The Guy's Guide to Baltimore
101 Ways To Be A True Baltimorean!
By Christina Breda Antoniades. Edited by Ken Iglehart.
Let’s assume, for argument’s sake, that you’ve mastered the Baltimore
lexicon. You know that “far trucks” put out “fars” and that a “bulled aig” is something
you eat. You know the best places to park for O’s games, where the speed traps are
on I-83, and which streets have synchronized traffic lights. You know how to shell a
steamed crab. You never, EVER attempt to go downy ocean on a Friday evening in the
dead of summer. And, let’s face it, you get a little upset when your friends from D.C.
call you a Baltimoro… well, you know. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Do you
really know all it takes to be a true Baltimorean? ¶ Here, we’ve compiled a list of the
101 activities, quirky habits, and oddball pastimes, that, even if you only did half of
them, would earn you certification as a true Baltimorean. Some have stood the test of
time, some are new favorites, but all are unique to Charm City. If you’re a grizzled
native, you’ll probably find our list a fun test that takes you down memory lane. And if
you’re new in town, the guide below will definitely help you to pass yourself off as a
local. ¶ So, whether you’ve been here 60 days or 60 years, we’re sure you’ll find
something new (or long forgotten) in the pages that follow. So get busy.
101 Ways
Events Calendar
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1. Go crabbing. Pick your favorite method—metal traps or the old tried-and-true
chicken neck on a string—and head to any one of a number of great crabbing haunts.
For crabbing from a pier (as opposed to a boat) try Sandy Point State Park, Matapeake
Park, or North Point. Sandy Point, www. dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/southern/
sandypoint.html; Matapeake, www.qac.org/ depts/parks /parkshome.htm; North Point,
www.dnr.state.md.us /publiclands/central/northpoint.html.
2. Shop the farmers’ market. Get your fill of fresh fruits, veggies, herbs, potted
plants, and more at the open-air market under the Jones Falls Expressway. Sunday
mornings from May through December. Holliday and Saratoga streets. 410-752-8632.
3. Visit a local winery. Pack a picnic and sample great grapes
at Maryland’s oldest family-run winery. Boordy Vineyards is open
361 days a year and offers free tours and tastings, plus weekly
family-friendly events. 12820 Long Green Pike, Hydes. 410-592-
5015,
www.boordy.com
4. cheer on the marathon. . . or don your sneakers and make a run for it yourself.
The Under Armour Baltimore Marathon is run October 16, 2004, and winds its way
through the Inner Harbor, Fells Point, Federal Hill, and as far afield as Druid Hill Park
and Lake Montebello. For a less strenuous dash, try the St. Patrick’s Day 180s
Shamrock 5K Run. Bonus: free beer at the finish line (seriously). Baltimore Marathon,
410-605-9381, www.thebaltimoremarathon.com; St. Patrick’s Day Run, 410-377-8882,
www.stpatrickdayparade.com.
5. Go to an Ironbirds Game. Check out the A-league action at Aberdeen’s Ripken
Stadium. Home of the Ironbirds, the stadium looks like a miniature Camden Yards and
is co-owned by Ripken brothers Cal and Bill. 410-297-9292,
www.ironbirdsbaseball.
com.
6. Re-live the past. Every summer week- end, The Fort McHenry Guard reenacts life
in 1812, including cool period duds, live drills, and artillery and musket firings. Kids,
too, will love the huge green spaces, waterfront, smoke, noise, and regalia. 410-962-
4290,
www.nps.gov/fomc.
7. dress up a bumper. Grace your car with a “Believe” bumper sticker. Or go one
better: pick up a “Blieve, hon” sticker from Cafe Hon in Hampden.
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8 see a giant ball of string. Fells Point’s Antique Man is more than your
average antique store. Owner Bob Gerber flaunts the funky and freakish: a four-
foot-tall ball of string that once resided in Haussner’s restaurant (made from the
strings from years of washing linens), Kap Dwa, the preserved two-headed giant, the
“largest ever” collection of Johnny Eck memorabilia (the world famous “half-boy” born
in Baltimore in 1911), a four-legged chicken and a Siamese duck, and more. 1806
Fleet St., 410-732-0932.
9. Read THE LOCALS. There are several famous authors to choose from, like Anne
Tyler, Laura Lippman, Rafael Alvarez, David Simon, or Sujata Massey. Still don’t feel
like a truly native bibliophile? Then browse for books or chat with an author at the
Baltimore Book Festival. The festival’s “Literary Salon” hosts nationally known authors
and panel discussions, giving you the perfect opportunity to mix with literary types.
Sept. 17-19, 2004, Mount Vernon Place.
www.bop.org/calendar/events/book_index.
html.
10. catch a fish. Prettyboy Dam and Loch Raven Fishing Center are both great places
to sink a hook. Loch Raven Fishing Center, 12101 Dulaney Valley Rd., Phoenix, 410-
887-7692; Prettyboy Reservoir, Baltimore County, 410-795-6151.
11. be a mountaineer. Head to Rocks State Park in Jarrettsville, Harford County and
scramble your way to the King and Queen Seat, an impressive rock formation that was
once a ceremonial gathering place of the Susquehannock Native Americans. Your
perch 190 feet above Deer Creek offers a nice rest after your hike, plus fabulous views
of the park and beyond. 410-557-7994.
12. focus on the zoo. Get your picture taken atop the iron lions that have long
guarded the entrance to the Baltimore Zoo. Then venture farther inside for a visit to
the polar bears’ new habitat, plus encounters with some of the zoo’s other 2,700
creatures. 410-366-LION,
www.baltimorezoo.org.
13. Take Spot for a ride he’ll never forget. The Maryland Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Neuter Scooter is a mobile clinic that provides—
you guessed it—neutering and spaying surgeries for city residents’ cats and dogs.
Surgery is free but donations are requested and you’ll have to pay $25 for vaccinations
if your pet isn’t up to date on his shots. 410-889-SPAY,
www.mdspca.org.
14. Shop in your pajamas. Order your groceries online from Santoni’s Super Market
and the Highlandtown grocer will deliver them to your door for a small fee. 410-276-
2990,
www.santonismarket.com.
15. Go tubing. Perfect for a nice-but-not-boring float, the Gunpowder River includes
plenty of lazy stretches, plus a few riffles to put a little zip in your trip. Bring your own
or rent a tube at nearby Chakra Cycles, the nature tours provider for the park. Parking
and trail are at Bunker Hill Road, Hereford area, Baltimore County. Park, 410-592-
2897; Chakra Cycles, 1235 Paper Mill Road, 410-527-0593,
www.dnr.state.md.us/
outdooradvenventures/tubegunpowder.html.
16. Make The marble sparkle. Revive the old-school Baltimore tradition of
scrubbing those white marble rowhouse steps on Saturday morning. To do the job
right, use plenty of elbow grease or pick up a Marble Step Cleaning Kit from
Hometown Girl in Hampden.
www.celebratebaltimore.com.
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17. See the mayor strum. He may be pretty busy trying to make Baltimoreans
believe, but Mayor Martin O’Malley still finds time for his other love, making music. His
Irish music band, O’Malley’s March, plays regularly in and around Baltimore.
www.
omalleysmarch.com.
18. hear monumental music. Join Mount Vernon locals the first Thursday of every
month May through October as they spread their blankets and relax in the park to the
tunes of live local musicians. If you can’t bear to rest, climb the monument’s 228 steps
for a stellar view of the city. Music starts at 5:30 p.m. Contact The Downtown
Partnership, 410-244-1030,
www.godowntownbaltimore.com.
Cook like a Senator
You don’t have to be a senator—or even a Marylander for that matter—to make killer
crab cakes. All you need is a good recipe, a little fresh crabmeat, and a few helpful
hints (a dash of Old Bay helps, too). Just ask U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski, a
Highlandtown native who’s been wowing folks with her crab cakes for years. ¶ As for
the key ingredient, “the best crab cakes use fresh Maryland lump or backfin crabmeat,”
says Mikulski, whose recipe also includes bread—a natural given that Mikulski’s
grandmother owned and operated a bakery. ¶ One more tip from the Senator: Make
them flat like cookies, not round like meatballs.” Here’s the recipe, in the Senator’s
own words:
Senator Barb’s Crab Cakes
Ingredients
1 lb. jumbo lump or backfin crabmeat
2 slices white bread
1 tbsp. mayonnaise
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
2 tsp. Old Bay or Wye River seasonings
1 tbsp. snipped parsley
1 egg
tartar sauce or cocktail sauce
Directions
Beat the egg in a bowl. Trim the crusts from the bread. Break the slices into small
pieces and add these to the egg. Mix in the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Chesapeake
seasoning and parsley. Beat well. Very well.
Place the crabmeat in a bowl and pour the egg mixture over the top. Gently toss or
fold the ingredients together, while careful not to break up the lumps of crabmeat.
Form the cakes by hand into patties about 3 inches around and 3/4-inch thick. Place
the cakes in the refrigerator for at least 45 minutes before cooking, a very important
method of making sure they don’t fall apart.
Broil the Crab Cakes: Slip them under a preheated broiler until nicely browned, turning
to cook evenly, about 4 to 5 minutes on each side.
Or saute: Heat a small amount of butter or olive oil in a skillet and saute the cakes,
turning several times, until golden brown or about 8 minutes total cooking time.
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Serve at once with tartar sauce, mustard, or cocktail sauce on the side.
Serves 6 people. Or one very hungry person. (The recipe is at
http://mikulski.senate.
gov/ crabcake.html) —CBA
19. be a john waters fan. Then flaunt your newfound knowledge when you
bump into him at Club Charles, one of his favorite haunts.
20. savor a Black-Eyed Susan. Ask any native at Baltimore’s Preakness Stakes
to describe a Black-Eyed Susan and they’re not talkin’ flowers: The traditional
Preakness drink is a rum and vodka concoction served over ice and garnished with a
slice of fruit. And maybe knowing how to make a Black-Eyed Susan might inspire you
to attend the next Preakness Stakes and add a few more commemorative glasses to
your collection. Here’s what it takes:
1 oz. Rum
1 oz. Cointreau, or 3/4 oz. Triple Sec
1 oz. Vodka
Equal parts pineapple juice
And orange juice
Lime Wedge
Combine the first five ingredients, shake well, pour over shaved ice, and garnish with a
lime wedge—or a flower by the same name, for that matter. Drink. Repeat.
Learn a Dyeing Art
“Barbara, how are you doing?” asks Tom Lipka, stopping behind the desk of a student
at work with a paintbrush.
“Not too well,” says Barbara with a sheepish laugh.
“You still have a little too much paint on your brush,” Lipka says gently. “You’re
painting rather than dabbing.” Lipka takes the brush and shows her. Dab, dab, dab.
“Red, blue, red, blue, red, blue.”
Barbara is nodding. She gets it. Lipka yields the brush and his student takes another
stab at it. Like the others in her class, she’s nearly finished painting the scene she’s
been working on for the past four weeks. Tonight’s the night for finishing touches, and
the 10 students in this high-school art room are hard at work. Lipka, their teacher,
circles the room, doling out advice: Use this brush, try that color, here’s a way to hide
that flaw. When the class ends, they’ll go home with their finished product: an ornately
painted window screen.
The screens—which in this case feature a country scene of a quaint cottage—are part
of a revival of what was once a dying art. Screen painting, the quirky art form born in
Baltimore, saw its heyday in the mid-1900s, when city dwellers took to painting scenes
on their screens to beautify otherwise drab brick and formstone homes. The screens
also served another purpose, giving a little privacy to homeowners, who in the muggy
heat of summer were forced to throw open the curtains and raise the windows. That
changed in the 1960s with the advent of affordable air-conditioning and the popularity
of a new type of less paint-friendly window screen. Demand for painted screens fell
away; screen painters died off or moved to the county. Their work was largely
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forgotten. But in recent years, as old school has become cool again, screen painting
has seen a mini-revival.
For Lipka, one of a handful of experienced screen painters left, the turnaround started
in 1996 after a local TV station aired a piece on the screens he was painting for his
home. A self-taught painter, Lipka had been painting screens since 1945 (he was 10),
when he saw a screen painter at work in Canton and convinced his mother to buy him
supplies. As a young man fresh out of the military, Lipka discovered screen painting
couldn’t pay the bills. He moved on to a career in the city traffic department, raised his
family, and continued to dabble in screen painting when he had time. The TV piece
changed everything. “Next thing you know, I have 15 to 20 phone calls to paint
screens,” he recalls. “Everyone thought screen painters were dead.”
Soon, he was teaching classes for adults through the Community College of Baltimore
County. Today, the retiree is still at it, holding evening and weekend classes at several
locations in high schools and senior centers around Baltimore. —CBA
21. Get creative at Artscape. The visual, literary, and performing arts festival runs
July 16-18 and features live local music acts, plus art sales and exhibits, including the
annual “art car” show, which features—you guessed it—art on cars. 1-877-Baltimore,
www.artscape.org.
22. put your name in lights. Or, better yet, surprise a friend with a birthday or
anniversary wish through Camden Yards’ Scoreboard Surprise program. It will cost you
a small donation—proceeds go to the Orioles’ Charitable Trust—but your 15 seconds of
fame are worth it, right? 410-685-9800,
baltimore.orioles.mlb.com.
Name: Johnnie Hill
Age: 32
Neighborhood: West Baltimore
Occupation: Owner, Bair Bros. Chicken, Northeast Market
Favorite hobby: Watching sports, especially the Ravens.
How he can tell a true Baltimorean: “They love good chicken. Fried chicken. When
people talk about Baltimore food, it should be steamed crabs and fried chicken.”
23. join a lantern parade. As part of the Creative Alliance’s Great Halloween Lantern
Parade in Patterson Park, participants craft paper and bamboo lanterns at pre-parade
workshops (don’t worry, they’ll show you how). On parade night, the park is aglow as
lantern makers—many in costume—display their creations, accompanied by the tunes
of local musicians. The event’s also a good opportunity to get a rare view from inside
the historic Pagoda—it’s kept open at night for the occasion. 410-276-1561,
www.
creativealliance.org.
24. mail a Photo to a friend. Treat your friends to a classy black-and-white photo of
your favorite Baltimore scene. Pick up an A. Aubrey Bodine notecard or buy a poster-
sized reprint for yourself; Bodine’s website features thousands of photos of Baltimore
taken from 1923 to 1970. 800-556-7226,
www.aubreybodine.com.
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25 Meet the Birdman of Sherwood Gardens. Whether it’s spring and you’re
in search of a dazzling display of tulips, or it’s early fall and you’re merely looking
for a quiet patch of green, you’ll find it within city lines at Guilford’s Sherwood
Gardens. The six-and-a-quarter-acre park between Stratford Rd. and Greenway, east
of St. Paul St., is owned by the residents of Guilford and best known for its spring
flowers. But not far from the pretty petals is another Guilford treat: Dr. J. Edward
Johnston, a colorful local homeowner who puts on an impromptu performance
showcasing his pampered pets: dozens of cockateels, doves, parrots, and a
mischievous macaw. With a hand-painted sign (“Come see my tropical birds and
parrots”) that draws parkgoers—especially those with kids—into his glassed-in porch
on Greenway, across from the park, Johnston has become an attraction in his own
right. —SF
26. Practice your polka. Each weekend, Jessup biergarten Blob’s Park serves up the
best of Bavaria—German fare, more than 70 varieties of beer, and, of course, polka.
Bungle around on your own or try the six-week “intense” Polka boot camp. Either way,
with a 2,000-square-foot dance floor, you won’t have to worry too much about
treading on your partner’s toes. 410-799-0155,
www.blobspark.com.
27. relive aviation history. Security restrictions mean you can no longer drop in at
Martin State Airport to watch the planes take off and land, but they don’t preclude you
from stopping in at the airport’s Glenn L. Martin Aviation Museum. The modest
museum details the Martin Company’s past, plus the history of aviation in the area and
the impact of World War II on local plane manufacturing, as well as offering a monthly
speaker series in the Lockheed-Martin building next door. 701 Wilson Point Rd., Middle
River,
www.marylandaviationmuseum.org.
28. Pay tribute to Lady Day. Put a white gardenia in your hair and head to the
Mayor’s Billie Holiday Vocal Competition, held each April to honor Baltimore’s famous
jazz legend. If you’re good enough, you can compete (but be forewarned, you’ll be up
against some impressive amateur competition); if not, you can join the crowd to cheer
on your favorite performer. 410-752-8632,
www.promotionandarts.com.
29. drive in to Bengies. It’s one of the last drive-in theaters in the mid-Atlantic
where you can see a movie under the stars on the big, big screen. Open since 1956,
The Bengies in Middle River is now in its 49th season and claims the biggest screen on
the East Coast (52 feet by 120 feet, but who’s counting?). Sit in your car and enjoy the
show; this place is a classic. 410-687-5627,
www.bengies.com.
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30. go downY Ocean. What to do first in Ocean City? Buy a bucket of Thrashers
French Fries (doused in vinegar, of course), and take a spin on the boardwalk’s ferris
wheel.
1-800-OC-OCEAN, www.ococean.com.
31. Catch a Broadway show. See a show at Baltimore’s historic Hippodrome
Theatre, part of the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center. Since it recently reopened,
the theater has hosted Broadway favorites like The Producers and Les Miserables;
Phantom of the Opera visits in August. Main office, 410-837-7400; tickets, 410-481-
SEAT,
www.france-merrickpac.com.
32. watch bocce ball. Catch a game at random or head to the courts in Little
Italy for the Annual Bocce Tournament, part of the annual St. Anthony Festival,
June 13 at 902 to 904 Stiles St.,
www.littleitalymd.com.
33. Watch a flick al fresco. In July and August, the Little Italy Restaurant
Association and The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development
host the Little Italy Open-Air Film Festival, with Friday night films under the stars. High
and Stiles streets,
www.littleitalymd.com.
34. Explore a funky Museum. Revel in their 19th-century collection of oddities, both
manmade and natural at The Dime Museum. 1808 Maryland Ave., 410-230-0263,
www.
dimemuseum.com.
35. Set sail in the Harbor. Learn how to sail at the Downtown Sailing Center, which
offers adult classes and a children’s summer camp. If you’d rather watch than float,
drop by the Bay Café basin on Canton’s waterfront to watch weekly sailboat races,
which run Thursday nights at 6:00 p.m. from April through October. 1425 Key Hwy.,
410-727-0722,
www.downtownsailing.org.
36. enjoy our oldest holiday. Fort McHenry’s Star Spangled Banner weekend
commemorates Defenders’ Day and Patriot Day with parades, fireworks, a military
encampment boasting more than 100 War of 1812 reenactors, and a symbolic ship-to-
shore bombardment. Bonus: This may be your only chance to see Mayor O’Malley
decked out in full 1812 garb. Sept. 10-12, 2004. 410-962-4290,
www.nps.gov/fomc.
37. Walk the Bay Bridge. Once a year, the Maryland Transportation Authority closes
part of the Bay Bridge to traffic and opens the lanes to pedestrians for a 4.5-mile Bay
Bridge Walk that will give you a new perspective on the Chesapeake. You’ll have to
brave the crowds—the event typically draws roughly 50,000 walkers—plus there are
security checkpoints and bus transportation to and from the bridge, but you’ll never
look at the bridge the same way again. Usually held in early May. 866-713-1596,
www.
mdtransportationauthority.com.
38. Party for Greek Independence. Every March, Highlandtown plays host to the
area’s largest Greek Independence Day celebration, complete with marching bands,
ethnic costumes, floats and, naturally, plenty of yummy treats.
www.greekevents.com.
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39.Go to the 13th Floor. Over the typical bar scene, but love to discover fresh live
bands? Then head over to the Belvedere’s 13th Floor on Thursday nights. Artsy types
can chill and check out the latest in Neo-Soul acts like Devine Nature or rock to the
sounds of Mambo Cambo, Jah Works, and the Kelly Bell Band. Aside from some
seriously funky tunes and a small dance floor to bust some moves, you’ll be impressed
by the hotel’s killer view of the Baltimore cityscape. It’s definitely more urban lounge
than club, with a laid-back vibe. They offer up the usual martinis, a limited smattering
of bar food, and wannabe gourmet pizzas. 13th Floor/Club 13, 1 E. Chase St., 410-347-
0888.
40. ogle the balloons. As part of the Preakness celebrations, The Constellation
Energy Balloon Glows at the Inner Harbor features nightly illuminations—where a
dozen balloons light the skyline—plus carnival rides, live music, and a beer and wine
garden. 410-837-3030, www.preaknesscelebration.org.
Shop the City’s Markets
You can’t claim the label True Baltimorean if you don’t at least occasionally venture
into one of the city’s enclosed markets, where generations of merchants have hawked
their wares to locals and visitors alike. Scattered across Baltimore, the six operating
markets—Broadway, Cross Street, Hollins, Lexington, Northeast, and Avenue (formerly
Lafayette)—each has its own distinct look and feel, plus a loyal cadre of shoppers who
swear by the quality and quantity of the offerings within. Whether you’re on the hunt
for dinner, in search of fresh veggies, or just looking for a little local character, you’re
bound to find it here. Here are the details on three favorites:
Lexington Market
Drawing roughly 3.7 million visitors a year, Lexington Market is the mother of all
markets, by far Baltimore’s busiest, and the oldest (1782). Inside its 300,000 square
feet are 140 individual stalls that sell everything from baked goods to chocolates,
steamed fish, fried chicken, produce, flowers, leather goods, jewelry, and more
(Lexington even boasts a white-linen Indian restaurant). Big annual events include
Lunch with the Elephants (where visitors get an eyeful of circus elephants slurping up
their afternoon meal), The Chocolate Festival, and “Fresh Music at the Market,” a noon-
time concert series.
400 W. Lexington St.,
www.lexingtonmarket.com.
Broadway Market
Established in 1786 to serve Fells Point, Broadway Market once catered to the sailors
and immigrants who flooded the area. Today, its two buildings draw a more varied
flock of visitors, from tourists to business types to laborers in search of a hot breakfast.
What you’ll find here: fresh fish, meat, fruit, baked goods, and prepared meals
(including a vaunted gumbo), plus a hearty helping of history.
S. Broadway between Fleet and Lancaster sts., 410-396-3100.
Cross Street Market
Operating since 1846—it first consisted of tents and stalls set up by farmers—the
market is now housed in an Italianate-style building designed in 1952 by local architect
Frank Davis. Today the Cross Street Market is home to nearly 30 stalls, which sell
pretty much what you’d expect: flowers, chocolates, seafood, meat, cheese, fresh fruit
and veggies, and a tasty array of prepared foods. If you’re in a social mood, stop by
on a Friday evening when the market comes alive with a boisterous happy-hour crowd
that mixes young professionals with blue-collar workers and everyone in between.
Cross Street, between Light and Charles sts.,
www.southbaltimore.com.
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(For information on any of the city’s markets, call 410-276-9498.)
—CBA
41. be festive in fells point. It used to be a bit wilder, in the days before drinkers
were relegated to the enclosed beer garden, but the Fells Point Fun Festival still has
plenty of fun up its sleeve. With carnival rides, Latino food and music, arts and crafts,
a flea market and entertainment that ranges from puppet shows to bluegrass bands
and more, this festival has enough to keep you strolling for hours. Oct. 2-3, 2004, 11 a.
m. to 7 p.m., 410-675-6756,
www.preservationsociety.com.
42. Get lost in a maze. Head to Greenspring Valley to tackle a 5-acre corn
maze. North Run Farm in Stevenson also features a pick-your-own pumpkin patch
and mini-maze for the little ones. Weekends in September and October. 410-241-3392.
Meet the street-corner Astronomer
On a good night you’ll find Herman Heyn strategically positioned near the Inner Harbor
amphitheater, between the two Harbor Place pavilions. He is the one with the
telescope and the cardboard sign that reads, “Tonight—The Rings of Saturn. Hav-A-
Look!” A good night is not rainy or snowy. If it’s warm, that’s nice, although not
essential for Heyn. Mostly, a good night means the stars are cooperating.“It’s not a like
a movie where you can change the show every night,” Heyn says of stargazing. “I
have to go with what nature provides.”
As it turns out, the sky provides a pretty good show fairly often: For the past 17 years
Heyn, a former substitute teacher and T-shirt designer, has been out with his
telescope consistently two to three nights a week. On those nights, the amateur
astronomer stations himself in the thick of the foot traffic with one aim in mind:
bringing the stars to the public. Well, two aims: Picking up donations from those who
spy through his telescope is a nice bonus, he admits.
His hobby dates back to the eighth grade, when telescopes and astronomy first piqued
Heyn’s interest. Later, he shared his self-taught stargazing skills with friends, setting
up his telescope to give them a peek at the stars. Buoyed by their response, he hit the
street.
“I just decided to take my telescope to Fells Point and set it up and invite passersby to
look at the moon and Jupiter. I really enjoyed it,” he recalls. So did the passersby. One
hinted that if there were a hat, he’d toss in some change. “I went back the very next
night with a little cowboy hat and set it down and took in some money,” says Heyn,
who has since moved to the Inner Harbor (after fighting in federal court for the right
to “perform” there).
Seventeen years, more than 1,700 outings, and three hats later, Heyn’s enthusiasm
over his venture and the public’s response remains. “They can just be awestruck by
the moon up close,” he says. “It’s a great scenic wonder, like the Grand Canyon,
except you don’t have to travel as far.”
Of course, half the fun is in meeting the people who stop to stargaze. “I treat
everybody one-on-one very personally, and also I work extra hard with young people
to try to excite them,” says Heyn. For kids who don’t know the planets, Heyn is quick
to offer a mnemonic to jog their memory: My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us
Nine Pizzas (Mercury, Venus, Earth . . . ). He’s given the memory aid—printed on a slip
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of paper—to thousands of kids. For older would-be astronomers, there’s a photocopied
star map.
“I have education to give,” says Heyn. “I would say that there are at least a half
dozen, if not a dozen, amateur astronomers who have gotten started because of my
telescope.” —CBA
43. Get your pet blessed. Coinciding with the Oct. 4 Feast of St. Francis of
Assisi, St. Casimir’s Church in Canton offers blessings for animals—past blessees
have included dogs, cats, hamsters, birds, and guinea pigs. 410-276-1981,
www.
stcasimir.org.
44. BUY A LIVE BUSHEL. Buy live crabs, steam ‘em yourself, and have a feast. Don’t
forget the Old Bay, reams of paper towels, and something refreshing to drink. Oh
yeah, and don’t rub your eyes until you’ve washed those paws.
45. see a Miracle on 34th St. Hampden residents pull out all the stops for a quirky
Christmas light show you have to see to believe.
46. Sled a fast hill. Try Oregon Ridge Park (13401 Beaver Dam Rd.), the Baltimore
County Board of Education’s Greenwood Campus (6901 N. Charles St.), the Community
College of Baltimore County, Catonsville (800 S. Rolling Rd.), or Patterson Park
(Eastern and Patterson Park aves.) for hills that offer thrills and chills.
47. Race a giant duck. The American Visionary Art Museum’s Kinetic Sculpture Race
—a 15-mile land, sea, sand, and mud marathon in and around the Inner Harbor—
features homemade, human-powered craft of all kinds (past entrants have including
Fifi, a 15-foot pink poodle, and Bumpo the Indian Elephant). Held each Spring. 410-
244-1900,
www.avam.org.
48. Go duckpin bowling. For this uniquely Baltimore pastime, try Patterson Bowling
Center. Open since 1927, Patterson Bowling has history on its side, plus all the
conveniences a recent renovation can bring. And it’s just really fun, to boot. 2105
Eastern Ave., 410-675-1011, www.pattersonbowl.com.
49. Shop for bargains. Scour the racks for slightly used designer clothes at the Best
Dressed Sale and Boutique at Evergreen House. Each October, The Women’s Board of
the Johns Hopkins Hospital hosts four days of bargain glory—featuring new and
“gently used” clothing, jewelry, and accessories. Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2004, The Carriage
House at Evergreen, 4545 N. Charles St., 410-955-9341,
www.womensboard.jhmi.edu.
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Name: Stephen Brice Phillips
Age: 56
Neighborhood: South Baltimore
Occupation: CEO, Phillips Foods (the seafood restaurant people)
Favorite Hobby: Sailboat racing and skiing
How he can tell a true Baltimorean: “Two ways—they eat crabs seven days a
week, and they call all women ‘hon,’ with great respect I must add.”
50. see the best in lacrosse. Witness the “Battle of the Beltway,” when Hopkins
faces off against Maryland; then take a tour of the Lacrosse Museum and National
Hall of Fame next door. If you can’t make the Maryland game, try catching the
Syracuse match for another hot rivalry. Hopkins lacrosse,
www.hopkinssports.ocsn.
com; Museum, 113 W. University Pkwy., 410-235-6882, www.lacrosse.org.
51. catch an outdoor concert The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra features evening
musical events at Oregon Ridge in July. Be sure to bring the kids for family fun
including clowns, face-painters, magicians, and the inevitable glow sticks. Various
dates in July. 410-783-8000, www.baltimoresymphony.org.
52. Walk, hike, or bike the NCR. The NCR trail, a nearly 20-mile stretch along a
former railroad bed, starts in Cockeysville and extends to the Pennsylvania line. (Not
winded yet? You can continue along the York Heritage Rail Trail for 21 additional miles
to York, Pa.) Gunpowder Falls State Park, 410-592-2897,
www.dnr.state.md.us/
outdooradventures/hikencr.html.
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53. head to THe HonFest. This annual Hampden
event is great for honing your Bawlmer accent, hon.
Sculpt your own beehive, don your Bawlmer best, and
compete against other beauties in the Best Hon
Contest. Or step into the Glamour Lounge for a free
makeover (hon-style, of course) to get you in prime
form for a round of Spam Bowling. What can we say,
it doesn’t get much more Baltimore than this. June
12, 2004, 36th St., Hampden, 410-243-6800,
www.
honfest.net.
54. Hip-hop over to Club One. Opened in January 2003, Club One is a relative
newcomer to the night scene. But with its 22,000 square feet on four distinctly
designed levels, it didn’t waste any time becoming a magnet for the beautiful people.
The crowd can change from one night, depending on what the DJ’s playing, from rap
and neo-soul to hip-hop and even pop. 300 E. Saratoga St., 410-230-0049,
www.
onebaltimore.com.
Show visitors the Sights . . . on the cheap
When out-of-towners come to visit, it’s perfectly natural to want to show off
Baltimore’s polished tourism machine. After all, not everyone has a world-class
aquarium at their doorstep. And an afternoon at the Maryland Science Center is perfect
for entertaining your darling nephews and nieces (and getting them out of your hair
long enough to wash those crayon marks off your dining-room walls). ¶ If they’re in
full tourism mode, your guests may not mind paying full price to see the sights, but
everyone loves a deal. And what’s the use of knowing a local (i.e., you) if it doesn’t
yield inside information on how to get more for less? ¶ Lucky for you, most of the
area’s attractions have free or discounted days or hours and many participate in
occasional discount arrangements. Here’s the skinny on when to go on the cheap:
Free First Thursdays at the Baltimore Museum of Art: For an artsy adventure
that’s good for the whole family—and easy on the wallet—head to the BMA the first
Thursday of every month, year-round. Not only is entry free, but the museum extends
its hours until 8 p.m. and features live music, performances, tours and talks, plus kid-
friendly activities. Real art aficionados might also want to check out the museum’s
library, open by appointment only but free to the public. The prize possession of the
BMA, of course, is the Cone collection, a 3,000-piece art collection that once graced
the apartments of Baltimore sisters Claribel and Etta Cone—including works by Henri
Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Cezanne, van Gogh and other artistic greats. 10 Art Museum
Dr., 410-396-7100,
www.artbma.org.
First Tuesdays at the Baltimore Zoo: If your guests are hoping to see the wild
things, send them to the zoo before noon the first Tuesday of every month: Children
under 12 are admitted free with a paying adult. Or, on Fridays in the summer, try the
zoo’s extended hours: Gates are open until 8 p.m. and children are admitted free with
a paying adult after 4 p.m. 410-396-7102,
www.baltimorezoo.org.
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Dollar Days at the Maryland Science Center: With a new $35-million, 40,000-
square-foot expansion that opened in May 2004, the Science Center is probably going
to be on the agenda for any visitor with kids. The Science Center participates in the
Downtown Partnership’s Dollar Or Less Days during one weekend in early December
when attractions offer $1 entry, but other than that there aren’t too many
opportunities to get a freebie. That means you’ll probably have to pony up the $10
entry (for an IMAX/museum combo ticket, or $4 for museum only). One great
exception: Thursday nights from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. (weather permitting), the Science
Center gives visitors free entry into its Crosby Ramsey Memorial Observatory for
stargazing through the observatory’s telescope. 410-545-5225, www.mdsci.org;
Downtown Partnership.
Off-season Fridays at the National Aquarium in Baltimore: Normally you’ll pay
$17.50 for adults and $9.50 for kids, but on Fridays in the fall and winter you can walk
among the fishes for a mere $5 if you enter after 5 p.m. The deal is even better in
2005, when you’ll have a new pavilion to explore: The expanded facility will feature an
immersion exhibit recreating an Australian river gorge. The Aquarium also participates
in Dollar Or Less Days, with $1 entry one weekend in December. 410-576-3800,
www.
aqua.org.
Friday nights at Port Discovery: The Kid-Powered Museum, offering up three floors
of kid-friendly “edutainment,” also slashes admission on Friday nights in July and
August. Hit the museum after 5 p.m. and you pay just $6, no matter how old you are
(entry is regularly $11 for adults, $8.50 for kids). The museum also participates in
Dollar Or Less Days. 410-727-8120,
www.portdiscovery.org.
Top of the World Observation Level: For a bird’s-eye view of Baltimore at a
discount, you either need to buy a Harbor Pass (see below) or scour travel magazines
for a two-for-one deal, since this attraction doesn’t offer any free days or hours. Still,
with prices this low ($4 for adults, $2 for kids), you can’t complain too much. 410-837-
VIEW.
First Thursdays at the The Walters Art Museum: Although it recently reduced its
hours to five days a week to help curtail costs, the Museum still offers free entry the
first Thursday of every month from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and every Saturday from 10 a.m.
to 1 p.m., which means you can ogle art from around the world and through the ages
without paying a penny. 410-547-9000,
www.thewalters.org.
Harbor Pass: If your guests are planning a full-blown city tour that spans several
days, there’s one other option you might consider: Harbor Pass, a three-day combo
offered through the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association. You can stroll
through the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland Science Center, Port Discovery,
and Top of the World Observation Level at Baltimore’s World Trade Center. The pass
also includes discounts at hotels, Orioles games, restaurants, and other attractions.
$35 for adults; $25 for children, 1-877-225-8466,
www.baltimore.org.
—CBA
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55. SEE THE BLACKS IN WAX. The Great Blacks in Wax Museum is more than just
an educational and fun couple of hours checking out the lifelike likenesses of famous
African-Americans. It’s also a popular spot for wedding receptions or birthday parties,
held in one of the museum’s two banquet halls. What could be more funky than
partying shoulder to shoulder with Colin Powell and Frederick Douglass? Bonus:
Renting a hall scores a museum tour for your guests, complete with more than 100 life-
size figures of famous blacks. 1601-03 E. North Ave., 410-563-3404, www.
greatblacksinwax.org.
Name: Kathy Foit Sewell
Age: 49
Neighborhood: Arbutus
Occupation: Teacher/Actress/Fells Point Ghost Tour
Guide
Favorite hobby: Visiting Fells Point’s Vagabond
Players theater
How she can tell a true Baltimorean: “They’re
loyal and most of the time if they’re born here or
made the decision to come here, they stay.”
56. Visit Poe’s Grave. You can visit Edgar Allan Poe’s grave on his birthday (Jan.
19), or head to his final resting place Halloween night for a spooky (pre-arranged,
guided) tour of the catacombs and burial yard. Westminster Hall, 519 W. Fayette St.,
410-706-2072.
57. Skate your heart out. For skateboarders or in-line skaters with a wild side,
Baltimore County is the place to go. Test your skills at one of the three skate parks
overseen by the Department of Recreation and Parks: the Sandy Hills Skate Park in
Lansdowne (now being revamped), Cockeysville Skate Park, or Stansbury Skate Park in
Dundalk. Better on your bones, kick back with a cup of coffee and watch your kids do
the skating. Sandy Hills, 410-887-1439; Cockeysville, 410-887-7734; and Stansbury,
410-887-3478,
www.co.ba.md.us/Agencies/recreation/ countyparks/skateparks/index.
html.
58. Pick your pumpkins. At Baugher’s in Westminster, take a hayride to the
pumpkin patch and choose your future jack-o-lantern. Scarecrow-making and
other kid-friendly activities will keep the little ones busy, too. 1236 Baugher’s Rd.,
Westminster. 410-848-5541, www.baughers.com.
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Watch a Fight in a Ballroom
It’s 7 p.m. on a Thursday night and Michael’s Eighth Avenue, one of Glen Burnie’s
better-known banquet halls, is electric with activity. Outside, an outrageously long
Lincoln Navigator limo pulls up to deposit its passengers, who turn out, oddly enough,
to be a grey-haired couple clad in matching leisure suits.
Inside, the early birds are milling around beneath the two giant chandeliers, looking for
their seats. At one entrance, a pretty trellis with faux ivy and white tulle graces the
doorway, perfect for a just-married photo. But these guests aren’t here to sip
champagne and toast a bride and groom, or to dance the night away to cheesy ’80s
songs. What’s drawn this crowd—and convinced them to shell out $50 to $200 each—
is the boxing ring planted in the center of the ballroom.
Actually, putting a “fight club” in a ballroom is not as strange a combination as it
sounds. Apart from the trellis and the chandeliers, the ballroom makes a pretty
convincing sporting arena, complete with long rows of white vinyl chairs flanking the
ring, a comforting cadre of security staffers, and a host of commentators ready to
relay the action to viewers at home.
Flitting through the crowd, stopping to shake hands, helping to avert seating crises,
and handling last-minute arrangements is boxing promoter and Ballroom Boxing
founder Scott Wagner, who has reason to be happy. Tonight is a sellout, with 1,800
people packing the ballroom. It’s a typical turnout for a Ballroom Boxing event, but
tonight is special in another way: Wagner has managed to land a big name fighter,
Hasim “The Rock” Rahman, the Baltimore native and former heavyweight champion. In
a few hours, Rahman will go head to head with former cruiserweight champion Al “Ice”
Cole. And while there are 10 other boxers—including two women—fighting before
them, it’s the Rahman-Cole fight that’s really generating a buzz.
Featuring former champs as it does, the bout will air live on cable TV, satellite TV,
and on the Internet. It even draws the big guns: Governor Robert Ehrlich and Lt.
Governor Michael Steele step into the ring to award a lightweight championship belt
and then settle back into their seats to watch Rahman defeat Cole in 10 competitive
but decisive rounds.
Of course, not all Ballroom Boxing matches get this much attention, admits Wagner,
the 35-year-old former food and beverage manager who started Ballroom Boxing in
1995. “I’m a food guy by nature,” says Wagner, whose family owns Michael’s Eighth
Avenue. “I got into promotions because this facility was looking for things to keep the
lights on every day, even non-wedding days.” After lining up several concerts, Wagner
stumbled onto the idea of a professional fight club.
What he’s created since then is an experience not too different from what you’d find at
any professional boxing match: There’s the valet parking, the giant projection screens
on either end of the room, concessions and bar service, plus waitresses who serve fans
in their seats. There are even the scantily clad women who announce round changes
and draw catcalls from the crowd.
What’s different, says Wagner, is Ballroom Boxing’s focus on the fight rather than the
fighter. “The uniqueness of our show is that we don’t have any financial interest in the
fighters,” he says. That means that, unlike Vegas or Atlantic City, Wagner doesn’t
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much care who wins or how much name recognition they have, as long as they’re
talented and evenly matched.
It’s Wagner’s secret to success: “You’ve got to have good fights.”
You’ve also got to have amenities, which is what Michael’s Eighth Avenue delivers.
“When you go to a place, you’ve got to be able to get a parking spot, go the
bathroom, get a hot dog and a beer, and you have to feel safe, or you’re not going to
come back,” says Wagner.
That’s especially important here, since the show draws a diverse, if mostly male, crowd
that ranges from hardcore boxing fans to first-time fight attendees. “It’s 18 to 88,”
says Wagner of the crowd. “I would say the majority aren’t boxing fans and we
probably have more women than anywhere else.” —CBA
59. Build a better railroad. Train buffs travel far and wide to scour the tightly
packed shelves at M.B. Klein’s Model Train Store, a Baltimore mainstay for 91
years. Bonus for newbies: Klein’s has ample—and enthusiastic—staff on hand to help
you find what you need. 162 N. Gay St., 410-539-6207, www.modeltrainstuff.com.
60. Swim at Beaver Dam. At Beaver Dam Swimming Club, you can pretend you’re
Tarzan on a rope swing that dumps you in a 40-foot-deep freshwater quarry (complete
with rafts and a diving area). Or, if you prefer clear blue water, cool off in one of two
freshwater pools. 10820 Beaver Dam Rd., Cockeysville. 410-785-2323,
www.
beaverdamswimmingclub.com.
61. GIVE ‘EM YOUR TWO CENTS. Call in to the Mark Steiner Show on WYPR-FM
and voice your opinion. A daily public-affairs news show aired by this public radio
station, the Steiner show covers local and national issues but fills a niche by letting
folks vent on concerns that affect Marylanders. Airs at 12 and 1 p.m. daily, 88.1 FM,
410-662-8780 or 866-661-9309,
www.wypr.org.
62. Dream on, sailor. The United States Sailboat Show, the nation’s oldest and
largest in-water sailboat show, is the place to check out your dream boat or check out
the latest gadgets and equipment. Oct. 7-11, 2004, in and around the water,
Annapolis.
www.usboat.com.
63. Visit THE Babe. Pay tribute to Babe Ruth, the home-run king, at his birthplace
and museum. 216 Emory St., 410-727-1539,
www.baberuthmuseum.com.
64. Sprawl out on a blanket. Soak in the sights and sounds of Ladew Topiary
Gardens’ summer concerts. Featuring music that ranges from a 35-piece brass band to
Irish tunes and a ’60s-style girl group, Ladew’s concerts offer up plenty of variety. Pack
a picnic and bring the little ones: There’s plenty of room to roam among the maze-like
landscape sculptures. Every other Sunday, June through August, 6 to 8 p.m., 410-557-
9466,
www.ladewgardens.com.
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65. Check out the charles. Munch on bagels and talk film with local buffs at The
Charles Theatre’s Cinema Sundays. The Sunday-morning ritual includes guest speakers
who introduce the film and lead a post-screening discussion. Lots of cool indie
offerings, as you’d expect from The Charles. 410-727-FILM, www.thecharles.com.
66. See a premiere. Be on hand as the historic Senator Theatre movie house rolls
out the red carpet, fires up the searchlights, and welcomes celebrities. You’ll probably
be in good company: In the past, the theater has hosted premieres for Baltimore film
luminaries Edward Norton, John Waters, and Barry Levinson, among others, and has
drawn stars like Jodie Foster, Salma Hayek, Johnny Depp, and Danny DeVito. And if
you can’t make a premiere, you can always catch a regular flick and settle for strolling
past the mini walk of fame on the sidewalk that fronts the theater. 5904 York Rd., 410-
435-8338,
www.senator.com.
Name: Brian Kundratic
Age: 36
Neighborhood: Dundalk
Occupation: Custom motorcycle shop owner
Favorite hobby: Classic cars
How he can tell a true Baltimorean: “After a
major snow storm, a Baltimorean will put anything out
in the road to preserve their shoveled parking space.”
67. Line up for bagels. Goldberg’s Kosher New York Bagels, draws a crowd
throughout the weekend and is especially hectic on Sunday morning. 708
Reisterstown Rd., Pikesville, 410-415-7001.
68. Watch the duck drop. Count down to the New Year as the duck drops in Havre
de Grace. It may not pack ‘em in quite like Times Square, but Havre de Grace Middle
School still manages to draw a healthy crowd for the midnight dropping of an
illuminated duck from atop a 102-foot ladder truck. Duck drop is followed by a free
fireworks display. 401 Lewis Ln., 410-939-2100,
www.hdgtourism.com.
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69. sing a jingle. Learn all of the words to the Mary Sue Egg Song. Johnny Unitas
was the first to drill that catchy—okay, we’re being nice—jingle into the minds of the
candy-egg consuming public in a TV spot. Since then, the song is reborn each spring in
now-nostalgic radio spots. The first verse:
Here’s a treat that is sunny
For your Easter bunny,
The creamiest candy that’s made.
Mary Sue Easter eggs, Mary Sue Easter eggs,
Brighten your Easter parade.
Can’t remember lyrics or carry a tune? Maybe a box of Mary Sue eggs will help:
Baltimore’s own Glauber’s produces Naron and Mary Sue treats and sells them at 8239
Burnley Rd., Towson. 410-828-5616,
www.glaubers.com.
70. Drive through the Lights. The 11th annual Symphony of Lights Festival at
Christmastime takes you on a 20-minute cruise through more than 70 larger-than-life
animated and stationary holiday light creations. In the Symphony Woods at
Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, runs Nov. 22, 2004 through Jan. 2, 2005. 410-
740-7666.
71. SAY IT WITh flowers. Mount Vernon each year hosts Baltimore’s FlowerMart, a
full day of flower-inspired fun, including a free outdoor concert, a garden and flowers,
arts and crafts, antique cars, a food court, and more.
www.flowermart.org.
72. Pack a picnic. Go tailgating with the horsey set at the Maryland Hunt Cup—the
oldest continuously run and highest-purse timber race in the world—which has become
a tradition for generations of steeplechase-loving Marylanders (parking passes in the
premier lot are bequeathed in holders’ wills). While there’s just one race run (at 4 p.
m.), fans start piling into the parking lots around 1 p.m. and make an afternoon of it.
Be sure to bring your own chow; there’s no food for sale here. And though you’ll see
attire of all kinds, don’t be surprised if you see a ton of tweed and plaid, and more
than a smattering of sundresses. Held in April at Worthington Farm, 2700 Tufton Ave.,
Glyndon,
www.marylandhuntcup.com.
73. chow down for god. In October, Locust Point’s Christ Evangelical and Reformed
Church, United Church of Christ (which usually gets shortened to “the German church”
for obvious reasons) hosts a sour beef dinner that draws in as many as 900 locals. The
church also hosts chicken and crab cake dinners in May, June, and September—with,
of course, German potato salad—that are equally popular. For $10, you can’t go
wrong. 1308 Beason St., 410-685-7968.
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74. Dust off your skates. For fast, chilly fun, try Northwest Rink in Mt. Washington,
the Dominic ‘Mimi’ DiPietro Family Skating Center in Patterson Park, or the Mt. Pleasant
Ice Arena. Northwest, 5731 Cottonworth Ave., 410-433-2307; DiPietro, 200 S. Linwood
Ave., 410-396-9392, www.pattersonpark.com/; Mt. Pleasant Ice Arena, 6101 Hillen
Rd., 410-444-1888,
www.on-ice.net.
75. Chop a Christmas tree. Whether
you’re hankering for a Scotch pine, blue
spruce, or Douglas fir, you can take your
pick at any one of a number of cut-your-
own tree farms that dot Baltimore-area
counties. For a handy Choose and Cut
directory, with detailed information about
tree farms, try the Maryland Christmas Tree
Association,
www.marylandchristmastrees.
org.
76. Eat Bertha’s Mussels. Originally opened as a bar, Bertha’s has been serving its
famous mussels since 1972, and soon thereafter added the dining room that spawned
a legend: the Eat Bertha’s Mussels bumper sticker. Pick one up on your way out. The
Fells Point eatery also features a Scottish afternoon tea. 734 S. Broadway, 410-327-
5795.
Name: Mike Carrington
Age: 48
Neighborhood: Woodlawn
Occupation: Real Estate agent/high school lacrosse
and basketball coach
Favorite hobby: Sports (Carrington is a rabid Ravens
fan and president of Ravens Roost 69, Security Blvd.)
How he can tell a true Baltimorean: “They have a
certain feeling about the city, a pride in the local
sports teams and the Inner Harbor. It’s an attitude
that I can pick up when I’m talking to someone.”
77. Do July 4 Baltimore style. Charm City has no shortage of venues to celebrate
Independence Day: Elbow your way (gently, of course) onto a patch of green at
Federal Hill and watch the sparks fly over the Inner Harbor; pay your way into Oregon
Ridge and listen to the sounds of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra before the
fireworks fly there; or hit the Dundalk Heritage Fair, which includes a parade and
fireworks show. Oregon Ridge, 410-887-1818; Dundalk Heritage Fair, 410-284-4022.
78. Salsa the night awaY. Latin Palace, a Fells Point private dance club
attached to Las Palmas restaurant, comes alive at night with the sounds of Latin
music. Watch the pros or take a spin on the dance floor yourself. 509 S. Broadway,
410-522-6700, http://latinpalace.com.
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Soak it up at the Library
“If you hang around long enough you’re bound to absorb something,” says Jeff
Korman, explaining, with a laugh, how he came to be somewhat of an expert on
Maryland.
Korman should know: For the past 19 years, he’s hung around plenty, working as a
librarian in the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Maryland Department, an impressive
collection of books, newspaper clippings, and other resources that cover almost
everything you can imagine related to the Old Line State. (It helps, too, that Korman is
a Baltimore native and has both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in library science.)
In existence since the 1930s and accessible to all library visitors, the Maryland
Department today is home to 55,000 books, 3,000 maps, 20,000 black-and-white
photos, more than 400 periodical titles, and roughly 350,000 mounted newspaper
clippings. It is also home to a yearbook collection and more than 5,200 pieces of
ephemera—dinner invitations, show programs, old Christmas cards, restaurant menus,
and other bits and pieces of the past. One example: When Maryland celebrated its 300-
year anniversary in 1934, a local bakery proudly unveiled a bread wrapper featuring
the state’s colors. “We have one of those,” says Korman, now manager of the
Maryland Department. One of the newest additions to the ephemera collection is a
package of tickets, a program, and a statuette from the Hippodrome Theatre’s grand
opening earlier this year.
“It’s pretty much everything Maryland from A to Z,” Korman says of the collection.
“Religion, history, genealogy, the arts, technology, even libraries. The only criteria is
that it has to be about Maryland.”
With a resource like this at their fingertips, library-goers are bound to absorb
something, too. A quick visit to the Maryland Department, which takes up a full floor of
the newly completed central library annex, puts visitors face to face with Korman or
one of his nine co-workers, any of whom will patiently listen to questions and help dig
up answers. Simple as it seems, the service is about far more than just doling out
catalog numbers.
“When you ask for information, sure, I’m going to find a book about that topic. But I’m
also going to look in a query file, which is a subject file that will point me in other
directions—news clippings, photos, magazine articles,” says Korman. “We have a lot of
access points, and unless you come in and just ask for a specific title of a book, we’re
always going to give you more.”
A bonus: You don’t even have to show up in person to use the service (although you’ll
miss the chance to sift through the collection yourself). Maryland Department staffers
answer questions via phone, email, and via online chat sessions offered through the
state library’s website.
Of special pride to Korman are the department’s sports materials. “I’ve always been a
big sports fan so this gives me the opportunity to make sure we have everything about
the Orioles and Colts and Ravens,” he says. “If you look at that part of the collection,
you’ll find it strong.”
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As hot a topic as sports is for Korman, it’s not the library’s biggest draw. That honor
goes to genealogy, “by far the most asked-for subject here right now,” according to
Korman. To quench the public’s thirst for genealogy knowledge, the library sponsors a
genealogy lecture series that brings in experts to talk about the topic.
All of this makes the department a boon for students at term-paper time, of course,
but the people who use the Maryland Room’s resources are almost as varied as the
material housed there. Whether it’s a local fiction fan looking for his favorite Anne
Tyler book, a California fifth grader e-mailing in to ask what animals live in Maryland,
or a writer dropping in to research a screenplay, “one of the really great things about
working in this department is you never know who the next person is going to be, or
what they’ll ask,” says Korman.
And ask, they do: In 2003, the department answered 30,717 requests for information,
or about 2,500 per month. This year, the department is on target to answer even more
queries, says Korman, despite being shut down for three weeks while it moved into its
new digs.
The best part of the deal for anyone in a search for knowledge, nostalgia, or just a
good read? It won’t cost you a dime. —CBA
79. Pick up some sweet corn. Maryland produces about 5.25 million pounds of
sweet corn a year, some of which finds its way to the countless roadside stands
and battered farmers’ pickup trucks parked along the state’s roads in the warm
months. There are dozens in the region, but one sure bet is the permanent warm-
weather family-run stand at Pahl’s Farm, 4223 Bedford Rd., Pikesville. Another is
Joan’s Produce at Hillside Rd. and Greenspring Ave., also in Pikesville. There are two
good ones half way down Bowley’s Quarters Road in Middle River, and a perennial and
popular tailgate operation on Ruxton Road at I-83, in Ruxton.
80. Drink homemade wine. To sample the locals’ attempts, try the three-year-old
Highlandtown Homemade Winemaking Festival, co-sponsored by Di Pasquales Deli
(which handles the food and sells grapes and winemaking equipment) and the
Highlandtown Community Association. The event, which has an Italian flavor, also
features music and an indoor bocce ball tournament. Held in April, 410-276-6787,
www.highlandtown.com.
81. Eat at aN institution. Try the Women’s Industrial Exchange, a nonprofit
organization that, since 1880, has built a solid reputation with a simple-but-good
approach that includes menu items like chicken salad, tomato aspic, and hard-boiled
egg platters. Also inside, you’ll find a craft sales room, which features handmade
goods and supports local people in need. 333 N. Charles St., 410-685-4388.
82. Have breakfast for dinner. Try the Double T Diner, where what started as a
single location in 1959 has grown into a chain of seven Baltimore-area diners. In true
diner style, all feature a gigantic menu (with breakfast served round the clock), juke
boxes, and lots of chrome.
http://doublettdiner.com.
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83. GO MEDIEVAL AT christMAs. For an Old-English Christmas-Eve service
that pulls out all the stops, try historic Old St. Paul’s Church, an Episcopal
congregation founded in the 1600s, where an incredible array of stained glass windows
(some crafted by Tiffany Studios), a traditional choir and brass quintet—plus, of
course, the service itself—make for a memorable midnight. Charles and Saratoga sts.,
410-685-3404,
www.oldstpauls.ang-md.org.
Name: Thomasina “Tomi” Hiers
Age: 27
Neighborhood: Waltherson
Occupation: Executive Assistant to the Deputy Secretary for Operations, Department
of Public Safety and Correctional Services
Favorite hobby: Golf
How she can tell a true Baltimorean: “Baltimoreans love lake trout from corner
carry-outs and singing ‘Thank God I'm a Country Boy!’ during the 7th inning stretch at
an O's game.”
84. Find GREAT AUNT TILLY. For photos of your long-lost Maryland ancestors, try
Gary Ruppert’s website, a database of historical Baltimore photos where you can
search by last name.
http://freepages.collecting.rootsweb.com.
85. Watch rivals face off on Thanksgiving Day. Before you load yourself up on
turkey, head to the Turkey Bowl, which pits rivals Loyola Blakefield against Calvert Hall
College High School. The game, played at M&T Bank Stadium, is televised and carried
on radio. Loyola,
www.blakefield.loyola.edu; Calvert Hall, www.calverthall.com.
86. Do a good deed. Join the Jewish community for Community Mitzvah Day, in
which 1,000 volunteers hit the streets and tackle community projects large and small.
http://baltimore.planitjewish.com.
87. Buy bread at H&S. The wonderful smells will tell you when you’re getting close
to the H&S Bakery Thrift Store. Stop by the retail shop on Fleet Street for a few loaves
of the good stuff: fresh-baked bread, pies, and cakes. 1618 Fleet St., 410-522-9323.
88. Go to Sabatino’s at 1 a.m. At this Little Italy favorite, you can often rub
elbows with the rich and powerful. OK, we can’t promise you’ll sit next to a
Hollywood star, but bigwigs do tend to flock here—movie producers, politicians,
authors, football team owners, actors, you name it. While you’re here, learn the secret
behind Sabatino’s bookmaker salad (hint: it’s all about the secret dressing, a zesty
Parmesan blend). 901 Fawn St., 410-727-2667, www.sabatinos.com.
Name: Fred Riedel
Age: 75
Neighborhood: Loch Raven Village
Occupation: Retired Baltimore City Fire Captain; former seasonal park ranger at Fort
McHenry
Favorite hobby: History (he belongs to the Society of the War of 1812 of Maryland)
How he can tell a true Baltimorean: “True Baltimoreans remember the days of the
‘sour beef belt’—the German community that ran from Overlea, through Highlandtown,
and across to South Baltimore; the days when churches used to load up the whole
congregation on a boats and head to Tolchester for summer weekends; and a time
when you could swim at the city’s pools in an itchy grey bathing suit for 25 cents.”
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89. TouR THE SHOT TOWER. Take a tour of the 215-foot Phoenix Shot Tower,
which was built in 1828 and owned the bragging rights to tallest building in the U.S.
until 1846. The tower was used to make lead shot—molten lead was dropped from the
top into water at the bottom. By the time it reached the bottom, the air had cooled the
lead and created perfectly formed “dropped shot” for firearms. Tours—which won’t
take you to the top, but do let you ascend one level—are offered on summer
weekends and in winter by appointment only. 801 E. Fayette St., 410-605-2964, www.
shottower.info.
90. EAT FOR YOUR TEAM. Join 1,500 hard-core Ravens fans at the annual Bull
& Oyster Roast, held at the Timonium Fairgrounds by the Council of Ravens Roosts
—Baltimore’s oldest football fan club (it started as the Council of Colts Corrals in 1957).
Or, mingle with some of the council’s 3,000 members—and a few fun-loving players—
at its three-day convention in Ocean City, which includes a parade, karaoke
tournament, mini golf, and more.
www.rrcouncil.com.
91. Fill up on hot-cross buns. A traditional neighborhood baked-goods shop,
Hoehn’s Bakery offers up first-rate goodies, plus seasonal specialties—like peach cake
in summer—that will keep you coming back for more. 400 S. Conkling St., 410-675-
2884.
92. Get your pep back. Join Morgan State University’s 7,200 students and a host of
alums for homecoming week, held each October. In addition to the big game, the
week’s events include a pep rally, the crowning of Mr. and Miss Morgan, an all-star
college poetry tour, lecture series, and the Ebony Fashion Fair. 443-885-3333,
www.
morgan.edu.
93. TRy to eat just one. For truly fresh Utz potato chips straight from the factory,
head to Cross Street Market, home to Steve’s Lunch, which took over the former UTZ
factory stall about 10 years ago. Best bet to buy: Wednesday when Steve’s gets its
weekly delivery. Cross Street Market, Federal Hill. 410-385-2273.
Shop around the World (without leaving town)
Sure, you can get your groceries at Giant, Super Fresh, Safeway, or Whole Foods, but
if you want to whip up a big heaping bowl of Pad Thai or make magnificent manicotti,
finding the right ingredients might take you a little further afield. Fortunately,
Baltimore’s got plenty of specialty stores to choose from. Whether it’s a tiny Mexican
tienda or a bustling Asian market, you’re bound to find what you need at one of the
city’s ethnic grocers. A sampling of some of Charm City’s culinary treats:
Ceriello Fine Foods
A new entrant to North Baltimore City’s Belvedere Square, Ceriello has all the
quaint touches of the homeland, plus a lot of spit and polish. The store features a wide
selection of canned and dried goods—pastas, beans, sauces, and sweet treats—but the
real gems here are the selections of prepared and fresh foods (think bruschetta salad,
antipasto salad, and a slew of different lasagnas). Ceriello also boasts a butcher’s
counter that will turn any carnivore’s head. 529 E. Belvedere Ave., 410-532-1840,
www.ceriellofinefoods.com.
Han Ah Reum
Head to this 27,000-square-foot supermarket on any weekend and you’ll find hundreds
of shoppers crowding the aisles to sift through the store’s 100,000 Asian products. If
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you like choice and you love a bargain, you’ll be in heaven here.
Shoppers can pick from 36 varieties of tofu and 35 varieties of rice, plus dozens of
kinds of kimchi, not to mention a huge selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, all at
reasonable prices. 800 N. Rolling Rd., 443-612-9020, www.superhmart.com.
La Guadalupana Tienda & Restaurante
The family-run La Guadalupana serves up authentic Mexican food and ingredients in
Fells Point, where you can pick up anything from plantains to big bags of herbs and an
array or dried peppers, fresh meat, canned goods, snacks, and candies. If you can’t
wait to get home to eat, step into the restaurant and order up a plate of carne asada,
enchiladas de pollo, or one of the other Mexican delights. Like the store, the fare here
is authentic—Mexican rather than Mexican-American. 500 S. Wolfe St., 410-276-2700.
Prima Foods
Although there’s no shortage of places in Highlandtown to pick up Greek treats, when
Baltimore’s Greeks want to really stock up, they head to Prima Foods, tucked away off
the beaten path on Kane Street. A wholesaler serving caterers and restaurants, Prima
also has a small retail business, which is chock full of Hellenic goodness. Not to miss:
Prima’s marinated olives, fabulous feta (in a bucket or a block, take your pick), and an
assortment of frozen appetizers and entrées that make entertaining a cinch. The store
also stocks plenty of Greek staples: honey, pasta, jarred preserves, and stuffed grape
leaves. 51 Kane St., 800-296-7894,
www.primafds.com.
Seoul Plaza, Security Square Mall
This double-decker international grocery and department store in the former JCPenney
building includes a 33,000-square-foot Grand Mart supermarket, plus a food court with
Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese restaurants. Also on site: a host of Asian-
inspired clothing, jewelry, and specialty food shops. In the supermarket, you’ll find
plenty of Asian goods, as well as Hispanic, Indian, and even a few American products.
Security Square Mall, Woodlawn. 410-277-0867.
Trinacria
If you’re looking for an upscale boutique, you won’t find it within the walls of this tiny
store on N. Paca Street, established in 1901 by immigrant Salvatore Fava and still
family-run. Instead, you’ll find an old-school atmosphere and an incredible array of
Italian treats: fresh pasta, dried pasta of all shapes and sizes, Italian cookies, olive oils,
canned imports, and a wide selection of well-priced wines. The deli case is packed with
mouthwatering meats and cheeses, plus prepared goods like fresh mozzarella and
sundried tomatoes, marinated olives, and whole peppers stuffed with proscuitto. Yum,
this one is small but good. 406 N. Paca St., 410-685-7285. —CBA
94. See the city on two wheels. Hop on your bike for the annual Great
Neighborhood Bike Ride, held in June by the Baltimore Bicycling Club to benefit
the Women’s Housing Coalition and other charities. Take the short route—13 miles—or
stick it out for the 50-mile guided path through Charm City. The Bike Club also hosts
regularly scheduled weekend and evening rides. Great Neighborhood Bike Ride, 410-
960-6572, www.womenshousing.org; Baltimore Bicycling Club, www.baltobikeclub.org.
95. Find your treasure. Sift through new and used items of nearly every description
—you might even find that velvet Elvis you’ve been dreaming of—at the LTRC Flea
Market on York Road. Held on Sundays year-round, the flea market has indoor and
outdoor stalls and boasts 120 dealers in good weather. 1700 York Rd., 410-252-8272.
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96. Splatter your friends. For a paintball locale with lots of room to roam, try
Bowie’s Outdoor Adventure, which has 14 paintball fields on 80 acres. Never played
before? Fear not: This is a soup-to-nuts operation where you can rent the equipment,
get a quick lesson on how to safely shoot your friends (with paint) and then partake in
the ultimate game of capture the flag. 410-737-8150, www.oapaintball.com.
97. Shop for antiques. If you’ve already scoured Baltimore’s considerable antiques
offerings, head to Hanover, where more than 400 dealers make their home at AAA
Antiques Mall, Maryland’s largest. The mall has antiques of all kinds, plus a warehouse
full of china replacements. 2659 Annapolis Rd., Hanover. 410-551-4101.
98. Head for the mountains. Rent a cottage or pitch a tent for a long weekend at
Deep Creek Lake, Maryland’s largest man-made lake. 301-387-4FUN,
www.garrettchamber.com.
99. Eat a Snoball at the stand near Greenspring Station, at the intersection of Falls
and Joppa rds., one of several run by run Tom Hays’ Snoasis. Or try a Sno-cone at
Jay’s Shaved Ice at 2046 York Rd. in Timonium. Or, for that matter, sample any of the
dozens of stands plying their icy, colorful treats starting in April and May.
100. treat your tastebuds. Put your appetite to the test with a gigantic sandwich
from a Pikesville mainstay. For 18 years, Suburban House Restaurant’s kosher-style
deli has served up mammoth sandwiches, plus homemade soups and an assortment of
smoked fish that brings in the locals—especially the older crowd—in droves. 911
Reisterstown Rd., Pikesville. 410-484-7775,
www.suburbanhousedeli.com.
101. Stock up on Berger cookies. Try the Berger stall at Lexington Market or
load up at your local grocery store on the child’s dream of a serious cookie: two
parts chocolate icing, one part yellow cookie. Even better (for your waistline), send a
little Baltimore to out-of-town friends—order a tin of Berger’s best from its online
catalog. www.bergercookies.com.
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