The Coolest Place I’ve Been To This Year
Yesterday I took the wife and kids to Disney Princesses on Ice–this is NOT the coolest place I’ve been to this year–in Baltimore. Later we went to lunch in Federal Hill and hit a museum after. This was a place I have not been to before, but will definitely check out again: the American Visionary Art Museum.
This is modern art, but from artists that (for the most part) have no formal training. If you like pop culture–especially from the last third of the 20th century, you will love this place. American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) is packed with art made from toys, board games, lunch boxes, and even 
comics. The guest exhibition is “What Makes Us Smile?” which has displays featuring everything from Sock Monkeys to an interactive Whoopie Cushion bench. This show will be there until September.
The second best thing about AVAM is the gift shop. Believe it or not! The Sideshow Shop is a kooky conglomeration of Japanese toys and everything you ever wanted from those ads in the back of your old comics including X-Ray Specs and Hypnotic Coins.
There’s a restaurant called Mr. Rain’s Fun House. I didn’t go there, but I might check it out the next time I visit.
Search this place out the next time you go to Charm City (after you visit Geppi’s Entertainment Museum).
3/4 of the fam loved this!!! (Warning – 9 year old boys may be a little unsettled by the whole thing and need multiple visits for systematic desensitization.)
As a substitute teacher,I bring comics into the classroom to promote literacy and exposure to comics. My kids really get a kick out of the ads as do I. I enjoy looking for the items I bought as a child during the “Big ’80s”—esp. the whoopicushion, joy buzzer ring & my personal fav.,the snapping chewing gum. Took these to school as a Third grader @Nottingham Elem. while wearing my Jokey Smurf belt. Ah,good times,ain’t we lucky we got ‘em?
The wife & I have been big fans to the AVAM for a while now. Be sure to look for their “Flicks From the Hill” series this summer. They show free movies on the side of the building on Thursday nights throughout the summer. Just bring a blanket and sit on the side of Federal Hill. As a bonus, the museum is free after 5pm those days if you stop by early.
^We’ll definitely check that out. Thanks!
Don’t know if y’all are still reading back this far, but the schedule for the summer movies is finally out, and they’re playing all comedies this time around in order to match the special show theme. The movies are on Thursday and start at 9pm on the hill behind the museum – plus, they’re still free. Also, the museum itself is free on Thursdays from 5-9 before each movie. Current playlist below for your convenience. Enjoy!
July 7: Airplane!
July 14: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
July 21: Some Like it Hot
July 28: Duck Soup
Aug 4: Viva Las Vegas
Aug 11: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
Aug 18: Men in Black
Aug 25: The Pink Panther (1963)