Light City Baltimore: Light Up The Night

Baltimore is going to be at its brightest this week. This is the first year for the (soon to be annual?) Light City Baltimore Festival. Lasting all week, the event celebrates 200 years of innovation with light. Baltimore was the first city in the United States to light up its streets with gas lanterns back in 1816. That transformation changed the urban landscape as we know it forever. Now, 200 years later, we’re celebrating by lighting the city up again.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

You had better keep your eyes open all this week because you won’t want to miss any of this. Take a stroll down the 1.5 mile BGE Light Art Walk and view over 50 different attractions. See illuminated visual artwork, exciting street theater and musical performances and concerts. You’ll see original work from local, regional, national and international artists that have been hand selected by a jury through a call of entry. The impressive pieces will wow and surprise you and take your breath away. Take your time exploring so you can take it all in.

In addition to the pieces of art, you’ll have the opportunity to see astounding mobile art in the form of performance artists. Single Carrot: Ballet Ballistique is a performance of movement. The performers, decked out in inflatable bubble balls, will show you how to really move. Back in the day, there were things called ‘crankies’ that contained whole stories that could be viewed with the turn of a lever. The shadow images will transport you into the world of the story in a new way. Kendra’s Bay will make you laugh with their spectacular interactive digital puppet. You’ve never seen puppets like these before. With so many amazing and awe inspiring performances to see, how will you make time for all of them?

The Neighborhood Lights project wants to put local artists at the center. The magic of Light City will be coming to Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello, Hampden, Greater Mondawmin, Little Italy and Station North. Artists were chosen to create collaborative art projects for the neighborhood they live in. Some projects are event based and others are installations that can be viewed throughout the entirety of the festival. Learn more about some of the neighborhood projects and their artists here.

For families with little ones, Mini Light City is where it’s at. In Pierce’s Park, you’ll find hands-on activities which will let your child create something all their own. Entertainers will be wandering around to thrill the kids and don’t forget to grab an interesting treat like a lighted cotton candy. Your child deserves to take part in the enjoyment of Light City too. Let them!

Light City Baltimore might be new this year but we foresee it being a new annual tradition in our city. What are you most looking forward to in Light City?

Easter Hops Into Baltimore

Image courtesy of Benson Kua - Flickr

Easter is coming early this year and we’re ready for it! The pastel colored holiday might be religious but some traditions and events involved in the holiday can be enjoyed by all, particularly those families with young children. The holiday falls on March 27th this year, so grab your baskets and make sure your bunny ears are in place because we’ve got some bunny business to take care of.

At 10 AM on March 26th, you can work your bunny magic in the annual Easter egg hunt at Double Rock Park. Keep your eyes peeled for the little, round eggs hidden around the park. Make sure you bring a bag or basket to hold everything you find during your exploration of the park. In the event that it rains (the odds look to be in our favor), the event will be held in Parkville Recreation Center. Double Rock Park is only a 20 minute hop away from our home at McHenry Row.

Just across the river at Harbor East, you’ll find a tasty spread served up just for you and your family. At Pier 5 Hotel, you and your family can enjoy an Easter brunch near to home. With a view of the Inner Harbor located in the infamous Harbor Club, this Easter brunch is one you won’t forget. Reservations are recommended as tables fill up quickly so book your table now.

If one Easter Sunday brunch isn’t enough for you, we’ve got another one lined up for you. From 11 AM until 4 PM on Easter Sunday, you can enjoy delicious brunch selections at Embassy Suites North Baltimore. With a carving station of honey glazed baked ham, Swiss chocolate fondue, and a made to order omelette station, there’s something for everyone. Find out how you can make your reservations here.

Not everyone celebrates the Easter holiday and that’s okay. We can still appreciate some of the traditions and events that go along with the delightful holiday. Does your family celebrate Easter? What are some of your traditions for the day?

International Question Day With McHenry Row Apartments

Everyone has questions. It’s a fact of daily life. “How do I fill out this form?” “How long does this need cooked for?” Some questions have answers, while others will probably never be solved. When you’ve got questions about McHenry Row, we’re here to fill you in. In honor of International Ask A Question Day, we’ve rounded up some frequently asked questions to give you the rundown. You’ve got Q’s and we’ve got A’s for you.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Will there be room for big gatherings outside of my apartment?

We know you like to get together with your pals for parties and small events. So you’ll obviously need some space to do that. At McHenry Row we’ve got ample room not only in your apartment itself but in the common areas. The fireside lounge is adjacent to our wine decanting lounge so when you’re done pouring your drinks, you can spill out into the lounge to sit fireside and sip your wine. The media room is an ideal place to gather for games with your friends or maybe a watch party for your favorite TV show. With a wet bar and seating for 25 people, it’s more than enough to accommodate your pals. There is plenty of space at McHenry for you and all your friends.

Is there outdoor space so I can get some sun and fresh air?
At McHenry Row, we’ve got views to die for. Our rooftop terrace will allow for you to step out and get a breath of fresh air while simultaneously taking your breath away with the stunning views you’ll catch of the harbor. Relax on the lounge chairs with a good book while you wait for you lunch to cook on our outdoor grills. It really doesn’t get any better than this!

Will there be enough room for my extensive shoe collection?
You’ll have more than enough room in your new McHenry Row Apartment. You’ll be able to fit your shoe collection, your hat collection and all of your band tee-shirts. Each apartment at McHenry Row comes equipped with a fabulous walk-in closet. You’ll have ample room for your whole wardrobe in the walk-in closet.

If you ever have any questions that aren’t answered by our website, you can fire them at us on Facebook and Twitter. We’re here to answer your questions everyday, not just on International Ask A Question Day!

St. Patty's in Baltimore

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Wow! Two months already under our belts for 2016. Where does the time go? Hopefully the first two months of the year were kind to you and treated you well but even more than that hopefully the next month will treat you kindly as well. Coming up in March is St. Patrick’s Day, an exciting holiday celebrating Irish heritage and the spirit of the Irish. Whether you are or aren’t of Irish descent, everyone can appreciate the culture and customs of this green holiday.

You can’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day without a good parade. Thankfully, Baltimore has a special one cooked up for the big day. A little early, the parade takes place on Sunday March 13th. The parade kicks off at 2 PM from the Washington Monument and proceeds down Charles Street. If you’re feeling extra bold, the Shamrock 5K takes place right before the parade at 1:15. If you’re planning on attending the parade, it is recommended that you arrive early to beat the rush and find yourself a parking space. If you’d like to sign up for the 5K or learn more about the parade head here. Luckily, the start of the parade is only a 10 minute drive away from McHenry Row Apartments so you won’t have far to travel.

Also taking place on March 13th, is the Shamrock Shindig happening at Pierce’s Park. From 10:30 AM until 2 PM, you can have fun the Irish way. The food trucks will be lining up to keep you well fed and happy and the beer and wine will be flowing while you see all there is to see at the Shamrock Shindig. You’ll have the opportunity to dance to live Celtic music performed by the Shamrogues. If you’re not sure how, the Broesler School of Irish Dance Performances will show you how it’s done. The Shamrock Kids Zone will be open for your young ones to enjoy too so they can join in the fun. Admission to the Shindig is free but you can purchase additional passes too. To learn about the special passes available, check here.

Last but not least, later this month the Baltimore Zoo will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day-themed event that you won’t want to miss. Wind your way around the zoo and witness the animals being fed tasty St. Patrick’s inspired treats. With your entrance fee to the zoo, you get to see these shows for free!

Even if you’re not Irish you’re certainly benefitting from the luck of the Irish this month with all of the fun events happening. What is your favorite St. Patrick’s Day tradition? Tell us on Facebook and Twitter.

The Day of Unplugging

With today’s high paced world, it can be easy to get wrapped up in our electronics and forget to be present in our day-to-day life. With our faces buried deep into our phones, tablets and laptops each and every day at work and at home it can be difficult to feel like you’re truly connecting to someone else. Take a step back and immerse yourself in your everyday life without your phone in the way by celebrating the Day of Unplugging this Friday!

Image courtesy of Pixabay

There’s no better place to relax and get away from it all than a coffee shop. Quiet with tasty smells wafting under your nose? What could be better? Instead of plopping into a chair and swiping through Twitter for an hour while you enjoy your coffee/tea/hot chocolate, you can read a real book! Not an ebook, but a true, paper novel. Relax for hours soaking in every moment of your unplugged time. Pfefferkorn’s Coffee is the best place to do that at. Right around the corner from McHenry Row and with some amazing coffees, you’ll love spending your time disconnected here.

The best place of all to spend your time unplugged is outdoors! Head to Latrobe Park for some good old-fashioned fresh air. Spend a day at the tennis courts or the basketball courts to get your energy out. Spending your days hunched over a computer doesn’t make for a healthy lifestyle. If you live with four legged, barking friends, bring them out to Latrobe Park to take advantage of the dog park! You’ll really enjoy watching them frolic about the area with other dogs. Taking a day to recline outdoors whether it’s in the dog park, on the court or at a picnic in the grass will rejuvenate you and relieve you of the duty of always being attached to your electronics.

Now that we’ve had a few bursts of wonderful weather, we’d like to believe that winter is finally on its way out. That means it’s going to be nice enough to head out to the rooftop terrace and lounge at McHenry Row Apartments. The luxurious lounge chairs will lend you a beautiful view of the harbor while you wait for your lunch to cook on the barbecues. Bring your friends to truly bond face-to-face rather than through a screen. We bet that once your friends get a load of the views from up there, you may just have a few new neighbors!

Unplugging yourself from your daily life is good for you sometimes. Spending too much time in front of a screen can make you forget about the outside world every once in awhile.

Do you like unplugging from technology or do you prefer to be connected? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.