Saturday - A day of firsts

We have been in Baltimore about 6 months now. Seeing an O's game was a must on our list of things to do. With the season coming to an end the pressure was building. So Saturday we caught an afternoon game. We had prefect shady seats to watch a fun game,the O's won!!!
Earlier in the day I got my first major hair cut/color in three years.
The winning moment!
We drank our first beers in aluminum bottles....
My personal favorite! We saw our first beauty pageant winner, Miss Maryland. How bizarre...

Wednesday sail

As I mentioned in an earlier post we joined a sailing club in downtown Baltimore. We have taken the first crew class and have sailed once or twice a week all summer. Last night was the first time I took my camera (the winds were low and the light was luscious).

We arrived a little late so we had to wait for a skipper to show up. The wind smelled of sweet molten sugar. Some days the wind smells like sugar (the Domino Sugar factory)and others it smells like freshly baked bread (H&S Bread Factory in Fells Point).


If you look at the top of the above picture you will see a little arrow. That arrow points in the direction of the wind. It is your guide when at the tiller.

Baltimore has several great neon signs. The Domino Sugars sign is one of them.

Artscape 2009

Artscape is an extensive art festival that shut down the Northern streets in Downtown Baltimore. We went Friday night about an hour before closing time. We heard the last minutes of a concert by Dionne Warwick and saw her police escort and stretch limo leave the festival. It was very exciting... The police lights were flashing, the sirens blaring, and the crowd was cheering!

There were many booths of local and non-local artists displaying their handmade goods. I always enjoy seeing what other people are making.

We had our first sailing lesson on Saturday. We spent 8 hours on the water. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It was cool and the wind was active.

After our sailing lesson we scurried over to Artscape to catch the band Cake. It was so crowded! (see picture below) We couldn't get close enough to see the band but their first song was my favorite, Stick Shifts and Safety Belts. We stuck around for a couple more songs, being bumped and nudged by a flow of people trying to get closer but realizing they couldn't. We worked our way back to our car and headed home.

Visitors visiting

My dad and nephew visited us last weekend. They traveled North by train which took roughly 24 hours. They arrived in Baltimore Friday night and left on Monday afternoon. We jammed as much touring fun as possible into the two full days they were here.

Saturday - Started with us rain soaked running from building to building trying to make it to the Aquarium downtown.

The rain stopped just in time for lunch and a Harbor tour on the water taxi. We explored Ft. McHenry where dad (below) pretends he is in jail. We all participated in helping unroll/hold the flag (see below)during a very entertaining presentation.

Sunday - We woke early and drove to D.C.. We started by walking past the White House (where Brayden is sure he saw President Obama!) over to the Washington Monument, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Lincoln, and Korean War Veterans Memorials. We toured the National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum. We walked D.C. from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. we were officially worn out! We somehow had just enough energy to get dinner in Little Italy (Baltimore) a tasty end to a great Fathers Day!

What fun, Hon!

"HonFest is a local tradition. The Bawlmer term of endearment, Hon, short for Honey, embodies the warmth and affection bestowed upon our neighbors and visitors alike by historic working-women of Baltimore. HonFest is an annual celebration in honor of these women." www.honfest.net/whatis.html

When in Bawlmer do as the Bawlmerons do....

For a girl who loves to dress up this is the best festival ever! Forget the fried food I just want big hair!
The Hon transformation started with the hair. I decided on a wig over the real thing. I wanted something I could wear again and again. I may just clean the house in my beehive...

Next I had to choose the right dress...
The above dress was too subtle, Hon...

Every Hon needs a great pair of glasses...

These Hon's joined the competition for best Hon...
A whole lot of dancing Hon's, Hon.

How is a Hon judged you might wonder. She has to look authentic, big hair, the tighter the outfit the better, but mostly it's the attitude and lingo that makes a true Hon.
If you can talk Bawlmerese you are a true Hon. There were no toilets at the fest but instead there were TURLITS...
The Hon slogan : The higher the hair the closer to God...

The above and below Hon's were also in the competition.

There were Hon's of all ages. I even saw one dog Hon in a tiger print outfit with pearls and a pink bow.

I recommend checking out the official Hon website (see link above) for more Honformation.

A day on the water

We went downtown with the idea of spending the hotter hours of the day in Barnes & Noble but a docked water taxi changed our plans. The water taxi (map below) stops at many different points of interest in the greater downtown area. You can ride it all day for $9 and you get coupons for free beer! We had so much fun being on the water and exploring neighborhoods we have only been to a couple of times. I was also introduced to my new summer beer - Allagash White - it's light and delicious. Perfect for summer. Thanks to Max's in Fells Point!
These images were borrowed from the web. I didn't bring my camera

thinking we were going to B&N.

A few things about Baltimore

We have been in Baltimore just over a week. I like it here. We are staying in Hampden, a neighborhood full of character, great food, and fantastic shops. I like the row homes, the steam that streams from underground at night, the fact that there is always something interesting to see or to avoid seeing. "The Avenue" is the main walking street just a couple blocks from where we are. We have walked this strip many times but today I took time to go into the shops and look around. I bought a dress for $3! What more do I have to say. Oh the art museums are free... And when you get on the highway the signs give you a choice of New York or Washington D.C.. A great contrast from Juneau where the signs gave you a choice between Thane and Auke Bay.
The Avenue - Hampden
One of several antique stores on "The Avenue".
A very happy mannequin!