Arts & Entertainment

5 new things to do in Baltimore

Superheroes, reinvented restaurants and more

Published

13 years ago

July 11, 2013

Staff reports

The National Aquarium in Baltimore (Photo by Andrew Horne)

If you’ve exhausted D.C.’s myriad options for stay-at-home fun this summer, then head 35 miles north to Baltimore. We’ve discovered five new ways to spend time in Charm City this summer.

1. For superhero fans who’ve seen “Man of Steel” a dozen times and are in need of a new fix, check out Geppi’s Entertainment Museum dedicated to all things pop culture. The unique museum features a comic book library, including, you guessed it, Superman memorabilia. The exhibits reveal the real world forces — such as World War II and the Great Depression — that inspired the creation of various comic book characters. The convenient downtown location at Camden Yards makes it easy to find and park.

Geppi’s Entertainment Museum
301 W. Camden St. Baltimore
geppismuseum.com
Adult tickets $10

2. One of Baltimore’s iconic restaurants, the Chesapeake Restaurant just north of Penn Station, operated for more than 50 years before closing in the ‘80s. Nearly a quarter century later, it’s back and more stylish than ever thanks to a complete renovation that includes a massive marble bar with friendly and knowledgeable bartenders, cozy window-front booths and a high-end coffee bar. The menu features oysters, burgers, salads, shrimp and grits and daily specials. There’s an extensive wine list, craft beers and a quirky and welcome selection of American ryes and vodkas. It’s the perfect spot for after-work drinks or a meal before heading to the Charles Theater next door.

Chesapeake Restaurant
1701 N. Charles St., Baltimore
thechesapeakebaltimore.com

3. If you haven’t been to the National Aquarium in Baltimore lately, the new Blacktip Reef exhibit is not to be missed. The 260,000-gallon exhibit is intended to replicate an Indo-Pacific reef and is gradually coming to life this summer as more species are introduced. Eventually, it will feature 1,200 animals from 75 species, including thousands of stunning corals. A new floor-to-ceiling viewing window brings you face-to-face with the animals.

National Aquarium
501 E. Pratt St., Baltimore
aqua.org

4. The Senator Theatre is a nearly 75-year-old historic Art Deco landmark in north Baltimore that was closed in 2012 and is set to reopen later this summer under new ownership as an expanded movie house offering the original theater, plus three new smaller screens and a restaurant. The Baltimore Sun reports the theater is expected to reopen next month.

Senator Theatre
5904 York Rd., Baltimore
thesenatortheatre.com

5. It’s not new, but the 32^nd annual Artscape, billed as America’s largest free arts festival, returns July 19-21 with some new features. With 200 exhibitors covering 13 city blocks, Artscape brings together more than 150 fine artists, designers and other craftspeople for three days of art, music and food. Entertainers on the main stage include R&B act Kem, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band from New Orleans and the Wailers, among many scheduled to perform. Artscape After Hours will transform the 1700 and 1800 blocks of North Charles Street into an outdoor dance club on Saturday, July 20 at 9 p.m.

Artscape
July 19-21
Take the train to Penn Station or park at 1201 W. Mount Royal
Free
Artscape.org

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Sports

Jason Collins dies at 47

First openly gay man to actively play for major sports team battled brain cancer

Published

17 hours ago

May 12, 2026

Michael K. Lavers

Jason Collins (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Jason Collins, the first openly gay man to actively play for a major professional sports team, died on Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer. He was 47.

The California native had briefly played for the Washington Wizards in 2013 before coming out in a Sports Illustrated op-ed.

Collins in 2014 became the first openly gay man to play in a game for a major American professional sports league when he played 11 minutes during a Brooklyn Nets game. He wore jersey number 98 in honor of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student murdered outside of Laramie, Wyo., in 1998.

Collins told the Washington Blade in 2014 that his life was “exponentially better” since he came out. Collins the same year retired from the National Basketball Association after 13 seasons.

Collins married his husband, Brunson Green, in May 2025.

The NBA last September announced Collins had begun treatment for a brain tumor. Collins on Dec. 11, 2025, announced he had Stage 4 glioblastoma.

“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” said Collins’s family in a statement the NBA released. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins’s “impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA, and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”

“He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador,” said Silver. “Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.”

“To call Jason Collins a groundbreaking figure for our community is simply inadequate. We truly lost a giant today,” added Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson in a statement. “He came out as gay — while still playing — at a time when men’s athletes simply did not do that. But as he powerfully demonstrated in his final years in the league and his post-NBA career, stepping forward as he did boldly changed the conversation.”

“He was and will always be a legend for the LGBTQ+ community, and we are heartbroken to hear of his passing at the young age of 47,” she said. “Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones. We will keep fighting on in his honor until the day everyone can be who they are on their terms.”

Photos

PHOTOS: ‘Studio 69’

Glitterati Productions hold party at Bunker

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

Michael Key

'Studio 69' was held at Bunker on Friday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Glitterati Productions held the “Studio 69” party at Bunker on Friday, May 8.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Arts & Entertainment

Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns June 13 to kick off D.C. Pride week

Pride on the Pier officially launches Pride Week in D.C.

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

Staff reports

The Washington Blade’s annual Pride on the Pier celebration returns to The Wharf on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 4-9 p.m., bringing thousands of LGBTQ community members and allies together for an unforgettable waterfront celebration to kick off Pride week in Washington, D.C.

Now in its eighth year, Washington Blade Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Wharf waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older.

“Pride on the Pier has become one of the signature moments of Pride in D.C.,” said Lynne Brown, publisher of the Washington Blade. “There’s nothing like watching our community come together on the waterfront with live music and incredible energy as we kick off Pride week.”

Pride on the Pier is free and open to the public, with VIP tickets available for exclusive pier access to the Dockmaster Building. To purchase VIP tickets visit www.prideonthepierdc.com/vip.

Additional entertainment announcements, sponsor activations, and event details will be released in the coming weeks.

Event Details:

📍 Location: District Pier at The Wharf (101 District Sq SW, Washington, DC)
📅 Dates: Friday, 13, 2026

⏱️ 4-9PM
🎟️ VIP Tickets: www.PrideOnThePierDC.com/VIP