EAT

Feb. 16: Small Foods Party

American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. 7 p.m. Free-$15.

Whoever coined the term “the bigger, the better” clearly never attended a party supplied with a smorgasbord of bite-sized cupcakes, shrimp cocktails, and crab cake sandwiches. At this 14th annual bash-slash-competition, sample itty-bitty versions of your favorite foods (past standouts include mini matzo ball soup and cinnamon rolls). Or, if you’re confident in your shrunken cooking skills, enter your own petite picks to win the grand (and ironic) prize of a giant can of mini corn.

DRINK

Feb. 15-17: Max’s Belgian Beer Fest

737 South Broadway. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Free.

According to Lyft, Max’s Taphouse was the most visited bar in Baltimore during 2018—and for good reason. During this annual beer fest, belly up to the bar and sample a selection of rare European pours that will join the pub’s usual 200-plus bottles and taps for the entire weekend. If you have one dubbel or tripel too many, no worries, the Fells Point favorite will be serving up Belgian-inspired snacks to soak up the suds.

SEE

Feb. 15-April 27: The Mother of Invention/ Amy Helminiak/ Ben Piwowar

School 33 Art Center, 1477 Light St. 6-9 p.m. Free.

If you’re a bit late to the Valentine’s Day party, but still looking for a cultural date to make up for it, you’re in luck. This Friday, School 33 Arts Center will unveil three new exhibitions: The Mother of Invention, a group exhibition of experimental video shorts that combines DIY digital and analog image manipulation, Modern Language, featuring emoji-inspired collages by Baltimore-based artist Amy Helminiak that explore communication in the digital age, and soft obstacle, an installation by local artist Ben Piwowar that combines drawing, painting, and structural strategies to evoke feelings of vulnerability and flux.

HEAR

Feb. 15: The Baltimore Rock Opera Society Pitch Party VII

The Crown, 1910 N. Charles St. 7-11 p.m. Free.

From their sci-fi comedy “The Terrible Secret of Lunastus” to this year’s Halloween extravaganza “Lurid Happenings: A Night of Mischief and Devilry,” the Baltimore Rock Opera Society always keeps its devoted local fans wanting more. This Saturday, help the beloved performance group chose their next fantastical production by watching two pitch presentations and then casting your vote for your favorite contender. After the ballots have been collected, stick around for a late-night dance party to celebrate another weird and wonderful rock opera in 2021.

DO

Feb. 17: Pinewood Derby

Union Craft Brewing, 1700 W. 41st St. 12-5 p.m. Free-$10.

Who said your Cub Scout training would never come in handy? While pinewood derby racing is a few decades past its heyday, Union Craft Brewing is keeping the good ol’ fashioned tradition alive through this annual contest that invites first-timers and seasoned racers alike to make a wooden toy car and run it down their 40-foot derby track. Whether you’re competing for style, speed, or cheering on your favorite car from the sidelines, be sure to grab a specialty slice from Well Crafted Kitchen’s carnival-themed menu and wash it down with a few Duckpins and Skipjacks.

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

 EAT

May 12: Hampden Parking Lot Party

The Avenue Kitchen & Bar, 911 W. 36th St. 12-5 p.m. $45-55. 443-961-8515. 

This Saturday, The Avenue Kitchen & Bar will transform its Hampden parking lot into a can’t-miss party in honor of Alex “Albo” Wroblewski, a beloved Baltimore bartender who was killed during an armed robbery in November. All of the proceeds from this all-you-can-taste event, which includes unlimited pit beef, tacos, and oysters, as well as beer and wine, will go toward owner Patrick Dahlgren’s Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Man Of The Year” campaign in dedication to Wroblewski. Bring the pups, kids, and even your own seating to this outdoor bash, featuring live music by local artists Honey Extractor, Jahn Rome, and Grayson Moon.

 DRINK

May 12: Charm City Wine Run 5K/Baltimore Wine & Food Festival

Rash Field, 201 Key Hwy. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. $39-105. 410-396-7931.

Finding the motivation for an early-morning 5K run can be tough, but knowing there’s a wine and food festival at the finish line makes it a little easier to pick up your feet. This Saturday, race around the Inner Harbor and then celebrate your labors with this annual post-race party featuring free-flowing alcohol, food trucks, and live music by Junkyard Saints and Black Tie Stereo. While all non-jogging attendees can sample more than 150 different wines, beers, and spirits, runners get to indulge in a special wine garden. To top it off, a portion of the proceeds will benefit Spirit of Hope Children’s Foundation, making this spring fête even more toast-worthy.

 SEE

May 11-June 23: New Exhibitions at School 33 Art Center

School 33 Art Center, 1427 Light St. Wed.-Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. 443-263-4350. 

This weekend is one for the arts, with three next exhibition openings at School 33 in Federal Hill. Known for showcasing some of the city’s best contemporary visual art, the art center will unveil dynamic new works by local and regional artists. In the main gallery, explore Invasive Queer Kudzu, where the intersection of quilt-making and storytelling through fabric vines created by Richmond-based artist Aaron McIntosh and LGBTQ+ contributors. Continue to the members gallery to see Dual Use: Baltimore to Samarra, in which Iranian artist Taha Heydari presents works on Thiodiglycol, a chemical used to make mustard gas in Iraq, as well as the project space for Baltimore native Adam Holofcener’s Practice/Performance multi-media installation.

 HEAR

May 12: Version with Trillnatured

The Crown, 1910 N. Charles St. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Free. 410-625-4848.

We included this monthly dance party in our inaugural Music Issue for its all-encompassing celebration of Baltimore music and the city’s LGBTQ+ community, and this weekend’s party is no exception. In fact, Version continues to be bigger and better every month. On Saturday, head to The Crown to hear locally renowned DJ Trillnatured spin her signature mashups of R&B, hip-hop, soul, and club music, accompanied by guest DJ and D.C. artist Tomiyeyo and the event’s energetic host Kotic Couture. While everyone is welcome to get their groove on, this all-night dance party is a special space for queer-identifying folks.

 DO

May 12: RemFest

27th St., Remington Ave., & Cresmont Ave. 12-9 p.m. Free. 443-620-4742. 

Get your party hat out—it’s time to celebrate 27th Street’s 100th birthday. In collaboration with local businesses, the Greater Remington Improvement Association presents the historic neighborhood’s first-ever festival to revel in the renaissance that’s  been taking place in Remington over the past five years. This Saturday, local eateries—including neighborhood favorites like The Dizz, Charmington’s, Sweet 27, and R. House—will be serving up festival specialties, while R. Bar, the Baltimore Whiskey Company, and Union Craft Brewing will be pouring out drinks. Peruse tons of craft vendors at B. Willow’s makers market and hear a jam-packed music lineup featuring top-notch local artists like Chiffon, Surf Harp, and Joy Postell.