How To Spend a Winter Weekend in Baltimore

By Steve Greenberg, Marketing Intern

Accompanied by a hot pot of tea and a roaring fireplace, we too find it difficult to venture out for activities when the temps drop low. However, a touch of cold weather will never deter us from sharing all that our historic city has to offer visiting guests. Mere minutes away from the front steps of The Ivy, there are countless indoor activities for those of us looking to explore this winter. No matter your tastes or preferences, Baltimore offers cultural experiences for everyone. Let our complimentary house car service whisk you away — you might just discover how we earned the nickname “Charm City.”

The Fine Arts: Just around the corner from The Ivy is the The Walters Art Museum, a public art museum founded and opened in 1934. Current exhibitions include  Excursions through the Collection, From Mucha to Morris: Books of the Art Nouveau,  and Time and Place, which continue throughout the winter. Another Baltimore art hub, the Baltimore Museum of Art,  is just two miles north of The Ivy on Johns Hopkins University’s campus. The BMA is currently hosting exhibitions including Mickalene Thomas: A Moment’s Pleasure, Adorned: African Women & the Art of Identity, Free Form: 20th-Century Studio Craft, By Their Creative Force: American Women Modernists, Henry Moore and The Pre-Columbian Past, Spencer Finch: Moon Dust, and several other regional galleries. And, back toward our beloved waterfront is the American Visionary Art Museum, which is currently hosting exhibitions including The Secret Life of Earth: Alive! Awake! (and Possibly Really Angry!), Esther and The Dream of One Loving Human Family, and Reverend Albert Lee Wagner: Miracle At Midnight.

The Sciences: If you are traveling with family, The National Aquarium and the Maryland Science Center provide activities for all ages. Meanwhile, for anyone looking to dive deep into ancient civilizations, the lesser known Johns Hopkins University Archaeological Museum is located ten minutes north of The Ivy.

Cinema: If you are looking to experience film or admire vintage architecture, The Parkway Theatre, designed in 1915, is a member of the National Register of Historical Places and continues to premier films of old and new every evening and all day on weekends. In addition, The Parkway Theatre is home to the annual Maryland Film Festival each spring, which hosts the most innovative cinematic minds in the region.

Music: Those looking to get their groove on or relax and explore local music can venture downtown to Keystone Korner Jazz Club & Restaurant for nightly shows. The neighboring Fells Point neighborhood offers dozens of live music and entertainment destinations, offering daily shows ranging from classic rock to new age DJ’s. If you are looking for a smaller venue, or to gain some knowledge on the jazz community, the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center is just around the corner from The Ivy.

Performing Arts: Ranging from comedy to dance or acapella, The Ivy’s very own Mount Vernon neighborhood is a vibrant performing arts hub. The Lyric hosts many well known performers such as the upcoming show by world-famous comedian, Sebastian Maniscalco. The Meyerhoff, home to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, sits less than a ten minute walk from The Ivy and performs several shows per week. 

Literature & History: Baltimore is home to literary mastermind, Edgar Allan Poe. Since his passing, his home has been converted into the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum located just two miles from The Ivy. Also, the George Peabody Library, one of the largest and most beautiful works of architecture in the Mid Atlantic, is located only one mile from The Ivy in East Mount Vernon. Nonetheless, The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, the location of the United States’ national flag and inspiration for our National Anthem is now a museum adjacent to Baltimore’s Little Italy.

Once the time comes to unwind and cozy up by the fire, our Winter Escape package provides a luxurious setting to come back to after a long day of exploring.