Fall at the Walters

Come enjoy the following at the Walters Art Museum: 

• Heroes: Mortals and Myths in Ancient Greece - This exhibition explores the human need for heroes through the arts of one of the oldest and most influential cultures in history. Heroes are sometimes portrayed as superhuman protagonists while at other times as average people who rise above the ordinary. Statues, reliefs, vases, bronzes and jewelry illustrate the lives of heroes and heroines, including their tasks, adversaries, challenges, failures and private moments. The exhibition features over 100 objects from U.S. and European museums as well as pieces from the Walters' collection. Runs through January 03, 2010.
• Heroes in Our Midst - Inspired by the Heroes exhibition and its emphasis on the myths of Herakles, Odysseus, Achilles and Helen, Art on Purpose presents Heroes in Our Midst, a project about modern-day Baltimore individuals who share attributes with the ancient Greek heroes highlighted in the Walters' exhibition. Runs through January 03, 2010.
  

For more information on the Walters, visit www.TheWalters.org. 

BSO and More at the Meyerhoff!

The Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, home of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO), offers a variety of performances.

For more information on all BSO events, including the annoucement of the 2009-10 Concert Season, visit www.bsomusic.org.  

Wednesday Afternoon Concerts at the Basilica

Students from the Peabody Institute School of Music and the Basilica of the Assumption join to offer weekly Wednesday afternoon concerts at America's First Cathedral. The 30 minute music program starts at 12:45 pm following the 12:10 pm Mass.

For a complete listing, see  Wednesday Concerts at the Basilica.

Concerts at Peabody

The Peabody Institute stages nearly 100 major concerts and performances each year, ranging from classical to contemporary to jazz, many of them free—a testament to the vision of George Peabody.

This month includes:

• The Peabody Brass Ensemble play seasonal selections, Dec. 3 after the monument lighting.
• The Peabody Concert Orchestra, Peabody-Hopkins Chorus, and Peabody Singers present Bach's Magnificat, selections from The Nutcracker, and The Many Moods of Christmas, Dec. 8 at 8:00 pm.
  
• The Peabody Renaissance Ensemble present Cristo è nato: An Italian Christmas, Dec. 10 & 11 at 7:30 pm.

Tour the Basilica - America's First Cathedral

Winner of the 2009 American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Award for Architecture, the restored Basilica of the Assumption - America's first Cathedral. Free tours are available daily to see the light-filled Cathedral designed by Benjamin H. Latrobe, architect of the United States Capitol Building. 

• Monday - Friday: 9AM, 11AM, & 1PM
• Saturday: Call 410-727-3565 Monday-Friday for Saturday tour availability.
• Sunday: 12 Noon

While touring the Basilica, make sure to see the new Pope John Paul II Prayer Garden. For more information on Basilica Tours, including maps, directions and frequently asked questions, click here.  

Lifelong Learning at Peabody

Exploritas (the program name of Elderhostel, Inc.) offers a program of life learning experiences for older adults and the Peabody Institute hosts one of the most popular in the United States. Spend a weeklong "study vacation" at the Peabody Inn and attend topical music classes and daily performances by Peabody students and faculty. While staying on campus, you can also take a short walk to enjoy art museums, historic 19th century architecture, international cuisine, theatre and more...all available in Baltimore's Mount Vernon.

For more information, check-out upcoming Peabody Exploritas Programs. 

The Maryland Historical Society

• With an Artistic Eye: Folk Art from the Maryland Historical Society
  Through June 30, 2010
  Whimsical weathervanes, riotously colorful quilts, children’s toys, paintings, pottery, and many other artifacts show the rich variety of folk art.
• Maryland Veterans of World War II
  Through December 31, 2009
  Authentic arms, uniforms, equipment and memorabilia of Maryland veterans, with their tales of heroism and sacrifice.
  

For more information visit www.mdhs.org.

A View of the Parade: H.L. Mencken and American Magazines

H. L. Mencken is perhaps best known in Baltimore for his decades-long connection to the Sunpapers. But throughout his career as a newspaper journalist—which started when he was just 19—he also worked for magazines as a writer and editor. As he gained national prominence as a cultural critic, Mencken himself became the subject of magazine stories. This exhibit documents his contributions to American magazines as both a commentator and a topic of commentary, and demonstrates the important role that magazines played in American life from the 1900s through the 1950s. Drawing from the rich resources of the George H. Thompson Collection of Henry Louis Mencken, it allows us to understand Mencken's broader context and to glimpse the history of American magazines during a time of rapid cultural change.

Runs through November 30, 2009. For more information see the George Peabody Library website.

Exhibitions at the Pratt!

On display at the Enoch Pratt Central Library:

• Edgar Allan Poe: More than a Poet - An exhibition of letters, photographs, and other memorabilia belonging to Edgar Allan Poe from the Pratt Library Collection. This celebration of Poe's 200th Birthday runs through December 6, 2009.  

For more information, visit www.PrattLibrary.org.

It's Back - the Sunday Farmer's Market

The place to be on Sunday mornings - from May 3 through the December 20 -  is the Baltimore Farmer's Market. Underneath the Jones Falls Expressway at the corner of Holliday and Saratoga you'll find fresh produce, fruit, herbs, flowers and more. The market opens at 8:00 AM. 

Charm City Attractions

For more things to do in Baltimore, visit Baltimore Attractions at Baltimore.Org.