My first “visit” to my islands…

Though I was born and raised in the states I identify with my parents birthplace; the Virgin Islands. Since I was a baby we have traveled “home” to family for summers and holidays. I have fond memories of helping my grandmother bake traditional tarts in her scorching hot kitchen or sitting on her porch watching cruise ships hoping for a cool breeze to decrease the humid and sticky temperature. We would visit my mother’s family on the small island of St. John and eat mangos taken directly from trees and swim in clear waters at the many beaches. But I was never a tourist. From the minute the plane landed I became an integral part of the island, traveling with the residents on their day to day journeys and never experiencing the “America’s paradise” my friends and co-workers would rave about whenever I mentioned an upcoming trip home. To me a trip to my islands meant familiar faces, great home cooked meals, a million mosquito bites, and time with friends and family. I knew nothing of the great resorts, activities or restaurants. Until now…

Read more

Arts Festival in my Backyard

It’s Artscape weekend!!  The largest free arts festival in the country is literally in my backyard (and around the corner and up the street), and I had my apartment to clean.  What would you have done?  Exactly.  My dishes can wait. 

 I walked to the festival and found myself immersed in Baltimore’s arts culture.  Thousands of people of all ages and colors strolled through wide streets as if some tropical market.  At Artscape, hundreds of vendors from various places sell all types of wares, from jewelry, original t-shirts and paintings, to clocks made out of Cuban cigar boxes and magnificent, colorful (amazingly unharmed) framed insects, ready to mount on a wall.   Performances both stage and musical are feasts for the eyes, and are free to enjoy.  Even though it was exhilarating to be among all the people and the arts, I came specifically for Baltimore’s own Mario/Dru Hill free concert.  I got to the old Mt. Royal Station just in time to hear Mario sing his hits off of his most current album.  I parked myself on the side of a very steep hill among throngs of people and let my inner teenager come through.  I sang along to song after song bopping to the beat.  About an hour after Mario left the stage, Dru Hill commanded the attention of hundreds in the audience.  They belted out their classic songs to their Baltimore hometown family.  I left right when they were wrapping up and walked the few blocks back to my messy place.  That’s the joy about living in the heart of B’more: everything out of the ordinary is a few steps or a short drive away.  If that means another day of dirty dishes in my sink, so be it.

Artscape is usually the second to last week in July. Learn more at www.artscape.org