Baltimore-Staycation Dating

The beautiful Inner Harbor in Baltimore.

I think Baltimore is my favorite place I have ever lived. There is always something amazing going on. We recently stayed home for a full week (we normally travel during Spencer's off weeks) so I packed it full of fun, local activities.

Date One

Such a wonderful museum. We didn't plan enough time to see all of the treasures, we will be back.

First up we went to the Baltimore Museum of Art. We were fortunate to get tickets to see Amy Sherald: American Sublime.

Amy Sherald is an American Portrait artist.

From the website:

The exhibition tells the story of Sherald’s vision and practice through 38 paintings created from 2007 to the present—from her early, rarely seen works to her iconic, larger-than-life portraits of Black Americans in everyday moments, many of which were painted in Baltimore and feature Baltimore-based models.

First Lady Michelle Obama. This is stunning.

"Freeing herself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freedom was another." Title taken from Toni Morrison's Beloved.

It should be noted that this exhibition was originally meant to be shown at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. Ms. Sherald moved it to Baltimore when she learned that one of her portraits was to be censored. I applaud the integrity and the bravery in this move.

Trans Forming Liberty, the art that was to be censored.

We were in awe of the sheer talent. This work is not to be missed, see it in person to truly appreciate the colors and the artistry.

Cheers! I sadly cannot recall the name of this cocktail.

Post-museum we walked to Pink Flamingo, a tiki bar. The service was on point, the drinks creative, and it was burger night ($4 off on Wednesdays!). The star of the show was the Spam appetizer. Craveable.

Spam Chips & Dip-fried spam, house-made french onion dip, furikake

Date Two

Lots to see and do at the National Aquarium

I have a certain sense of humor, so I planned a date night that started at the Aquarium and ended at a seafood restaurant.

The aquarium was not really my thing, but fun to do one time.

Clockwise from the top left: Maryland Rockfish Special (shockingly bland), the old school table veggies, table bread and butter, Hash Browns a la Oceanaire (with bacon, onion, and Tabasco, I did not get the heat), and a Spicy Margarita.

The food is solid at The Oceanaire Seafood Room. The service is a bit odd (everyone is super nice but they kept trying to take our food and drinks before we finished), we still enjoy this place from time to time.

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail. This was a bit odd colored to me, but it tasted great.

Date Three

One of our favorite lunch places is Kneads. We were excited to learn that they offer different types of cooking experiences. We opted for the Pizza and Wine class.

From the website:

Get ready to swirl, sip, and savor your way through a fun pizza and wine pairing experience!

Ready to roll up your sleeves and have some fun? Join our Pizza Class and discover the secrets of making the perfect pie from scratch! This in-person event is all about kneading, topping, and baking in a relaxed, friendly setting. Whether you’re a beginner or a pizza pro, it’s the perfect way to spend time with friends and learn some tasty skills. Grab your apron and let’s make some delicious memories together!

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/2c873c_059d1434b6d14d20a900ace61c120118/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

He is a natural!!

The staff was amazing, but it was way too crowded. Fun fact: I worked at a pizza place all through college, I forgot that I already possess these skills! The pizza was delicious and we had fun, but I think we prefer a more personalized experience.

It really was a delicious pizza.

Honorable Mentions

We discovered a new-to-us pastry cafe called Sacre Sucre. I am obsessed with dessert as an art form.

Behold the Desert Rose. Tasty and gorgeous!

We dipped back over to La Calle. We hadn't been back since restaurant week. Spoiler alert: it is still delicous.

Frida!

Fresh Guacamole with Bacon?! Yes, please.

We capped the week off at Five Iron Golf. Improving our golf skills is a goal we have every year, it is awesome that this simulator business is close to our new home.

Nice swing!!!