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∙∙∙ Perfect Day
IN BALTIMORE
“ A lot of what we do is really driven by the kids,” says Heller, who begins his perfect day outdoors in downtown Baltimore at either the National Aquarium’ s Harbor Wetland, a recreated salt marsh habitat, or an urban playground like Pierce’ s Park or Rash Field. Then the family heads north to take in Mount Vernon’ s beautiful and varied architecture. For dinner, their choice is a food hall with a lot of options, such as R. House in Remington or Belvedere Square in North Baltimore. They round out the evening with a film at The Senator Theatre, a historic movie house that has been showing films since 1939.
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Sirois Heller starts his perfect day with the“ killer pastries” at the glutenfree and vegan Harmony Bakery in Hampden. He then takes the family for a walk in magical Lake Roland, a 500-plus acre park just outside of the city. A“ sucker for wellness shopping and self-care,” he would include a stop at The Space Within in Woodbery for crystal shopping.
Both recommend that visitors stay at the Sagamore Pendry in Fell’ s Point for a touch of opulence. Naturally, they also suggest fitting in a stop at Walther Gardens for a snowball at“ The Peggy,” named for Heller’ s greatgrandmother.
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COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM |
For the Vibrant Poets & Activists Looking to Express Themselves UNIQUE ROBINSON
West Baltimore native Unique Robinson started performing in the city’ s burgeoning poetry scene when she was 15.“ I wanted to go to open mics and have my voice heard,” says Robinson, who uses she / they pronouns. In their work, Robinson explored what was going on in the city and the world. Her interest in social justice inspired her to get involved with YouthWorks, a local organization that connects young individuals to paid employment opportunities.
Robinson went on to work as a community organizer in New York after college, but began to miss her creative practice. So, after getting their M. F. A. in creative writing and poetry from Mills College in California, Robinson returned to Baltimore in 2015. She is currently a teaching artist and adjunct professor at the Maryland Institute College of Art( MICA). Her passions for art and activism fully merged in 2022, when she became the director of MICA’ s M. F. A. in Community Arts program.
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JUSTIN TSUCALAS |
SOPHIE MACALUSO / R. HOUSE |
Robinson continues to write poetry— check out their two books flicked / forgotten / FREED and Four Wings & A Prayer: A Charm City Churn— and has even expanded into music with several EPs.“ I literally have to write,” she says.“ If I don’ t write, I feel like I’ m not breathing.” |