It’s The Least Wonderful Time of the Year

July…one of the slowest, driest months in sports. While baseball and WNBA basketball are doing their best to hold things down, the truth is, people love football and NBA basketball more. In the meantime I’ve pleaded with professional boxing associations to give us a big name fight (Gervonta Davis, maybe? *wink wink*) to enjoy while we wait out the dry spell, but haven’t been very successful. (And no, Jake Paul’s “fights” don’t count.)

The silver lining is that dead-of-summer down time can be looked at as the calm before the storm. It’s the time we need to have as we prepare for our adrenaline to shoot up in the next few weeks. Here are a few things I am preparing myself for:

The Orioles Breaking My Heart

The Orioles have been playing good baseball lately, but not enough to get traction in the AL wild card race. According to Orioles reporter Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun, the Orioles were 7.5 games out of a wild card spot on June 5. As of July 11, they are still six games out. Simply put, they’ve gained little ground over the last month, which almost certainly means they will be sellers by the trade deadline on July 31. I expect some of my favorite players who are in the last  year of their contracts — such as newly announced All Star Ryan O’Hearn and Cedric Mullins — to be gone soon. We could also see some pitching departures, as Dean Kremer has pitched himself into a category of a third rotation starter over the last few starts. (I’m not as sad about this as others. The Kremer Experience is a roller coaster.) There could be others on the chopping block, including Seranthony Dominguez, but certainly, O’Hearn and Ceddy will hurt me the most. I’m prepared for the Orioles to trade away some of their best players as they look toward the future. I’m not happy about it, but I understand.

While We’re Here…

Jackson Holliday was close, but no cigar, to reaching All Star status. The second baseman was a finalist to make the All Star roster, but didn’t get chosen, not even as a reserve. There’s been a lot of chatter on social media about Holliday getting robbed, and maybe it’s not all wrong. Did Holliday deserve to go? One could make a very good case for him. Is life fair? Not at all. The Orioles are at the bottom of the AL East and very low on the Wild Card totem pole. It’s happened before, but bad teams typically don’t get rewarded with multiple All Stars. The sooner we understand that this is a factor in how well the Orioles have played, the quicker we can accept the results and move on.

The Ravens Left Guard Battle

As we inch closer to NFL Training Camp, one position battle that I’m prepared to watch closely is the battle at left guard. For now, Andrew Vorhees is listed as the starter. Vorhees is going into his third NFL season, but missed his entire rookie season due to a knee injury he sustained while at the 2023 NFL Combine. He’s going to be fighting for his spot with Ben Cleveland, who is entering his sixth year with the Ravens. Cleveland has weathered adversity during his tenure, with some claiming that he’s in Coach John Harbaugh’s “doghouse.” Cleveland has dealt with some off-the-field adversity as well, with a DUI arrest and a public divorce filing shortly after. We shall see if he finds his way out of the doghouse — which could happen if he plays better than Vorhees.

The DeAndre Hopkins Impact (or not?)

DeAndre Hopkins’ recent signing felt essential for the Ravens to move past their playoff hurdle. Time will tell, but this could mean the difference between January heartache and a Superbowl success. “It seems like there’s been a piece that’s been missing,” Hopkins said of the decision. Although he wasn’t saying that the missing piece was him, fans have warmed up to that idea. At just 33 years old, he’s an upgrade at the third wide receiver spot over Nelson Agholor, who was last year’s WR3. He will be a great option for intermediate plays, moving the chains and red zone. Could Hopkins be the missing piece the Ravens’ offense needs? Or could Jaire Alexander be the missing piece to help the defense lose out games? We will find out, as training camp starts in a couple of weeks, and all eyes will be on Hopkins to find chemistry with Jackson and the offense.

The Return of College Football

Duh! My favorite sport is back in seven Saturdays. NIL has done a number on the sport, and I don’t have the answers to fix it. But that’s not for me to figure out, and I’m glad the players are getting paid. Politics aside, there is no experience quite like the college football experience, and I’m anxiously awaiting its return.

The post Reeta’s Sportsisms: A dry sports July, the Orioles breaking my heart, and the Ravens’ missing pieces appeared first on Baltimore Beat.

Despite Baltimore Police Department policies that call for officers to de-escalate in behavioral health emergencies, police forced entry through two different doors and shouted commands at 70-year-old Pytorcarcha Brooks before fatally shooting her on June 25, newly released body-worn camera footage shows.

Police initially sought to leave the scene, stating that Brooks clearly didn’t want to be bothered and it’s not within police policy to remove someone experiencing a mental health crisis from their home when they don’t appear to be a danger to themself or others.

“Mom’s okay,” Officer Stephen Colbert said to a family member on the phone. “She’s okay, well, as far as moving around and being able to open and close the door. She just don’t want to be bothered by nobody, it looks like.”

The footage shows that Baltimore police spent about thirty minutes debating how to approach Brooks, then kicked down her door and confronted her with tasers before shooting her when she approached an officer with a knife in her hand.

The incident is one of three police-involved deaths in the span of eight days in June that appeared to involve people experiencing mental health crises and raised questions about Baltimore’s crisis response system. 

The officers who responded to Brooks’ house did not call for the Baltimore Police Department’s Crisis Response Team, which pairs police with mental health clinicians. The department’s only Crisis Response Team was also handling another call at the time. 

Only one officer at the scene had received Crisis Intervention Team training, Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said at Wednesday’s press conference.

BPD’s crisis intervention policy calls for the officer with CIT training to “take the lead” on the scene of a behavioral health incident, but Rashad Horsey, the officer Worley said had the training, did not lead or even enter Brooks’ house, the videos show. 

The footage shows the officers who responded to the 2700 block of Mosher Street knew Brooks was experiencing a mental health crisis. They spent close to a half hour standing in the alley behind Brooks’ house, debating how to approach the situation, and having emergency personnel from the fire department attempt to speak with Brooks. 

After Brooks first refused them entry, Colbert suggested that they leave.

“We opened the door, she closed the door, looks good to me,” he said. The officers also told Brooks’ family member that he would need to file an emergency petition to have her hospitalized against her will.

A responding EMT indicated during the conversation that the fire department has different policies for dealing with behavioral health crises, but the department did not immediately respond to questions about how their policies differ. 

After knocking on the front door several times, officers attempted to enter through the back door with a key provided by a family member, but Brooks pushed the door shut from the inside. A medic tried to ask Brooks basic questions through the door, like the year and how many quarters make a dollar, to assess her mental state. The responders could not hear answers through the door.

“I’m trying to be nice here,” the medic said through the door. “If you don’t answer my questions I’m going to have to take you out of here.” 

The medic told the officers, “If she’s not answering questions, they have to take her appropriately, per our rules.”

When officers tried to force the back door open, they encountered pushback and then saw Brooks stick her arm out with a knife in her hand. She immediately slammed the door shut again.

The officers then decided to go back to the front of the house and enter that way. Worley said at the July 9 press conference that the officers needed to intervene when Brooks couldn’t answer the medic’s questions, and because there was concern about the extreme heat that day.

“I’m going hot with a taser,” one officer said, just before they forced entry.

An officer kicked down the front door, and then another officer kicked an inner door open and entered the house. Brooks was inside, holding a knife. The officers shouted several commands, including “drop the knife,” “get on the ground,” and “get back,” according to the video.

One officer proceeded forward into the house and tased Brooks when she did not drop the knife, causing her to fall backwards onto a couch. Brooks stood up again and approached the officer, who had moved further into her home. The officer then tripped on a piece of furniture, falling to the ground. Brooks swung the knife in his direction and another officer fired three shots. Brooks can be seen slumping to the ground. She was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The Maryland Attorney General’s Office, which investigates fatal police shootings, previously identified two of the officers involved as Colbert, who has worked in the police department for eight years, and Officer Stephen Galewski, who has worked in the department for three years. Colbert appears to have fired the shots, according to the video. Police Commissioner Richard Worley said the involved officer has been placed on administrative leave, per department policy.

Worley said the department has “come a long way” in handling mental health crises, “but this video, clearly, and other videos, not just here but throughout the country, has shown that we’ve got a long way to go dealing with behavioral crisis.”

“Police officers are police officers,” he said. “We give them the training that we can give them to deal with this, but behavioral health is a medical issue that we have to address, and people that aren’t police officers have to help us address this.”

Worley said previously that police had received about 20 calls for behavioral health issues at the house this year. The city launched a Behavioral Health 9-1-1 Diversion Pilot Program in 2021 with the aim of avoiding police involvement in mental health crises and diverting those calls to clinicians.

The police department is auditing the earlier calls it received to see what happened in each incident, Deputy Police Commissioner Brian Nadeau said at the press conference.

On the day of the shooting, police received two calls about the residence: one from a social worker who checked on Brooks and received no answer, and another from a family member who said Brooks attempted to stab him with a knife. Police responded at about 1:35 p.m. and spoke with the family member, who provided the key to the back door. 

Baltimore Beat previously reported that a family member sought to take over Brooks’ medical and financial decisions through guardianship less than a month before the shooting, but was hindered when a judge denied his request to waive the $165 filing fee.

David Jaros, a law professor at the University of Baltimore, said it is important to examine the entire crisis response system, not just the final moments before the fatal shooting.

“These repeated events are a reminder that we have to consider the whole response to the problem if we want to make reforms to prevent this kind of tragedy from happening,” he said.

The post Baltimore police escalated mental health emergency before killing 70-year-old Pytorcarcha Brooks, bodycam footage shows appeared first on Baltimore Beat.

Amid calls for the adoption of more ambitious harm reduction initiatives to combat Baltimore’s unprecedented overdose crisis, Councilman Ryan Dorsey says it’s important not to mince words: overdose prevention centers are needed now.

Dorsey’s endorsement of OPCs, which provide people a safe, judgment-free space to use drugs under the supervision of medical professionals, came at the tail end of a two-hour-long public hearing on the city’s overdose crisis. Though his support is not new, his calls at the July 9 hearing provided an unusually explicit and public endorsement of the programs — a stark contrast to Mayor Brandon Scott and his administration.

“One thing I can say that I’ve come to understand as absolutely critical to our path forward is overdose prevention centers,” Dorsey said. “I don’t think we can get this going quickly enough.”

Dorsey, who spoke about his experience in abstinence-based recovery, said he has gained a “very personalized” perspective on drug use and treatment as city officials mull how they will spend hundreds of millions of dollars to address a crisis that has killed thousands of residents, a disproportionate number of which are older Black men, over the past decade.

“It’s absolutely tragic when [drug users] die unnecessarily,” Dorsey said. “That’s the difference overdose prevention makes: that people do not die unnecessarily.”

Dorsey was passionate in his comments, but a lone council member does not have the power required to implement OPCs at the city level, despite harm reductionists in Baltimore calling for them for years.

Any such program would require an inter-agency, coordinated effort approved by the mayor, who has only endorsed state-level legislation that would legalize as many as six OPCs. Despite repeated questioning by media, he’s fallen short of endorsing city-sanctioned programs — something Dorsey previously said he fully supports.

OPCs, also known as safe consumption sites, are scarce in the U.S., only operating in New York City and Providence, Rhode Island, with the New York City sites operating without any explicit approval by state law. 

However, they have been crucial programs in other areas of the world for years, where studies have shown they reduce HIV and hepatitis transmission, prevent overdose deaths, and reduce public use of drugs.

They’re also seen as the golden standard for moving away from a criminalized approach to drug use, which could have major implications in a city where almost all people arrested for drug crimes are Black.

Bills to create OPCs have been introduced in the Maryland General Assembly for the better part of a decade, but they’ve repeatedly died in committee. 

Though Mayor Scott has the authority to unilaterally impose measures such as OPCs, he has repeatedly declined to comment on the matter despite naming them a “legislative priority” this year.

After the city council’s first public hearing — which came after similar hearings over the last year were cancelled in response to pressure from the mayor’s office because of ongoing opioid litigation — a member of his administration seemed to indicate he’s more open to the process after another year of setbacks in the General Assembly.

“Mayor Scott is unequivocal in his support of overdose prevention centers as a tool in the toolbelt to keep people alive,” said J.D. Merrill, the mayor’s deputy chief of staff, after the public hearing.

“We are looking for all possible avenues for how to do it in Baltimore. But I want to be really clear: We have to do this the right way. We can’t go the way of Philadelphia. We have to do this right, because if we don’t it’s going to damage the harm reduction movement.”

The allusion to efforts to open OPCs in Philadelphia has been a sour subject for harm reductionists.

In President Donald Trump’s first term in office, the Department of Justice blocked a nonprofit called Safehouse from opening a center in Philadelphia, much to the chagrin of advocates and public health experts. The organization, which offers other harm reduction services, has been in a lengthy legal battle with the federal government ever since.

Candy Kerr, spokesperson for the Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition, said the city can’t afford to wait. During the hearing, she invoked William Miller Sr., a ubiquitous figurename in the harm reduction community who died in 2020.

“If [an OPC] had been opened in the City of Baltimore, we might not have lost him a few years ago. So I come here to stand on that.”

It is clear, however, that the city is paving the way for the sites in Baltimore sometime in the future.

Last week, officials unveiled a sweeping strategic plan to serve as a roadmap for the city’s overdose prevention and substance use treatment initiatives, aiming to cut fatal overdoses 40% by 2040.

Though the two-year, 20-page draft plan makes no mention of OPCs, it explicitly states that one of the city’s priorities is to “increase access to a full array of low barrier harm reduction services (including naloxone distribution, drug checking, syringe service programs, and other evidence-based strategies,” the latter of which indicates OPCs would fall under that criteria.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Sara Whaley, executive director of the city’s overdose response, reiterated the plan could be a way to meet Dorsey’s goal.

“In the strategic plan, you’ll find references to things like ‘low-barrier access’ to services that feasibly could be something like an overdose prevention center,” Whaley said. 

It’s unclear whether there is enough support among council members to steer the city toward city-sanctioned sites. Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, chair of the Public Health and Environment Committee, said she wants to explore the sites but also wants to ensure there is proper “inter-agency coordination” in place to do so.

Councilman Mark Conway, the committee’s vice chair who publicly feuded with the mayor after public hearings he scheduled last July and this February were cancelled, was not present at the meeting.

A lack of full-throated support among council members, on the other hand, was not reflective of the crowd. At the hearing, about half a dozen harm reduction organizers said OPCs were an absolute priority to advance their work, also proclaiming their support for the decriminalization of drug paraphernalia — another potential city-level initiative that the mayor has only supported in the General Assembly.

The Public Health and Environment Committee will hold three more hearings on the overdose crisis and related matters at 10 a.m. in the City Council’s chambers this month:

• July 16: Hearing on legislative oversight of the opioid restitution funds.
• July 23: Hearing on legislative oversight of psychiatric rehabilitation programs.
• July 30: Hearing on oversight of recovery homes and substance use clinics.

In addition, Scott on Wednesday announced four “community listening sessions” to discuss restitution funds at 5:30 p.m. at the following locations and dates:

• July 9: Cherry Hill Elementary and Middle School, 801 Bridgeway Road.
• July 17: Gethsemane Baptist Church, 2520 Francis Street.
• July 23: Pimlico Elementary and Middle School, 4849 Pimlico Road.
• July 31: Henderson Hopkins Elementary and Middle School, 2100 Ashland Avenue.

The post As mayor’s administration tiptoes around overdose prevention centers, Councilman Dorsey says they’re needed now appeared first on Baltimore Beat.

In Baltimore, thousands of families still struggle with unreliable or no internet access, limiting their ability to work, learn, and access healthcare. According to Maryland’s Statewide Broadband Access and Equity phone survey, 38% of low-income Baltimore households either lack a computer or rely on a smartphone to get online.

Greenlight Networks, a fiber internet provider dedicated to expanding affordable, high-speed access, is investing $100 million to bring reliable fiber connectivity to historically marginalized communities across the city. Fiber is a broadband technology that transmits data at about 70% of the speed of light — making it ideal for supporting daily internet use for households and local businesses alike.

Digital access gaps remain stark in Baltimore City’s low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. The Abell Foundations’ May 2020 report found that 73.3% of white households have wired broadband internet, compared to just 50.2% of African American households and 46.4% of Hispanic households. 

Makaila Hyman, a Johns Hopkins University student from East Baltimore, experienced firsthand how unreliable internet access can disrupt education. 

“During an online exam this past semester, my WiFi crashed mid-test, and I had to switch to my phone to finish. It was stressful trying to focus while dealing with connection issues, and I worried it would affect my performance,” she said.

Since its founding in 2011, Greenlight Networks has provided internet access to more than 225,000 homes and nearly 10,000 small businesses across 35 cities in upstate New York. Now, the company is expanding to Baltimore, where competition is limited and the opportunity to close the digital divide is great, Michele Sadwick, Greenlight Networks’ chief revenue officer, said.

Phase 1 of their plan includes neighborhoods such as Mount Washington, Roland Park, Belair-Edison, Frankford, Hamilton Hills, Arcadia, and Hampden, among others. The company also plans to open a permanent office in the city staffed by local residents. 

“There’s a clear demand in Baltimore for better internet, and Greenlight is excited to deliver a choice for broadband internet that this community has long awaited and rightfully deserves,” said CEO Mark Murphy in a press release. 

By September 2025, Greenlight Networks anticipates connecting thousands of Baltimore homes. The company is conducting outreach throughout the city to connect with local leaders in the areas where they plan to expand.

“We are also working with the City of Baltimore’s Digital Equity office to look for broader opportunities where we can partner to try to make an impact on life in the community,” Sadwick said.

Lo Smith, executive director of Baltimore’s Digital Equity Coalition, said despite this investment, there are still challenges at the federal level with expanding internet access. The Digital Equity Act, a $2.75 billion grant program aimed at boosting digital literacy and access for communities like Baltimore, was canceled in May 2025 under the Trump administration. Paired with the loss of the Affordable Connectivity Program, many Baltimoreans continue to face declining internet access.

“With more options for Baltimoreans, hopefully, folks can find the internet service provider, program, plan, or resource that works for them,” Smith said.

The post Greenlight Networks to invest $100 million to expand fiber internet in Baltimore appeared first on Baltimore Beat.

Baltimore officials have unveiled a sweeping plan to combat the city’s unprecedented overdose crisis — one largely predicated on acknowledging shortfalls in the city’s harm reduction infrastructure and the need to double down on compassionate care for drug users.

The two-year, 20-page draft plan, which aims to cut fatal overdoses 40% by 2040, was unveiled on July 2 by the new Mayor’s Office of Overdose Response. Mayor Brandon Scott created the agency through an executive order last year as part of a new chapter in the city’s fight against the crisis, during which officials have struggled to balance compassionate drug policy and punitive drug enforcement.

“The harm reduction approach, which is sort of a philosophy, is not consistently adopted in Baltimore City,” said Sadiya Muqueeth, chief health policy officer at the Baltimore City Health Department. “Baltimore City’s insufficient access to harm reduction services and lack of safe spaces increases overdose risk.”

The strategic plan, which was released in tandem with a needs assessment dashboard comprising local overdose data and areas in which the city can improve, focuses on five pillars: social determinants of health, prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery.

Its recommendations provide a holistic view of the crisis, embodying a ground-up approach. For instance, many of its prevention initiatives focus on general quality of life, such as increasing access to transportation, education, food assistance, employment, and housing.

It also calls for services directly pertaining to drug use and harm reduction. The plan recommends bolstering initiatives targeted at those disproportionately affected by the crisis, namely older Black men. Those programs include low-barrier, mobile harm reduction and crisis services in addition to brick-and-mortar locations.

Other recommendations in the plan include increased data transparency, educational campaigns, expanded 988 services, 24/7 stabilization centers, expanded access to treatment, and better oversight of treatment programs.

“Although there is no simple solution to the overdose crisis and we will not overcome it overnight, this strategic plan proposes an innovative approach to meet the present and immediate needs across our community—while laying the groundwork for the long-term changes to help end this crisis,” Scott said in a statement.

Though the strategic plan lists myriad other goals, it also contains some ambiguity, leaving the door open for specific programs that aren’t currently offered by the city. The plan, for example, makes no mention of overdose prevention centers, or OPCs, which allow individuals to use drugs under the supervision of medical professionals. 

The facilities are considered the gold standard in harm reduction, and Scott named them as one of his 21 “legislative priorities” this year. While Scott has supported efforts in the General Assembly to legalize OPCs for years, he has refused to answer questions about city-sanctioned sites like ones New York City has implemented.

The report, however, explicitly states that one of the city’s priorities is to “increase access to a full array of low barrier harm reduction services (including naloxone distribution, drug checking, syringe service programs, and other evidence-based strategies,” the latter of which indicates OPCs would fall under that criteria.

The unveiling of the strategic plan and needs assessment comes less than a month after a Baltimore Beat investigation detailing how city officials have found themselves unable — or unwilling — to let go of punitive drug enforcement and the millions of dollars it takes to bankroll the cops who carry it out.

Baltimore Police Department data obtained by the Beat showed that nearly all individuals charged and arrested on drug crimes in Baltimore are Black — even though studies show that drug use rates among the Black population are similar to those of other races. 

Though investing in diversion programs to prevent incarceration is a key recommendation in the report, officials said that law enforcement would continue to play a role in combating the overdose crisis. Those efforts would mostly focus on removing drugs from the streets, said Sara Whaley, executive director of the city’s overdose response.

Yet Whaley also emphasized that any police enforcement must be met with equally strong harm reduction initiatives, recognizing that drug enforcement can increase fatal overdose rates by disrupting the drug supply and pushing drug users toward riskier sources.

“When this happens, there must be a public health response so that people receive connection to care when the drug supply is interrupted through law enforcement action,” she said. 

Baltimore residents will now have the opportunity to give their input on the strategic plan at four public hearings, all of which are scheduled for this month at 5:30 p.m:

• July 9: Cherry Hill Elementary and Middle School, 801 Bridgeway Road
• July 17: Gethsemane Baptist Church, 2520 Francis Street
• July 23: Pimlico Elementary and Middle School, 4849 Pimlico Road
• July 31: Henderson Hopkins Elementary and Middle School, 2100 Ashland Avenue

Though the plan is intended to leverage multiple funding streams, including grants and restitution funds, it’s unclear how much money the city itself would put toward it. The city’s fiscal priorities may not be conducive to maximizing its harm reduction infrastructure.

Scott’s budget, which he signed on June 23, includes a $9.8 million increase to mental health and substance use disorder services, an 87% increase over the year prior. However, it also served as a stark reminder of the city’s battle between “public safety” and public health.

The fiscal plan also includes a $7 million cut to the health department, marking a 3.5% decrease from the year prior. At $201 million, its budget is less than one-third of the police department’s — and nearly half of that comes from federal funding that could be lost because of President Donald Trump’s barrage of cost-cutting measures.

At the same time, the police department will receive a more than $20 million increase, bringing its total to almost $613 million. At budget hearings, Police Commissioner Richard boasted an 11% increase in felony drug arrests and a 28% increase in misdemeanor arrests to justify the increase. 

Drug enforcement, meanwhile, could violate the same harm reduction principles cited in the city’s strategic plan.

Budgetary measures aside, the strategic plan’s main goals closely resemble those of the city’s $5.2 billion abatement plan, which was rejected by a judge last month in an ongoing lawsuit against two massive opioid distributors.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lawrence P. Fletcher-Hill rejected the city’s request for billions in abatement money and ruled that he would allow for a new trial in the case against two opioid distributors in a landmark opioid trial, reversing a 2024 jury verdict that won the city $266 million in “public nuisance” damages.

Leading up to the judge’s ruling earlier this month, city officials had hoped the judge would leave the jury verdict untouched.

Instead, Fletcher-Hill tore apart the city’s argument and rejected the request, indicating the city likely won’t receive anywhere near the billions of dollars it had asked for — something that could hinder the implementation of the strategic plan.

The city’s initial deadline to decide whether to opt for a new trial or accept a whopping 80% reduction in its award, totaling less than $52 million, was July 7. That has since been delayed until August 8, and Fletcher-Hill is expected to rule on abatement about two weeks before that deadline.

Per the judge’s ruling, the city must either accept the smaller reward or once again go to trial to determine what the companies should pay in public nuisance damages. Abatement is a separate issue, where the judge will determine how much — if any — additional damages the companies must cover for the city to redress the crisis.

The post With a focus on harm reduction, Baltimore’s strategic plan looks to cut fatal overdoses 40% by 2040 appeared first on Baltimore Beat.

On Wednesday, May 28, I joined 11,000 other fans in welcoming the Washington Mystics to downtown Baltimore. The team, now coached by Sydney Johnson, a Towson Catholic High alum (previously on staff with the Chicago Sky), is led by veteran guard Brittney Sykes and Virginia native Shakira Austin. Their opponents for the evening were the Indiana Fever, featuring a roster full of champions, veterans, and rising stars in the league. In the shadow of the matchup and with the news of five new expansion franchises coming by 2030, my mind is swirling with thoughts on how cost and narrative shape the fan experience of the WNBA.

Growing up in Baltimore, there was little talk of the WNBA in my daily life. Our city did not feature a team, and with that, few local news outlets covered the wins and losses of our beltway neighbors, the Washington Mystics. In contrast, my childhood memories are filled with Purple Fridays for the Ravens and discounted tickets to Orioles games. My basketball memories from that era center on Carmelo Anthony, the rise of Kevin Durant out of PG County, and the dominance of the 2008 USA men’s basketball team (The Dream Team). Little did I know that athletes like Elena Delle Donne (WNBA MVP, WNBA Champion, Olympian, and retired Washington Mystic) at the University of Delaware and Alyssa Thomas at UMD College Park were rising around the Mid-Atlantic. 

In recent years, journalists and on-air broadcasters have assessed the differences in coverage for women’s sports. The flippant notion that “nobody watches women’s sports” has birthed entirely new brands, catch phrases, bars, and so much more to prove — at the level of commerce and social space — just how wrong that is. Despite increased viewership of the WNBA in the last five years, the disparity across the board in broadcast hours, dedicated newsroom staff, and resourcing between men’s and women’s sports is wide. And beyond the gender disparity, there are disparities based on race, age, and nationality that contort the ways U.S. media presents sports stories. With the advances in women’s sports coverage, one point is glaring to me: the cost of the WNBA marketing strategy falls on consumers in more ways than one. 

The first sold-out match-up at CFG Arena between the Mystics and the Fever brought WNBA action right to Charm City. The Mystics’ victory was a masterclass in defensive tenacity, grit, and assertive coaching strategy. Sykes and Austin delivered incredible performances. Sykes scored 21 points alongside 9 rebounds, and Austin delivered 13 points and two crucial steals. Beyond player performance, Johnson and the coaching staff locked in for four quarters of engaged, dynamic work. You could see Johnson and his assistant coaches pulling players into huddles, clarifying calls, and reinforcing notes on efficiency for all 40 minutes. Plus, veteran Stefanie Dolson and rookie Lucy Olsen made impressive stops and key shots that wowed me. And it was great to see players I’m a fan of like Aliyah Boston, Lexie Hull, and Kelsey Mitchell hustling to keep the Fever competitive down the stretch. 

CFG Arena was overflowing with veterans and champions on both sides of the floor, though the promotion leading up to the game may not have shown the depth of talent on display. 

For months, the marketing for this regular-season contest centered on the arrival of the Fever and their reigning Rookie of the Year, Caitlin Clark, to Baltimore. That’s despite the game being (technically) a home game for the Mystics, an opportunity for crowds to see former UMD star Austin suit up, and a first look at the Mystics own current rookie lineup (featuring Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron). 

The marketing trend of Clark being the name in the WNBA is not new, and the data shows that her fandom does show up, pay up, and roar for their favorite player. I wonder, however, if the chicken or the egg comes first here. Does Clark have more fans and thus gets more camera time, or does the centering of Clark continue to encourage folks to know her? What’s the cost to audiences if the WNBA falls into patterns of disproportion? 

My questions are guided by my own experience, too. As a poor kid, my interest in sports was guided by the broadcast teams and distribution deals set by people in rooms far away from my family’s East Baltimore rowhome. And truthfully, I did not dive deep into professional basketball until I spent hours watching Celtics games and Olympic coverage with my grandfather. His cable bill, with access to NBA games on TNT and other networks, and willingness to answer all my questions about Kevin Garnett shaped my entry into the NBA (and quick fascination with Dwyane Wade’s leadership and skill). Watching with him led to conversations with middle school friends and classmates across school desks and lunch tables about players like Garnett, Wade, and others. In some ways, watching basketball at home built connections with the outside world. 

As the newly extended 2025 WNBA season got underway, injury reports began to develop for many teams across the league. In the days leading up to tip-off in Baltimore, the Fever front office announced Clark would be out for two weeks because of a quad injury. And with that, the data, as reported by CBS Sports, shows that average ticket prices for the Fever’s next four match-ups — deemed “Clark-less” — dropped 71%. The estimated cost moved from $137 to $81. Still, $81 amounts to about five and a half hours of work on a minimum wage salary in Maryland. And beyond attending in-person, the costs of the exclusive subscriptions needed to watch WNBA games at home are high with broadcasting deals and local media blackouts meaning fans need access to the internet, a WNBA league pass subscription, and other online resources that may be outside the budget of many curious about women’s basketball at the pro level in the U.S.

In my view, the debates about Clark’s impact on the WNBA’s success miss the mark. While some argue about her unprecedented rookie year, and others point to areas where her defensive game needs improvement, I’m more intrigued by the case study that Clark’s marketability offers. If a two-week injury to a single star can impact average ticket prices in an away game market by over 50%, then what is the larger lay of the land? What are the consequences of the WNBA’s current marketing strategy? And where does this current strategy leave (potential) fans without the capital necessary to enjoy the sport at its star-studded peak? The crisis of emphasizing any player’s singularity as the star of the WNBA disavows much of the truth of the game and eclipses conversations I’d love to have about women’s basketball in 2025. 

For others, the story of the 2025 season may be about how the league fares without its star on the court as Clark’s injury struggles persist (with a recent groin injury), but my mind will be on the new possibilities for the WNBA marketing team, and news organizations, to ramp up coverage of the vast talent across the league. To many, the growth of the WNBA is synonymous with ticket upcharges and the success of one big star, but I’m not convinced. To me, pricing out poor and working-class fans through ticket costs, compounding subscription fees, and high merch price points while focusing on one player’s singularity isn’t a winning strategy. And if the WNBA plans to grow its game with fidelity, then it must adapt.

I’m hoping that as costs lower — due to some fans bowing out of matchups without Clark — and access to live games becomes more affordable in some WNBA markets, folks who have been consistently priced out have a chance to cheer without having to choose between interest in the WNBA and a light bill. Plus, I’m hoping the W uses this moment of energetic expansion to highlight the multiplicity of talent across the league, because there’s plenty of good ball to see.

Bry Reed is a Baltimore native writing about books, sports, culture, and everything that makes her mind wander. Reed is a recent Baker Artist Award Finalist in Literary Arts for 2025.

The post Bry Reed: To grow the game, the WNBA needs to market all of its stars appeared first on Baltimore Beat.

Japchae and bibimbap, anyone? Starting July 2, those craving Korean cuisine can find both at Peabody Heights Brewery.  

Earlier this week, the Abell brewery announced that it was launching The Concession Stand, the first Peabody Heights-owned food truck. With plans to serve Korean-fusion fare, its name, as Orioles fanatics may have guessed, pays homage to the team’s old stomping grounds.

“We’re located on Old Oriole Park number five, which was a historic stadium that hosted the Orioles and also the Negro Leagues,” said Amy Reid, the brewery’s events manager.

“We have a really cool history where we physically are. We wanted to stay on the theme of baseball history, and The Concession Stand is our way of doing that.”

One motivating force behind the launch of the new truck was to obtain a full liquor license, which, in Baltimore City, means a percentage of a brewery’s bar sales must happen through food. Another goal was for Peabody to establish its own culinary presence, which required a unique menu. 

Chef Anthony Lanasa, who says he was inspired by the Korean heritage of Peabody Heights co-owner Eddie O’Keefe, was the one to make that happen. 

“We got loads of applications from some very qualified people, but [Anthony] just had a really great vibe and just gels really well with the whole Peabody community,” Reid says.

Lanasa’s menu features shareables like mini scallion pancakes, spicy pork belly, and tteokbokki, seared rice cakes in a gochujang and garlic glaze with sesame seeds, mozzarella cheese and scallions. Fans of kimchi, a traditional Korean side dish made with salted and fermented vegetables, can order kimchi-spiced popcorn or kimchi dumplings served with sweet potato noodles as a satisfying snack. 

Entrees, most of which are customizable with ribeye, fried or grilled tofu, or chicken, include japchae (sweet potato glass noodles with veggies), a Korean-style smashburger, and sourdough grilled cheese with kimchi.

“Although these are simple dishes, we thoughtfully prepare them with small unique twists,” said Lanasa, who can’t wait for guests to order the Korean-style fried hotdog (or tofu dog) and bibimbap.

Made with white rice, lettuce, bean sprouts, and a rainbow of fresh veggies with one sunny side up egg, and served with gochujang aioli, “the bibimbap is such an approachable dish,” he said. Lanasa’s adaptation is traditional, with one unique exception: his own housemade scallion vinaigrette utilizes Peabody’s Old Oriole Park lager. He suggests pairing the dish with the brewery’s Butch Garden wheat ale.

Though Lanasa’s use of flavors are extravagant, his price points are within the ballpark limits, with all appetizers priced from $4-10 and entrees ranging anywhere from $10-16. Reid, who has her sights set on the fried Korean tofu dog, applauded Lanasa’s efforts to make sure the menu offered gluten-free and vegan options. 

“I feel like there’s something for everybody with dietary restrictions, and also just in terms of the variety of foods,” she says.

In addition to a full bar in the future, Reid says diners can look forward to collaborations with Baltimore eateries including Ekiben and Toki Underground. For now, she and Lanasa are excited for Peabody Heights to make its culinary mark.

“It’s really exciting, and I think it just makes a lot of sense for us. Food is such a part of all of our events, so it’s cool to have our own branded entity,” she says.

The Concession Stand will coincide with brewery hours. 

The post Peabody Heights Brewery launches first food truck, building toward a full bar appeared first on Baltimore Beat.

Wednesday, July 2

West Wednesday: Hear about the ongoing fight for police accountability in the Tyrone West case and for all victims of police misconduct. This event happens every Wednesday. For more information, go to westcoalition.com or follow @westwednesday on Instagram and Justice for Tyrone West on Facebook.

Board of Estimates Meeting: 9 a.m. at City Hall in the Board of Estimates Chambers, 100 N. Holliday Street. For more information, go to comptroller.baltimorecity.gov/boe. 

Free Breakfast/Lunch: From now through July 31, all students can get free breakfast and lunch from Baltimore City Schools’ Str/EATS Cafe Food Truck. 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for breakfast, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for lunch at Armistead Gardens, 5001 E. Eager Street. For more information and more locations,go to mdsummermeals.org.

Thursday, July 3

1st Thursdays at the Mill on North |July 3rd Community Night | By BVFA: Collaborate with others interested in eliminating poverty and hunger in West Baltimore through the power of urban agriculture.  4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 2636 West North Avenue. For more information, go to baltimoreverticalfarms.org. 

Open Mic: “Black Ocean Storytelling”: Members of the Black African Diaspora are welcome to share their stories about their encounters with the ocean at this open mic night. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Red Emma’s, 3128 Greenmount Avenue. For more information, go to redemmas.org. 

Friday, July 4

14th Annual Bike Ride to Fort McHenry: Join Catonsville Rails to Trails as they bike from Catonsville to Fort McHenry. 8 a.m. to noon starting at Catonsville Bike Shop, 825 Frederick Road Rear, Catonsville. For more information, go to crtt.org.

Sunday, July 6

rainboWEB: Get artistic with coloring books and art projects, learn about hopeful and empowering hxstory, and hear about mutual aid opportunities in this social gathering for “rainbow baltimoreans n our loved ones.” This is a masked event. Noon to 4 p.m. at Red Emma’s, 3128 Greenmount Avenue. For more information, email rainbowebaltimore@gmail.com, or go to redemmas.org/events. 

Monday, July 7

Mental Mondays in West Baltimore: Learn about various wellness practices, from yoga, to art, to meditation and everything in between. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at The Factory, 5 N. Calhoun Street. For more information, go to nami.org. 

Tuesday, July 8

Free Self Defense Class in Canton: A self-defense class to learn techniques and boost your confidence. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at CareFirst Engagement Center, 1501 S. Clinton Street, Suite 100. For more information, go to carefirst.com/cec.

Grief & Hope for People Impacted by Federal Changes: Learn how to manage grief and foster hope through indigenous knowledge and mental health practices. 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Impact Hub Baltimore, 10 E. North Avenue. For more information, go to baltimore.impacthub.net.

2025 BCPS Job Fair: Learn about available job opportunities with Baltimore County Public Schools. Please bring your resume. Interviews available. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, 938 York Road, Towson. For more information, go to bcps.org/jobs.

Wednesday, July 9

Lead the Change: A day of action, advocacy, and exchange honoring Baltimore change makers, empowering global leaders, and building a better world. 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Baltimore Unity Hall, 1505 Eutaw Place. For more information, go to civilrights.baltimorecity.gov.

Mayor’s Office of Overdose Response Listening Sessions: The first of four public listening sessions to get feedback on the new citywide Overdose Response Strategic Plan. Residents will learn about the plan and then join small group discussions to share their thoughts and experiences. Feedback will help shape the final version of the plan. Dinner and resources will start at 5:30 p.m.. Event will begin promptly at 6 p.m. Cherry Hill Elementary and Middle School, 801 Bridgeview Road. For more information, find @bcmoor_ on Instagram.

Thursday, July 10

BGE Open House at Sparrows Point Park Community Center: Get help understanding your bill. If you have anything to say to BG&E, this is perfect for doing so. 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 1900 Wharf Road Edgemere. For more information, find “BGE Open House” on Eventbrite.

A Pathway to Success!!! Transition Fair: Panelists from colleges and vocational schools, giveaways, and light refreshments. 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Factory, 5 N. Calhoun Street. For more information, go to namibaltimore.org.

Friday, July 11

Baltimore, The City of Accessible Arts: Public Convening: This event will feature a screening of “Seeing Without Sight,” an exhibition by Make Studio and VisAbility Art Lab, a keynote address, and much more. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Enoch Pratt Central Library, 400 Cathedral Street. For more information, go to calendar.prattlibrary.org. 

Community of Practice: An interactive exhibit for residents, leaders, and stakeholders to explore the current state of police staffing and community relationships with local law enforcement. 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Pennsylvania Main Street Welcome Center, 1829 Pennsylvania Avenue. For more information, go to opi.baltimorecity.gov.

Baltimore Unity Hall Organizing 101 Workshop: Organizing is all about knowing where to apply pressure to systems to get the outcome you want. In Session 2: Power Mapping, you will learn a systematic approach to identifying those pressure points. By the end of this two-hour workshop, you should be able to identify effective strategies to effect change. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Baltimore Unity Hall, 1505 Eutaw Place. For more information, go to baltimoreunityhall.org. 

“No Sense in Wishing” Book Talk: In conversation with journalist Timmhotep Aku, culture critic Lawrence Burney discusses his debut novel about the connections between himself, Baltimore, the Black diaspora, and music. 7 p.m. at Red Emma’s, 3128 Greenmount Avenue. For more information, go to redemmas.org/events/. 

Saturday, July 12

Justice for Tyrone West Run/Walk: Run or walk a 5k, 12k, or 12 miles for justice and accountability. 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Lake Montebello, 33rd street and Hillen Rd. For more information, find @Runners4Justice on Instagram or email runners4justicebalt@gmail.com.

Liberty Road Cleanup with Speaker Adrienne Jones: Everyone is welcome, and all students who participate will receive community service hours. 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. 8419 Liberty Road, Windsor Mill. For more information, call 410-455-5330 or email AAjaz@house.state.md.us.

Book Thing of Baltimore Monthly Giveaway: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Book Thing of Baltimore, 3001 Vineyard Lane. For more information, go to bookthing.org/faq, call 410-662-5631, or email info@bookthing.org. 

Sidewalk Repotting: B. Willow’s experts will repot up to three plants for you. The only thing you pay for is the soil. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at B. Willow, 220 W. 27th Street. For more information, go to bwillow.com. 

Baltimore/ Washington One Caribbean Carnival/ Festival 2025: A two day event filled with masqueraders, entertainment, music, arts and craft and food vendors. ($23.18, parade is free) July 12-13 at Druid Hill Park, 900 Druid Park Lake Drive. For more information, go to baltimorecarnival.org. 

Sunday, July 13

Kids Story Time at Greedy Reads: Join Greedy Reads Remington for a kids story time. 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Greedy Reads Remington, 320 W. 29th Street. For more information, go to greedyreads.com.

Monday, July 14

Black Femme Freedom School Open Classroom Week: A special series of sessions where community, curiosity, and creativity come alive. These workshops are for adults and youth ages 14 and up. July 14-18. Location will be emailed to you upon confirmation of your RSVP. For more information, go to ngsworldwide.com/home.

Tuesday, July 15

Black Folx Book Club: “Freshwater”: Join Greedy Reads’s Leela Chantrelle for a discussion of “Freshwater,” by Akwaeke Emezi. This book is about a woman with separate selves who fights for control after a traumatic event. 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Greedy Reads Remington, 320 West 29th Street. For more information, go to greedyreads.com/events-book-clubs/book-clubs.

Genre Fiction Book Club:  “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel. Please RSVP. 6:30 p.m. at Snug Books, LLC, 4717 Harford Road, Suite 1C. For more information, go to https://www.snugbooks.com/events/event-calendars or call 443-869-4022.

The post Baltimore Government and Community Events 7/2/25-7/16/25 appeared first on Baltimore Beat.

I look around in the maze of your rivers,

I walk in for the fresh waters.

I get lost in the streams in

the rocky floors that hurt my feet.

I walk out from the discomfort 

of my foot’s bleeding vein. 

But I pause for a second

as the sun shines its rays,

seeing white flower petals

that you placed,

floating in the water.

I blink unfocused

I smile with widening eyes,

and I walk back in 

to enjoy the glimmering light.

I’m floating on my back  

in the warm river

with a smile, 

then in the shower

of the evaporating waterfall. 

Soon it dries up.

The flowers shrivel down.

I start to shiver and beg

for the warm rain to come.

But it never comes and

I’m left with pale skin 

and chattering teeth.

The post Dry River appeared first on Baltimore Beat.

Wednesday, July 2

Spread the Jam July2025: This is a jam session welcoming every musician “with open arms — no matter what.” Featuring Baltimore-based saxophonist Johanna McGuire. 6 p.m. at Red Emma’s, 3128 Greenmount Avenue. For more information, go to redemmas.org/events. 

Art of Comedy: An open mic for comedians of all skill levels. Wednesdays. 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Motor House, 120 W. North Avenue. For more information, go to motorhousebaltimore.

Thursday, June 3

First Thursdays: Make and Mingle: This is a drop-in program designed for adults to get creative and socialize. In this session, think about ways to remix and reimagine existing artwork for a contemporary story. 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles Street. For more information, go to thewalters.org/events.

Open Mic: “Black Ocean Storytelling”: Black African Diaspora folks are invited to share stories about the Atlantic Ocean, as a part of Shekinah Mba’s senior thesis on history, the Black African Diaspora, and the ocean. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Red Emma’s, 3128 Greenmount Avenue. For more information, go to redemmas.org/events. 

“What They Left Us” Opening Reception: In this opening reception, eight Filipino-American artists display works on cultural inheritance and “the unspoken labor of belonging through the lens of migration. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Alchemy of Art, 1637 Eastern Avenue. For more information, go to thealchemyofart.net. 

Friday, July 4

mc chris ’20 Years Of Touring’ with Swell Rell: Listen to the legendary mc chris — of Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Adult Swim fame — rap Nerdcore with Swell Rell. ($20) 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Metro Gallery, 1700 N. Charles Street. For more information, go to metrobmore.com/events. 

Saturday, July 5

Charm City Connections: Improv Welcome to Baltimore: Connect with newcomers and learn the art of improv. (Free to $15) 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1900 Saint Paul Street. For more information, go to highwireimprov.com. 

Speed of Fashion Closing Reception: This art exhibition explores the relationship fashion has with identity, science, waste, culture, and more. Featuring art from JJ Antunes, Laure Drogoul, Sanzi Kermes, and more. 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Crow’s Nest Baltimore, 116 W. Mulberry Street. For more information, go to crowsnestbaltimore.com. 

Zach Seals FINAL SHOW: Before singer Zach Seals moves to New York City, join him, Zeke Bleu, Temporary Boyfriend, Ari Voxx, and Str4wb 4lien for a farewell house party. Attendees must register for this event. 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at 2225 Hargrove Street. For more information, find “Zach Seals FINAL SHOW” on Eventbrite, or follow @z_seals on Instagram.

DEEP SUGAR AFTERHOURS: Join the legendary DJ Sedrick as he celebrates his birthday with a five hour DJ set. 18+ ($20 – $25) 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. at Club 1722 Afterhours, 1722 N. Charles Street. For more information, follow @deepsugarparty on Instagram.

Sunday, July 6

Common Tone Summer Music Session: A time for kids and families to sing, dance, play instruments, and connect. ($15) 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at The Ivy Bookshop, Back Patio, 5928 Falls Road. For more information, go to theivybookshop.com/events. 

Drag Me to Brunch – 4th of July Edition: Featuring drag performances by Sabrina Blue, Jae-King, Kedra Lattimore, Liyah Rachelle Sherrington, Oohzee, and Sapphire Dupree. Cash bar, hookahs, and brunch included. 21+ ($28.52 – $428.67) noon to 4 p.m. at The Assembly Room, 318-316 Guilford Avenue. For more information, find “Drag Me to Brunch” on Eventbrite.

Rhythm & Wine Festival: Live music, delicious bites, and a variety of wines. ($28.52) 1-7 p.m. at Carroll Park, 1500 Washington Boulevard. For more information, call 240-581-0655. 

Free Family Sundays: Join the Baltimore Museum of Art for a lesson on the art of mending. Learn how to add creativity and color to small clothing repairs, which in turn allows us to care more for the planet. 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at BMA Main Campus, 10 Art Museum Drive. For more information, go to artbma.org/events. 

Monday, July 7

Kara Arts Summer Camp: This arts summer camp allows kids to explore their creative side through art projects, writing and journaling, dance classes in hip-hop and step, and much more. July 7 through August 8 ($150 per week) 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Grace Place Community Center, 2625A E. Northern Parkway. For more information, go to linktr.ee/KaraArts. 

“Hooks and Yarn”: Crochet for Adults: Master of crochet Cynthia Jahi is looking for students to learn yarn manipulation techniques. This introductory class will give you the skills to begin your next crochet project. Registration required. 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Enoch Pratt Free Library, Waverly Branch, 400 E. 33rd Street. For more information, call 410-396-6089, or email wvr@prattlibrary.org. 

Jazz Monday LIVE at R. House: Featuring both rotating and regular jazz acts from all over the DMV. 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at R. House, 301 W. 29th Street. For more information, go to r.housebaltimore.com.

Thursday, July 10

They Dream in Gold: Zora’s Den in conversation with Mai Sennaar. ($10) 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Charm City Cultural Cultivation, 3100 Greenmount Avenue. For more information, go to charmccc.org.

Writers LIVE! Book Talk: Join Washington Post critic-at-large Robin Givhan and author D. Watkins for a discussion on Givhan’s book “Make It Ours.” In this book, learn about Virgil Abloh’s rise to his iconoclast status in the canon of fashion. 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Enoch Pratt Central Library, 400 Cathedral Street. For more information, go to prattlibrary.org. 

Queeraoke: Al-Aqsa Swim Club Baltimore presents a drag karaoke night for Palestine. All donations will go toward evacuation efforts and supplies for daily needs. Masks encouraged. 9 p.m. at Upstairs @ Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard Street. For more information, follow @aasc.baltimore on Instagram.

Friday, July 11

Cyber Rush: Featuring DJ So-Alien, Molly Got Me Trippin, Jjaro, Bandeanie, and Brooce. Also, an artist market. 18+ ($10 – $15) 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. The Bassment, 33 W. North Avenue. For more information, go to braindead.live. 

The Sugar Brown Comedy Experience: Join Sugar Brown, the seductive alter ego of diva Lanita Shera, for an unforgettable night of sexy comedy experience. (from $40.25) 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at La Familia Soundstage, 836 Guilford Avenue. For more information, go to lafamiliasoundstage.com.

Saturday, July 12

Baltimore’s 3rd Annual Disability Pride Arts Fest: Make Studio brings back their annual Disability Pride Arts Fest. Over a dozen disability and arts organizations will present inclusive performances, art pieces, and resources. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Enoch Pratt Central Library, 400 Cathedral Street. For more information, go to make-studio.org/disabilityprideartsfest_III.html 

Chess Fest with Board Room Chess: Join the youth of Board Room Chess for a day of play and instruction. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at BMA Lexington Market, 112 N. Eutaw Street. For more information, go to artbma.org/events. 

Media Pitch Day: Do you have a good podcast idea? If so, pitch your idea to Sarcarrogance Studios for advice and potential free studio time. Grand prize is four hours of studio time and mentorship with one of the judges. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at SMG Studios, 3037 Hamilton Avenue. For more information, go to sarcarrogance.com. 

BIG Time with Aaron Henkin: Improv comedy scenes inspired by an interview with a local celebrity or artist. ($10) 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The BIG Theater, 1727 N, Charles Street. For more information, go to bigimprov.org.

The Second Saturday S#!T Show feat. Jamar Taylor: Jamar Taylor is a US Army vet and 1/3 of Mobtown Comedy. HIs charm, wit & frenetic pace  leaves the audience memorized and begging for more. ($10) 7 p.m. at Upstairs @ Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard Street. For more information, go to theottobar.com.

Sunday, July 13

Soca at Sunrise: Sounds from Fyah Oats, DJ Polo, DJ Majestic and DJ Dolla. (from $30) 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Carroll Park Golf Course, 2100 Washington Blvd. For more information, call 202-631-0833, 443-928-5900, or 240-350-4304.

Sunday Series at Meander Art Bar: Drawing: Local artists teach you how to draw. Supplies are provided. ($20) 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Meander Art Bar, 1801 E. Lombard Street. For more information, go to meanderartbar.com. 

Teen Summer Writing Workshop with CHARM: Haiku Adventures: The Ivy is teaming up with CHARM: Voices of Baltimore Youth for free summer writing workshops. This event is perfect for fostering and growing a love for writing. Space is limited, so RSVP. Noon to 1:30 p.m. at The Ivy Bookshop, 5928 Falls Road. For more information, go to theivybookshop.com/events. 

Wednesday, July 16

David Ayala Artist Talk: Ayala’s work blends traditional oil painting techniques with unexpected materials like glitter, nail polish, and glass beads to explore themes of queer sensuality, Christian iconography, and pop culture symbolism. 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Night Owl Gallery, 1735 Maryland Avenue. For more information, go to night-owl-gallery.square.site. 

The post Baltimore Arts and Culture Events 7/02/25-7/16/25 appeared first on Baltimore Beat.