#FamilyFun in @BaltimoreMD with #OutandAboutAva! @PortDiscovery @BmoreWaterTaxi @prattlibrary #USSCONSTELLATION @GeppisMuseum #FamilyTravel #VisitBaltimore

November 19, 2015SobeSavvy 1 Comment

Baltimore is a city rich in history and heritage. My heritage started in Baltimore City where I was born and where I lived until 1996. So much has changed but so much remains the same. Charm City never loses its charm to me, so it is with great pleasure to explore with my 4 yr old daughter some of the things that make Baltimore special! Recently we paid a short but sweet 24 hr visit to “My Bmore” and here are the places we checked out:

1. Enoch Pratt Free Library Central Location
We took a walk through the monumental Enoch Pratt Free library located in the city’s cultural heart, Mount Vernon area just north of downtown. This library has a charming Children’s department that includes learning toys to play with, computers, a day/night room and live fish to feed!

2. Historic Ships in Baltimore
Historic Ships in Baltimore includes five national historic landmarks. We toured the 1854 Sloop-of-War USS Constellation and while on board we could see the Lightship Chesapeake glistening red on the Inner Harbor. My daughter loved pressing the numbers in the handheld tour guide and listening to the facts given about the ship, it’s sailors and Captain!

3. Geppi’s Museum
Geppi’s Entertainment Museum is a memorable trip thru American pop culture. We got to experience a time line of nostalgic toys, comics, and other collectibles highlighting familiar characters for both her and I. I was very impressed by the museum’s collection and decided to make my own entertainment by way of photo slideshow as seen here:
https://instagram.com/p/-P1I3riXK-/

4. Baltimore Water Taxi
Ride all day on an on-off ticket when you board any of the blue and white water taxi boats. Get a free map and guide to over 35 attractions and neighborhoods. We boarded at the Inner Harbor and got off at Fell’s Point. From there we headed to the Broadway Market for a slice of cheese pizza, every child’s favorite!

5. Port Discovery Children’s Museum
About a year ago, my daughter Ava had a chance to visit Port Discovery Children’s Museum ( http://atomic-temporary-51558291.wpcomstaging.com/2014/08/14/outandaboutava-visits-portdiscovery-childrens-museum-baltimore-maryland-recap-by-sobesavvy/) with her Nana. A year is a long time in a child’s growth and development and this museum offers ever-changing programs for kids ages birth through 10. Voted one of the top 5 children’s museum in the USA by Child Magazine, this was the perfect attraction to visit during our short stay. We even got to see the new “Here We Grow! ” Exhibit which introduces children to farm processes, products and people. It was some much fun trying to beat the machine in milking the cow the fastest! I also enjoyed having the opportunity to read her one of the many books about farm animals, etc. while there. This museum is a great way for a child to learn and play during a Baltimore stay!

#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

October 14, 2015SobeSavvy 1 Comment

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 !

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.

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.

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 !

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 !

#Yoga Me Impressed, #Namaste Right Here @Kimpton @KimptoninDC #MonacoBaltimore @PublicBikes~ #soDMVsavvy #Travel

August 24, 2015SobeSavvy 1 Comment

One of my New Year resolutions was to incorporate fitness in my life and embark upon a more healthy lifestyle. I decided to practice yoga because it was something that I could consistently do. It embraces all levels of fitness, ages and can be done anywhere at anytime. Through yoga workouts and breathing exercises one can maintain physical fitness and serenity.

Serenity… that is something that’s often missing in travel but does not have to be. Being in transit does not mean one can not stay in shape and have a peaceful mind. Many hotels are starting to cater to the healthy lifestyle of travelers and are providing healthier lifestyle accomodations.

A few months ago, I stayed at a Kimpton Hotel ~ Hotel Monaco ~ because I needed to be close to Royal Farms Arena to photograph the sneak peek of Cirque du Soleil’s return to Baltimore ( http://atomic-temporary-51558291.wpcomstaging.com/2015/07/09/photographs-of-cirque-in-baltimore-sneak-peek-varekaicirquedusoleilmdsciencecenter-phillipsseafood/). Although it was last minute reservation and a short one night stay, I thought I would share with my fellow yogis how Kimpton Hotels has a health-focused approach to hospitality. When you get to your room, call the front desk and ask them to send up a tote bag. They will bring a complimentary bundle of mats, straps, bands and props, which you may use for the duration of your stay. The tote provides all the necessities for yoga, meditation and Pilates. I liked having the option to start the morning with a sun salutation ,carry the mat in the cute tote bag to practice outside ( which I did ) or end every night with child’s pose. Although yoga was not something my travel companion enjoys, Kimpton Hotels also features free on-demand fitness programs on your in-room TV, meaning you can squeeze in a workout while still in pajamas!

We got a chance to do some quick local exploring via bikes courtesy to all hotel guests (no time for the downtown Baltimore attractions this visit, although this hotel is conveniently located near the Inner Harbor and more ). We rode around on one of Kimpton Hotels state-of-the-art bikes at every location, allowing for some major calorie-torching while sightseeing. Even better, this hotel is healthy for the environment. By implementing ‘green’ initiatives like non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning products, complimentary parking for hybrid vehicles, and an on-site water filtration system that eradicates the need for bottled water, Kimpton Hotels take health and wellness to a global level.

So whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, you can rest assured that you can keep your health a top priority by staying at KIMPTON Hotels.

Enjoy my yogi around town/#getLovelyfit @getLovelyfit pictures using Kimpton Hotels yoga mat and @PublicBikes! Namaste!

‘Lovely’ / Freelance Photojournalist
The ‘Bon Vivant ‘ Blogger
http://www.SobeSavvy.com
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Photographs of the 6th Annual Chesapeake #Crab and #Beer #Festival #MDCRABFEST @drinkeatrelax @NationalHarbor~#soDMVsavvy Event Recap

August 21, 2015SobeSavvy Leave a comment

Summer’s end may be near ….but first, let’s celebrate with friends/family, crabs and beer at the 6th Annual Chesapeake Crab and Beer Festival!

SobeSavvy.Com joined others for the World’s Largest Crab Feast August 22, 2015 at National Harbor, MD

Guests chose between either SESSION ONE: 11am – 3pm or SESSION TWO: 5pm – 9pm to join this Maryland Tradition! The festival is an ALL-YOU-CARE-TO-TASTE extravaganza complete with over 60,000 crabs, lots of beer, arts & crafts, live music, family fun and so much more! Here is what over 20,000 people have come to enjoy:

• LOTS OF SUMMERTIME FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
• ALL YOU CARE TO TASTE Over 50 beers and wines and a few spirits. All of your favorite craft beers and some great wines were served to highlight the summer afternoon on-hand.
• ALL YOU CARE TO TASTE CRABS. Enjoy all the crabs you can handle during the four hours of the show. The crabs vary in size and was offered at 6 crabs at a time, per person.
• OTHER GREAT FOOD. There are Crabs and MORE CRABS and MORE CRABS and even MORE CRABS – but there was other great food options as well available for purchase. There are no vegetarian options available. Unless outlined – all food is sold ala carte.
• ALA CARTE CRABS OPTION WILL BE SOLD 6 CRABS (1/2 dozen) AT A TIME PER PERSON FOR $35 – CASH ONLY. (WHILE SUPPLIES LASTS)
• LIVE MUSIC. Enjoy fun summer sounds from area bands.
• THOUSANDS OF TABLES AND CHAIRS AND HUGE TENTS for crackin’ to your heart’s content. They have even ordered enough crab paper to stretch all the way across The Potomac and back.

All SHOW FEATURES are covered, so rain or shine – we were all fine!

VIP & PLATINUM GUESTS ENJOYED WATERMELON AT THE SHOW TO COOL THINGS DOWN ON A HOT SUMMER DAY!

Lastly, this event was for a good cause! A portion of event proceeds go to Spirit of Hope Children’s Foundation Visit:www.spiritofhopechildrensfoundation.org
Be sure to Follow on Facebook and Twitter to get information in real time @DrinkEatRelax.

We had a crackin’ good time at the festival. As a native of Baltimore, it gets no better than crabs in the summertime! Here are some of my fun event photos from the #mdcrabfest! Enjoy!

Photographs of @Cirque in #Baltimore ! Sneak Peek #varekai #cirquedusoleil @MdScienceCenter @PhillipsSeafood

July 9, 2015SobeSavvy 1 Comment

It’s Cirque time in Baltimore!!

Ten years after Cirque du Soleil Varekai debuted in Baltimore under the Big Top, it’s back from Wednesday, July 8 to Sunday, July 12 at the Royal Farms Arena.

On Tuesday July 7, 2015 Cirque du Soleil invaded Downtown Baltimore for some fun around town photo ops.
SobeSavvy.Com was there to experience the excitement with the characters and snap some photographs at the sneak peek events!

WHERE: Maryland Science Center &
Phillips Seafood Restaurant (Baltimore)

WHAT: Special blogger and media meet & greet at the Maryland Science Center with the publicist and two characters (including Skywatcher, the mad scientist and ingenious inventor) from the show! Afterwards, Cirque du Soleil Varekai gets a Taste of Baltimore Phillips Seafood Restaurant.

It was a great opportunity to learn more about the show and get some personal time as well as awesome photos with the characters!!

Public guests received ticket discounts and a chance to win a family four pack of tickets for the Wednesday showing.

Enjoy these photgraphs/videos from the events and check back here for my #soDMVsavvy recap of Opening Night performance of Cirque du Soleil Varekai !