Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your Charm City weekend.
EAT
Mar. 28: Birroteca’s Spring Swish
Birroteca, 1520 Clipper Rd. 12-4 p.m. $35-40. 443-708-1934. bmorebirroteca.com
As much as we love to bid winter adieux, it brings us great sorrow to put whiskey back on the shelf for its clear, summery counterparts—albeit a few springtime juleps and sours, of course. In the last throws of March, though, it’s still plenty cool for a medicinal dose of brown spirit, so head to Birroteca this Saturday for the first event of their new culinary craft “Swish Series.” Sip on unlimited samples of straight or cocktailed American whiskey and tip back a bevy of rye and barrel-aged beers, most from local breweries like Union Craft, Evolution, Terrapin, and Monument City. To soak it all up, they’ll have lots of whiskey’s perfect complement—pork—with a whole pig roast for sandwiches and small plates, plus charcuterie, pasta, and slices of pork-belly-and-spicy-fennel-sausage pizza.
DRINK
Mar. 28: Alewife Hometown Hoedown
Alewife, 21 N. Eutaw St. 12 p.m. Free. 410-545-5112. alewifebaltimore.com
Across the street from the Hippodrome and a short scramble to the Arena, many people know Alewife as a pre-show watering hole, but what some don’t know, until they enter the former bank building, is that the tavern has a serious reputation for their curated collection of beer. This Saturday, they’ll be throwing an inaugural Hometown Hoedown, with more than 40 Maryland craft beer drafts and casks, including special collabs like The Brewer’s Art & Alewife Eutaw Reserve Saison and the new, spring seasonal Union Craft Brewing & Alewife Perfecta Pils Cask, made with smoked tea and orange peel. There will also be great, Chesapeake-inspired pub grub from chef Chad Wells (his Roseda burger is no joke…) and live bluegrass by Baltimore’s
Jacob Panic.
SEE
Mar. 28-29: Baltimore Contemporary Print Fair
The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 12-6 p.m. Free-$15. 443-573-1700. artbma.org
Maybe the inner-kid in you has always had an affinity for illustration, or maybe your old soul has always been drawn to fine art. Maybe you’ve found yourself flipping magazines, falling in love with the typography, or maybe you like the tactile nature of collage. Whatever you might be into, the BMA print fair is a visual delight for all, with hundreds of printed pieces for every taste. Browse the portfolios, take in the limited editions, and, whether you’re an avid art collector or just looking for something to hang by the bathroom sink, consider one of the single prints. Artists, gallerists, and BMA curators will also be on hand (and
all around the city) to talk about the printmaking process, and former BMA curator Jan Howard will give a free lecture on Sunday. She now heads the print, drawing, and photograph departments at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design.
HEAR
Mar. 28: Spring Dance Party at The Crown
The Crown, 1910 N. Charles St. 10 p.m. Free. 410-625-4848. facebook.com
As soon as the calendar struck March 20, we hastily dove underneath our beds and swapped out our winter jackets for jorts and white jeans. But Mother Nature is a cruel temptress, and now, once again, we’re cuddled up in our sweaters and cursing the gods about BGE. Quit playing games with our hearts, MN. We’re literally itching for good weather, and dammit, we need a release. Well, the warmth isn’t coming this weekend, but there’s still a way to let loose. Gather some friends, grab a taxi, and go get that energy out on the dance floor. Baltimore’s own DJ Mills will be turning things up at The Crown on Saturday night, spinning get-down music like disco, funk, and classic hip-hop. A little James Brown will surely do the trick.
DO
Mar. 28: Rails to Trails Opening Day
Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Ave. 9 a.m. Free. 202-974-5109. railstotrails.org
With April on the horizon, it’s about time we get outside and take in some fresh air. Baltimore might feel like nothing but traffic and cement at times, but just outside the city, there are acres upon acres of great nature trails to push your heels (or wheels) into the dirt. This weekend, throw on some sneakers and head to Cylburn Arboretum to kick off the springtime trail season, as part of a national celebration of the great outdoors. Explore a new section of the Jones Falls Trail, take off on a nine-mile ride to the Inner Harbor (don’t worry, there will be a free shuttle to bring you back), or stick around to learn about urban farming and stream ecology. If you don’t have a bike, there will be a limited number available on a first-come, first-serve basis.