The War of
1812 in 2012
Baltimore throws a
bicentennial party
The War of 1812 was fought all over eastern
North America, but nowhere does it resonate
more than in Baltimore, where an enormous American flag was still flying over Fort
McHenry after a night of glaring bombardment and our national anthem was born.
Baltimore is doing the nation proud with the
Star-Spangled Sailabration, a weeklong party
to kick off three years of events commemorating the bicentennial of a war that seriously
ave
Date
INNER HARBOR
the
National
Pinball
Museum
Weekends
The museum, newly
opened in Baltimore,
has on display about a
hundred classic pinball
machines from the likes
of Bally, Gottlieb and
Williams. And 45 are
available to play!
443-438-1241; national
pinballmuseum.org
INNER HARBOR
Harbor Cruise
Daily
At 45 minutes, a nar-
rated cruise aboard the
Annapolitan II is a good
way to get a quick lay
of the land from the
harbor—and some
fresh spring air, to
boot. 410-268-7601;
watermarkcruises.com
CITY GUIDE
Baltimore
challenged the existence of our fledgling
nation, then just 38 years old. Running June
13–19, the Sailabration includes historic tall
ships from around the world, an air show by
the Blue Angels, fireworks, special events at
Fort McHenry and ceremonies marking Flag
Day and the 200th anniversary of the declaration of war by President James Madison.
On June 16, the Maryland Historical Society
(410-685-3750; mdhs.org) opens a special
exhibit on the war that will feature, among
many artifacts, the original manuscript of the
poem by Francis Scott Key that became “The
Star-Spangled Banner.” starspangled200.com.
The HonFest
and Café Hon,
After the Storm
Boy, Denise Whit-
ing really stepped
in a beehive. She
runs Café Hon
and originated
HonFest, both cel-
ebrating a beloved
longtime variety of
“Bawlmer” lunch
counter ladies
known for big hair,
cat-eye glasses and
a sweet disposition,
who call everyone
“Hon.” But Whiting
trademarked the
term hon, which
she did not invent,
CHARLES VILLAGE
Embroidered
Treasures
Through May 13
Last chance to see 14
embroidered textiles
made in the late 19th
and early 20th centuries, from Afghanistan,
Tajikistan and Uzbeki-stan. 443-573-1700;
artbma.org
PIMLICO
Sunrise at Old
Hilltop
May 16–18
Tour Pimlico Race
Course (“Old Hilltop”)
before the 137th running
of the Preakness Stakes.
One event in a week of
events leading up to
the race, the second leg
in the Triple Crown.
410-542-9400;
preakness.com
and got stung
hard. She since
has apologized
and has withdrawn
the trademark,
but the blowback
crimped business
at the café to the
point that Gordon
Ramsay was called
in for an episode
of Kitchen Night-
mares. The festival
runs June 9–10, if
you can make it. If
not, the café, previ-
ously known for
good food and a
good time, is open
daily. Both are
in Hampden.
410-243-1230;
cafehon.com.
MOUNT VERNON
Beautiful
Women
May 19–Aug. 12
You’ve seen his work,
but you probably didn’t
know it was done by
an important Japanese
artist who oversaw the
making of just 13 prints
between 1918 and 1920.
See “Hashiguchi Goyo’s
Beautiful Women” at the
Walters. 410-547-9000;
thewalters.org
