Baltimore Beat

April Night Lights

April Night Lights April showed exactly why the Baltimore music scene punches so far above its weight, balancing massive milestones with a dedicated DIY community that anchors everything. The biggest draw of the month was a hometown stop for Snail Mail at Union Craft Brewing. Organized by Dana Murphy of U+N Booking, t...

Roy Crosse was epically inspired by his connection to creative communities in Baltimore

Roy Crosse was epically inspired by his connection to creative communities in Baltimore I’m standing in the foyer of the home of artist Roy Crosse (alias roycrosse) and his wife, Anelda Peters, 12 years after his passing. Big windows beam light in every direction. I’m surrounded by thousands of spirited works that Crosse created during his prolific career.  Towering sculptures mad...

Maryland parents of stillborn children will soon receive a $1,000 tax credit

Maryland parents of stillborn children will soon receive a $1,000 tax credit Tucked into a bill designed for farmers to exempt enhanced agricultural equipment from their taxes, Maryland passed a proposal that would give parents of stillborn children an income tax credit of $1,000 to offset the unexpected costs they face while grieving a child. The amendment came after two co...

Almost a year after the police killing of Pytorcarcha Brooks, her family still hasn’t seen change or accountability

Almost a year after the police killing of Pytorcarcha Brooks, her family still hasn't seen change or accountability Her family called her Baby Sis. A quiet, gentle woman, Pytorcarcha Brooks couldn’t have weighed more than 100 pounds soaking wet. On June 25, 2025, the 70-year-old was deep in a mental health crisis that had been pulling her away from her family for a long time. Her son tried to get her help in [....

In Baltimore, every brick has a story to tell. The Peale Museum wants to be where they’re told.

In Baltimore, every brick has a story to tell. The Peale Museum wants to be where they’re told. When I stepped into The Peale this May for the Charm City Fringe Festival, I entered a building that, for many years, I had only seen out of the corner of my eye when I walked down Holliday Street. Now, amid the throng of people gathered for the annual festival of new theater and performance, […]

Mera Kitchen’s new series serves up food as memory, migration, and inheritance

Mera Kitchen’s new series serves up food as memory, migration, and inheritance At Mera Kitchen Collective, food has always been more than something to eat. It is memory, migration, and an inheritance; a chronicle of the places that people have left and the loved ones, places, and stories they carry with them.  Beginning this spring, Mera’s Story-Worthy Food Series invited i...

June 2026 Tarotscopes: Find out what’s in store for you this June with Iya Osundara’s Tarotscope forecast. Take what resonates and leave the rest.

June 2026 Tarotscopes Air Signs — Aquarius, Gemini, Libra Ten of Cups + Queen of Pentacles + King of Wands  Things may not be perfect, air signs, but they’re a lot better than they have been in recent months. You’re arriving at a place where you feel more grounded — more comfortable with being seen and pushing t...

Black Crossword is a free mini crossword puzzle that places emphasis on terms and clues from across the Black diaspora.

Black Crossword: May 27, 2026 If the Beat has ever informed you, moved you, or made you feel a deeper connection to our city, we ask you to help us continue this journey. Your generosity keeps our presses running, our journalists digging deep, and our stories reaching every corner of Baltimore.

Listen first, talk later: The Evening Ritual encourages collective, active listening to music

Listen first, talk later: The Evening Ritual encourages collective, active listening to music On Sundays, I am typically indifferent about how I begin my week. Sometimes it’s as simple as doing a face mask and other types of at-home pampering. Sometimes it’s a hike. Sometimes it’s nothing at all and I’m just resting in my solitude.  Recently that changed. Last year I was introduced ...

What’s in a name? Student journalists make the case for changing the name of James McHenry Elementary Middle School.

What's in a name? This story first appeared in the JM Tribune. Throughout the school day, staff and students represent James McHenry not just the school, but the person it is named after. Many of James McHenry’s staff and students were not informed about who James McHenry was. James McHenry was remembered for his f...