Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your Charm City weekend.
EAT
July 11-12: Baltimore Caribbean Carnival
Clifton Park, 2701 St. Lo Dr. Parade starts at 900 E. 33rd St. Sat. 12-10 p.m., Sun. 12-9 p.m. $10. baltimorecarnival.com.
For the 34th year, the Caribbean Carnival returns to Baltimore with a burst of festive celebration, authentic cuisine, and vibrant culture at Clifton Park. Teeming in color and energy, the full-day festival starts on Saturday with a colossal parade, lasting five full hours with elaborate floats, bedazzled costumes, loud music, and lively dance. Be sure to be one of the thousand in attendance, and afterwards, spend your afternoon in the park, with dozens of musical acts, family entertainment, children’s activities, and, of course, delicious Caribbean food, such as jerk chicken, rice and peas, and fresh fruit.
DRINK
July 10: Maryland Science Center Patio Party
Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St. 5-8 p.m. Free. 410-685-5225. mdsci.org.
It’s a beautiful day in Baltimore, and what better way to roll off the workweek and toast to summer than raising a glass over the sparkling Inner Harbor waves. Tonight, the Maryland Science Center hosts its first Patio Party of the season, with drinks, live music, and light fare outside on the waterfront. Soak up the sunset, sip on beer and wine, and listen to local folk band The Herd of Main Street as they play beneath the center’s metallic sculpture and the stars. Once the sun sets, admire Domino Sugar, glowing in the distance, and look for the Dippers in the sky.
SEE
July 10 – December 7: Devin Allen: Awakenings, In a New Light
Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 Pratt St. Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 12 p.m.–5 p.m., with Saturday’s artist meet-and-greet at 1 p.m. Free. 443-263-1800. lewismuseum.org.
Out of Baltimore’s darkest days came a beacon of brilliant light and a reminder that our city is full of promise. In the midst of the riots, then-26-year-old West Baltimore resident and aspiring photographer Devin Allen turned around to snap a picture: a swarm of riot police chasing a young, bandana-ed black man, running through the city streets. Allen posted it to Instagram, and then, in the blink of an eye, it was on the cover of Time magazine. He has since been published in the pages of the Baltimore Sun and on the “Lens” blog of the The New York Times, with interview request coming from every news outlet imaginable. This weekend, less than three months after the blink of his camera’s shutter, he opens his first solo show at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum. In its new community space, Allen will unveil large-scale images from the protests of all sides involved, and on Saturday, he’ll be there himself, describing his experiences and discussing ways to empower the city. This is a don’t-miss event, and while it’ll be open through December, we think it should join a permanent collection.
HEAR
July 10: The No Genre Show
The 8×10, 10 E. Cross St. 8 p.m. $14. 410-625-2000. the8x10.com.
Throw genre to the wind this weekend with the diverse musical stylings of the No Genre Show. At the 8×10, three Baltimore bands will come together to let their unique sounds and myriad influences blend in an energetic night of local talent. Brooks Long & Mad Dog No Good will fuse R&B, blues, and old-school soul into a feel-good time, while Femi the DriFish and The Out of Water eXperience mixes hip-hop and alternative rock with Common-meets-Rage-Against-the-Machine flow and a whole lot of funk. The lineup is rounded out with Jamaal Black Root Collier & the Underground, melding spoken word with rap, rock, and R&B into something reminiscent of The Roots. Hear them all tonight in a medley of Baltimore music.
DO
July 10: Twilight Swim at Patterson Park Pool
Locations, times, and prices vary.
It’s already July 10. The days are only getting shorter and
you’re not getting any younger, so go—get out there. Seize your summer and live
a little. As the sun begins to set, kick off your shoes and peel your shirt
from your sticky summer skin. Run across the thick wet grass, and jump—like a
kid again, suspended in gravity for just a moment before you splash into an aquamarine
pool. Do it tonight. Revel in that kind of youthful summer buzz at Patterson
Park, and relive the glory days of sneaking into your neighbor’s backyard for a
skinny dip with your high school crush. Taking place in public pools throughout the
city every Friday night of summer, these after-hours, adults-only swims are
BYOB, with DJs in tow to provide the soundtrack for your magical night. Like we said, it’s a
beautiful day. Summer’s going fast. Jump off the deep end.