A Baltimore-raised pianist plays spirituals alone on a Charles Street stage Sunday at five, and Chance the Rapper brings the Coloring Book tour to town Tuesday.
Outside of music, the Orioles are home all week with the Rays in for the weekend, Steve-O brings his stunt-comedy tour to Magooby's, Center Stage opens a world-premiere play, and the BMA hangs a new Matisse show. There's also a flower festival with bouquet-making out at Pearlstone, close-up magic in a downtown hotel, a pickle-making contest at a brewery, five hours of open chess in Waverly, a Taiwanese ceramicist's gallery opening, and honky-tonk and funk on back-to-back free nights in the woods.
Hard to believe it's the end of August already.
Top Pick
Cyrus Chestnut: Solo Jazz Piano, Spirituals and Hymns Chestnut is a Baltimore-raised pianist, and this is him alone at the keyboard working through spirituals and hymns. An die Musik is a small second-floor listening room on Charles Street. It starts at five and it's done in time for dinner. Sun 8/23, 5:00 PM ET · An die Musik LIVE · $10–$35, seated · tickets
Weekend Highlights
Baltimore Orioles: home all week The O's are home all week at Camden Yards — the Yankees Thursday, then the Rays Friday through Sunday, including a 1:35 Sunday matinee. Upper-deck seats go cheapest, and Friday's game has an "I Love the 90s" postgame concert (Vanilla Ice, Tone Lōc, Tag Team, Treach) included with the ticket. Thu 8/20–Sun 8/23 · Oriole Park at Camden Yards · singles from ~$13, upper deck · schedule & tickets
Steve-O: The Crash and Burn Tour Jackass's Steve-O brings his stunt-and-stories stand-up to Magooby's for a three-night run. Thu 8/20–Sat 8/22 · Magooby's Joke House, Timonium · $34.99–$46.99 · tickets
Chance The Rapper: Coloring Book 10 Year Anniversary Tour Chance is touring Coloring Book for its tenth anniversary. Nevermore Hall holds 1,500, and it's not sold out as of this week. Tue 8/25, doors 8:00 PM ET · Nevermore Hall, 20 Market Place · check the link for pricing · tickets
An Evening with NRBQ and the Whole Wheat Horns NRBQ has been touring since 1966, and they're at Ottobar this weekend with the Whole Wheat Horns. All ages, standing room. Sat 8/22, doors 7:00 PM ET · Ottobar · all ages · event page
Sunset Cruise and Book Swap Sunset on the water with a book swap as the icebreaker — bring one, take one. Small boat, so space is limited. Sat 8/22, 6:30 PM ET · Baltimore Water Taxi · check the link for pricing · tickets
GroGive Pickle Making Contest & Party A pickle-making contest and tasting at Peabody Heights Brewery, benefiting GroGive's fresh-produce work. Sat 8/22, 2:00–4:00 PM ET · Peabody Heights Brewery · $21–$36 · tickets
Book Now
Ken and Brad Kolodner's Annual Backyard Concert feat. Richie and Rosie An actual backyard on Fenchurch Road: the Kolodner Quartet plays the first set, Richie Stearns and Rosie Newton the second, and both groups close together. Rain moves it indoors to Stony Run Friends Meeting House. No published price — the organizer takes reservations directly and space is limited, so reserve early. Bring a chair. Sun 8/23, doors 6:00 PM ET, music 7:00 PM ET · 3806 Fenchurch Rd · reservation only · reserve
Flower Festival at Pearlstone Farm A U-pick flower festival out at Pearlstone in Reisterstown, with bouquet-making — cut your own stems and build an arrangement to take home. Sun 8/23, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM ET · Pearlstone Farm, Reisterstown · flowers $5–30 · details
Free & Cheap
Arty Hill and the Long Gone Daddys Modern honky-tonk in a wooded amphitheater, free, with free parking. Lawn seating, so bring a chair. Sat 8/22, 6:00–8:00 PM ET · Lurman Woodland Theater, Catonsville · free · schedule
Speakers of the House Same stage the next night: old-school funk, boogaloo and rock, also free. Sun 8/23, 6:00–8:00 PM ET · Lurman Woodland Theater, Catonsville · free · schedule
Chess Night Five hours of open chess at a Waverly brewery, no cover, boards provided. Mon 8/24, 4:00–9:00 PM ET · Peabody Heights Brewery · free · details
21st Annual ResFest Reservoir Hill's neighborhood resource fair and music festival — local artists, a marching band, food vendors. Sat 8/23, 11:00 AM–3:00 PM ET · St. Francis Neighborhood Center, Reservoir Hill · free · details
Y2K Night — 2000s Dance Party A free 2000s-themed dance party at the Columbia lakefront; period fits encouraged. Fri 8/21, 6:00 PM ET · Downtown Columbia Lakefront · free · details
After Dark
Baltimore vs Everybody Official Silent Party Silent-disco format: three DJs, three channels, headphones instead of a PA — so you can actually hear the person next to you. Sat 8/22, 10:00 PM ET · The Manor · 18+ · check the link for pricing · tickets
Chrisette Michele The Grammy-winning neo-soul singer plays a late set at Keystone Korner, the Harbor East jazz supper club. Sat 8/22, 9:00 PM ET · Keystone Korner Baltimore · tickets
Get Moving
Nothing outdoorsy on the calendar this week — the active option is dancing.
Monday Night Swing and Lindy Hop A beginner lesson then open dancing — no partner or experience needed, and swing rotates partners anyway. Mon 8/24, lesson 8:00 PM ET, open dancing 9:00 PM ET · Mobtown Ballroom and Cafe, Pigtown · $10 cover (live-music nights $20) · details
Dancin' Under the People Tree An all-levels outdoor dance-fitness hour at the Columbia lakefront, under the People Tree sculpture. Free. Fri 8/21, 7:00–8:00 PM ET · Columbia Association Lakefront · free · details
Culture Corner
Opening Reception: "Let's Meet After the Rain" A visiting Taiwanese artist's opening reception — Wei-Yin Chen will be in the room with the work. Free, and five minutes from Pecha Kucha the same night. Wed 8/26, 4:30–6:00 PM ET · Baltimore Clayworks · free · details
Pecha Kucha Creators present in the fast 20-slides format the night is named for. People mingle between presenters. Wed 8/26, 7:30–10:00 PM ET · Current Space · free · details
Young Blood Artist Talk and Mentor Mixer Closing night for the 17th annual Young Blood program: each exhibiting artist walks you through their own work, then a mixer with working professionals. Fri 8/21, 6:00–8:00 PM ET · Maryland Art Place · free · details
Bocking (World Premiere) Baltimore Center Stage opens its season with a world-premiere play, running through Sept 6. Opens Sat 8/22, through 9/6 · Baltimore Center Stage · tickets
Matisse and Martinique: Portraits and Poetry A new exhibition at the BMA pairing Matisse's portraits with poetry, up through October — the museum is always free. Opens Fri 8/21, through 10/25 · Baltimore Museum of Art · free · details
Worth It Solo
The Mystery Collection of Paul Noffsinger Close-up magic at Poe's Magic Theatre inside the downtown Lord Baltimore Hotel. Small room, one performer working the tables — easy to catch on your own. Fri 8/21 · Poe's Magic Theatre, Lord Baltimore Hotel · check the link for pricing · tickets
Smile Empty Soul: The Spin The Bottle Tour A smaller all-ages show with a scene crowd. Multi-band bill. Tue 8/25, 6:00 PM ET · Zen West, 5916 York Rd · $21–$26 · details
Worth the Trip
Apple picking season opens at Gaver Farm Gaver Farm in Mt. Airy opens pick-your-own apples this weekend — the first of the fall U-pick season, about 45 minutes out. Sat 8/22, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM ET · Gaver Farm, Mt. Airy · priced by the bag · details
Profs and Pints: Demography as Destiny UMBC public-policy professor emeritus John Rennie Short on how population trends drive world events — a real lecture, in a bar. Heads up: it's listed as free in a few places, but it's actually $13.50 plus fees. Same series Monday 8/24 with Martha Kakooza of Morgan State on Designing Belonging. Wed 8/26, doors 5:00 PM ET, talk 6:30 PM ET · Profs and Pints Metro Baltimore · $13.50 advance, 21+ · Wednesday · Monday
Love and Basketball The 2000 film back on the big screen at the Senator, three showtimes a day through Monday. Wed 8/26, 10:00 AM / 4:00 PM / 7:00 PM ET · The Senator Theatre · showtimes
Mark Your Calendar
Love Groove Music Festival, 10th Annual Tenth year, now on the waterfront at Point Park. Robert Glasper headlines with Saba, plus art galleries, 30+ food and artisan vendors, and a city-wide bike ride. Sat 8/29, 12:00–8:00 PM ET · Point Park, Baltimore Peninsula · $29–$209 · tickets
The Kehlani World Tour Kehlani at Merriweather, pavilion and lawn. Lawn seats at a venue this size don't really sell out, so no rush there. Thu 8/27, 6:30 PM ET · Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia · tickets
That's the week. New picks land next Thursday. Subscribe at bmoreactivities.com to get them first.