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What's New In Baltimore - FALL 2009

Contact: Moneé Cottman, Travel Media Manager
410-659-7301 | mcottman@baltimore.org  

This fall, Baltimore introduces a mix of new exhibitions, vibrant theatrical performances and family events. Edgar Allan Poe's 200th birthday celebration continues with the funeral Poe never had featuring eulogies by literary greats, funeral procession, and midnight vigil. New exhibits at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, Baltimore Museum of Art, and American Visionary Art Museum offers something for all to enjoy! Here is a look at what's new in Baltimore this fall:

STORY IDEAS:

Heroes and Genius

In October, art and science collaborate to present "Heroes and Genius." Visitors can explore the lives of four Greek heroes and discover their own inner superhero through the debut of "Heroes: Mortals and Myths in Ancient Greece" at The Walters Art Museum. Just blocks away, experience the East Coast debut of "Da Vinci - The Genius: A Traveling Exhibit" at the Maryland Science Center featuring an extraordinary collection of aeronautics and artistry. Both exhibits are anchored with special events and family programming.
 

Da Vinci - The Genius: A Traveling Exhibit
October 1, 2009 - January 31, 2010
Inventor, artist, scientist, engineer, sculptor, anatomist, biologist, musician, architect, philosopher - Leonardo da Vinci was all of these things! The exhibit is a rare look at the genius of one man that influenced generations to come. Highlights include large scale Machine Inventions, Life & Times of Leonardo Da Vinci; Leonardo's mysterious alphabet & writings and his anatomical drawings; The Last Supper's and Mona Lisa's secrets revealed in 3D animation. www.mdsci.org

 

Heroes: Mortals and Myths in Ancient Greece
October 11, 2009 - January 3, 2010
Heroes play an integral role in most present and past cultures. What makes somebody a hero or heroine, what was expected of them, how were they portrayed and worshiped? This exhibition of more than 100 objects will explore the inherent human need for heroes by using ancient Greek culture as a point of origin. Statues, reliefs, vases, bronzes and jewelry will be combined with literary quotes to illustrate the life cycle of heroes and heroines with their tasks, adversaries, challenges, turning points and failures as well as their private moments. This FREE exhibition will feature objects from U.S. and European museums as well as pieces from the Walters' collection. www.thewalters.org

Edgar Allan Poe's 200th Birthday Celebration Continues.

One of this year's exciting year long celebrations continues with the funeral Edgar Allan Poe never had, theatrical performances and work inspired by his gripping tales. Highlights include:
 
Performance of Edgar Allan Poe's Bérénice
September 25, 7 p.m.
Dare to discover one man's maniacal obsession with his betrothed's gleaming white teeth in a performance of Edgar Allan Poe's controversial horror story Bérénice. Doors open at 6 p.m. for an after-hours opportunity to explore the galleries. The performance begins at 7 p.m., followed by refreshments. The galleries will remain open until 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 and available at the Museum box office. www.dentalmuseum.org

Edgar Allan Poe: A Baltimore Icon
Baltimore Museum of Art
October 4, 2009 - January 17, 2010
This dramatic exhibition showcases works by some of the greatest artists of the 19th and 20th centuries who were inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's chilling and unforgettable tales. Drawn largely from the BMA's renowned collection, these rarely seen prints, drawings, and illustrated books explore the enduring legacy of Poe's uniquely dark fiction on modern artists such as Edouard Manet and Paul Gauguin. Three thematic areas are explored in the exhibition-love and loss, fear and terror, and madness and obsession-with compelling images inspired by The Raven, The Black Cat, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Pit and the Pendulum, and other Poe classics. www.artbma.org  

Poe's Public Viewing
Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum
October 7, noon - 11 p.m.
The body of Edgar Allan Poe will rest in an open casket during a public viewing on October 7 - the exact day of his original death 200 years ago. The viewing will take place at his last residence on Amity Street in Baltimore, now the Poe House and Museum. In light of the event's grandeur nature, the Poe House will remain open for 11 hours, giving Poe fans due time to pay their respects. Admission for the viewing is $5 at the door. www.nevermore2009.com

Midnight Vigil
October 8, midnight - 7 a.m.
Westminster Hall & Burying Grounds
Following the open-casket homage, hundreds are expected to attend the midnight candlelight vigil on at the Poe Monument in the Westminster Graveyard. Mourners will be able to present personal tributes to the late Poe in verse, song or simple spoken tributes in addition to scheduled theatrical performances. There is no admission fee for the vigil. www.nevermore2009.com

Edgar Allan Poe's Funeral Service
Westminster Hall
October 11, Two Services: 12:30 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.
A horse-drawn funeral hearse will bring Poe's "body" from his home on Amity Street to the Westminster Hall for burial services. A drum and fife corps will lead the procession. The funeral service will include musical selections, guest speakers and dramatic reenactments as well as representatives from the literary, stage and movie industries presenting their own eulogies. Invited representatives from the literary, stage and movie industries will present their own eulogies for Poe. www.nevermore2009.com  

NEW EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS:

381 Days: The Montgomery Bus Boycott Story
Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture
September 5, 2009 - January 3, 2010
This exhibition offers a gripping account of the men and women whose non-violent approach to political and social change matured into a weapon of equality for all. The exhibition is an overview of the history and significance of the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott, told through reproductions of photographs, political cartoons, fine art, illustrations, text, and an 8-minute audiovisual program. www.africanamericanculture.org  

Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness
American Visionary Art Museum
October 3, 2009 - September 5, 2010
The quest for human rights and the search for personal fulfillment, as proposed in the 1776 American Declaration of Independence, provide the starting point for this international exhibition curated by Roger Manley. Works by the last surviving descendant of the Tsars of Russia, Iroquois Indians, French Revolutionaries, illegal immigrants, Algerian War veterans, Guantánamo Bay detainees, Holocaust survivors, incarcerated prisoners, African-American civil rights activists and Iraqi doctors are among the 50 visionary artists to be featured. Renaldo Kuhler's vast imaginary country of Rocaterrania, Tilden Stone's masterful Furnitures of Secrets, and Duncan Laurie's Purr Generator (a "happiness machine") are among the numerous works that have never been shown publicly. www.avam.org

Baltimore Book Festival
Mount Vernon Place (600 block of North Charles Street)
September 25 - 27
Showcasing appearances by more than 150 authors, with the opportunity to have personal interaction between readers and authors, the 14th annual Baltimore Book Festival includes non-stop reading on eight stages, cooking demonstrations with celebrity chefs, hands-on projects for children, theater, live music and food. Celebrity authors include Diahann Carroll, Buzz Aldrin, KRS-One, Ingrid Hoffman, Maureen McCormick, Lourdes Castro and Adam Reid.
www.baltimorebookfestival.com  

Disney's "A Christmas Carol" Train Tour
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum
September 30, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime attraction where guests of all ages will get a behind the scenes look at the magic, the spectacle and cutting edge technology of the all-new motion picture Disney's A Christmas Carol directed by Robert Zemeckis - and it's all for FREE! www.borail.org  

Free Fall Baltimore
Citywide
October 1 - 31
More than 300 free unique performances throughout the city, including arts experiences and workshops, all taking place during the month of October. www.freefallbaltimore.com  

Fell's Point Fun Festival
Fell's Point
October 3 - 4
Showcasing the nautical history, enduring charm and vibrant spirit of one of Baltimore's oldest downtown neighborhoods, the 43rd Annual Fun Festival features a flea market, crafts and vendors, plus five stages of live music and entertainment and activities for children of all ages. Indulge in delicacies and libations from all over the world, available on every corner. www.preservationsociety.com  

The Importance of Being Earnest
CENTERSTAGE
October 7 - November 8
Mislaid babies, mistaken identities, secret engagements, baffled suitors, and some of the wittiest wordplay ever volleyed over cucumber sandwiches; featuring associate artist Laurence O'Dwyer. Written by Oscar Wilde and directed by Irene Lewis. Tickets start at $10. www.centerstage.org  

Chocolate Festival
Lexington Market
October 8 - 10, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
During the month of October, Lexington Market turns into a chocoholic's fantasy land as it hosts its annual Chocolate Festival. Baltimore's finest chocolatiers and bakers offer everything from truffles to fudge including chocolate covered strawberries and apples, chocolate layered cakes, cookies and pies. The truly gluttonous can enter a range of chocolate eating contests. Visitors can enjoy a great mix of live music, good food, children's entertainment and cooking demonstrations throughout the event. www.lexingtonmarket.com  

Fiddler on the Roof
France Merrick Performing Arts Center
October 20 - November 1
Tevye, humble milkman, harried husband and devoted father to five marriageable daughters, invites us into his little village of Anatevka. Here, there is a tradition for everything - how to eat, how to wear clothes, how to pray, how to marry...all of which are happily imparted by our earthy philosopher as he draws us into Fiddler on the Roof. It is a remarkable journey traveling through secret love, forbidden betrothal, weddings, devotion and forgiveness, tempered by rejection, oppression and imminent revolution. And, emerging through it all, we find the humor, strength and perseverance of Tevye and his people, reminding us of life's never-ending circle. www.france-merrickpac.com

Around the World in 80 Days
CENTERSTAGE
November 24 - December 20
The Lookingglass Theatre's production of Around the World in 80 Days is a swashbuckling and physically vibrant take on Jules Verne's classic adventure, perfect for theatergoers ages 8 and up. Written and directed by Laura Eason. Tickets start at $10. www.centerstage.org  

Miracle on 34th Street
34th Street in Hampden
Begins November 27
One block in Hampden puts on a Christmas light display that is surely visible from space. Neighbors in this block of rowhouses string Christmas lights across 34th Street. Inflatable snowglobes, musical trains and blinking angels adorn homes. A few even allow visitors to peek inside. The lights are on every night from Thanksgiving weekend to January 1st, including all night on Christmas Eve. For more info, visit www.christmasstreet.com

Holiday Festival of Trains
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum
November 27 - December 30
Baltimore's largest holiday display of toy and model train layouts debut during this traditional holiday festival. Santa arrives by locomotive at 10:30 a.m. on November 27 to kick off the month long celebration. Train rides and photo opportunities with Santa available through December 20! It's a train-load-of-fun you and your family don't want to miss! www.borail.org  

Dreamgirls
France Merrick Performing Arts Center
December 8 - 20
Direct from the world famous Apollo Theatre in New York City, a brand new, sensational stage production of Dreamgirls! Full of onstage joy and backstage drama, Dreamgirls tells the rags-to-riches story of a 1960s Motown girl group, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune. With music by Academy® Award nominee Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tony® and Grammy®-winning Tom Eyen, Dreamgirls features the unforgettable hits "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," "One Night Only" and "Listen." www.france-merrickpac.com

COMING SOON:

Charm City Circulator
November 2009
Fast, frequent and free...that's the trademark of downtown Baltimore's new shuttle bus system. Visitors will find getting around Baltimore even easier with 21 sleek, hybrid buses providing convenient and reliable transportation on three different routes - Federal Hill and the Inner Harbor to Mt. Vernon and Penn Station; Westside's B&O Railroad Museum and the University of Maryland to Harbor East and Fell's Point; and the Shot Tower/Marketplace Metro Station to Harbor East, Fell's Point and Johns Hopkins Metro Station. The free shuttles will run every 10 minutes from early morning to late night, seven days a week, so it will be easy for you to hop on and off to shop, visit a museum or attraction, browse around one of our many historic neighborhoods, or eat at one of Baltimore's amazing restaurants.

Baltimore's Winter Restaurant Week
January 22 - February 7, 2010
Citywide
Enjoy a variety of three-course dinners in just about any cuisine that strikes your fancy for just $30.10*. Some restaurants offer a special $20.10* three-course lunch. Visit www.baltimorerestaurantweek.com for an up-to-date list of participants and menu selections. *Price per person, not including liquor, tax and gratuity. Some restrictions may apply.

 

NEW RESTAURANTS:

B&O American Brasserie
2 N. Charles Street, Downtown
American
www.monaco-baltimore.com/baltimore-restaurant/index.html

Blue Hill Tavern
938 S. Conkling Street, Canton
American
www.bluehilltavern.com

NEW HOTELS:

Fairfield Inn & Suites will soon become Baltimore's first "green" hotel. The planned 154-room hotel will open on the former site of the DeGroen's Baltimore Brewing Company in historic Jonestown, just a few blocks from the Inner Harbor. It will mark the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified hotel in the city and one of several green Marriott hotels planned companywide over the next five years.

Hotel Monaco is planned as part of a $60 million project by ARC Wheeler in the historic B&O Building at Charles and Baltimore Streets. This mixed-use project will feature the 208-room Hotel Monaco on the top seven floors of the building. The hotel will be managed by the Kimpton Hotel and Restaurant Group.

Hotel Indigo will provide a modern, contemporary atmosphere with the best in traditional hotel hospitality. A fresh, innovative appearance is complimented with hardwood flooring, beautiful over-sized rugs and wall murals that change seasonally. Rooms offer comfortable over-sized beds as well as a spa bathroom experience with complimentary Aveda bath products. Additionally, for guests lodging in Baltimore, Maryland, we provide an in-house gourmet restaurant along with in-house Starbucks. Opening December 2009.

MEDIA TRIPS:

To request media trips to Baltimore or to subscribe to our e-newsletter, contact Moneé Cottman at
mcottman@baltimore.org 

For more information about what's new in Baltimore, visit www.Baltimore.org