Dishin' With Downtown Diane
Happy Easter Week & Happy Passover (Begins Friday Evening)
Memphis Opens Tonight
The Tony Winner musical production "Memphis" opens tonight at the Hippodrome and runs through April 8. Visit http://www.france-merrickpac.com/events/index.html for tickets and show times. Rush tickets are available two hours prior to show time at the Hippodrome Box Office for $20. Cash only.
Orioles Opening Day
This Friday! Look for three new dining/drinking options this year: Stuggy's, Dempsey's & Gino's. Dempsey's will brew beer on premises. I will have a sneak peek of Camden Yards "latest renovations, experiences and food elements," Wednesday and will report on Twitter. Follow me @DowntownDiane for pictures and further information. Full opening day schedule & more details on the 20th anniversary season http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20120402&content_id=27839406&vkey=pr_bal&c_id=bal.
Ride the Rails with B&O Easter Bunny April 6 & 7
Enjoy a breakfast buffet and take a train ride with the B&O Easter Bunny! Photo opportunities available, too. Reservations required. http://www.borail.org/Calendar-bo.aspx
Spring Break...What to do with the Kids?
Red Zone Adventures is open for Spring Break in Timonium, offering indoor laser tag, laser maze, glow mini golf and a variety of games, as well. Check out their spring break specials http://redzoneadventures.com/.
Ray Rice Ready to "Chip In' for Your Charity or Cause
Raven Ray Rice has teamed up with popchips in an interesting promotion. Send in your request for Ray to "chip in" for your charity event and if you win, he may just lend a hand and show up at your event. Your charity will also win a year's worth of popchips! Get the details here https://www.facebook.com/popchips/app_400269420001641.
Low Calorie Vodka? Yes, Voli Vodka
Voli offers the first low-calorie, delectable fruit and fusion flavored vodkas. I sampled a few of the flavors and they are perfect for spring and summer cocktails. With 25-40% fewer calories, I love the lemon on ice or mixed with cranberry and the raspberry cocoa with prosecco is the perfect after dinner treat. Check out cocktail recipes at http://www.volispirits.com/cocktails.php and impress your guests this season. Espresso vanilla paired with espresso, perfetto.
Johns Hopkins Film Fest April 6-8
Check out the full schedule of films http://www.hopkinsfilmfest.com/schedule/index.php.
Coming to the Lyric Opera House
HUMAN Nature April 26
Australia's leading pop vocal group with millions of albums sold worldwide is storming America in a big way with their first U.S. tour and a new album release, The Motown Record.
Colin Machrie & Brad Sherwood May 11
Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, stars of the Emmy nominated "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" have teamed up to present an evening of extraordinary improvisational comedy.
The Mel Brooks Musical "Young Frankenstein" Comes to Life on Stage in Baltimore: May 12-13
Follow me on Twitter for your chance to win tickets to upcoming shows @DowntownDiane. Visit www.TheLyricOperaHouse.com for more details, more upcoming events and tickets.
Upcoming Free Events at Baltimore Parks & Plazas
Check out the schedule of upcoming FREE events downtown from yoga to live music. There's something for everyone. http://tinyurl.com/bu8xlco Presented by Downtown Partnership.
A Floral Fiesta..Art Blooms at the Walters
Thursday, April 12-Sunday, April 15
Enjoy four glorious days of floral demos, workshops, exhibitions and an opening night culinary fiesta. For full schedule of events http://thewalters.org/eventscalendar/eventdetails.aspx?e=2129
Chef's Expressions Wine Dinner
Mystery Meal
Friday, April 13 6:30 p.m.
Gramercy Mansion
The wine's identity will be kept secret as they are poured and then revealed after you guess. Use the classically paired cuisine and your palate as a guide.
Visit www.ChefsExpressions.com for full schedule of wine dinners, culinary classes and to make reservations.
Privateer Day Fells Point!
April 21
FREE day full of fun-filled activities from Thames Street Park & Ann Street Pier to Broadway Square, Broadway Pier & Bond Street Wharf!
11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
*Live "Battle At Sea" *Live music *Plenty of family entertainment *Re-Enactors *Food & craft vendors *Tours *Set sail & SO MUCH MORE! Visit http://www.fellspointmainstreet.org/privateerday.html for full schedule of events.
Sugarloaf Crafts Festival
April 27-29
Timonium Fairgrounds
Enjoy more than 250 craft designers and fine artists, daily entertainment, craft demos, specialty food, music & more. For schedule of events and a discount coupon for admittance visit www.SugarloafCrafts.com.
Taste of Pikesville
Thursday, May 3 5-8 p.m.
Pikesville Hilton
Enjoy a sampling of food and drink from area restaurants.
Visit www.PikesvilleChamber.org for full details of event and tickets.
Tickets: $30 advance / $35 at the door
BarBAYq & Music Festival
May 4-5 Friday 4-10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds
Proceeds benefit Anne Arundel Medical Center Pediatrics Emergency Inpatient Unit & Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County
*Food & drink *Cooking competitions and demonstrations & plenty of entertainment for all ages - more than 25 bands on two stages
www.barbayq.com
Fiesta 5K
Saturday, May 5
6:30 a.m. Registration Opens 8 a.m.
Race Begins At Power Plant Live
Benefits Robert Packard Center for ALS research at Johns Hopkins.
Visit www.fiesta5k.com for more information and to register.
National Harbor Food & Wine Fest
May 5 & 6
National Harbor Waterfront
Sample more than 150 wines, beer, spirits..Enjoy celebrity chefs..Demos..Tasting theatre..Live music + SO MUCH MORE http://wineandfoodnh.com/show-info for full schedule of events.
Make it a Weekend Get-Away w/ a VIP Package at The Gaylord National Hotel http://tinyurl.com/7re4xac
Fashion Fever
Sunday, May 6 11:30-3 p.m.
Grand Lodge Hunt Valley
Proceeds Benefit Mt Washington Pediatric Hospital
Fashions provided by some of Baltimore's finest boutiques. There will be shopping, a fashion show, silent auction & array of delicious food. For further info and tickets visit http://www.mwph.org/events/fashion-fever.htm.
20th Annual Culinary Extravaganza
Monday, May 7 6-9 p.m.
Grand Lodge Hunt Valley
Benefits Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland
Fine cuisine from more than 20 Top Baltimore restaurants & caterers...Live music...Fine wine & spirits...auction
Visit http://www.mealsonwheelsmd.org/ for tickets and further details.
Art with a Heart ..Home is Where the Heart Is
Saturday, May 12 7-10:30 p.m.
Castle at Keswick
Enjoy fabulous food & cocktails at this fun-filled benefit for Art with a Heart.
Evening will be filled with art activities, silent auction & MUCH more. Read all about Art with a Heart here www.ArtwithaHeart.net.
Cylburn Market Day
Saturday, May 12 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Gorgeous setting to purchase your spring flowers and plants. Enjoy food trucks, entertainment and more http://cylburnassociation.org/marketday2012/market-day/. Preview party is Friday, May 11!
Paws On Parade
Saturday, May 12 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Baltimore Humane Society
1601 Nicodemus Road Reisterstown
Enjoy either a 1-mile or 1.6-mile trail through beautiful 365-acre wildlife sanctuary, plus other fun and educational activities for you, your family and your furry friends. For further info and to register, visit http://bmorehumane.org/.
Brew at the Zoo
May 26-27
Sample 50+ brews, enjoy live music, plenty of food and there's even a kid zone if you want to bring the kiddies.
Full details and tickets http://www.marylandzoo.org/2012/02/brew-at-the-zoo/.
Many Events Leading Up To Preakness Day!
Wild West Comes to Pimlico Saturday, April 14
BBQ and Brew Fest with craft beers, LOTS of Western entertainment and live country music. $25 gets you a day filled with fun, grub and three drinks included. Add craft beer for $10. Fun includes mechanical bull, bull herding, Native American dancers.
DECANTER: A DAY OF RACING, FOOD & MARYLAND WINE
April 21-22
Noon - 6p.m.
Pimlico Racecourse Infield Wine Fest!
Enjoy a unique infield view of live horse races, samples of fine Maryland wine, great food, and wine & equine focused arts & crafts at Pimlico Race Course. Check out http://decanterwinefestival.eventbrite.com/ for full details and ticket info.
Saturday, April 28- Preakness Mystery Glass Giveaway
Derby Day Infield Concert & Food Truck Fest May 5 Noon-6 p.m.
Infield Concert with alternative rock sensation Safetysuit. Bottomless beer for those 21+ & soda & water for all inclusive with $30 ticket. Best of Baltimore food trucks will be onsite selling their delicacies. www.Ticketmaster.com
People's Pink Party Friday, May 18
The day before Preakness, the 3rd Annual Legends for the Cure Race and Female Jockey Championship. Also the Black-Eyed Susan Race and a full day of fun to benefit the local Susan G Komen for the Cure.
Preakness Stakes & Infieldfest Saturday, May 19
The people's race...The people's party...an exciting day in Baltimore!
Downtown Diane is a Baltimore area food, travel & entertainment reporter, appearing Fridays on 105.7 The Fan Norris & Davis Show with her entertainment report. Follow her for Daily Dish on Twitter @DowntownDiane & check out upcoming events at www.DowntownDiane.net.
