Urban Discoveries Baltimore

A joyous Mayday to all! There’s so much excitement afoot this weekend and beyond that we’ll forego the witty banter and provide you with a maximally-helpful, minimally-chatty list. And remember:  a thunderstorm is no excuse to stay inside.

• The True Vine, one of the best indie record shops in America, is in dire financial straits. Luckily, Friday’s benefit show allows you to do the right thing and hang out with Baltimore’s hipster elite at the same time. The show features local favorites including Cex, Matmos, Jana Hunter, Dan Higgs, and more; the show kicks things off at 8 p.m. at Floristree in the H&H Building and will cost you ten charitable dollars.
• Saturday, May 2 features the 11th annual kinetic sculpture race. A fleet of “amphibious, human-powered vehicles” will set off from the American Visionary Art Museum downtown (800 Key Highway) after a 9:30 a.m. opening ceremony; the race covers 15 miles in about eight hours, and spectators are encouraged to dress silly. If you’re just in it for the dramatic finish, station yourself at AVAM around 3:30 p.m. to await the victor. Spectator’s guide can be found here.
• Not too far from the race course, you’ll find the Patterson Park spring home tour, also taking place this Sturday. Start your meandering with a stop at 9 S. Linwood Avenue for a welcome packet and map. (It’ll cost you a very-worthwile $5.) The tour includes Patterson Park homes (each with refreshments to help you with the hard work of walking), but it doesn’t stop there — local schools and community organizations will also open their doors so you can get a sense of the neighborhood as a whole. The tour runs from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• A few seasonal re-openings:  the downtown farmer’s market blossoms anew on Sunday, May 3 at 8 a.m. (Saratoga Street, between Holliday and Gay Streets); the Station North Flea Market wants to sell you quirky/cheap things on the first Saturday of every month, starting with this one, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Stop by the 100 block of W. North Avenue and bring some cash.
• Mt. Vernon’s annual Flowermart springs up again this weekend, starting Friday morning and running through Saturday evening. They’ve got it all — cute children, cute flowers, an exhibit on urban gardening, and a 50s – 60s dance contest (!). Stop and sniff the roses (sorry, couldn’t resist) from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. both days.
• If you get a little over-zealous at the Flowermart, you can put your extra seeds to good use in West Baltimore  (2118 W. Pratt Street) at the Esoteric Library’s Sunday Afternoon Seed Trade on May 3 from 2 – 4 p.m. You’re welcome to come with seeds, seedlings, cuttings… or even nothing at all.
• And while there’s obviously plenty to occupy you here in Charm City this weekend, and while we usually refrain from recommending that you leave town, we have to admit that Saturday’s Embassy Open House in DC sounds like it might be worth a quick trip south. Over 30 embassies will open their doors — most are in converted mansions with plenty of fancy furniture to covet. The free tours run from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

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