HampdenFest 2011

Hampdenfest 2011 is Saturday, September 10, 2011 from 10am-7pm.

Always a good time, there are exhibitors, games, entertainment, and more. Plus this is the last year for “Hampden Idol!”

The big draws tend to be the wildly popular “Toilet Bowl Race” and the Hampden Film Festival.

This year there is even the Great Baltimore Mac Off, where chefs will submit their best Mac & Cheese recipes and are judged.

What is Hampdenfest? According to their site:

HampdenFest features 4 stages of music and art performances, an activity area for kids, an emerging artists exhibit and a film festival, as well as four blocks of arts and crafts vendors and other wares from a wide range of merchants and artists.

So much to do & see! So come on down to fun-filled Hampden, and visit Hampdenfest on the 10th!

Photo courtesy of Gavin St. Ours courtesy of Flickr CC

Baltimore Bnote Green Currency

Baltimore has its’ own currency called Bnote, and it is now available for purchase and use in more than 60 locations in Baltimore city.

The Bnote comes in $1 and $5 notes, and became available for use on April 18.

According to the Baltimore Green Currency Association, Bnotes are local currency, and:

Local currency, also called complimentary currency, is money that is designed to be used within a community, town, or city.  Whereas national currencies, like the US Dollar, are now loaned into existence, necessitating their repayment with interest to a bank or financial institution, local currencies exist solely to facilitate commerce within a community and to preserve and restore the social nature of trade and business. Dollars are universal, but they don’t have the same power that local currencies have, to promote and grow a local economy, in ways that benefit the people and not banks.

Many merchants in the Hampden neighborhood are accepting the currency, and are ready to get it into circulation around Baltimore.

Here is the list of merchants who are currently accepting the Bnote as currency. They include the very popular Woodberry Kitchen, Golden West, Cafe Hon, 9th Life, Corner Restaurant, Renew Organic Skincare, Sprout Organic Salon, and even two attorneys!

While you’re using your Bnotes in Hampden, make sure to stop by my listing around the corner from the Avenue at 911 38th St. Better yet, you can live there, and just have a quick jaunt to use them!

HampdenFest 2010

HampdenFest 2010 will be held September 11, 2010 from 10 am – 7 pm on the Avenue — 36th Street — in Hampden, Hon!

HampdenFest is a community arts festival with four blocks of arts & crafts vendors, local food and drink, antiques, kids’ activities, three stages for art & musical performances, and the Hampden Village Merchants Association shops.

The silly & fun event is the toilet racing (yes, you read that right, toilet racing), where participants will have built a car-type racing machine using a clean toilet, and race in drag-racing type competition. The first heat begins at 10 am.

A short-film mini Film Festival will be held with shorts from local producers.

This comes on the heels of the fun Annual Honfest that was held June 12 & 13, 2010. Hampden is such a great hub of neat events. So come on down to Hampden, Hon, and visit Hampdenfest on the 11th!