I rode my bike back to the Baltimore Book Fair today, this time to meet G. and B. for a quick stroll and then pizza. I was going to blog about some of the great things I saw–maybe the wonderful paintings on East Monument or the jaw-dropping fancy of the Peabody Library, but what really got me today were these mobile toilet trucks set up at the spoke ends of the street festival. Continue reading
festivals
Blue Tarp on the Fence at the Grand Prix Route at South & Pratt
Today’s ride took me on the silent streets of downtown Baltimore, emptied because everyone’s avoiding downtown, or because nobody can get east of Light, but for whatever reason, perfect for this bicyclist. I wanted to grab a quick view of the cars racing in the streets, but alas, this blue tarp meant no peeksies for me. The bike/ped path was closed off to all but ticket holders, few and far between, this mid-morning anyway. The whole thing is a boondoggle, and thank goodness it’s almost over. We need our streets, sidewalks, and bike paths back from this particular tourist parasite. I pedaled back toward Harbor East, did a quick spin through the gym, and then back up the hill on still-empty streets, the one nice side effect of the Grand Prix on this side of the racetrack.
Mayor’s Back To School Rally & Family Fun Festival Setting Up On North Ave. Between Calvert & Barclay
Today’s ride started early, up to the doctor’s office for some routine blood work, though for me that routine is a singular act of bravery–I’m not really crazy about needles. Then it was down the hill for a waffle while I worked, to treat myself for being so brave and all. Afterward, I zipped down the hill, made a quick stop at the gym, and then it was over to Central to ride up the “bike lane,” which is cobblestones and parking for that one auto body place. Sigh. Continue reading
A Band and Dancers at Stiles & Lloyd during the Feast of St. Gabriel Festival
I wasn’t in the mood for much yesterday, if I’m being completely honest (so tired!), but I had plans to meet A. and V. down in Little Italy for the San Gabriel festival, so there I was on my bike, rolling down the hill. And yep, that instantly lifted my mood. I stopped for a quick lunch to avoid the fried everything at the street fest and then rode over to the Flag House to lock up and meet A. for a wander. Continue reading
Crowds Gathered For Otakon 2012 at the Baltimore Convention Center on Pratt Street
Today’s ride started with a walk down to the bike shop to pick up the Surly–man, this bike looks good. She’s got a new chain, new derailleur cables, new rear brake pads, new bolts on her rear rack, a new fender strut, and he’s shifting, braking, and whooshing like a dream. I decided to head down the hill to check out Otakon 2012. Continue reading
Banana Car at Charles & Lafayette
I was off the bike for over a week, which ordinarily would make me lose my mind, but I spent this past week on foot, hiking around Glacier National Park, earning my Junior Ranger badge and feeling positively dwarfed by mountains and lakes and meadows and streams and all of that. Continue reading
Crowds at Middle Branch Waiting for the Blue Angels
Ok, so technically this is what I saw riding my bike around yesterday, but by the time I got home from my Saturday birthday festivities at the shocking hour of 11:00pm, I fell straight to sleep, no time to blog. It was a beautiful sunny day, and since it was my birthday, I got to do whatever I wanted to do. First up: a bike ride to brunch, where I ate just enough and then ran into a woman I lived with in Berkeley 10 years ago, because that’s just what things are like sometimes. Continue reading
Ships From Brazil & Mexico Docked at the Inner Harbor For Sailabration
So it’s the bicentennial of the War of 1812, and Baltimore is pulling out all the stops to celebrate this war that nobody remembers. After finishing up my work at home, I hopped on the Surly and rolled down the hillfor a lovely lunch with V. before continuing my ride to the Inner Harbor to check out some ships. To be honest, I didn’t expect to be wowed by the ships, but I totally was; their sails just look lovely against the blue skies. You can board the ships for free, but Brazil closed early, and the line for Mexico was too bananas for me, so I got back on my bike and headed over to Fort McHenry. Being there on this particular Flag Day felt a little like that time I was at Jim Morrison’s gravesite on the 25th anniversary of his death–folks were having Emotional Experiences while I looked on. I traded facts about the war the exhibit doesn’t mention with a fellow visitor, his about the British freeing slave who then fought for their side, me about how we invaded Canada without proper preparations because we thought they’d welcome us as liberators. Oh, history. I toured the Fort, took some lovely photos of flags, and then dodged the crowd on my way back downtown, a quick stop for a haircut and some frozen yogurt, before meeting J. in Fells Point for dinner. Traffic’s a clusterf*k, so I hope he brings his bike. Yeah, I needed a day off like this one.
Glyndon Area Players Perform at Hon Fest on 36th Avenue in Hampden
Last year around this time I had moved out of my pool house and was living out of boxes in New Orleans, thanks to the kindness of friends. I was also reading all about Baltimore, and I read about Hon Fest, a street festival celbrating Baltimore’s iconic “Hon.” Yeah~I had no idea that was an icon. And then there was the part where some lady tried to copywrite “hon,” and I was all, like, that’s like copywriting “Who dat.” That guy from Kitchen Nightmares came in and got her to drop the copywrite, so she’s I guess less of an asshole now. And now I’m here, it’s Hon Fest, and I was on my bike to Hampden to check it out. There are food vendores, the local photography vendors, the jewelry and pottery and incense and beer stands. There were three music stages, and the first made me miss New Orleans more than anything. I stopped at the main stage, though, and I saw the Glyndon Area Players performing Broadway and pop hits; they were so good, especially the guy who did “My Girl.” We were all totally in to it, for real, and the kid got more and more confident as we shrieked, which meant more runs and higher notes. Awesome. Yeah, it’s just like any other street festival in the country, but the Glyndon Area Players from out Reistertown Road are only here, so there. I kept walking, got ice cream, listened to 9 Mile Limit, our local rock/roots/reggae band for awhile, watched an odd mix of folks dance along, and then headed back home for a read and a nap. Thank you, Saturday.
Nik Wallenda Wire Walking Over the Inner Harbor
I’ve got that end-of-the-year cold that I’d been putting off since January, so S. offered to drive me down to the Inner Harbor, but please–you don’t drive to see a guy walk on a tightrope 300 feet over the Inner Harbor. We hopped on our bikes and sped down the hill under gray skies until we found the crowd gathering to watch the wire walk (after finally finding a bike rack–c’mon, Inner Harbor, get with the program!). Continue reading
What I Saw Riding My Bike Around Today 