Baltimore Drink Examiner

People milling about in public? Sign me up!

Walking around Artscape. Join me this weekend!

When I first moved to Baltimore, yea though it be many moons ago, I often found myself wondering, "What the hell am I doing here?" Not sure I've really figured that out yet, but that question is more philosophical than practical. Hard to answer, apparently. But I quickly began asking myself some more important questions, such as, "What the hell am I doing this weekend?" Maybe not as life-changing, but a little more to the point, I suppose. And the answers that presented themselves had much more to do with making myself at home than most other attempts to "find myself" or "get a job" might have.

However, there were times there at the beginning where I found myself stuck going to some touristy bar within walking distance of my house downtown (Inner Harbor, I'm looking at you), running into a bunch of Yankee or Red Sox fans who have nothing better to do in between games than continuously start drunken chants at out-of-town bars, and thinking Baltimore needed something more to offer. It was right around then I discovered the not-so-hidden treasure of Charm City... Artscape.

The first year I went was quite memorable. Almost immediately, my roommate decided to lose a few hundred bucks at one of those "charity" gambling booths, where you're always just about to win, although they would never let that actually happen. Several crying-into-our-beers later, we randomly stumbled upon this large crowd standing around, waiting for some guy named Ray Charles to start playing. I don't know about you, but I'm thinking somebody ought to give that fellow a recording contract! Blind or not, he really seemed to know what he was doing. Shame something as simple as the inability to see would keep a gem like that from the public for so long...

Anyway, my point is, Artscape opened my eyes (NPI) to the variety of eclectic arts, foods and music that Baltimore has to offer the average (or above average) denizen. After this initial foray onto the streets of Mt. Royal, I began to notice other opportunities for entertainment, with or without (more often with) booze... the street festivals in Fells Point, the art movies at the Charles Theatre, and even that little uniquely Baltimoronic Hon Fest in Hampden. That's when I finally began to stop wondering why I was here and decided to just shut up and enjoy myself while I am.

One of the many, crazy "art cars" on display at Artscape. So this weekend, at what they are now billing as "America's largest, free public arts festival", get out there and forget about your own issues and just enjoy yourself, damnit! Keep the water handy, break out the sunscreen (if you're glow-in-the-dark white like myself) and brave the 90+ degree heat and check out some of the best this town has to offer. And if you're thirsty Sunday afternoon, you can find me volunteering at one of the many beer tents (I have no idea which one) on the grounds. I'll be happy to serve you... once I'm finished my own.

Oh, and here are just a few of the highlights, in my rarely-humble opinion.

Friday, July 18th
5:00 PM: The Oranges Band (indie rock) - Saturn Stage - Local boys doing it right.
8:00 PM: PLAY! A Video Game Symphony - Meyerhoff Symphony Hall - Yes, they're actually playing the Super Mario Bros. theme!
8:30 PM: Roberta Flack - Main Stage - She'll be "Killing Me Softly" right here in Baltimore.
8:30 PM: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Saturn Stage - Still rockin' after all these years!

Saturday, July 19th
3:00 PM: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Free Concert - Meyerhoff Symphony Hall - First come, first served!
7:00 PM: Mike Doughty - Saturn Stage - Former lead of Soul Coughing rocks out again.
8:30 PM: Dru Hill with SISQO - Main Stage - B-more hip-hop crew is back! Who's thinking "Thong Song" as an encore?
8:30 PM: Rusted Root - Saturn Stage - This is where I'll be Saturday night, gettin' my world music on.

Sunday, July 20th
1:30 PM: Victoria Vox - Saturn Stage - Recommended by a friend, get a little folk-y Sunday afternoon.
5:00 PM: My Baroquen Heart: Two 18th Century Tales of Lost Love (Opera Vivente) - Brown Center - Despite the cheesy name, I'll go see free opera anytime.
6:30 PM: The Wailers - Main Stage - Reggae royalty hits the stage on Sunday!

So there you go, just a hint of what's happening here in Baltimore this weekend. Guess I'll be seeing you at the corner of Mt. Royal Ave. and Charles St., at least while I can still see. So enjoy, Baltimore! And thanks for making me feel right at home... just try to refrain from flashing everyone this weekend, alright? You're better than that...

Mark Burlet
Drunken Intellectual

Who: Me, Joan Jett, Roberta Flack and friends
What: Artscape!
When: Friday at Noon til Sunday at 8pm
Where: Northern edge of Mt. Vernon
Why: Free arts and music. What else do you need?
More Info: Check the website here.

Topics: outdoors , festivals , BSO , Artscape , art , Baltimore

READ 3 COMMENTS:

The Post-Labor-Day Blues

0 Comments

POSTED September 3, 1:48 AM

Mark Burlet - Baltimore Drink Examiner

So, it has come and it has passed. The last vestiges of summer have been ripped from the early-darkening skies and cruel reality has been laid out before us, with nary a 3-day weekend in sight until Thanksgiving! And as the warmth of early September... Read More
Topics: drinking , beer , outdoors , festivals , Clipper City , summer , Brewer's Art , football , Labor Day , Ukrainian Festival , Gustav , Hanna , Boordy Vineyards , DuClaw , renaissance festival , Pub Dog

Fells Point, Women's Rugby and the 2008 Olympics

4 Comments

POSTED August 21, 3:37 PM

Mark Burlet - Baltimore Drink Examiner

At first glance, you may read the title of this article and say... "WHAT?"Or you may read it and think, "I may not yet comprehend the connections among these three seemingly disparate topics, however, inasmuch as I understand the... Read More
Topics: drinking , bars , sports , pub crawl , Olympics , Beijing , Fells Point , Michael Phelps , Chesapeake Women's Rugby Football Club , rugby , Max's , Alexander's , Slainte , Leadbetters , Greene Turtle , Blarney Stone , wrestling

READ 4 COMMENTS:

Preseason - An Ernest Hemingway

7 Comments

POSTED August 6, 12:22 AM

Mark Burlet - Baltimore Drink Examiner

The night was humid and quiet, even for a Sunday. The young man sat still, his shirtless back sticking slightly to the tan leather couch. A paperback lay unopened at his side as his fingers idly flipped through the edges of each... Read More
Topics: beer , Ernest Hemingway , football , NFL , whiskey , Looney's , New Orleans Saints , pre-season , hemingway

READ 7 COMMENTS:

Baltimore Restaurant Week Revealed!

1 Comment

POSTED July 28, 9:45 PM

Mark Burlet - Baltimore Drink Examiner