Baltimore Ukrainian Festival and Your Monday Fortune Cookie

THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS TO ANYWHERE WORTH GOING.

SNARKY RESPONSE: If you want proof, ask OnStar.

There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

The OnStar comment may seem odd, but believe me, Joe and I have traveled many a winding road because OnStar thought it was the most direct route. We've been on backwoods roads so deep in the wilderness that I would have sworn I heard banjo's playing.

Well, OnStar did it again this last Saturday to get us to the Baltimore Ukrainian Festival and though it took us on a route we had not anticipated, it did get us there in good time. So as the Bard says, all's well that ends well.

The Baltimore Ukrainian Festival is held in Patterson Park in Baltimore, not far from the Inner Harbor. Actually on the other side of Little Italy. This was their 38th year and going strong. The festival is set up around the monument to Poland with food, drink, novelties, and live entertainment.

Saturday in Baltimore was lovely. As we drove through Baltimore to the festival, it rapidly became apparent that it was a very busy day in Baltimore. There was a game at the stadium, and a sudden encounter with people costumed like super heroes revealed that the Baltimore Comic Con was at the Inner Harbor. Then passing through the neighborhood to get to the Ukrainian Festival, we discovered there was a small Polish Festival being held at a church several blocks from the park. Determined to avail ourselves of both events, we parked in a midway area and headed in. 

The Baltimore Ukrainian Festival features booths from four different Ukrainian churches offering Ukrainian foods, a Ukranian Beer Garden where you could enjoy Ukrainian beers, vodka, and honey liquor and vendors with lovely Ukranian decorated eggs and embroidered shirts. Cabbage rolls and pierogi are not photogenic, but they were delicious. I guarantee it.

This was a vegetarian offering of spaetzle, mushrooms, and cabbage. And the beers were very refreshing.

The cabbage rolls and pierogi differed from church booth to church booth in subtle ways, but all were delicious.

Sitting on our blanket in the shade of a tree, Joe and I enjoyed watching a wonderful dancing group performing traditional Ukrainian dances, a talented violinist playing Ukrainian music, and a local Ukrainian acapella group. The temperature was perfect and a steady breeze kept us all comfortable. I admit I did feel for the performers, but honestly, it's been hotter in past years, and none of them were noticeably drooping.

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The Cossack dances are always exciting to watch. The young men leaping about and kicking from squats were impressive. My knees ached just watching them jump up and down. And there was one dance where they whirled the girls in the air. Fun!

The Polish Festival was being held at a nearby church and included entertainment, vendors, historical displays and, of course, food. This was a new event for us and, we loved the smaller venue. Being a one church event, it felt cozier and the food came right out of the kitchen to your plate. Yum!

There's something so delightfully rich about enjoying an event steeped in tradition. Hearing people speaking their native languages and sharing food and stories about their history with welcome strangers. These two cultures are my husband's heritage, and I love that he enjoys sharing it with me. It reminds me how marvelously diverse our country is, the world is, and how much we need to remember and celebrate that diversity with joy and love.

MONDAY FORTUNE COOKIE 9/10/12

Many pleasurable and memorable adventures are in store for you.

SNARKY RESPONSE: Oh, sure! Which store? Do they offer discounts? Do I have to have a membership card?

Many pleasurable and memorable adventures are in store for you.

Well, I don't know about the future, but this past weekend was chock-a-block full of fun and adventures. Went out with friends, Alexa Day and Lucy Balch for drinks at a "new to me" wine bar, Secco Wine Bar, for drinks and nibbles before going to the local historical movie theater, The Byrd, to see Magic Mike. It was our first trip to Secco Wine Bar and we all highly recommend it. Knowledgeable bartender, excellent chef, delightful presentation and environment. The photo is of the Mighty Wirlitzer Organ which rises from below the stage and fills the theater with wonderful music before the two Saturday evening performances.

Enough has been said about Magic Mike on fb and elsewhere, but I can definitely say that the movie was exactly what I expected and also, not what I expected. The stripping and dancing scenes were all that I had hoped LOL.  The storyline was not what I expected. I guess I was thinking it would be all sex, drugs and rock n roll, but it was more (and less). I was glad I went to see it.

Then today, Joe and I drove to Baltimore for the Ukrainian Festival. We took the rural route to avoid the traffic nightmare that is DC. While the drive to Baltimore was much less stressful, it took much longer than anticipated. Saw a bunch of neat things, some old architecture, interesting eateries, and lovely countryside. When we arrived, finding a parking space was the final hurdle and then we were IN!

The festival is held in Patterson Park around a monument with vendors arranged around a circular area with a monument to Poland in the center. First stop was to get some authentic Ukrainian food, most offered by members of local Ukrainian churches. Perogies, stuffed cabbage, and potato pancakes all around.

Ukrainian beer and a shot of Medivka - Ukrainian Honey Liquor really got things off on the right foot.

Speaking of feet, there were Ukrainian dance groups performing as well. Dressed in colorful traditional costumes, they danced, leaped, spun and performed amazing steps. The crowd seated on chairs in front of the stage clapped and cheered. My knees ached just watching the young men leaping and squatting and kicking. Awesome!

A band at the opposite end of the park provided music for the beer garden and inspired at least one couple to trip the light fantastic!

There were also plenty of vendors offering lovely Ukrainian crafts to temp the pocketbook.

It was a lovely trip and a lovely day!