Kid Baltimore | Family Activities with Children in Baltimore, Maryland

Good Things from my In-box

More things-to-do keep filling up my in-box. I wish I had time to do them all, but here are a few that sound particularly appealing. If you have a kid-friendly event, or favorite place to share, I  encourage you to post on the Kid Baltimore Facebook page. I love seeing how many people are posting events there and hope it becomes a good resource for what is happening around town.

On to my in-box...

Charm City Kids
Charm City Kids Club is a new children's enrichment center that recently opened in Lutherville. They not only have a play town area with miniature Whole Foods Market, diner, theater and soft play area for little ones, but they also offer classes — everything from yoga to cooking to handwriting.

photos courtesy of Charm City Kids

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New Friends at the Maryland Zoo
There are two new okapi at the Maryland Zoo. They are hanging out at the giraffe house (nice of the giraffes to share because they are the okapi's closest relatives) until their 30 days of quarantine are over. Okapi are that crazy mix of beautiful and weird that I can't help but love.

 
video courtesy of the Maryland Zoo

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Dickens at the BSO
Every year I love to take the whole family to a holiday show. At the BSO, you can see a new version of "A Christmas Carol." This one has a twist. It's the first and only version of the classic Dickens tale performed as a concert with a full symphony orchestra, a rock/pop rhythm section, choir, a narrator and three soloists. Performances are December 16th and 17th, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. More details are posted on their website.

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Family fun day at the BMA
Inspired by the exhibition Hand Held: Personal Arts from Africa, the BMA hosts its 15th annual Kwanzaa Family Day on Wednesday, December 28, 2012.  This year’s FREE celebration of community and family features a special performance by Keur Khaleyi African Dance Company and art-making projects inspired by the exhibition.  In addition, Baltimore actress and storyteller Maria Broom will be on hand to perform never-before-heard tales about the personal treasures in our lives. For more information, contact 443-573-1832 or visit www.artbma.org

 photo courtesy of Keur Khaleyi African Dance Company

 

The Ultimate Block Party is Coming to Baltimore

WHAT: A play celebration at the Inner Harbor

WHEN: Sunday, October 2 from 11am-5pm

WHERE: Rash Field at the Inner Harbor

ADMISSION: Free

photos courtesy of The Ultimate Block Party

Even though we make a concerted effort to minimize scheduled activities, they keep sneaking in, and before I know it, I'm rushing to the next lesson, or event, or whatever. It's not just me. The amount of playtime kids get has steadily decreased over the years.

For this very reason, the Ultimate Block Party was born, an event which was first held in New York's Central Park and then moved to Toronto. Baltimore's Ultimate Block Party is coming next! Sponsored by Baltimore City Public Schools' Family Institute, Johns Hopkins Brain Science Institute, the Goddard Schools, the Walters Art Museum, T. Rowe Price, Sprout, Child First Authority, the Center for Jewish Education and others, the Ultimate Block Party is a chance to get out with your kids and just play. Take a little time to dress up like railroad conductors, fly paper airplanes, do yoga, make hip-hop music and much more.

So get outta here. Go play!

 

Gunpowder River Artfest at Boordy Vineyards

WHEN: Saturday, June 4, 2011

WHERE: Boordy Vineyards

We've been busy getting ready for the 2nd annual Gunpowder River Artfest. This year, it's moving to Boordy Vineyards, and adult admission includes a winetasting. There will be lots of kid-friendly activities too. This is an event that our studio is happy to sponsor for the second year. Stop by our booth and say "hello."

Zippy the Pinhead: The Musical

WHEN: November 12-13, 18-20, 8:00 pm; November 14 and 21, 3:00 pm

WHERE: Theatre Project 45 West Preston Street Baltimore, MD 21201

I'm really looking forward to seeing "Zippy the Pinhead: The Musical" which opened this week at Theatre Project. Yes, I know Zippy is bizarre and honestly I never understood the humor as a kid. The creator, Bill Griffith is fully aware that people have this reaction, and even posted a How to read Zippy section on his website. All the more reason to take the whole family I say. I want them be confused, befuddled, amused, concerned, baffled, perplexed and maybe, just maybe, entertained. So let the madness begin.

Poster by Spur Design - Dave Plunkert

Here are the details:

The beloved, if slightly skewed comic strip by Bill Griffith, gets the musical treatment when composer Lorraine Whittlesey follows Zippy as he visits Baltimore and travels to his high school reunion. Fun abounds with songs like “Pinhead Love,” “The Condiments” and “Type ‘Z’ Personality.” A world premier workshop production, co-produced by Theatre Project and Private Sector Productions.

 

Walter Wick: Games, Gizmos and Toys in the Attic

WHEN: Sept 19, 2010 - Jan 2, 2011

WHERE: Walters Art Museum

ADMISSION: $10 Adults, $8 Seniors, $6 Students/young adults (18–25), FREE for 17 and under, FREE for Members

On a Scary Scary Shelf from Can You See What I See? On A Scary Scary Night, 2007, pigmented inkjet photograph, © 2007 Walter Wick

Walter Wick is the co-creator of the I Spy series, and therefore, gets my automatic vote for exhibits to go see this month. My kids have spent countless hours pouring over those books, and games. His new show at the Walters Art Museum will be top on our list.

And, a bit of trivia for Baltimoreans – Wick was directly inspired by the Walters' own Chamber of Wonders gallery for his recent book, Can You See What I See on a Scary, Scary Night?. 55 large scale photos will be on display, as well as some of the actual models that Wick uses to create his photo-illustrations. I'm guessing we will be there for hours, and hours, and hours, finding every last item that Walter Wick has hidden in his images. That could take about a million years. See you there!

410-547-9000

The Walters Art Museum
600 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

[Map it]

Gunpowder River Artfest

WHEN: Saturday, June 12, 2010 11am-8pm

WHERE: 1901 Monkton Road, Monkton, MD

COST: Suggested Donation $2 each/ $5 family

If you haven't explored Monkton, MD yet, and in particular the NCR Trail, now you have the perfect excuse. The Gunpowder River Artfest is June 12, 2010. Our studio has been working on some of the branding for the event, but work aside, this is a great, family-friendly event where you can bring a blanket and spend a day on the river. Over 60 artists will have work on display. There will be live music by Misspent Youth and Bob Wilke, artist demonstrations, food and drink.

We will be there too, with our Spur Stor prints and posters. We even have a few new items to roll out that day. So stop by and say hello!