One of the perks of Baltimore living is that there’s always something to do! Naturally, Halloween in Baltimore offers no shortage of spooky events to enjoy. From creepy costume parties to ghoulish ghost tours, we’ve rounded up some of the best events for Residents of 500 Park to check out! Take your pick!
Sweet Spot Turn off the Light Halloween Party | October 28 th
Channel all things bloody with this deadly drag show at The Manor in Mount Vernon, with guests including local legends BABY and Alastor to provide the evening’s sounds. Get tickets here !
Nocturne Halloween at Ottobar | October 29 th
Featuring a costume contest with cash/book prizes, Halloween decor, candy and spooky goth/industrial music all night, this event is free! RSVP here .
Halloween Karaoke at The Hon | October 30 th
Get into the spirit with a round of karaoke at the much-loved Hampden haunt. Download the SongbookDB app ahead of time to queue your favorite Halloween tunes. Find out more here .
Gritty in the City | October 30 th
Psychic Medium Darren BuCare will take you on a spooky walking tour through the heart of Highlandtown! Get some background and history of various Highlandtown locales and shed some light on the secrets they keep. Your tour will be approximately 3/4 of a mile total and will take about 1 hour. Get tickets here !
2021 SoBo Halloween Bash | October 30 th
The Sobo Halloween Bash will feature a DJ, games, costume parade, food and drink. Led by volunteers and sponsored by local businesses, this free annual event is meant to be a day of fun for neighborhood families. Learn more here !
Nightmare Before Halloween | October 30 th
Power Plant Live! is set to transform into a dark and twisted world Saturday, October 30th with a tribute to Halloween film director Tim Burton! Explore the magical and mysterious factory of an acclaimed candy maker, the holiday doors within a forest that transport you to a magical and festive world, the shop of a vengeful barber with the sharpest razors in the city, and so much more. Get tickets here !
A Nightmare on Charles St. | October 31 st
Join Sporty Dog Creations for boos and brews at Nightmare on Charles Street! The event will feature a free hot dog bar, drinks, readings by a performer playing Edgar Allen Poe, giveaways and more! Get tickets here !
Witches at the Harbor | October 31 st
Photo credit: Witches on the Willamette
Grab your stand up paddleboard and head to Canton Waterfront Park this Halloween for a witchy paddle around Baltimore’s Inner Harbor! The event is free and open to the public, but you must be an experienced paddleboarder. Learn more here !
Hampden Halloweenfest | October 31 st
Photo credit: @thefoodmarket
Make sure to bring your costume A-game to Hampden’s Halloweenfest! In addition to trick-or-treating on The Avenue, there will be a costume contest with trophies for the scariest, prettiest and most original costumes. Find out more here !
Power Plant Halloween Bar Crawl | October 31 st
Photo credit: @BarCrawlLive
Baltimore’s official Halloween bar crawl returns this Halloween! Costumes are encouraged for this frightening downtown crawl. Enjoy live tunes and deals on bites and boo-zy sips at local haunts. Get tickets here !
With students returning to school and the Labor Day holiday approaching, the end of summer is upon us. If the waning of summer already has you nostalgic for the fireflies, cookouts, fireworks, carnivals, and everything else the season brings, we understand. But don’t trade in your flip flops for your flannel just yet. There’s still plenty of summer fun to be had before sweater weather sets in. We’ve rounded up some of the best end-of-summer events in and around Baltimore so you can make the most of your final weeks of fun in the sun.
92Q End of Summer Jam | Columbia, MD
92Q End of Summer Jam is playing the Merriweather Post Pavilion on September 19 th . The event will star Future, City Girls, Moneybagg Yo & 42 Dugg! Get your tickets here .
Fall Back Safely: End of Summer Extravaganza | Baltimore, MD
Fall Back Safely is Baltimore’s End of Summer Celebration at the Inner Harbor sponsored by the Mayor and City of Baltimore, supported by the Waterfront Partnership , and produced by The Baltimore Office of Promotion & Arts. The event will feature a live DJ, street performers and activities. The event will culminate with a spectacular 15-minute fireworks show by Pyrotecnico which will be choreographed to music.
In line with the theme of the event, Mercy Hospital, will offer vaccinations and COVID tests on site. Additionally, BOPA will hand out face masks and hand sanitizer as a reminder to stay safe during the event and throughout the fall.
Maryland State Fair | Timonium, MD
The 140th Maryland State Fair (aka 12 Best Days of Summer) began on Thursday, August 26 and will run through Labor Day Monday, September 6 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.
The Maryland State Fair recognizes the enduring appeal of Maryland’s citizens, students, and 4-H and FFA members to share their talents and compete for ribbons, prizes, and bragging rights. The Fair’s buildings, barns and stages provide space for thousands of fairgoers to appreciate the exhibits, learn from the exhibitors, and consider entering a future fair.
This year’s fair will also feature the thrills and chills, sights, sounds and aromas of numerous Midway and Kidde Land rides, games, and fun fair food provided by Deggeller Attractions. For those with a more local palate, the Maryland Foods Pavilion, Dairy Bar, and Chesapeake Craft Brew & Wine Garden, will showcase fresh from the farm and Chesapeake Bay food and drinks.
Triple Feature at Bengies Drive-In | Middle River, MD
Head to Bengies Drive-In during Labor Day weekend to catch a Triple Feature ! See Jungle Cruise , Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Free Guy on the biggest movie screen in the US while enjoying a quintessential summertime activity.
Defends Day at Fort McHenry | Baltimore, MD
Known as Baltimore's oldest holiday, Defenders' Day commemorates the anniversary of the Battle of Baltimore and the writing of the nation's national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." Celebrated continuously each year since the Brits sailed away in 1814!
This year's program will take place September 17-18 . and will include music, living history, U.S. Army, and evening luminaries.
Baltimore Orioles Games | Baltimore, MD
Don’t miss your chance to catch an Os game before the 2021 MLB season ends Sunday, October 3 rd . Spend a day at Oriole Park at Camden Yards enjoying ballpark fare, beautiful views of Baltimore and a ballgame. For an extra memorable gameday, head to the park on September 16 th when Grammy-nominated folk rock band The Avett Brothers will be performing a postgame show .
First Responders Day | Baltimore, MD
First Responders Day at the B&O Railroad Museum honors those who answer the call and aims to educate the public about their lifesaving practices.
First Responders Day will feature a bomb squad display, fire extinguisher demonstration, various police, and firefighting equipment for visitors to see and learn about, safety demonstrations.
In acknowledgement of the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, a special honor guard ceremony and moment of remembrance will take place.
Maryland Restaurant Week
Maryland Restaurant Week is returning for its second year from September 17-26. Participating Maryland restaurants celebrate the customer by offering special menus, discounts, seasonal fare for dine-in, curbside or carryout.
Finding a roommate can be stressful. Cohabitation is tricky and finding a compatible roommate can be the difference between a home that’s a peaceful sanctuary and one that’s a torturous nightmare.
However, living with roommates can also be an enriching experience… allowing you to live independently, but still have a community in your home when you want company. And of course, there’s the obvious benefit of having someone with which to share expenses.
So, if you’ve decided to get a roommate, use these questions to ask candidates about their lifestyle, personality, and expectations when it comes to sharing a space. The answers to these questions could be deal-breakers for either party. At the very least, the answers will reveal a lot about potential roommates and help you set good rules and expectations, so you’ll hopefully avoid any grief and confrontation down the line.
What are your views on COVID-19 precautions?
It’s an unavoidable question when two social bubbles are becoming one during a pandemic. If your views on vaccinations, social distancing, or masking differ, it’s best to know that now than to find out after you’re living together. We think this questions should come up first, because it might be the biggest deal breaker on the list.
Do you smoke?
Smell, personal history, religious beliefs, fire hazards, and health concerns are just a few reasons someone could opt for a smoke-free roomie.
How do you want to split the cost of rent and utilities?
While having a roommate means someone to share the cost of living with, it’s not always as simple as a 50-50 split. Is one of the bedrooms larger? Or does it include an attached bathroom or walk-in closet? Should the person occupying that room pay more? Perhaps one of you will be working from home and consequently using more electricity and water.
Talking about finances is usually a little awkward, but it’s an unavoidable part of adult life. If the idea makes you anxious, do some prep work ahead of time to learn how to breach the topic casually but directly .
Have you ever missed a rent payment?
As confrontational as this question may seem, this is a valid and relevant query to ask a potential roommate. Although you may have just decided to split the rent up a certain way, if your roommate can't hold up their end of the bargain, it could put both of your housing in jeopardy. Not to mention, it could result in added fees, hurt your credit score and negatively impact your future apartment hunts . Knowing how well your future roommate handled their financial responsibility in the past will likely give you an indication of future behavior.
Have you had a roommate before? What’s your current relationship with them like?
This artful question could be a sneak peek into your future. All roommates are bound to butt heads occasionally, but if this question is met with a string of nasty remarks about a nightmare ex-roomie, it could be a red flag. Are they the common denominator?
Best case scenario: this question is met with glowing accounts of past cohabitants, some of which you may be able to call as a reference.
Will you be bringing any pets?
While we love our four-legged Residents, we realize pets in the home might not be for everyone. Additionally, it’s important to know if your potential roommate can fully cover pet rent, a pet deposit, or potential damages. Who will watch the pet when your roommate is at work or on vacation? These are points you’ll want to hit.
Also, make sure you know your community’s pet policy and restricted breeds before making any decisions about pets in the home.
What are your cleaning habits?
Even though you’ll each have your own sleeping space, there are plenty of communal areas of the home that you’ll share. If you and your prospective roommate prioritize different aspects of the chore list, perhaps splitting up responsibilities and maintaining an adequate space will be simple and easy.
What’s your ideal indoor temperature?
Whatever you like to keep your space cool enough to snuggle up under a mountain of blankets or prefer it a little warmer, you’ll want to assess whether your potential roommate is in alignment. Constantly adjusting the thermostat or bringing it to an unusually high or low temperature will cost you and your roomie money. To keep electric bills low (and avoid the fight over the thermostat), it’s best to find a roommate with similar temperature preferences.
What are your preferred sleeping conditions?
Even if you’re not sharing a bedroom or studio space, odds are you’ll at least be sharing a wall with your roomie. Whether they need white noise, complete silence or even background noise from a television, this is something you’ll want to know before your first night together.
Getting a good night’s sleep is just as important to your health as regular exercise and a healthy diet , so know whether their answer to this question will disrupt your own sleep before you seal the deal.
Do you have any food restrictions/ allergies?
A lifelong vegan could find sharing food prep space with a steak enthusiast to be less than ideal. Moreover, if one of you has a severe food allergy, you’ll want to know so the kitchen remains a safe space for everyone.
Are you in any romantic relationships?
If your roommate has a romantic partner, it will likely mean you can look forward to having a frequent guest in your shared space. This could result in a higher water bill, less privacy, and potentially feeling left out in your own home. It also means one more person joining your bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic. You’ll want to explore this topic thoroughly before making any steadfast decisions with your prospective roommate.
What’s your policy on overnight visitors?
Whether it’s the romantic partner, family visiting from out of town, or a friend, you want to have clear standards set in place for overnight guests. How often are you both comfortable with this scenario? Your routines, sanity, and sense of security might be on the line.
Do you work remotely or from an office?
For many, the increase in remote work during the pandemic has been full of perks – including lack of commutes, childcare costs and more. Unfortunately for renters, there’s a flip side to the work-from-home wonderland. If you and/or your potential roommate works virtually, your shared apartment could also become a shared office.
A work-from-home roomie could mean less privacy for you, a potentially stressful atmosphere, and a pricier utility bill. When asking your roommate about their career, be sure to assess how your work lives will mesh or become a source of tension.
Having a roommate is a great way to lower your monthly expenses, take on fewer household chores yourself and make a live-in friend, but it’s important to find the right person with whom to share your home. Don’t let a lack of preparation in your roommate interview jeopardize what could be a perfectly nice arrangement. Asking a future roommate, the right questions will increase your chances of a great experience.
Having an organized refrigerator not only makes you feel great every time you open the door, it saves time when you're trying to get a meal put together, can help you eliminate food waste, and ensures you’re storing your food safely. Follow these tips to have an organized fridge and make sure you’re storing your food properly.
Use Your Crisper Drawers Correctly
There's a reason your refrigerator has separate drawers! While many of us tend to just throw whatever we want in the different drawers, using them properly helps to keep your produce fresh for longer.
Designate one of your crisper drawers for the low-humidity setting. Store produce that tends to rot in this drawer. This includes fruits and veggies that emit an ethylene gas, like apples and pears, because the open window on a low-humidity drawer gives those gases a chance to escape !
The second drawer should be designated as the high-humidity drawer. Store your leafy greens, like arugula, spinach, and herbs in this drawer. By having the window closed, water vapor is held in the drawer and the moisture keeps the greens crisper and fresher longer.
Fill Your Fridge to the Right Capacity
Your fridge runs most efficiently and keeps food the freshest when it's between 60 percent and 70 percent full. If it's too full, not only will everything not receive proper airflow, but your refrigerator must also work extra hard to keep things cold. If a fridge is too empty, it has only air to keep cool, and air doesn't retain the cold as well as actual food and drink items.
If your refrigerator has too much inside, it's time for a purge ! If you need to fill it up, just add a few jugs of water to help retain the cool temperature until your next grocery store trip.
Put Non-Perishables in the Door
The door is the warmest part of your fridge and the spot in which the temperature can fluctuate the most, so it's best to keep non-perishables on the shelves in the door. Things like condiments won’t go bad quickly, so they're perfect for the door. Something that’s not meant for the fridge door? Eggs! Store them in the main body instead .
Place Perishables Near the Front
You know that saying, "Out of sight, out of mind"? It's way too easy to forget about perishables when they’re hidden in the back of your fridge. Instead, put the things you want to eat first front and center where everyone can see them. This will remind your family to use the perishables first and help prevent unnecessary food waste.
Store Meats and Seafoods on the Bottom
To reduce the risk of meats contaminating other foods in your fridge, store them at the bottom in case of leaks. Make sure to only store uncooked meat in the fridge for one or two days before cooking or freezing.
Know When to Dispose of Leftovers
Knowing when to dispose of certain foods is crucial to keeping your household safe from foodborne illnesses. Use this chart to help decide whether to keep or toss your leftovers.
Following these simple rules and tips will help ensure that your fridge stays neat and organized all year round and ensure food safety, and eliminate food waste!
Desperately need a vacation, but don’t have the time or budget to get away? Or maybe you’re just not ready to travel? Enter the staycation! What’s a staycation? Staycation comes from the combination of two words, “stay” and “vacation,” literally staying at home and participating in leisure activities without leaving your house, or at least without traveling too far. If you’re into the idea of a staycation this year but aren’t sure what to do, we’ve created a list with a few staycation ideas that will help you make the best of your time.
But, before we get started, many people think that staying close to home or staying at home cannot consider a holiday, but this is not true at all! Staycations are a type of holiday and are extremely useful when one has a tight budget, or when travel restrictions are in place. Considered your staycation like a proper vacation: disconnect your phone, don’t set up your alarm clock, don’t bother reading office news. And make sure you treat yourself to experiences you would gladly make also if you were abroad.
Now that that’s out of the way, here are some of our best tips for creating a truly fun, relaxing, and memorable staycation:
Play the Role of a B-more Tourist
Photo: Audrey's Art for the Ages
Baltimore is home to over 200 neighborhoods , each with their own personality and experience. If there’s one you haven’t spent enough time exploring, go check it out! Try one of the many authentic Italian cafes and eateries in Little Italy , take a cake decorating class at Charm City Cakes in Remington, or enjoy the green spaces and architecture of Roland Park.
Baltimore also has some of the best museums in the country, but when was the last time you actually got to visit one of them? Check out the largest Henri Matisse collection in the world at the Baltimore Museum of Art , challenge the notion of what it means to be an artist at the American Visionary Art Museum , or celebrate the soul of African American history and culture at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum .
Go on a Local Hike
Photo: sonna-like-donna no Alltrails.com
Within just a few miles of Baltimore, outdoor lovers can find forests, lakes, canyons, and more! Hiking near Baltimore is a wonderful way to experience nature and get your blood flowing without traveling too far from home. Some of our favorite nearby trails include the Merryman’s Mill Trail at Loch Raven Reservoir, the Falling Branch Trail to Kilgore Falls , and Ellicott City’s Trolley Trail .
Book a Spa Day
Photo: @FourSeasonsHotelBaltimore on Facebook
If you’re looking for something luxurious and pampering, book a sol-to-go treatment at the Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore. Your moment of relaxation will begin with a 60-minute Swedish massage, then you can indulge yourself poolside with a complimentary 3-hour pass at the hotel’s outdoor rooftop infinity pool. If you’re looking for a bit of pampering that’s a bit more budget-friendly, About Faces offers an incredible range of services and has multiple locations throughout Baltimore!
Have a Picnic in the Park
Photo: @CharmCityPicnic.co on Facebook
Services like Charm City Picnic will do the heavy work of planning your picnic for you! You just pick your location, package and add-ons and they will take care of the rest so all you have to do is show up. Of course, you can always go the old-school, money-saving route and do it yourself. There are tons of great picnic spots in Baltimore .
Spend a Night in a Hotel
Photo: @ivyhotelbaltimore on Facebook
Let’s face it: part of the fun of a vacation is staying in a hotel. Just because you’re not leaving your hometown for your staycation doesn’t mean you can’t book a hotel room for a night or two. Whether you’re looking for luxury amenities like an infinity hot tub, limo service, or a rooftop bar, these Baltimore hotels are sure to deliver.
Visit an Amusement Park
Photo: @SixFlagsAmerica on Facebook
There are several great amusement parks , like Six Flags and Adventure Park USA in MD or very nearby. There are also great water parks to help you beat the heat while enjoying water slides, private cabana rentals, lazy rivers and more. For an ultra-local, family-friendly experience, head to the Mount Vernon Children’s Park for some splash pad time !
Hit the Beach
Photo: @OceanCity on Facebook
One of the many perks of living in Maryland is easy access to the beach. And even if you don’t want to make a week of it, a day trip to Ocean City, Maryland is totally doable for Baltimore residents! Do some fishing , treat yourself to some Boardwalk Fries and salt water taffy, or hit a few balls at one of OC’s many mini golf courses . Of course, you can always pack your own snacks and umbrella and just enjoy the day sunbathing, building castles and splashing in the waves.
There are also many great smaller, more local beaches new Baltimore so you can still enjoy the sun and sand while avoiding the travel, crowds, and costs of OC.
Hit the Pool
If you’re looking for some water fun, you obviously don’t have to travel all the way to the beach or water park! Lucky for you, you can always enjoy a day at 500 Park’s community pool!
Host a Movie Night
Photo: @grandrotunda on Facebook
Have a movie marathon at home , whether it’s just for yourself or open to friends and family. Make sure to complete your movie night is with snacks, of course! You can also catch classic films and family favorites on the big screen at these outdoor movie spots in Baltimore .
Treat Yourself
Photo: @PrigelFamilyCreamery on Facebook
Did you know there’s such a thing as an Ice Cream Trail? The 2021 Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail features 10 on-farm creameries across the state that produce and sell their ice cream directly to consumers. The trail stretches more than 290 miles from Washington County in the west to Worcester County in the east. The purpose of the trail is to increase the public’s understanding of dairy farming and to highlight the important contributions of Maryland’s 325 dairy farms.
We hope these ideas have given you some inspiration for your own Baltimore staycation. Remember: just because you’re not traveling abroad or maybe even leaving the house doesn’t mean you’re not on vacation! Remember to unplug, relax, and indulge the same way you would during a traditional vacation.
Single-use plastics are everywhere: the straw in our iced coffee, the plastic bags we use to carry our takeout home, the shampoo bottle on our shower rack. What’s more, they’re so ubiquitous—and so quickly thrown out—that they hardly register in our minds. But what is the actual cost of this prioritization of convenience over durability? The answer is pretty scary. Each year, we produce 300 million tons of plastic waste – with 8 million tons ending up in our oceans . Beyond that, microplastics in farm soils is a growing concern and is an overall threat to global human health . Not to mention, they are a contributing factor to climate change .
With all that we know about the dangerous implications of our single-use plastic habit, many people are making more environmentally-conscious choices when it comes to our consumer habits. If you want to join in the fight against single-use plastic pollution, here are some tips to get started!
Stop using plastic straws, even in restaurants. If a straw is a must, purchase a reusable stainless steel or glass straw .
Use a reusable produce bag. A single plastic bag can take 1,000 years to degrade . Purchase or make your own reusable produce bag and be sure to wash them often!
Give up gum. Did you know chewing gum creates more than 100,00 tons of plastic pollution each year.
Purchase food, like cereal, pasta, and rice from bulk bins and fill a reusable bag or container. You save money and unnecessary packaging.
Reuse containers for storing leftovers or shopping in bulk.
Use a reusable bottle or mug for your beverages, even when ordering from a to-go shop. Some of them even offer a bring-your-own-cup discount !
Use matches instead of disposable plastic lighters or invest in a refillable metal lighter.
Avoid buying frozen foods because their packaging is mostly plastic. Even those that appear to be cardboard are coated in a thin layer of plastic. Plus you'll be eating fewer processed foods!
Don't use plasticware at home and be sure to request restaurants do not pack them in your take-out box.
Use cloth diapers to reduce your baby's carbon footprint and save money .
Make fresh squeezed juice or eat fruit instead of buying juice in plastic bottles. It's healthier and better for the environment.
Make your own cleaning products that will be less toxic and eliminate the need for multiple plastic bottles of cleaner.
Pack your lunch in reusable containers and bags. Also, opt for fresh fruits and veggies and bulk items instead of products that come in single serving cups.
Use a razor with replaceable blades instead of a disposable razor.
Skip the receipt. Thermal paper used for things like store receipts, movie tickets, and boarding passes are coated with measurable levels of BPA.
We’ve a long way to go before plastic-free living becomes commonplace, but by making these simple switches in our daily life and refusing single use plastic where we can, we can each do our part to get one step closer.
What switches have you made to eliminate single-use plastics from your life? Let us know in the comments!
