Janelle Diamond's picture
December, 7th 2010

Squidfire's Holiday Art Mart

squidfire

Janelle Diamond's picture
December, 7th 2010

25 Days of Gifts—#5

game

For the family that loves a good game night—two great board games. (That's right—nothing that gets plugged in or zapped or swatted.) The Wits & Wagers Family Edition features 300 kid friendly questions. Each player writes down a guess to a fun question, then players try to score points by choosing which guess is closest to the right answer. For 3 - 10 players, ages 8 and up. And Say Anything is a light-hearted game about what you and your friends think—giving you the chance the settle those deep questions like, "What is the most overrated band of all time?" and “What’s the best movie of all time?” 1) Ask any question from the card you draw. 2) Everyone else writes an answer and turns it face-up. 3) Secretly choose your favorite of these answers. Then everyone tries to guess which one you picked. For 3-8 players, teens and up. Around $20-$25 at Barston's Child's Play. —JED

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1:13 pm Tags: gift guide, gift ideas, holiday
Janelle Diamond's picture
December, 7th 2010

The Round-Up: Charm City Craft Mafia's Holiday Heap

The day had finally come to introduce my mother (visiting for the holidays from Kenya) and my bio-genetic engineer of a brother (visiting from DC) to their first renegade Baltimore crafts fair—Charm City Craft Mafia's Holiday Heap. Secretly hoping to give them a little culture shock, they surprisingly, and maybe a little unexpectedly, fell in love. Initially, getting them motivated and agreeing to going was a bit rocky—"we are going to see the Mafia make crafts inside of a church!! .... why?!?!"—needless to say, my Christian missionary mother was quite hesitant but my brother was eager for another awesomely crazy story from B-more for his Capital Hill buddies.  I watched the trepidation evaporate from their faces as we approached the throng of artsy people lined up in the cold for some hot burritos and treats at the Curbside Cafe truck parked in front of St. John's Methodist church on St. Paul. Walking in was a bit overwhelming at first. It was just as crowded and packed as you would expect at the mall, and yet, navigating the labyrinth of tables was more like a treasure hunt than a stress-induced anxiety fest. There was the usual push, shove, feet stepping and bumping involved as expected...

Janelle Diamond's picture
December, 6th 2010

Gift Guides—Classic Play

gift guide

I love a good gift guide. And a veteran gift guider over the past few years here at Baltimore Magazine, I know how much hard work it takes to edit through hundreds of items. (Find our 2010 gift guide here.) I wanted to use this space to highlight a few gift guides, the ones that I truly love. Today's super worthy contender—Classic Play's Gift Guide. And the best part? They are local. Jennifer Cooper is one of the founders and designers at Ellie Bellie Kids and the editor of Classic Play and she lives in Baltimore with her two kids and photographer hubby.The online zine is published quarterly—you can check out the latest issue here. And she blogs regularly—including a recent...

Janelle Diamond's picture
December, 6th 2010

25 Days of Gifts—#4

yogaspace

For the person that would rather be ohhming—a relaxing yoga experience. Stephannie Cowles Weikert recently opened yogaspace in Butcher's Hill and is the perfect zen coach—she's "dedicated to wellness, healing, and relieving the physical, mental, and emotional effects of stress." Thai yoga massage is an ancient healing form of assisted, passive yoga. The practicioner guides the recipient through a series of yoga asanas or postures while working with the body’s energy lines and pressure points. These actions result in a comprehensive full body treatment that relieves muscular tension, improves circulation, boosts the immune system and balances the body energetically. The overall effect is a profound sense of centered well-being, peacefulness, rejuvenation and restoration. (Rate: $90 / 90 minutes or $70 / 90 minutes monthly.) Yoga therapy is the process of empowering individuals to progress toward improved health and well-being through the application of the...

12:44 pm Tags: gift ideas, holiday
Janelle Diamond's picture
December, 6th 2010

25 Days of Gifts—#4

yogaspace

For the person that would rather be ohhming—a relaxing yoga experience. Stephannie Cowles Weikert recently opened yogaspace in Butcher's Hill and is the perfect zen coach—she's "dedicated to wellness, healing, and relieving the physical, mental, and emotional effects of stress." Thai yoga massage is an ancient healing form of assisted, passive yoga. The practicioner guides the recipient through a series of yoga asanas or postures while working with the body’s energy lines and pressure points. These actions result in a comprehensive full body treatment that relieves muscular tension, improves circulation, boosts the immune system and balances the body energetically. The overall effect is a profound sense of centered well-being, peacefulness, rejuvenation and restoration. (Rate: $90 / 90 minutes or $70 / 90 minutes monthly.) Yoga therapy is the process of empowering individuals to progress toward improved health and well-being through the application of the philosophy and practice of...

12:43 pm Tags: gift ideas, holiday
Janelle Diamond's picture
December, 3rd 2010

25 Days of Gifts—#3

For the family that can't fit one more toy in their house—one of my favorite gifts is a family membership to The Baltimore Zoo, National Aquarium, Maryland Science Center, Port Discovery, or B&O Railroad Museum, etc., etc. It's the gift that keeps on giving, won't collect dust in the family room, and is something everyone can use together.—JED

10:08 am Tags: gift ideas, holiday
Janelle Diamond's picture
December, 2nd 2010

"Free" Parking in Harbor East

Well, it depends on your definition of free. Spending $100 in Harbor East will get you three free hours of parking. From now through Friday, December 24, bring $100 of same-day receipts plus a voucher from any Harbor East merchant to a participating Harbor East self-parking garage—and parking is free. The free holiday parking is available from 10am-10pm at three Harbor East self-park garage locations: Legg Mason Garage, 1001 Fleet Street Garage and 650 S. Exeter Garage.

 

12:56 pm Tags: free, shopping
Janelle Diamond's picture
December, 2nd 2010

Free (Weekend) Parking in Fells Point

The City of Baltimore Parking Authority is allowing Baltimore Main Streets to offer free parking in Fell's Point for four weekends in December. Free parking dates are December 3-5, December 10-12, December 17-19 and December 24-26, 2010. Free parking begins at 8:00 pm on Fridays and ends at 8:00 pm on Sundays. You will not have to do anything.  Baltimore Main Streets is working with the South Baltimore Station to bag the meters and meter boxes. 

 

 

12:51 pm Tags: free, shopping
Janelle Diamond's picture
December, 2nd 2010

25 Days of Gifts—#2

blocks

For the hip baby: Fred's XYZ blocks are stylish, hilarious, and, yet, can still be considered a learning tool. (I already have a set waiting for my new babes.) These are the kind of blocks you don't mind seeing scattered on your floor. Blocks include illustrations of corn dogs, dentures, and the uvula. Around $30—locally at Red Tree or online at target.com. —JED

12:47 pm Tags: gift ideas, holiday