Going to the AFC Championship Game in Baltimore? 5 more things for Chiefs fans to see
After the Chiefs’ big win Sunday, Kansas City fans are eagerly awaiting the team’s appearance in the AFC Championship Game against the Ravens in Baltimore, Maryland.
If you’re lucky enough to have tickets to the game, you may find yourself with time to kill in an unfamiliar place this weekend.
You may know Baltimore best from gritty shows like The Wire or its campy, irreverent arts scene. But there’s plenty of fun to be had in Charm City — here are five one-of-a-kind spots to check out while you’re there.
Charm City Meadworks’ taproom
While it’s no match for Boulevard’s sprawling brewery campus, Charm City Meadworks is a beloved local brand brewing fresh flavors of a honey-based drink you may never have tried before: mead.
Many people associate mead with medieval Europe, but this beverage is making a big comeback among indie brewers across the country. The Meadworks’ taproom currently offers 11 flavors on draft — for those with a sweet tooth, the Retire by the Fire flavor is a must-try — as well as five varieties of still mead, a honey-based wine with around 12% alcohol by volume.
Charm City Meadworks is open from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, noon until 10 p.m. on Saturday and noon until 5 p.m. on Sunday. You can find the taproom at 400 E. Biddle Street.
Baltimore Museum of Art
The Baltimore Museum of Art holds work from the likes of Matisse, Van Gogh and Andy Warhol as well as Bruce Nauman neon light installations, Elizabeth Talford Scott’s intricate quilts and multimedia sculpture work by Mexican artist Raul de Nieves.
Located adjacent to the sprawling main campus of Johns Hopkins University, the museum is also home to an outdoor sculpture garden, a children’s discovery room and an eclectic gift shop. Also on site is an upscale restaurant called Gertrude’s Chesapeake Kitchen with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sculpture garden.
The BMA, as locals call it, has free admission and is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. On Thursdays, the museum and gift shop stay open until 9 p.m. so visitors can stop by after work or school.
With something in its collection for everyone, this is a great spot to escape the cold weather and see some of the most prestigious art Baltimore has to offer — without breaking the bank.
The National Aquarium
Thanks in part to its position just an hour from Washington, D.C, Baltimore is home to the National Aquarium. You can find the impressive attraction in the Inner Harbor, a commercial area downtown bordering an inlet of the Chesapeake Bay.
The aquarium features a wide variety of marine life, from water-dwellers like sharks, jellyfish and dolphins to ocean-adjacent species like puffins, turtles and monitor lizards.
Entrance to the aquarium is pricey, with timed entry tickets for adults over age 21 coming in at $49.95 apiece. Youth and seniors get in for $39.95 per person, and kids under age four get in free.
If you can swing the cost, the aquarium is a great family-friendly activity for a weekend in Charm City.
36th Street in Hampden
Reminiscent of the shops along 39th Street in the Volker neighborhood of Kansas City, the stretch of 36th Street in Baltimore’s Hampden neighborhood between Falls Road and Keswick Road is known simply as “The Avenue” by locals.
A favorite hangout spot for visitors and residents alike, this street is lined with shops, restaurants, antique stores and some of Baltimore’s most beloved local businesses. It’s easy to spend a whole afternoon within these five blocks shopping for books, crystals, yarn, shoes and vintage treasures.
Be sure to check out the rows of pinball machines inside the popular Mexican restaurant Holy Frijoles, grab a handcrafted drink at the Bluebird Cocktail Room and stop by The Charmery for homemade ice cream in creative flavors reminiscent of High Hopes or Betty Rae’s in Kansas City.
Waverly Farmers Market
Just a few blocks east of the free Charm City Circulator bus line, Waverly Farmers Market is a Saturday morning institution in the Waverly, Charles Village and surrounding neighborhoods.
Residents often stop by for fresh eggs, homemade cheese, mushrooms, cut flowers and tons of tasty produce — but there’s plenty of prepared food on offer as well. The biscuit sandwiches at Blacksauce Kitchen always draw a line of hungry visitors, and other vendors offer delicacies like baked goods, crepes, empanadas, coffee and slices of fresh-baked pie.
Waverly Farmers Market pops up every Saturday morning from 7 a.m. until noon in the parking lot at the intersection of 32nd and Barclay Streets. It’s free to enter — but be sure to bring plenty of cash and a reusable bag to carry your purchases.
Do you have more questions about things to do in Kansas City and beyond? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
