Pool and darts have been longtime bar activities—the competition further fueled by booze. But lately, there’s a new bar game on the scene. And it’s one you might not expect: chess.

Andrew James, who founded the Charles Village Chess Club in 2023, believes the passion for playing is a result of the pandemic. “People found chess through playing online,” says James. “And once the world opened back up, they saw it as a way to be social instead of reclusive.”

If you have a hard time making new friends, the checkered board has become an icebreaker, especially at a bar.

“A lot of times you’ll go to chess clubs and it will be serious,” says James, “whereas if you’re just at a bar and interested in playing, that’s the perfect time to [go] over and say ‘hi.’”

What started as a blitz tournament at Tambers in Charles Village has grown into three weekly open Chess Club events at Peabody Heights Brewery in Abell, Max’s Taphouse in Fells Point, and Vision House in Old Goucher. At Max’s alone, some 30 players—a mix of regulars, returners, and first-timers who wander over from a barstool—show up weekly to play.

In addition to the Charles Village Chess Club, Rocket to Venus holds informal chess games every other Wednesday, and Bmore Queenside—a chess club for women and gender minorities—gathers at Red Emma’s in Waverly.

The 600-square-foot backroom at Vision House hosts a dedicated area for James’ Friday-night chess nights, a staple since the bar first opened in spring 2023.

As for mixing alcohol and chess? “It adds to the game,” says James. “You’re not so worried about the mistakes you make. And there are a lot more laughs over the board.”

Turns out, a bar with chessboards was the perfect opening move.

When Casey McKeel began roasting coffee, she started with a drum roaster attached to a backyard grill behind her Waverly home. She’d grown up in the business. Her mother ran a café in her native Michigan and, as an undergraduate, she’d studied the impact of the coffee trade on communities where coffee is farmed and produced. In 2012, McKeel, who’d moved here two years earlier, launched Thread Coffee determined to build a democratically run, environmentally sustainable, fair and transparent trade operation.

A year later, Thread forged a relationship with Red Emma’s, the city’s ever-expanding worker-cooperative bookstore, café, and venue—then in its original basement location on St. Paul Street. “That was before Red Emma’s moved to Station North, but it was looking for a larger space,” McKeel recalls. “We thought, ‘Why not share resources? We could roast in-house there and split a portion of the rent and licensing.”

This was hardly the first collaborative project for Red Emma’s, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this month. By the time Thread Coffee began its association with Red Emma’s, named for the turn-of-the-century immigrant, anarchist, and writer Emma Goldman, they had already spun off the collectively managed 2640 Space—the still-thriving destination for grassroots political and cultural events—in partnership with St. John’s United Methodist Church. And they had assisted in the launch of the city’s only worker-owned and democratically operated bike shop—Baltimore Bicycle Works. Thread Coffee was in a good hands.

Five years after incubating with Red Emma’s, Thread moved into its own roasting space and café inside the Open Works building in 2017. The same year, Food and Wine named them Maryland’s “Best Coffee.”

“We got to see how Red Emma’s functioned from the inside as a worker-cooperative, how they developed consensus around decision-making,” McKeel says. “That was a crucial learning experience.”

In today’s Amazon-dominated, e-sales-driven book industry, if Red Emma’s had done nothing else beyond survive for the past decade and a half, it would be a remarkable achievement. Instead, it has evolved into a community hub and indispensable institution, hosting nationally renowned writers, activists, artists, and educators. They’ve organized the Radical Bookfair Pavilion, part of the Baltimore Book Festival, for more than a decade, attracting the likes of Amy Goodman, Amiri Baraka, and Ralph Nader.

They were the first to publish New York Times best-selling Baltimore author D. Watkins in print, putting his viral essay “Too Poor for Pop Culture” together with other work into a zine format. They’ve provided a platform for acclaimed local photographer Devin Allen and the city’s award-winning youth poets from DewMore. Last summer, they moved back to Mount Vernon into a 9,000-square-foot building on Cathedral Street that once served as home to a jazz club run by Baltimore legend Ethel Ennis. In the process, they’ve grown from a handful of worker-owners to a payroll of almost 30 people, all making a sustainable wage.

But the thing those at Red Emma’s are probably most proud of, co-founder John Duda says, is the something they’re less known for: how their inclusive, non-hierarchical project has helped spark and support a whole movement of worker cooperatives in Baltimore. “When we started, there was zero local guidance and zero local support for anyone trying to imagine how to own and run a business democratically,” Duda says. “We found ourselves not only figuring things out as we went along, but fielding lots of demand from people trying to follow in our footsteps.”

Beyond launching 2640, working with Thread, and their early advising role with Baltimore Bicycle Works, which recently opened a second shop in Belvedere Square, the Red Emma’s team has helped beloved ice cream makers Taharka Brothers in their ongoing shift to employee-ownership. They’ve assisted the immigrant women at the Mera Kitchen Collective—who hold pop-up events around the city and sell their international dishes at JFX Farmer’s Market—as well as the returning citizens at Core Staffing and the vegan food activists at Greener Kitchen.

In turn, those experiences, along with their own struggles raising capital from traditional banks, helped those at Red Emma’s understand the key role of cooperative-friendly finance. Eventually, it all led to the formation of the Baltimore Roundtable for Economic Democracy (BRED), which has now gone on to deploy close to $700,000 in “non-extractive” loans—loans paid back as a percentage of profits—to local worker cooperatives. When Duda and fellow Red Emma’s co-founder Kate Khatib (they married in 2015) arrived in Baltimore in 2003 to pursue PhDs in Intellectual History at Johns Hopkins University, they hadn’t thought about becoming, much less bankrolling, a new breed of entrepreneur. That’s what has happened, however.

“I think we got increasingly serious about the business the longer we were around, and as people started to take us more seriously,” chuckles Khatib after a recent packed house for a Q&A with D. Watkins and Baltimore Beat editor Lisa Snowden-McCray. “I can’t say we saw this coming or it was planned,” adds Khatib, who works half-time at Red Emma’s while also serving as BRED’s executive director.

“Probably half of us thought Red Emma’s would last a year on St. Paul Street and then we’d go on to something else.”

BRED’s first loan, $15,000 to Taharka Brothers, helped them get their famously neon pink ice cream truck repaired in time for the summer of 2016. A second loan enabled them to open their new scoop shop at the renovated Broadway Market. Another loan helped Thread finance a larger capacity coffee roaster to meet growing demand. BRED loans also allowed The Greener Kitchen to purchase equipment for a production facility and rental kitchen, and assisted Core Staffing with working capital to better serve its members.

“Red Emma’s is the poster child for worker-owned businesses, and we turned to them and BRED during what was a tumultuous time for us,” says Sean Smeeton, a Taharka Brothers co-founder. “We had an offer from an investor, but they wanted 51 percent of the business and control of the decision-making process. We didn’t want that. We wanted to empower the young black men that work for Taharka to become entrepreneurs.”

Darius Wilmore, Taharka Brothers’ creative director, adds Red Emma’s did a lot more than facilitate a loan, assisting in the technical work of restructuring the business. In particular, Khatib and Ro McIntyre, another former Red Emma’s worker-owner and BRED co-founder, “spent so much time at our building in Clipper Mill, guiding us, they practically worked here part-time,” Wilmore says. (“We did it for the ice cream,” McIntyre jokes later, “which is great.”)

As Red Emma’s has become a model for local cooperatives and others around the country—Firestorm Books & Coffee in Asheville, North Carolina, and Wooden Shoe Books and Records in Philadelphia, to name two—the Baltimore Roundtable for Economic Democracy has provided a template for a national network of similar loan funds, called Seed Commons. Baltimore is not alone in seeing its worker cooperative ecosystem grow in recent years. Cities including New York, Madison, Minneapolis, Oakland, Berkeley, Austin, and Cleveland have also begun to integrate worker cooperative support into their economic development strategies. (Briefly defined: Worker-owned co-ops are values-based enterprises that prioritize worker and community benefit. Workers are represented in leadership and manage the day-to-day through various management structures.)

“We turned to Red Emma’s and BRED during . . . a tumultuous time for us.”

In fact, the City of Baltimore recently awarded a potentially significant $47,000 Community Catalyst Grant to BRED to pilot a worker-cooperative “conversion” pipeline. That grant, operated in concert with the Baltimore Development Corporation, is designed to assist retiring business owners in transitioning ownership, if so inclined, to their employees. The “silver tsunami” of Baby Boomer retirements could cost Baltimore thousands of jobs if the children of those business owners, for example, don’t wish to take over those enterprises.

Given the cooperative ecosystem here, Duda says, owners may begin to realize that it’s becoming easier to retire “through an exit to workplace democracy” and more satisfying, in terms of their legacy, than selling to an equity fund that may kill off the business. Again, it’s not just Baltimore. Recognizing the possible dissolution of millions of small businesses, Congress in 2018 passed the Main Street Ownership Act to smooth the finance of business sales to employees. (Pointing to their own legacy, Red Emma’s will help host the biennial three-day Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy, presented by the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, at the University of Baltimore School of Law in mid-October.)

“Cooperatives take a while to get going, but the process of converting existing businesses should be a faster,” says Kristin Dawson, of the quasi-public Baltimore Development Corporation. Dawson and others note marginalized, low-income groups, often including immigrants, women, minorities, and the queer community—in other words, those without access to traditional capital—stand to benefit from the cooperative financing model.

Not that anyone expects to get rich from working at a cooperative. Baltimore Bicycle Works founder Josh Keogh’s salary was roughly $35,000 before he left after nine years for a position at the Arts & Ideas Sudbury School. The job came with health benefits, however, and given the seasonal nature of the business, 10 weeks vacation. “It’s a normal bike shop in a lot of ways, except all decisions are made in an open and transparent way, and we didn’t have the seasonal ups and downs of hiring people and then laying them off,” Keogh says. Nor should anyone believe working in a cooperative business is easier than working in a more typically structured business. Building consensus around decision-making is, by nature, a cumbersome process.

That said, studies show co-ops are often more productive than traditional enterprises. Equally important, they can prove transformative for work-owners. Whitney Jones, who’s been in the front of the house at Red Emma’s for three years, didn’t believe being part owner of a successful business was even a possibility for her.

“I grew up a black and trans woman in Baltimore, and there are a lot things, like the opportunity to run a business and grow that Red Emma’s offered, you are locked out of, especially because I’d been homeless at points in my life,” Jones says. “Working here, because people know it’s a safe space, now I have a chance to be a resource for other girls who may be struggling.

“I don’t have plans to go anywhere,” Jones adds. “I’m invested, and when I invest in something, it means I intend to be in for the long haul.”

There was a period where Jamesha Caldwell wasn’t writing. She took a break for a bit after a middle school writing class, and it wasn’t until she started performing at open mics and appearing at the Baltimore Book Festival and CityLit Festival that she developed her voice and exactly what she wanted to say with her work. And now, for the second year in a row, she’s bringing those ideas to an international audience.

The International Congress of Youth Voices was established in 2018 by author Dave Eggers as a way to convene young adults ages 16 to 20, all of whom have a defined and specific passion, whether that be in a leadership role or shepherding social justice and communicating their ideas in thoughtful and artistic ways. Based on that criteria, there is no better delegate for Baltimore than Caldwell.

Caldwell, 19, will travel to Puerto Rico in August for her second go-round at the Congress. She is a first-generation college student majoring in criminology with a minor in psychology at Notre Dame of Maryland University, a poet and writer whose work focuses on issues surrounding the city of Baltimore. More specifically, her focus is on the language that those inside and outside Baltimore use to describe the city and its reputation, particularly as it relates to youth in the city.

In high school, she was involved in various organizations that afforded her the ability to travel to surrounding schools. One of those organizations, Writers in Baltimore Schools, which, according to its website, works to “empower the voices of Baltimore City students,” nominated her as a delegate for the conference. As part of the nomination process, Caldwell submitted a piece of writing and completed a questionnaire answering biographical information, what she does in the community, and what she is passionate about.

Caldwell’s studies are based around her experiences traveling to other schools as she started to notice a disconnect between her Baltimore and the comments and questions she would get about the city. With this foundation, she’s dedicated herself to studying criminological theory while at school, and hopes that, through her work, she can help shine a light on the stereotypes, common misconceptions, and sweeping generalizations people often use when talking about Baltimore City.

“I really want to articulate that we are not what’s represented in the news,” Caldwell says. “Our stories are so much more deeper and impactful than what is broadcasted.”

Poetry is the means by which Caldwell is often articulating her ideas, though she has written for publications like the now-defunct City Paper, as well. Red Emma’s is one of her favorite places in the city, and she often participates in readings at the book shop as a means of outreach.

Every spring semester, Caldwell participates in a program where she visits with incarcerated women at the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup. Conversations with these women, she says, have helped inform her research and reiterate that everyone has a story to tell. “Interacting with incarcerated populations really drives my activism and research and how I interact with people in giving them the space to know that what we generalize them as them in our textbooks is not actually the stories of these people,” she says.

Her love of hip-hop—Queen Latifah is a favorite—is a major influence on her work, too. “[Hip- hop helps] cultivate how I see and interact with Baltimore because of how the language and production is so raw and gritty to the language of said rapper or artist,” she says. “It helps me convey a message that reaches further than corporations and institutions. It reaches my peers, it reaches people younger than me.”

And attending the Congress, where she’s interacting with like-minded high schoolers and college students who have their own causes and ways in which they’re impacting their communities, has only aided and abetted her work. The conference, spread out over five days, is structured around starting conversations, among speakers and peers who share similar common goals. Past speakers included Twitter co-founder Ev Williams and 13 Reasons Why creator Brian Yorkey.

It’s an invaluable resource, to be able to bounce ideas off one another, and what Caldwell says she looks forward to most when attending. “Being in the space of a Congress and having all of these different activists who have all of these multifaceted interests and having this being a space where we can cultivate and sharpen our skills and take it back to our communities or even have the network after we leave the Congress to ask each other questions . . . I think that was really important,” she says.

As for the future for the now-rising junior, there are two different tracks she’d like to choose from—going to law school or film school. With the latter, she’d be interested in “connecting both my passion of writing with presenting the city with a new narrative through cinematography.” Either way, what is certain is that Caldwell and her work are getting noticed.

“I’m a researcher,” she says. “When people think of activism, they think you must be on the street. I don’t think people actually take into account that researching is a form of activism. I think that a lot of my peers, especially in Baltimore City, we’re all doing the work to refine the image of Baltimore in different ways.”

Sure, food trends come and go—but a good cup of coffee never goes out of style. In fact, findings by the National Coffee Association (NCA) suggest that coffee shops are now more popular than ever. A recent NCA study found that out-of-home coffee consumption reached an all-time high of 46 percent in 2017.

We’ve certainly seen that growth in Charm City, where local coffee shops continue to crop up in every neighborhood. In an effort to narrow down the options, we’ve categorized a list of the area’s top java joints. Whether you’re searching for quick caffeine fix, or a fancy French press to start your morning, here’s where to fuel up.

ON-THE-GO GRINDS

Charmington’s: Though it’s been around for nearly a decade, this Remington hangout gained its claim to fame in 2015—when former president Barack Obama stopped in for lunch. (Still today, there’s a chair marked “President Obama Sat Here” at one of the front tables.) Popular pick-me-up: The current menu plays up fall flavors, with options ranging from matcha to honey-cardamom lattes. 2601 N. Howard St., 410-235-5004

High Grounds Coffee Roasters: Highlandtown residents make a habit of stopping into this corner cafe, which is equipped with a beautifully painted mural of the neighborhood on the building’s exterior. Friendly baristas serve up craft drinks (think mochas, lattes, chai, and steamers) using blends that the shop roasts in-house six days per week. Popular pick-me-up: Check out the seasonal fall favorites, including a pumpkin chai latte and an Autumn spice coffee. 3201 Eastern Ave.

Patterson Perk: No picnic in the park is complete without sustenance from this neighborhood mainstay, which has been serving up signature sips and snacks for nearly two decades. Popular pick-me-up: The specialty drink menu is particularly eye-catching, boasting peanut butter cup, peppermint patty, and “Tuxedo” (dark and white chocolate) lattes. 2501 Eastern Ave., 410-534-1286

Park & Perk: Be on the lookout for this Italian Vespa Ape scooter-turned-coffee cafe on wheels. Owner Matthew Fouse—of Baltimore Rat Czar fame—peddles local Zeke’s coffee blends in iced and hot varieties. Popular pick-me-up: Look out for drip coffees, lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, and other seasonal java drinks.

Taps Fill Station: Grab your growler and head to this destination inside Mt. Vernon Marketplace, which fills reusable containers with beer, wine, olive oil, and a selection of cold-brew coffees from its 30 taps. Popular pick-me-up: Among the local options is a cold brew sourced by Ceremony Coffee Roasters, which is headquartered in Annapolis. 520 Park Ave., 484-998-8277

STUDY SPOTS

The Bun Shop: Worldly eats and drinks (think Vietnamese iced coffee and Paraguayan empanadas) fill the menu at this modern-industrial cafe, which operates two city locations and is preparing to unveil a third in Towson this fall. Popular pick-me-up: The spot features a daily rotating house drip, as well as more complex cups like a honey macchiato, and traditional Chinese yuanyang drink that mixes coffee with milk tea. Multiple locations including 239 W. Read St., 410-989-2033

Bird in Hand: Since its debut two years ago, this Charles Village bookstore-cafe has become a go-to for Johns Hopkins University students and neighborhood locals alike. A collaborative project from Woodberry Kitchen and The Ivy Bookshop, Bird in Hand spotlights craft coffees and teas, a top-notch pastry program, and its own 2,500-title collection. Popular pick-me-up: Look out for a few new fall offerings, including a lovely lavender cappuccino. 11 E. 33rd St., 410-243-0757

Cunningham’s Cafe and Bakery: Students frequently flock to this trendy Towson spot for brain food like crème fraiche pancakes, avocado toast, and yogurt with house-made granola. Popular pick-me-up: Move over, pumpkin spice. Cunningham’s serves a Nutella latte, mixed with a shot of espresso and special hazelnut syrup. 1 Olympic Place, 443-339-7750

OneDo Coffee Roasters: Longtime Canton residents Gloria Hwang and James Park opened the doors to this community hangout in 2018, and they’ve been serving up house roasts, signature teas, and seasonal specialties ever since. Pro-tip: stop in for lunch to enjoy a colorful salad or pressed panini. Popular pick-me-up: Cortado with whole milk. 913 S. Lakewood Ave.

Order & Chaos: In 2016, local marketing firm Planit Agency unveiled this shop adjacent to its modern offices on Key Highway in South Baltimore. Order a Belgian waffle and get comfy with your laptop in the back study area, which is equipped with communal tables and ample white boards. Popular pick-me-up: The new wave of seasonal sips includes a spiced black tea latte, turmeric pumpkin-spice latte, and the “Pumpkin Fluff Spectacular”—a fall-inspired espresso drink complete with candy corn-infused marshmallow fluff. 1401 Key Highway, 410-244-1111

Pitango Bakery and Cafe: A spinoff of popular dessert destination Pitango Gelato, this Fells Point cafe features coffees, teas, pastries, and a variety of sandwiches on fresh-baked breads. Popular pick-me-up: The spot has become known for its traditional affogato, which drowns a scoop of gelato in rich sipping chocolate. 903 S. Ann St., 443-676-6447

HOT HANGOUTS

Aveley Farms Coffee: Focused on educating patrons about how, exactly, their coffee ends up in their cup, this Harbor East hangout serves its own globally-inspired blends, as well as collaborative options from other local roasters including Keffa Coffee downtown. Popular pick-me-up: Try the new Autumn Spiced Latte to ring in the season. 1400 Aliceanna St. 443-465-8057

Baby’s on Fire: Stop into this Mt. Vernon haven to flip through bins of vinyl while indulging in your daily dose of caffeine. There are also plenty of scones, muffins, pastries, and sandwiches to choose from during breakfast and lunch. Popular pick-me-up: Sample the shop’s dark chocolate-infused Hair Bender blend sourced by Stumptown Coffee Roasters in Portland, OR. 1010 Morton St., 443-885-9892

Ground & Griddled: Hampden locals were devastated when owner Dave Sherman closed Café Cito in the neighborhood last year. But, luckily, Sherman is still slinging coffee not too far away at this spot inside R. House. The coffee program—in addition to the Instagram-worthy biscuit sandwiches—keeps regulars coming back. Popular pick-me-up: G&G carries Stumptown’s original and nitro cold-brews on draft year-round. 301 W. 29th St., 443-681-1901

Dovecote Café: Grab your morning joe at this beloved Reservoir Hill anchor, which maintains its motto of being a “community first and cafe second.” (Insider’s tip: try the peach upside-down cake.) Popular pick-me-up: Dovecote features an array of small-batch coffees that pay homage to the owners’ backgrounds. Among them is Brewklyn Grind Coffee Roasters from co-owner Aisha Pew’s native Brooklyn. 2501 Madison Ave., 443-961-8677

Hanover & Hughes Collective: Located behind the Vision co-working complex in Federal Hill, Hanover & Hughes features garage-style doors, a thriving green wall, and lounge seating for guests to sip drinks made with local Ceremony Coffee. Popular pick-me-up: You can’t go wrong with an espresso, Americano, latte, cold brews, or pour-overs. 15 W. Hughes St.

Red Emma’s Bookstore Coffeehouse: Curl up with a good read at this cooperative-run bookstore. On top of being a venue for various readings and arts events, the cafe serves vegetarian eats paired with its own house-roasted Thread Coffee. Popular pick-me-up: If you’re in the mood for a boozy beverage, add a shot of rye, vodka, or vanilla rum to any of the café’s featured drinks. 1225 Cathedral St., 443-602-7611

Square Meal: The all-day cafe inside Mt. Vernon’s Hotel Revival boasts modern tiled floors, wooden accents, and a killer coffee program. Pair the sophisticated drinks (including a peach matcha garnished with pink peppercorns) with the locally sourced sandwiches, salads, and dinner plates. Popular pick-me-up: Fuel up for your day with the signature turmeric-ginger-carrot juice cappuccino.101 W. Monument St.

CRAFT COFFEES

3 Bean Coffee: This inviting Federal Hill spot takes an ultra-local approach, serving Dangerously Delicious pies, Stone Mill pastries, and Kinderhook snacks. Enjoy the neighborhood vibe while sipping various coffees and loose leaf teas. Popular pick-me-up: A specialty drink menu lists seasonal sips including lavender and honey graham lattes. 209 Key Highway, 410-216-3339

Ceremony Coffee: At this trendy coffee chain with locations in Annapolis, Mt. Vernon, and Harbor Point, sip creative concoctions that make use of beans from as far as Guatemala and Ethiopia. Popular pick-me-up: New libations like the “Falling Leaves” (espresso, maple, hazelnut, and autumn spices) will be sure to put you in a seasonal mood. Multiple locations including 520 Park Ave., 443-835-1659.

Greenmount Coffee Lab: The worker-owned cooperative behind Red Emma’s has launched this sister-spot inside arts incubator Open Works in Station North. The new space specializes in locally sourced snacks and vegan donuts, and serves as an expansion of the collective’s wholesale coffee business Thread Coffee. Popular pick-me-up: Modernize your morning with Greenmount’s specialty Goth Latte—a dark gray mix of activated charcoal, vanilla syrup, coffee and milk. 1400 Greenmount Ave., 410-862-0921.

Roggenart: The praise keeps on coming for this Columbia shop, featuring fresh-baked pastries, rolls, pretzels, and baguettes. The Falls Road shop, whose name translates to “the art of rye” in German—also features an array of European coffees and teas. Popular pick-me-up: The café freddos (Italian iced lattes) are described on the menu as “liquid hugs for your brain.” 6476 Dobbin Center Way, Columbia.

Sophomore Coffee: Part of the shared dining complex that houses Fadensonnen and Larder in Old Goucher, this inclusive coffee shop offers a seasonal program with blends from Brooklyn, New York-based Partners Coffee Roasters. Co-owners, and veteran baristas, Kris Fulton and Ann Travers Fortune incorporate their extensive coffee knowledge into their house-drips, espressos, and flash brew options. Popular pick-me-up: The Shakerado. 2223 Maryland Ave.

Spro Coffee: While gallivanting around the Avenue in Hampden, take a load off at this cozy shop, which sources its “progressive” blends from growers across the country and roasts its coffee in house. Snag a seat inside, or hang out beneath the twinkling lights on the back patio while fueling up. Popular pick-me-up: The international-inspired offerings include Thai tea, Vietnamese iced coffee, and spicy Mexican hot chocolate. 851 W. 36th St., 410-243-1262

Vent Coffee Roasters: This homegrown roaster has finally settled into its new digs at Union Collective. Swing by to sample next-level blends from as far as Ethiopia, Colombia, Honduras, and Kenya. Popular pick-me-up: Enhance your cold brew, macchiato, or Americano with banana or lavender-flavored simple syrups. 1700 W. 41st St.

RELIABLE ROASTS

Artifact Coffee: A homey vibe permeates this rustic Clipper Mill haunt, which continues James Beard Award-winning chef Spike Gjerde’s sustainable mantra with its regionally sourced snacks, salads, and pastries. Popular-pick-me-up: Latte art abounds at Artifact, which makes use of a mocha-java “Hologram” blend with notes of chocolate and fruit sourced from Counter Culture Coffee in North Carolina. 1500 Union Ave., 410-235-1881

Cafe Latte’da: This gem of a spot in Fells Point has become a go-to for morning jo, blended smoothies, and local Diablo Doughnuts. Grab you average order, or step outside of the box with an espresso, macchiato, or cafe au lait. Popular-pick-me-up: The “Dirty Hippie” (chai and espresso) or “Almond Joy” with almond, coconut, and chocolate. 1704 Aliceanna St.

Common Ground: Boasting hand-painted murals and artsy chalkboard menus, this inviting Hampden hangout makes use of local grinds from the likes of Ceremony Coffee Roasters and Zeke’s Coffee. Enjoy grab-and-go fare including the shop’s fan-favorite muffins in flavors like pumpkin cream cheese and lavender honey. Popular pick-me-up: A mean masala-chai latte or a signature smoothie combining chai, peanut butter, and banana. 819 W. 36th St., 410-235-5533

The Daily Grind: Fells Point residents make this shop a part of their morning routine. Stop in for blended chai lattes and smoothies, as well as classic coffees with an array of flavored syrups (think coconut, pineapple, and Irish cream). Popular pick-me-up: For an extra boost of energy, try the “Jitter Machine,” a mix of espresso, chocolate, and cream. 1720 Thames St. 410-558-0399

Dooby’s: Whether you’re in search of a steamy bowl of ramen or warm cup of coffee this season, this Korean-inspired Mt. Vernon favorite has got you covered. Popular pick-me-up: If you’re a matcha fan, try Dooby’s green matcha latte served either iced or warm. 802 N. Charles St., 410-609-3162

Park Café & Coffee Bar: Bolton Hill coffee fiends rejoiced when this neighborhood café reopened under new ownership last year. Luckily, the shop hasn’t changed much, and still serves its signature drinks, soups, sandwiches, and house-baked goods. Popular pick-me-up: Customize your cup with house-made syrups in flavors ranging from maple and caramel to lavender and honey-thyme citrus. 132 McMechen St., 410-225-9282

Teavolve: Dive into a good book or catch an open mic night at this Harbor East eatery known for its coffees, smoothies, and light fare. Popular pick-me-up: Tea lovers enjoy its lengthy loose leaf list that includes many green, black, chai, oolong, and infusion options. 1401 Aliceanna St., 410-522-1907

Zeke’s Coffee: Locals can’t get enough of this Hamilton coffee institution, which recently settled into larger digs on Harford Road. Swing by to check out the new cafe, or look out for Zeke’s roasts at multiple farmers’ markets and restaurants throughout the state. Popular pick-me-up: The Charm City blend—which is meant to pay homage to the diversity of the area—mixes various beans with an Italian-roasted base. 4719 Harford Road, 410-254-0122

OPEN

Peter’s Inn: We’ve been waiting to move this one into the “open” category for a while now. Nearly one year after a trash fire severely damaged the Fells Point staple, husband-and-wife owners Bud and Karin Tiffany quietly reopened their rowhouse restaurant Tuesday. In the months since the fire, the owners—who live in the apartment above the space—have worked tirelessly to get back on their feet. But roadblocks with insurance, permitting, and reconstruction delayed the reopening date several times.

Now, we’re happy to report that the 23-year-old spot is officially back at it, serving Karin’s signature dishes like burrata with roasted peaches, pan-seared scallops served over lentils, filet mignon with green beans, and, of course, the classic herby garlic bread. The owners are appreciative of the support from the neighborhood, which raised more than $20,000 for the rebuild via GoFundMe last summer. “It’s humbling,” Bud recently told us. “When you’re doing the day-to-day tasks of running the business, sometimes you don’t realize how many people you’ve come in contact with over the years. The outpouring of support has been tremendous.” 504 S. Ann St. 410-675-7313

Red Emma’s: The city’s favorite worker-owned bookstore/cafe has officially settled in its new Midtown digs. Red Emma’s originated in a cozy shop on St. Paul Street in 2004, and moved to a larger space on North Avenue in 2013. Now, the collective has relocated to the two-level building that formerly housed Spike & Charlie’s on Cathedral Street across from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. The new spot will allow Red Emma’s to double the size of its bookstore and offer seated dining, while still providing space for its readings, film screenings, panel discussions, and spoken word performances. The shop will soft open this Thursday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., before debuting regular hours later this month. 1225 Cathedral St.

Zuzu’s Gourmet Donuts: Federal Hill locals have most likely caught a glimpse of this purple- and orange-painted storefront situated next to 101 on South Charles Street. Though Zuzu’s signage has been on display for a while now, the donut shop officially opened its doors for the first time last week. Named after owner Hak Zubar, the carry-out spot offers ice cream, sandwiches, smoothies, and fresh-pressed juices, but the real highlights on the menu are the house-made donuts. Creative flavors include strawberry delight, pineapple upside-down, honey double dip, and a savory “Oriole” donut garnished with lump crab and Old Bay. 1136 S. Charles St.

COMING SOON

New Cross Street Market Vendors: Just across the street from the new donut shop, Cross Street Market—which remains open during construction—recently announced a partial lineup of vendors that will occupy the space once it is fully renovated this spring. In 2019, the market will house legacy purveyors Fenwick’s Choice Meats, Nunnally Bros., Steve’s Lunch, and The Sweet Shoppe, while also welcoming an array of new producers. Among them are Annapolis-based Ceremony Coffee Roasters, a burger concept from the owners of Southside Diner, Vietnamese pho and banh mi pop-up Phubs, rice bowl maker Rice Crook, Haitian-Caribbean purveyor SoBeachy, and Cockeysville-based barbecue joint Smoke. The multi-million dollar revitalization is expected to yield floor-to-ceiling windows, indoor and outdoor seating for 500, and a retro aesthetic that harkens back to the 1950s—when the historic market was first reborn in its current configuration after a fire burned down the original facility. 1065 S. Charles St.

NEWS

Seawall Redeveloping Lexington Market: Speaking of public markets, the city’s oldest recently announced that it has chosen Seawall Development to lead its $40 million proposed renovation. While architectural designs are still in the works, goals for the overhaul include right-sizing the market, incorporating clean energy features, and remaining faithful to the history of the building. Seawall, well known for its design of R. House and Union Collective, plans to gather community input before officially breaking ground in late 2019. “Lexington Market is the city’s market and every stakeholder—vendors, patrons, and neighbors—matters,” said Seawall partner Thibault Manekin in a press release. “We are beyond honored to have been selected and we look forward to working with the entire city to help transform the market.” 400 W. Lexington St.

John Shields Scholarship Fund Established: At Gertrude’s 20th anniversary celebration earlier this week, friends of the Chesapeake-inspired restaurant collectively donated nearly $10,000 to the newly established John Shields Culinary Arts Internship and Scholarship Fund. The money will support paid internships for junior and senior high school students, while also providing scholarships for local graduates hoping to pursue a degree in culinary arts. Founded in honor of Gertrude’s beloved chef/owner Shields, the program hopes to raise $100,000 in the coming year to support as many aspiring young chefs as possible.

EPICUREAN EVENTS

10/4: Free Tacos at Taco Noche
In honor of National Taco Day, this brand new food stand at The Rotunda in Hampden is giving away free tacos with any carry-out purchase. Stroll up to the eatery to sample chef Audiel Vera’s Northern Mexican-style snacks including brisket nachos with sour cream and queso fresco, barbacoa mac and cheese, and the “Red Eye” burrito filled with pico de gallo and refried beans. 711 W. 40th St.

10/5: Big Softy Pop-Up at Ground & Griddled
We’ve seen Big Softy owner Craig Falk sling soft shells at R. House before, but this week, he is planning a special brunch menu in collaboration Ground & Griddled inside the food hall. Swing by from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to sample Falk’s crabby spin on G&G’s classic pancakes, bacon, and egg sandwiches. 301 W. 29th St.

10/11: Taste of Hampden
This annual foodie fundraiser benefiting the Hampden Family Center returns next week at its new venue, Union Collective. Stroll around to sample bites from eateries on the Avenue and beyond including Luigi’s Italian Deli, Dylan’s Oyster Cellar, Five & Dime Ale House, Frazier’s, Holy Frijoles, Wicked Sisters, Ma Petite Shoe, Rocket to Venus, Common Ground, The Food Market, The Charmery, and Blue Pit BBQ. Of course, there will also be plenty of Union brews to go around. All ticket proceeds will benefit the center’s numerous classes, programs, and support services for residents of all ages. 1700 W. 41st St. 6-9 p.m. $50

After five years as one of the anchors in the burgeoning Station North Arts and Entertainment District, Red Emma’s—Baltimore’s favorite worker-owned bookstore, café, restaurant, and event space—is moving back to Mount Vernon.

Kate Khatib, a Red Emma’s co-founder, said the bookstore coffeehouse hopes to open in the former home of Spike & Charlie’s at Preston and Cathedral streets by early September. The new location is essentially seven blocks south on Maryland Avenue and the protected bike lane there. It allow Red Emma’s to double the size of its bookstore (to 1,500 titles) and offer a seated dining option (small plate-based options) while still providing a versatile space for its readings, film screenings, panel discussions, and spoken word performances.

“We have absolutely loved being on North Avenue these past five years—we couldn’t imagine a better neighborhood to grow and develop our worker cooperative,” Khatib said, adding that making the decision to move has been a difficult process. “While we’ve managed to achieve some of our goals as a project since moving, we’ve struggled to recapture the cozy community feel of our original location, and, at the same time, have outgrown the capabilities of the cafe space we designed back in 2013.”

The new venue, with two floors and a street-level bar, will offer Red Emma’s an opportunity to grow its restaurant while also enabling the coffee and bookstore to return to the cozy basement-level vibe of its original Mt. Vernon home on St. Paul Street. At their current North Avenue address, having the coffee shop, bookstore, dining area and event space all in one large open area proved challenging at times.

The ability to divide the multi-purposed operation onto different floors and into distinct spaces will make everything more efficient, Khatib added. “We still want to have big events where we have 150 people come. But sometimes a room that holds 20 or 30 is better environment other things.”

Other changes include doubling the size of the bookstore, offering a seated dinner option, featured a dedicated gluten-free fryer, adding a full bar, and offering 10 more worker-owner track jobs, bring the Red Emma’s staff to a total of 35. Owners also said they want to strengthen their “commitment to creating and sustaining an inclusive gathering place with regular pay-what-you-want-nights and family-style dinners.”

Prior to hosting Spike & Charlie’s, the 9,000-square-foot building at 1225 Cathedral Street served as home to a jazz club run by Baltimore legend Ethel Ennis. “Our cooperative is increasingly owned by young black and brown women, queer, and trans folks,” Khatib said. “There’s a connection there to a hidden history of entrepreneurialism that’s really meaningful for us.”

For the immediate future, Red Emma’s will be open at its current location, Wednesdays through Sundays, through the end of June. They will closed for moving in July and August before opening in their new location.

Visual Art

Scott Pennington’s Two-Minute Joys
Scott Pennington’s art is nothing if not fun. He draws from his experience as a furniture maker to craft large-scale, interactive artwork. Through several light-based installations and wall pieces, his latest show, Two-Minute Joys, explores a tradition Pennington grew up with: the carnivals that make their rounds from town to town, bringing people together among their bright lights, rich colors, and the sweet scent of carnival food. It’s what the artist refers to as the “carnival aesthetic,” prevalent throughout his work. Indulge in a carnival trip of the mind at Maryland Art Place, courtesy of Pennington. Jan. 18 through March 10, MAP, 218 W. Saratoga St. Reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 18.

Curatorial tour of Beyond Flight: Birds in African Art
The Baltimore Museum of Art exhibit Beyond Flight: Birds in African Art shows the many uses of birds in sub-Saharan art. See the dramatic masks worn during rituals, herbalists’ staffs, and household objects embellished with bird imagery while meditating on how these winged creatures have piqued our curiosity over the centuries. As BMA associate curator of African art Kevin Tervala pointed out, birds make up less than one percent of living things and yet are used extensively throughout all artistic genres. Through June 10, BMA, 10 Art Museum Drive; curatorial tour from 2 to 3 p.m. Jan. 5.

Art talk with longtime MICA instructor James Hennessey
As a decades-long painting instructor at Maryland Institute College of Art, James Hennessey influenced the work of thousands of Baltimore artists. His retrospective exhibit at the Creative Alliance, Enduring Concerns, celebrates him with a survey of his paintings done over the years that he’s worked in the city. Through Jan. 13, with an artist talk at 7 p.m. Jan. 6, Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave.

Dance

King of What: Bboy/Bgirl Jam
Motor House will play host to breakers from across the U.S. and Canada during its five-hour King of What, which kicks off with a cypher that will allow hundreds of dancers to showcase their skills before a selected few move into one-on-one competition—i.e., before things get real. One lucky break-boy or -girl will be named the best and take home $1,000 (and someone else will win a $100 prize for having the flyest getup). And if five hours isn’t enough, there’s an after party. 5 to 10 p.m. Jan. 20 at Motor House, 120 W. North Ave.

Music

Hirsute live
The only thing better than an album listening party is an album performed live in its entirety. Amy Reid will provide us with this gift at the performance of her 2017 release Hirsute at the Motor House. She’ll be joined by a band to combine electronica, vocals, and live instrumentation. Plus, guest artists  Infinity Knives & Randi will perform, and Hanna Olivegren (of Zomes) and Noelle Tolbert will explore movement and sound. 9 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Motor House, 120 W. North Ave.

Off The Cuff: Impressionist Masterworks
For a tasty music and art pairing, try the January installment of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Off the Cuff series, where the music of Debussy and Ravel will be performed alongside projected images of Impressionist art by Monet, Degas, Cézanne, and others, and you’ll learn how Impressionism influenced composers of the day. In collaboration with the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Impressionist Masterworks short-format concert includes commentary from BSO music director Marin Alsop and BMA senior curator of European painting and sculpture Katy Rothkopf, who will provide context to enrich the experience. An after party, Ravel on the Rocks, will extend the night with live gypsy jazz by Orchester Prazevica and food from Dooby’s. 7 p.m. Jan. 13, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St.

Literary Arts

Red Emma’s Mother Earth Poetry Vibe
The gift of poetry is its ability to inspire us. With that idea in mind, Red Emma’s Mother Earth Poetry Vibe is an open mic that focuses on work that engages conscious thought, spirituality, justice, equality, and, in short, raises the vibration of our collective consciousness. All are welcome to share, while Philadelphia-based lyricist, author, educator, and voiceover artist Lyrispect will be the featured guest of the evening. 6:30 to 9 p.m. Feb. 3 at Red Emma’s Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave.

Miscellanea

Edgar Allan Poe: Evermore
Raise your glass for a toast to the macabre poet Baltimore claims as its own, Edgar Allan Poe, who would have been 209 on Jan. 19, had he not died of . . . well, either alcohol, brain congestion, cholera, drugs, heart disease, rabies, tuberculosis, or suicide (don’t worry, folks, you’ll just be drinking nonalcoholic apple cider, courtesy of Poe Baltimore). 6 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 19 at Westminster Hall and Burying Ground, 519 W. Fayette St.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade
“We’ve got some difficult days ahead,” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said to a crowd in Memphis, Tennessee, less than 24 hours before he was assassinated. “But it really doesn’t matter with me now because I’ve been to the mountaintop. . . . I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land.” Baltimore will celebrate the legendary Civil Rights activist on his birthday with a parade down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Noon to 2 p.m. Jan. 15.

Moonifestations of Ancestor Earth closing
What do you get when you combine meditation with January’s waxing moon? One guess is Moonifestations. Xander Dumas and Elliot Moonstone, better known as The Dandy Vagabonds, will close out their fiber-art installation Moonifestations of Ancestor Earth: a voyage of expansion at the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower with a guided meditation. Through the use of astrology and gemstones, they’ll help the group to “moonifest” individual and collective intentions. Come dressed in the likeness of your favorite element, stone, or planet, and bring a journal. Noon to 2 p.m. Jan. 27, Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower Galleries, 21 S. Eutaw St.

News

Resort, a new contemporary art gallery
Resort, a new gallery in Baltimore exhibiting contemporary art, will hold its inaugural show this month. A Big Toe Touches a Green Tomato will showcase the work of former artistic director of The Contemporary Ginevra Shay and Philadelphia-based artist and self-described “plant person” Roxana Azar. Jan. 20 through March 3; opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Jan. 20, Resort, 235 Park Ave.

Access to running water is a basic human right, but some city residents are fearful of losing that right due to increasing water bills. On Wednesday night, more than 150 residents gathered at Red Emma’s Bookstore in Station North for a town hall event hosted by Food & Water Watch Maryland to discuss solutions to this problem.

The event featured a panel of local leaders and advocates—including 43rd District Delegate Mary Washington, professor of community development at the University of Baltimore Komal Vaidya, and attorney Zafar Shah—to discuss the impacts of rising water rates on Baltimoreans.

“The water affordability crisis is disproportionately affecting low-income communities and communities of color,” said panelist Komal Vaidya. “Some people in Baltimore are paying up to 6.9-percent of their income on water.”

Over the past 10 years, they city’s water rates have increased 120 percent. According to the Department of Public Works (DPW), the water and sewage charges increased 9.4 percent just this year based on the three-year rate structure approved by the Board of Estimates in 2016.

Under this new rate structure, which became effective in July, residential accounts with a typical meter would rise from $76 per month to $84—although storm water fees will not increase.

“Increasing water and sewer bills are impacting virtually every community across the country, especially cities that installed infrastructure generations ago and now need to upgrade,” said spokesman for DPW Jeffrey Raymond in an email. “Despite recent increases, Baltimore remains competitive with other cities in the cost of its water and sewer services.”

Back in the fall of 2016, DPW changed the billing cycle for nearly 200,000 accounts from quarterly to monthly in an effort to provide residents with a more accurate and detailed bill. However, during this transition, residents complained of receiving exorbitant invoices, some upwards of $80,000 for a residential home.

Although the glitches have been corrected, city residents are still troubled by the increased rates, fearing water shutoffs and loss of property for failure to pay the overwhelming bills. In Maryland, there is a process that allows a water service company to collect unpaid bills through tax liens, which ultimately leads to a tax sale of the property.

“Safe, affordable water is an inalienable human right, yet across our communities we see water shutoffs, evictions from rental properties, and families losing their home at tax sale all because of unaffordable water bills,” said Del. Mary Washington. “This simply shouldn’t be happening in our communities—these aren’t the values we hold.”

According to Vaidya from UB, water shutoffs occur more frequently in low-income communities. The members of the Baltimore Right to Water Coalition are proposing legislation to create income-based billing for residents similar to a program implemented last month in Philadelphia. This is not to be confused with the current low-income assistance discount program provided by the DPW.

“Philadelphia is similar to Baltimore in that a quarter of its residents live in poverty. An income-based program has the potential lead to more people with access to water and more total revenue for the water company,” she said. “The alternative for people not having income-based water bill is that people are living without water— they have to choose between competing essential needs.”

The town hall event on Wednesday is just the first step of many in the Food & Water Watch’s mission to tackle the affordability crisis in Baltimore. The organization is accepting volunteers to petition, canvas, and write letters to the city council to find solutions to the ever-rising water rates for residents 

“Water service is unaffordable for one-third of Baltimore’s residents, Vaidya said.  “We need a solution that will increase access to water for everyone—irrespective of income.”

Two years ago, a rustic summer camp in Darlington transformed into a millennial hippie’s daydream. For one weekend, Fields Festival parked its metaphorical RV and threw a celebration of local DIY—an umbrella term for Baltimore’s vibrant arts scene that dances across genre, medium, and style. Hundreds of art students, music lovers, and merry pranksters flocked to the rustic grounds of Camp Ramblewood to see scores of area artists, musicians, and performers. Tents were pitched. Art was hung. Donut rafts filled the pool, Dan Deacon started dance parties, and cans of Natty Boh were crushed beside campfires. It was messy, magical, and uniquely Baltimore, and this month, it returns Aug. 19-21, bigger and better than ever. With everything from sets by Future Islands and TT The Artist to camping and lakeside yoga, here’s what you need to know for this Bonnaroo-meets-Burning Man-meets-Wet Hot American Summer weekend.

1. Relive your summer camp glory days by renting an old-school cabin.

2. Or get in touch with nature by glamping in your very own tent.

3. Required attire is up to interpretation. Sundresses, bathing suits, boas, bro tanks, jorts, hula hoops, face paint, glow sticks, bare feet—you name it, it’s all welcome.

4. Be sure to BYO: Natty Boh, grills, guitars, firewood, fanny packs, sunscreen, snacks, and campsite decorations.

5. Across 200 acres of campground, there are plenty of grassy knolls to lounge upon.

6. Sing “Kumbaya” around the campfire pit.

7. Take a dip in the pool with rafts all day and concerts at sunset.

8. Center your chakra with lakeside yoga and a wellness area for all the massage, acupuncture, and astrology your heart desires.

9. With six stages, don’t miss big names and up-and-comers like Future Islands, Dan Deacon, Lower Dens, TT The Artist, Abdu Ali, Flock of Dimes, Ed Schrader’s Music Beat, Chiffon, Horse Lords, Wume, Nudie Suits, etc. Plus, the eclectic costumes and cosmic jazz of the iconic Sun Ra Arkestra.

10. Get to know local creatives through art installations, theater, film, and poetry, including the likes of Wham City Comedy, street artist Reed Bmore, and members of Le Mondo, EMP Collective, and Best of Baltimore-winning Balti Gurls, to name a few.

11. Stop and smell the roses with décor at the entranceway and throughout the festival by local artists Beth Hoeckel and Becca Morrin.

12. Food Avenue will include tacos from Clavel, Vietnamese spring rolls by chef Stefano Porcile of Colette, Thread Coffee from Red Emma’s, plus falafel, pizza, and farm-to-table fare.

13. Show your skills with tennis and basketball courts open game for festival-goers.

14. Sorry: No children or fireworks allowed. Things might get a little wild as is.

April will mark the the one-year anniversary of the Baltimore Uprising. In that moment and the months that followed, our city was in a state of turmoil, but we came together to clean up, rebuild, and reconnect our communities, though we still have a long way to go. Get involved, starting with these events.

PAUL’S PLACE SERVICE OUTING
April 2: Paul’s Place, 1118 Ward St. 8:30 a.m. Free. 410-357-6242. Participate in the Sierra Club’s Baltimore Inspiring Connections Outdoors community outreach program, which introduces urban youth to nature through exploration, lessons, and community service.

TORREY SMITH CHARITY BASKETBALL GAME
April 2: Royal Farms Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St., 3 p.m. $17-80. 410-347-2020. Meet former Raven Torrey Smith at his annual charity basketball game for the Torrey Smith Foundation, which supports Baltimore City youth.

BALTIMORE STORIES
April 3: Red Emma’s, 30 W. North Ave. 8:30 p.m. Free. 443-602-7611. Local activist, author, and Loyola professor Kaye Whitehead hosts an evening of storytelling where community members can share recollections of the Uprising.

COMMUNITY LOT CLEANUP
April 6-27: Locations vary. 9 a.m. Free. 410-366-8533. Every Wednesday throughout the month, join AmeriCorps members as they work to transform vacant lots into beautiful community gardens and green spaces in neighborhoods across Baltimore.

CONVERSATION THREAD
April 7: Locations vary. 6:30 p.m. 410-660-8343. This local community organization brings 1,000 people together at 100 dinners across Baltimore, where attendees will gather, eat, and connect to help support young people in the local community.

URBAN ALLIANCE MOCK NETWORKING EVENT
April 8: The Urban Alliance, 1500 Union Ave., Ste. 2100. 3:30 p.m. Free. 410-366-5780. All professional are welcome to this mock networking event to help under-resourced students sharpen their interpersonal skills and prepare for interviews.

BOUNDARY BLOCK PARTY
April 16: Pennsylvania Ave. & Presstman St. 12-4 p.m. Free. 410-728-1199. This large community festival will feature live entertainment, art activities, and a “Get out the vote” campaign in Upton.

BMORE THAN THE STORY
April 16-Aug. 28: Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. 1 p.m. Free. 443-263-1800. Local students have collaborated to present powerful narratives and a series of visual performing arts to show different perspectives of the Baltimore riots.

SBLC CELEBRATION GALA
April 16: Horseshoe Casino, 1525 Baltimore St. 6:30 p.m. $125. 410-625-4215. For the 25th year, this cocktail party benefits the South Baltimore Learning Center, which helps provide life-skills training and career preparation to Baltimoreans in need.

BALTIMORE CLEANUP
April 27: 316 S. Caroline St. 5 p.m. Free. 410-685-0295. Join kids from the POWER House Community Center and members of the Living Classrooms Foundation in this new neighborhood cleanup series, conceived last summer after the Baltimore Uprising.

QUESTION BRIDGE: BLACK MALES
April 28-Aug. 30: Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $8. 443-263-1800. This video installation offers a glance into the perspective of 150 black men living in cities throughout the U.S. to deconstruct stereotypes and build a constructive dialogue.