Renoir return, The Evasons, literary events fill weekend calendar

Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s, “Paysage Bords de Seine” goes on display at the BMA this weekend.

With what is hopefully the last blast of winter’s cold air, March may finally be going out like a lamb.  But there is still a lion’s share of literature, music and art to enjoy in the area this weekend.

The Baltimore Museum of Art will feature the return of Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s, “Paysage Bords de Seine” (On the Shore of the Seine).  This idyllic Impressionist painting disappeared from the museum over sixty years ago.  The 5 ½ -by-9 inch, oil-on-linen work has been valued at upwards of $100,000.  How it came to be part of a box full of junk, purchased for a paltry seven dollars at a Harpers Ferry flea market, remains a mystery.

The Victorian era artwork goes on display to museum members on Friday and to the general public this Sunday along with more than 20 other pieces bequeathed to the BMA by visionary Baltimore collector Saidie May.  More information about this exhibit may be found by visiting the BMA online.

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Where has the Renoir been since the day it was stolen sixty years ago?  The art world may be baffled, but perhaps one area couple could help fill in some of the blanks.  That is the impression this reporter has after seeing two performances last year by the amazing mentalist duo, The Evasons.

The Evasons, who spent thirty years traveling the world while performing for princesses and premiers, settled in Annapolis a few years ago.  But this weekend marks the first time they will be appearing in their new hometown.

Friday March 28th at 8:00pm the couple perform their breathtaking show, “Tickle Your Sixth Sense With The Evasons” at the Pascal Center for the Performing Arts. Pascal Center is located on the AACC campus.  Ask friends who caught The Evasons last year at the Creative Alliance and they will tell you, this show is not to be missed.  Or watch a video of the pair in action and judge for yourself.  Even magicians say The Evasons are incredible.  Tickets and other information may be found by visiting the Pascal Center online.

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Literary fun is afoot this weekend all over Charm City, starting this evening with a grab bag of engaging events.

Tonight, from 7 – 9:00, join three Baltimore writers at Litmore as they read from their memoirs and discuss the art and craft of memoir.

Michael Olesker, a former News American, Sun and Baltimore Examiner reporter, is the author of several books, including Front Stoops in the Fifties.  David Eberhardt, who served time for his political convictions, is the author of the forthcoming memoir, For All the Saints.  And Barbara Morrison, who writes under the name B. Morrison, is the author of the award-winning memoir, Innocent: Confessions of a Welfare Mother.

Litmore — located in the former St. John’s Rectory at 1702 South Road in Mt. Washington, behind St. John’s Church — is dedicated to energizing and sustaining the area’s literary community. Free parking is available in the Arts and Ideas lot across South Road. For more information, visit Litmore online, call 443-595-7548, or email info@litmore.org.

Also tonight, from 7-9:30pm, Free State Review will be kicking off Spring at Gallery 788 in Hampden with Tell it to the Birds, a celebration of their third issue. This happening will bring the audience the best of the best in local art, local music and of course, great local writing!

On the art side, enjoy the current gallery showing by Lania D’Agostino.  Music will be provided by Baltimore’s indie rock band, Community Center.  And the slate of readers feature four fabulous contributors to Free State Review.

CL Bledsoe is the author of 12 books, most recently Riceland. Baltimore’s favorite accident prone poet, Barbara DeCesare has performed poetry and/or tiny plays at the Geraldine R. Dodge poetry festival, the Knitting Factory, and a million laundromats, bookshops and sketchy basements. Elizabeth Hazen is a poet and essayist whose work has appeared in Best American Poetry 2013, Southwest Review, and other journals. Jim Warner is the author of two poetry collections, Too Bad It’s Poetry and Social Studies (Paper Kite Press).

Your host for this event is Free State associate editor, Jessica Dotson.  $10 at the door will also give you your pick of one of FSR’s delicious back issues.

Gallery 788 is at 3602 Hickory Ave., in Hampden, Hon.

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Speaking of Jessica Dotson, Arts in the Glen will be featuring Ms. D along with Toms River, New Jersey native Dan Ferrara and Lines + Stars founder and editor Rachel Adams this Saturday from 4-6pm for a pastoral poetry reading in western Howard County.

Dotson’s work was recently nominated for a Pushcart Prize by Broadkill Review. Dan Ferrara’s poems have appeared in the Sewanee Theological Review, the Free State Review, and Lines + Stars. Rachel Adams’ chapbook What is Heard was published in 2013 by Red Bird Press.

Arts in the Glen is located at 2465 State Rt 97, Suite 11, Glenwood Maryland, 21738.

Also on Saturday, the popular New Mercury reading series returns to The Windup Space with a special look at life behind bars.  Mikita Brottman and John Barry host an evening of readings by New Yorker writer Margaret Talbot and Maryland prison inmates, whose work will be read by family members and friends.

The times for the New Mercury reading are 5-7:00pm.  The Windup Space is located at 12 W. North Ave, Baltimore.

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For something a little bit different, tonight, for one night only, Baltimore’s own Nebula Award-Winning (look it up) podcast is coming to EMP! The Drabblecast: Strange Stories for Strange Listeners will be recording live for the first time ever!

This program will feature twisted tales by esteemed Saturday Night Live alum Jack Handey, revered writer and star of The Office B.J. Novak, the indomitable Etgar Keret, and more!  The stories will be brought to beautiful, terrifying life by EMP Collective’s own Carly J. Bales, Eric Bowers, Ken Jordan, and, Uber-Curator of The DrabbleCast, Mr. Norm Sherman.  Mr. Jon Birkholz provides live musical accompaniment.  Admission is free for this 8:00pm event.

EMP is at 307 W. Baltimore Street just around the corner form the Hippodrome Theatre.

Equally intriguing, MICA is hosting Daredevils; a new feature film by the delightfully quixotic Stephanie Barber.  This free screening takes place tonight at 7:00pm at Falvey Hall, on the campus of MICA.

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Burlesque is ablaze with two shows of note here in Baltimore this weekend.  The first happens on Friday with the monthly installment of Burl-eokee at the Brass Monkey in Fells Point.

Easily one of the oddest mixes of song and dance one could ever imagine, this episode celebrates the birthday of Twiggy Steele. The inimitable Bunny Vicious hosts an assortment of contestants who will sing their hearts out to the moves of Tapitha Kix, Bella Le Blanc, Ellie Quinn and boylesquer Allen Ryde.  Doors open at 8:30; show is at 9:00.  There is a $10 cover.  The Brass Monkey Saloon is located at 1601 Eastern Avenue in Fells Point.

On Saturday night, Twisted Knickers burlesque returns to The Yellow Sign Theatre with what promises to be one of the most bizarre shows the troupe has ever offered.  Witness crazed clowns, beloved characters from childhood acting inappropriately, a masochist piñata, a sideshow geek, a woman whose maternal instinct has gone mad and much, much more. Some of the things prepared for this night are just too, too shocking to even mention.

Performing for your demented pleasure will be Knickers’ toe-tapping leading lady, Tapitha Kix, Reverend Valentine, ShortStaxx, Chérie Nuit, and the sideshow antics of Jim Dandy.

Hot Todd Lincoln will emcee the absurdity, with your purr-fect Stage Kitten — Shy Violet.

Tickets are $10 in advance via Brown Paper Tickets (with no service charge!) or $15 at the door.  Please be aware that Twisted Knickers’ last show at the Yellow Sign sold out.

Doors at 8:00; Show at 9:00pm.  The Yellow Sign Theatre is located on N. Charles St., across the street from the Charles Theatre.

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Fans of the fabulous reverb drenched sounds of the sixties will want to don their Hawaiian shirts to check out a rare appearance by one of Baltimore’s hottest bands.  Batworth Stone is set to rock Joe Squared on Saturday, March 29th from 10:00pm til midnight.  The group, which teams the poetic couple of Jennifer Ciattei (bass guitar, vocals) and Chris Ciattei (drums, vocals), along with Joel Dinolt and Joe Stone (guitars, vocals), will be playing two sets, roughly at 10 and 11:00 pm.

Joe Squared (recently voted one of the fifty best pizzas in America) is at 133 West North Avenue, in Station North.

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Speaking of music, Steve Martin once observed that it is impossible to sing a sad song while playing a banjo.

No one knows the truth of that adage better than Jacob Panic.

Panic, (who has a new CD coming out with the group, The Manly Deeds), is one of Baltimore’s premier pop/bluegrass stars.  The talented picker will be on hand this Sunday for an afternoon of literature, art and music at the Watermark Gallery.

This latest installment of the Lit and Art Reading Series at Watermark Gallery will feature William P. Tandy (editor of Smile, Hon, You’re in Baltimore!), poetry maven Julie Fisher, Sam J. Schmidt, g emil rutter and Diane Sahms Gaurnieri.  This will also be the closing reception for Manzar Rassouli’s art exhibit, “Women West, Women East & Global Peace.”

This free event takes place Sunday, March 30 from 2 to 5:00pm. Eric Goodman is your congenial host.

The Watermark Gallery, 100 S. Charles Street is in the Bank of America Building, second floor, across from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.  Remember to bring five minutes of your own work to share during open mic! It’s the best excuse to get lit on a Sunday afternoon in Baltimore.

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Finally, are you wrestling with an issue no one seems to understand?  Perhaps sharing your experience with a group of highly trained actors will help shed some light on the problem as you watch the actors bring your perplexing problem to life.

This Sunday, March 30th at 2:00pm, the Maryland Playback Ensemble will perform publicly for the first time in Hampden, at Gallery 788.  The MPE encourages the audience to share their stories as a means to heal, while building our community.

This performance is free to the public, and everyone is encouraged to bring something to add to the potluck brunch!  Doors at 1:30pm, performance at 2:00pm.   Again, Gallery 788 is at 3602 Hickory Ave., in beautiful Hampden, Hon.