EAT

Aug. 19: La Cuchara Evenings at the Farm

The Zahradka Farm, 2300 Golupski Rd., Essex, 5-9 p.m. $73.80.

Spanish staple La Cuchara took “farm-to-table” to a whole new level in June when it brought its cuisine and its customers from table to farm at the debut of their outdoor dinner series. This Sunday, join chef Ben Lefenfeld for the second installment of this unique dining experience as he prepares a fresh-off-the-farm meal, including dishes such as whole roasted lamb with lemon and cherry tomatoes, grilled sweet potatoes with charred herb salsa, and carrot zucchini cake with coconut buttercream. Soak up the late-summer weather, witness Lefenfeld’s mastery as he cooks over an open flame, and enjoy fresh produce from the evening’s host, the Zahradka Farm in Baltimore County.

DRINK

Aug. 18: St. Patrick Swayze Day

Frazier’s on the Avenue, 917 W. 37th St. 6-11 p.m. Free.

On what would have been his 66th birthday, celebrate the life and legacy of iconic actor Patrick Swayze at Hampden’s beloved neighborhood dive. During this national holiday, toss back themed drinks like the Dirty Dancing watermelon bomb or the Red Dawn shot (a dangerously delicious concoction of Jägermeister, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice) but make sure to balance out the booze with Swayze-specific sustenance, like the towering Road House cheeseburger, topped with an onion ring and a fried egg. With screenings of three of his classic films and free gifts for the first 25 people who arrive in attire dedicated to the ’80s heartthrob, Frazier’s first annual tribute event is sure to be the time of your life.

SEE

Aug. 17: The Medicine Show

The Arena Players, 801 McCulloh St. 7-11 p.m. Free.

Last year, the Red Bull Amaphiko Festival came to Baltimore to give some of the city’s most promising artists and entrepreneurs the “wings” they needed to let their talents fly. This weekend, the festival is back with a series of creative lectures, innovation workshops, and collaborative classes, including this intimate evening of storytelling and art, hosted by local businesswoman and social innovator Michelle Antoinette Nelson, aka Love the Poet. At this historic theater, hear the stories of the local entrepreneurs behind media platform Roots & Raíces, urban florist Tha Flower Factory, and refugee-run co-op Mera Kitchen Collective as told through local artists such as soul singer Joy Postell, rapper Eze Jackson, and spoken word artist Kondwani Fidel at this historic theater.

HEAR

Aug. 18: Hot August Music Festival

Oregon Ridge Park, 13401 Beaver Dam Rd., Cockeysville, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Free-$199.

When the mercury climbs, that means it’s almost time to head to Cockeysville to celebrate the end of summer with the beloved Hot August outdoor music festival. This year, the event will be headlines by Americana rock septet The Revivalists and modern bluegrass folk-rock masters Trampled By Turtles, followed by other fiery acts including Baltimore artists such as roots king Cris Jacobs, fingerpicking pros The Dirty Grass Players, and Talking Heads tribute group Psycho Killers, plus national talents like rising blues star The Marcus King Band, cricket-player-turned-reggae-star Omari Banks, and bluesy rock powerhouse Nikki Hill. For one hot August night, dance the heat away to a full afternoon and evening genre-spanning tunes.

DO

Aug. 18-19: Feast of St. Gabriel Italian Festival

St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, 227 S. Exeter St. Sat. 12-8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. $1.

This weekend, bring la famiglia to this annual outdoor festival that celebrates Baltimore’s vibrant Italian community right on the streets of Little Italy. Outside of St. Leo’s Catholic church, taste classic Boot Country fare like meatballs, calzones, and cannolis, cool off with classic Italian vinos, and cheer on the participants at the highly anticipated Roma sausage-eating contest. Stroll alongside Sunday’s lively parade, peruse booths full of arts, crafts, and games, and even take selfies with costumed Roman gladiators. Italian or not, everyone is welcome at this traditional family-friendly street festival that dates back to 1928.

Last year, Red Bull came to Baltimore to host its first-ever Amaphiko Academy to help entrepreneurs in the city. No one quite knew what it was or what they were doing. It turns out that the company known for its energy drink that “gives you wings” spent 10 days with 15 fellows—six from Baltimore—in an immersion of lectures, entertainment, innovation workshops, and creative collaboration. The fellows went on to participate in an 18-month mentorship program that is still ongoing.

“It was like a business 101 breakdown,” said Walker Marsh, 2017 fellow and owner of urban farm Tha Flower Factory. “I was so deep into the farming and gardening world, but when it came to the business side, I didn’t know what I was doing. It’s really helped change me in so many different ways.”

In the spirit of continuing to “give wings” to local social innovators, beginning on August 17, the Amaphiko Festival—which is the Zulu term for “wings”—will return to Baltimore for three days of workshops, performances, and events celebrating the innovation and creativity in the city. While the Young Entrepreneurs Workshop, led by Baltimore-based entrepreneurs, is not open to the public, it will feature skill-building courses for more than 150 young Baltimore entrepreneurs.

“We have serviced close to 3,000 students, been able to hire 8 dirt bike riders to serve as instructors and placed riders in stem education careers since working with Red Bull,” said Brittany Young, a 2017 fellow and founder of B-360—which uses dirt bike culture to teach STEM education—who is speaking at the workshop. “Having the festival annually here also allows communities to come together and showcase all of the local talent and genius in a fun way.”

There are a few events that are free and open to the public and here’s a rundown of what festival goers can expect:

August 17: The Medicine Show at Arena Players
This event will feature local artists sharing the stories of the city’s most inspiring social entrepreneurs—including Valeria Fuentes of Roots & Raices, Ava Pipitone of Host Home, Kyle Pompey of Perspective Baltimore, Liliane Merkol of Mera Kitchen, Nicholas Mitchel of Noisey Tenants, Michael Battle of The Rich Program, and Red Bull Amaphiko Academy alumni Young and Marsh. Think Stoop Stories with a twist. Each social innovator has been paired up with an artist who will tell their story using a specific medium.

“I lucked up and got the comedian,” Marsh said. “He’s telling my story and Tha Flower Factory story. It’s going to be dope, he’s going to tell it in a way that I never could.”

Other performers include Nia June, Kondwani Fidel, David Fakunle, Joy Postell, Amy Reid, Ezee Jackson, Sir Alex R, and Hoesy Corona.

August 18: Luv’s Art Project Block Party
The community party in Hollins Market will feature an all-female lineup of performers including DJ Diamond Kuts, TT The Artist, and DJ Trillnatured with free food from Viola’s Southern Cuisine. New Beginnings barbershop will also be open for patrons to kick back and relax and the City of Gods clothing store will have some retail available for sale.

August 19: The Sunday Summit
With programming curated by Motor House, Impact Hub, Pipe Dreamz, ArtsCentric, and GRL PWR residents will be able to join in on a series of conversations and performances detailing the connections between arts and social innovation at YNOT Lot. The event will also feature lectures from Red Bull Amaphiko alum Changa Bell of the Black Male Yoga Initiative and Dominic Nell of City Weeds.

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

 EAT

August 20: Fiesta Del Sol

Union Craft Brewing, 1700 Union Ave. 12-6 p.m. Free.

We’re all especially excited about the sun right now—what with the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse taking over our skies on Monday afternoon. One day early, celebrate that giant star and the high-heat of summer with a Sunday Funday at the Union Craft Brewing. The local brewery will be releasing its guava and passionfruit flavored Older Pro white wine barrel-aged goses variants with tacos by Clavel and ice cream by The Charmery. There will be mini pools in place for cooling off, and Reggae Spin Cycle spinning the feel-good tunes throughout the afternoon. 

 DRINK

August 19: Diamondback Beer x Max’s Taphouse | DQ’d Collaboration

Max’s Taphouse, 737 S Broadway. 11 a.m. Free. 410-675-6297.

There’s a good chance you’re already planning to spend your Saturday daydrinking at Max’s Taphouse, but with the help of Diamondback Beer, there’s now some extra incentive. On Saturday, head to the legendary bar for its annual Hopfest celebration, where the local craft brewer will be realizing its new collaboration beer, DQ’d. The brew boasts blueberry and raspberry flavors with a heavy hit of oats and wheat and a touch of vanilla bean. With such a killer combo, be sure to get it while it lasts.

 SEE

August 20: Red Bull Amaphiko Festival

Impact Hub Baltimore, 10 E. North Avenue. 3- 8 p.m. Free.

It’s not every weekend that a national brand throws a festival in Baltimore, but the energy drink’s social entrepreneurship program sees something in Charm City. For the last week, the festival has hosted events, lectures, and workshops throughout in Station North, and this Sunday, they’re throwing a celebration of creativity and community. At Impact Hub, catch a full day of programming, including special performances by hip-hop duo Bond St. District, rapper Abdu Ali, the Eubie Blake drum circle and dance program, and Q&A with the likes of best-selling author D. Watkins, rising photographer Devin Allen, and Afropunk Festival founder Jocelyn Cooper. Free and open to the public, it’s feel-good way to end the week.

 HEAR

August 19: Hot August Music Festival

Oregon Ridge Park, 13401 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. $66-189. 877-321-3378.

For the 25th year, Baltimore County’s biggest music festival descends on the hills of Oregon Ridge Park with more than 10 musical acts. Soak up the sounds of eclectic jam bands like Lettuce and Electric Love Machine, and Americana all-stars like headliners Old Crow Medicine Show and the Infamous Stringdusters.

 DO

August 20: Free to Breathe Yoga Challenge

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1 Safari Pl. 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Fundraising required. 608-833-7905.

For the second year, the Maryland Zoo will be taken over not by sneakers and strollers but leggings and yoga mats. Last year, the Free to Breathe Yoga Challenge helped raise more than $70,000 for increasing the survival rate of lung cancer, which is the leading cancer killer in the U.S. This year, they hope to double that figure. With deep breaths and restorative exhales, this yoga retreat will feature eight hour-long sessions with some of the city’s best instructors, as well as a walk-in wellness marketplace for fitness demos and healthy food and drink. Whether you downward dog as an individual or reverse warrior with an entire team, open your lungs and support a good cause. 

For decades, Red Bull has been billed as the energy drink that “gives you wings.” And recently, the company has brought new meaning to its famed slogan, with a social justice initiative meant to elevate the ideas of change-makers across the globe.

Launched in South Africa in 2014, Red Bull Amaphiko—the Zulu term for “wings”—is a program that supports social entrepreneurs inspiring change in their communities. The organization periodically selects an academy of 15 fellows, and brings them together for a 10-day immersion of lectures, entertainment, innovation workshops, and creative collaboration.

To date, the conference has taken place five times, three times in South Africa and twice in Brazil. But it just so happens that, this time around, six of the 15 social justice leaders selected to participate in the cohort hail from Charm City—which is why organizers chose Baltimore as the first U.S. hub to host the Red Bull Amaphiko events August 11-20.

“We look for people using creativity to better their communities on a grassroots level,” says program manager AJ White. “That’s pretty prominent in Baltimore, and it shows. Six of our actual participants are from here as a direct result.”

Among the academy of national innovators (who have spearheaded everything from STEM programs to sustainable bike repair shops) are local leaders including Walker Marsh of urban farm Tha Flower Factory, Changa Bell of The Black Male Yoga Initiative, microgreen farmer Dominic Nell of City Weeds, C. Harvey of Baltimore’s Gifted, Muhammad Najeeullah of educational robotic gaming system PURGG, and Brittany Young of B-360 Baltimore—a program that uses the dirt bike culture as an avenue for STEAM education.

“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to explain what makes Baltimore so great, and tell others about the amazing people that live here,” says Young, a West Baltimore native. “There’s great power in controlling your narrative, and the academy can help shine new light into the beauty of the city.”

In keeping with its mission, Red Bull has collaborated with area trailblazers at Impact Hub Baltimore, Brown and Healthy, and Be Free Fridays at The Eubie Blake Cultural Center to curate local programming and entertainment in conjunction with the Amiphiko residency.

The free public events will highlight everything from art and live music to yoga and rollerskating, and allow the community to learn more about each academy members’ initiative.

The festivities begin with gallery show at the Eubie Blake Cultural Center on August 14, followed by a family-friendly evening of yoga, meditation, dance, and rollerskating at the Shake & Bake Family Fun Center in West Baltimore on August 15.

Another highlight will be The Medicine Show—a storytelling project where local musicians, comedians, and spoken word artists share the stories of Baltimore startups (like Touching Young Lives and the Station North Tool Library) using their different mediums—on August 17 at Arena Players.

A culminating festival to close out the week will take place at the Station North Surface Lot on August 20, featuring interactive workshops, live performances from local musicians like Abdu Ali, Ultra Naté, and Bond Street District, appearances by writer D. Watkins and photographer Devin Allen, and a special screening of “Baltimore Stories”—Amaphiko’s documentary series that includes three short films of people making changes in the community.

White describes the 10-day program as a “kickoff” for each of the fellows, who will be paired with a mentor for 18 months following the event.

“Each coach is tailor-made for a specific participant,” he explains. “So whether they need help with funding, branding, or storytelling, it’s never a one-size-fits-all type of thing. But the coaches help to identify their needs and support them as best they can.”

He says that the goal of Amaphiko is twofold: to give the social pioneers a platform, and to also educate the community using the arts.

“Amiphiko isn’t the right fit for someone who has lived in Baltimore, but wants to solve global hunger in Budapest,” White says. “It’s about helping early-stage social entrepreneurs that are solving an issue in the community that they are familiar with. We see the people closest to the problem as those who are best to find solutions to it.”