EAT

August 26: The Gathering

Hollywood Diner, 400 E. Saratoga St. 5-10
p.m. Free.

This Friday, head
to Holliday and Saratoga streets beneath the belly of the JFX, but not for an
early bird spot for Sunday’s weekly farmers’ market. Just as the clock strikes
quittin’ time, hoards of four-wheeled kitchens will roll in, as the Hollywood
Diner transforms into a foodie haven with the help of Baltimore’s favorite food
truck rally, The Gathering. Outside amidst the warm weather and beneath the
stars, indulge in some of the city’s best mobile eats and boogie down to the
groovy sounds of the city’s monthly dance party, 4 Hours of Funk.

DRINK

August 27: Hope Floats: A Jones Valley Flood Benefit

Union Craft Brewing, 1700 Union Ave. 7-10
p.m. $25.

Nearly a month ago, our beloved Union Craft was celebrating its fourth birthday when a heavy rainstorm flooded the Jones Falls Valley on which the little brewery sits. UCB and its friends and neighbors—largely small, independent, local business owners—were damaged and devastated by the flood, including Nepenthe Brew and Mouth Party Caramel of Clipper Mill. This Saturday, come out and help rebuild, with food by nearby Woodberry Kitchen and Best of Baltimore-winning Well Crafted Pizza, music by Brooks Long and Joseph & The Beast, and of course, all the Steady Eddie you can drink. All proceeds will benefit those affected by the flood.

SEE

August 27-Oct. 3: Maryland Renaissance Festival

1821
Crownsville Road, Annapolis. Times vary. Free-$24. 410-266-7304.

Over nine
weekends throughout the fall, all the world’s a stage at the 40th annual
Maryland Renaissance Festival. Don your flower crowns or suits of armor and
travel back in time to 16th-century England. There, across 27 acres, hundreds
of thousands of festivalgoers can revel in the lifestyle of medieval folk, with
jousting tournaments, one-pound turkey legs, mugs of mead, and arts and crafts
of yesteryear. Don’t miss one of the 14 weddings that happen each year (yes,
weddings) and get your photo opp with the RennFest king and queen.

HEAR

August 27: Wing Dam record release

The Windup Space, 12 W. North Ave. 8 p.m. $8.

The new Wing Dam Record, Glow Ahead, makes us feel nostalgic. The local trio has left Baltimore, trading in their position as one of the city’s top acts to shine on the West Coast. We should’ve seen it coming, with the big-name tours, festival lineups, and evolution of the last two albums, building into the crescendo of this third. Following their trademark quiet-loud-quiet style, the sound is bigger and bolder than ever, with smashing drums, resonant vocals, and the fill-your-ears fuzz of grunge guitar. Anthemic and abuzz, each song is California-ready—sunny enough for the beach, gritty enough for the sidewalks, infused with the energy and urgency of all the dreamers of the Golden State. Hear it for yourself this Saturday, with fellow local bands Natural Velvet, Post Pink, and Amor Fatigue. We’ll miss Wing Dam around Baltimore, but we wish them the best of luck in San Diego, and beyond.

DO

August 25-Sept. 5: Maryland State Fair

Maryland State
Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd., Timonium. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Free-$8. 410-252-0200.

Cue the lights,
start the Ferris Wheel: The Maryland State Fair returns for the 135th year with
12 jam-packed days of carnival rides, fried fair eats, livestock shows, horse
racing, bull riding, and blowout concerts by the likes of pop star Charlie Puth
and country singer Jana Kramer. In honor of its big anniversary, the fair will
celebrate its local roots by showcasing a bounty of farmers, growers, and all
things agriculture, including lessons on sustainability and the state’s booming
oyster aquaculture industry. Learn about the Land of Pleasant living, and join
thousands of visitors to stand beneath the bright bulbs of the carnival rides,
breathe in the comforting smell of cotton candy and corn on the cob, and soak
up the final days of summer with this all-American tradition.

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EAT

June 4: Taste of 3 Cities

Patterson Park, 2806 Eastern Ave. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. $16.74-69.24. 410-276-3676.

Nowadays, it seems like everyone’s a foodie—eating artisanal French fries, buying local ramps and radishes at farmers’ markets, frequenting festivals like The Emporiyum. It’s become a cliché, but with culinary creativity at an all-time high, we’re by no means going to knock it. Instead, this Saturday, you should embrace your inner foodie on the hills of Patterson Park. For one day, the green space will transform into an epicurean playground with the region’s top 40 food trucks offering everything from lobster rolls and barbecue to grilled cheese and cupcakes. Tour their treats, vote for your favorites, cool off with beer and wine, and listen to live music. Proceeds will benefit two good causes: Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit that delivers food to people in need, and the (RED) Campaign, whose global efforts are fighting to end AIDS.

DRINK

June 3: Atomic Books & Jailbreak Brewing Cooler Coup

Atomic Books, 3620 Falls Rd. 7-10 p.m. Free. 410-662-4444.

It’s officially June, which makes it officially unofficially summer. Celebrate the season at First Friday in Hampden, with local shops and restaurants opening their doors with specials, drinks, neighbors, and tourists alike. Scramble down The Avenue and enjoy the evening, but if you get too hot outside, head into Atomic Books, where the indie bookstore’s back Eightbar will be hosting a tap-takeover happy hour, featuring Laurel’s Jailbreak Brewing. Cool down with Feed The Monkey orange hefeweizens, Welcome to Scoville jalapeño IPAs, and The Infinite amber ales, plus snacks from Golden West Café. If you’re lucky, you might even get a taste of their upcoming Q. Cumber saison, out next week just in time for the warm weather.

SEE

June 3-5: Hairspray: In Concert

Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St. Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 3 & 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. $43-109. 410-783-8000.

We have Diner, we have Avalon, we have parts of Sleepless in Seattle, but few films are more iconic for Charm City than Hairspray by John Waters. It’s all there: the gritty warehouses, the Hon-style beehives, the Formstone row homes, the rats. In the original (read: best) version, there’s even Baltimore’s legendary Divine. Whether you know it well or need it in your Netflix queue, the famous musical will return home this week, taking over the Meyerhoff stage as a special partial-concert production. Belt out “Good Morning Baltimore” beside members of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and see Mr. Waters himself, as he’ll be serving as the narrator.

HEAR

June 3: Save Your Soul with Fred Schneider of The B-52’s

Lithuanian Hall, 851 Hollins St. 9 p.m.-2
a.m. $5-10. 410-685-5787.

If you’re not
spending First Friday in Hampden, head down to Hollins Market to shake your
groove thing with The B-52’s. Literally, as this weekend, the monthly Save Your Soul
dance party will be featuring guest DJ Fred Schneider, aka former frontman of
the beloved ’80s group. You might remember him from such famous lines as:
“If you see a faded sign at the side of the road, that says 15 miles to the…” Or,
“Sign says, [woo!] ‘Stay away, fools,’ – the love rules, at the luh-uh-uhve
shack…” Or, “Knock a little louder sugar!” Or, “I, can’t, hear, you!” You get
the point. He’ll be there, with DJs Rob Macy and King Gilbert, turning Lith
Hall into a love shack, spinning vintage soul, funk, and R&B. We’ll
definitely be roaming that way.

DO

June 4:

Baltimore 10 Miler

Druid Hill Park, 3100 Swann Dr. 7:30 a.m.
$60-85.

With dreadful bikini season finally upon us, there’s still
time to shed some of the many calories consumed through springtime’s burgers, beers, and ball games. This Saturday morning, throw on your sneakers
and take a scenic-yet-challenging jog between Druid Hill and Herring Run parks.
Across 10 miles, you’ll weave your way through North Baltimore, swinging by
neighborhoods like Remington, Charles Village, and Waverly, and past local landmarks
like Druid Lake, the Maryland Zoo, Johns Hopkins University, and Lake Montebello.
At the end, enjoy a cold towel, crunchy watermelon, and beer. Because, summer.

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EAT

April 22: The Gathering Season Kickoff

Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Hwy. 5-10 p.m. $4.14-45.

If you didn’t get your fill at The Emporiyum last weekend, you can continue to keep your bikini body at bay with Baltimore’s seminal food truck rally The Gathering. Outside on the BMI waterfront, some 20 local food trucks will corral for the first time this season, toting culinary treats like Asian fusion bibimbap from The Green Bowl, crab-covered French fries from Gypsy Queen, gourmet grilled cheese from Grrche, and Baltimore’s favorite ice cream from Miss Twist. The parking lot will also feature beer, wine, art, crafts, and live music by funk and soul band Higher Hands. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the museum.

DRINK

April 23: WTMD’s Brews & Bands

1 Olympic Pl., Towson. 1-5 p.m. $30.
410-704-8938.

WTMD is full of great ideas: streaming Animal Collective at the BWI Airport, setting up concerts for Baltimore bands at the baggage claim, and offering the best way to spend your lunch break with its weekly showcase of awesome acts like Hozier, San Fermin, Sinkane, and Thao & The Get Down. Now, for the second year, they also bring us this fantastic festival for local music and beer. On Saturday, sample unlimited sips from more than 15 local breweries. Whether you prefers IPAs, wheats, saisons or stouts, WTMD has you covered with the likes of The Brewer’s Art’s Choptank’d, Monument City’s 51 Rye, Peabody Heights’s Old Oriole Park, and Union Craft’s Steady Eddie. All the while, soak up the sun and the sounds of local musicians like alt-rockers Among Wolves and local soul-man Brooks Long.

SEE

April 24: Only When It’s Dark EnoughCan You See the Stars, ft. :3ION, Tariq Toure, Sunny Cowell

Peale Museum, 225 N. Holliday St. 12-2
p.m. Free.

After its foodless food truck performance from last fall, The Contemporary, a nomadic arts organization based in Baltimore, is back with a brand-new, groundbreaking exhibit. Launched last Saturday and on display through June 11, New York-based artist Abigail DeVille has transformed the historic former Peale Museum into an experimental installation that examines the unruly nature of history. During its stint downtown, it will also shine a light on local performers, poets, storytellers, and musicians through its “Sunday Salons” series. Starting this weekend, you can see specials guests like accomplished local writer and public speaker Tariq Touré, futuristic R&B artist :3ION (pronounced Elon and reviewed in our upcoming June issue), and singer-songwriter Sunny Cowell. In the coming weeks, expect the likes of spoken word artist Kondwani Fidel, multidisciplinary artist/taxidermy enthusiast Robert Marbury, and legendary artist Joyce J. Scott

HEAR

April 23:

Nudie Suits, Joy Postell, Amythsx, etc.

E.M.P. Collective, 307 W. Baltimore St. 8 p.m. $5.

Last fall, local duo Nudie Suits released its first EP, Summer Fun, which seemed to capture the unspoken, ordinary, human corners of that warm-weather season: the sluggish humidity of a hot afternoon (“Gotta Be”), the ethereal skies of full-moon night (“Mom song”), the raw rebellion of cigarette-fueled teenage joyrides (“Laura Flynn”), and the fleeting rush of a July romance (“House Cat”). In reality, vocalist Ali Clendaniel (also of Annex Theater) and violinist/composer Ruby Fulton were inspired by the cult classic Twin Peaks, as well as art rock, repetition, opera, and outer space. Whatever the influence, the experimental Peabody grads produce dreamy loops that reach into the crevices of your highs and lows, ranging in rhythm and tempo through stirring synth, dramatic vocals, and captivating compositional beats. Offbeat yet beautiful, these five tracks will weave their way into your summer playlists, but catch them this Saturday at EMP Collective alongside an all-female lineup, including spellbinding soul singer Joy Postell, art-folk-rock songwriter Hystermajesty, and up-and-coming DJ Amythsx.

DO

April 24: Federal Hill Spring Block Party

Cross Street Market, 1065 S. Cross St. 12-7 p.m. $5.

When temperatures begin to break 70 on a regular basis, it’s time to start making the weekends last as long as you possibly can. This Sunday, put off your to-do list, push away the Monday-morning-scaries, and take advantage of spring. For a full afternoon of activities, head to Federal Hill, where a neighborhood block party will be popping off, full of Maryland eats, beer in the street, and live music from Baltimore favorites like the Great American Canyon Band and Caleb Stine & The Brakemen. Grab snacks, sips, and sunshine and prepare for months of summer fun.

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EAT

Nov. 1: The Gathering x Hollywood Diner Sunday Funday

The Hollywood Diner, 400 E. Saratoga St. 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Free. 410-960-9908. thegatheringbaltimore.com

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Last Sunday you might have noticed something peculiar at the
Baltimore Farmers’ Market under 83. It wasn’t an odd gourd or a gigantic
pumpkin but rather that the long-shuttered Hollywood Diner—you know, the
old-school, silver, greasy spoon of Barry Levinson Diner fame—seemed to have, well, people inside of it. Thanks to The Gathering, the iconic diner is breathing new life again, with the interior
space being used for their new offices and the grounds being used for their
beloved food truck rallies. This weekend, enjoy mobile food eats from noon till 2 p.m., bacon-garnished Bloody Marys
from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., and the sounds of Jah Works lead singer Scott Paytner in
the early morning breeze. While you’re at it, bring some items to donate
to the homeless before you refill your totes with groceries, like dry goods, toiletries, or gloves.

DRINK

Oct. 31: The Brewer’s Art Halloween in the Dungeon

The Brewer’s Art, 1106 N. Charles St. 3 p.m.-2 a.m. Free. 410-547-6925. thebrewersart.com.

There’s a deep dark dungeon in Mt. Vernon that you can spend your Halloween in this year. It’s housed in an old, turn-of-the-century home, and there, in the brick and burgundy red depths, down the wrought-iron railings, spirits come out to play late at night. Drinkable spirits, that is, and this Saturday, the O.G. Bmore brewhouse is throwing an October finale fête with happy hour-priced drafts, prizes for best/original costumes, beer raffles, a zombie dance-off, and trick-or-treating for kids. Don your best mummy costume and indulge in endless Resurrections or go goth in Ozzy Osbourne garb and ironically imbibe in a bounty of Beazlys.

SEE

Oct. 30: The Goonies

American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. 7 p.m. Free. 410-244-1900. avam.org.

Hey, you guyyyyyys. Grab your Baby Ruths, blankets, and buds and make haste to Federal Hill this Friday for the last outdoor movie of the year. Cozy up on the hill to watch as this band of merry, middle school misfits embark on a mis-adventurous quest for buried treasure (written by Steven Spielberg, by the way). The 1980s classic will be playing on the side of AVAM, with a flock of food trucks, free museum admission, and strongly encouraged costumes. Just remember to bring a sweater—it’s going to be a chilly 50 degrees—and maybe some beer, too. It is Mischief Night, after all.

HEAR

Oct. 30: Quinton Randall at The Road to Frozen Harbor: Episode II

Rams Head Live, 20 Market Pl. 7 p.m. $13-17.60. 410-244-1131. ramsheadlive.com.

A bevy of local and regional talent will be taking over
Rams Head this weekend. Hear eight groups performing across a variety of
genres, including reggae (Tillers Prospect), nu-folk (Leo & Cygnus), and
funk (Sound Makers Union), but make sure you don’t miss Quinton Randall, the young blues musician who gripped Artscape attendees this past
July with his rip-roaring, soulful, Southern brand of blues. Whether he’s doing
an original melody or one of his mean Gary Clark Jr. covers, the 25-year-old
virtuoso is a local artist to keep your eyes on.

DO

Oct. 31: BROS Halloweiner Grimmtacular

Area 405, 405 E. Oliver St. 8-11:59 p.m. $10-12. 410-528-1968. baltimorerockopera.org.

Head to Area 405 this Friday and you’ll find the arts space transformed into a fantastical forest like only the Baltimore Rock Opera Society can create. Do you remember the underwater wonderland they made in an otherwise vacant parking lot at this year’s Artscape? Well now they’re tackling the spookiest holiday of the year, so whether you’re coming for the cabaret variety show, costume contest, local bands (psychedelic Americana quintet Voodoo Pharmacology, local punkers Canker Blossom, and BROS’ own Swannage), or witch’s cauldron of booze, it’s bound to be an only-in-Baltimore night.

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The Hollywood Diner, which has been a revolving door for prospective owners since its debut in the film, will now serve as base camp for The Gathering, providing interior space for its offices and exterior grounds for hosting its signature food truck rallies. The park kicked off its run with a soft opening last weekend, and is slated to begin regular weekday lunch service on Monday, Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Gathering Project’s founder Damian Bohager says that the idea of opening a park is something that he and his team have been mulling over for months, drawing inspiration from initiatives he saw in other cities while driving cross-country last year.

“One of the real eye-openers was how big food truck lots are,” Bohager says. “We thought that needed to happen in Baltimore.”

Dubbed The Hollywood Diner Backlot Food Truck Park, the new concept will highlight a rotating lineup of several trucks parked outside each day, and allow guests to sit and enjoy the eats inside the ’50s-inspired restaurant—which is still decked out with its vintage booths and an old-school soda fountain counter.

“We’re trying to honor the historical significance and not change it like previous owners have,” says Jen Berg, The Gathering Project’s creative director. “We want to highlight the retro legacy, as well as promote the newness of the food trucks. It’s a perfect connection to the history of how food trucks really started to develop in the ’50s and ’60s.”

Additionally, organizers say that a deal with OrderUp is in the works, which will give diners the option of having meals from the featured trucks delivered to them.

In keeping with the organization’s Charm City roots, events at the new lot will emphasize local musicians (a performance by blues musician Quinton Randall is set for this weekend), craft beer from area breweries, and photography by local artists showcased inside the diner itself.

“We’re local and small, it’s not like some big corporation is coming in and putting in a Starbucks,” Berg says. “We’re preserving a part of Baltimore’s history, that’s the best part.”

On the corner of Holliday and Saratoga streets, the iconic diner space has been neglected for a long time, and now is being used by its Gathering owners as just a setting to enjoy your food-truck meal (which will be especially nice in the colder months).

But soon, a Kickstarter campaign will be launched to help cover the costs of restoring it back to its former glory.

“Being able to eat together as a community is one of the most positive things that you can do for an area that hasn’t been given some TLC in a long time,” Berg says. “It’s a recipe for changing the vibe and creating a real sense of home.”

Looking ahead, Bohager says that he has a lot of ideas about how to utilize the space as temperatures rise in the spring and summer, listing possibilities such as hosting dinner service, karaoke nights, and even outdoor film screenings. Fittingly, he notes that once the screenings begin, Levinson’s Diner will be a top priority.

“Of course we’re going to do that,” he says. “Already, I’ve seen how excited people get when they come into the diner and say, ‘That’s the booth where Kevin Bacon and all of them sat!”

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Patterson Park is being transformed into a foodie mecca this weekend.

The third and final leg of The Gathering’s annual Taste of 3 Cities competition, which pits the best food trucks of Philadelphia, D.C., and Baltimore against one another, will take over the grounds this Saturday June 6 from 12-9 p.m.

This year’s competition started in April, where more than 50 trucks set up shop at Storey Park to serve the masses in Washington D.C.

Soon after, the pack hit the road once again to debut their mobilized menus at Xfinity Live in Philadelphia, and this weekend, they’re headed our way for the last stop of the triple-crown competition’s tour.

Jen Berg, The Gathering’s creative director, says that the history of the festival dates back to four years ago, when some of D.C.’s finest food trucks wanted to get in on the action in Charm City.

“We realized that there’s a whole other town of food truck festivals down there,” says Berg,”and we saw that a lot of the trucks [from both cities] were matching up, barbecue with barbecue and dessert with dessert, so we thought it would make a great competition.”

Some of our favorite participants include Greek on the Street, Kommie Pig, and Iced Gems Baking.

“Food trucks don’t get enough credit,” Berg says. “Their creations are amazing, but people often don’t realize the amount of work that they do from sun up to sun down. They have to be mechanics, business owners, dishwashers, and do their own marketing, which is part of the reason why we added a cash prize, to celebrate all that they do.”

Berg says that locals should keep an eye out for buzzed-about contenders from neighboring cities like Philly’s Cow and the Curd, which has attracted tons of diners with its signature fried cheese curds, and D.C.’s Red Hook Lobster, which features Connecticut-style lobster rolls.

The family-friendly event will also feature a graffiti wall, hula-hoopers, local fashion and art trucks, and a live music lineup with local reggae band Yellow Dubmarine as its headliner.

Berg says that local events like Taste of 3 Cities are more important than ever, especially in the wake of April’s unrest.

“They bring positivity back to the streets and celebrate the open airiness of Baltimore,” she says. “Especially during times when people are afraid to walk out their door, it’s important to congregate and eat together as a neighborhood.”

General admission tickets for the event are $15 in advance and $20 at the door, and all proceeds will benefit Meals on Wheels Central Maryland, The (RED) Campaign, and Anne Arundel House of Hope.

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Baltimore City has passed food truck legislation that will help the industry expand.

The bill, passed on June 9 by the City Council, will create new zones for food trucks. However, those zones have not been identified yet.

Peter Greene, who co-owns the GrrChe food truck with his wife, Anne, supports the new legislation, but is disappointed that the 300-foot rule was not eliminated. The rule states that food trucks cannot be within 300 feet of a restaurant establishment.

“The only hold up I ever had was the 300-foot rule, which says we can’t do business within 300 feet of a brick-and-mortar restaurant because they say we are creating unfair competition,” Greene says. “But if I wanted to open a restaurant next to an existing restaurant, that is okay. It just didn’t add up to me.”

As part of the expansion, the food trucks will be allowed to operate on streets across Charm City and they’ll also be able to participate in farmers’ markets.

“Our local industry as a whole should benefit from the new zones as they are supposed to be set up in some areas we have not been able to expand into,” Greene says.

Why not celebrate the news by attending some events? Food truck festivals are happening throughout the summer.

The Gathering is holding a food truck festival on Friday at the Du Burns Arena in Canton and another event on June 27 at McHenry Row in Locust Point. Both events will take place from 5-10 p.m.

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Its organizer bills A Taste of Three Cities as “the largest food truck event ever held in the state of Maryland” on The Gathering Facebook page. Whatever the superlative, an assembly of 50 vehicles bearing all manner of food is pretty impressive.

The event will be held on Saturday, May 31, at lots B and C at M&T Bank Stadium, or, as some may call it, Ravens stadium.

In previous years, Baltimore has won the top prize, the Mayor’s Cup Trophy. The addition of Philly will certainly up the ante.

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