including adding a beach, barge pool, and kayak launch there. Plus, more parks, playgrounds, green space, and new bike-sharing stations around the rest of the Inner Harbor—as well a renovation of the outdated, existing promenade infrastructure.

Plans also call for a stage at West Shore Park, a new ampitheater and outdoor café’s at Harborplace, and an expansion of Pierce’s Park at Pier 5 and 6.

There is no timetable or budget, yet, for the proposed pedestrian bridge, which would include a turnstile design to allow tall ships.

Forty years after the Inner Harbor promenade was completed in 1973, city leaders say it’s time to reinvigorate Baltimore’s most valuable tourist—and local—attraction. “It’s overdue for attention,” said Donald Fry, president and CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee at a press conference announcing the plan, put together by Ayers Saint Gross.

The Inner Harbor plan can be found here.

Laurie Schwartz, executive director of the Waterfront Partnership, said reducing parking lot space around the water and planting more grass, trees, and underwater seagrass beds will help support the Waterfront Partnership’s goal of a “swimmable, fishable” harbor by 2020.

In addition to attracting more tourists—14 million people visited the Inner Harbor in 2012, generating $2.3 billion in economic activity—the redevelopment effort will benefit local families as well, Schwartz noted. She added that 21,000 children under the age of 15 live within a half-mile of the Inner Harbor.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who once worked at the Inner Harbor, echoed Schwartz. She said “greening and softening” the harbor, adding playgrounds, bike sharing, public amenities, parks, and programs, will not just continue to attract tourists, but help retain residents and attract new families.

Said Schwartz in a statement:

“In 1973, when the Inner Harbor public promenade was completed, it set the framework for all development to follow. Heralded as a model of urban waterfront redevelopment, the Inner Harbor has treated our city and state well but after 40 years, it needs to be refurbished and updated so that it remains a viable asset.”