@IndigoBaltimore, the perfect mix of Business #Travel and Pleasure! @HotelIndigo #VisitBaltimore ~A #soTravelsavvy #soDMVsavvy Recap

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Indigo- a deep and bright color close to the color wheel blue (a primary color in the RGB color space), as well as to some variants of ultramarine.

Hotel Indigo Baltimore Downtown http://www.baltimoreindigohotel.com/ has pulled off what I consider to be an incredible feat. It is a chain hotel that somehow does not feel like a “chain”, i.e. cookie cutter property. I just returned from spending the weekend there. Guests immediately get the impression that this is a independent unique boutique hotel. Perhaps it is the fact that this property reeks of many things unique to Baltimore and no place else. Each and every bathroom here has a photo of the iconic Bromo Seltzer Tower building. This building used to be the old Baltimore YMCA. The original name is still carved into the exterior facade. In another nod to charm city, the walls are papered with ravens and Edgar Allen Poe.

Attention to style and design are apparent in the rooms and public spaces. Quirky table lamps and beautiful white wardrobes are just two examples. Speaking of Poe, one section of the main lobby is called The Library. It has dozens of book for guests to peruse during their stay and to read in their expansive sitting area.

Opposite The Library sits their in house restaurant and cocktail bar named Poets. Whether you want {or need} a handcrafted cocktail, like a Build Your Own Manhattan or a Del Mar Va Crab Cake Sandwich, it fulfills your libation or culinary need. I had room service twice during my stay and my meals arrived promptly and more importantly accurately.

Upscale bedding insured a great nights sleep and the blackout curtains worked wonderfully. The wide work desk accomodated my two work laptops with room to spare. Connectivity was a priority for me since I had to handle some business during my stay. I was pleased that connectivity within the property was well above average. High speed wifi and usb charging plugs are everywhere, even on the side of the table lamp. All my gadgets could charge up at once. To keep you energized, each room also has a Keurig individual pod coffee machine. THAT is impressive !

Aveda products in the bathroom with the spa inspired shower also adds to the overall luxurious boutique experience. They also have a sleek business center and a modern fitness center rounds out this awesome property. Style, flair and substance can all be had here. Whether for business or pleasure this newly renovated hotel will satisfy your lodging needs. I came to Baltimore this weekend to paint the town red. Instead, my color ended up being Indigo.

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#Raleigh, Win Tix to see @MonicaBrown #CodeRedExperience Tour! w/ @IamRicoLove @RitzRaleigh on 11/28! #soNCsavvy GiveAway

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Monica is bringing Code Red to Raleigh on November 28, 2015 at The Ritz and SobeSavvy.Com has 2 GA Tickets to giveaway to one lucky fan !  Comment below why you want to go and I will randomly choose a winner on November 20th!

In anticipation of her upcoming album, the R&B songstress kicks off “The Code Red Experience” , a 22-date trek starting Nov. 12 in Las Vegas. The tour travels across the country before concluding in New York City on Dec. 13. She will be joined by special guest Rico Love.

“Join us for The Code RED Experience…. @iamricolove & I live and breathe for the depth, honesty & passion that embodies real music,” wrote Monica on Instagram. “Each night we will take you on a musical journey.”

Monica’s eighth album Code Red is due later this year featuring the Lil Wayne-assisted single “Just Right for Me,” for which she recently shot a video at Weezy’s skatepark in Miami.

Tickets are on sale NOW for
Nov. 28 – Raleigh, NC – Ritz
See here : http://m.concerts.livenation.com/event/0E004F4D1584AB69

There is even a Groupon tix deal up for grabs available here: https://www.groupon.com/deals/gl-monica-8?c=LNSM_CT_Raleigh_Monica_fb_ss_111115

I wish I was going to see this songtress as this show is not to be missed! So whomever wins, enjoy for me and please tag #sobesavvygiveaway in your pics ~Good Luck!

#OutandaboutAva Recaps #Wild Kratts Live! @DPAC @WILDKrattsOffic #FamilyFun #SundayFunday

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The wildly popular PBS KIDS® television show named WILD KRATTS, brought their creature power alive on stage at the DPAC http://www.dpacnc.com on Sunday November 8, 2015 for two shows 1:00p.m. and 4:30p.m.

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When I saw the flier for the show, I knew this was a family fun event not to be missed! Animated Kratt Brothers, Martin and Chris “come to real life” in a classic Wild Kratts story. Off “To the Creature Rescue!” went the Emmy® nominated Kratt Brothers who activated some fan favorite Creature Power Suits to confront a comic villain. Through hilarious pratfalls and amazing animal ‘wow facts’ and videos the Wild Kratts team rescues their favorite invention from Zach’s clutches so the animals of the creature world are safe once again.
Many young fans in the audience were ready to activate their Creature Power Suits and join in on the adventure! And if you didn’t come with your own suit, you could buy many items at the show!

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Wild Kratts LIVE! was created for the stage by the imaginative minds of Martin Kratt and Chris Kratt from  Zooboomafoo, Kratt’s Creatures and Be the Creature. The Kratt Brothers’ national tours draw tens of thousands of creature-crazy kids and their families.It benefits their not-for-profit Kratt Brothers Creature Hero Society. Their company has successfully protected critical wildlife habitats through the creation of nature reserves.

Here are their upcoming tour dates :
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Now in it’s fourth season, Wild Kratts was created and developed by real life brothers and zoologists Martin and Chris Kratt (both nominated for Daytime Emmy® Awards for Outstanding Writing in a Children’s Animated Series).  Wild Kratts features the brothers on incredible expeditions to meet wild creatures from the far corners of the earth. Diving into the habitats of these unusual animals with the use of futuristic technology and Creature Powers Suits that allow the brothers to take their funny and exciting adventures to where they’ve never gone before.  Wild Kratts has received numerous awards since it’s inception in 2011 including Parents Choice, Kidscreen, Aurora and 2 Emmy® nominations. The series is a co-production of The Kratt Brothers Company and 9 Story Entertainment.

For more about Kratt Brothers Company, Go to http://www.krattbrothers.com  
https://www.facebook.com/wildkrattsofficial

and follow at https://twitter.com/WildKrattsOffic

My daughter, age 4 was on the edge of her seat and enjoyed the hour long show, which included an intermission.

What made it even more special was the chance to meet and greet the Kratt brothers after the show! #OutandAboutAva even got an autographed picture from Chris Kratt as a cool momento. I highly recommend this show. It was both educational and fun for the whole family!

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#PattiLaBelle Live #Concert @MsPattiPatti @DPAC #OnlyAtDPAC #soNCsavvy Recap by #SobeSavvy .com!

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On Saturday November 7, 2015 The Godmother of Soul..PATTI LABELLE, a Two-time Grammy® Award-winning singer, New York Times bestselling author, and three-time Emmy® Award-nominated actress returned to Durham, NC after her last performance at DPAC in 2014 sold out quickly! Known for bringing her heart, soul and songs to the stage, Ms.Say My Name ” Patti Patti” did not disappoint her fans at DPAC Durham Performing Arts Center. Her stage was fit for the royalty for which she is. There was fresh flowers by the piano, an assortment of high heels and a chaise lounge as seen here .

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Photo Credit: DPAC

“It’s our extreme pleasure to bring the one and only Patti Labelle back to the DPAC stage”, says DOME Group CEO Sulaiman Mausi.  “She is a beloved icon who just has a special intimate way of connecting with her audiences and this show will be no exception!”

The word beautiful simply does not describe the incomparable force known to the world as Patti LaBelle. The soulful songbird’s name has become synonymous with grace, style, elegance and class. She is known for belting out classic rhythm and blues renditions, pop standards and spiritual sonnets. Patti is revered for her unique versatility and vocal range.

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Photo Credit: DPAC

At 71 years young, she holds command of the stage, STILL. Her performance thrills with a voice that sends chills up and down the spine EVERYTIME! As heard here singing, “If Only You Knew”
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She reminded her audience ” to not get it twisted” ,  she’s still got it and with quite a few songs, she did it First. Alot of fun moments during the show, such as bringing male audience members on stage…black, white,gay straight.. to sing Lady Marmalade with her. In this video, a fan not only got some impromptu singing lessons but a chance to dance  with Ms. LaBelle, a former Dancing With Stars star!
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In addition to her amazing career, which has spanned over 51 yrs, as an entertainer and entrepreneurial success, Ms. LaBelle’s work as a humanitarian is just as legendary.  While Ms. LaBelle’s celebrated career is respected world-wide, she has also endured and survived personal strife. Within a 10-year period, she lost her mother, three sisters and best friend to diabetes and cancer. She paid homage to her celebrity friends as well as family who are now resting peacefully, while singing “You Are My Friend”. It was a fitting finale to a wonderful evening at Durham Performing Arts Center
To find out what is up next at DPAC,  please go to www.DPACnc.com
#ONLYATDPAC !

Here are a few photos I took during this amazing night!

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Ms.Patti LaBelle stunned her audience by coming out into the audience to much of our surprse!

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A touching moment when Patti LaBelle’s #1 Fan got to meet her Idol

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Tears of Joy and Hugs from this #1 Fan !

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Thanks again DPAC and Ms. Patti LaBelle for an amazing night and wonderful opportunity to spend one night only with a living legend!

#OutandAboutAva enjoys #SundayFunday at #Adventurelanding @alraleigh #Familyfun #Raleigh ~#soNCsavvy Recap

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Being a recent transplant and arriving here in Raleigh with our 4 yr old, we both kept asking folks where we could take her so she can have a good time. We kept getting the same answer… ADVENTURE LANDING !

So on a beautiful Sunday autumn afternoon, we headed down Capital Blvd to experience for ourselves what this place is all about. It is a mini amusement park in the best sense. Miniature golf, Go Carts, arcade games and much more. It has no admission cost. It is pay as you play. We opted for the “Quest Pass”. You get 3 attractions for the low price of $16.99. You do not have to use all of the pass on one visit. We did miniature Golf and the Go Kart on that day.

The golf course brings back memories of 50’s Americana. Huge zoo animal statues scattered throughout the multi level course. Hippos and alligators. Zebras and giraffes lurking around every corner. My 4 yr old loved it. They even had small kid sized golf clubs for the little ones. We gave her a speed course in golfing techniques and putting ! Apparently it worked since she was the only one of us who actually had a hole in 1 !

Next up was the Go Kart. They have single and double Go Karts. After getting some expert instruction from their expert pit crew we were off. Racing around hairpin turns and blazing fast straightaways ! Adrenaline was pumping as we competed to see how many laps we all could do. The carts handled like an F-1 race car. My little one had a ball as her braids blew in the afternoon sunshine. What a rush !!

Next time we will do the arcade games or laser tag. Maybe we will do the batting cage and have lunch at their expansive food/snack bar. The possiblities are endless at Adventure Landing. What are YOU waiting for? If adventure is what you seek, I have found the place to quench it. Adventure Landing is great fun for the entire family!

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#BadBoyReunion #NCCU Homecoming Concert @Dpac #soNCsavvy Recap by #SobeSavvy .Com !

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Durham, NC was the place to be last night as North Carolina Central University’s homecoming week heated up with The Reunion featuring Faith Evans, Mase, Total, Carl Thomas and Black Rob at DPAC !
Durham Performing Arts Center, has become the center for live entertainment in the Triangle.The concert, presented by The DOME Group L.L.C. , showcased all the favorite hits from the late 90’s, early 2000’s and even presented a special tribute to NCCU’s own Mike City.

“We’re honored to bring such an awesome tribute to the golden era of Hip-Hop and R&B,” says promoter and NCCU alum Sulaiman Mausi of The DOME Group, LLC. “This music was the soundtrack of our college days, cookouts and house parties. This night will be EPIC.”

Total opened the show and got the party started with existing members Kima Raynor, and Pamela Long.  Best known for their hits “Kissing You”, “Can’t You See” and “Trippin”, The New Jersey R&B trio made their first appearance singing the hook on The Notorious B.I.G.’s debut single, “Juicy”. Garnering attention for the new group, they were also featured on the original version of his next single “One More Chance.” Their debut single “Can‘t You See?” appeared on the soundtrack to 1995 motion picture “New Jersey Drive.” Total produced two more R&B top ten singles including “No One Else” and “Kissing You.”
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Up next, Black Rob who appears on the Bad Boy remix “Come See Me” is most known for his smash,  “Whoa” . He was also featured on several other Bad Boy releases including remixes “What About Us” and “Love Like This”, the song  “24 Hrs. to Live”, and albums by  Puff Daddy  & the Bad Boy Family and The Notorious B.I.G.

The mood then turned to grown and sexy as Carl Thomas hit the stage! He has over 4 million records sold, 2 Grammy® Nominations, a couple of Soul Train nominations and S.C.L.C. Image award. With the single “I Wish” released in late 1999, Carl topped the R&B charts for six consecutive weeks, creating strong interest in his debut album, Emotional. On the strength of this single, the album was certified platinum with over 1 million in sales. He still sounds as good as ever and thanked the crowd for coming out to support Black Music. He also used his platform to remind all that #BlackLivesMatter.
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Best known as Puff Daddy’s favorite sidekick, Mase secured his place as a Bad Boy label favorite through a series of guest appearances on hit singles by other artists. By the time he issued his debut album, the Bad Boy promotional machine had effectively already made him a star. His flow was slow and relaxed, and his raps often unabashedly simple, which helped make him especially popular with the younger segment of Puff Daddy’s pop-rap audience. Just before the release of his second album, he announced his retirement from rap to pursue a career in the ministry.
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The show’s headliner,  Faith Renée Evans is a multi-platinum Grammy® Award-winning recording artist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. With a music career spanning over two decades, Faith has released eight studio albums, with over 18 million albums sold and spawning over 30 singles. Faith has also performed on 20+ soundtracks and appeared at a host of guest appearances during her career. Faith Evans is a seven-time Grammy® nominee, winning “Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group” in 1998 for “I’ll Be Missing You,” an homage to her late husband and hip-hop legend Notorious B.I.G.
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Faith Evans also invited her fans,also known as “Faithfuls” to sing along and join her on stage for her final song!  We all had a good time going back down memory lane and jamming to some of out favorite hits. Good music is indeed timeless and the Bad Boy Reunion proved just that !

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For more pics of who was on the red carpet at DPAC, view photos from the event at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dpacnc
Courtesy of DPAC!

Hey #Raleigh! Win 2 Tix to See the Ultimate Tribute to Billy Joel & Elton John Live @RitzRaleigh ! A #SobeSavvyGiveAway #soNCsavvy 

  
GIVEAWAY: 2 Tix to The Ultimate “Face To Face” Tribute Show -Billy Joel & Elton John Tribute Band at The Ritz on Friday Nov. 20th 9pm in Raleigh, NC! 

Elton John and Billy Joel tribute artists Joey Riedel and Michael John have joined forces to create The Ultimate Tribute Show .
The two capture both artists in their high energy, interactive Rock N Roll show.
The Face To Face Tribute concert events have been highly successful with all involved raving about the show and Joey and Michael’s intensity on stage.
Just like the original tour, each artist performs a solo set with a five to six piece Rock N Roll band, and then culminates the show with a Face to Face set which features both of them playing together on two pianos trading off lyrics on each song they perform.
Joey and Michael bring this experience to The Ultimate Tribute show adding sing-a-long parts and spontaneous humor. The Billy Joel Elton John Ultimate Tribute show is a night of hit songs, energetic performances, outrageous costumes, and true Rock N Roll at its finest!

Sounds fun ! So now all you need is a plus one to head over to the concert at The Ritz , located at 2820 Industrial Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609.  

To enter, leave a comment why you want to go. Winner will be randomly selected on Nov. 10th . Good luck! 

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One Night Only, #AlvinAiley #Dance in cinemas 10/22 @FathomEvents #LCMOVIES

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This Thursday only, Ailey hits the big screen nationwide! Screenings of a full Ailey performance will be held at hundreds of cinemas across the U.S. on October 22 at 7pm local time.  Enter your zip code now to find the theater closest to you and purchase tickets: http://bit.ly/1OTkLqL

Ailey’s film is one of four in a new series entitled “Lincoln Center at the Movies: Great American Dance,” presented by Fathom Events and Lincoln Center.

Captured before a live audience during Ailey’s recent Lincoln Center season, the performance includes four audience favorites – Wayne McGregor’s Chroma, Ronald K. Brown’s Grace, Robert Battle’s Takademe, and Mr. Ailey’s masterpiece, Revelations – as well as a look behind the scenes and exclusive interviews with the artists.

As a lover of all things Ailey, I am very excited to enjoy this performance in a unique , intimate setting. It’s like having a front row seat and a backstage pass all in one! Fathom Events is known for bringing one time speacisl events in Theaters near you at an affordable price . Be sure to stay connected so that you don’t miss out!

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Yannick Lebrun. Photo by Andrew Eccles

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Sarah Daley and Vernard J. Gilmore in Wayne McGregor’s ‘Chroma.’ Photo by Paul Kolnik

SobeSavvy.com Presents: The People, Plates, and Pours of @NYCWFF 2015 ! Grand Tasting Recap #NYCWFF #NoKidHungry

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On Saturday October 17, 2015 SobeSavvy.com joined thousands of food-lovers to EAT. DRINK. END HUNGER at NYCWFF‘s signature Grand Tasting event ! The Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite featuring Samsung Home Appliance USA Culinary Demonstrations presented by MasterCard is a 130,000-square-foot culinary wonderland that everyone MUST experience in a lifetime !image

Attendees met the greatest food stars in the country, sampled food from local NYC restaurants representing cuisines from around the world, and tasted the most sought-after wines and spirits alongside up-and-coming labels from the Southern Wine & Spirits of New York portfolio and take part in exciting interactive experiences with various brands and foodie products. 100% of the net proceeds from NYCWFF go to Food Bank For New York City and No Kid Hungry

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Known as the Best Food & Wine Festival in America, my goal was to capture all the foodie fun and priceless moments! Speaking of Priceless, Mastercard cardholders got exclusive access perks at the festival, such as skipping the lines, getting into private events, reserved seating and a chance to mingle with the chefs. Learn more at http://www.priceless.com/image

The Grand Tasting was from 12:00pm -6:00 pm , so we had to pace ourselves. Although the Pier 94 venue was crowded, it never felt cramped. We were prepared to spend some time with our favorite culinary stars and people from around the world. One amazing moment was my introduction to Korean traditional royal cuisine. I had the opportunity to learn about Hansik (Korean Food) presented by the Korean Food Foundation and picked up some recipes that I cannot wait to try this at home!

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As always, I have photographs to share of the amazing event. SobeSavvy.com Presents: The People, Plates, and Pours of NYCWFF Grand Tasting 2015 ! Cheers…and I suggest you join me next year!

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#Travel to @BaltimoreMD , enjoy the charm of #CharmCity and Fall in Love with #Baltimore ! #visitBaltimore @HI_InnerHarbor @MDScienceCenter @NatlAquarium @BmoreWaterTaxi ~Recap by #SobeSavvy .com #soDMVsavvy #soTravelsavvy

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I had the great fortune of being born and growing up in Baltimore, Md. There are bigger cities. There are smaller cities. But there is NO city more quintessentially American than the city of Baltimore. It’s not even close. Baltimore is literally the seam in our nation. Birth of the Star Spangled Banner. It is where north meets south. It was where slavery and freedom existed. Unique indeed. It is a great port city. Proud of our blue collar reputation. Ethnic neighborhoods abound. Sports is in our soul. From Johnny Unitas and Cal Ripken to Ray Lewis. Festivals more than one can count. The only person who has ever disliked Baltimore has never visited there. Yea, I am biased. I am from Baltimore. Everything here starts from the city center and radiates outward. This city center is where I went back home to spend a beautiful early fall weekend to get out enjoy as many of my cities attractions that locals sometime take for granted.

The Holiday Inn on Lombard street http://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/baltimore/baldt/hoteldetail was a fantastic base camp for the weekend. One block from Pratt Street and within walking distance to both Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Stadium where the Ravens play. Hospitality at it’s best. Their Eden West restaurant also lets kids eat free for breakfast, so what’s not to like !

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Here are just a few examples of things we had fun doing last weekend:

The National Aquarium http://www.aqua.org/ . Opened in 1981, it has consistently been ranked as a top aquarium in the nation. The National Aquarium, Baltimore, features a living collection of more than 20,000 fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and marine mammals living in award-winning habitats. In summer 2013, the Aquarium opened Blacktip Reef, a breathtaking exhibit replicating an Indo-Pacific reef and featuring more than 700 animals, including a school of blacktip reef sharks.

My family had an amazing time there. So much too see and experience. The huge open pool full of sharks, giant turtles and fish was magical. My four year old especially loved the jellyfish exhibit and the dolphin tanks the most. The aquarium floorplan slowly leads up to the roof their iconic rainforest sits. There was an elusive sloth that we searched and searched for but alas eluded us ! What a magnificent place that reinforces the natural wonders of our oceans.

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The Maryland Science Center http://www.mdsci.org/ on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor has interactive exhibits combined with the state-of-the-art Davis Planetarium that was opened to the public in June 1976. The addition of a new atrium lobby in 1986, and the very successful IMAX Theater in 1987, stimulated annual attendance.A major expansion and renovation of the entire facility was completed in May of 2004. New exhibitions were added on all levels as well as the addition of a permanent hall showcasing dinosaurs and earth sciences, and a dedicated gallery for housing temporary exhibitions. Upgrades to the IMAX Theater introduced 3D film technology and improvements to the physical plant updated and enhanced visitor amenities and services. Today, as it has been in the past, the Maryland Science Center continues to focus on remaining a vital community resource and economic development engine now and in the future.

Entering the MD Science center was instant education. Education in the most fun hands on way possible. A huge portion of the complex was interactive hands on experiments. Whether it was generating electricity with handlebars or letting my little one use her hand to break up a tornado, we simply never ran out of things to do and learn about. Without a doubt our favorite part was playing a paleontologist in their dinosaur/fossil area. What a blast! We can’t wait to return to this gem.

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Although on a nice day you could get alot of excersize by walking around the entire harbor area or you can take the water taxi. It has stops near all the major attractions in and around the harbor. From Fells point and Harbor East to harborplace and more. http://www.baltimorewatertaxi.com/ A great way to travel around the harbor and a scenic trip for sure !

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A person can only be from one place. I am lucky that MY place is Baltimore. Come to visit this fall and fall in love..with Baltimore !

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