Harbor East is adding a touch of Southern California style with the arrival tomorrow, Aug. 16, of Gorjana, a jewelry brand based in Laguna Beach.

The brand will open its 1,350-square-foot store at the corner of Aliceanna and South Exeter Streets. Known for its gold and gold-plated pieces featuring diamonds, opals, and sapphires, Gorjana is the latest addition to the neighborhood’s lineup of high-end retailers.

Inside the store, expect interiors featuring blush terrazzo flooring, custom artwork and natural light. Customers will also meet in-store stylists who curate looks to match their personal style.

Shoppers can choose from a variety of gold, sterling silver, rose-gold, and gold-plated brass necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings that range from moderately to high-priced. Since its founding in 2004, Gorjana has built a reputation for jewelry pieces that can be mixed, matched, and layered.

“We are thrilled to welcome Gorjana to Harbor East,” said Tim O’Donald, President of Harbor East Management, in a statement. “Their presence reinforces our neighborhood as a prime destination for nationally recognized brands expanding into the Baltimore market.”

The new location marks Gorjana’s second store in Maryland. Its Bethesda location opened in 2021. As one of the brand’s 80 stores nationwide, the Harbor East shop is part of Gorjana’s expansion across the country.

Alo Yoga and Playa Bowls are also slated to open in Harbor East by the end of 2024.

The Maryland Science Center has received a $500,000 grant from the Northrop Grumman Foundation to sponsor a space exhibit now under development and scheduled to open in late 2025.

The exhibit will replace the entire “Our Place in Space” exhibit on the museum’s second floor. The new installation will cover themes that include the Earth, life beyond Earth, and space exploration. It will also have interactive elements that explain and explore concepts of gravity, black holes, revolution vs. rotation, asteroids and infinity. 

“The Northrop Grumman Foundation’s gift toward this upcoming exhibit will further open the science of space to Maryland’s current and future explorers, allowing them to discover and imagine what exists beyond our world,” said Brandon White, a Maryland Science Center trustee and the vice president and general manager of tactical space systems at Northrop Grumman.

The grant will also aid with ongoing STEM programming at the museum, which will allow visitors to build their own rockets, perform everyday tasks, wear space gloves, and operate a robotic arm.

The Baltimore Museum of Art recently acquired over 200 works of art that embody global voices across time and culture, as well as works by artists with ties to the Baltimore region.

The acquired artworks allow the museum to share a depth of perspectives, experiences, and artistic innovation from its art community and beyond with its viewers. Among the contemporary works acquired are paintings, sculptures, ceramics, mixed media objects, photographs, and works on paper. 

The featured artists include Bernadette Despujols, Rhea Dillon, Hew Locke, Roberto Lugo, Bethany Collins, Rinko Kawauchi, and Samella Lewis, among others. Featured Baltimore artists include I. Henry Phillips Sr., Joyce J. Scott, Carl Clark, Erick N. Mack, Louis Fratino, and Jowita Wyszomirska. 

The museum also acquired historical works by Margrethe Jensen, Henriette Daux, Voania of Muba, Alfred Dauguet, an unknown artist, and an unidentified Cup’ig artist. It was also gifted 181 copper plates, three linoleum blocks, and an illustrated book by French artist Henri Matisse. Museum trustee Amy Gould and her husband, Matthew Polk, donated historic and modern textiles representing the cultures of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

A Closer Look:

Young Girl with Headscarf (c. 1885) by Henriette Daux

The vibrant pastel and a rare, signed work by French artist Daux represents an intersection between the status of women artists at the end of the 19th century and narratives around models of color in late 19th-century Paris. The girl’s identity is unknown, but based on her clothing and headscarf, she may be Roma – an ethnic group of people with North Indian origins who live principally in Europe. 

Peonies (c. 1918) by Margrethe Jensen 

A large peony bush in full bloom, with a view of the Oslofjord between two pine trees, is depicted in the painting by Norwegian artist Jensen. Jensen was meticulous in her handling of paint and landscape conception, but she is largely unknown today. “Peonies” is the first painting by a Norwegian artist in the collection and contributes to the museum’s representation of women artists and the transnational ties of European Modernism. 

Creole Woman (1949) by Samella Lewis

Lewis, known as the “Godmother of Black Art,” was an artist, scholar, curator, filmmaker, and activist. “Creole Woman” is a gouache on paper created when Lewis lived with a family in the Bayou Teche region of Louisiana. It reflects the complexities of Creole identification in the American South. The work is likely related to the museum’s only other piece by the artist, a screen print depicting sugarcane harvesting in the Bayou Teche region, which was acquired in 1952.

“Four Centuries” Vase (2024) by Roberto Lugo

The “Four Centuries” Vase by Lugo depicts various aspects of Black American history from 1619 to the present. It is a reinterpretation of Union Porcelain Work’s seminal Century Vase, created for the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. The vase conveyed patriotism, nostalgia, and industrial progress through portraits of George Washington and white figures in vignettes about invention and agriculture. In Lugo’s version, the portraits of Washington are replaced with those of Martin Luther King Jr. and Maryland-born Frederick Douglass, surrounded by scenes depicting enslavement, Jim Crow discrimination, the industrial prison complex, urban vivacity, and the Black Lives Matter protests. This piece reflects Lugo’s dedication to highlighting Black and Brown histories.

Spring to Fall (Four Seasons) (c. 1990) by Joyce J. Scott

Scott has been practicing art for 50 years, focusing on fiber art, jewelry, printmaking, performance, sculpture, and installations. “Spring to Fall (Four Seasons)” is a large-scale woven tapestry created on her 11-foot cedar loom. This piece reflects her dedication to fiber art and showcases her experimental weaving techniques.

Portrait of Sultan Abdulhamid I (r. 1774-89)(Early 19th Century) by an unknown artist who may have been a follower of Konstantin Kapidagli

This portrait is similar to those commissioned by Sultan Abdulhamid’s successor, Sultan Selim III, who hired Konstantin Kapidagli(a Greek painter working in the Ottoman Court from the 1780s until about 1810) to produce a series of portraits of the Turkish Sultans. Kapidagli advanced Turkish realism and was appreciated for his skill. His portraits were copied as official gifts for foreign dignitaries and later in the 19th century for Ottoman genealogical trees. 

As you hit the road this weekend, temporary road closures and traffic changes will be in effect around the city for the Artscape festival, the Baltimore Farmers’ Market, and an event at the CFG Bank Arena. 

The Baltimore City Department of Transportation advises drivers to pay close attention to posted parking restrictions to avoid being ticketed or towed. Motorists can download the Waze app for live detour navigation. 

Artscape:

Artscape takes place Friday, Aug. 2 through Sunday, Aug. 4 in Mount Vernon, Bolton Hill, Charles North and Station North Arts District. In preparation for the festival, road closures and changes in traffic began on July 29 and some road closures will stay in effect until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6. 

The following streets are affected until Aug. 6:

• Royal Avenue – Between McMechen Street and St. Paul Street
• Cathedral Street – Between West Biddle Street and Mt. Royal Avenue
• Dolphin Street – Between Howard Street and Mt. Royal Avenue
• Preston Street – Between Cathedral Street and North Howard Street
• Oliver Street – Between Mt. Royal and Maryland Avenues
• Lanvale Street – Between Mt. Royal Avenue and Rutter Street
• Lafayette Street – Between Mt. Royal Avenue and Rutter Street
• Preston Street – Between Maryland Avenue and Cathedral Street 
• McMechen, Malster, and Dickson Streets behind the MICA Bunting Center and Fox Building

Road closures in effect until Monday, Aug. 5  at 6 a.m. are:

• Charles Street – Between Biddle and 21st Streets (The Charles Street ramp to 1-83 will be closed so there will be no access to Penn Station through Charles Street. Traffic entering and exiting Penn Station must utilize St. Paul Street). 
• Lanvale Street – Between Maryland Avenue and Lovegrove Street
• Lafayette Avenue – Between St. Paul Street and Maryland Avenue 
• 20th Street – Between Maryland Avenue and St. Paul Street
• North Side Parking/Curb Lanes on North Avenue from N. Howard to St. Paul Streets
• South Side Parking/Curb Lanes on North Avenue from Maryland Avenue to N. Charles Street
• Falls Road – Closed from West Lafayette to Maryland Avenues
• Southbound Jones Falls Expressway exit ramp to Maryland Avenue
• A 2-way traffic pattern will be effective along Maryland Avenue from Oliver Street to North Avenue. Southbound Maryland Avenue traffic will be maintained for local access to the Fitzgerald Garage, and Fitzgerald residents and UB students can turn right to go onto Maryland Avenue at Oliver Street. Northbound traffic along the stretch of Marland Avenue must turn right at North Avenue. 

Traffic changes along Maryland Avenue for church services on Sunday, Aug. 4 from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. :

• Maryland Avenue will be converted to a two-way traffic pattern starting from Preston Street to Mt. Royal Avenue. Congregation members should follow St. Paul Street to Preston Street, then turn right going the opposite way onto Maryland Avenue to the parking lot. 

The Charm City Circulator’s bus routes will be modified and stay in effect until Aug. 6, with normal operations resuming on Wednesday, Aug. 7. Riders are encouraged to download the Passio Go! app to stay updated on when the next Circulator bus will arrive. 

CFG Bank Arena:

These streets are closed until 1 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 2:

• Howard Street – Left lane closure from Camden to Pratt Streets
• Lombard Street – Right lane closure from Hopkins Place to Howard Street 
• Baltimore Street – Left lane closure from Howard Street to Park Avenue
• Pratt Street – Left lane closure from Eutaw to Howard Streets

The Baltimore Farmers’ Market:

The Baltimore Farmers’ Market is held under the Jones Falls Expressway along Saratoga Street between Holliday and Gay Streets. 

The following streets are affected by lane closures on Sunday, Aug. 4 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. with parking restrictions in effect:

• Holliday Street – Closed from E. Pleasant Street to E. Saratoga Street
• Pleasant Street – Closed at Holliday Street
• Hillen Street – Center lane closure between Front Street and Fallsway

“YOU LOOK GOOD” a welcome mat declares as clients head up the pink stairs of the bus. A fur-draped driver’s seat; a steering wheel decked in rhinestones; a glitzy seating area; pink curtains; a hair wash unit; and a hooded dryer and pink styling chair await clients on their last step up the 1997 Ford wrapped in pink vinyl. 

“It’s a big pink van that definitely draws attention,” said Lauren Kelly, owner of The TrillestDollhouse Mobile Loc Shop, her mobile hair salon. “I’ve had people stop in traffic to take pictures. I’ve had people pull over and stop driving to come knock on my door to ask about my business.”

“I even had a delivery guy who was dropping off one of my packages knock on my door and ask about my services. Now, he’s one of my clients,” she said. 

Kelly, 21 years old and a licensed loctician, is well-versed in creating locs — hair formed into single twists, coils or braids that mature into thick strands over time. She said she sees each strand as unique and a reflection of her clients’ patience and dedication to their locs.

Kelly opened her salon in 2023 after she ditched wigs and pressed hair for locs. Locs were the gateway to her proudly embracing her natural hair, so she decided to help others do the same through her salon.

But the idea for a mobile salon came while driving on the interstate highway. “I’ll never forget it. The exit was 31c. I was driving home, and next to me was this pink company car,” Kelly said. “My favorite color is pink, and obviously it caught my eye. I was like, ‘Oh my God! I love it. I want one.’”

She began searching for a vehicle to house her salon. After browsing Facebook Marketplace and Used Vending for a van and viewing them in person, she purchased a navy blue bus that had previously been a mobile barber shop, gave it a pink makeover, and transformed it into The TrillestDollhouse Mobile Loc Shop. She received funding to purchase and renovate the vehicle from state grants and by participating in a student business pitch competition through Bowie State University, where she is a rising senior.

Mobile hair salons have become ideal spaces for hairstylists, a trend that blossomed during the pandemic to bring a safe salon experience to people’s doorsteps. Since then, the business model has prevailed, with hair service providers making the drive to their clients, who are often homebound, busy or prefer not to make the trip to a traditional salon. 

Though mobile salons are not as widespread as brick-and-mortar salons because various states have restrictions or requirements that need to be met to operate a mobile salon. In Montana, Alabama and New Jersey, mobile hair salons were not legal until recent years. 

Kelly needs to pass a vehicle inspection and fix her lights before getting on the road in August to serve her older clients and even students at her university. For now, her mobile salon is parked in the driveway of her grandmother’s yellow wooden house, and clients flow in daily. 

Between mirrors festooned with gold swirls and a flower wall clumped with roses, Kelly, wrapped in a tribal apron, stood and styled a client’s hair in a pattern similar to a woven basket. “Perfect as usual. Thank you as always,” the client said as she looked in the mirror and patted her hair in admiration of her first ever detailed style. 

Kelly is inclusive of all clients at The TrillestDollhouse Mobile Loc Shop, though she estimates that men make up over 90% of her clientele.

“I would think that with the pink bus, most of my clients would be girls,” Kelly said. 

Various services are laid out for clients based on their needs: Starter locs, retwists, loc repairs and instant locs. Starter locs are created from scratch and later develop into mature strands. Only the roots of the hair are redone for retwists. Loc repairs focus on restoring the health of thinned locs while instant locs achieve the loc look immediately by using a special crochet needle. Each service takes between two-and-a-half hours to four hours. 

During services, clients sing along to worship music or a song of their choice, sleep, chat with Kelly or put prayer requests into a prayer jar, which Kelly prays over. 

“It’s just always good vibes. She’s very warm,” said Francis Wangui, whose locs stop at his neck. 

Wangui, a regular at Kelly’s mobile salon, decided to get locs because he was tired of the amount of time it took to work his way through his afro. “It would be a 12-hour affair,” he said. 

He said he likes the versatility of his locs and being able to document his hair growth. “It’s kind of like a story for me,” Wangui said. “I can look back on where my hair was and tie it back to where I was in life.”

Jacobie Thornton, a client since 2023, said locs make him feel Black. He’s had his locs for over 10 years.

The connection Wangui and Thornton have with their locs is not uncommon. “People basically have locs as a source of strength or a new beginning,” said Nicole Gibson, a loctician and founder of Locs of Honey Salon. “Locs also have a very spiritual meaning. Some people feel like they are antennas to God or to the other world,” she said. 

Kelly did not foresee becoming a loctician who deals with natural hair. Growing up, she was insecure about how her kinky hair stood up in comparison to straightened hair that fell like a waterfall. So, she would straighten her hair or hide behind wigs. She also didn’t like that her peers at her predominantly white high school would question her about her hair.

Black women often straighten or conceal their hair as a need to make it palatable for mainstream U.S. culture, said Tia Tyree, a professor of communications at Howard University and a media scholar who focuses on images of Black women in mainstream media. 

In 2019, the California legislature passed The Crown Act, a law that protects against race-based hair discrimination in public schools and workplaces. A similar bill was introduced at the federal level in 2021 and 2022, but Congress has failed to pass it. 

Since the passage of the California law, several other states have passed similar laws to protect against discrimination related to hairstyle or texture. Among them is Maryland, which passed its own version of The Crown Act in 2020. Still, there remains a deep-rooted problem in the culture surrounding hair, Tyree said.  

She added that “accepting and celebrating your natural beauty is a way to acknowledge who you truly are and disregard the longstanding pressures to change to be accepted by others.”

It wasn’t until Kelly had to cut off her hair in 2021, due to heat damage from straightening irons, that she began to appreciate her natural hair. She began playing with styles on her hair and did her own locs, which she loved instantly.

 “My only regret when it comes to locs is not doing it sooner. I’ve never felt more me,” Kelly said.  

Classmates at her university would ask who did her locs and “I would be like ‘me,’ and they would say, ‘can you do my hair,’” Kelly said. She would do their hair in the library or in the basement of her home. And she would do it effortlessly because she’s always had the knack for hair, she said. She recalled spending hours on YouTube watching hair tutorials and trying out the styles during her teenage years because her mom wasn’t a hair person.

Kelly has blonde curly locs usually pinned into a bun at the back. Twists drop at the front. She named her locs “Lola” because personifying her hair made her care for and love her hair, she said. 

Kelly sees her journey with her hair as a learning experience and why she’s able to properly educate her clients about their locs. She advises them to come once a month for retwists, not get retwists too frequently because it can thin their hair out, wear bonnets at night and spray rose water on their locs in the morning. 

New clients, usually women, are initially hesitant to get locs because they don’t want to go through the “ugly phase,” Kelly said. “There is no ugly phase. It’s really just you accepting what you look like with your natural hair,” she said.

They end up stunned at the forms their natural hair can take when she finishes with their hair, Kelly said. “It’s a fulfilling moment just helping people feel more like themselves and embrace their hair.”

While her mobile salon venture has been a success, she’s also faced challenges. One time, she dropped a clip down her sink’s drain, which clogged up the sink and slowed her work down. Another time, her pipes froze and burst during her first winter operating the salon. “It was kind of rough. I was not prepared,” she said. She’s ready to take on the coming winter and has blankets and a fan that can switch to a heater, she said. 

All around the salon, there’s a sense of community. It’s evident in the signatures on the wall that new clients sign, the pink styling chair her brother gifted her, and the interior of the bus, which she designed with her mom and dad. 

“I just want everyone to feel like a part of this because they are,” Kelly said. 

Baltimore’s first-ever Graphic Novel Festival will be held at Dreamers & Make-Believers bookstore on Aug. 10. 

The festival’s goal is to reclaim Baltimore’s title as The City That Reads and encourage readers to take up reading graphic novels. 

Graphic novels have grown in popularity in the past few years at over 90 percent in school libraries, according to the School Library journal. But graphic novels aren’t just for students. In 2023, graphic novels were the third highest selling category within adult fiction. 

The Graphic Novel Festival will provide both children and adults a variety of graphic novels as well as the opportunity to meet authors and illustrators of some of the novels. 

Attendees will also be able to attend book talks, panels, workshops and see how educators interact with graphic novels. 

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit the Dreamers & Make-Believers bookstore’s website. 

Maryland has received a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to better support the state’s homeless youth communities.

The Youth Homelessness Systems Improvement grant is designed to improve education, child welfare and juvenile justice. Local, state, federal, and nonprofit officials announced the grant funding on Monday.

“Everyone deserves a place to call home, especially our youth,” said Matthew Heckles, regional administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in a statement. “I look forward to the day when there are no homeless people in America.”

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a $51 million grant for youth homelessness on June 6 and has since then awarded grants to communities in 26 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and Guam.

To learn more about the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s work to end homelessness, visit dhcd.maryland.gov.

The Avenue Kitchen & Bar is working to raise funds for colon cancer research and the Kimmel Cancer Center with a fundraiser series launching on Aug. 7.

The series honors restaurant owner Patrick Dahlgren, who recently began his chemotherapy treatment at Johns Hopkins after being diagnosed with colon cancer.

Dahlgren is known for his generosity to his community and his dedication to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society over the years, so it is important that the community embodies Dahlgren’s values, said Todd Yuhanick, spokesperson for The Avenue Kitchen & Bar.

“Patrick has given so much to our community, and now it’s our turn to give back,” Yuhanick said. “We invite everyone to join us in this fight against colon cancer and help make a difference in the lives of those affected by this disease.”

The restaurant will host various events that feature special menus, entertainment and opportunities for guests to contribute to the cause.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will go directly to the Kimmel Cancer Center in advancing their research and treatment programs. For more information about this cause, visit avenuekitchenbar.com.

Maryland’s delegation to the Democratic National Convention unanimously endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic party’s nominee for president of the United States during a virtual meeting Monday. 

Harris’s endorsement came after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race on Sunday and endorsed Harris to succeed him.

During the virtual meeting, the Maryland Delegation joined Biden and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in backing Harris as their choice for the Democratic nomination. 

“Vice President Kamala Harris possesses experience that uniquely qualifies her to serve as President of the United States, a strong track record of delivering for the American people on the heels of the Biden-Harris Administration, and the leadership to unite the party through this unprecedented time,” said Maryland Democratic Party Chair Ken Ulman. “The Maryland Democratic Delegation stands unanimously behind her candidacy, eager to cast our votes for her and campaign vigorously for a historic victory this November.”

(Full disclosure: Ulman is a part-owner of Baltimore Fishbowl. This article was independently reported and was not reviewed by Ulman for publication.)

The Maryland Delegation, Moore and the Maryland Democratic Party also applauded Biden for his achievements while in office, specifically for his commitment to public service, leadership during the pandemic, and his choice not to seek the Democratic nomination for president. 

Maryland’s Democratic convention delegates will cast their votes for Harris during the Democratic National Convention set to be held in Chicago on Aug. 19-22.

The annual Sad Summer Festival will illuminate The Chrysalis at Merriweather Park on Aug. 9 with rock music from independent artists and emo fun for all ages. 

The festival is celebrating its 5-year anniversary after originally launching in 2019, following the loss of the Vans Warped Tour.

Festival founders Mayday Parade and The Maine, along with bands The Wonder Years, We The Kings, Real Friends, Knuckle Puck, The Summer Set, Hot Milk, Diva Bleach, Daisy Grenade and Like Roses, will enchant the audience with their tunes. 

“For most of my adult life, I’ve associated the summer with music festivals. Their open air venues, the mix of tour bus exhaust and heat radiating off asphalt, and of course, hearing my favorite music at twilight, lit by the flicker of fireflies — Sad Summer epitomizes this experience,” said Alex Garcia of Mayday Parade. “It also serves as a unifying force in our music scene, a place for every emo kid to gather around, connect with fellow fans, and truly be themselves.”

The festival’s attendance has nearly doubled in the last four years and was listed as one of the top grossing tours of 2021, according to Pollstar. 

The festival also prides itself on its commitment to non profit partnerships and providing education and resources for attendees. It is partnered with HeadCount, Reverb and Calling All Crows. 

Tickets are available at Sad Summer Fest.com.

Are you in for some more musical fun this summer? These are some of the concerts in August and September to make your summer even cooler!

Who: Missy Elliott

When: Aug. 1

Where: CFG Bank Arena

About: Are you ready for an out-of-this-world experience? Elliott’s Out of This World Experience tour is her first headline tour and marks her 30 years in the music industry. She will perform her greatest hits across arenas in North America and will be joined by singer-songwriter Ciara, rapper and actor Busta Rhymes, and record producer and rapper Timbaland. 

Who: Hootie & The Blowfish

When: Aug. 3

Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion

About: Thirty years after releasing their debut album in 1994, Hootie & The Blowfish are on their Summer Camp with Trucks Tour and will be making a stop in Columbia. The band will be joined by Collective Soul and Edwin McCain.

Who: Fantasia

When: Aug. 9

Where: Pier Six Pavilion

About: Do you remember the winner of American Idol in 2004? She’s coming to Baltimore! Fantasia is known for the sweetness of her voice and her range in R&B, hip-hop, and soul. Grab your tickets and go see her! 

Who: Slipknot

When: Aug. 9

Where: CFG Bank Arena

About: Slipknot’s Here Comes The Pain Tour celebrates the 25th anniversary of their debut album, “Slipknot,” released in 1999 and credited as the reason for the heavy metal band’s rise to popularity. The album is certified double platinum and is the band’s best-selling album. The tour’s special guests are Knocked Loose, Orbit Culture, and Vended. 

Who: Joshua Bassett

When: Aug. 14

Where: Pier Six Pavilion

About: Bassett starred in “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” alongside Olivia Rodrigo. Since the Disney+ series, Bassett has carved out a solo musical career, performing a mix of pop, rock, and indie tunes. He is set to release his debut album “The Golden Years” in July 2024.

Who: New Kids on the Block

When: Aug. 16

Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion

About: Kick it back to the ’80s and ’90s, when the New Kids on the Block first shared their music with the world. After disbanding in 1994, the group reunited in 2007. They will be joined by Paula Abdul, as well as DJ Jazzy Jeff, on their Magic Summer Tour.

Who: Imagine Dragons

When: Aug. 23

Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion

About: Pop or rock? Imagine Dragons does both. They will take on The Loom World Tour this summer, performing alongside the pop band Cannons. Hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada, Imagine Dragons was formed in 2008 and has enthralled audiences with hit songs such as “Radioactive,” “Believer,” “Demons,” and “Thunder,” each amassing over 1 billion streams.

Who: Usher

When: Aug. 23 through 24

Where: CFG Bank Arena

About: The 8-time Grammy-winning artist Usher is coming to Baltimore as part of his Past Present Future tour. This tour celebrates his 30-year career in the entertainment industry. During the show, he will perform his popular R&B tracks, including songs from his ninth studio album “Coming Home.” Fans can also expect to see his famous moves, such as popping, locking, and gliding across the stage.

Who: All Time Low

When: Aug. 24

Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion

About: Towson, Maryland was where it all started for rock band All Time Low. The group released their ninth studio album, “Tell Me I’m Alive” in 2023. Now, they’re coming to perform in Columbia with Boys Like Girls and LOLO.

Who: Mitski

When: Aug. 30 through Sept. 1

Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion

About: The songwriter and performer, known for her catchy indie tunes and tales about heartbreak and capitalism, has released seven studio albums. Her song “My Love Mine All Mine,” from her seventh studio album “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We,” released in 2023, became her first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. She will bring her slow ballads to Merriweather, and the bands Lamp and Alvvays, and Sierra Ferrell will also perform, along with Mitski, each over the three days.

Who: Omar Apollo

When: Sept. 3

Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion

About: A native of Indiana, the R&B singer received a Best New Artist nomination at the 2023 Grammy Awards. His debut album, “Ivory,” was released in 2022 and topped Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums, leading to his Grammy win. Apollo will visit Baltimore during his God Said No Tour in support of his album, “God Said No,” which was released on June 28. He will be joined by artist Malcolm Todd. 

Who: Jon Pardi

When: Sept. 5

Where: Pier Six Pavilion

About: Country singer Pardi is hitting the road for his Mr. Saturday Night Tour and Baltimore is one of his stops. His songs are constant hits with albums on Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart and four platinum-certified certified singles on the Country Airplay Chart. He’s headlined six North American tours since 2014. Bring a country friend or two for a night out with Pardi. 

Who: Kirk Franklin

When: Sept. 7

Where: CFG Bank Arena

About: Sing along and join the heavenly melody with gospel singer Franklin and his choir. The Reunion Tour features Franklin, along with gospel icons and co-headliners Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp, and The Clark Sisters. Kierra Sheard-Kelly will also make a special guest appearance.

Who: The Killers

When: Sept. 8

Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion

About: American rock band The Killers is coming to Merriweather Post Pavilion. The group released their second greatest hits album, “Rebel Diamonds,” in 2023. They will be joined in Columbia by Robert Loud and Soft Echo.

Who: Kygo

When: Sept. 12

Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion

About: The Kygo World Tour will showcase the Norwegian songwriter and DJ’s distinctive airy pan flutes, catchy beats, and synths. He gained popularity after remixing “I See Fire” by Ed Sheeran in 2013 and with the release of his single “Firestone” in 2014. Zara Larsson, Sofi Tukker, Gryffin, Sam Feldt, Klangkarussell, Hayla, Victoria Nadine, and Vandelux will join Kygo on select dates.

Who: Pearl Jam

When: Sept. 12

Where: CFG Bank Arena

About: Hailing from Seattle, American rock band will perform in Baltimore as part of their Dark Matter World Tour. The tour commemorates the band’s 12th studio album, “Dark Matter,” which released in April 2024.

Who: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

When: Sept. 13

Where: Oriole Park at Camden Yards

About: The Boss himself will perform at Oriole Park at Camden Yards this September. Springsteen last performed in Baltimore in April 2023 at CFG Bank Arena, and he was scheduled to perform at OPACY in September 2023 before having to postpone that show due to medical treatment for peptic ulcer disease. As Springsteen and the E Street Band prepares for a stop in Baltimore, be sure to get your tickets and catch the singer who was born to run.

Who: Hans Zimmer

When: Sept. 13

Where: CFG Bank Arena

About: You’ve heard his film scores in some of the biggest Hollywood movies like “Dune,” “The Lion King,” “Inception,” and others. The German-born composer has won two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, four Grammy Awards, and has received many other honors. He will perform live in Baltimore at CFG Bank Arena.

Who: Twenty One Pilots

When: Sept. 15

Where: CFG Bank Arena

About: This is the summer of Twenty One Pilots! As part of The Clancy World Tour – their biggest headline tour – the musical duo is celebrating the release of “Clancy,” their seventh studio album released on May 24. The duo is touring North America, followed by countries in Oceania and Europe. 

Who: Bowling For Soup

When: Sept. 17

Where: Rams Head Live

About: Punk rock band Bowling For Soup is celebrating their 30th anniversary this year — as well as the 20th anniversary of their fifth studio album, “A Hangover You Don’t Deserve.” They’ll be joined in Baltimore by Wheatus and Don’t Panic.

Who: Vance Joy

When: Sept. 21

Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion

About: Australian singer-songwriter James Gabriel Keogh, who performs as Vance Joy, released his musical earworm “Riptide” in 2013. Since then, he has released three studio albums, including his latest, “In Our Own Sweet Time,” in 2022. Now he’s visiting Columbia, along with Local Natives and Tiny Habits.

What if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? The musical “& Juliet” at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center answers just that.

The production’s North American tour will launch from Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, with eight performances from Sept. 22-28. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.

In the show, Juliet explores the life she could have had — filled with even more romance and proof that there’s in fact life after Romeo. Broadway star Rachel Webb will take on the role as Juliet. 

The musical will feature pop anthems by the Grammy award-winning producer and songwriter Max Martin. It will also flourish in comedy rather than tragedy.

“& Juliet” opened on Broadway in November 2022 and has broken box office records and played in front of sold-out crowds.

The Broadway production was nominated for nine Tony Awards in 2023.

Miriam-Teak Lee, who starred as Juliet in the original production when it premiered at the Manchester Opera House and later in the West End, won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2020, among other awards bestowed upon the musical.

It’s time to get your pets ready to show off their most patriotic clothing at the Pet Parade and Animal Talent Show on July 4. 

The event, hosted by The American Visionary Art Museum, will take place at the museum’s Whirligig Plaza from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Registration is at 8:30 a.m.

The Pet Parade honors Ellis Rosen, an animal lover and a supporter of the art museum. The parade is followed by the talent show, and trophies will be awarded for both events. 

Categories include Most Patriotic, Star-Spangled, Best Visionary Pet Hair-do, Best Pet Haute Couture and many more. The grand prize — Most Visionary Pet 2024 — is awarded to the pet that embodies the spirit of a true patriotic visionary. 

People who plan on attending are advised to check www.avam.org for any cancellations or event changes in the case of extreme weather or high heat and humidity.

Home-cooked mashed potatoes and steak were laid out on the kitchen table around which Dara Bunjon, her parents and her sister sat. Bunjon, shorter than the average third-grader, told her school day tales.

“It’s the enjoyment of food that brings people together. That conversation around the table is the most enjoyable conversation you’re going to have,” said Bunjon, now 77, with plentiful silver-lined curls.

As the producer and host of the online live talk show “The Food Enthusiast,” Bunjon spends her days interviewing people in the culinary industry from around the country and the globe. Barbecue legend Steven Raichlen; TV personality and cookbook author Sara Moulton; chef and restaurateur Elizabeth Falkner; and former White House butler Alan DeValerio, whom Bunjon met on a dating site but who was not her match, are among her guests. In June, Giuliano Hazan, an Italian cookbook author, culinary educator and the only son of Marcella Hazan — the godmother of Italian cooking — appeared on Bunjon’s show for the landmark celebration of her 200th episode.

Bunjon films in a room in her Baltimore apartment: she sits at her desk, with her phone propped on books and a ring light near her, and faces a window; the natural light hits her face. Her interviews entail how guests have maneuvered the industry and the mundane aspects of their lives. She asks, “Other than doing this show today, what else is on your plate?” “What was your ultimate culinary fail?” “If you wake up tomorrow with a new talent, what would it be?”

Chris Amendola, owner of Foraged restaurant and a three-time guest on Bunjon’s show, said he was surprised about the vast knowledge she has about the culinary industry.

In the late ’80s, Bunjon did a live cooking segment on WBAL-TV at “some ungodly hour,” she said. In 2005, she founded her own business, “Dara Does It,” a company where she did food styling, cooking demonstrations, public relations and marketing for food businesses — Italian restaurant Sotto Sopra was her main gig for over 14 years. She’s also organized cooking classes in restaurant kitchens, reviewed local Baltimore restaurants and co-authored the cookbook “Yum!: Tasty Recipes from Culinary Greats.”

“This is probably my 10th job, maybe the 12th,” she said, referring to her show. “This is the best job I could have at this time of my life.”

Bunjon said she changed jobs because of the money or because she didn’t like the people she worked with. “You should always work where you are appreciated. If you’re not appreciated, leave and find somewhere that you are,” she said.

Many of her guests have been people with whom she’s built relationships through jobs she’s had over the years. She worked as a personal assistant and food stylist for Raichlen during the filming of his first Primal Grill series in Tubac, Arizona. Bunjon had never been a personal assistant, but her friend, the producer of his show at that time, rang her up because Raichlen’s initial assistant had gotten sick at the very last minute.

She accompanied Moulton on stage during her cooking demo at the Masonic Grand Lodge in Baltimore, now called The Grand. It was a full circle moment because Bunjon had always been a fan of Moulton. She watched Moulton’s live cooking episodes on the Food Network during dinners with her husband, Tom Bunjon, who passed away in 2016.

While Bunjon found much success, she never saw herself hosting her own show until 2019. Her friend, Randi Rom, a freelance writer for multiplatform media company Jmore – Baltimore Jewish Living, recommended her as the host of “The Food Enthusiast” for the organization.

Nowadays, opportunities are more difficult to come by, Bunjon said.

“As time progressed, they (prospective employers) looked at me and looked at somebody 25 years old and they went with the 25-year-old,” she said.

But Bunjon has adapted well to the ever-changing technological era. She understands the basics and is able to sail through most shows, held on Zoom. There are times when her show goes off-air because the interview freezes, but most issues end up resolved.

“She’s very committed to what she does,” said Alan Feiler, editor-in-chief of Jmore. “We’re very lucky to have her.”

Her show first began in Jmore’s Baltimore studio, but during the pandemic, it became solely online and has been that way ever since. She said it opened doors to not just local guests, but guests all over the world.

Reflecting on how her show has progressed, she’s glad she hasn’t made too many slip-ups. She said because the show is live, she has to be mindful of what she says, and there have been times when she said things she didn’t mean to say.

One was during an interview with Matteo Troncone, creator of the film “Arrangiarsi: pizza… and the art of living.”

“I said, ‘Troncone, where are you?’ He says ‘I’m in the desert,’ And I went, ‘I thought you said you were in California.’ And he said, ‘There is a desert in California,’” Bunjon said. “I sat there and I did the fake gun to my head,” she said.

At the end of each show, she feels a sense of relief and treats herself to a good meal, often something she cooked or something she shouldn’t indulge in, she said.

Bunjon said she got into the industry because of her love for food and cooking, and often took cooking classes and experimented with recipes. But she never submerged into the world of cooking as a chef for example, because she realized “it is hard, stressful work. TV makes it look glamorous. It isn’t,” she said. Though when she was a teenager, she flipped burgers and whipped up milkshakes for customers at her father’s patent drug store and luncheonette, known as the Hopkins Store.

Rom, Bunjon’s friend of over 19 years, regularly experiences her cooking and said Bunjon is quite a cook. Bunjon saved the brisket Rom had attempted to make for her brother’s birthday dinner.

“I called [Bunjon] and I said, ‘I’m going to have to go out to buy food because I killed the brisket and it’s horrible.’ And she comes over and puts it in stuff, and I don’t know what she did,” Rom said. “All I know is that the brisket came out good and it was the best brisket. She revived it. She brought it back to life.”

Although she is good at cooking, she prefers to work in other areas in the culinary world, specifically areas that don’t involve over-demanding customers, Bunjon said.

Bunjon finds that her journey through the culinary industry makes her relate with her show’s guests on a deeper level. “I appreciate and understand their accomplishments and sacrifices,” she said. And it’s why she asks her guests well in advance what key points they would like her to hit or promote. She also said guests are more comfortable talking to her.

In a recent show with chef Jan Buhrman, both exchanged greetings like friends who had not seen each other in ages.

“Hi Dara,” Buhrman said with a warm smile.

“Hi. Good to see you again. It’s been a while. I think maybe 8 years, possibly,” Bunjon said; a blue Jmore banner stood behind her.

“So many years. It’s great to see you,” Buhrman said.

Bunjon said shows with her beloved guests will continue as long as she has people to talk with about food.

Blind singer-songwriter, guitarist and two-time Grammy nominee Raul Midón is visiting Baltimore on Aug. 17 for his “Lost & Found Tour.”

His new album, “Lost & Found,” releasing July 19, was engineered and produced by him, and will be featured during his tour.

The album is a blend of folk, jazz and alternative pop. His music is likened to a mix of Stevie Wonder, Bobby McFerrin and Josè Feliciano. 

He has worked with many musical legends who include singer and songwriter Bill Withers, jazz musician Herbie Hancock, and musician and activist Sting.

His performance in August will be at the Creative Alliance’s The Theater at 8 p.m. Tickets are available on the Creative Alliance’s website.