Summer City Guide: Baltimore

When it comes to summer activities, the warm weather always brings out the best in us. So for 15 straight days, we're going to be dropping City Guides telling you the best concerts to see, outdoor activities to do, and places to eat, shop and stay with a summer focus. Next up, Baltimore. With that, here's our Summer 2013 essentials in Charm City.

Download Summer City Guide: Baltimore As A PDF

Downtown Baltimore, Snoop Dogg and EDM – what else could you want to kick off your summer? If you haven’t heard of Moonrise Festival (June 8-9) yet, you better start looking for a ticket now.

Website: moonrisefestival.com

If finding the underground music scene is more your speed, check out the Charm City Art Space, a community of visual and performing artists who take their craft way more seriously than anyone thought possible. Venture in to hear bands like The Jukebox Romantics, Alpha & Omega and Braceface. Bonus points if you can guess their genre of music.

Website: ccspace.org

The Ottobar is a venue that attracts (almost) nationally headlining bands, mostly before they get famous. Check out Others May Fall, The Joy Formidable, Abandon All Ships, and more this summer. Who knows? You could be getting a front row seat to the next big thing.

Website: theottobar.com

The Thames Street Oyster House boasts a beautiful waterfront view whether it’s December or June. And if you call yourself a seafood connoisseur, you won’t want to miss their raw bar which is stocked fresh each day.

Website: thamesstreetoysterhouse.com

Ever wondered what “refined peasant cuisine” tasted like? It’s a whole lot of farm-raised, grass-fed goodness. The crew at Maggie’s Farm are also big believers in using the whole animal, which means there will be at least two things on the menu that you won’t recognize and shouldn’t ask about.

Website: maggiesfarmmd.com

If the Oyster House wasn’t enough waterfront for you, this little gem of a restaurant is literally at the edge of the bay. If you really want to live it up, consider taking one of their dinner cruises that carts you around the bay, then unloads you right at the Waterfront Kitchen’s doorstep so you can continue feasting all night long.

Website: waterfrontkitchen.com

For three days, you can take part in the largest free arts festival in America, when 350,000 artists and art lovers gather together and celebrate their various enlightening creations. The 32nd annual Artscape will be held July 19-21.

Website: artscape.org

This oyster dredging adventure could potentially be the most fun you’ll have during your Baltimore stay. Just make sure you don’t forget to pack your nautical-themed pashmina afghan.

Website: skipjack.org

Forgot that mustache wax at home again? Sixteen Tons is a one-stop shop for all your dire menswear needs to keep that inner American flag flying high. Expatriates also welcome.

Website: shop16tons.com

No, this isn’t another geeky comic book shop that you have to sneak inside so the outside world doesn’t know that you never really grew up. Baltimore’s own John Waters endorses it, and he even gets his fan mail delivered there. But don’t act like it’s a big deal when you go in.

Website: atomicbooks.com

Not all independent record stores are created equally, and you’ll realize this after you’ve stopped by The Sound Garden. Open late seven days a week, they’ve held down B-More since 1993.

Website: cdjoint.com

If you’re a sucker for sentimental moments, stay here and you can claim that you slept on the patch of land that gave the Fell’s Point neighborhood its name. Feel free to arrive by boat.

Website: hendersonswharf.com

Hotel Brexton’s storied past has elevated it to a state of local prominence. The original building was built in 1888, and after a few teardowns and owner shifts, the new Brexton looks like it’s gaining ground in a big way.

Website: brextonhotel.com