Baltimore Beat Photographer Myles Michelin took these photos on June 17 at the Black Artist Fair. As part of the official Baltimore Club Music Day celebration, The Black Arts District brought its monthly series focused on Black artistic production and resources to the Shake & Bake Family Fun Center.

Attendees experienced a dynamic blend of community and culture: they enjoyed refreshments from Chef CB’s Bistro Catering, got professional headshots by Sydney J. Allen, and witnessed electrifying performances by Bmore Than Dance youth, all set to the sounds of DJ Ducky Dynamo and a workshop facilitated by Sanahara Ama Chandra.

The fair also provided resources from Associated Black Charities, empowering Black creatives with resources for sustainability and wealth. And Bmore Than Dance showcased its vital children’s program, connecting young folks to Baltimore’s iconic dance legacy. Baltimore Club Music isn’t just a genre; it’s the signature of our city, and this event was a powerful testament to its continued impact and the future of Black Arts in Baltimore, with an emphasis on Baltimore Club Music’s indelible impact on our cultural legacy. 

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AFRAM took place on June 21 and 22, over two steamy days in Baltimore’s Druid Hill Park. A host of local and national entertainers performed on two stages. The festival concluded with a performance from 81-year-old Patti LaBelle. Organizers call it one of the largest African American festivals on the East Coast.

Day One

Day Two

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The Baltimore Pride parade and block party kicked off at the intersection of North Avenue and Charles Street. It featured foam, supportive hugs, and plenty of rainbows.

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On Saturday, June 21, family members, arabbers, and other members of the community said goodbye to Bilal “BJ” Abdullah with a horse-drawn funeral procession. A funeral service was held at Upton’s Masjid Ul Haqq mosque. 

Abdullah, 36, was fatally shot by Baltimore Police Department officers last week. Community members held a march on Friday to remember him.

Baltimore Beat will continue to follow this developing story. (Lisa Snowden)

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These nearly 25-year-old photos, imbued with celebration, style, and joy, were taken in 2000 at the Baltimore Pride Parade on Charles Street in Mount Vernon. In them, you can see how much the neighborhood has changed. One photo, for instance, displays a float from Club Hippo, a beloved LGBTQ+ safe haven. Today, that same location is occupied by a CVS — a poignant example of the area’s evolution and the loss of vital LGBTQ+ spaces. Club Hippo’s legacy also extends today; it hosted the Miss Gay Maryland Pageant, a drag event still held annually across the state as a preliminary competition to Miss Gay America.

The images were captured by photographer Joseph Kohl, who passed away from leukemia in 2002, just two years after this series was made. A UMBC grad, Kohl was a visual historian for the city’s counter-culture, shooting for publications like City Paper and Mid-Atlantic Gay Life. According to the Maryland Center for History and Culture, he was dedicated to capturing Baltimore’s underground scenes, including “the city’s erotic sub-communities, small-venue rock concerts, and queer nightlife.” His work provided a vital, validating record for communities often overlooked by the mainstream. 

Decades after Baltimore’s first Pride demonstration in 1975, these images capture a pivotal chapter in our city’s ongoing story. Over the subsequent fifty years, celebrations have taken place across our city. Pride is still celebrated in Mount Vernon, but you will also find events across our city, including the Inner Harbor, Station North, and more.

These images by Joseph Kohl are from the Maryland Center for History and Culture’s “We Are… Proud” collection.

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The No Boundaries Coalition held its 18th Annual Community Block Party in Sandtown-Winchester this year at Cumberland and Carey Park. The Central West Baltimore-based nonprofit focuses on community support by focusing on features like civic engagement, youth leadership, and food culture. 

This year marks the organization’s second year in partnership with the Black Arts District. The groups alternate locations between Eutaw Street, where the program is traditionally held, and other locations where the Black Arts District is located. The event was full of resources, free food and drinks, vendors, alongside a host of performances.

This year’s theme was “arts as activism” as performances called for recognition of the crisis in the Congo alongside the support of the arts. The block party also had voters registration available as well as a health booth where people were able to check certain vitals.

“It starts with bringing community together to just be in fellowship and share space in something positive,” said Kenneth Something, award-winning poet and Director of Programs for Black Arts District. 

“We have about 16 different creatives that were hired to be able to be part of this and for us, it’s about building the creative economy. Most of the artists we hire are from this area so being able to get hired to work in your community is important.”

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In the “We Are… Proud” section of Collecting Maryland, one of our core exhibits that shares the

“greatest hits” of the Maryland Center for History and Culture, we hope to offer visitors an overview of Queer History in Baltimore and the wider state of Maryland. While the narratives in our LGTBQ+ collections are not yet comprehensive, we hope that increasing representation in the museum will help queer Marylanders know that we value their stories. Through community outreach and relationship building, we can continue to deepen our capacity to educate visitors on this essential history. 

What I think makes this display unique is that the objects are so deeply personal, often being directly donated by the maker or user. The materials offer an additional layer beyond their historic context — from sweat-stained drag outfits to gender-affirming care items, each display case is imbued with lived experiences and authenticity. Further, most of the display cases feature collections specific to Baltimore or the Mt. Vernon neighborhood, including drag outfits from a Baltimore Drag King, the sign and disco ball from the iconic Club Hippo, and memorabilia from Baltimore premieres of John Waters’ films.

In addition to the items shown in “We Are…Proud,” visitors can see additional materials on Queer History in the H. Furlong Baldwin Library on our campus. As Baltimore gears up for Pride celebrations, I am excited to welcome new audiences and share about a collection so near and dear to my heart. Maryland history is Queer History, and MCHC is honored to help share the stories of those who fought so hard to be who they are and love who they want.

The post Photostory: From drag outfits to The Hippo disco ball, Baltimore’s queer history shines in ‘We Are…Proud’ appeared first on Baltimore Beat.

What was once a rodent-infested alleyway in West Baltimore is now a blooming Urban Oasis — a vibrant community space transformed by the vision and persistence of founder and executive director Arica Gonzalez and her neighbors.

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, residents gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the entry gate, a collaborative public art piece designed by blacksmith Nicholas Ireys of NI Metal Design. The gate, which features a large iron tree, will soon hold aluminum leaves etched by community members, a living archive of names, memories, and community care.

The Urban Oasis also features green space, a free community library, charging stations, and public Wi-Fi — practical resources rooted in love. Local leaders including Senator Antonio Hayes, Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and Dan Ellis, CEO of Neighborhood Housing Services Baltimore, came out in support, alongside the Baltimore Zoo, which hosted hands-on activities for kids and families.

“This is an example of what can happen when decisions are made by the people who actually live here,” one attendee said.

Children hammered designs into leaves, neighbors swapped stories, and the air was thick with pride and promise. The event wasn’t just a celebration of the alley — it marked nearly a decade of reclaiming space, from neglected spaces to centers of joy and care. And this is only the beginning: three more gates are planned, each one a testament to what can grow when a community builds together.

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Local vendors, live music, and families filled the streets surrounding Hollins Market on May 25 for Sowebo Fest’s 49th year kicking off summer. The festival is produced and staff by volunteers from the neighborhood.

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Every year the Preakness Stakes ensures a dynamic blend of equestrian prowess and sartorial splendor. 

For artists and patrons, this event consistently serves as a grand runway, reflecting the city’s diverse spirit through its fashion. Photographers Brady Robinson and Lotus Partlow expertly captured the essence of Preakness style, from the iconic hats and sharp suits to the bold, personal expressions that defined the infield. 

This photo essay steps beyond the track to explore the unique intersection of tradition, athleticism, and unbridled style at the “Middle Jewel” of the Triple Crown. (Teri Henderson) 

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