Federal Hill Street Beat: Kids' Kross!

The Federal Hill Street Beat Festival tomorrow will truly be an event for everyone! This year's family area, Kid's Kross Street, on the south side of Cross Street Market, will be one of our best yet - entertaining for pre-teens to pre-schoolers. Check it out 11 am to 5 pm (then enjoy the rest of the festival, which goes on until 7 pm).

Some exciting features this year, all coordinated by parent volunteers, include Bubble the Clown with Balloon Art (11 am-2 pm) and Urban Pirate Storytime! (1-2 pm ).  We'll even have two MOON BOUNCES set up all day.  And it doesn't end there.  You'll find face painting and temporary tattoos, outdoor toys, games, toddler play area, water fun, and more.  When the kids need a break from running around, there will be craft tables to visit.

   And, it's all FREE! 

Be sure to come out to the Street Beat Festival (Charles and Cross Streets) TOMORROW, check out the music, food, arts & crafts, and beach tennis, and, of course, Kid's Kross Street!

   Info: www.historicfederalhill.org 

See you tomorrow!

Alex Marie Schmidt, Intern

Federal Hill Street Beat: The Vendors

Can you believe we have 80+ vendors participating in this year's Federal Hill Street Beat Festival on Sunday?  There will certainly be something for everyone! Come on down, 11 am to 7 pm. FREE admission!

Food & drink vendors will offer everything from standard festival fare like pit beef, turkey, burgers, dogs, and funnel cakes to more exotic offerings like flatbread pizza, falafel wraps, chicken satay, and jambalaya.  And, of course, no Maryland festival is complete without crab cakes! There will also be plenty of drinks to choose from like lemonade, smoothies, beer, and bottled beverages.  

Our Arts & Crafts offerings will be equally as diverse with all types of hand-crafted jewelry, imported accessories, home décor, apparel, candles, quilts, original photographs, and of course, Orioles, Ravens and Natty Boh Gear.  With baseball season winding down (or heating up, go O's!) and football season picking up, what better time to buy sports gear than the present?

Look forward to all of this and more, including 17 bands on 3 music stages, Kid's Kross Street, and beach tennis courtesy of Aruba at the Street Beat Festival THIS Sunday, Sept. 30, 11 am to 7 pm

info and band schedule: www.historicfederalhill.org

Alex Marie Schmidt, Intern

Federal Hill Street Beat Fest: The Music!

Everyone knows that the Federal Hill STREET BEAT FESTIVAL (sponsored this year by Aruba) offers incredible live music.  Don't miss the great, FREE event this Sunday, September 30, 11 am to 7 pm   

   We have a whopping 17 bands playing on three stages for maximum music entertainment: Cross Street at Light, West Street at Charles, and Hamburg Street at Charles. Bands play for roughly one hour, and times are staggered so you won’t miss a single beat.  Bands come from all over, mixing sounds and genres for everyone enjoy.  We even have some local bands, like Bravenoise and Jenny Freeman Band, who are from Federal Hill. Festival favorites Grilled Lincolns, All Mighty Senators, and Old Man Brown are sure to please as well.

    Check out the schedule:

CROSS STREET STAGE

                                                       12:30-1:30         Unmentionables
                                                       1:45-2:45 Olyver James
                                                       3:00-4:00 Freedom Enterprise
                                                       4:20-5:10 Jenny Leigh Band
                                                       5:30-7:00 Old Man Brown  

HAMBURG STREET STAGE

                                                          11:15-12:15 Radiation Puppy
                                                          12:30-1:30         Shook
                                                          1:45-2:30     Getamungstit
                                                          2:45-4:00    Uncle Jack Band
                                                          4:15-5:10     Pigeons Playing Ping Pong  
                                                          5:30-7:00           Psycho Killers

WEST STREET STAGE

                                                          11:30-12:15      Hippy Sheiks
                                                          12:30-1:15 Bravenoise
                                                          1:30-2:15 Shinola
                                                          3:00-4:00         Soul Island Rebels
                                                          4:15-5:15     Grilled Lincolns  
                                                          5:45-7:00          All Mighty Senators 

Don’t forget about the 80+ vendors bringing arts & crafts and food & drink for you!  This is an event you certainly don’t want to miss!

See you Sunday!

Alex Marie Schmidt, Intern

Beach Tennis, Anyone? Aruba Sponsors Federal Hill Street Beat Festival!

It’s official!  Aruba is bringing Beach Tennis to the Federal Hill Street Beat Festival this Sunday, September 30th! Street Beat is Federal Hill's biggest festival of the year, and with a real sand court added to the mix of live music, food&drink, arts&crafts, Kids' Kross Street, and more, this event is sure to be the best yet. And, all this with FREE admission!

Beach Tennis is the national sport of Aruba, and is gaining momentum throughout the world.  A mix between tennis and beach volleyball, this game promises to be fun and exhilarating.  Along with the 80+ vendors offering food, drink, crafts, and an incredible 17 bands, this addition will certainly make for an unforgettable Street Beat Festival.

Aruba is home to more than 50 annual events of its own – including the world-famous Carnival, Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival, Aruba International Film Festival, Aruba In-Style Fashion Week and International Beach Tennis Championships.     

Aruba is thrilled to bring sand, sun, and fun to one of Baltimore’s greatest outdoor events.  Definitely be sure to check out the courts and maybe even try it for yourself!

For more information on beach tennis, visit http://www.beachtennisaruba.com/

Visit the Aruba Tourism page here: www.aruba.com 

   Street Beat Festival information is at www.historicfederalhill.org 

 

Alex Marie Schmidt, Intern

Microloans: Helping Businesses One at a Time

 

While many talk about small business being the "backbone of our economy," access to capital for these businesses remains difficult.  Federal Hill Main Street is here to help our local merchants with Federal Hill Microloans, a program we launched to offer small amounts at a low interest rate.  The project is funded primarily from our annual Fest-of-All event at the Baltimore Museum of Industry (so you can not only have a great night at our popular gala in February, you can also contribute to a good cause!). 

 

Often times, the microloan is just enough to make a business stronger.  Vanessa White of Vanessa’s Vintage Treasures (1132 S. Charles) used one to help broaden her inventory of unique jewelry, linens, pottery, and collectibles.  “I think this is an excellent program.  I’ve already sold some of the items I bought, so it all comes around in one big circle”, Vanessa said. 

 

Bobabooi's Treasure Chest (1028 S. Charles) used a microloan to finance development of an interactive website with e-commerce options and integrated social media.  Bobabooi's sells Ravens, Orioles, and Natty Boh-themed clothing and related accessories, and the loan helped broaden their customer base.  

 

"It's fantastic that local businesses have this option, right here in our neighborhood", said Bobabooi's owner Angela Lauta.  And Vanessa White mentioned that "the process was easy and convenient."

 

 

For more information, call 410-757-4500 or emailadmin@historicfederalhill.org

 

Alex Marie Schmidt, Intern

Love to Read? Share Your Thoughts on New Book Blog

The Book Escape Blog is now live! Local book enthusiast, Cathy Strodel, is managing the interactive site for the Federal Hill shop at 805 Light Street which carries new and used books. Cathy shares her opinions and will also incorporate those of readers who comment on the online column, entitled "Book Talk with Cathy Strodel." All are welcome to visit the blog and contribute.

Anyone who loves to read will love this blog! Cathy is a voracious reader with sharp insights. Her writing style is personal and easy to follow. She makes good recommendations (and explains why) and has the perfect blogging voice, "talking" to readers with the familiarity of a neighbor.

Consider following Book Talk if you want to be part of a book club but can’t make the meetings. I’ve already taken note of a couple books I’m interested in reading, and this is just the beginning. I can’t wait to see her future posts!


Check it out for yourself: http://thebookescapeblog.blogspot.com/

Alex Marie Schmidt, Intern

Happy Birthday, Midnite Confection's Cupcakery!

Just in time for autumn, Federal Hill's Midnite Confection’s Cupcakery (1051 S. Charles) is celebrating its 2nd anniversary by releasing a brand new confection: the Salted Caramel cupcake. The cupcake will perfectly compliment the crisp fall air and your warm apple cider. The flavor itself is quite unique, playing on the classic sweet and salty combination, but without overdoing it.

Some of the shop's other new flavors include French Toast, Lemon Meringue Pie, and Cookies & Cream, so be sure to keep them in mind next time you entertain or need to temporarily tame your sweet tooth. (After all, beach season’s over!) Midnite also has signature flavors of the day, which change every day or week. You can see the calendar as well as the pricing at their web site, www.midniteconfection.com

Midnite’s creativity and attention to flavor have lead to numerous raves in Baltimore GO, Baltimore’s Best magazines, and many more. They would like to thank all of their customers and the Federal Hill Area for their success!

Alex Marie Schmidt, Intern

How About a Spirited Ghost Tour of Historic Federal Hill?

With Halloween just around the corner, there are new “spooky” attractions popping up all over town.  This year, we recommend checking out the new Historic Federal Hill Ghost Tour, guaranteed to give you an unforgettable experience of this historic community. 

Barry Werner, co-owner of Scarborough Fair Bed & Breakfast (801 S. Charles St.), has teamed up with Inspired Ghost Tracking, a paranormal investigation group based in Jessup, MD, to provide the most diverse haunted tour in the area. “Science, technology, spirituality, and legend” are combined together to give participants a unique perspective as they walk through the streets of Federal Hill.

Rob Gutro, a medium, along with Inspired Ghost Tracking, conducted research throughout the neighborhood before the tour was developed. For example, they verified a spirit residing in The Book Escape (805 Light Street). So who knows? Maybe you’ll be the next to discover a spirit. Actually, encountering a spirit could be easier than you think! As Barry says, “This community is infused with as much history as it is with spirits of the dead.”

The tour lasts about an hour and is offered on Saturdays at 6 pm and 8:30 pm.  There is a 15-person limit per tour, so buy your tickets today!

For tickets, visit http://federalhillghosttour.ticketleap.com.

For more information on Inspired Ghost Tracking, visit http://www.inspiredghosttracking.webs.com/

   By Alex Marie Schmidt, Intern