Last spring, a collective sigh of relief spread throughout the Baltimore music community when it was announced that the Ottobar, the beloved, rough-and-tumble rock club in Remington and a local institution for the past two decades, would be purchased by its longtime bar manager, Tecla Tesnau.

Just six months earlier, it went up for sale, leaving fans of all ages wondering what it would mean for the city’s cultural landscape if that small black room and dimly lit dance floor was no longer packed with sweaty bodies. Or worse, if the graffitied walls were painted over to become just another slick venue without the same gritty heart and soul.

Behind the bar since its inception downtown on Davis Street, Tesnau had seen the Ottobar through many changes over the past 23 years, from the digitization of the music industry to the gentrification of Baltimore—none of which would prepare her, of course, for what would arrive six months after she took over, when the novel coronavirus swept around the world and left a sea of shuttered concert halls in its wake.

“After I got handed the keys, we were running full tilt, 100 miles per hour, setting records left and right, the lineup was absolutely stellar—even my accountant at one point was like, ‘Good work, kid,’ which is high praise from someone who is usually all about the books,” says Tesnau on a Tuesday afternoon in late September. “Then, boom, COVID landed, and we hit an absolute cinderblock wall. We got knocked on our ass.”

Since early March, the Ottobar stage has stood mostly empty. No crowds have gathered beneath its sparkling disco ball. No feet have dangled from the second-floor balcony. No lines have wrapped out the door, down the alleyway, and around the corner onto Howard Street. The bar is tidy, the barstools tucked in, not a drop of liquor spilled on the floor beneath them for months.

Shortly after the first case of COVID-19 arrived in Maryland, Governor Larry Hogan announced restrictions on public gatherings, first limiting groups to 250 people—half of the Ottobar’s capacity—then 50, then 10, before a statewide lockdown. For most venues, the weeks that followed meant navigating the quagmire of canceled concerts, refunded ticket sales, unemployment applications, and gathering paperwork for the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program.

“We were literally building the airplane as we were flying it, and are still continuing to do so,” says Tesnau. “The space feels so different now. It smells better, for one—I’ve taken to cleaning it a lot. But it’s cavernous, absolutely cavernous. I can’t tell you how much I miss having music in there. Honestly, if I had known that last show was going to be our last, I would’ve been in the mosh pit, too.”

Much like restaurants, the very existence of music venues—particularly small, independent clubs that don’t have the parent companies or shareholders of those in cahoots with conglomerates like Live Nation and AEG—was upended this year as, overnight, their entire business model became virtually obsolete.

Suddenly, COVID-19 made concert-going as we know it simply unsafe, with the virus spread through respiratory droplets, be it coughing or singing, plus close proximity and indoor environments increasing the risk of transmission. Tours were called off, and venues became some of the first businesses to close.

“No one knew then what extreme toll the virus was going to take on the music industry at large,” says Tesnau. “It has absolutely decimated and devastated the music industry. And it’s this massive trickle down.”

“A lot of people don’t realize how many people work in this industry,” says Abigail Janssens, owner of The 8×10 in Federal Hill. “It goes from the artists to the bus drivers who drive them to the tractor trailers who carry the equipment to the people who load the stage to the sound engineers, the light technicians, the box-office person, the security, the bartenders. It takes many, many people to put on a show.” (Not to mention that for every $1 spent on a ticket at independent venues, an estimated $12 is generated within local economies on restaurants, hotels, transportation, and retail.)

Janssens and her husband, Brian Shupe, took over their tiny Cross Street stage in 2005, breathing new life into the live music staple that dates back to the 1980s, when it hosted the likes of Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers before they were famous. The couple added multi-night residencies and cemented the venue as a hidden gem for both local and national rock-spectrum talent. Their last show was on March 12, the same day that Governor Hogan announced his first restrictions, causing them to cancel the final round of the Charm City Bluegrass Festival’s Battle of the Bands the next evening.

“We’ve been closed ever since,” says Janssens, who called off some 100 shows through September. “Our space is so small. There’s almost no way to socially distance, and I’d be devastated if anybody came in and got sick or spread the virus to other people. No way did I think we were going to be shut down for more than a couple weeks, a few months at most.”

 

“NO WAY DID I THINK WE’D BE SHUT DOWN FOR MORE THAN A FEW MONTHS AT MOST.”

 

It has now been nine months since her staff was laid off, joining the millions of Americans who went on unemployment this year due to COVID-19. And although she received the PPP and took out a small-business loan, she has still had to take another job in order to keep the lights on at The 8×10, which was already an uphill battle prior to the pandemic, as it is for many independent club owners.

“We’re definitely not in a business to become millionaires,” says Janssens. “It’s very, very tough. There are fans that come and go, there are bands that move on from a small venue—which is great for them. Being closed, we still have to pay $12,000 a month just for bills: rent, insurance, utilities, and all the other things that go along with owning a business. Now we’re almost out of the money from our loan, and it’s starting to get scary.”

The coming months will be critical for these clubs, with cold weather forcing the world back indoors, and spiking COVID-19 cases causing cities and states to clamp down again. It is estimated that 90 percent of independent venues will close permanently within the next few months without financial help from the federal government, according to the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), a recently established advocacy group. They are currently lobbying Congress to pass the Save Our Stages Act, which would establish a $10-billion grant program for this portion of the industry.

Locally, Governor Hogan announced state-wide emergency funding for live entertainment venues in late October, with grants up to $500,000. But even with this vital aid, without a vaccine distributed widely in the near future, and with Maryland once again in a state of emergency, the situation remains precarious.

“I feel terrible for some venues who are struggling to decide whether they should get out now or wait,” says Janssens. “Luckily, we’ve been in business for 15 years. We have good credit and were able to secure a loan. Otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to make it either. I’m saying this hoping to be open by next spring at the latest. If it goes on longer than that, then we might be in trouble.”

So far, no Baltimore venues have announced permanent closure, but the two-year-old Soundry shuttered in Columbia in July, and the decade-old U Street Music Hall went dark in D.C. in October. Several spaces, like Joe Squared, a live music respite for 15 years on North Avenue, and The Sidebar, a veteran punk club around the corner from City Hall, remain temporarily closed. As does Rituals, a DIY newcomer that opened just last summer in the former Windup Space, whose owner, Émile Weeks, described the waiting game as “moving through stages of grief.”

“Seeing so many clubs teetering on the brink of bankruptcy breaks your heart,” says Sam Sessa, Baltimore music coordinator at WTMD. “These spaces are part of what makes Baltimore’s music scene one of the best in the nation. Their loss would be a huge blow.”

Without ticket sales, not to mention food and drink—an important source of revenue for many venues—some have been able to stay afloat through alternative outlets. The Crown in Station North has shifted operations into its secondary restaurant space downstairs, with the club’s bouncer, Tony MacDonald, still checking IDs, but now also temperatures. The Ottobar, with its alleyway patio, and the Creative Alliance, with its roving Sidewalk Serenades, were able to utilize the outdoors during warm weather.

Others have tried their hands at smaller indoor concerts as Maryland entered new stages of its coronavirus recovery plan this fall. At press time, however, Baltimore City has just reverted to Phase One, with venues now allowed to operate at only 25 percent capacity, including staff. This creates an economic pickle for smaller spaces who have to decide if those numbers make any financial sense.

“Fifty people doesn’t even begin to pay a band, and is it worth it for my bartenders to come in and possibly get sick for nothing that they’re used to making?” says Janssens, whose 8×10 typically holds 250 people.

“It’s going to help us maintain, but it’s still a very big challenge to keep hanging on,” says Adam Savage, music manager at Baltimore Soundstage, which launched limited-seating concerts at its downtown venue that typically holds 1,000 people. He also works at the Metro Gallery in Station North, which has remained closed since March, as it’s difficult to social distance in a 240-person room.

Still, it is uncertain whether or not audiences will even feel comfortable coming back inside. The Keystone Korner in Harbor East and Cat’s Eye Pub in Fells Point have already had some initial success—and Ticketmaster is now toying with the idea of verifying COVID test results and vaccination statuses before admittance to shows in 2021, which may be the way of the future—but for the time being, it’s not for everyone. “It’s unfortunate, but I don’t think people feel comfortable, and I don’t feel comfortable having a band on our stage, and I don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon,” says Tesnau.

For that, there has been a sort of second digital renaissance within the industry. Several years back, albums moved onto the internet, forever changing the way we consume music. Now, artists themselves have shifted to social media, with virtual concerts becoming the new way for performers big and small to reach fans in the comforts of their own homes.

Every Tuesday since late March, singer-songwriter Cris Jacobs has taken to Facebook Live for at-home concerts, accepting online tips to support his family and out-of-work band and crew. Rapper DDm and indie-rockers Future Islands also released new records via video performances, while dozens of jazz and classical artists, like Warren Wolf and Lafayette Gilchrist, have beamed out sets via YouTube through Mount Vernon’s An Die Musik. And audiences are tuning in, not just in Baltimore, but from across the globe.

“There’s definitely a democratization that’s happened to performance during this pandemic, which is wonderful—we’re all competing for the same eyeballs,” says Josh Kohn, performance director at the Creative Alliance, whose Virtual Front Row livestream series, featuring local artists such as Lea Gilmore and Super City, has evolved into a hybrid in-person offering. “But it leaves the question: what is the role of a venue right now, when you can’t put people in a room together?”

 

“WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A VENUE WHEN YOU CAN’T PUT PEOPLE IN A ROOM TOGETHER?”

 

It also raises the question of longevity. Artists and venues are making investments into livestream technologies, like better sound and camera equipment, but most acknowledge the reality of screen fatigue, perhaps due in part to an increasingly technology-tied world in quarantine. Even more likely, it’s because online performances miss something harder to grasp or define—that kinetic electricity of a tiny room reverberating with sound.

“There’s just this vibration during a live performance that you can’t replicate in any other way,” says Kohn. “There’s an energy and a magic when something powerful happens in front of a group of people together. Personally, I came to the Creative Alliance because I love that room. I really miss it.”

Of course, the absence of venues has also had an immense impact on the musicians themselves, who use these stages to not only make a living but also hone their craft and feed off the exchange with a live audience.

“I’m used to it now, but the first few weeks, there was just silence after I played a song, which was really strange,” Cris Jacobs told us this summer. “Playing [virtual] shows made me realize just how much I do miss live music. It’s what I’ve done for so long. Until it’s gone, you maybe don’t realize all the ways it served you, and everybody.”

In recent years, one venue in particular, The Crown, has become a pivotal proving ground for a diverse array of DIY artists, with the small blue room and main red room serving as stepping stones to bigger clubs. This is where Abdu Ali started their iconic Kahlon parties back in 2013 that helped put Baltimore’s music scene on the map and launch the avant-garde rapper on a trajectory toward indie stardom.

“So many young, new artists come through there—it’s really one of the last underground venues in America, as gentrification has hit cities so hard so that places like The Crown literally cannot exist,” says Ali, who also tips their hat to Metro Gallery and mentions the important work that more venues need to do to nurture marginalized creatives. “It’s very important for artists to have the comfort of knowing they have a space where they can do their thing in their city, in their community, in their own backyard.”

For now, for the foreseeable future, most music venues will stay closed, as many states shut down, and the reopening of businesses remaining a point of national debate. In last-ditch efforts to buy more time, the Ottobar and 8×10 launched GoFundMe campaigns this fall, receiving an outpouring of community support, and perhaps a glimmer of hope.

“There is still a huge hunger for live music in people’s lives,” says Savage, who helped Soundstage put on drive-in concerts at the Frederick Fairgrounds this summer. “We’ve been gathering around drums in caves since the very beginning. Live music is part of human existence. It’s something we need on an absolute fundamental level. It just can’t go away.”

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

 EAT

Dec. 31: Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Ida B’s Table

Ida B’s Table, 235 Holliday St. 9 p.m. $91.79. 410-844-0444.

Although Ida B’s Table opened its doors four months ago, it has quickly become one of the most exciting establishments in the city. If you haven’t experienced this modern soul food yet, make it a New Year’s resolution and find yourself there for a special Sunday feast. Ring in 2018 with a four-course dinner by chef David Thomas plus live music by local soul singer Ama Chandra to boot. Each plate on the menu is inspired by African-American history and traditions, including the re-envisioned “chicken” and waffles, black bass with black-eyed peas, and grilled rack of lamb with spoon-bread masala. Just be sure to leave some room for Ida B’s fantastic desserts, like scratch-made sweet potato cheesecake with a champagne toast.

 DRINK

Dec. 31: Suspended Brewing Company’s First Pour New Year’s Eve Party

Suspended Brewing Company, 912 Washington Blvd. 8 p.m. $60.

After three years in the making, Suspended Brewing Company is finally pouring out the first brews from its brand-new brewery in Pigtown. On Sunday evening, grab an inaugural pour (or few) of their creative and sustainable microbrews before singing “Auld Lang Syne.” Cocktails will also be on tap, non-alcoholic drinks will be flowing from Vigilante Coffee and Wild Kombucha, and hangover-repellent chow will be slung by the bun masters of Ekiben. Partake in a midnight beer toast when the clock strikes 12 and fill up a crowler to take home.

 SEE

Dec. 31: John Oliver

The Hippodrome Theater, 12 N Eutaw St. 7-9:30 p.m. Prices vary.

This New Year’s Eve, say goodbye to another crazy year with some much-needed, unfiltered humor from this irreverant British comedian. We were as surprised as anyone when John Oliver became one of America’s most beloved nighttime talk show hosts after cutting his comedic chops as one of Jon Stewart’s foreign correspondents on The Daily Show. But his brainy, sometimes cantankerous brand of comedic news has become a household favorite thanks to his half-hour HBO show, Last Week Tonight. With two back-to-back shows at the Hippodrome this New Year’s Eve, allow this beloved Brit’s charming wit and candid commentary send 2017 off with a bellyaching bang.

 HEAR

Dec. 30: A Tom Petty Celebration

The 8×10, 10 E. Cross St. 8 p.m. $15. 410-625-2000.

In early October, heartbroken fans and fellow musicians mourned the loss of Tom Petty, one of the greatest singer-songwriters and guitarists of all time. Known as a mainstay of rock-and-roll since the 1970s, Petty, with the help of his band, The Heartbreakers, has become a legendary icon with his masterful guitar skills, signature harmonica riffs, and insightful lyrics, evident in hit songs like “Free Fallin’,” “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” and “I Won’t Back Down.” On Saturday, pay homage with a tribute concert featuring local musicians such as Jack Denning, Warren Boes, Keith Tuttle, Eric Dixon, and Steve Blake. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Grammy Foundation’s MusiCares Charity, who named Tom Petty their Person of the Year.

 DO

Dec. 30: Kwanzaa Celebration 2017

Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. 12-4 p.m. $5. 443-263-1800. 

The New Year is just around the corner, but we’re not quite finished with the holiday season. After all, we’re only midway through Kwanzaa. This holiday is not limited to a religion but is rather an all-encompassing celebration of African-American culture, tradition, and heritage. On Saturday, learn about the seven-day holiday at Baltimore’s biggest Kwanzaa event featuring African-American dance, storytelling, workshops, and art at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum. Catch performances by the Sankofa Dance Theatre, listen to lectures by food nutritionist Tambra Raye Stevenson and genealogy expert Dr. Donna Hollie, and participate in a gallery walk with quilter Joan Gaither through her new exhibit, Freedom: Emancipation Quilted & Stitched. And don’t miss out on the traditional African marketplace where artisans will be showcasing unique crafts and handmade gifts. 

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

EAT

Dec. 24: Feast of The Seven Fishes

Gnocco, 3734 Fleet St. 5-8 p.m. 443-449-6540.

One of the most beloved Italian-American traditions is the Feast of the Seven Fishes, or “Festa Dei Sette Pesci.” This Christmas Eve custom is all about two things: family and seafood. This year, Gnocco will serve its first-ever Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner featuring five lavish seafood courses. Start a new Christmas Eve tradition and try the crispy fried eel garnished with lemon and salsa verde, squid ink gnocchi with tomato-braised calamari, and end the meal with whole-grilled Dorado.

DRINK

Dec. 24: Yippee-Ki-Yay!

Blue Pit BBQ & Whiskey Bar, 1601 Union Ave. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. 443-948-5590. Free.

Welcome to the party, pal. The laid-back Hampden hangout will continue its annual tradition of showing the 1980s classic Die Hard on Christmas Eve with plenty of eggnog and whiskey to go around. Catch one of the two viewings (Movie starts at 9 p.m. and again at 11 p.m.) or stay all night for the Chinese food and explosion-filled fun. Pull up a seat, grab a glass of rye whiskey, and get ready to debate why Die Hard is still considered a Christmas movie.

SEE

Dec. 25: Ravens vs. Steelers

4:30 p.m. on NFL Network.

After a narrow victory over the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday, Ravens fans are hoping Santa will check off their wish lists and deliver a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The notorious rivals will face off Christmas Day to decide which team will lead the AFC North division into playoff season. If you want to watch the game from your lucky barstool or just need a way to escape from your extended family; don’t worry, some of the best Ravens bars like Mother’s Grille, Kisling’s Tavern, and Abbey Burger Bistro will be open for the game. Whether you’re cheering from the couch or knocking back Ravens Bombs at Charles Village Pub, don’t miss the rivalry game of the season.

HEAR

Dec. 23: A Very Jerry Christmas

The 8×10, 10 East Cross St. 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m. 410-625-2000.

Already sick of listening to Christmas carols? Get “Frosty the Snowman” out of your head and catch Baltimore singer-songwriter Cris Jacobs during the last leg of his two-night show at The 8×10. As part of the club’s DEADcember event, Jacobs is bringing his signature blend of sweet and rugged sounds to Friday’s sold-out crowd. This is the last chance to hear Jacobs in Baltimore in 2016, so ditch the in-laws and sing along to songs from his latest solo album, “Dust to Gold.” If you couldn’t score a ticket, Jacobs and Friends will be back at The 8×10 during the first weekend of the new year.

DO

Dec. 25: Baltimore Chanukah Festival

McKeldin Square in the Inner Harbor, East Pratt St. 2-5 p.m. Free.

For the past two weeks, the Esther Ann Menorah has stood in McKeldin Square as part of the Baltimore skyline. The 30-foot menorah symbolizes the idea of spreading light throughout the city, and will be lit as the main event of this year’s Chanukah festival. Before heading to the menorah-lighting ceremony at 4:30 p.m., follow the dancing driedels to the Chanukah Wonderland for an olive press show, face painting, and live music starting at 2 p.m. Grab a Chanukah doughnut or a pastrami sandwich from the kosher food truck The Brooklyn Sandwich Co. and enjoy this lively festival at the Inner Harbor.

FAMILY FRIGHTS

WITCHES & WIZARDS WEEKEND
10/22-10/23: Take the kids to this Halloween celebration featuring potion-making, wand-decorating, and a Wizard Show in the roundhouse. B&O Railroad Museum, 901 W. Pratt St., 410-752-2490

ZOO BOO
10/28-30: Costumes are encouraged for treat-or-treating, carnival fun, and contests at the zoo. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Drive, 410-396-7102

GREAT LANTERN PARADE NIGHT
10/29: Follow the bright lights of the 17th lantern parade through the rolling hills of Patterson Park. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave., 410-276-1651

SPOOKY SCIENCE
10/29: Make your own slime, carve your own pumpkin, and decorate trick-or-treat bags with activities, crafts, and demonstrations. Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St., 410-685-5225

HEATHER L. HURD 5K & TRICK OR TREAT WALK
10/29: Adults and kids alike can take part in this benefit run/walk with face painting and activities for the kids. Harford Community College, 401 Thomas Run Road, Bel Air, 443-412-2000

KIDSPEACE TRICK OR TROT
10/29: Don your orange and black for this seventh annual 5K run or 1K walk through the Inner Harbor to the baseball field. Oriole Park at Camden Yards, 333 W. Camden St.

FALL-O-WEEN FAMILY FESTIVAL
10/29: Bring your mini mummies and witches for face-painting, activities, and treats at the museum. Port Discovery, 35 Market Place, 410-727-8120

LANTERN NIGHT
10/29: Show up in costume to receive half-priced admission to this family-friendly celebration featuring glowing antique lamps and lanterns, and stories from actors in period attire.The Fire Museum of Maryland, 1301 York Road, Lutherville, 410-321-7500

TRICK OR TREAT AT THE MARKET
10/29: Bring the family to sit-in on cooking tutorials led by Charm City’s own Chef Egg, dance to the steel drum sounds of Orlando Phillips, and gather treats from the merchants of Lexington Market at this second annual soiree. Lexington Market, 400 W. Lexington St., 410-685-6169

TRICK-OR-TREAT AT THE SQUARE
10/30: With pillow cases and plastic jack-o-lanterns in tow, round up the kids and head to Belvedere Square to receive treats from all of the merchants, partake in a “Thriller” dance tutorial, and see which outfit reigns supreme in the annual costume contest. 540 E. Belvedere Ave., 410-464-9773

SPIRITED SOIREES

PUMPKINFEST AT VICTORIA GASTRO PUB
10/10-10/11: Sip flights of local pumpkin beers paired with fall-inspired game dishes from executive chef Chad Wells at this Halloween-themed tasting event. 8201 Snowden River Parkway, 410-750-1880

FRIGHT NIGHT
10/20: Join the Stoop Storytellers for tales of nightmares, phobias, and old-fashion ghosts, alongside cocktails and karaoke. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave., 410-276-1651

FEDERAL HILL-O-WEEN
10/29: Embark on this creepy crawl around Federal Hill to take advantage of devilish drink deals including $3 Miller Lites, $4 Blue Moons, and $4 Leinenkugel’s Harvest Patch Shandy’s at more than 10 participating spots. Registration at Mother’s, 1113 S. Charles St., 410-244-8686

SAINTS & SINNERS BLOCK PARTY
10/29: Show off your costume and stroll around O’Donnell Square at this annual moonlit meet up, where bars like Looney’s, El Bufalo, and Claddagh Pub will feature festive drink specials. Registration at Portside Tavern 2821 O’Donnell St., 410-522-7678

HALLOWEEN 2016: DEAD OR ALIVE
10/29: Cue the fog machine—the mainstage dance floor at Power Plant Live is transforming into a full-on tombstone graveyard in honor of the haunted holiday.Get down to the live sounds of DJ Janko and DJ Sal Flip all night long, while entering to win cash prizes in the costume contest. Power Plant Live, 34 Market Place, 410-727-5483

HALLOWEEN PARTY AT THE BREWER’S ART
10/29: Show up in costume to enter to win prizes and sip drink specials, like $3.75 craft drafts, at The Brewer’s Art’s annual basement bash. 1106 N. Charles St., 410-547-6925

SPOOKY SIGHTS

BALTIMORE BIKE PARTY: HALLOWEEN RIDE
10/28: Suit up in your Halloween best to join hundreds of other local cyclists on this annual glow-in-the-dark ride, complete with candy, costumes, and a post-ride party with plenty of Heavy Seas beer to go around. Ride departs from St. Mary’s Park, 600 N. Paca St.

MICA HAUNTED HOUSE: TIMESTREAM
10/20-10/22: MICA’s annual student-run haunted house is back with another eerie experience that is guaranteed to give you goosebumps. Take a walk around this year’s time travel-themed production to catch a glimpse of strobe lights, fog machines, and other mind-altering mischief. 1601 W. Mount Royal Ave.

AVAM FREE FALL HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION
10/27: Create a DIY lantern, embark on a glow-in-the-dark bicycle ride around Federal Hill, and kick back under the stars to enjoy a special screening of Young Frankenstein at the AVAM’s annual free event. 800 Key Highway, 410-244-1900

FELLS POINT GHOST TOURS
TO 11/22: Apparitions abound on this walking tour of historic Fells Point. Stop by a number of supernatural sites while learning about the neighborhood’s history as a rowdy seaport town along the way. Tours depart from Max’s Taphouse, 735 S. Broadway.

MIDNIGHT MUSIC

ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
10/27-31: Head to the Motor House for eight performances of this cult classic musical. 120 W. North Ave., 410-637-8300

SINATRA 101
10/28: Dress in your favorite Sinatra-era getup and snap along to Ol’ Blue Eyes classics at this special pre-Halloween show featuring Baltimore native Angelo Divino. Cabaret at Germano’s Piattini, 300 S. High St., 410-752-4515

WITCHES, WIZARDS, GHOSTS AND GOBLINS
10/29: Celebrate Halloween with the spooky sounds of Fantasia-famous Night on Bald Mountain and the score of Harry Potter. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., 410-783-8000

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
10/29-30: The BSO performs a live score alongside a screening of Tim Burton’s cult classic, holiday-clashing film. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., 410-783-8000

PUMPKIN PARTIES

MARYLAND PUMPKIN FESTIVAL
10/8-9: Don’t miss this giant fall fiesta in Frederick with a corn maze, farm animals, hayrides, and all things pumpkin. Summers Farm, 5620 Butterfly Lane, 301-620-9316

PUMPKINFEST
10/15: Bring the family for pumpkin painting, sack races, hayrides, and more in Owings Mills. Irvine Nature Center, 11201 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, 443-738-9200

FAMILY & FRIENDS PUMPKIN CARVING NIGHT
10/19-10/20: Watch
your little witches and warlocks learn how to carve pumpkins like a pro
at this event featuring candy-cornhole and a caramel apple fondue bar.
Adult activities will include boozy apple-bobbing and bottomless hot
toddies.
Das Bier Haus, 1542 Light St., 443-708-8854

HARBOR HARVEST
10/22: Celebrate fall with a family fun day of pumpkin patches, pumpkin decorating, face painting, and a petting zoo. West Shore Park, 401 Light St., 410-779-4700

WESTMINSTER HALLOWEEN PARADE
10/22: Head to Carroll County for this annual Halloween parade and town-wide celebration. East Main St., Downtown Westminster, 410-751-5501

Ah, Valentine’s Day­. The Hallmark holiday we both love and loathe is once again upon us. Maybe you have a hot date—with a lover, a friend, or your Netflix account—but whatever your plans, you can forget the pressure and feel the love with one of these sweet events.

FEB. 12: THE WALTERS’ SUPER THURSDAY PARTY
The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. 5-9 p.m. Free. 410-547-9000. Join the Walters Art Museum for an early Valentine’s celebration, with art, cocktails, and old-school soul and funk by DJ Paul Lebelle.

FEB. 13: WINE & CHOCOLATE TASTING
Hard Rock Café, 601 E. Pratt St. 7-9 p.m. $25. At this pre-Valentine’s pairing, sample a sweet medley of Maryland wines alongside local gourmet chocolates from Parfections.

FEB. 14: KACEY MUSGRAVES
Rams Head Live, 20 Market Pl. 7 p.m. $25. 410-244-1131. ramsheadlive.com. This rebellious, rising country starlet brings her musical moxie to Rams Head for a special show, performing hits like “Follow Your Arrow” and “Blowin’ Smoke.”

FEB. 14: VALENTINE’S DATE NIGHT
National Aquarium, 501 E. Pratt St. 8-11 p.m. $80-100. 410-576-3800. aqua.org. Take your date on a romantic trip under the sea at this private, nighttime aquarium tour set to live music with cocktails and dessert.

FEB. 14: SEX AT THE ZOO
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Dr. 6-9 p.m. $80. 410-396-7102. marylandzoo.org. They say romance is for the birds, so learn all about love in the animal kingdom at this annual affair at the zoo, with an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, and live jazz.

FEB. 14: OTTOBAR VALENTINE’S DAY DANCE PARTY
The Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St. 8 p.m. $5-10 suggest donation. 410-662-0069. Feel the local love at this dance party-cum-benefit with Baltimore musicians like Jana Hunter of Lower Dens, Williams Cashion of Future Islands, Lesser Gonzales, and Dianamatic, plus DJ sets by James Nasty and Young Coconut, with donations benefitting Moveable Feast.

FEB. 14: TASSELS & CHAMPAGNE
Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 7:30 & 10 p.m. $20-125. 410-276-1651. creative alliance.org. Nothing says passion like a little bit of skin, so swing by the Patterson to see Baltimore’s premier burlesque troupe, Gilded Lily, and their Roman-themed Palazzo Decadente performance.

FEB. 14: TALKING HEADS AND LOVE SONGS
The 8×10, 10 E. Cross St. 8 p.m. $15. 41-625-2000. Boogie down to the Psycho Killers this Saturday as the Talking Heads cover band presents an evening of the group’s greatest hits—like “Once in a Lifetime” and “This Must Be The Place”—as well as a set of assorted love songs.

FEB. 14: KATT WILLIAMS
Royal Farms Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St. 8 p.m. $45-125. 410-347-2020. royalfarmsarena.com. Take your date out for some hearty laughs as this outlandish comedian performs his animated standup.

FEB. 14: OFF THE CUFF: THE BACH FAMILY
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St. 7 p.m. $29-84. 410-783-8000. bsomusic.org. Enjoy a romantic night of Baroque music, Bach family compositions, and insight from conductor Nicholas McGegan.

FEB. 14: CUPID’S UNDIE RUN
Luckie’s Tavern, 10 Market Pl. 12 p.m. $55. 410-223-1105. Don your lucky underwear and brave the cold for this mile-long charity run, benefitting the Children’s Tumor Foundation, followed by an after-party until 4 p.m.

FEB. 14: BALTIMORE IMPROV GROUP’S VALENTINE’S EXTRAVAGANZA
The Mercury Theater, 1823 N. Charles St. 8-10 p.m. $8-10. 888-745-8393. The Baltimore Improv Group presents a Cupid-themed comedy night in two acts, with multiple performers, music, and standup.

FEB. 14: ENCHANTMENT UNDER THE SEA VALENTINE’S DANCE
Baltimore Soundstage, 124 Market Pl. 7:30 p.m. $20-30. 410-244-0057. With the dance floor decked out like Back to the Future’s Hill Valley High, this ’50s and ’60s-themed mixer is a music-filled night for singles and couples alike, with DJs, a live band, Hawaiian fusion food, drinks, dating games, and more.

FEB. 14: BEER & DESSERTS
Phoenix Emporium, 8049 Main St., Ellicott City. 7-10 p.m. 301-694-7899. This craft beer and dessert tasting pairs a series of sweets with three Flying Dog brews, including the Kujo Imperial Coffee Stout, Bloodline Blood Orange Ale, and the just-released Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout.

TO FEB. 15: ICE SKATING
Inner Harbor Ice Rink, McKeldin Plaza, 101 Pratt St. Times vary. $3-9. 443-890-6158. This weekend is your last chance to ice skate in the Inner Harbor, so grab a sweater and take your Valentine out for a spin.