Lunchtime Concerts in August

With temperatures (hopefully) dropping, August is a great time to find reasons to get outside.  Here's a quick listing of free lunchtime music.  All shows are from Noon until 1:30PM.  Grab your lunch and head over to check out the shows!

• Wednesday, August 1st - Brendan Sullivan (folk) at Center Plaza
• Thursday, August 2nd - goatFISH at Hopkins 
• Wednesday, August 8th - Rhonda Robinson (jazz) at Center Plaza (with free smoothies from Wheely Good Smoothies)
• Wednesday, August 15th - Sandy Asirvatham (jazz) at Center Plaza (with free smoothies from Wheely Good Smoothies)

First Thursday Concert this week

With the weather a bit cooler, a free concert in the park sounds like a great place to hang out.  This Thursday, WTMD gives us that chance.  Bands for this week include Great Lake Swimmers and Chris Jacobs.  As always, the show starts at 5:30PM and runs until around 8PM.

Happy 283rd Birthday Baltimore!

On this day in 1729, the city of Baltimore was founded.  Happy Birthday to the greatest city in America!

National Sports Collectors Convention

Going from August 1st to 5th, the 33rd annual National Sports Collectors Convention comes to the Baltimore Convention center.  This isn't some small-time baseball card show, it's the largest sports collectible show IN THE WORLD.  Over 700 dealers and 50 corporate displays will be there to temp any sports nut.  Scores of other athletes will be on hand for signatures and pictures, including Emmitt Smith and Joe Montana.  Oriole greats such as Cal Ripken, Brooks Robinson, Eddie Murray, Frank Robinson, and Jim Palmer will be there as well.  Tickets range from $18-269, so act fast.  Here's the official site for more information.

50% off Pizza for Monday

The Baltimore Orioles decided to brighten your Monday by beating the Oakland A's on Sunday.  This win keeps them in second place in the AL East (YEAH!).  Because they won and scored at least 5 runs (final score was 10-1), Papa Johns offers %50 off your entire online order (remember not to call the order).  To get this deal, just put in ORIOLES5 in the promotion code spot when you put your order in.

So go get that lunch or dinner 50% off:
www.PapaJohns.com

McHenry Row Gathering

Who doesn't love a food truck gathering that has plenty of parking (and is connected by the Charm City Circulator Banner Route).  The trucks are back at McHenry Row today, so stop by!

Summer Restaurant Week

Baltimore kicks off the summer restaurant week this Friday the 27th.  A three course dinner is $30.12, or $20.12 for a two course lunch.  This makes for a fantastic deal at many of the city's best restaurants.  Here's the official website which includes online menus for each restaurant participating.

Concerts at Pier 6

There's not much better than listening to music you love on a warm summer night.  Mix in a waterfront setting, and you're good to go.  Pier six offers that conveniently downtown (Use the Orange Route on the Charm City Circulator).  Coming up this week, the BSO will be putting on two shows there that are very interesting.  On Thursday the 26th, they will be doing the music of Michael Jackson, and Friday the 27th they will be doing the music of Led Zeppelin.  Here's the official site for more information.

Here are some other shows as well:
August 7th - Carnival of Madness featuring Evanescence & Chevelle
August 17th - The Scream Tour
August 24th - The Hold Your Wife Tour featuring Raheem DeVaughn, Tank and Carl Thomas
August 26th - Metalocalypse Dethklok & Lamb of God w. Special Guest Gojira
September 22nd - 98 Rock's Autumn Equinox
September 23rd - The Avett Brothers
September 29th - Several Species (Pink Floyd Experience)

Tuesday, July 17: Poets in Preston Gardens

Tired of heading to Panera or Subway and just discussing more work over lunch? Relax and soak in some Baltimore culture tomorrow with poetry readings from 12:00pm - 1:30pm at Preston Gardens. Some of the readers include Monica Stevens, David Draper, Susana Allcala, Savannah Valentino and Christophe Casamassima. Wheely Good Smoothies will also be there, giving out free smoothies (you probably still have to pedal for them, though). 

Where is Preston Gardens, you ask? It's that cute, little park between the St. Paul St split, right across from Mercy Medical Center. You can take the Charm City Circulator's Purple Route to the Saratoga St stop and it is across the street. 

Baltimore's Got Talent

Make sure to watch and vote tomorrow (July 17th) at 8PM for Baltimore's own Spencer Horsman and his newest illusion for America's Got Talent on NBC.  He's in the final 48, but needs your help to keep him going.  Good Luck Spencer!

Free Concert Today: Indie Rock for the Whole Family

Trying to figure out what you'd like to do on this muggy Sunday? Bring the family and a blanket down to West Shore Park (the grassy area between the Science Center and the Visitor's Center) and watch Lunch Money, a family oriented indie rock band. They just released their fourth album, Spicy Kid, and are lots of fun. Brought to you by the amazing family site (cool) progeny and the Waterfront Partnership, you can come relax, eat (they will have some picnic food and beer for sale), and socialize. They will also provide toys and activities for the kids.

6 O'Clock Sessions

Want to learn what you can do to make your home greener?  Considering renovations in the near future?  How about selling off a car to save money (since you do live in a pretty connected city).  Check out the 6 O'Clock Sessions sponsored by Live Baltimore.  Here's the official site with dates, times, and location.  All sessions are completely free, so make sure to take advantage of them.

Free Slurpees Today

Since it's 7/11, 7 Eleven is giving away free slurpees to celebrate 85 years of the largest convenience store franchise in the world.  Go get yours!

Movies start tonight

Fells point kicks off their outdoor movie series tonight at 8:45PM with Rise of the Planet of the Apes.  Tomorrow at 9PM, Federal Hill starts their series with Space Balls.

For a complete listing of the free movies in town, check out our write up here.

Did you know?

On this day, 98 years ago, Babe Ruth and two other players were sold by the Baltimore Orioles to the Boston Red Sox for somewhere near $10,000 (almost $230,000 in today's money).  What a steal!

Federal Hill Park Renovaion

Federal Hill is undergoing a much needed renovation.  One of the most prominent parks for our city, the playground is outdated and abused.  South Harbor Renaissance is leading the project, which seems like a great addition to the neighborhood.  New features like the Fort and Signal Tower showcase a miniature version of the edifices that once graced the hill.  The Ship and city docks area showcase the city landmarks we all know so well.  Want to help?  Donate here to help make this plan a reality.

Free Concerts Downtown

Did you know there are lots of free shows over the next month you could see for free?  Use the excuse and get downtown to check out the scene.


At the harbor (between the pavilions) there are shows each Friday and Saturday nights:

• Friday, July 6 – Kenny Wright Experience Jazz 
• Saturday, July 7 – Unity Reggae Band Reggae
• Friday, July 13 – Gregg Hatza Organ-ization Jazz 
• Saturday, July 14 – Nadine Rae & The All-Stars Blues/R&B 
• Friday, July 20 – Love Craft Jazz 
• Saturday, July 21 – The Players Band Ska, Rock 
• Friday, July 27 – Andy Poxon Blues 
• Saturday, July 28 – Higher Hands Funk Fusion

At Power Plant Live you can catch the following shows on Friday Nights:

• July 6: Liquid A
• July 13: Mr. Greengenes
• July 20: Young the Giant
• July 27: Love Seed Mama