The late, great cookbook writer and TV chef Julia Child once said, “People who love to eat are always the best people.”
If you are one of those people and in Baltimore the weekend of April 1 and 2, there is only one place to be: The Emporiyum. This spring, the annual event returns to Baltimore for the fourth year in a row. (A Washington, D.C. event also takes place in the fall.)
The event – which is part festival, part market, all fun – pops up in a normally empty space. This year, it will be held in the former Best Buy space at 600 East Pratt Street (the same location as in 2016). The space is large and filled with light – a perfect spot to pack in plenty of local, regional and national food and beverage makers.
The event features over 90 different vendors, including artisans, food makers who create foods you can take away with you (think mustards, salts, candies and nut butters) and companies making food to be consumed on site, from locally-sourced oysters (and pair with local craft brews) to killer sandwiches.
Some of last year’s hottest tickets were the Thai chicken meatball sandwich, served in a steamed bun, from popular Fells Point eatery Ekiben, and tacos, prepared several ways, from the Remington mezcaleria Clavel.
The Emporiyum is about more than just chowing, too. Thanks to a DJ, excellent cocktails, beer and wine options, and a generally pumped up crowd, it feels more like a party than a market.
This year, The Emporiyum takes place during the run of Light City, the festival of light, music and innovation that takes place throughout the city, with most light art installations in the Inner Harbor area. Light City’s art and music activities don’t really get going until the sun starts to set, while The Emporiyum is during the day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Combine the two for a fabulous day full of food, light and sound.
Tickets for The Emporiyum are currently on sale; they will be available at the door, but only if they don’t sell out first. VIP tickets include early access to the event, which features a special VIP experience with passed bites and cocktail sips, plus a gift bag filled with fun treats. VIP admission starts at 10 a.m. and tickets are $40. General admission starts at 11 a.m. and tickets are $20.
If you’re heading down to The Emporiyum, Light City, or both, Harbor Park Garage, located at 55 Market Place in downtown Baltimore, is a convenient and reasonably priced spot to park. It’s a very short walk to The Emporiyum and an excellent place to start and end a walking tour of the lights around the harbor.
During Light City and The Emporiyum, the garage is offering a $15 all day parking ticket. To take advantage of the deal, visit the office on Level 2 of the garage for a discount validation ticket.