International Edgar Allan Poe Fest Comes to Baltimore

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

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Eating Baltimore
October 02, 2025

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Hey Baltimore—

Welcome to the 57 new subscribers who joined since last week’s edition. Happy to have you in our (growing) community!

Let’s get right into it…

  • Poe Fest Int’l is coming to Baltimore this weekend, commemorating the 176th Anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s Death in Baltimore and the 180th anniversary of The Raven…

  • Mahaffey’s Pub is hosting their annual block party…

  • Vino in Vogue takes over Aliceanna Street…

  • And Live Baltimore’s annual Trolley Tour explores the city’s neighborhoods…

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

Together With Our Friends At Aluma Yoga

Aluma Yoga has been voted Best of Baltimore four years straight for a reason — it’s where busy Baltimoreans finally reset. For new members, we’re offering 30 days of unlimited yoga for just $58. That’s an entire month to try every class, every teacher, every flow.

Build strength, flexibility, and balance as you uncover inner peace, cultivate self-awareness, and nurture your soul. Morning, evening, and weekend options that fit even the busiest schedule. Our expert instructors meet you exactly where you are — whether you’re brand new or deep into your practice.

With two beautiful studios in Mt. Washington and Cockeysville, all you have to do is show up. We’ll take care of the rest.

Things To Do In Baltimore & Surrounding Areas This Weekend

Food & Drink

🍻 Oktoberfest at LoonAsea
📅 Saturday, October 4th | 11AM
📍 LoonAsea, 207 Nanticoke Rd, Essex
Celebrate Oktoberfest on Hopkins Creek with live bands, seasonal beers, festive cocktails, bingo with prizes, giveaways, and plenty of waterfront cheer. Break out the lederhosen and dirndls for an all-day party by the water. Prost!

🎭 The Life of a Showgirl Brunch & Bubbly ($)
📅 Saturday, October 4th | Doors 11AM, Event 12PM
📍 Jimmy’s Famous Seafood, 6526 Holabird Ave, Baltimore
Celebrate Taylor Swift’s “Showgirl” era with bottomless cocktails (mimosas, Bloody Marys, champagne) for 3 hours, a Video DJ spinning her hits across eras, themed decor + photo ops, and a toast to her latest chapter. Must be 21+ to sit at the bar.

🍺 Mahaffey’s Pub Annual Block Party
📅 Saturday, October 4th | 12PM
📍 Mahaffey’s Pub, 2706 Dillon Street, Baltimore
Mahaffey’s shuts down the block for its annual community blowout — craft beer truck, giant smoker, pizza from Good Boy Bagels, spiked coffee drinks, raffles, kids’ play room, and live music from DJ Jay Rose, The Shrapnels, and Black Falls Band.

🍷 Vino in Vogue at Harbor East ($)
📅 Saturday, October 4th | 12PM–4PM
📍 800 Aliceanna Street, Harbor East, Baltimore
Spend a fall afternoon sipping and shopping as Vino in Vogue takes over Aliceanna Street. Enjoy wine tastings from Harbor East restaurants and vendors, local makers, live music, kids’ crafts, and sidewalk shopping specials. Ticket packages (starting at $25 early bird) include tasting tickets, a signature glass, lite bites, and exclusive shopping perks. Proceeds benefit Reading Partners.

🍺 Mobtoberfest at Mobtown Brewing
📅 Saturday, October 4th | 12PM–8PM
📍 Mobtown Brewing Company, 4015 Foster Avenue, Suite 400, Baltimore
Mobtown’s annual block party returns with live music from Old Eastern, Bootleggers & Baptists, and Allie Cat Trio, plus wagyu dogs from Glizzys and burgers from Smash Dads. Browse local vendors, enjoy face painting, and bring the whole family (pets too!) for an all-day neighborhood celebration.

🏈 Ravens TailGOAT: Ja Rule & MC4D ($)
📅 Sunday, October 5th | 9:30AM-12:30PM
📍 1300 Russell St, Baltimore, MD 21230
The first TailGOAT of October brings the ultimate pre-game party before the Ravens host the Texans. Enjoy 3+ hours of premium open bar, food, live sets from DJ duo MC4D and DJ Rome, and a performance by The Dundalk Boyz. Special guest Ja Rule takes over as celebrity bartender, plus meet Super Bowl Champion Brandon Williams for photos and autographs.

Family Fun

🦁 Zoo BOO! at The Maryland Zoo ($)
📅 Friday, October 3rd – Sunday, October 5th | 10AM–4PM
📍 The Maryland Zoo, 1 Safari Place, Baltimore
The Zoo’s annual fall festival is back with trick-or-treating, pumpkin patch, hay maze, seasonal crafts, food trucks, live performances, and more. Kids can join the costume contest, explore fall-themed games, and meet zoo mascots. This weekend’s theme is Magic — costumes encouraged!

🌏 Filipino Festival ($)
📅 Sunday, October 5th | 10AM–6PM
📍 Power Plant Live!, 34 Market Place, Baltimore
Experience the sights, sounds, and flavors of the Philippines with a full day of food, live music, cultural performances, and a vibrant parade. Kids 6 and under get in free — making this family-friendly festival a lively celebration of tradition and community.

🍂 Chapel Hill Farms & Nursery Fall Festival
📅 Friday, October 3rd-Sunday October 5th | 9AM-6PM
📍 Chapel Hill Farms & Nursery, 4350 Chapel Rd, Perry Hall
Celebrate fall on the farm with pony rides, hayrides, and plenty of family fun. Shop seasonal favorites like mums, pumpkins, corn stalks, and fall crafts, plus enjoy farm treats from apple cider donuts to fresh kettle corn. Casa Mia will be on-site serving pit beef, turkey, beer, and wine.

🏡 Live Baltimore Trolley Tour
📅 Saturday, October 4th | 8AM–1PM
📍 Johns Hopkins University at Eastern, 1101 E 33rd St, Baltimore
Hop aboard Live Baltimore’s annual Trolley Tour to explore neighborhoods, meet housing experts, and learn about incentives for buying a home in the city. The day includes two workshops, a guided bus tour with stats and insights, plus access to the City Living Fair. Best part? Eligible attendees can qualify for a $5,000 homebuying incentive. Click here to register for free.

🚗 Fall Car Show at Our Lady of Hope
📅 Saturday, October 4th | 10AM
📍 Our Lady of Hope Parish, 1727 Lynch Road, Dundalk
Cruise into fall at this annual community car show featuring classic rides, concessions by Cub Scout Pack 354, and fun for all ages. $10 entry fee per car, free for spectators. Registration opens at 9AM.

🍯 Honey Harvest Festival ($)
📅 Sunday, October 5th | 10AM–4PM
📍 Oregon Ridge Nature Center, 13555 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville
Celebrate all things bees at this family-friendly fall festival featuring honey extraction demos, chats with local beekeepers, kids’ crafts, food trucks, live music, animal encounters, and more. $5 admission at the gate (cash preferred).

Music & Entertainment

🎩 International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards
📅 Friday, October 3rd – Sunday, October 5 | 11AM-4PM
📍 Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum, 203 N. Amity Street, Baltimore
Celebrate Poe with a weekend of free admission events — vendors, performances, art, museum tours, the Black Cat Ball, and more in the shadow of the Poe House.

🎨 Highlandtown First Friday Art Walk
📅 Friday, October 3rd | 5PM–9PM
📍 Highlandtown Arts District, 3700 Eastern Ave, Baltimore
Explore galleries, pop-ups, performances, and hands-on activities at Highlandtown’s monthly art walk. This edition features new exhibits at Crystal Moll Gallery, Snake Hill Tavern, and Creative Alliance, plus the soft opening of Bao Di Restaurant & Bar and Highwire Improv’s new theater. Enjoy karaoke, live music, improv shows, film screenings, tastings, and special menu items at neighborhood restaurants.

🎨 AVAM Exhibition Opening Party: Fantastic Realities ($)
📅 Friday, October 3rd | 7–10PM
📍 American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy, Baltimore
Celebrate the launch of AVAM’s 30th original MEGA-Exhibition, Fantastic Realities: Truth Stranger Than Fiction. Enjoy catering by Chef’s Expressions, music by DJ Carl of Collective DJs, and a first look at artwork that explores truth and transformation through alternate worlds. $45 general admission, free for members.

👁️ World Oddities Expo ($)
📅 Saturday, October 4th – Sunday, October 5th | 11AM–7PM
📍 Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W Pratt St, Baltimore
A two-day celebration of the weird and wonderful: explore artisan vendors, interactive performances, workshops, guest speakers, the De•Formed exhibit (real anatomical anomalies), and immersive oddities experiences. General Admission $20, VIP $25 (children 12 & under free).

This Week in the Community…

Spike Gjerde to Open La Jetée at Harbor Point
Chef Spike Gjerde will open La Jetée, a French-Mediterranean bistro in the former Cindy Lou’s Fish House, featuring Chesapeake seafood through a Provençal lens. Opening October 5. Read more…

Café Dear Leon Opens in Canton
The new coffee-and-pastry shop on O’Donnell Square has quickly become a local favorite, offering Ceremony Coffee blends, scratch-made croissants, cookies, and Japanese egg sandwiches in a bright, welcoming space. Read more…

Baltimore Seeks New Operator for Pier Six
The city has issued an RFP for a new management partner at Pier Six Concert Pavilion, with the current Live Nation/ASM Global deal ending December 2025. Proposals are due November 7. Read more…

Pride II Offers October Harbor Sails in Baltimore
Enjoy fall sunsets and Maryland’s crab season aboard the historic schooner Pride II, now offering day sails from Baltimore through mid-October. Read more…

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: Tater

“Our new kitten Tater (for Tony Taters) getting in a nap after a long day…”

Tater, always ready for a 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.

Charm City Bulletin

Want to spread the good word about your business to 7,800+ locals? Book an ad in the Charm City Bulletin. Shoot me an email or click the button below to learn more.

Bayside Asphalt | Serving Glen Burnie & Central Maryland
From driveways to parking lots, Bayside Asphalt delivers expert paving, sealcoating, and repairs with fast turnaround and honest pricing. Fully insured, family-run, and trusted by homeowners and businesses alike. Click here to request a free estimate or call 443-699-5179.

🍊 Craft Crushes - Maryland’s #1 Cocktail (My personal favorite, too!)
Made right in Baltimore by Maryland hands. Craft Crushes delivers all-natural, gluten-free “Crush” cocktails in a can—6% ABV, only 200 cals, vodka distilled 6x. Perfect for beach days, BBQs, or chilling on the stoop. Available at local liquor stores—check the site for locations! craftcrushes.com

Bite of Baltimore | Guided Food Tours (Local Favorite!)
Taste your way through Charm City with Bite of Baltimore’s award-winning food tours. Explore historic neighborhoods like Fells Point while enjoying dishes from some of the city’s best local restaurants. Perfect for locals, visitors, and group outings. Book your tour now and discover a side of Baltimore you can actually taste. Click here to reserve your spot. (Use code: SHOPSMALL for 10% off)

Date Spot Of The Week

📍 917 Cathedral St, Baltimore, MD 21201

This week we’re heading to Mount Vernon…

Root City Kava Bar & Lounge is a cozy, eclectic spot specializing in kava, kratom teas, and alcohol-free craft cocktails. Start your evening with a traditional kava shell — smooth and grounding — or sip on one of their signature mocktails like the Kava Mule.

The space has a warm, bohemian vibe with low lighting, plush seating, and a community-driven energy that sets it apart from your usual date-night bar. Between the live DJs, open mics, and game nights, there’s always something happening — keeping the mood lively without losing that intimate feel.

It’s the perfect choice if you want a date night that’s unique, conversation-focused, and just a little off the beaten path.

👉 Explore their full menu & plan your evening: rootcitykava.com

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.

Thanks for reading Eating Baltimore today. If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, share it with someone who is fed up with the Ravens.

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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