African Idol
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and its
“Holiday Spectacular” have been building a
new seasonal tradition with dancing Santas,
Broadway singers and popular hostess Sandi
Patty. This year promises to be even more
spectacular when the symphony welcomes
a special guest, the African Children’s Choir.
You may have seen the choir on American
Idol’s Idol Gives Back or perhaps on The Tonight
Show. The choir, established more than
ave
Date
DRUID HILL
the
Chrysan-
themum
Show
Most of
November
An annual display of
hundreds of chrysanthemums at the Howard
Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic
Gardens, run by the
city’s parks department. 410-396-0180.
ci.baltimore.md.us
CIT Y CENTER
You’re a mean
one ...
Nov. 11-23
An old holiday favorite
comes to life on the
stage in How the Grinch
Stole Christmas, the
Musical . Narrated by
Max the dog. France-
Merrick Performing Arts
Center. 410-727-7787.
france-merrickpac.com
CITY GUIDE
Baltimore
Hot to Trot
20 years ago, is made up of children from
around Africa, usually beset by poverty and
desperate circumstances. Each year a new
choir is selected and the children travel to the
United States, Canada and Great Britain with
the mission of raising awareness and money
for other impoverished children still in Africa.
At present, nearly 7,000 kids are being helped
through the work of the choir. December
dates at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, in
Mount Vernon. 410-783-8000;
bsomusic.org.
It may sound a
little old-fashioned,
and it probably is,
but it’s also quirky,
unusual and a lot
of fun: ballroom
dancing every
Wednesday night
at The Belvedere,
a grand old hotel.
It’s run by a man
named Helmut
Licht, and things
really get going
with a full buffet
at 6 p.m. (which
lasts until 8: 30),
then Licht gives
two half-hour lessons beginning at
7: 30. Finally, an
hour of ballroom
dancing to live
music. Singles are
welcome and Licht
encourages lots of
partner changing
during the les-
son phase of the
evening. So if you
come a stranger,
you are not likely
to stay that way for
long. Admission is
$17, which includes
the buffet; $20 on
Big Band nights.
The Belvedere
was converted
into condominiums
several years ago,
but the Beaux Arts
style lives on in the
ballrooms, lobby
and Owl Bar, and
the old phrase,
“We’ll meet you
at The Belvedere,”
still has rich mean-
ing. belvedere
baltimore.com.
HAMPDEN
Miracle on 34th
Street
Through
December
Neighbors on the 700
block of 34th Street
go all out with Christ-
mas decorations, gen-
erating enough light
to compete even with
Vegas. 34th Street
between Keswick Road
and Chestnut Street.
CITY CENTER
Festival of
Trains
Dec. 1-30
Numerous model train
layouts are set up, in-
cluding an HO scale
spread out inside an
actual full-size passen-
ger car. B&O Railroad
Museum. 410-752-2490.
borail.org
MOUNT VERNON
The Cult of
Saints
Through Jan. 18
An experimental exhibit
of reliquaries (ornate
boxes made to hold the
remains of Christian
saints) as a prelude to a
larger exhibit coming in
2010. The Walters Art
Museum. 410-547-9000.
thewalters.org
