• Baltimore Triumphs Book Launch at the Evergreen Museum & Library

    “Cures for love; not wanted. Cures for broken-hearts; needed. Young souls create a major demand For hearts they want treated That can’t see the thin line between love and hate.” This last stanza of “Thin Line” was recited by writer Chyna Brown at a reading Thursday night at the Evergreen Museum & Library. Like other readings in Baltimore, this one showcased a diverse group of writers and writing styles. Some of the pieces were funny; some touched on important social issues. Some did both. But unlike other readings in Baltimore, this event was made up of elementary, middle school, and high school students. Brown is a ninth grader at Baltimore…

  • Late Night at the BMA

    On Saturday, the Baltimore Museum of Art hosted a Late Night party to celebrate the re-opening of the museum’s Contemporary Wing. If I had to choose one word to describe the event, I would say…crowded. But it was also fantastically fun. Fantastic to see so many art lovers in one place. Fun to have drinks while sitting in a glowing chair, listening to White Life in a room bathed in pink light. And pretty awesome that the BMA put on this kind of shindig and invited the public for free. The collection includes works by Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, James Rosenquist, Zwelethu Mthethwa, and many others. Sarah Sze…

  • Arts/Community

    “It is the craving for beauty that is such a vital function of the human soul…” – Dr. Claribel Cone It’s amazing how a little beauty injected into your day can lift your mood, calm your mind, and change your perspective. I saw the quote at the beginning of this post on a plaque a few weeks ago at the Baltimore Museum of Art in the space that showcases the Cone Collection. It’s clear from the collecting habits of the Cone sisters–they filled their Baltimore apartments with more than 3,000 pieces of art, including works by Picasso, Matisse, Cézanne, and van Gogh–that they gave into their craving for beauty on…

  • Pursuing Poe in Baltimore

    High on the list of things I love about Baltimore: the city’s connection to Edgar Allan Poe. I developed an affection for Poe’s writing as a teenager, when I competed in the poetry category on my high school’s speech and debate team with a collection of his poems: “Annabel Lee,” “A Dream Within a Dream,” and “The Raven.” I was drawn to the dark themes in his work, and I found the rhythm of his words spellbinding, particularly when read aloud. Poe lived in Baltimore for a time and is believed to have written several works here. Although he moved to Richmond in 1835, he later returned and died at…

  • Seltzer Speaksy, Take 1

    I’ve written about Baltimore literary events before, and I think this city has an amazing arts community. The 510 Readings focus on fiction, and the H.L. Mencken-inspired New Mercury Readings bring non-fiction to the forefront (this Saturday’s line-up features my travel writing professor from last semester, Sue Eisenfeld, among others – check it!). And now, Baltimore has a new reading series on the scene: Seltzer Speaksy. Seltzer Speaksy was started by the editors of Seltzer, a new online zine that publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art. (One of my essays was published in the first issue – yep, that’s both some shameless self-promotion and my full disclosure statement.) Last night,…

  • A Taste of Italy at Home

    I know I said I would post more about Rome (and I will!), but last weekend I introduced a friend from out of town to some of the charms of Baltimore, and I was inspired to write about the little gem that is Iggies Pizza. Baltimore may not be New York or Chicago, but it is possible to find delicious pizza if you know where to look. Located in the Mount Vernon neighborhood, Iggies is laid back, with an artsy vibe. The walls are a warm yellow, the ceiling and duct work are painted brick red, and fanciful paintings of Italian greyhounds add to the cheerful atmosphere. Diners can sit…

  • Bookish Baltimore: Charm City Literary Events

    The Baltimore Book Festival was a couple of weeks ago and, due to an out-of-town family event, I was only able to attend one day. Torrential rains dampened most of the outdoor activities that afternoon, but it gave me a great excuse to spend some time in the George Peabody Library–the most beautiful library I’ve ever seen. (I also stayed dry exploring the Walters Art Museum, but I’ll save that for a another blog post.) Curious to learn about other local events similar to the book festival, I did some research, and I’m considering this my sort of “literary to-do list”: CityLit Festival This one-day “celebration of literature” is sponsored…

  • Hot and Bluesy

    Last weekend, I spent most of Saturday at the Hot August Blues & Roots Music Festival at Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville. I had no idea such a beautiful venue could be found so close to Baltimore. The rolling hills just south of Hunt Valley horse country set the perfect scene for the musicians on stage, and the weather gods smiled on us, providing a sunny day framed by the weekend’s thunderstorms. I’m pretty sure my days of 12-hour music festivals are behind me, but I devoted a respectable six or seven hours to the event. I didn’t see any of the bands from the B-Side Stage, but on the…

  • To Market, To Market

    I love the Baltimore Farmers’ Market, especially this time of year. Why? Because it’s TOMATO SEASON! There is absolutely nothing in the world like heirloom tomatoes when they’re in season. I could eat them every day. Dressed with balsamic vinegar, simmered in sauce, roasted…delicious! I have to admit I barely made it home from the market today before I ate one. A trip to the farmers’ market is something I look forward to every weekend (when I’m in town, that is). Located under the Jones Falls Expressway at Holliday and Saratoga streets, the Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar is open 7:00 a.m. to noon every Sunday from April until mid-December and…

  • Beating the Heat in Baltimore

    A friend of mine was in town last weekend, and despite the heat I still wanted to show her a bit of the city. So, what did we do? Friday night we had an early-ish dinner at Pazo, one of my favorite restaurants in Harbor East. We started by sharing a carafe of sangria, which tasted perfectly refreshing after walking through the sweltering haze outside. The restaurant has an extensive menu, and diners can try a variety of dishes by ordering tapas, get a three-course dinner with the prix fixe option, or order starters and main dishes a la carte. I had a summer bruschetta with local zuccini and ricotta,…