Give a gift subscription for a year's-worth of healthy eating plans developed by a Baltimore Culinary Nutritionist. Each dinner is approximately 500 calories per portion, includes seasonal ingredients, sent to them by email, quick, easy, healthy cooking. A great gift for a health-conscious friend, family member, teacher . . .   

Take a look and download a free for yourself :

www.EatWellMealPlans.com

A great place to find locally made, reasonably priced gifts is the HeARTwares shop on 3512 Keswick Road in Hampden. HeARTwares features a wide variety of hand-made and one-of-a-kind artwork, jewelry, houseware items, garden ornaments and assorted gifts. The items are made by students of Art with a Heart, a nonprofit organization that brings its visual art programs to Baltimore's underserved children, youth, and adults. In fact, HeARTwares is having a First Anniversary celebration this weekend. Please see http://www.artwithaheart.net/heartwares.html

I think the best place to buy locally made gifts is the Woman's Industrial Exchange at 333 North Charles St. The Exchange has great prices and items for all ages! Check out our website - www.womansindustrialexchange.org - You can even shop online!
Jenny

You can find locally made art in many forms on Etsy by searching 'baltimoreetsyteam' (without the quotes). Your search results will offer a variety of incredible handmade items all produced in your local area!

Most of our neighborhoods in Baltimore that have strings of great shops are always the way to go! I personally love strolling with my baby down the Avenue in Hampden. You can park your car and walk your way from one end to another. Plus, there is so much good food to enjoy including places to enjoy a nice adult beverage. I like other neighborhoods, but Hampden holds a special place in my heart.

This Friday (25th) there's the "Black Friday Art Market" in the Station North Arts and Entertainment District. A lot of local artists / artisans will be selling their goods - perfect opportunity for holiday shopping!

http://www.stationnorth.org/finalfridays

One of the best places to buy locally made, and creative gifts is: BAZAART, held at the American Visionary Art Museum, on Saturday, November 28, from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 a.m.. Entry is free, and the annually-held market is full of interesting, unique creations by regional artists.

I skate with the Charm City Roller Girls and am familiar with many of the rinks around town.

Skateland North Point in Dundalk is great and owned by a really wonderful individual.
Skateland Putty Hill is pretty good too.
There is also a Skateland in Towson (called Skateland Orchard), but I haven't been there in a very long time so I don't really remember details.

Sportsman's Hall northwest of the city is strangely wonderful and features live organ music on Sunday nights and a bizarre clientele (like old ladies in their former figure skating costumes).

I know that some people like Pasadena skating center but I've never been there myself.

If you or your friends want to learn to skate like a roller girl, the Charm City Roller Girls often offer open practices. Check out charmcityrollergirls.com for more information.

Happy skating!!

Roland Ave north of Northern Parkway just got a fresh paving. Lovely. Pack of long-boarders as also been cleaning up the Jones Falls bike trail on the north side of Druid Hill Park, too.

The Station North flea market just started again. It runs over the summer until November on the first Saturday of the month at the intersection of Maryland and North Avenue.