Best of Baltimore
EDITED BY
Max Weiss
WRITTEN WITH
JANELLE ERLICHMAN
DIAMOND,
STELLA GARNER,
ABIGAIL GREEN,
SUZANNE LOUDERMILK,
AMY SCATTERGOOD,
MIKE UNGER,
&
LYDIA WOOLEVER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPHER MYERS
EXCURSION
Glen L. Martin Museum
Founded by a group of guys passionate about flying, the Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum, tucked into Hangar 5 at the Martin State Airport in Middle River, is focused on the fascinating history of aviation in Maryland. Visitors of all ages can explore exhibits, including one on astronauts, and view 18 full-scale aircraft, from a Vietnam-era UH-1M Huey helicopter to a U.S. Air Force tactical bomber. The tiny museum, founded in 1990, is also planning an expansion to a larger building on Eastern Blvd., but, for now, check out the state’s aerospace past in its current digs.
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FAMILY FUN
BIG KITE FESTIVAL
For the last six years, Creative Alliance and the Friends of Patterson Park have brought the Big Baltimore Kite Fest to Patterson Park. Taking place on a spring weekend—and hopefully taking advantage of seasonal winds—it begins when folks gather at the top of Hampstead Hill near the Observatory to fly kites, either bringing their own or making them at free Friendly Flyers workshop stations (and both FPP and CA offer kites shaped like butterflies, octopi, and other animals for sale). To add to the old-timey fun, there’s ukelele and Irish folk music, yo-yo and juggling lessons, Haitian kite and drumming demos, food trucks, and more—as well as Kite Doctors with poles to help disentangle wayward kites from trees. Over the years, as many as 6,000 people have come for the festivities, bringing picnics and dogs as well as children, and there’s nothing quite like watching hundreds of kids of all ages running down the hills, maneuvering sails and lines and fluttering tails in the Baltimore breeze.
FESTIVAL
AFRAM
Scroll through the photos on the AFRAM web page and you see smiles, good vibes, and great style all around. And why shouldn’t there be? Baltimore’s Black community is vibrant and thriving and should be celebrated whenever possible. Enter AFRAM, one of the largest African-American festivals on the East Coast, held every June at Druid Hill Park. This year’s lineup included Juvenile, Saweetie, and the Godmother of Soul herself, Patti LaBelle. (Oops, that may be a better lineup than Preakness.) Come for food, family fun, and a joyful celebration of Baltimore Black life.
1988
13TH ANNUAL
Best of Baltimore:
CLASSIC FAVORITES
AND NEW FINDS!
JUST A FEW MONTHS before Working Girl became a box-office sensation, we presented this cover, which moved us out of our “Sexy Could’ve Been a Halloween Costume” era into our “Powerful (But Still Hot) Working Woman” era. And this working woman had it all: a large bag, a bouquet of flowers, chic sunglasses, bold earrings, even a bottle of wine, and certainly some attitude. Speaking of evolving, by then we were also finally finished with our “Worst of Baltimore” list—but in 1988, we tried something new: “Classic Favorites and New Finds,” giving “Best New Late Night Dessert and Coffee” to Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry in Little Italy. Hmm, wonder if that spot will make it? (Twenty-seven years later, it’s safe to say we chose well.)
GATHERING SPACE
CREATIVEMORNINGS
CreativeMornings—helmed locally by Kira Wisniewski and Mario Brandhorst—calls itself the world’s largest face-to-face creative community and, based on the often-sold-out crowds, that doesn’t seem far-fetched. Each month a different creative—from artists to chefs to scientists—discusses their work as it pertains to a certain theme. There’s a new speaker and locale each time, from The Walters Art Museum to Motor House to Peabody Heights Brewery. The free event always features time to schmooze, fuel (Blacksauce Kitchen, Wight Tea Co., and Black Acres Roastery), a 20-minute talk, and Q&As from the always-attentive audience. Everyone leaves thinking one thing: Baltimore is so cool.
OASIS
WISHING STAR FARM & WELLNESS
Wishing Star Farm & Wellness in Glen Arm cultivates camaraderie and well-being through classes and workshops, from handpan drum circles, laughter labs, sound baths, and fruit-vinegar-making classes. “We had this sense that we were supposed to do something special here,” says Missy Teague, who owns the six-acre property with her husband, Donald. As their three daughters became independent, Missy became a certified holistic life coach and realized she wanted to share the space, creating a sanctuary in 2020 where holistic practitioners, growers, and artisans offer sessions to help others unwind and embrace new skills. “There’s something magical about our land,” Missy says.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY J.M. GIORDANO
KARAOKE
Walt’s Inn
Drag all your karaoke-skeptical (or downright fearful) friends to Walt’s Inn in Canton and they will be belting out “Love Stinks” in no time. Lots of credit goes to DJ Alison Junior, who keep the energy high and serves the role of supportive friend/cheerleader. Also, the place has such lowkey, warm, funky vibes—that thing Baltimore does so well—you feel instantly relaxed when you go there (a little liquid courage in the form of Jell-O shots does help). And that karaoke playlist? Massive. You think they won’t have that obscure Edie Brickell song from the ’90s...but they do.
DARTS
The Wren
In the back lounge of this old-world pub in Fells Point, a lone bull’s-eye awaits those in search of a place to show off their ability to aim. Bring friends and let time slow down as you let darts fly into the night while sipping truly perfect Guinness pints.
MINI GOLF
Lost Falls Miniature Golf
For a sweet and simple family outing or date night, we recommend this somewhat hidden spot at the Hereford Golf Center. Built in 1999, it still maintains a retro vibe—and retro prices ($5 for kids, $7 for ages 12+).
NOD TO THE PAST
Patterson Pins
When the Patterson Bowling Center closed in 2022, duckpin fans went into mourning. Enter Patterson Pins, which took over part of the renovated building, installed a bar, opened an arcade, and kept a spiritual connection to its predecessor. On the lower level are two mini duckpin lanes, about a third shorter than standard ones. But they fulfill the primal need to take a small ball and hurl it toward tiny pins.
PICKLEBALL
Copper Union
Copper Union is the rare outdoor location that boasts eight lighted, dedicated pickleball courts open to both members and the public, for a drop-in fee. And with a beer garden, food, lawn games, and often live music, Copper Union offers plenty of fun for the family and non-pickleball crowd, too.
TRIVIA
Ministry of Brewing
Pretty sure Ministry of Brewing, housed in a converted church in Upper Fells Point, is the only spot in town that has a bearded dragon named Beans as its official trivia mascot. The Tuesday trivia night is fun for all—come alone or come with friends, form a team, give it a cool name like “Trivia Newton John” (best name wins a prize), and, of course, take a selfie with Beans.
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PARTY
ADULT PROM
Though they’re most well-known for their swing dancing sessions, Mobtown Ballroom & Cafe has been hosting various “adult prom” events at their Station North location since moving there in 2023. The space’s events have typical prom fare—think spiked punch, games, and photo booths—and runway costume contests, themed to each prom, have created a hub for some of Baltimore’s top drag performers and fashionistas. From space frogs to goth music to a Beltane celebration complete with a midnight Maypole dance, their intricately themed events can bring anyone—from 19 to 90—back to their days at the high school hop.
PLAYGROUND
RAVENS PLAYGROUND
“It’s the Ravens!” the kids squeal before you even pull into the parking lot of this very purple Ravens-themed playground in Northwest Regional Park, right across from the team’s headquarters in Owings Mills. The team donated $500,000 to have the playground built and it includes an obstacle course, a climbing wall, a large slide, agility net, embankment run, rope bridge, musical instruments, and, yes, Poe. It’s the perfect Sunday adventure, off-season of course.
VINYL
BALTIMORE RECORD BAZAAR
For the past decade, DJ Mikie Love has been carrying the red-hot torch of record-playing throughout the city of Baltimore. On the last Sunday of every other month, he hosts his beloved Baltimore Record Bazaar, warding off the end-of-week scaries with a fun, funk-infused, family-friendly gathering. Held at the Peabody Heights Brewery, it features live sets by local favorites on the ones and twos, like DJs James Nasty and Rob Macy, plus crates upon crates full of everything your ears could desire, all for sale at an affordable price. The man lives and breathes the vinyl gospel, with tons of other pop-ups throughout the year, spreading the sound of that warm crackle to all who stop to hear and putting the wax in waxing nostalgic.
WAY TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS
GIRLS WHO WALK BALTIMORE
There’s been much talk of the loneliness epidemic facing our country, and it’s no joke. It’s especially difficult if you don’t play sports or have the kind of hobby—going to the gym, singing in a chorus, doing improv—that puts you around others. Enter Girls Who Walk Baltimore, created by Summer Twist and Emily Trageser. The name says it all. This is a club for women, nonbinary, trans, and genderqueer folks who just want to get together and go on a nice hike. The whole vibe is so warm and welcoming—you show up and go on an hour-long or 90-minute walk. Sometimes yoga, pre-walk warm-up dances, or other wellness activities are involved. It’s cool to bring friends, but most people come alone and make friends on the walk. Past walk sites have included the NCR Trail, Paper Mill Road, and Canton Waterfront. And did we mention that the walks are free?
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Explore The Winners
