"Introducing The Great VT BaltOberfest 2006" baltoberfest's Profile

For the most current updates, have a look at www.baltoberfest.com

use the small ball

Arrive in Baltimore, and have dinner on your own. We'll be glad to provide suggestions to suit your tastes, budgets, and geographical restrictions.

After dinner, we will partake in a true Baltimore "sport," duckpin bowling. We will meet on the second floor of Patterson Bowl, and have the lanes to ourselves from 9 until 11 pm.

At Patterson Bowl, you can bring your own beer and wine. Luckily, there is a liquor store, Loading Dock Liquors, less than a block away...just a quick, and charming walk down a rowhoused-line alley.... There is a designated smoking area. Shoe rentals are $2.00 per pair as of this writing. We will be dividing the cost of the bowling alley rental....a fee of most likely less than $5 per person.

After bowling, those interested will follow Ellen across the street to a very local bar called Kelly's to have a few more drinks, and engage in karaoke madness. For those not wishing to partake in this not-quite-originally Baltimore activity, Frank will be leading a tour of some of the fine and numerous bars/taverns/pubs within walking distance of Patterson Bowl. It is also likely that the bar will be closed, and we will have the karoake all to ourselves...so, start practicing your favorite tunes!

For more information on Patterson Bowl, and duckpins in general, click here: Patterson Bowl

******* Water Taxi Stop: Landing 14, near Captain James Landing. But, you must transfer at Landing #11 to get to #14. Walk up one block on Boston Street, and the name will change to Chester Street to Eastern Avenue. Turn right, and bowling will be on your right. And, Kelly's will be directly across the street!

VTer Julie/Travelmad478's hand at another "feast"

The day is yours! But the evening will feature crabs and beer, followed by beer and dancing!

We will offer suggestions on what to do, and the sky's the limit. Museums, markets, seafood, drinking, shopping...whatever your heart desires. Of course, there's a little, sort-of-known city a short train ride away by the name of Washington, DC. Should Baltimore fail to entertain you sufficiently, you can be at DC's Union Station in about 35-40 minutes via Amtrak from Baltimore's Penn Station.

Frank will be leading a walking tour....stay tuned for details!

But, the evening will see the BIG EVENT: The VT Crab Feast at LP Steamers.

This is about as local as you're going to get in B-more!
Don't worry if you've never eaten a steamed crab, the following link has some preliminary instructions, but why read, when you can learn in person! The good folks at LP Steamers will have extra staff on hand to help out, and there are VTers who are pros at this (but most of whom would rather pick their own crabs!)

It's all about drinking beer (cheap, water-y, domestic beer by the pitcher and in plastic cups), getting dirty, cracking, pulling, sucking, and having a good time and chowing down. We'll also make sure to have other food around, so, if you can't get into the crab thing, you won't go hungry.

This even will commence at 6pm. The cost is $26 per person including just about as many crabs as you can eat, or approximately 8 crabs per person, french fries, sodas, beer (only Miller Lite, Coors Lite, or Yuengling by the pitcher--and, if we overdo it, we will be charbed additionally for each pitcher). For those who would rather endure long flights in the middle seat in coach than drink cheap domestic beer, there will be Becks, Heinekin, Bass, and Guiness for sale at $4/btl. PLEASE NOTE: Given the mercurial nature of seafood prices, this is all subject to change. Will will provide any updates in advance of the event.

Should you be averse to crab eating, for the same price, you can order a platter. But, be warned: As in most crab houses, food other than steamed crabs are generally not a strong suit. We will also try to accomodate vegetarians.

Everyone should expect to pay an additional $5 for a tip. In addition, please plan on paying a little extra should the beer drinking really take off!

We will be asking for an exact count, includinig a count of those not wishing to eat crabs, as the date gets closer.

For more info on LP Steamer, click here: LP Steamers]

************** Water Taxi: Tidewater Fuel Dock and Yacht Service. Walk up hill and turn left on Fort Avenue.

The apres crabs activity will, of course, be dancing. There should be several options, but we are hoping to take a big crowd to Fells Point, for dancing at the hot! hot! hot! Latin Palace. We ask, what better to follow a night of steamed crabs than a night of steamy dancing? We have negotiated a cover charge of $5 (instead of the usual $10) for this event.

********* We can share cabs and cars to get to dancing. If you've a water taxi pass, you need to get off at Landing 11, Fells Point, and walk up Broadway.

by Sunday, you'll know!

We figure that as this point no one should be asked to get up early to hit a brunch.....But, we'll have plenty of suggestions for where you may wish to go.

Ellielou would suggest getting up early enough (that is, before about 11 am) to get over to the Farmer's Market (under the Jones Falls Expressway, or JFX). This is her favorite activity of the week, not just because she's into the fresh produce, and the fact that it's a bit of a social hour, but because it's the one place in Baltimore where you get the entire cross-section of the city. And, oddly, most people there are in good moods...and fairly friendly...

Click here: Farmer's Market

If you're still around, several of us will be ringing out Baltoberfest in true --oberfest style, by heading to a real live suburban Baltimore biergarten called Blob's Park in the early evening. Details will be provided during Saturday's crabfeast!

view of field from relatively 'cheap seats!'

....the team's away for for Friday-Sunday, but catch them at home Thursday, if you'd like. We are trying to get a group rate, and only need a few more people to make this a truly special event. Please send us an email asap. The cost of the tickets are $13.

A cute little Baltimore thing:
When they sing the National Anthem at a game (the Star Spangled Banner, written at Baltimore's own, Ft. McHenry, near LP Steamers), everyone sings quietly, until they get to the part when it say "O!" as in, O, say does that star spangled banner yet....And yell, O! It's really fun! Sometimes, even, unfortunately, the very best part of the game (of late).

Please answer how many will be attending the following events:

Friday evening, September 15:

--Duckpin Bowing: 9 until 11 pm. Cost: most likely $5 per person, plus an additional $2 per person for shoe rentals.

--Karaoke: 9pm until ? (bars in Baltimore close at 2 am). Costs only for what you choose to drink.

Saturday, September 16:

--Crabs at LP Steamers: 6 until 10pm. Cost (as of this writing) $26 per person, plus $5 for tip. Additional money may be required if people drink more than the allotted amount (approximately a pitcher of beer for every 2 to 3 people, or if people drink beverages other than those included).

We need to know how many in your party will be eating crabs. How many in your party would prefer a platter instead, and/or how many will need a vegetarian platter.

--Dancing at Latin Palace: 10ish until ?. Cover charge $5, instead of the usual $10. We need to know your real name and the names in your party for the guest list. Please note: having your name on the guest list does NOT commit you attending. It merely means that if you DO attend, you can get in for half price.

Additional Notes:

Please let us know of your intentions no later than September 1.

Please remove yourself from the Baltoberfest list if you will not be attending any events.

Please forward this email to anyone you know who is considering attending Baltoberfest but has not signed up. While we all like pleasant surprises, we cannot promise to accommodate anyone who just decides to make an unexpected entrance. Plus, it makes more work for your hosts, as well as staff at the various venues.

If we do not receive your reply by September 1, we will assume that you are not coming to any of the events.