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The iconic streetcar is a relic of the past in most American cities, having given way to the automobile in the latter half of the 20th century. The fanciful era of the streetcar lives on, however, at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum. This unique museum, just ten minutes from the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel, features an impressive collection of authentic antique streetcars on display, ranging from an open-sided nine-bench car that the Brownell company created in 1896 to a 1944 Pullman Standard car, which was one of the last streetcars ordered for Baltimore until the city began introducing the kind of new light rail cars that are beginning to emerge in some of the country's more environmentally-conscious cities. While it's interesting to walk around and look at vintage streetcars, it's much more fun to ride in one, which is why the museum has a short section of track so you can take a streetcar ride like they did in old Baltimore of a century ago. Ride the rails as much as you like, and enjoy an era that might be coming back into fashion after all. All aboard!
Recently in Baltimore Category
Baltimore's Legendary Lexington Market
Wednesday May 7, 2008
Since 1782, Lexington Market has been the place to go for food and provisions in downtown Baltimore. Renowned as the oldest continuously operating market in the world, it's at least the oldest in the United States, occupying the same location for more than 225 years. And while it has evolved over the years with the addition of electricity and modern plumbing, a visit here is truly a trip back in time. Vendors still advertise their wares using unique old-time chants, so don't be surprised if an employee of J.W. Faidley Seafood invites you to try the company's award-winning lump crab cakes, among the finest you'll find in this crab-obsessed city. And if you're in town on May 15, don't miss out on the world famous Preakness Crab Derby. Yes, we are talking about racing crabs on a special crab racetrack. It's pretty bizarre, but the proceeds go to charity. Whether you're in the mood for crabs, oysters, fish, prepared dishes, or just a unique Baltimore souvenir, you'll experience living history with a stroll through a market that's been a fixture in the Baltimore culinary scene for more than six generations. Lexington Market is a short walk from the Sheraton Baltimore City Center Hotel.
Baltimore's Kinetic Sculpture Races
Tuesday April 29, 2008
Last May, while orange plumes puffed from her smoke stack, a crew of twelve men and women steered The Patapsico Queen over land, across water, through mud, and over the finish line. The 24-foot all-terrain steamboat adorned in the bright yellow and red hues of the Maryland state flag, sailed to victory at the Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race, spurred on by the whoops and hollers of excited spectators.
Sound like a hoot? This year's event takes place May 3, kicking off at the American Visionary Art Museum, just down the street from the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel, at 9:30 am. Follow the wild array of human powered locomotives as they wind their way through the city, before finishing up back at the museum. Or pack a picnic, find a comfortable piece of lawn, and settle in, as the whimsical parade of racers pass by. Whatever you do, don't forget to wear something outrageous! Spectators are encouraged to dress the part, and past events have seen everything from chickens to prom queens cheering on their favorite sculpture from the sidelines.
Kinetic sculpture races started in 1969 when Hobart Brown, a sculptor from California, turned his son's tricycle into a five wheeled "pentacycle." Since then, ingenious artists and engineers have been convening at races nationwide, to see if their crazy kinetic invention has what it takes to make it over the finish line.
Shopping, Dining, and the Silver Screen in Arundel Mills
Thursday April 3, 2008
Over the past decade, the town of Hanover, Maryland has grown from a sleepy Baltimore satellite community to a destination in its own right. This is due in large part to the 2000 opening of Arundel Mills, one of the largest and most unique retail and dining establishments in the state. Arundel Mills boasts more than 225 stores spread out over five neighborhoods, with outlets from Disney, Liz Claiborne, Burlington Coat Factory, Tommy Hilfiger, and more. When you're tired of shopping, duck in for a cold drink and some arcade action at Dave & Buster's Grand Sports Cafe. Or else take in a film at one of the most amazing and technologically advanced movie theaters in the country, the Muvico Egyptian 24 (pictured). It's digital cinema at its finest. Arundel Mills will soon have another cutting-edge neighbor when the element Arundel Mills opens in March, 2009. With private and public spaces designed to bring out your best, element by Westin represents a new way of thinking about hotels. Maryland's second element hotel, the element Baltimore-Washington International Airport, will open its doors to guests in October, 2009.
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More Baltimore's American Visionary Art Museum
Monday November 12, 2007
The American Visionary Art Museum is one of Baltimore's best kept secrets. While not as popular as the city's high-profile attractions like the National Aquarium and Fort McHenry, it's a fascinating destination that will have you thinking about what you've seen for weeks after you've gone home. This quirky museum located in at the base of Federal Hill in Baltimore's Inner Harbor is the country's only museum devoted exclusively to the works of self-taught artists. The 35,000-square-foot main building has six galleries that explore one central exhibition theme at a time. The current theme, All Faiths Beautiful, features over 500 works that focus on the meaning of faith and belief, including the beliefs of others. A "Tall Sculpture Barn" (formerly the Four Roses whisky warehouse) accommodates just that: extra large sculptures and other plus-sized works of art such as a life-sized, interactive chess set of sculpted metal angels and aliens. In the adjacent Wildflower Sculpture Garden, wildflowers, aromatics, and climbing vines surround a wooden meditation chapel, marriage altar, and other eclectic works of art. It's unlike any art museum you've ever been to, and worth a visit to see the work of artists who might otherwise escape the notice of more traditional museums and galleries. The American Visionary Art Museum is a short walk from the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel.
[image via American Visionary Art Museum]
The Best of Baltimore's Inner Harbor
Wednesday August 29, 2007
Baltimore's Inner Harbor describes both a major seaport and a vibrant neighborhood of shops, museums, restaurants, and galleries, making it one of the most visited features of the city. And best of all, the major attractions are all within walking distance of each other, which makes the Inner Harbor an ideal destination for quick getaways and urban exploration. Guests at the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel, for example, might want to start off with an overview of the area's maritime history with a visit to the Baltimore Maritime Museum. Visitors can tour famous vessels such as the 1944 USS Torsk submarine, the 1936 Coast Guard cutter Taney, and the 1930 lightship Chesapeake.
If you feel like you need a mini-cruise to get fully into the maritime spirit, take the Baltimore Water Taxi to Fort McHenry, where a valiant American defense against a British land and sea invasion during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814 inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star-Spangled Banner. The National Aquarium in Baltimore, meanwhile, is one of the country's finest aquariums, with over 16,000 animals, including amphibians, birds, and, of course, fish of all kinds. (Don't miss the sharks!) If that's not enough science for you, then drop by the Maryland Science Center, with a 3D IMAX film on dinosaurs and a new exhibit that's sure to be a hit with the kids called Animal Grossology. Getting tired yet? Well, if you like baseball, kick back and watch an Orioles game at nearby Camden Yards, or else make your way to Harborplace and the Gallery. This entertainment complex is where you'll find shops like Destination Baltimore, restaurants like Harborside Seafood, and events such as the summer concert series and a spectacular fire juggling show on August 31. You'll run out of energy long before you run out of things to do in Baltimore.
Art Galleries Springing Up at Airports
Monday June 11, 2007
Here's a great idea for anybody who wants to make the most of the time they spend waiting around in aiports: check out some fine art. As the LA Times points out, over the past couple of years airports around the world have been opening up art galleries and installing works of art in terminal areas to give passengers a enjoyable and cultural way to spend their waiting time. At the Galileo Galilei International Airport in Pisa, Italy (near the Grand Hotel, Florence) passengers can gaze at the surreal artwork of the artist Nall, who depicts caricatures of society's modern challenges. Guests at the Sheraton Baltimore Washington Airport Hotel or Four Points by Sheraton BWI Airport might want to check out the American Society of Aviation Artists' exhibit of 58 paintings depicting military and commercial aircraft at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, travelers can browse through a gallery of permanent and rotating artworks. Right now, large-scale stone sculptures from Zimbabwe (pictured) are on display. Starwood has two properties at the Atlanta Airport, the Sheraton Gateway Hotel Atlanta Airport and the Westin Atlanta Airport.
[image via the LA Times]
National Great Blacks In Wax Museum
Monday February 19, 2007
When you think of wax museums, you probably don't think that any have a higher purpose. They're usually overpriced, yet somehow irresistible, but the subject matter is hardly important. After all, it only took a split second for the first wax Brangelina baby to debut in wax form. There's nothing wrong with a mindless diversion or two. But if you're in Baltimore this Black History Month, consider venturing out from the Sheraton Baltimore - City Center to visit to the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, which is dedicated to, of course, black history. Admission is a fair $9 ($8 for kids). The museum started with a collection of just four figures belonging to Dr. Elmer Martin and his wife, Joanne Martin, and has since grown into a 10,000 square foot facility. From performers like Paul Robeson and Bob Marley to political leaders like Nelson Mandela, almost all the greats make a wax appearance here. The museum takes its history very seriously and presents a particularly enriching experience for children.
[image via podolux/Flickr]
What Are You in the Mood For?
Beijing
Famous for its long history and splendid culture, the capitol of the People's Republic of China may just be one of the most scenic cities in the world. Book your trip now!
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