Artscape 2011 Hype:

Things that I am excited about with Artscape looming ahead this next weekend-

1. Biking to and around the event. Hipster-like, but more mature and stylish... an opportunity to show off my new bike (not single-speed, though, as pictured).

2. Sondheim Exhibit - definitely some sweet art, more of the refined variety. Air conditioning break.

3. MICA student art - there's something visceral and raw about this production.

4. Hipster print t-shirts - given my success last year, I'm going to try for another and perhaps make it an annual effort.

5. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra free concert - I haven't always been able to catch this show as I don't think it interests most people, but I enjoy it and it also adds a nice air conditioning break to the day.

6. Festival food - apparently there's a new vendor so I'm excited to see if there are going to be any creative morsels to be found. Also I'd guess that the food trucks will be sharking around the edges of the festivities. Funnel cake falls under this category.

7. Free stuff.

8. Club Charles - this is by far the best bar scene of the year. I am debating whether the safety of the reflectors on my bike or the clean, stealth aesthetic takes priority for the night ride in and out here.

Officially hyped.

I think an interesting exercise is to fill in the blanks in the following statement:

I may not be very ______, but I am _______ .

I find that I easily lose my identity when trying to impress someone, and I have to remind myself that the key to success lies in the idea that you have to like yourself before others can like you.

I may not be very adventurous, but I am open minded.

I may not be very radical, but I am progressive in practical ways.

I may not be very athletic, but I am graceful.

I may not be very outgoing, but I am loyal to the last.

I may not be very vocal, but I am thoughtful.