It's time to Get Down

Something very special is happening tonight at 2640 St Paul St in Charles Village: the inaugural Baltimore Get Down. Created to fill a gap in Baltimore's adult funtime, the Get Down is a 3-hour dance party for anyone who wants to 'get down, shake ass, free the collective spirit, and raise the roof.'

Anyone who has looked for a place to dance in Baltimore knows that the pickings can be slim. Either underground, after-hours or meat-markety, our club and dance party scene can be fun but tough to tap in to if you have young kids or a day job. That frustration led creators Susan Koch Hughes and Diana Keener to develop the concept of a party where 'grown-ups' can shake it loose and still be in bed by 11.

So: calling all grown-ups who want to get down! Tonight, May 19th at St John's Church from 7-10pm you can pay $10 to dance to 3 hours of eclectic, butt-moving music. No alcohol and NO PARKING ON THE DANCE FLOOR! See you there.

(once again) it is time to get down

Last month I posted here about a different kind of dance party called the Baltimore Get Down. I was there, and it was good -- 3am grooves at 8:30 on a weeknight? amazing funky moves? smiles all around? Done, done and done.

It's happening again this Thursday and I urge anyone who needs a good get-down (and really, who doesn't?) but doesn't have the flexibility of schedule or spirit necessary to get your groove on at more traditional Dancing Venues (read: after-hours and meat markets) to pick it up and shake it on down to 2640 St Paul St THIS THURSDAY from 7-10pm.

It's also a great way to warm up for a weekend of getting down.

So: calling all grown-ups who want to get down! This Thursday, June 23rd at St John's Church from 7-10pm you can pay $10 to dance to 3 hours of eclectic, butt-moving music. No alcohol and NO PARKING ON THE DANCE FLOOR! See you there.

To Do This Weekend!

Jot all these goodies down and get yerself the heck outside! So much going on this weekend!

Tonight!


MICA presents MFA Thesis III, featuring work by:
Amita Bhatt
Nina Glaser
Kat Rohrbacher
Katherine Mann
Scott Shanley
Karla Cott
Clarissa Gregory
Judy Stone
Pete Cullen
Alan Callander
Robby Rackleff
Emily Wathen
Sandy Triolo

Janna Rice and Charlie Hahn will also be presenting their MFA Exhibitions at the Center for the Arts, Holtzman MFA Gallery at Towson University, with receptions from 7:30 to 9 PM.


As a part of Baltimore Green Week, the Towson Arts Collective presents a juried exhibition of art made from found and recycled materials.

Andrew Geddes exhibit, Conventionalized Calculations for Primary Structures closes tonight at the Hexagon (1825 N. Charles St, from 6:30 to 8), as does Wise Guise, the inaugural exhibition at the new Nudashank Gallery, on the 3rd floor of the H&H Building.

If wine and mingling aren't your thing, you can still entertain your eyes at


Star Trek, Wrath of Khan The Play at the Annex Theater.

and The Charles Theatre will be showing John Carpenter's film, They Live as a part of their midnight movie series.

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I'm going to stray from my usual itemized music listings this week to get you pumped for Saturday's Station North Spring Festival. This awesome, FREE block party comes to you courtesy of the many fabulous venues in the Station North Arts District. What timing, too, in light of recent developments with the Baltimore City Council's Arts & Entertainment legislation. Come celebrate Baltimore's diverse music scene on Saturday from 5 until midnight! There will be beer, tunes from many of your favorite local acts, and free pizza provided by the block party mastermind, Joe Squared.

Hope to see you there!

Around Town with the Mafia!

Lots of great goodies in Charm City this weekend for your eyes, ears, and feet!



The 6th Annual Transmodern Festival!
Four Days of Avant Performance, Installation,
Sound, Film, Mayhem, Ecstasy, and Radical Culture!
April 2nd thru April 5th, 2009
H&H Building
405 W. Franklin Street
Baltimore MD

Tickets are $10 for each night, or $25 for a weekend-long pass, and are available online and at the door.

At the Metro Gallery, join artist Brian Baker on Friday for his opening reception, and come back on Saturday to hear Pianowire, Like Trains & Taxis, Person Parcel, The Shivers.

Down the block at The Hexagon Andrew Geddes opens his exhibition, Conventionalized Calculations for Primary Structures on Friday at 6:30 PM.

At The Windup Space, get those toes wiggling on Friday night with a little dance party, courtesy of the SERVED! DJ's. Il Culo and Guests will perform on Saturday.

And finally, Joe Squared get yer Indie On, with a little local Country flair, featuring Memphis 59 and Abby Mott on Friday; Whistlin Charlie and Lushfarm perform on Saturday.

Did we miss anything? Do you have a creative event happening this weekend that you'd like to share? Tell us in the comments!

All Crafty, All Weekend!

Looking for something to do this weekend? It's a craft takeover! For those not heading down to DC for Crafty Bastards, check out the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival up in Timonium. There will be over 250 artisans and crafters from all over the country. (Plus, Mother Nature is about to get crafty too- we've felt the chill in the air, so keep your eyes open for changing leaves and fall color!)



Also, don't forget that this is the LAST WEEKEND to apply for this December's Holiday Heap, the craftiest show in Baltimore. So get the best images of your work ready, and click here to apply!


image from flickr user tigerlillyshop

When things get hot...

...like they are today in Baltimore, I like to look at cool blues and greens on Etsy to remind me of the water. And popsicles.

Check out these finds from local etsy sellers!

Agave Goat's Milk soap from FlourishBathBody

Twilight Drop Earrings from JillPopowichDesigns

Love this sweet little Change Purse from KateyDidHandmade

I want to go for a swim with Jora Jelly Monster, if CottonMonster wouldn't mind...

A crisp cuff like this from theGarbologistsWife is sure to cool you down!

Biz Ladies - Online Info at Design Sponge

(photo from karen of clothes-pin)

Those of you that made it to the Baltimore "Biz Ladies Meet-up" hosted by Grace Bonney of Design Sponge fame, know what great information you can get out of such events. Bonney gathers together locals with information to share on sales, advertising, self promotion, tax & legal issues, etc.
Since money is tight, she is slowing down the traveling and in-person events in exchange for an online series, which is proving to be just as helpful & informative in my opinion. This week's blog post is on wholesaling - just in time for spring.

check out the latest in the series HERE.


Thanks to Design Sponge for starting this forum, and to Karen of the Clothes-pin shop for writing this weeks post. If you haven't checked out Karen's shop- an online "sample sale" for indie designers, you're missing out. Click HERE.

Holiday Heap Vendor Spotlight: mightMIGHT

Get to know Holiday Heap vendor mightMIGHT:

What is your favorite holiday tradition? 

Lights. Give me a string of lights and watch me go.

Also: eating cookies (but that's not just limited to the holidays)

What do you have new for Holiday Heap?

SO excited to be able to show off my newest project: The Under Appreciated Animals series. I just completed a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign to raise money for printing costs and am so proud of how it all came together. The idea was to make a *new* A-Z for kids (and not so little kids), which featured animals you rarely, if ever, see in children's books & nursery decor. The images from the series are available as prints, but also as a matching/memory card game, flash cards with fun facts about each animal, a coloring book, magnet & postcard sets, stickers and plush!

What do enjoy most about the holidays in Baltimore?

Would I sound too much like a suck up if I said Holiday Heap? Really, though, as grueling as it is getting everything ready for these holiday shows, a GOOD show is sooooooo worth it. I love living somewhere where so many people come out to shop local for the holidays. Also: eating cookies.

What is your favorite holiday cookie?

Oh hey, look! A question about cookies! Well, hands down favorite cookie ANY time of year is the chocolate chip (but i'm super picky about it, so, yeah). Holiday specific? I like those almond-y 3 color cake thingies with the raspberry layer between each color and then its all dipped in chocolate. You know those things? Those. Whatever those are. Yes, please.