Urban Discoveries Baltimore

So forgive me if I want to get a teeeensy bit of self-promotion out of the way first — you should all go find a cute date and take him/her to see “Reception,” a hit play by one of our own. It’s up tonight (Friday, May 15) and tomorrow (Saturday, May 16) at the Annex (419 E. Oliver Street), and tickets will cost you $5 – $15, and it will be worth your while.

Michael Pollan, everyone’s favorite locavore stops by the Enoch Pratt Central Branch in Mt. Vernon (400 Cathedral Street) this Saturday at 7 p.m. (doors at 5:30 p.m.; seating is limited) for a conversation with Tony Geraci, director of food service for Baltimore City public schools. He will probably make you excited to eat your vegetables.

Do you know what else is good for you? Listening to the radio, particularly locally produced radio. Yeah, yeah, you love your satellite radio with its ten trillion channels, but just you wait — the locaradio movement is the next big thing, we’re predicting. (We have no scientific basis for any of this.) Want to get in on it early? The Remington Youth Project Radio (RYPR, get it?) is showing itself off this Saturday from 1 – 5 p.m. in (you guessed it), Remington (2800 Remington Avenue, to be exact). Basically, it’s a community art show featuring hundreds of photographs and hours of stories and interviews for your enjoyment/enlightenment, along with music by Caleb Stine and Macgregor Burns, and food by Dizzy Issies.

Club 4100 in Brooklyn Park is both a neighborhood bar and a Baltimore institution (former Baltimore Colt Johnny Unitas, aka the “Golden Arm,” was a long-time patron). On Sunday, May 17 they’re giving you the chance to exercise those nostalgia muscles with a “Preserving Place” neighborhood event, sponsored by UMUC. There will be an open-mic for folks to share memories of the place and its role in the community; autograph signings by local sports personalities” (presumably not the ghost of Johnny U.); a silent auction; and, of course, plenty of food. Stop by 4118 4th Street from 1 – 7 p.m. for the flank steak and/or the reminiscing.

And speaking of Baltimore traditions, the Village Learning Place in Charles Village (2521 St. Paul Street) is boldly claiming to determine The Best Crab Cake in Baltimore (we think it deserves the caps) on Wednesday, May 20 from 7 – 9 p.m. For a $5 registration fee and $15 for “materials” (we assume that means crab meat), you’ll get to sample various versions of the Maryland staple in a blind taste test. May the best crustacean win!

Posted in: Things To Do This WeekendNo Comments