Urban Discoveries Baltimore

Baltimore is in high festival season, and this weekend three of the juicy ones collide, or rather, happen. Two are named for saints and one is named for something people fondly call each other here. Put on your reveling shoes; respective skinnies follow:

The St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Downtown (520 S. Ponca Street) hosts the eponymous St. Nicholas Greek Folk Festival now through June 14. Fill up on gyro, baklava, and dolmathes when you’re not busy shopping, doing traditional dances, taking tours of the church, or listening to live music from the family-friendly early afternoon into the bacchanalian early morning. Admission is free.

The St. Leo the Great Roman Catholic Church in Little Italy (227 S. Exeter Street) is the heart of the St. Anthony Festival June 13 and 14 from noon to 8:00 p.m. The honoree has significance for Little Italy because he spared St. Leo’s from the fire of 1904. Eat, drink, and play bocce ball. A dollar will get you in, and your culturally reinforced love of Italian ambience will keep you dancing till they kick you out.

And the most fundamentally charming of Charm City’s events this week is, of course, Honfest in Hampden (on the Avenue) June 13 from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and June 14 from noon to 6:15 p.m. Attractions include live musical performances, various tiers of Best Hon contests, a live Maryland Lottery drawing, and some immoderate consumption of fluid. For costume ideas, rent a few John Waters flicks and maybe throw in Edward Scissorhands for good measure.

In what festivities are you participating this week?

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