Neighborhoods other than Fells Point, such as the Station North Arts and Entertainment District, Federal Hill and Remington, are stepping up their Halloween celebrations. (Baltimore Sun)
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For years, Fells Point has been Baltimore's premiere Halloween hot spot.
Every Halloween, thrill-seeking partyers bounce from bar to bar, swilling drinks and showing off costumes. Mayhem is unavoidable.
But this weekend, other neighborhoods such as the Station North Arts and Entertainment District, Federal Hill and Remington are stepping up their Halloween celebrations, offering festivities for 20-somethings and children alike.
"On the big drinking holidays, we've never put on a big show," said Joe Edwardsen, owner of Joe Squared, a Station North restaurant. "Now, we can really start getting competitive with Fells Point. ... Expect some craziness."
Last Halloween, Remington resident Beth Barbush threw an impromptu bash along with her neighbors. This year, she decided to get organized. Barbush founded Hauntingdon Avenue (a spooky play on her street name, Huntingdon Avenue). Held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday on the 2900 block of Huntingdon Ave., the free event will feature face and pumpkin painting, pumpkin punch and Halloween-themed children's games.
Barbush has been preparing for the blowout block party by getting kids and adults to make decorations. She has also been accepting donations of candy and Halloween memorabilia.
"I have a dresser full of candy," she said. "My back room has been turned into a decoration studio, and my house has been taken over with bags and spiders and cobwebs."
Nearly all of the bars, clubs and restaurants in Station North teamed up to organize the first North of the Living Dead. Most of the neighborhood's events are free, and, as Edwardsen noted, many are eccentric. Take, for example, the Station North "haunted hayride" - a large van filled with straw which will ferry partyers from spot to spot for free.
"We're going to pull up to people on the street and yell, 'Hey, you! Want a ride?' " Edwardsen said.
The Grateful Dead tribute band Shakedown Suite is putting on a free show at Joe Squared (133 W. North Ave., 410-545-0444). The music starts at 10 p.m. Saturday.
"We're a bunch of hippies," Edwardsen said.
The Windup Space (12 W. North Ave., 410-244-8855), in conjunction with Atomic Books, is sponsoring a Heroes and Villains costume contest. The contest, which kicks off about 9 p.m. Saturday, features judges James Taylor of Shocked and Amazed Magazine and makeup artist Cheryl Kinion. DJs Miracle Ear and King Gilbert will spin. The person with the best costume wins $400.
"That's rent, depending on where you live," said owner Russell de Ocampo.
De Ocampo said he is thinking about dressing up as Sarcastro, a superhero featured on "The Tick" whose super power was his sharp wit.
"He looks like Fidel Castro, but without a beard or hat," he said.
Station North neighbors the Strand Theater and Hexagon are collaborating on a couple of free events. The Hexagon (1825 N. Charles St.) will have a dance party called BOLT, which starts at 9 p.m. Saturday. At the Strand (1823 N. Charles St., 443-874-4917), Edgar Allan Poe interpreter David Keltz will perform "The Tell-Tale Heart" at 11 p.m. BOLT will pause at 11 p.m. for the performance and will resume afterward.
The Gilded Lily Burlesque will present a new show titled "Campfire Carnage" at the Load of Fun, 120 W. North Ave. The show, which starts at 10 p.m. Saturday, costs $10.
The Metro Gallery (1700 N. Charles St.) is playing host to the Dead Celebrity Ball, which features a tarot card reader, a Marilyn Monroe impersonator and Halloween movies. Roots rockers June Star will play a Velvet Underground set, and DJ group Claire Hux will spin music from Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. Doors open at 8 p.m. Saturday for the free party.
"It's not the same thing as a Fells Point Halloween bar hop, which you would have to take me to kicking and screaming," said Metro Gallery owner Sarah M. Williams. "We have entertainment and we have art."
This is the first year for the Federal Hill-O-Ween, a neighborhood bar crawl sponsored by Lindy Promotions and the Federal Hill Hospitality Association. For $10, patrons can sign up to get drink specials such as $2 Miller Lites, $5 Three Olive vodka cocktails and $6 Three Olive vodka and Red Bulls. Mother's, MaGerk's, Stalking Horse, and Ropewalk Tavern are among the 14 participating bars. Tickets can be purchased in advance at lindypromo.com or on Saturday at 1113 S. Charles St.
Every Halloween, thrill-seeking partyers bounce from bar to bar, swilling drinks and showing off costumes. Mayhem is unavoidable.
But this weekend, other neighborhoods such as the Station North Arts and Entertainment District, Federal Hill and Remington are stepping up their Halloween celebrations, offering festivities for 20-somethings and children alike.
"On the big drinking holidays, we've never put on a big show," said Joe Edwardsen, owner of Joe Squared, a Station North restaurant. "Now, we can really start getting competitive with Fells Point. ... Expect some craziness."
Last Halloween, Remington resident Beth Barbush threw an impromptu bash along with her neighbors. This year, she decided to get organized. Barbush founded Hauntingdon Avenue (a spooky play on her street name, Huntingdon Avenue). Held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday on the 2900 block of Huntingdon Ave., the free event will feature face and pumpkin painting, pumpkin punch and Halloween-themed children's games.
Barbush has been preparing for the blowout block party by getting kids and adults to make decorations. She has also been accepting donations of candy and Halloween memorabilia.
"I have a dresser full of candy," she said. "My back room has been turned into a decoration studio, and my house has been taken over with bags and spiders and cobwebs."
Nearly all of the bars, clubs and restaurants in Station North teamed up to organize the first North of the Living Dead. Most of the neighborhood's events are free, and, as Edwardsen noted, many are eccentric. Take, for example, the Station North "haunted hayride" - a large van filled with straw which will ferry partyers from spot to spot for free.
"We're going to pull up to people on the street and yell, 'Hey, you! Want a ride?' " Edwardsen said.
The Grateful Dead tribute band Shakedown Suite is putting on a free show at Joe Squared (133 W. North Ave., 410-545-0444). The music starts at 10 p.m. Saturday.
"We're a bunch of hippies," Edwardsen said.
The Windup Space (12 W. North Ave., 410-244-8855), in conjunction with Atomic Books, is sponsoring a Heroes and Villains costume contest. The contest, which kicks off about 9 p.m. Saturday, features judges James Taylor of Shocked and Amazed Magazine and makeup artist Cheryl Kinion. DJs Miracle Ear and King Gilbert will spin. The person with the best costume wins $400.
"That's rent, depending on where you live," said owner Russell de Ocampo.
De Ocampo said he is thinking about dressing up as Sarcastro, a superhero featured on "The Tick" whose super power was his sharp wit.
"He looks like Fidel Castro, but without a beard or hat," he said.
Station North neighbors the Strand Theater and Hexagon are collaborating on a couple of free events. The Hexagon (1825 N. Charles St.) will have a dance party called BOLT, which starts at 9 p.m. Saturday. At the Strand (1823 N. Charles St., 443-874-4917), Edgar Allan Poe interpreter David Keltz will perform "The Tell-Tale Heart" at 11 p.m. BOLT will pause at 11 p.m. for the performance and will resume afterward.
The Gilded Lily Burlesque will present a new show titled "Campfire Carnage" at the Load of Fun, 120 W. North Ave. The show, which starts at 10 p.m. Saturday, costs $10.
The Metro Gallery (1700 N. Charles St.) is playing host to the Dead Celebrity Ball, which features a tarot card reader, a Marilyn Monroe impersonator and Halloween movies. Roots rockers June Star will play a Velvet Underground set, and DJ group Claire Hux will spin music from Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. Doors open at 8 p.m. Saturday for the free party.
"It's not the same thing as a Fells Point Halloween bar hop, which you would have to take me to kicking and screaming," said Metro Gallery owner Sarah M. Williams. "We have entertainment and we have art."
This is the first year for the Federal Hill-O-Ween, a neighborhood bar crawl sponsored by Lindy Promotions and the Federal Hill Hospitality Association. For $10, patrons can sign up to get drink specials such as $2 Miller Lites, $5 Three Olive vodka cocktails and $6 Three Olive vodka and Red Bulls. Mother's, MaGerk's, Stalking Horse, and Ropewalk Tavern are among the 14 participating bars. Tickets can be purchased in advance at lindypromo.com or on Saturday at 1113 S. Charles St.
