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Food & Wine Just Crowned Baltimore #1 for This Comfort Food

The Best Things to Do in Baltimore This Weekend...

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Eating Baltimore
November 20, 2025

Hey Baltimore—

Welcome to the 38 new subscribers who joined since last week’s edition. Happy to have you in our (growing) community!

Here’s what we’ve got this week:

  • Kick off the holidays on Fleet Street @ Ale Mary’s…

  • American Visionary Art Museum’s 30th Birthday Bash…

  • Belvedere Square’s Holiday Makers Market

  • Food & Wine calls Baltimore “ground zero” for one of America’s favorite comfort foods…

Scroll on, make plans, and as always — eat well, Charm City.

Things To Do In Baltimore & Surrounding Areas This Weekend

Food & Drink

🎄 The First Noël @ Ale Mary’s (Free)
📅 Friday, November 21st | 5:30 PM
📍 Ale Mary’s, 1939 Fleet St, Baltimore
Kick off the holidays on Fleet Street with the official lighting of the bar and the debut of Ale Mary’s Christmas food and drink menu. Stick around for cozy crafts like snowflake and paper chain making — perfect for a little festive DIY fun.

🥟 Slavic Food Festival (Free)
📅 Saturday, November 22nd | 10 AM–2 PM
📍 Patronage of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church, 1265 Linden Ave, Baltimore
Enjoy holupki, pirohi, halushki, kielbasi subs, and their “world-famous” potato pancakes at this semi-annual food festival. Dine in or grab takeout, and browse a wide selection of Carpatho-Rusyn and Byzantine Catholic religious items for sale.

🎉 American Visionary Art Museum’s 30th Birthday Bash ($)
📅 Saturday, November 22rd | All Day
📍 American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy, Baltimore
Celebrate three decades of visionary art with a full day of guided tours, hands-on art activities, artist meet-and-greets, birthday cake, and plenty of AVAM’s signature quirky surprises. Free with museum admission — or become a member to join the celebration at no cost.

🎅 Christmas Village Preview Weekend (Free)
📅 Saturday, November 22nd | 12–9 PM
📍 Christmas Village, 501 Light St, Baltimore
Get an early taste of Baltimore’s German Christmas market with 70+ vendors, festive food like bratwurst, raclette, kebabs, and mulled wine, plus new attractions including a carousel, Ferris wheel, and Christmas Pyramid. Stop by Rash Field Park at 4:30 PM on Saturday for the Tree Lighting Ceremony to watch the season come alive.

🪐 Grown-Up Field Trip: In Space ($)
📅 Saturday, November 22nd | 7–10 PM
📍 Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St, Baltimore
Explore black holes, cosmic star fields, and hands-on science in a completely kid-free night at the Maryland Science Center. Enjoy space-themed party games, interactive exhibits, and cosmic cocktails, with beer available for purchase from Pherm Brewing Company. 21+

Family Fun

🎀 Pink Friday Shop Crawl in Fells Point (Free)
📅 Friday, November 21st | 12–7 PM
📍 Start at Fells Point Surf Co., 1631 Thames St, Baltimore
Kick off the holiday season by shopping small at Fells Point’s first-ever Pink Friday Crawl. Pick up a free charm bracelet and map, then visit participating boutiques for exclusive charms, treats, in-store specials, and festive surprises — a fun, community-driven way to support local shops before Black Friday.

🚂 The Shops at Kenilworth Annual Holiday Train Garden (Free)
📅 Opens Saturday, November 22nd | 10 AM–8 PM
📍 The Shops at Kenilworth, 800 Kenilworth Dr, Towson
The beloved Kenilworth Train Garden returns for the holiday season with festive displays, detailed model trains, and plenty of nostalgia. Open daily through January 4th, it’s a can’t-miss tradition for families looking to kick off the holidays.

🎄 Jingle & Mingle Market (Free)
📅 Saturday, November 22nd | 10 AM–4 PM
📍 The Waxter Center, 1000 Cathedral St, Baltimore
Shop local Black-owned businesses, enjoy music from a live DJ, and browse holiday gifts, raffles, and concessions. A festive way to support small vendors and get a head start on holiday shopping.

🔥 Krampus Yule Market (Free, Toy Donation Suggested)
📅 Saturday, November 22nd | 10 AM–7 PM
📍 Masonic Temple Association, 2 Trading Place, Dundalk
Browse 50+ creepy holiday, oddity, craft, and cosplay vendors at this all-ages twist on a holiday market. Wear your favorite cosplay, enjoy food from Das Bierhalle and The Slice is Right food trucks, and consider bringing a new unwrapped toy to support Toys for Tots.

🎁 Belvedere Square Holiday Makers Market (Free)
📅 Saturday, November 22nd | 11 AM–2 PM
📍 Belvedere Square, 540 E Belvedere Ave, Baltimore
Browse holiday gifts from local artists, crafters, and makers while enjoying live music, great food, and seasonal drinks from Square merchants. A festive, family-friendly way to kick off your holiday shopping.

🎄 Magic of Merryland Christmas Tree Lighting (Free)
📅 Saturday, November 22nd | 12 PM–6 PM
📍 Harbor East, 1625 Aliceanna St, Baltimore
Harbor East’s all-day holiday festival returns with pet photos with Santa at noon, followed by a family-friendly street festival featuring train rides, carnival games, giveaways, and more. The celebration wraps with the Harbor East Christmas Tree Lighting at 5:30 PM — a festive kickoff to the season.

Music & Entertainment

I Wanna Dance With Somebody....before 9pm: 80s Dance Party ($)
📅 Friday, November 2s1st | 6–9 PM
📍 Ottobar, 2549 N Howard St, Baltimore

Early Rave in the Brewhouse ($)
📅 Friday, November 21st | 5–11 PM
📍 Peabody Heights Brewery, 401 E 30th St, Baltimore

Gerald Albright Live at Keystone Korner ($)
📅 Friday, November 21st | 5PM
📍 Keystone Korner, 1350 Lancaster St, Baltimore

Saxl Rose: Cruise Control Release Party (Free)
📅 Saturday, November 22nd | 6 PM
📍 R. House, 301 W 29th St, Baltimore

This Week in the Community…

Beyond Blue Crabs, Fried Chicken Is Baltimore’s Juiciest Specialty
Fried chicken has carved out a major place in Baltimore’s food scene—so much so that a new feature in Food & Wine calls the city “ground zero” for one of America’s favorite comfort foods. From iconic local spots like Park’s Fried Chicken to creative newcomers such as Ekiben, the legacy of Southern-style bird-frying runs deep here. Read more…

Annual Monument Lighting Marks Start of Baltimore’s Holiday Season
On Thursday, December 4, thousands are expected to gather at Mount Vernon Place in Baltimore for the 54th annual Monument Lighting — a cherished tradition that transforms the historic area into a winter wonderland complete with music, food, and a fireworks finale. The event also highlights the Mount Vernon Place Conservancy’s ongoing mission to preserve one of the city’s most iconic public spaces. Read more…

BJ's Wholesale Club to Replace Former Walmart Site in Towson
BJ’s Wholesale Club is planning to open a new store at the site of the former Walmart on Putty Hill Avenue, Towson Place, with construction expected to begin in 2027 and a projected opening around mid-2028. The move helps fill a 155,000-square-foot vacancy and reflects growing retailer confidence in the Towson retail market. Read more…

Real Estate Corner: Brought to You By Susan Carroll, eXp Realty 

Each week we’ll showcase a few standout listings from around the Baltimore area—sometimes it’s a great starter home, sometimes a smart investment, and sometimes just one we can all daydream about.

If any of these spark your interest, or you’re curious about the market in general, our partner Susan Carroll is here to help with buying, selling, or answering your real estate questions.

Pet Of The Week

Have a furry, feathered, or scaly friend you’re proud of? Send a photo and a few fun facts, and we might feature them in an upcoming issue. It’s a fun way to share smiles with the community and discover local pet resources along the way.

This week’s reader submission is: Mason

“Meet Mason. He is Shichon (Bichon Frise and Shih Tzu mix) He is a mommy's boy. He loves sitting on the couch and looking out the window. He loves to play with the grandkids but enjoys sleeping A LOT!”

Mason, never one to turn down a good nap!

P.S. I’m also looking to partner with a local pet business to help bring this section to life—if that’s you (or someone you know), shoot me an email here.

Date Spot Of The Week

📍 1301 N Calvert St, Baltimore, MD 21202

This week’s date spot takes us to Mera Kitchen Collective, a warm, community-driven restaurant in Mount Vernon where immigrant and refugee chefs bring their culinary traditions to life. It’s cozy, colorful, and full of heart — the kind of place where every dish carries a story and every bite feels like an adventure shared.

Start with vibrant small plates like their mezze spreads, sambusas, or seasonal salads, then move into globally inspired entrées such as the Ethiopian tibs, Yemeni-style stews, or the rotating chef’s specials that spotlight diverse cuisines. Pair dinner with a glass of wine or a craft cocktail, and linger over dessert while soaking in the welcoming, communal vibe. It’s thoughtful, meaningful dining — perfect for couples looking to connect over something truly special.

👉 Check out the menu & plan your evening: mera.kitchen

Thanks for reading Eating Baltimore today. If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, share it with someone who does all their Christmas shopping at holiday markets.

Have a great weekend!

Matt | Eating Baltimore

Our Eating Baltimore Partners are local businesses and organizations that have committed to growing with us in the Baltimore area community. If you’re interested in what it looks like to be an Eating Baltimore Partner, let’s talk.

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