Gathering at McHenry Row

The "Fabulous Food Trucks of Baltimore", winners of the recent Mayors cup over the DC food trucks, are assembling this Friday at McHenry Row.  Come check out the new development AND the food trucks.   Plenty of parking available in the complex (along with air conditioning at the Harris Teeter if it gets hot).  Click on the image for more info.

Congrats Spencer Horsman!

Local Magician (check him out at Illusions Bar and Lounge here in Baltimore) passed through into the next round on America's Got Talent.  Here's the official site with video of his escape from last night.  Good luck in New York Spencer!

Zoo Shuttle

The Maryland Zoo has a new Shuttle that will make getting to the Zoo from downtown much easier.  No need to worry about parking now (especially when you have to find a spot back around your neighborhood when you're done).  Just hop the Charm City Circulator down to the visitors center and take the new "Safari Express" bus to the Zoo.  The shuttle is completely free and will  be running each Saturday in July and August.  Here's a site for some good info (including bus times).

Happy Birthday BWI

Founded as Friendship airport in 1950, BWI has grown to be the largest airport in the area by carrying more passengers than nearby Dulles or National airports (around 1.95 million per month vs 1.93 and 1.68).  62 years of connecting Baltimore to the world (as of yesterday)...not too bad.

A Taste of Two Cities: Food truck Rally

This weekend it won't just be the Orioles battling the Nationals, our food trucks will be having a showdown of their own.  This Saturday food trucks from DC will be making their way to Westport to test their food against the Baltimore food trucks.  The meetup will be on Saturday from 11AM-7PM, with the Mayor giving the food truck cup at the end.  You can get there easily by using the Light Rail (first stop south after the stadiums).  Here's a rundown on the trucks:

LatinoFest

LatinoFest comes back to Patterson Park this Saturday and Sunday.  Admission is only $5 (free for kids 12 and under).  The event has been going on since 1980, so it's grown over the years to be huge.  The music, dancing, and food (especially the food) make this a must-do event.  Here's the official site.

Vote for Camden Yards

ESPN is ranking the ballparks...and how can any stand up against Camden Yards?  Go out to the site and vote for the ballpark that changed it all!  Here's the link.

Free Music Today Downtown

From 12-1PM today (June 20th), Center Plaza will be hosting live music featuring Janine Wilson.  Come by and enjoy free smoothies from Wheely good smoothies!

Free outdoor Zumba and Yoga classes Downtown

Interested in some Zumba or Yoga to keep in shape?  Downtown offers a few free classes each week.  The Downtown Partnership offers Zumba on every other Tuesday at 5:15-6:15PM in Preston Gardens (across from Mercy Medical Center).  The next class is on 6/26/2012.  Here's the official site for more information.  The Waterfront Partnership offers a few classes on Sundays from 8:30AM-Noonish at the West Shore Park right in the Inner Harbor.  What's not to like about a workout with a great view of the harbor?  Here's the official site for more information (including a break down of the times for Yoga, Zumba, Barre, and boot camp classes).  Just think how much you'd have to pay at a Gym...and Baltimore offers them for free!

Free Smoothies and Music today

If you're downtown today, stop by Center Plaza from 12-1PM today for free Smoothies by Wheely Good (that you blend yourself by biking) and music by Soulstice.  Enjoy!

Official link

Today Show from Baltimore

The Today Show will be filming live on the west wall of the Inner Harbor this Thursday, June 14th.  Come down and see Al Roker from 6:30-9AM as the show showcases Baltimore's Sailabration event.

Sailabration

Some points to know about this MASSIVE event:

• Ships will arrive Wednesday the 13th and leave Tuesday the 19th.  If you work within view of the harbor those days, make sure to bring a camera (it's a sight to see).

Arrival times (approximate):

800 830 HMCS Iroquois

815 845 HMCS Ville de Quebec

830 900 HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl

900 Reynolds

900 930 USS Donald Cook

915 945 HDMS Esbern Snare

930 1000 RFA Argus

1145 1215 USS San Antonio

1200 1230 USS Fort McHenry 

1200 1300 Pride of Baltimore II

1215 1315 Cisne Branco

1245 1345 Guayas

1300 1400 Cuauhtemoc

1315 1415 Dewaruci

1330 1430 Gazela

1400 1430 FGS Hessen

1430 1530 USS Monsoon, USS Shamal, USS Zephyr (PC's)

1500 1600 4 Navy YP's

• Blue Angels will be doing shows both Saturday and Sunday sometime between 1PM and 4PM.  Fort McHenry is the best place to watch from, but they will close the park when they reach capacity (so show up REALLY early).  They will be doing practices earlier in the week, so keep an eye out!
• Here's the link for the ship layout.  Ships will be all over the harbor from Canton to Locust Point.  Almost all ships will be open to public tours for free.
• If you want to visit the locust point ships (except for the ship at Tide Point), you MUST go through the checkpoint at Ravens stadium and take the bus there.  A security check won't be at the dock, so you can't just walk up...for some reason.
• Tons of more info can be found at the official Sailabration website.

Honfest (Pics)

Baltimore has a lot of odd in it...but often enough odd is fun.  Honfest comes to Hampden this Saturday and Sunday.  Lots of music, food, big hair, contests, and pink flamingos.  Here's the official site (Schedule gives a run-down of all the events).  Now enjoy some Hons from Honfest 2011!

2012 Outdoor Movies

The weather is getting warmer.  Pretty soon it'll be time to head out to your nearest outdoor movie with some food, drinks, and a blanket.  There's fantastic free choices all over the city.  Here's the schedule for them (keep and eye on the event calendar to the right over the next few weeks):

First Thursday

This Thursday will be the second "First Thursday" event in Mount Vernon...very confusing I know.  The bands for this event are JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, 7Horse, and Black Box Revelation.    As always, the event starts at 5:30PM and is completely free.  Make sure to show up early to get good seats in the (west side of the monument) park.  Here's the official site for more info.

Charm City Music Festival

Weezer will headline a music festival that will include Flogging Molly, Stephen Marley, Southern Culture on the Skids, and Eve 6.  The event will be held on September 15th in Harbor Point (the new neighborhood between Fells and Harbor East).  Tickets go on sale June 10th through Ticketmaster (from $48.50-94.50).  Here's the article in the Baltimore Business Journal.