Baltimore is known for it’s steamed crab, crab cakes… and well, anything crab related. But where is the best place to get steamed crabs in the city? It’s a question that locals (and visitors) will argue forever. Defending their favorite spot as if it were a blood relative. But just look at the media praise that Obrycki’s Crab House and Seafood Restaurant has received and it’s no question that it’s one of Baltimore’s best.

“Crab Town’s Epicenter …Obrycki’s, a friendly family-run institution where the freshest and best - prepared crabs have been served since 1944.”
Patricia Schultz, 1,000 PLACES TO SEE BEFORE YOU DIE

“One of the greatest crab houses in America, which is to say, the world.”
The late Craig Claiborne, NEW YORK TIMES

“To find the best, I went to Obrycki’s Crab House where you get the freshest and best prepared crabs.”
George Lang, TRAVEL & LEISURE

“Obrycki’s could be called crab heaven!”
Terry Weeks, GOURMET MAGAZINE

Across America and around the world, the praise of Obrycki’s sings with marvelous descriptions of their famous fare. Of course, there are Obrycki’s wonderful steamed crabs, backfin crab cakes, and savory crab soup all made with their secret seafood seasoning. In addition to the crab dishes, there are many other items on their menu that have won rave reviews, from crab imperial, broiled shrimp, and tender sea scallops to linguine Chesapeake, tender steaks, and bountiful seafood platters.

Obrycki’s Past, Present, and Future

The tradition of Obrycki’s is rooted in the working class neighborhoods of East Baltimore. The grounds on which the restaurant’s buildings reside are part of the original William Fell estate in an area now known as historic Fell’s Point, just a few blocks from Harbor Magic’s Admiral Fell Inn. Today, Fell’s Point is a thriving, growing community where long-time blue collar residents rub elbows with newly arrived young professionals. The area abounds with interesting shops, restaurants, clubs, and of course, Obrycki’s.

The original site of Obrycki’s, at 1729 East Pratt Street, was built in 1851 and the adjoining building was constructed the following year. In the 19th and well into the 20th century, Baltimore was known as a great brewery town with many taverns brimming with the local beers. For much of its history, the original Obrycki’s building served as a tavern. It’s most notable innkeeper was George Gunther, founder of the Gunther Brewing Company. Gunther made a very popular beer that survived well into the 1950’s.

In 1944, Melvin Alexander and his brothers-in-law, Mitch, Joe, and Eddie Obrycki opened a bar at the site. Eventually, they expanded the business, serving food including Maryland blue crabs. When Melvin, Mitch, and Joe started another business in 1949, Eddie and his wife, Eleanor, took over what became known as Ed Obrycki’s Olde Crab House. When they decided to retire in 1976, Rose and Richard Cernak, who had fallen in love with the tradition-steeped place, bought the restaurant, took its inherent ambiance, built upon it, and turned it into the thriving, lively and warm restaurant it is today.

Gradually, Obrycki’s outgrew the original location, and in 1986 it moved just across the street to 1727 East Pratt Street. The move double the restaurant’s seating capacity and there is a large off-street parking lot that makes a visit to Obrycki’s simpler and more convenient than ever before.

Rose and Richard’s children, Rob, Cheri and Cindy, started learning the restaurant business as busboy, hostess, and waitress. They are still very much involved, and each member of the family is dedicated to building upon Obrycki’s proud reputation.

For guests who want to enjoy the tastes of Obrycki’s at home, the Cernaks have implemented a mail order program which allows delivery of, crab cakes and other specialties to most areas in the continental United States. The mail order crab cakes were featured as one of Oprah’s favorite things. Additionally, Obrycki’s signature seafood seasoning can be shipped anywhere in the world.

Today, over thirty years after taking over Obrycki’s, the Cernak family continues to welcomes visitors to Obrycki’s from the neighborhood and from around the globe.

Saturday, August 14 - The Key West Band (Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band)
Sunday, August 15 - Mr. Groove (Roots, Blues, Jazz)

Saturday, August 21 - Tom Principato Blues Band (Blues)
Sunday, August 22 - The Real Geniuses (Rockin’ 80’s)

Saturday, August 28 - Funk Daddy G (Jazz, Funk)
Sunday, August 29 - Captain Fantastic (The Magic of Elton John) & 52nd Street (The music of Billy Joel)

Saturday, September 4 - Old Man Brown (New Southern Soul)
Sunday, September 5 - Mambo Combo (Latin)

TIME: Saturdays: 8:00 - 11:00pm
Sundays: 5:00 - 8:00pm

Baltimore Summer Restaurant Week

The most delicious week of the summer returns, August 13-22. Enjoy a great three-course dinner from special prix-fixed menus for just $35.10 and lunch menus for just $20.10. See below for a complete list of participating restaurants and menus. As always, we strongly encourage calling ahead and making a reservation as restaurants are sure to fill up fast!

Some of Harbor Magic’s favorite restaurants are participating… Meli Bistro and Tapas Adela - both located off the lobby of the Admiral Fell Inn; Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Pizzazz Tuscan Grille and McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant - all located off the lobby of the Pier 5 Hotel; Aldo’s Ristorante Italiano in Little Italy and Kali’s Court and Mezze in Fell’s Point.

A complete lists of restaurants can be found at www.baltimorerestaurantweek.com

Bob the Builder and his Can-Do Crew invite aspiring builders and their families to help get the job done! Spend time in Sunflower Valley with Bob the Builder, Wendy and the rest of the Can-Do Crew. Children can practice their own fixing with kid-smart activities that build up their Can-Do attitudes and encourage them to be active. Families can also work together to install new parts to sinks in Bob the Builder’s mobile home and in his building workshop, learn about water conservation, build the vehicle shelter, experiment with tools in Bob’s building workshop and much more! The limited-time exhibit will be at Port Discovery Children’s Museum through the end of the year.

Bob the Builder and his Can-Do Crew invite aspiring builders and their families to help get the job done! Spend time in Sunflower Valley with Bob the Builder, Wendy and the rest of the Can-Do Crew. Children can practice their own fixing with kid-smart activities that build up their Can-Do attitudes and encourage them to be active. Families can also work together to install new parts to sinks in Bob the Builder’s mobile home and in his building workshop, learn about water conservation, build the vehicle shelter, experiment with tools in Bob’s building workshop and much more!

- Meet the Can-Do Crew
Construct an afternoon of activity – build memories and snap photos with a kid-sized, three-dimensional Bob the Builder, Scoop and Benny, the specialist digger,
among others.

- Bob’s Mobile Home
See Bob the Builder’s blueprint for success as children explore their favorite builder’s mobile home. Children can be part of the crew and help fix the drip coming from
Bob the Builder’s sink or watch video clips from the popular series.

- Build the Machine Shelter
Be part of the team, laying stones in the walls of the machine team’s shelter and building stalls for Scoop, Muck, Roley and Dizzy to sleep.

- Drive a Machine
Let’s Scram! Climb aboard the off-road vehicle Scrambler, rock and roll with Roley the Steamroller and dig up fun with Scoop the Digger!

- Talkie Talkie
This problem solving crew has a lot to say and each member has a special phrase. View a picture of each team member and push a button to hear their famous catch
phrases, “No prob, Bob” or “Unreal, banana peel.”

- Wendy’s Caravan
Wendy needs some help from the team to refurbish and decorate her caravan and plant beautiful flowers.

- Water Pump
Farmer Pickles isn’t the only one in Sunflower Valley that knows that water conservation is important. Children can explore the interactive water pump station, learn
important messages about water conservation and help to bring water to Sunflower Valley

The best way to experience “Bob the Builder - Project: Build It!” is with Harbor Magic Hotels’ exclusive Family Adventure Getaway presented by Port Discovery, named one of the Top Five Children’s Museums in the country! The museum provides experiences that ignite imagination, inspire learning and nurture growth through play. Learn and play with your kids as they follow Harbor Magic’s exclusive Port Discovery Scavenger Hunt card.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FAMILY ADVENTURE GETAWAY

¡Vámonos! ¡Al rescate! Catch that Robot Butterfly!

Swiper has invented a Robot Butterfly, but when he loses control of his creation, the Robot Butterfly begins swiping the homes of the animals in the rainforest. It’s up to Dora, Diego, Boots and YOU to catch that Robot Butterfly.

Join your adventurous amigos on Nickelodeon’s high-speed, eye-popping chase from the warm rainforest to the icy Arctic! Let’s catch that Robot Butterfly!

The National Aquarium’s 4-D Immersion Theater combines the visual drama of a 3-D film with a variety of sensory effects, which are built into theater seats and the theater environment. Most films are transformed into 15-minute experiences and will virtually bring on-screen images to life with added effects, such as water mist, wind, a neck air blast, snow, bubbles, steam, leg ticklers, scents, enhanced floor lighting, and seat vibrations!

Harbor Magic Hotels offer the only National Aquarium Getaway to feature VIP All-Access into the Aquarium…. including the 4-D Immersion Theater.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Entertaining and amusing over 2 million passengers at Chicago’s Navy Pier, Seadog is pleased to call Inner Harbor its second home. Be among the first to enjoy this one-of-a-kind speedboat!

This 50-minute Sightseeing and Speedboat Tour combines a fun and educational narrative of Baltimore’s historic sights with an exciting speedboat ride. The tour departs from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and heads southeast on the Patapsco River towards Key Bridge and back.

Tours are Monday through Sunday at 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, and 7pm

Harbor Magic Specialists can confirm tour times, make reservations etc for Harbor Magic Hotel guests

Don’t miss this new and exciting way to cruise the Inner Harbor waters!

The 2010 Baltimore Navy Week, in conjunction with the Maryland State Fair, will be packed with events demonstrating the mission of the U.S. Navy and our proud heritage. These events could include Ship and Namesake Crew Visits; Navy Bands performances; Explosive Ordnance Disposal Divers; SEAL Fitness Challenge; interactive Navy Experience simulators and community service projects.

The goal of this program is to give the public an up-close look at the men and women of the U.S. Navy serving throughout the world and the jobs they do.

Admiral John C. Harvey, Jr.,
Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Rear Admiral Scott A. Weikert, Deputy Commander, 1st Naval Construction Division will serve as our spokespersons this year.

There will also be special guest visits by crews from the Balistic Submarine USS Maryland and the USS Constitution “Old Ironsides”, ship visits from the Dock Landing Ship USS Whidbey Island and Patrol Craft USS Monsoon and Active Duty and Reserve Sailors and Seabees from commands with ties to the local area.

For complete details visit http://www.navyweek.org/baltimore2010/index.html

30th Annual Baltimore Summer Antiques Show

Maryland’s largest antiques event, now in its 30th year, is one of the most important antique events for collectors nationwide.

550 international dealers From 35 States as well as Canada, England, Germany, Italy, South American and Asia.

Thousands of patrons (knowledgeable collectors, dealers, decorators and shoppers) from all over North America, Europe and Asia attend each year. The attraction is the rare combination of huge variety, first-class quality and affordable prices. The general range is $100 to $1 million.

The Antiques Show - 550 dealers offering the entire gamut of antiques from the antiquities to the 20th century, including the Deco and Modernist periods, featuring fine art and furniture in elegant, room-setting displays.

The Antiquarian Book Fair - 60 dealers offering rare books, first editions, fine manuscripts, autographs and unusual bibliographical material.

The range of antiques is enormous. Over two hundred thousand individual items in the show, included is furniture of all kinds, crystal, art glass, silver, ceramics, quilts, art deco, art nouveau, lamps, ethnic art, paintings, decoys, Chinese export, bronzes, music boxes, sewing collectibles, oriental rugs, textiles, posters, country store, antique armor and military, political memorabilia, nostalgia, advertising, jewelry, and much more. And everything is for sale.

The show runs September 2 – 5, 2010 at the Baltimore Convention Center
Hours are:
- Thursday, September 2 - 12:00 noon to 8:00 pm
- Friday, September 3 & Saturday, September 4 - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
- Sunday, September 5 - 11:00 am to 6:00 pm

Admission: $12 good for the run of the show

Fort McHenry will have a weekend of celebration in honor of the event.

This three-day encampment and extravaganza is celebrated with over 100 War of 1812 reenactors, parades, military bands, fireworks, a symbolic ship-to-shore bombardment and much more! The Star-Spangled Banner Weekend honors Defenders’ Day, Baltimore’s oldest holiday commemorating the bombardment of Fort McHenry and the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner!”

You can glimpse the USCGC Taney, the only surviving Coast Guard ship from the World War II attack on Pearl Harbor. By the late 1960s, TANEY had become the last United States vessel still in commission that had seen action during the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack on Hawaii. Consequently, from that time on she was often referred to as “The Last Survivor of Pearl Harbor.” On 7 December 1986, after more than 50 years of continuous service, TANEY was decommissioned at Portsmouth, Virginia, and donated to the City of Baltimore to serve as a memorial and museum.

The USS Constellation - US Frigate Constellation (1797-1853) was built at the Sterrett Shipyard, Baltimore, Md., and launched on 7 September 1797. In the late 1700’s the Constellation was engaged in multiple fiery battles in the West Indies and around the world and now rests peacefully near the Inner Harbor amphitheater.

USS Torsk - Commissioned on 16 December 1944, USS TORSK was built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and was one of only ten Tench Class fleet type submarines to see service in World War II. Decommissioned on 4 March 1968, with an impressive record of over 10,600 career dives, TORSK arrived in Baltimore to serve as a museum and memorial in 1972.

LV 116 Chesapeake - When Lightship 116 “Chesapeake” was completed in 1930, she was among the most modern and capable ships in use with the US Lighthouse Service. With her bright red hull, beacon light and “Chesapeake” station designation guided maritime traffic in and out of the Chesapeake Bay for the over 20 years.
After being relieved at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, Lightship 116’s final duty station was marking the approaches to Delaware Bay until replaced there by a large automated light buoy in 1970. Since 1982, the ship has been part of the Baltimore Maritime Museum, now Historic Ships in Baltimore, and has continued to serve as an important link with the history of American aids to navigation.

Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse - The duties of keepers were often routine but were nonetheless essential. Each night at sundown the beacon lamp was lit and had to remain so until sunrise the following morning – a task which required vigilance and regular maintenance. Each morning, the beacon lens and lamp were thoroughly cleaned and made ready for use that evening. In times of fog, the fog bell had to be sounded continuously which required winding the station’s bell machine every 45 minutes until the fog lifted.

USS