Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your Charm City weekend.
EAT
May 31: The Urban BBQ
Union Craft Brewing, 1700 Union Ave. 12-4 p.m. Free-$45. 410-467-0290. eventbrite.com.
With Memorial Day weekend come and gone, it’s finally time to fire up those grills. We’re sure you have a bunch of backyard BBQs already on the books, so this Sunday Funday, let local chefs do the cooking for you. Head to Union Craft Brewing and post up in the parking lot for an afternoon of beer, tunes, and a bounty of eats from the area’s best restaurants, like Dooby’s, The Food Market, Wit & Wisdom, The Charmery,
and more. Tickets to this family-friend event benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and include all food, raffle entrance, and your first brew.
DRINK
May 30: Brew & Bourbon Classic
Pimlico Race Course, 5201 Park Heights Ave. 1-6 p.m. $39-48. brewandbourbonclassic.com.
The Kentucky Derby and Preakness might be over but we’re still in the heat of Maryland horse racing season. In case you missed the latter, spend your springtime Saturday at the historic, hallowed ground of Pimlico Race Course. As the Thoroughbreds hit the track, sip on some 60 bourbons and beers, including locals like Full Tilt, Flying Dog, and Heavy Seas, and nibble on necessary noshes, with classic summertime snacks like popcorn, hot dogs, burgers, crab cakes, and ice cream. If brown spirits aren’t your bag of booze, there will also be gin, rum, sangria, and vodka, including Sloop Betty’s new honey-infused hooch. All the while, get down to live music by
The Regal Beagles (think Steely Dan meets Hall & Oates), and of course, the sound of dirt flying from horses’ hooves. Soak in the sun, tip a few back, and take the shuttle service home along the Mt. Washington light rail, running till 7 p.m.
SEE
May 31: Baltimore Bubble Parade
Hampden, 7-Eleven, W. 36th at 3601 Falls Rd. 1-2:30 p.m. Free. bubbleparade.org.
BUBBLES! We could really end this post right there, but for a bit more detail: Hampden has a new, eclectic tradition in the works. This Sunday, join the local leg of this global flash mob as people take to the streets all across the world, armed with those instant happy-makers. Don bright colors and BYOB (bring your own bubbles, though some will be on-hand for first-come, first-serve). All ages are welcome and dogs, hula-hoops, and ribbon wands are all strongly encouraged—naturally. Starting on W. 36th Street, the route will make a giant square around Hampden, heading south to Beech Street, north up 40th, down Buena Vista Ave., then back around to 36th. Afterwards, hit the Avenue to toast to the weekend and relish in all the weird and wonderful that is Charm City.
HEAR
May 30-31: Sweetlife Festival
Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy. Sat. & Sun. 12 p.m. $97.50-350. 410-715-5550. sweetlifefestival.com.
The Sweetlife outdoor music and food festival returns to the woods of Merriweather this weekend. For the first time, the festival will now take place over the course of two days, but one look at the lineup, and you’ll know exactly why. There’s a bevy of badass, blockbuster talent on board, with 25 acts, including bigwig headliners Kendrick Lamar and Calvin Harris, chart-topping stars like Charli XCX and The Weeknd, and hip newcomers like Bleachers, Raury, and Life of Dillon. While you’re at it, make sure to catch Baltimore’s own Sun Club, too. On top of all the good tunes, the festival, hosted by D.C.-based health food company Sweetgreen, also features tons of great food and drink from the local likes of Woodberry Kitchen, Toki Underground, Luke’s Lobster, Flying Dog, and Stillwater Artisanal Ales. Don’t miss the
compost cookies from Momofuku Milk Bar, the Kendrick Lamar-inspired “Beets Don’t Kill My Vibe” salad, and, as a warm up, check out our Spotify playlist of the lineup’s very best.
DO
May 30-31: Charles Village Festival
Wyman Park Dell, Charles & 29th Sts. Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. charlesvillagefestival.net.
This weekend, the grassy knoll of Wyman Park turns into a two-day celebration of this colorful neighborhood, now in its 19th year of this annual festival and 32nd year on the National Register of Historic Places. Home to longtime residents, the Baltimore Museum of Art and Johns Hopkins University, the diverse neighborhood celebrates its heritage with local artists, lots of food, kids’ games, and more. On Saturday, take part in the 5K race or 1K fun-run through Homewood campus, as well as the annual garden walk just south of 29th Street. Throughout the weekend, also enjoy two stages of live music, with local acts like rock-and-soul outfit the All Mighty Senators and nine-piece Motown tribute band Smooth N Company.
We also suggest you continue to support local restaurants, bars, and
businesses, to take part in community events, and to donate to or participate in the growing number of volunteer efforts around the city. Some examples include the Inner Harbor Project,Maryland Food Bank, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Chesapeake. Others can be found via Maryland Unites, which lists several non-profits that are accepting donations like the Red Cross of the Greater Chesapeake, Central Region United Way, and Associated Black Charities, and through the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods, which continues to update an online spreadsheet for volunteer and donation opportunities.