Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your Charm City weekend.
EAT
Bar Liquorice
Bar Liquorice, 801 E. Fort Ave. Mon.-Sat. 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Closed Sunday. 443-708-1675. barliquorice.com
Bar Liquorice, a small bar/restaurant in Riverside, had its grand opening on Tuesday, with a quasi-block party that had a solid turnout and the Gypsy Queen food truck that started it all. The sleek, dark bar with its bedazzled interior puts out a strong performance, with classic cocktails, an eclectic small bite menu, and jars of Twizzlers that are simultaneously kitschy and on point. I heartily recommend the Manhattan and the bánh mì.
DRINK
Oct. 31: Flying Dog Brewery & the Maryland Science Center presents Halloween 2014
Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St. 8 p.m. Sold out. halloween-baltimore.com
Hopefully you were lucky enough to score tickets to this spooky, sold-out soiree at the Science Center (or at least scalp them online). To celebrate the holiday, this craft beer costume ball will be slinging local brews like Flying Dog, Union Craft Brewing, and Brewer’s Art, as well as food truck fare from the Smoking Swine, Green Bowl, and Chowhound. With four areas of music, you can get down to bands at the main stage, get weird with DJ sets in the planetarium, listen to folk and bluegrass on the roof, or watch a scored version of the Discovery Channel’s Blue Planet in the IMAX theater. There will also be a costume contest with $1000 and $500 prizes, an art gallery space, and, best of all, open doors to all of the center’s science exhibits.
SEE
Nov. 2-9: Charm City Fringe Festival
Locations and times vary. $10. charmcityfringe.com
This third annual theater festival celebrates Baltimore’s performing arts community with a weeklong performance lineup across Mt. Vernon, Station North, and Hampden. Local talents will include the Baltimore Shakespeare Factory, Baltimore Improv Group, and Small Batch Theatre Co. On Sunday evening, Liam Flynn’s Ale House will host the kickoff event with an artist meet-and-greet and sneak preview. There will also be special events and happy hours throughout the week at local joints like Joe Squared, The Brewer’s Art, and Golden West Cafe.
HEAR
Oct. 31: The 8×10’s Halloween Costume Party with Bosley
The 8×10, 10 E. Cross St. 8 p.m. $12. 410-625-2000. the8x10.com
If you weren’t lucky enough to score tickets to the Science Center shebang, this is a great alternative. Bosley (which we named this year’s “Best Band”) brings its Motown style of soul, swing, and funk to The 8×10’s costume party on Halloween night. Brooklyn-Based jazz singer, Miss Tess, will also perform with her backup band, the Talkbacks.
DO
Oct. 31-Nov.1: MICA Haunted House
MICA Gateway, 1601 W. Mt. Royal Ave. Thurs. 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m., Fri. 8:30 p.m.-12 a.m., Sat. 7-9 p.m., $4-10. micahauntedhouse.com
Someone phone-home Sigourney Weaver. The students at MICA have chosen the theme for their large-scale, surprisingly scary, annual haunted house, and this year, it’s aliens. Expect creepy costumes, strobe lights, some nudity, and over 20 rooms of “extraterrestrial terror.” Yep, sounds like art school to us.