Downtown Partnership: Getting Things Done

38th Annual Lighting of the Washington Monument

Presented by Saul Ewing

Thursday, December 3, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Enjoy holiday entertainment and a fireworks finale with this year's celebrity lighter, Baltimore Orioles' Nick Markakis. Entertainment includes City College Choir, Handel Choir, Institute of Notre Dame, and a special performance by the BSO’s Holiday Spectacular Dancing Santas featuring the Baltimore School for the Arts Dancers.

Baltimore's Monumental Occasion is going green with energy-saving LED lights replacing old-fashioned bulbs on the Monument this year. The BGE Smart Energy Savers Program is a proud partner of the Monument Lighting,    providing this year’s energy-efficient LED holiday lights to help Baltimore save energy and money.

This year's Monument Lighting Commemorative Art by Zoe Gensheimer, a student at Baltimore School for the Arts.

Dollar or Less Days

Presented by Cricket Wireless and Downtown Partnership of Baltimore

December 5 & 6 more than 15 Downtown attractions and museums offer admission for $1 or less! Click here for details.

Free Lunch on Charles Street at Sofi's Crepes
Tired of eating leftovers for dinner? Bored with that same old lunch joint? Why not check out some of the great restaurants and cafes on Charles Street? The construction along Charles between Saratoga and Centre Streets isn't stopping area restaurants and bars from constructing great meals and good times.

On Tuesday, December 15, Sofi's Crepes, 333 N. Charles Street, will provide free lunch for Downtown employees- voucher will be required- look for information in future emails.

Dine Downtown this Holiday Season

Many of Downtown's restaurants have events, specials and holiday themed-menus for the holiday season. To sign up to receive Dine Downtown emails (sent monthly), visit www.DineDowntownBaltimore.com.

Holiday Guide

Click here for the 2009 Downtown for the Holidays guide to help you plan holiday fun with friends and family.

Plan your visit to Downtown Baltimore and find parking using our interactive map, www.downtownbaltmap.com.

This Thursday’s holiday lighting of Baltimore’s Washington Monument takes place in the Mount Vernon neighborhood, one of the city’s most beautiful and historic. The event is the centerpiece for an evening where Mount Vernon restaurants, galleries, museums, and shops offer special events and promotions.

We invite everyone to enjoy what this great neighborhood has to offer, both before and after the Monument Lighting. Because of the below road closures related to the event, we encourage everyone headed to Mount Vernon to walk or utilize mass transit.

The following streets will be closed and have parking restricted for Monument Lighting:

9 a.m. - 11 p.m.: Both sides of West Mt. Vernon Place between Charles and Cathedral Streets

10 a.m. - 11 p.m.: West drive of Charles Street between Centre and Madison Streets

6 p.m.- 9 p.m.: East drive of Charles Street from Centre to Madison Streets; Both sides of East Mt. Vernon Place between Charles and St. Paul Streets

Drivers will be detoured as follows: Northbound Charles Street traffic will be detoured east on Centre, north on Calvert, west on Madison Street, and back to Charles Street; Westbound Mt. Vernon Place/Monument Street traffic will be detoured south on St. Paul Street, west on Franklin Street, north on Park Avenue, and back to Monument Street.

Please visit www.GetAroundDowntown.com for further updates, more alternate routes, a link to live traffic cameras, and to sign up for email traffic alerts.

What's Happening Downtown?

The Hippodrome Theatre Presents: Winter Wonderland Extravaganza
Come early to each performance of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s THE NUTCRACKER for a Winter Wonderland celebration featuring Santa Clause, ballerinas, holiday crafts, story-telling, hot cocoa and holiday treats. December 4, 6-7:30 p.m.; December 5, 12:30-2 p.m. & 6-7:30 p.m.; December 6, 12:30-2 p.m.

Take your picture with Santa Clause or a ballerina; create your own candy cane reindeer ornaments; decorate crowns with sparkling jewels; celebrate the holiday spirit with beautiful decorations including a model train display; enjoy hot cocoa and sugar cookies and take part in story time.

Buy one ticket get one free!* Get your tickets now with this special online promo code: HOLIDAY. Ticketmaster.com or by calling 410.547.SEAT.

*Valid Friday and Saturday evenings only in price level II. Tickets are subject to availability, service charges and handling fees. No exchanges or refunds. All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket. Show ticket grants access to the festivities.

Christmas Concerts at Old St Paul's
Sunday December 13 at 5 p.m. Washington National Cathedral Girls’ Choir, one of the foremost Choirs in the country will be presented in concert at Old St. Paul’s Church. Under the direction of Michael McCarthy and accompanied by Rebecca Anstine-Smith (Harp) and Jeremy Filsell (Organ), they will sing Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols alongside other well-known Christmas-tide musical fare.

Sunday, December 20 at 5 p.m. Under the direction of Dr. Jeremy Filsell, the Old St. Paul’s Choir of Men, Boys and Girls concert will feature Christmas favorites and congregational hymns. You’ll want to put this Christmas celebration on your calendars now.

Call 410.685.3404 for information or visit www.osp1692.org.

Holiday Family Fun at Port Discovery
Gingerbricks, December 12 & 19, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Decorate a gingerbrick that will be used to create a gingerbread replica of the Museum!

Target $2 Family Fun Night, December 18, 4-7 p.m. Bring the family down for an evening of play for just $2 per person.

Winter Break Activities, December 26-30 Create your own snowfolk and winter critters, dance and sing along with Mr. Norman, join the Fun Drum Rhythm Circus and much more!

Noontime New Year: An International Celebration, December 31, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Toast the New Year at noon with milk and cookies and MPT's Bob Heck! Enjoy special cultural programs from Greece, Italy, Israel, China and Japan, PLUS a special performance by the Hilltop Hightops!

Visit www.portdiscovery.org for more information.

National Aquarium’s Top 10 Holiday Deals
This season the Aquarium is diving deep for discounts on gifts, tickets, gift memberships and winter experiences! Through the Aquarium’s official Facebook and Twitter communities, we’re revealing a new discount each weekday through December 13.

Get connected today and swim into a sea of savings! Restrictions may apply. Learn more at aqua.org/10deals.

Ports America New Year's Eve Spectacular Baltimore’s Inner Harbor December 31, 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m., with live entertainment and a fantastic midnight fireworks show. The event is presented by Mayor Sheila Dixon and produced by the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts.

For more information on the Ports America New Year’s Eve Spectacular, visit www.promotionandarts.com.

Live Music in the Arcade

Visit www.lexingtonmarket.com for a schedule and details.

For more information call 410.296.2929 x21 or visit www.tennischallenge.org.

Offer not valid for previously purchased tickets.  Players subject to substitution. All sales final.  No refunds and/or exchanges. 

BSO Holiday Spectacular!
Don't miss the BSO's Holiday Spectacular December 18-23 - children's pricing available for matinees!  Ann Hampton Callaway hosts this musical extravaganza with Jack Everly conducting more than 100 singers, dancers and musicians, a show-stopping troupe of tap-dancing Santas and special guests, the Capitol Quartet.

Click here to purchase tickets to Baltimore’s most popular holiday tradition!
 

Holiday Fun and Entertainment at Power Plant Live!
December 18th, 8-11 p.m. 21+over. Power Plant Live! and The US Marine Corps present Toy Drive 2009 benefitting Toys for Tots!Receive free admission to any venue with donation of a new unwrapped toy or $5 donation!

Baltimore’s ultimate New Years Eve destination, December 31: 6 different parties to choose from!

Email info@powerplantlive.com for all of the details!

For information about

Downtown Baltimore: www.GoDowntownBaltimore.com

For traffic information: www.GetAroundDowntown.com

For family fun: www.KidsLoveDowntownBaltimore.com

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