Only a few more days of summer left and then it will officially be fall on Wednesday. I am looking forward to fall weather, it’s more conducive to dining al fresco. Lots of good theater this week, neighborhood art walks, and the Charles St promenade. I’m especially looking forward to the Bromo Art Walk because its in my hood. Also, technically not next week but you should buy your tickets early for the Baltimore Pop-Up Picnic and Jazz Jam on September 28.

HIGH ZERO 2021
September 23 – 26
Baltimore Theatre Project
Baltimore’s High Zero Festival of Experimental Improvised Music is in its 23rd year, and as we all rise from our isolation, we seek connection through music. This year we play it safe while taking ever greater risks! Friday and Saturday we will return to Theatre Project for live concerts of all local performers. Thursday night will feature performances from far away places. Sunday night will consist of dozens of pithy five minute performances. Circumstances necessitate limited seating capacity for in person performances, so all shows will be streamed on Twitch. Members of the High Zero/Red Room mailing list will be offered a chance to participate in a lottery to claim a coveted place in the audience.

Every Brilliant Thing
September 3-26
Single Carrot Theatre
What’s on your list of every brilliant thing in the world worth living for? Ice cream, water fights, staying up past your bedtime? Don’t we all have the capacity to find joy and resilience in life’s little moments? Audiences are invited to help tell the humorous and moving story of a seven-year-old’s experience holding onto hope while grappling with a suicidal mother. This is a solo show that is performed by a rotating cast of three actors in four different Baltimore locations.
Buy Tickets Here

Rachel
September 10–26
Rapid Lemon Productions
One of the forebears of the Harlem Renaissance, Angelina Weld Grimké wrote “Rachel” in 1916 as a defiant reply to the recent release of DW Griffith’s film “Birth of a Nation”. Originally titled “Blessed are the Barren”, the play centers on a Black woman who rejects marriage and motherhood after learning a horrible family secret. It was first produced in Washington, DC by the NAACP, and published in 1920.
Buy Tickets Here

BROS Presents: Welcome to Stankonia
Friday, September 24
Baltimore Rock Opera Society
Join The Baltimore Rock Opera Society for our upcoming theatrical concert presentation of one of hip-hop’s most iconic albums – Stankonia! A musical and lyrical powerhouse quadruple-platinum album from duo Outkast that flipped the script on hip-hop as we knew, established Big Boi and Andre 3000 as the coolest motherfunkers on the planet and is ranked one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Adorn yourself in your masked and costumed finery and be transported to Stankonia’s city limits while you enjoy classic hip hop music from DJ Harvey Dent and meet the eccentric Stankonians. Follow the road into the main theater to the Stankonia town square – a joyful space full of bright colors, live music, dancers, drag queens, playground swings, confetti, Cadillacs, and more. All of this is presided over by our 9 piece house band, vocalists and lead performers, Drizzy Tha Don as Andre 3000 and Mook E Blaylock as Big Boi who will lead you through a live performance of tracks from the Stankonia album (both US and European releases), featuring tunes like Ms. Jackson, So Fresh So Clean and other unforgettable Outkast songs. This will be a performance unlike any you’ve seen or that we’ve done before as we branch out into new territory and embrace ALL things that rock. Don’t miss this opportunity to see a live performance of one of pop music’s most important works! Can’t make the live show? No problem! We’ll be streaming the whole performance online on September 24th for FREE!
Buy Tickets Here

The Swindlers
September 2 – 26
The author of last season’s critically acclaimed Richard & Jane & Dick & Sally is back with a Baltimore Center Stage original. Marie is plagued by the winter blues. Her boyfriend’s a dud, her bank statements are piling up, and her job at the local dry cleaners feels like a dead end. Oh, and the FBI has just seized her house and assets in their pursuit of her father, a notorious con man on the run for swindling families and businesses out of their money. When Marie is used as bait to lure her father in, she inexplicably finds herself stuck on a road trip with him to acquire the stolen funds. Loosely inspired by the real-life exploits of the playwright’s mother and grandfather, The Swindlers is a raucous new play that explores redemption, reconciliation, and the unspoken rewards of surviving time with family.
Buy Tickets Here

IMmortal: A Collection of Plays
September 23 – October 3
915 St Paul St, Baltimore
Every play in this collection features a unique exploration of immortality! Each performance night, an audience of 10 will gather at the back gate of Inadequate Lighting. A guide will bring the audience through the space to experience each play individually. There will be two sets of performances per night. The first set of plays begins at 6:30 pm and the second set begins at 8:00 pm. We have curated each performance night, meaning we are not showing all of these plays on the same night! We have separated them into a group of three and a group of four.
Buy Tickets Here

Monday, September 20

The Art of Baking Bread
6PM – 8:30PM
Schola
We’ll tackle one of the most rewarding and enjoyable tasks in the kitchen…making bread! Nothing beats that smell! Join us as we talk about leavening agents and different types of flour, bread baking ovens and different techniques of the trade. We’ll also bake five different types of bread; Irish soda bread, focaccia, whole grain bread, flat breads and the ‘old school’ Parker House rolls. $59.
Buy Tickets Here

Tuesday, September 21

Understanding Cast Iron Cooking
6PM – 8PM
Schola
One of the most frequently asked questions we get is how do I take care of my cast iron skillet? So, we’ve decided to dedicate a class to focused on learning how to care for and cook with one of the greatest inventions in cookware. Besides talking all about what cast iron is and how to season it, we’ll put it to good use making a cheddar jalapeno corn bread and baking pancakes in our skillets, roasting the perfect sausage & bean pie in cast iron casserole dishes and braising collards with pork in the Dutch ovens. $59
Buy Tickets Here

Wednesday, September 22

Plant Based Junk Food in Baltimore
4PM – 8PM
Vuture Food and Mobtown Brewing Company
Join us for some of the best vegan comfort food around. We will be bringing out a variety of crispy chik’n sandwiches and loaded fries. We accept cash or CC. All orders must be done in person. No Pre-Orders available. All of our items are cooked in vegetable oil that contains soy. We are entirely nut free. All of our loaded fries are made with GF ingredients. Our patties are made from a combination of soy, wheat, and peas. Menu will be posted morning of.

Mediterranean Cuisine of Spain, Morocco, Lebanon & Turkey
6PM – 8:30PM
Schola
We usually think of Mediterranean Cuisine as that primarily from Greece, but there are many more countries to be considered. Join us as we explore the following dishes: a Moroccan Chicken, Lemon & Olive Tagine, Spanish Garlic Shrimp with Catalan Sauce, an array of Lebanese spreads such as Toum, Mahoummara & Harissa Hummus with handmade pita, Savory Turkish Pastries with meat and vegetables, and a traditional Baklava to finish. $79
Buy Tickets Here

Art of Comedy
7:30PM – 10:30PM
Motor House
7:30PM BAR OPEN & SIGN UP, 8PM OPEN MIC START. This open mic hosts up to 25 comedians each week in the West Bay of Showroom and is hosted by a rotation of Baltimore’s funniest comedians. In 2015, Art of Comedy was ranked by CBS as one of the ‘Best Places in the City to See Stand-Up in Baltimore’. Alongside this Art of Comedy Open Mic series the Baltimore Comedy Festival was created. Art of Comedy is produced by Ivan Martin, Baltimore’s Best Comedian 2020, Founder of the Baltimore Comedy Festival, Co-Founder of the D.C. Comedy Festival. Come enjoy the comedy in person! Free!

Thursday, September 23

Bromo Art Walk
5PM – 9PM
Bromo Arts District (multiple locations)
Experience the Bromo Arts District during a night of artistic performances, exhibits, and open studios on Thursday, September 23, from 5-9 pm. Check out the programming from the 20+ participating creative groups to plan your evening. This event is free, but we ask that you register in order to get event updates and access to special discounts. Stay tuned for more information and an event map to help curate your own tour of the district. Performances, exhibits, and open studios brought to you by: Arena Players, Baltimore Jazz Alliance, Blakwater House, Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower, Cotyledon Arts/Dear Globe, Current Space, E. Brady Robinson Photography, Eubie Blake Cultural Center, Everyman Theatre, Fluid Movement, Four Ten Lofts, Hippodrome Theatre, Hot Sauce Artists Collective, Joe Santiago, Kelly Walker Fine Art, Keur Khaleyi African Dance Company, Le Mondo, Maryland Art Place, Maryland Center for History and Culture, NoMu NoMu, Sense of Press, and Westminster Hall and Burying Ground. This programming was made possible by the Maryland State Arts Council, the City of Baltimore, and Downtown Partnership of Baltimore. FREE!
We will be hosting an after party! This will be held in Current Space’s newly renovated courtyard located at 421 N. Howard Street. Join for music, drinks, and a good time. Please show your Eventbrite registration (digitally or printed) at the door. Please enter through Tyson Street (the alley), located between Mulberry and Franklin Streets.
Register Here

A Tribute to Julia Child
6PM – 9PM
Schola
Nobody can argue that Julia Child started it all, cooking shows on television, this country cooking French classics rather than over cooked steak and green beans, etc. Join us as we pay tribute to this icon of American gastronomy. We’ll tackle some of her favorite dishes – Moules a la Provencale, Coq Au Vin with Parslied Potatoes & Simple Green Salad and Apple Tartin with Chantilly Cream and Candied Pecans. $79.99
Buy Tickets Here

“James Baldwin: a witness” fully staged reading by Reggie Phoenix
7PM ?
Motor House and Rapid Lemon Productions
This new play set in Harlem in 1968 uses original writing as well as snippets of sayings, lectures and speeches made by James Baldwin, presented as an imaginary interview that he grants to a Columbia University journalism student. Playwright Reggie Phoenix performs, directed by Dwight R.B. Cook. Presented live, both in-person at Motor House and streamed online. Talkback to follow.
Buy Tickets Here

Friday, September 24

Station North Shines: September Art Walk
5PM – 8PM
Station North
This month we have two special community art events that look at how light shapes our environment at the Ynot Lot: “We’re Here,” by artist April Danielle Lewis in partnership with Signal Station North, and “The Baltimore Underline”, (pictured above) an upcoming black light mural installation along North Ave from our friends at Made You Look + MICA’s Social Design Center. As always, stop by the Ynot Lot earlier in the evening at 4 W. North Ave to grab your map and dance to DJ T. Rexx (Theo George) before you make your stops.

North Ave Market Grand Reopening
5PM – ?
North Ave. Market
Come out on September 24th and celebrate our grand reopening!! We have music, food, free games, and fair festivities planned for the evening. We have brand new food items and drinks for you to try! This event is free admission and all ages. Our doors open at 5pm! Diamond Canopy will be playing live, so this will be a night to remember! Don’t forget to RSVP to our event.

The No Land Beyond Summer Music Series
5PM – 10PM
No Land Beyond
Your favorite board game bar is teaming up with Station North Arts District for their Art Walk! Join us and dozens of other local businesses, artists, and creators as we celebrate what makes Baltimore great. Every last Friday from July through September 5-10 PM, we’re throwing party! On the bill is: live music, game sales, game demos and events, free game rentals, specialty drinks, and cool food stuff. There are no tickets for this event, but feel free to register for the FREE Station North Art Walk by clicking the ticket link above, and take advantage of all the fun Station North has to offer!

Center Plaza Summer Concert Series
5:30PM – 7:30PM
Center Plaza
Bring your own blanket & booze and enjoy weekly summer concerts on the Center Plaza lawn. Some weeks will feature local food trucks and pop-up vendors, and some might be more of a dance party. Free!

Date Night Steakhouse Classics!
6PM – 9PM
Schola
Join us for some traditional restaurant classics! Menu: Classic Caesar Salad with Garlic Croutons, Roasted Oysters with a Compound Butter, Seared Beef Tenderloin with Bernaise, Asparagus & Lemon Risotto, and last but not least…Bananas Foster for dessert. $85
Buy Tickets Here

Friday Night Stand Up
7:30PM – 9PM or 9PM – 10:30PM
The Lou Costello Room
2 hilarious stand up comedy shows every Friday Night in the Lou Costello Room on the 2nd floor of Zissimos Bar in Hampden. FEATURING: KIKI ANDERSEN, IAN SALYERS, NIK OKA, and your host MICHAEL FURR.
Buy Tickets Here

Saturday, September 25

Charles Street Promenade
9AM – 3PM
N. Charles Street Baltimore
The Charles Street Promenade is not a festival. The Promenade was created to bring awareness to the many incredible small businesses along this stretch of Historic Charles Street that has seen their business dwindle during the pandemic. It’s imperative that all who visit the promenade do so safely, and remain socially distanced, wash and sanitize hands frequently, and wear a mask. Enjoy the day shopping and dining along N. Charles Street. Portions of N. Charles Street from Saratoga Street to Mount Royal will close for pedestrians from 9am-3pm. Dine in a parklet at more than 10+ locations. Shop unique and one-of-a-kind gifts and services at local retailers.

Historic Baltimore Basilica Tours
11AM and 1PM
Baltimore Basilica-America’s First Cathedral
The Basilica is thrilled to be a part of The Charles St. Promenade on September 25. While you’re strolling down Charles St. why not pop one block over and come experience one of America’s most historic houses of worship and a masterpiece of American architecture! Every year, more than 100,000 people visit the Basilica, making it one of Baltimore’s top tourist destinations. We are happy to join our Charles Street neighbors, and our friends at Charles Street Development to highlight this historic Baltimore corridor. We are offering 2 tour times, 11AM and 1PM. Tour Docents will meet you inside the Basilica on the right hand side (near the Jesuit Seal).

Jerk Fest and Culinary Competition
2PM – 9PM
Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center
The Cheffing Series presents…JERK FEST & CULINARY COMPETITION. Watch as the area’s best chefs duke it out for best Jerk dish! Enjoy an afternoon of island music, art, culture and of course… delicious chef-prepared Caribbean foods! Taste samples from a variety of chefs and choose your favorite tapas. Sip on summer approved beverages and craft cocktails in the garden. Explore the amazing art exhibitions and support local vendors.
Buy Tickets Here

Saturday Night Showcase: A Comedy Variety Show
8PM – 10PM
Zissimos Bar: 1023 West 36th Street
A true comedy variety show every 2nd and 4th Saturday in The Lou Costello Room comedy club on the 2nd floor of Zissimos Bar featuring stand up, improv and sketch comedy. FEATURING Improv from… BONSAI TIME, LORD BALTIMORT, BANANA PHONE, BEAR TRAP, and Stand Up from… MIKE GULLIVAN, DAVE McDANIEL, And MORE TBA!
Buy Tickets Here

DRAUGHTS & LAUGHS 11
8PM – ?
Checkerspot Brewing Company
Join us for our popular comedy series: Last OUTDOOR show of the 2021 Season! Draughts & Laughs 11 on September 25th is outside across the street from Checkerspot Brewing Company for a night of Stand-up comedy w/ social distancing. Tickets are $15 in advance (until 1 PM on day of the show) or can be purchased at the door for $20 if any remain. (Please note that these shows regularly sell out!) Enjoy a variety of local craft beer. We also have food available!
Buy Tickets Here

Sunday, September 26

Brunch ‘Italian-Style’
11:30AM – 2PM
Schola
Although brunch isn’t something you would do while in Italy, we thought it’d be fun to take some of our favorite Italian dishes and adopt them for early morning consumption. We’ll be making Zepoles (Italian doughnuts), Eggs in Purgatory over Garlic Rubbed Toasts, Tomato Basil Frittata, Breakfast Carbonara, Tomato & basil frittata, potatoes & pancetta and, a Lemon Ricotta Pancake (Dutch Baby, don’t tell the Italians). $59
Buy Tickets Here

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Enjoy!

– Lindsey