-1 star, No more Balmerese contest…read more One of my favorite things they used to do at the home first and have a Bawlmerese speaking contest. People would write colorful stories which accentuate the Baltimore pronunciation. Get there early for parking Best festival to get a decent crab cake..

For those who aren't from Baltimore or those who live here but haven't heard about the Whiting /…read moreHON debacle (although I can't imagine who that would be!), please DO NOT let this distract you from attending the HONFEST 2012 coming up this weekend - 6/8! This event is on my short list every year and it doesn't disappoint. Here is a link to photos from last year's HONFEST: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1830734730617.2087418.1307832388&type=3&l=c87076d070 HONFEST is a celebration of all things eccentrically Baltimore - the contests, music, food (don't miss the fried potato thingy although I can't remember the name, but you'll know it when you see it!), Hon Salon (yes, you too can be a Hon!) and so much more! It's a showcase for the amazing residents and shops of Hampden to display their services and wares to visitors from all over the state and beyond. Swing by the Hon Café, or not, that's up to you. But don't miss out of one of the premier festivals in our great city! Save you visits to national restaurants and clothing chains that are the same old thing everywhere ... and support our small local businesses that cater to personal service and unique products! There is simply no contest :)

It was better than expected. Entertainment was great. Food was delicious and it was a friendly…read moreatmosphere

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome…read more For it's 1st showing, the BWF had a great array of food & drink, ample space and awesome vibes. My only critique would be to educate some of the vendors on the different tickets that were floating around from the various deal outlets (Groupon, Living Social etc.) It was a bit confusing to purchase something in advance and to then be told that the tickets were not accepted. I eventually just went to the next vendor but, yeah. Also, I don't know what can be done about the sale of actual bottles of wine. I know that if I go to a wine festival and I try a wine I like, I typically want to purchase more than a glass or cup full.

Stopped by the Wine Village yesterday. It was a great day weather wise. This was my first time at…read morethis event. It's an annual event that only lasts about a month. It will be ending June 1st so you have a few weeks. It's kid and pet friendly. It's free admission. Parking is tricky but not impossible. There are seats available - you can bring your own chairs but on weekends it's packed. Get there right at opening time (1 pm on weekends, 3 pm on weekdays). We didn't bother bringing any chairs and really don't need it. We were able to get a table. There's international and local wines and spirits available. They don't really offer tastings. You just have to buy a glass or a bottle. I think it would be beneficial to offer tastings at a small cost that way you can know what you may like and want to purchase. The wines were a bit pricey. One of my favorite local wineries was here, Boordy's! The wine slushies in the pouches were popular. We tried the red wine sangria and agreed it was just ok. We stopped by the kebab spot. I tried the steak kebab in a pita and it was ok. Had to pay separately for the sauces. Way overpriced for what you get honestly. It's a cute event and something that was on my bucket list. I may possibly visit again before it's gone but if I miss it, oh well!

Super cute little German wine celebration. It's essentially the Christmas Village but wine from…read morelocal wineries!

Christmas Village in Baltimore - A Chilly, Charming Detour with a Few Caveats…read more The Christmas Village in Baltimore is, quite literally, cool, both in atmosphere and in temperature. On a brisk winter evening, the open-air market delivers exactly what it promises: twinkling lights, the hum of seasonal music, the scent of spiced wine in the air, and a festive energy that makes for an easy, if brief, holiday escape. One of the more curious aspects of the experience is its sponsorship and structure. Chase Bank sponsored a secluded, interior section of the village, an enclosed, tent-like space that requires a $5 per person admission fee. Inside, shoppers find higher-end, European-style goods such as wooden nutcrackers and specialty imports not available in the main village. While one could argue the intent is to manage crowd flow or provide warmth and exclusivity, the execution feels more transactional than magical. I spoke with several families exiting the space, groups that had paid admission for multiple people, only to leave empty-handed. Their consensus was candid: the section is worthwhile if you already know exactly what you're looking for, but therein lies the problem, you can't preview the offerings without paying to enter. For most, including myself, the value proposition didn't quite justify the cost, and I opted to move along. What does deliver unequivocally is the food and drink. The Glühwein is well-executed, warming, and flavorful, served in a souvenir mug (pictured). While carrying it around the rest of the evening is mildly inconvenient, the practical upside is that refills drop to $8, compared to the $14 initial purchase, making it a solid value for those lingering longer. In scale, the village is modest certainly not a full immersion into a European Christmas market, but it succeeds as a curated, bite-sized experience. Numerous small stalls offer enough food and drink options to comfortably sustain a visit, and the area around the Christmas trees provides a particularly pleasant focal point. That's also where I stumbled upon the standout of the evening: a toffee vendor. The Italian cappuccino toffee, in particular, deserves special mention. Rich, balanced, deeply flavorful, and not cloyingly sweet, it was without exaggeration one of the best toffees I've ever had. And that's coming from someone with both a pronounced sweet tooth and a well-earned reputation as a food connoisseur. It alone nearly justifies the visit. Bottom line: The Christmas Village in Baltimore may not fully replicate the charm of its European counterparts, and some elements feel more commercial than festive, but it remains a pleasant seasonal diversion. Come for the atmosphere, stay for the Glühwein, and absolutely do not leave without the cappuccino toffee. All in all, a solid holiday experience with a few memorable highlights.

Charming little Christmas Village along the water in Baltimore. Went on a Saturday evening, it was…read morepredictably packed with people. But the holiday music and the twinkling lights made it feel like I was living Silver Bells. Wandering among the stalls of thw outdoor market, there are a disproportionate number selling jewelry, but there are cool things to be found, like Bigfoot socks, and cool hats. To enter the indoor sale tent, you have to buy a $5 "season ticket," which seems odd. But inside that tent is the large Kathe Wolfhardt store with cute German Christmas decor. I bought ornaments and a blown glass tree. My biggest issue was that the signage for the village food options were not well lit. We went with the intent of eating giant soft pretzels and apparently the entire festival was sold out. I did greatly enjoy my raclette sandwich, hot chocolate with Bailey's in an adorable boot mug, and some grilled sausage. The process of ordering abd paying, them waiting a while to get my food order was frustrating but expected. This was a nice way to be filled with some holiday spirit.

B'more Artscape 2025 -- A Whole Vibe…read more Love art and music, plus I'd never been to Baltimore's version of an art festival. It had more of an authentic city atmosphere, working people vibe. More accessible, art for the people by the people. There also was a Black Country Artist playing the festival, whom I love "Tanner Adell" and it was my favorite price, Free. Free to attend but you did have to pay for the food, drinks and art/things. I love this festival, everyone was happy, friendly and approachable at the festival. It was also a perfect time to hangout with my B'more friends. Should you attend next year?! Definitely!!

It's always nice to get to see nice art, select vendors, and performers that come to Baltimore…read more However, the lines for food were incredibly long and intolerable. We ended up walking around to Baltimore St to find something to eat.

We stopped by the Italian festival on Saturday afternoon to see what was happening after driving…read moreby! So glad that we stopped in, there was so much to take in! The live music and dancing was so fun, there were even hula hoops all around! We tried fresh pizza slices, salads and the best calamari I've ever had with a lemonade and Italian iced tea to wash it all down. As someone who is not Italian, it was super cool to stop in and enjoy pieces of Italian culture and support an awesome Baltimore community! We will definitely be back next year!

Italian Festival in lil' Italy in Baltimore provides a wonderful experience for us who are not…read moreliving in Baltimore and want to get out of bubble of the usual, mundane things. It has free parking, free entertainment, visit to a National Historic landmark (1881 ornate Italian style church), a lot of great vendors and amazing foods. The "gladiators" pass you by on your way to watch a game of bocce ball. People are friendly as this is a block party festival that gives you a feeling that you are one big family. Very easy to start conversation and harder to end it. I learned today that the meat is not what makes calzone but the dough that hosts the meat inside. The meet was good but the dough was memorable. Speaking about the dough - how about delicious sweet fried dough for $3 that is impossible to finish by one person - even if you are a true Italian. I was advised by two elderly Italian ladies, "take real sugar because the powder sugar is too messy, and have sugar on both sides." I am sorry that I did not try meatballs but I can testify that calzone and pizza were the first class and worth the trip. I am very tempted to repeat the experience on a similar event - August 19 and 20, 2017 - this time just a saint will be different (St Gabriel in August).

Had an amazing time at Light City Festival in Baltimore! Such interesting and beautiful things to…read moresee. Wound throughout the Inner Harbor, the attractions were fun and interactive. Each attraction had a posted snippet, describing each. The night was cold, plenty of vendors, people and police. You're always hearing about crime in the city. Light City shows how great Baltimore can be and is!

Underwhelming. Great idea to get people to come out and see Baltimore, though…read more Given the name of the event, I thought there would be way more lights and attractions to see. There were some buildings lit up and trees lined with lights, but where were all the main attractions and interactive displays? With so many people and the event so spread out, I felt it was hard to really find anything. The displays we did see (after waiting in long lines) were underwhelming. Mini light city was a cool idea, but on the night we went, it started closer to 6pm (rather than 5pm). I think the highlight of the evening was Impulse (sit on one end of the seesaw to see lights and hear some sounds as you go up and down) and The Pool (hope on circular platforms as they change color). If you start on the wrong end, you'll miss the nightly parade. The festival did offer a variety of food and beverage stands throughout, which was a nice touch. If you aren't already spending the day in Baltimore, I wouldn't make a trip specifically for this festival. If you do go, make sure you check out the schedule and map before hand to maximize your experience. Be prepared for massive crowds!

Apparently Feet on the Street is in a new location, right next in front of the courthouse and there…read moreis now a cover charge. $3.50 in advanced online, $5 on-site (Cash only). I did not have cash so they graciously let me on free . Nice outing to get out the house and enjoy the weather and people watch. Suggest they diversify the music/bands and maybe have a DJ when the band takes a break.

A Towson summer tradition! Every Friday night in the summer…read more(weather permitting) this is a great place to hangout. There's a different band every week playing family friendly music. Bring the kiddos and let them get that summer energy out in the bounce houses or dancing and hula hooping. Parents and adults can have a beer on the street and relax. Bring your camp chairs so you can stay a while. And come hungry. The surrounding restaurants are great and a few extra vendors and food trucks mix it up. Hope to see you there next week :)