Cocktails
With the
Ghosts of
Baltimore
A spooky tour starts at one
of the great old haunts
A walking tour that begins at a bar certainly
has its priorities straight. And this one is not
just any bar but a legendary speakeasy, the
Owl Bar. More on that in a moment.
First, the other spirits.
From the folks who brought us the Fell’s
Point Ghost Walk comes the Mount Vernon
Ghost Walk, set in one of Baltimore’s oldest
ave
Date
HAMPDEN
the
Atomic
Books
Daily
What would John
Waters do? Whatever
the question, there’s a
good chance he’d head
to Atomic Books, a cool
book and novelty store
that offers “literary finds
for mutated minds.”
Waters picks up his mail
there. 410-662-4444;
atomicbooks.com
INNER HARBOR
Historic Ships
Daily
Four historic ships—
including the USS Con-
stellation, a frigate built
in the 1700s, and the
USS Torsk, a World War
II–era submarine—are
anchored for daily tours.
Many special events
are also held here in the
Inner Harbor.
410-539-1797;
historicships.org
CITY GUIDE
Baltimore
neighborhoods. It once was the home of one
of the city’s wealthiest families—which really
make the best ghosts; so troubled and restless. The tour, a mix of neighborhood history
and fun, runs Saturdays Aug. 7 through Nov. 27
and lasts about an hour.
Back to the bar. The Owl Bar, located in
the old Belvedere hotel, undoubtedly has a
recalcitrant, perpetually thirsty population
of ghosts all its own. Over 100 years old, the
Owl was famous during Prohibition for being
a place you could get a drink—if, like the owl,
you kept your mouth shut and your ears open.
That’s still good advice.
Bar: 410-347-0888; theowlbar.com
Tour: 410-522-7400; baltimoreghosttours.com
An Escape to
Artscape 2010
It’s considered
the largest free
arts festival in the
country, reportedly
attracting 350,000
people annually.
But what really
matters is the rich
variety at Artscape,
now in its 29th
year. The festival
brings together
more than 150 art-
ists, from crafters
and designers to
photographers
LITTLE ITALY
Where the
Famous Flag
Was Sewn
Tuesday through
Saturday
Visit the Star-Spangled
Banner Flag House,
where Mary Pickersgill
sewed the flag that flew
over Fort McHenry dur-
ing the War of 1812. 844
E. Pratt St. 410-837-1793;
flaghouse.org
MOUNT VERNON
Medieval People
at Play
July 17–Oct. 10
This new exhibit
explores the fun and
games (as opposed to
the gloom and doom)
of the Middle Ages, as
revealed in manuscripts
and works of art. The
Walters Art Museum.
410-547-9000;
thewalters.org
and those who
decorate automobiles known as “art
cars.” You’ll find
ceramics, glass,
paintings, prints,
sculpture, wood
pieces, jewelry
and things for the
home. And you’ll
find live concerts
on three stages,
dance, theater,
film—even opera.
Food, you ask?
Well, of course,
there are myriad
flavors from around
the world. The festival runs July 16–18,
noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
and noon to 8 p.m.
Sunday. On Charles
Street in the Bolton Hill neighborhood, near the
Lyric Opera House.
410-752-8632;
artscape.org.
AROUND TOWN
Restaurant
Week
Aug. 13–22
Restaurant week is a
great way to sample
Baltimore’s thriving
food scene on a budget.
Participating restau-
rants serve three-course
lunches and dinners
for $20.10 and $35.10,
respectively. baltimore
restaurantweek.com
