Celebrate the Holidays Federal Hill Style!

Federal Hill will kick off this holiday season, per tradition, with the 18th Annual Festive Flavors Tour on Tuesday, December 10th, from 6 to 10 pm. Groups travel to 7 different local restaurants and bars, where they'll sample delicious food and (adult) beverages, all for only $55. Tickets can be purchased at Federal Hill Main Street, 42 East Cross Street.  

Everyone's favorite shopping event, Moonlight Madness, will be held Friday, December 13th, from 8 pm to midnight. Don't miss your chance to score last minute holiday deals and find something for everyone on your list! Locally owned shops will stay open late to offer you specials and savings on everything from vintage jewelry and unique clothing, to creative homegoods and one-of-a-kind artwork. All the while, Carolers will stroll the streets, filling the air with holiday cheer!

Retrieve a "Moonlight Madness Passport" from Federal Hill Main Street, get at least 5 stamps from participating businesses on December 13th, and you'll be entered to win a goody bag of Federal Hill items. We'll be open 'til midnight to offer complimentary gift wrapping and refreshments!

Prior to this shopping extravaganza, join members of Federal Hill Neighborhood Association and Federal Hill Main Street at our annual Tree Lighting, to be held at the Digital Harbor Foundation Tech Center Park at 7pm. Children of all ages can enjoy caroling, hot cocoa and cookies, and a special visit from you know who!

Please feel free to bring your children's hand-made ornaments or decorations for our community tree. They can be dropped off in advance, or bring them with you to the event and we'll hang them during the lighting ceremony.

Santa will be available for pictures (please bring your own camera) on Saturday, December 14th, from noon to 4 pm at the Cross Street Market. There will be crafts and activities which the entire family can enjoy together.

Please join our community in celebrating the holidays, as they are meant to be shared. We hope to see you there!


Briana Lopes, Intern

Historically Hip Halloween: 7 Adorable DIY Kids Costumes

"What are you going to be for Halloween?" Children (and adults) hear this question every October, but it never ceases to provoke anxiety and anticipation! Although a trivial feat, finding just the right costume seems to be important at every age. What makes a great costume? If you take a stroll down any Party City isle, you'll see current pop stars, classic cartoons and fairy tale idols, and a mask of every horror movie villain created.

Not only can these store-bought costumes run you a pretty penny, they're the same recycled ideas from last year, lacking your own individual stamp. If you're feeling crafty, thrifty, and time-crunched, and you want to have the most uniquely-dressed trick-or-treaters on the block, bust out your sewing kit (or safety pins and fabric tape) and try these simple and affordable do-it-yourself costumes that your little ones are sure to love!

Dwight, from The Office

No alterations required! All you need to do is dig through your husband's tie drawer, pick the one he never wears, and pair with black dress pants, black shoes, and solid colored dress shirt. The look is solidified by Dwight's signature glasses and slicked down hair.

Hot Air Balloon

This creative costume is super easy and inexpensive to make. You probably have a wicker basket laying around the house, along with brown paper lunch bags and white rope or string. Fill two bags with candy and tie them to the ends of two ropes. Use a third to create a knot from which your balloon will be attached with ribbon. Cut leg holes in the bottom of your basket, and fill your balloon with helium to keep it from falling down!

IPod

Keep up with the times with this easy, no-fuss costume. It's a project you can work on with the kids. Use a rectangular cardboard box, cut slits for arms, head, and legs. Paint it white, and stencil on the apple logo and touch circle with silver Sharpie marker. Use red duct tape to outline and cover the rest of the box. 

California Sushi Roll

Baltimore is a foodie town, and sushi is a cult favorite among many people young and old in neighborhoods like Federal Hill. Celebrate your love of Asian cuisine with this simple costume you can make from felt cut outs, a black onesie and leggings, and black headband. The chopsticks and ginger/wasabi headband pull together this precious outfit!

Frida Kahlo, Artist

For the toddler who appreciates folk art. This clever costume can be recreated with synthetic roses, a colorful shawl, Mexican-style embroidered dress and a brown eyebrow pencil to create the allusion of the painter's famous unibrow. 

Alice in Wonderland

Put a unique spin on a classic heroine costume. Purchase grey and white horizontal stripped tights and matching hair bow and Alice's signature turquoise blue dress. Remember the boxes Build-A-Bear comes in? That shape is perfect for decorating the white rabbit's house! 

Raven

Poe would be so proud. Show your town spirit and reinvent this iconic mascot. Martha Stewart shows you how, step-by-step, here.

With a little inspiration, we hope to see you and your family all decked-out in Halloween attire in the Federal Hill Business District on Halloween Day (from 4pm to 7pm) for the annual Federal Hill Businesses Association's Trick-or-Treat event. Each business (between the 800 and 1300 blocks of Light and Charles Streets) with orange and black balloons in front of their doors will have free candy for the kids!

Briana Lopes, Intern